Hadleigh Community News, July 2026

The River Brett Festival is coming: One year to go!

Have you heard the exciting news? Hadleigh is going to have a river festival next summer! Why are we doing this? We want to celebrate the River Brett, its beauty and extraordinary biodiversity. We also want to connect families, schools, and neighbours, bringing the community together ready to face the future together as the world becomes more uncertain and divided. What will it look like? Our aim is to have plenty of fun for all ages and tastes. We’ve already had 50 requests to run some amazing events with lots of music, dancing, singing, theatre, puppet making, nature walks, history talks and science projects. There will be art, photography, poetry exhibitions and competitions and a parade along the High Street with bunting and shop displays. Local businesses will be involved along with the schools. And, of course, we will work closely with Hadleigh’s annual highlights like the Duck Race and the Day of Dance.

Who is organising it? Each community group will run their own event with Hadleigh Environmental Action Team (HEAT) coordinating the whole thing. A River Festival Steering Group has been set up bringing in people from different community groups. Their job is to raise funds and make sure the whole thing runs smoothly. Who decides what happens? You do! We want this festival to reflect what the whole community wants, especially people who live on the new housing developments, families with young children, and young people. How can I get involved? If you’d like to get involved or receive our newsletter, please email info@brettfestival.org.uk

Hadleigh Community First

Responders

East of England Ambulance Service

After over 22 years I am sad to announce that I have had to give up answering 999 calls due to ill health.

Although we have recently increased our number of volunteers, we are still well short of our aim to provide cover on every day of the week. So, we are always looking for more volunteers to train up. I will still be involved with the training side as much as I can.

Part of the training does involve travel to training centres, and this can be as far as Chelmsford, Newmarket or similar distances. But some of the training is done by online modules.

You learn valuable lifesaving skills in the process that you carry with you for life.

Accounts

Audits ➤ Book Keeping & VAT Returns

➤ Payroll & PAYE Returns

➤ Personal Tax & Returns

➤ Company Secretarial

➤ Specialist Tax Advice

Walter Wright Chartered Accountants 89 High Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 5EA Tel: 01473 822143 www.walterwright.co.uk. info@walterwright.co.uk

HADLEIGH COMMUNITY NEWS

Hadleigh Community News is delivered to 5,000 homes and businesses in Hadleigh, Upper Layham and Lower Layham.

THE VILLAGE EDITION

We fund the purchase of a set of “greens”, ambulance service approved and badged uniform and winter clothing. This compliments the high-vis lightweight jacket and green t-shirt, which is the only clothing the Trust provide. We also fund most of the training equipment to enable our team to get as much practise as they need.

Our car is a great asset in enabling members to respond at any time and not be reliant on the availability (or reliability) of their own or borrowed vehicle.

We love to come and talk to groups about our work. We also do CPR demonstrations and explain how a Defibrillator fits in with that.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and the group over the last 22+ years..

Trevor Sheldrick, Team leader

Getting ahead before the summer holidays

With the summer holidays just around the corner, many of us are busy making travel plans, organising family visits and looking forward to some well-earned time away. Before the holiday season gets into full swing, however, July can be a good opportunity to tick off some of those important jobs that have been sitting on the todo list for a while.

For many people, legal matters are easy to put off. Whether it’s making a will, reviewing an existing one, arranging a power of attorney, dealing with property paperwork or seeking advice on a family matter, these are often things we mean to get around to “when we have time”. Unfortunately, that time doesn’t always arrive.

The Village Edition is delivered to 4,500 local homes in Lavenham, Kersey, Bildeston, Chelsworth, Boxford, Milden, Edwardstone, Groton, Whatfield, Brent Eleigh, Monks Eleigh, Elmsett, Hintlesham, Polstead, Newton Green, Raydon and Hitcham, Holton St Mary, plus outlying homes in these areas.

SUDBURY & LONG MELFORD COMMUNITY NEWS

Sudbury & Long Melford Community News is delivered to 7200 homes during the first week of each month.

Taking action now can provide valuable peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy the summer knowing that important arrangements are in place and that any questions you have are being addressed. Our Hadleigh legal clinics continue to offer local residents easy access to expert legal advice close to home. The free 30-minute consultations are designed to give you the opportunity to discuss your circumstances, ask questions and understand your options in a relaxed and approachable setting.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS...

We warmly welcome all your contributions of articles, letters, sports reports, events and photographs, just email or send to the address below and it will appear in the next issue. Deadline for copy is the 18th of each and every month.

For advertising information, leaflet distribution or collaboration ideas, email us at comnews@keithavis.co.uk or telephone Matt Barber 07799 313838/01473 823366

www.hadleighcommunitynews.co.uk

Community News magazines are produced by Keith Avis Printers Ltd, 68 High Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 5EF 46

The clinics cover a wide range of legal matters, including wills and probate, powers of attorney, family law, property matters and disputes. We can also help retrieve deeds and important documents from previous law firms, helping to ensure your records are complete and accessible when needed.

The clinics run every Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday mornings are available by appointment, with the final booked appointment at 12.30pm, followed by drop-in sessions from 1.00pm onwards. Friday clinics run from 10am to 4pm and are available by appointment only.

If there is something you’ve been meaning to sort out, why not make July the month you get it done? A short conversation today could save a great deal of time and uncertainty in the future.

To book a free 30-minute appointment or to find out more about the Hadleigh clinics, please get in touch or visit our website www.bates-wells.co.uk or email mail@bates-wells. co.uk or call 01473 219282

Do you have a bulging wardrobe with lots of unworn or unwanted clothing

Do

you have a bulging

Then this event is for you grab a rail if you have one , a table and chair will be provided book your place and come and sell your high street or designer clothing at our event.

wardrobe with lots of unworn or unwanted clothing

Then this event is for you grab a rail if you have one , a table and chair will be provided  book your place and come and sell your high street or designer clothing at our event.

Once your payment has been made a space will then be allocated to you. I will be taking bookings up until the end of July. We are combining this event with a Fashion show which also uses preloved clothing. All money raised from pitch fees and tickets will be going to a Cancer charity.

Once your payment has been made a space will then be allocated to you . I will be taking bookings up until the end of July.

The pitch fee will be £15 this includes table, chair. Your  rail (if you are bringing one), glass of  non alcoholic bubbly. Entry to the fashion show. All promotion of the events.  All monies need to be paid in advance. If you are interested please do contact me via this post and I will send you further details. 10 am to 2 pm with an option to sell again after the show or pack up for 2 and come and see the show.  Contact me: junglefash@gmail.com

• Make your payment

• Bring a rail

• Price your clothing

• Venue Hadleigh Ansell centre

• Saturday 19 September

are combining this event with a Fashion show which

and tickets will be going to a Cancer

The pitch fee will be £15.00 this includes table chair

Your rail ( if you are bringing one ) glass of non alcoholic bubbly Entry to the fashion show. All promotion of the events

• Vintage Sale From 10 am to 2 pm. Fashion show 2 pm to 3.30 pm Liz Wilson

ZOR Boutique

AT KERSEY MILL

Stunning jewellery, scarves, bags, purses & clothing.

All at affordable prices.

07969 525859 www.zoronline.com zoronline.sales@gmail.com Kersey Mill, Stone Street IP7 6DP

Open Mon-Sat 10am to 4.00pm

Summer seems to have arrived and wow it is hot!

We have been very busy receiving new styles of clothing and accessories daily to keep up with demand, and to make sure there is something for everyone.

A new style already proving popular with our customers is the 100% cotton abstract blouse. These come in 5 different colours and are made from a fine cotton, making them super lightweight and perfect for the warmer weather.

Many of you will know I love crystals and especially jewellery with semiprecious stones. We have a great range of jewellery featuring semiprecious stones as well as carved shapes including stars, hearts and moons. I love the tactility and how each one is so different to the other making them truly unique. Our best- selling range of washed linen has just got even bigger with the addition of the ruffle shoulder dress. Made from 50% linen and 50% cotton these pieces are a true summer hero that you will wear again and again.

It has been lovely seeing so many familiar and new faces in the shop. As always, we appreciate your continued support. Enjoy the sun!

www.zoronline.com zoronline.sales@gmail.com

Kersey Mill, Stone Street IP7 6DP Tel: 07969 525859

Open Mon-Sat 10am to 4.00pm

Over 1,000 ‘Hugs’ in five years

For the first time ever knitters, blankets, quilts and Philippa Knights, the area rep for the charity Project Linus UK, all came together in Café Church time in St Mary’s Church to admire everyone’s work and exchange tips and wool.

Thanks to the spacious inside of the Church we were able to do justice to over 100 colourful blankets. They ranged in size from a pram cover to a double bed spread. Many of the onlookers were surprised and impressed with the talent and creativity that had gone into the items on display. Philippa very kindly brought her scrap book of thank you letters from past recipients which some of the long standing contributors spent time reading. She also presented the group with a certificate indicating the number of blankets donated since we started five years ago. These amounted to 1,197.

An amazing number and achievement by the home knitters. Well done and very many thanks, ladies.

If you would like to join this enthusiastic group please contact me Jan Devey 07881 798999 deveys@btinternet.com

Brett Valley Lodge No. 9479

Meet and Dine at The Town Hall, Hadleigh Fourth Friday in September, November, January, March and May

for funding, email: bvsec@hotmail.co.uk

• No Hidden Extras - All prices Inclusive of

• Experienced, professional, FULLY

• Itemised receipt on completion of

•

• FREE stain removal treatment.

• Furniture moved and replaced on protective pads.

• 48 hour notice of cancellation to avoid call-out charge.

Hadleigh and District Flower Club

This month the club had a different venue. We visited the garden of one of our members, a beautiful setting in the country,wonderful flower beds around a sweeping lawn,a pond and also a greenhouse and vegetable patch. Unfortunately it had been quite a wet day so attendance was down but those that did come enjoyed canapés and Pimms and a casual walk around the garden and having time to chat to other members. We are very grateful to be able to visit this lovely venue.

Next month we will be back at the URC at the usual time on July 8 our demonstrator is Lorraine Gagen from Bishops Stortford , her title “Into the Wardrobe”. Look forward to seeing you all there.

Keith Green

You left us eight long years ago, we still speak every day about you.  Love your wife, daughter, two sons and their families xx

Joy & Biff Ward

You and dad are back together again, hope you are happy again. Love Heather, Maxie and families.

Paul Clarke

You are back with your brother and friends. The family all miss you.

WATER FED POLE WINDOW CLEANING

Belated Thanks from Ukraine

Further to the article in last month`s magazine, I realised I had not expressed thanks to Martin and the Hadleigh Thrift Shop team for the £400 donation towards the last (May 26) vehicle and humanitarian aid delivery trip to Ukraine! My apologies! My only perhaps slightly mitigating plea is that it had taken a year to raise sufficient funds this time and, in my haste to submit an article on my return in May, I momentarily forgot this donation made in November last year.

The Thrift Shop donation is very much appreciated and is an apt expression of its goal to,” Help us to Help Others”  and this includes the number of local resident and recent guest Ukrainians, who are grateful for all local support for themselves and to their country, which is making a hugely costly stand for all of us. Thank you!

I take this opportunity too, to say thank you to Hadleigh Community Primary School for allowing us to have a playground stall in May. It became a humorous “sale in the hail” for the sudden storm that blew up the moment we started, and for the precious one hour we had, but such is the passion of children, they persuaded parents to part with an impressive total £166, whilst getting drenched!  Thanks to all!

We also held a street sale on the day of the Hadleigh show, and I am very grateful indeed for the interest and compassion so many passersby showed towards this cause, and Hadleigh people again demonstrated their commitment and generosity with the wonderful total raised, purchases and donations, of £329!

The photos show Olena, a local Ukrainian who supports me locally, and her daughter, and me with one of my dear grandchildren too. And on 20th May, Hadleigh Mother’s Union invited me to speak and made a very generous donation of £310 towards my next trip! If you wish to support these ventures, please do not hesitate to contact me. The current priority, aside from ongoing fundraising, is finding a suitable vehicle, preferably 4x4, at a reasonable price.

David Jacobs 07500 531901

Churches Together in Hadleigh – Praying for Hadleigh

We are committed to praying for every street in Hadleigh over the course of each year. During July we will be praying for the following streets:

Week Commencing - 5 July: Churchill Avenue.

Week Commencing –12 July: Duke Street, Silk Mill Close, Toppesfield Gardens, Tinkers Lane, Holbecks Lane, Layham Road.

Week Commencing – 19 July: Edwin Panks Road, Woolner Close, Jordayne Rise.

Week Commencing – 26 July: Friars Street, Coram Street.

If you know people who live in these streets, we would be very pleased if you also, would pray for them. If you live on one of the streets being covered during a particular week and would welcome prayer, please get in touch.

Hadleigh Baptist Church pastorchristodd@hadleighbaptist.org.uk

Hadleigh URC Barbara Robinson 828352 barobi1506@gmail.com

St Joseph’s RC Church Anna McCrae 823041 annamccrae@btinternet.com

St Mary’s CoE Jessica Janas 822671 jessicanevard@btinternet.com

Salvation Army Church David Allen raallen@talktalk.net

Re-Cycling Helps

When you buy goodies at The Thrift Shop you are not only re-cycling but also supporting local good causes at the same time. Some of monthly income helps support The Shelley Centre. Here children with special needs can take part in the life enhancing experience offered by the Centre. They can safely learn to ride with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers.

Our thanks to all who bring their pre-loved items to the shop so that we can continue offering this help. However, on arrival the donations need attention and for this we need volunteers. A few hours a week would be much appreciated. Contact the shop for further information 01473 829 292. If you have a good cause in need of support. Please contact M. Kyriakides, The Thrift Shop, 45/47 High Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk, P7 5AB.

A free event at St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh

On Saturday 18 July, from 10.30am to 3.00pm, the 550-year-old vestry of St Mary’s Church will be open to visitors. A couple of years ago, the churchwarden described the twostorey vestry as ‘dark, damp and smelly’ but total restoration and refurbishment both inside and out have provided valuable spaces. These now contain a display of church plate, items found under the floors and other features of historical interest. You will be able to see the hidden room and guides will tell the story of the building’s creation and the churchman for whom it was originally erected. In the past, the lower room was used as the meeting place for men who governed both the church and the town, who became known as The Vestry, and events involving them will be told. There will also be an opportunity to visit the ringing chamber in the bell tower. Local-history books will be on sale and light refreshments will be available.

In Conversation With The Mayor Of Hadleigh

Zunaid Saiyed is the mayor of Hadleigh for the next year. Speaking after the unanimous vote Zunaid said, “I am truly honoured to be the first Green Party Mayor of Hadleigh. It is a privilege to serve our community in this role and to represent such a special place”. This is not the only first, at 26 he is probably one of the youngest Mayors in Suffolk Zunaid is a relative newcomer to the town having moved here from his hometown of Leicester in 2024. He and his partner, Sophie, were both studying at the University of Derby. During that time he also participated in the highly acclaimed European Erasmus Programme and studied for a year in The Hague, The Netherlands. Sadly Covid and Brexit curtailed any further foreign travel plans.

When they had completed their courses Zunaid and Sophie decided to move to Suffolk to be nearer her large family who live in Sudbury. They settled and still live on the Weavers Meadow Estate with two lively young additions to their family.

As Zunaid wanted to continue his studies, he completed his Master’s Degree in International Humanitarian Law at Essex University near Colchester. Having finished his studies both Zunaid and Sophie felt they wanted to get know more people and become involved in Hadleigh life. To this end Sophie became Secretary of the PlayStation Preschool Group based in the Community Primary School. Zunaid joined HEAT, the Hadleigh Environmental Action Team and the Town Council. These two groups respectively

addressed his serious concerns about the environment and the need for younger community members, even with a family, to be part of public life.

Because the Mayor is a voluntary role, Zunaid also works full time as a Local Organiser for Unison. This challenging but often rewarding role, involves giving advice to members on employment law, personal injury and criminal law related to work. They may be employed by private companies, public authorities, or in the community and voluntary sector.

Asked for his thoughts on becoming Mayor he replied “Hadleigh has always been more than just where I live – it’s the community where I am raising my family and where I want future generations to thrive. I am committed to serving our town with openness, compassion and ambition working with others to create a greener, fairer, and more supportive future for all Hadleigh residents. I look forward to working closely with residents, businesses, voluntary organisations and fellow councillors to champion Hadleigh’s interests  in discussions about the future of local government in Suffolk”.

He added “One of the great things about being Mayor is you support a Hadleigh charity during your year in office. There are so many deserving Hadleigh charities that it is a difficult choice and not a decision to be

We wish Zunaid a successful and enjoyable year in office and hope it will encourage other younger Hadleigh residents to join the Town

summer summer summer

at hol low trees farm at hol low trees farm

£9 25 per pers on preb o oked onl ine 2 years and under free

More details available on our website

Explore everything Hollow Trees Farm Trail has to offer this summer, including our classic Cresta Run Sledges, a ride on the bouncy Barrel Train, fan favourite Football Golf and much more!

Don’t miss our brand new Double Zip Line beside the Wild Walk - the perfect way for kids to release that summer holiday energy.

refreshments avai lable in our farm kiosk!

saturday 1 8 July th - monday 31 August 2026 st

Rotary Review

Club News

Hadleigh Freemasons are pleased to support ‘Pop Up

Meals’

In support of the ‘Pop Up Meals at St Mary’s Church Hadleigh,’ the Very Revd Jo Delfgou accepts a donation of £500 from the Lodge of Virtue & Silence No. 332 and £500 from Brett Valley Lodge No. 9479. The presentation took place in Hadleigh Town Hall in December, at the annual Christmas meal and carol singing event held by the Lodge of Virtue & Silence.

News From Elsewhere:

Marylou Delfgou, Volunteer Coordinator for the Pop Ups, provided details of this community project, which is run under the auspices of St Mary’s Church Hadleigh PPC, a registered charity. It uses the St Mary’s church building free of charge. All the team involved in the Pop Up are volunteers from St Mary’s, other local churches, and from the wider community. They have made a conscious decision that none of the Pop Up activities is religious in any way, that the volunteers are not seeking to grow church membership or promote faith.

At a recent Annual General Meeting the positions of the existing officers were confirmed for a further year as was the Honorary Membership of Steve Grimsey. Thus on 1 July President Sue Clark will commence the second year of her term of office whilst Gaham Parker, Glenn Abbassi and David Stokes continue as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively. The Club wishes them well. A couple more donations have been made from the Christmas Collections with EACH and the Hadleigh Memories café benefitting. Other donations include 2 to scholars undertaking educational trips overseas, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Parkinsons Disease Society of UK. Donations have also been made from the Clubs International fund to 2 Rotary Foundation causes – World Polio Eradication and Water Aid Projects in the third world. Funds are still available for local charitable causes and application may be made by telephone , Facebook or club website.

L-R: Andrew Rogers and Bobby Gales, representing the Lodge of Virtue and Silence, theVery Revd Jo Delfgou and Jack Clarke representing BrettValley Lodge

All the up to date news about Rotary in Great Britain and worldwide is online at magazine.rotarygbi.org.but here are a couple of items which may prompt you to find out more about Rotary.

The volunteers started the Pop Up meals in the summer of 2022 after concerne about the negative impact on the local community of ongoing economic challenges, rising energy costs, food poverty, as well as social isolation in the wake of the Covid Pandemic. They particularly wanted to ensure that children, especially those in receipt of free school meals, would have a free weekly meal during the School summer holidays, whilst also seeking to welcome anyone who wanted to come along.

In 2023 the project was extended by offering Pop Ups on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in term time from 2pm - 5.30pm so that food and welcome could be offered to a wider age range, to family groups, to those on their own, and in need of company, including elderly people, ensuring equality of access and fostering a sense of community.

The donations will be used to provide food and help cover the increasing heating and lighting costs over the winter months.

• Rotary in Great Britain has a programme to improve the involvement of State Schools in cricket. It is called the Trueman R66T State School Cricket Competition named after the great English bowler Fred Trueman who first suggested the idea. There is now an established league system with 183 teams and growing. The scheme has reached Cambridgeshire but no further in Eastern England as far as I know. It’s main principle is that no child will be deprived of the opportunity to play cricket by cost alone so all equipment, travel etc is provided free with money raised by fundraising.

Andrew Hare

Hadleigh Optimists Group

• One of the numerous Rotary Fellowship is called the Antique, Classic and Historic Automobile World Fellowship with members in 16 countries worldwide. Much activity takes place in Europe with many rallies and meetings. Members usually take own vehicles to Continental meets but further afield they may join in by becoming a co - driver or passenger.

• If these snippets of information have taken your interest please go online and read more. Find us also on Facebook, at Rotary Club of Hadleigh website or tel David 01473 827226

This Group is designed for adults with sight loss and is supported by the charity "Suffolk Sight". We gather together monthly on the 2nd Thursday, from 10am to 12 noon. We meet in Magdalene House during the winter months and go out and about when it is warmer. Members are welcome to bring a companion with them, and transport can be provided if needed.

Our indoor activities include quizzes, musical entertainment from local groups, sharing experiences, visiting speakers and chats over tea or coffee and cake. The trips out will also include refreshments or a full meal, and every year our outing to The Hut at Felixstowe is especially enjoyed.

Zip into Summer at Hollow Trees Farm

New members are very welcome. Contact:Valerie Parmenter on 824991 or Barbara Breeze on 808835.We look forward to meeting you.

Spend the summer holidays with us at Hollow Trees Farm and enjoy all we have to offer!

We have lots to offer to keep you coming back all summer, from the Cresta Run Sledges, Barrel Train, Football Golf and much more.

Boxford and Hadleigh Community Car Scheme

We also have a brand new activity which you can find near The Wild Walk, introducing the Double Zip Line - the perfect new activity to spend the summer on!

Available from Saturday 18 July to 31 Monday August 2026. Take a look at our website for more details.

We are looking for more volunteer drivers to take people to medical appointments. No regular commitment is required – just help out with a lift when you are able – fuel expenses paid. This is a much needed and highly appreciated service which has been running for years, so please join us! For more information please contact: Jen Eastwood on 01787 211853 or email: jen.eastwood8@gmail.com

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HADLEIGH CRIME REVIEW

As I am writing this article early, there will be no crime overview this month. I will aim to include an update in future articles.

As we head into the warmer months, there is typically an increase in anti-social behaviour incidents. Investigating these is a key part of my role as a community police officer. One common pattern in recent years has been teenagers kicking doors very hard, which I believe stems from a social media trend. This behaviour can be extremely upsetting for homeowners, particularly those who are vulnerable or have limited support.

Such actions can often amount to criminal offences, including criminal damage or harassment. Incidents that occur at someone’s home can have a greater impact, as it is a place where people should feel especially safe. Because of this, I investigate anti-social behaviour reports just as thoroughly as a crime.

Having some form of CCTV at your home or other vulnerable location can act as an excellent deterrent and also provide valuable evidence to help identify offenders. While I use a range of investigative methods, CCTV has, over the years, provided crucial evidence in many types of offences. It can offer useful clues about who is responsible and how the incident was carried out (modus operandi).

I would not recommend posting CCTV images online. Instead, report incidents directly to the police, who can use the footage without alerting offenders to what may or may not have been captured. Sharing footage publicly could allow offenders to see what CCTV evidence exists, which is more useful to police if it has not already entered the public domain.

If you are looking to improve your home security, you might consider installing a video doorbell as a more affordable alternative to a full CCTV system. Police currently recommend the Defender Video Doorbell, as it is “Secured by Design”. This means it has been tested against recognised security standards and approved by the police. This product can be purchased directly from the company’s website (defendersecurityproducts. co.uk) or from online retailers such as Amazon and eBay, and costs around £100. You will need Wi-Fi, a plug socket for the doorbell chime, and a smartphone to use an app. The device requires no subscription, is rechargeable, and comes with a memory stick, so it is ready to use after initial setup without any additional purchases. Other products labelled “Secured by Design” have also been independently tested and approved, including certain locks and alarm systems.

Having CCTV at your property is just one part of making your home more secure. People intending to cause trouble generally prefer not to be seen. In the best-case scenario, a visible camera deters them entirely. In the worst case, if an incident does occur, the footage can provide valuable evidence for the police.

Kind regards, PC 1293 Johnson – Community Police Officer.

Theatre in the walled garden and in the Hall

Hadleigh Old School, the arts and entertainment venue is about the welcome two touring theatre companies to the venue at 5 Bridge Street, to present their latest productions: one show from CASTLEPARK THEATRE will be performed al fresco as open air theatre at the end of August, the second with the ever popular COMMON GROUND THEATRE COMPANY on the usual stage inside the hall.

The Hay Wain plays Saturday 29th August 2026, doors open 630pm for 730pm show in the garden (if it rains, we move indoors), with seating provided, and a bar service before the performance & during the interval. Neil D’Arcy Jones, Artistic Director explains: “This highly acclaimed, atmospheric play with music has been described as East Anglia’s very own Les Misérables, bringing to life the people that populate the picture, lives defined not by simplicity and virtue, but by hardship, hope and resilience. Turning the traditional, bucolic, chocolate box ideal of The Hay Wain on its head, you’ll never look at the landscape in quite the same way again.” This show is staged as part of Constable 250, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable, who would become one of the most important of all British painters.

Box Office for The Hay Wain at www.castleparktheatre.co.uk with listing for Hadleigh Old School performance 29.8.26 (scroll down and follow the links!)

The Phantom of Friar Street has 3 performances: Saturday 17 October 5pm, Saturday 17 October 8pm, Sunday 17 October 8pm. Doors/bar open an hour before the show. Writer Pat Whymark provides an introduction: Part ghostly tale, part murder mystery, part love story, our autumn production this year has it all!Scares, shocks, and a spine-chilling twist in the tale await those brave enough to come with us to Friar Street. But there will also be humour, haunting live music & a heart-warming affirmation of undying love and loyalty.

Box Office for The Phantom of Friar Street at www.commongroundtc. co.uk (click on the poster for listings)

As ever free car parking adjacent to the Iron Bridge at IP7 6BY Hadleigh Suffolk. Please do not bring food or alcohol into the venue, a licenced bar is available.

County News

County Cllr Simon Dowling, Hadleigh Division (Green Party Group) Hadleigh, Kersey, Whatfield, Layham & Raydon

Suffolk County Council Annual General Meeting On Thursday 21 May, Suffolk County Council held its AGM and the first meeting of its new administrative term. Councillors from Reform UK, as the largest group at the council, were appointed to the positions of Leader (Cllr Michael Hadwen) and Chairman (Cllr Louis Busuttil), and members of the council’s Cabinet were announced. Two motions were also tabled at the meeting. My group proposed support for the translation service which supports families, Ukrainian guests, children seeking sanctuary who arrive alone, and offers British Sign Language for the hearing impaired. This motion was voted down by the Reform UK councillors. The second motion was originally tabled by the Labour group in favour of the proposed Northern Relief Road for Ipswich, but was subsequently amended and tabled by an Independent councillor and seconded by Reform. This motion was passed and detailed the council’s commitment to look into several options to reduce reliance on the Orwell Bridge and the impact on Ipswich traffic when it’s fully or partially closed. Removal of the Ukrainian flag at Endeavour House Flags remain a contentious issue around the country. Most recently in Suffolk, the Reform administration at the county council has taken down the Ukrainian flag at its headquarters in Ipswich, raising the St George cross instead. The council first raised the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with Ukraine when Russia invaded in 2022 and it has been flying since that time.

The council has been administering the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and hundreds of Suffolk residents have welcomed Ukrainian refugees into their homes. My group and other opposition groups at the council have criticised the decision to remove the flag of Ukraine and have emphasised their ongoing support for Ukraine during the conflict.

SEND update – follow-up visit by Ofsted

The official opposition at Suffolk County Council has expressed concerns about the latest judgement by Ofsted/CQC regarding SEND services in the county. The letter from Ofsted/CQC has been published on the Ofsted website following a monitoring visit in March 2026. Whilst they agreed that 80% of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) now completed on time was a significant milestone, inspectors noted ‘ineffective action’ when it came to governance and quality assurance processes. The service had been through a turbulent time with workforce changes, and parents reported that EHCPs were still subject to ongoing delays with poor communication. Too many education placements break down because of a lack of robust planning.

As the Green group’s deputy spokesperson for Children, Young People, Education and SEND, I commented: “It’s great to hear that the council is getting a grip on EHCPs and Annual Reviews. This is a significant milestone, and we know that employees in the SEND service are working incredibly hard to keep on top of these, given that the need for EHCPs is growing. We are asking the Reform UK administration to take this feedback extremely seriously, and to make further improvement an absolute priority for their first few months in office. It will take a great deal of hard work to make sure that recent improvement continues. We will be looking for reassurance that council leaders will make additional investment in SEND to accelerate the rate of improvement.”

Local Government Reorganisation update

The Reform UK leadership at Suffolk County Council has announced that it will be making a legal challenge to the government about local councils reorganisation on the basis that it does not want the county split in three.

For information on the plans for Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk, please see link to the website here: suffolklgrhub.gov. uk/

Highways update - surface dressing programme June-August New ways of working will be trialled as Suffolk Highways launches its annual surface dressing programme to help maintain and improve roads across the county. Surface dressing is a fast, efficient and sustainable way to maintain roads. It seals the surface, restores skid resistance and protects against water damage, helping extend road life and reduce the need for more costly repairs. Residents can support the works by moving vehicles from affected areas in advance, thus helping teams to complete the programme quickly and efficiently.

Families in Suffolk urged to claim Healthy Start support Families across Suffolk are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme, a national programme supporting pregnant women and families with young children. From April 2026, weekly payments have risen to:

• £4.65 per week for those who are more than 10 weeks pregnant

• £9.30 per week for children under one year old

• £4.65 per week for children aged one to four years

The payments are added to a prepaid Healthy Start card every four weeks and can be spent in a wide range of shops, including supermarkets, convenience stores and market stalls. Each eligible family can receive around £1,000 over the first four years of a child’s life, helping to cover the cost of essentials such as milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and infant formula. For families with more than one young child, the support available could amount to several thousand pounds over time.

The scheme is open to those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, and who are receiving certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. Some groups, including pregnant under-18s, may also qualify regardless of benefits.

Eligible families can also collect free Healthy Start vitamins from Suffolk Family Hubs, and additional support is available for some families who are not eligible for public funds. Residents can quickly check their eligibility and apply online at www.healthystart.nhs.uk,

or call the Healthy Start helpline on 0345 607 6823 for support,

& Sons pride themselves on offering a full and personal funeral service tailored to you or your family’s wishes, bespoke funeral plans and memorials suitable for any location and we never take commission from florists, probate companies, printers or caterers. We are pleased to offer free information and advice, without obligation.

to benefit from expanded apprenticeship support scheme Staff and businesses in Suffolk are set to benefit from new apprenticeship opportunities, with extra support now available to help employers recruit and upskill their workforce. Suffolk County Council is working in partnership with Apprenticeships Norfolk to build on the proven success of their Levy Support Scheme, which has seen more than £6 million transferred to over 280 businesses, supporting nearly 660 apprenticeship sized enterprises (SMEs), who make up the majority of Suffolk’s economy, stand to benefit the most, with levy transfers helping to remove financial barriers to training. The funding will help staff take on higher level training and gain professional qualifications

News from RDA Shelley

Now that summer is well and truly here the fundraising team at The Shelley Centre are working really hard at what is the peak time of year for us to be out and about encouraging support for the charity.

It costs in the region of £100,000 a year to run the centre so fundraising events are a critical element of that. We’re always grateful to everyone who supports us, whether that’s by doing their own fundraising, coming to something we put on at The Shelley Centre or supporting someone else who’s raising money – perhaps through an online fundraising page. We keep our supporters up to date with who’s raising money through sites such as JustGiving via a link on our website.

There are some events that have become real regulars on the calendar that we know many will save the date for well in advance.

The Hadleigh Show in May is one of them, where we get to meet lots of people who either generously support us by purchasing cakes and plants or may wish to find out more about our work and how to volunteer with us. Thank you if you came and saw us there this year and to all those who made cakes for us. In fact we’re always happy to hear from anyone who enjoys baking and might like to support our fundraising events in this way – volunteering on the fundraising side of things is as valued as

helping our riders with the RDA activities.

At the end of August we are delighted to once again be a beneficiary of the Big Day Small Country music festival at Nayland Village Hall. The first event in 2024 generously supported us and we’re really looking forward to its return this year. The family friendly event on Sunday August 30 will include music from Eddie Smith & the 507, Mim Grey and BearFootSoul among others. There’ll also be falconry displays, line dancing and of course plenty of food and drink for all tastes. Search online for the ticket website.

Last year we brought back an event that had also had loyal supporters over the years - our charity Long Distance Ride from the centre. It takes in some of the stunning countryside that surrounds us and was very well supported. This year we’re hoping to hold it in the autumn when the weather, and hopefully the ground, will allow us to to make even more of the event. We’ll have details on our website and socials as soon as we have set the date.

For the last few years we’ve held a charity dog show (pictured) in late summer at the centre itself too and all these – as well as our charity walks - are big events for our fundraisers and volunteers, working hard with the planning and on the day. In addition we’re always happy to discuss how we may help event organisers who are generous enough to make The Shelley Centre a beneficiary of their own event. Please do get in touch if you’d like to support us in this way.

Website: shelleyrda.com

Facebook: Shelley RDA Centre, Telephone: 01473 824172

Charity number 1113636

The Cock Inn

The Cock Inn

Hadleigh Suffolk

I’m sat at my desk bashing my keyboard. The sky is blue, a slight breeze and late 20’s to early 30’s are forecast by the Met Office. A few weeks ago, it was up in the low 30’s. Where am I? Hadleigh in sunny Suffolk of course. We’ve certainly had the strangest weather I can recall. In between the good we’ve had temps of 12 degrees, how strange. Our garden looks fantastic and with the addition of the later arrival of the hanging baskets, it’s a sight not to be missed. We’ve extra seating this year folks so please don’t be shy and pay us a visit. We’ve a summer cider and beer festival at the end of July too commencing Friday 31st running through till 3rd August so please call by and sample some delicious ciders, lagers and cooled cask ales (they won’t be warm folks as we have proper jackets and a remote cooler system). Lots of live music too.

A big thank you to DJ’s Chubby Rhino and Flumpy for organising the charity event staged at The Cock on Saturday 13th June. A more than full house raised funds for the Hadleigh Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub organised by Trevor Bygate. If you’ve never attended an old fashioned ‘Disco Night’ you are missing out. The event will be repeated at various times throughout the year. If you have not donated yet, please do on Just Giving and it only takes a minute or two. The hub supports the funding of Psychiatric Assessments and Therapy for vulnerable adults, young people and children. A great cause folks and it’s local too!

Have to comment on the soccer World Cup and after watching several early group games with so many boring draws, England certainly mean business. Our 4-2 win against a highly seeded team in Croatia was a great start and scoring four is not an easy thing to do in what are often very tactical and defensive group games. Onwards to the matches v Ghana and Panama of which both results will be known when you get to read this addition of the Community News. Talking points thus far, Spain being held by Cape Verdi, USA sticking 4 past Paraguay, Canada hitting 6 v Qatar and Scotland beating Haiti, though they may have needed more than a one goal advantage for next stage qualification later in the day. If we win group L we play on July 1st at 1am and if we are runners up, we play the following day. Should we be one of the best group losers we play…let’s not go there! It’s difficult to predict our path through July as we don’t know at the moment as to which route we will take. However, the round of 16 games is played on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th with the quarter finals on the 10th and 11th respectively. The semifinals are to be staged on the 14th and 15th with the final played in New York on Saturday 19th with a KO time of 8pm. All England games are shown on our GIANT Screen with most other matches available on our multi-screen TV’s, subject to KO times.

Talking about football was so sad to see that Keiran McKenna has left The Tractor Boys after winning promotion to the Premier League. He has decided to spend more time with his family, and you don’t often see that in the mad high money arena of top flight football. We wish him good luck. New manager? Favourite is Kjetil Knutsen though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being in the frame too along with Brendan Rogers, Gary Oh No O’Neil and Brian Barry-Murphy. As a none betting man I would go for Ole, but let’s see. I was so wrong about Man City winning the title. It’s a funny old game!

Anyone for tennis? Oh, after tea George! Wimbledon is in full swing, pardon the pun, including strawberries & cream. Quarter finals on the 7th and 8th, Semi’s on the 9th & 10th and the finals on the 11th and 12th. Will Novak win a 25th Major, Sinner is back too and expected to win the men’s singles again following glory last year. Aryna Sabalenka is expected to win but don’t rule out Rybakina. Join us for live coverage on our multi screens and why not try a strawberry floating in a pink gin. Two new Whitney Neil gin flavours for you to sample, Japanese Yuzu & White Strawberry and Elderflower & Korean Pear. Delicious. My favourite, Rhubarb & Ginger with an American Dry Ginger Ale.

Stumped again? An exciting month of cricket as England take on India in a T20 five match tournament starting on 1st July with further matches on the 4th, 7th, 9th and 11th. All live at The Cock Inn.

Speed merchants can watch (three Grand Prixs) commencing with

The Cock Inn

Traditionally run freehouse

The Cock Inn

Hadleigh’s largest selection of Cask Ales, Gin, Vodka, Whiskies and Wines plus a super glass froster for chilled lagers!

Hadleigh Suffolk

JULY live sport

FIFA World Cup 1st-2nd Round of 32 4th-5th Round of 16 10th-11th Quarter Finals 14th-15th Semi Final Sat 19th Final 8pm

F1 Grand Prix Sun 5th British G3pm Sun 19th Belgium 2pm Sun 26th Hungary 2pm

CricKet T20 England v India 1st ,4th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Wimbledon 9th & 10th Semi Finals 11th & 12th Finals

JULY what’s on Live Music Sat 4th The Kicks 8.45pm Sun 5th Annika Rands 3pm Sun 19th Three Steps to Heaven 3pm Fri 31st. Guest band. 8.45pm Events

31st- 3 Aug Summer Cider & Beer Festival 12-11pm Tue 7th Buskers Night 8pM, Tue 14th. Charity Quiz Night 8pm Tue 21st Open Mic with Jax 8pm Tue 28th Free pool 8pm Every Wednesday. Selection of Board Games always available for your enjoyment

All welcome

July Offers

Early Bird weekday drink offers 12-6pm. Double Up on most spirits only £2 extra, all day every day. World Cup Promo £1 off pints of ale, lager and cider during all England games ‘hydration breaks’ throughout the tournament.

The Cock Inn, 89 George Street, Hadleigh Tel 01473 941049 • FB: The Cock Inn Hadleigh Gang

the British GP from Silverstone on the 5th, Belgium on the 19th and Budapest, Hungary on the 26th. Hamiltons win in Barcelona, his first for Ferrari, put a stop to Kimi’s and Mercedes run of five wins on the tarmac. The only other winner this season is George Russel who won for Mercedes in Australia.

Music through July kicks off with the sensational Kicks on Saturday 4th. These guys are incredible and are one of East Anglia’s top bands. Arrive early as it’s a busy one and the fun starts at 8.45pm. The following day we welcome back Annika Rands for our Sunday afternoon Soiree starting at 3pm. Annika will take you back to the days when we oldies believe music was best. On Sunday 19th no introduction is required for the energetic 3 Steps to Heaven, again from 3 till 6pm. Dougy is a star and we love his vibes. Some great music is planned for the Cider & Beer weekend festival too starting on Friday 31st July. Watch the press for details.

We have just started to stock our range of guest ciders which will change every week through the summer months. What a range that includes scrummy ciders from the likes of Snailbank, Seacider, Saxby, Sandifords, Lilley’s, GYD, Broadoak and Farmer Jim. Just sipping an ice cool Thundering Molly brewed by Celtic Marches as I pen. You do know that we have our very own glass froster too, so we serve ciders and lagers in those chilled glasses that you often get to use while you are away in Spain and Greece etc.

Please do call in and pay us a visit. Local pubs are under the cosh as we battle with ever-rising costs and challenges created by increases in our energy bills, food costs and general price increases from many of our suppliers. Hopefully ‘Donalds Deal’ with Iran will allow some level of normality to return to the world stage and further provide the basis for an enjoyable summer.

Our recently developed holiday accommodation is open for bookings from July 9 (a minimum 3 nights) and is located next to the pub while the pub itself will operate a B&B facility from August. Please contact us for details

This hot weather makes one consume more fluids. Don’t dehydrate so make sure you drink plenty of our delicious fluids. Please drink often but responsibly.

MAYOR’S

DIARY- JUNE

Hello everyone,

Well, what a month it has been! Not only has it been my first month as Mayor of Hadleigh, but it has also been a wonderful introduction to just how much is going on in our town and the surrounding area. Not even a full day after being elected, I attended the welcoming of our friends from our twinned towns of Rousies, Ferrière-la-Grande and Ferrière-la-Petite in France. It was a real pleasure to meet our visitors and spend time with them during their stay. Twinning is such a valuable way of building friendships and understanding between communities, and it was lovely to see those connections in action. A huge thank you must go to Jane Marsland, Secretary of the Twinning Association, whose hard work and organisation help make these visits possible.

Something I’ve quickly discovered about being Mayor is that you get to see some wonderful traditions that have been taking place for generations. This month I attended the Clopton Rose Ceremony, accompanied by our excellent Town Guides, Jane and Sheila. The ceremony itself is steeped in history, and hearing the stories behind

it made me appreciate even more the rich heritage we have here in Suffolk. Jane and Sheila always seem to have another fascinating fact up their sleeves, and I learnt quite a bit during the day. My children’s favourite events this month was Hadleigh Hidden Gardens. I’ve always admired people who can transform a patch of land into something beautiful, and the gardens on display certainly didn’t disappoint. My two-year-old son was obsessed with the bees, butterflies and especially all the flowers! The amount of time, care and creativity that goes into them is remarkable. It was lovely to see so many people out and about enjoying the day, chatting with neighbours and visitors alike. Events like this really capture the community spirit that makes Hadleigh special. My thanks go to Frank Minns and everyone involved in organising such a successful event.

I also had the opportunity to represent Hadleigh at civic events in Felixstowe and Southwold. These occasions bring together mayors and civic leaders from across the county and are a great reminder that while every town has its own character, we all face similar challenges and share a desire to make our communities the best they can be. Of course, it also gave me the chance to tell people what a fantastic place Hadleigh is!

What has struck me most during my first few weeks as Mayor is the incredible number of people who quietly give their time to make things happen. Whether it’s organising events, preserving traditions, welcoming visitors or helping local groups, so much of what we enjoy in Hadleigh is made possible by volunteers. They are the heartbeat of our town and deserve our thanks.

I’m looking forward to the months ahead and to meeting many more of you along the way.

Until next month, take care and enjoy the summer.

Cllr Zunaid Saiyed

Is the Brett a healthy river?

The River Brett has been flowing through our community for centuries. If it could speak, it would tell stories of Suffolk’s historic wool trade, the ancient watermills that once relied on its currents and the local wildlife (like kingfishers and otters) that call its banks home. It would surely welcome any human activity that is working to protect its health.

human activity that is working to protect its health. The HEAT River Monitoring Group is a team of local volunteers who are carrying out regular sampling of the River Brett in order to measure and record the health of the river within the Hadleigh catchment area. The methodology we use conforms to 'RiverWatch', a citizen science project, which monitors the state of rivers across the country. RiverWatch is endorsed by The Rivers Trust, the national umbrella organisation that works towards improving the state of rivers in the UK and Ireland. Training and equipment were provided by the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust (ESRT), which manages the RiverWatch process locally. We record a range of observational and test data at 8 sampling locations along the Brett, from Chelsworth to Shelley. This includes measuring levels of potentially harmful chemicals, such as phosphates and ammonia, assessing water quality and noting possible pollution indicators. Any serious pollution incidents will be reported directly to The Environment Agency. Fortunately, no such incidents have so far been recorded on the Brett! Early indications appear to show that while there is scope for improvement, the Brett within the Hadleigh catchment area is in reasonable health. As over half of the rivers monitored on RiverWatch are classified as 'Bad' or 'Poor', we can perhaps take heart from this. However, it will take some time before we can establish a baseline figure to work with. Over the coming months, we hope to increase the scope of testing to include bacterial pollution such as E. coli and investigate practical measures that can help maintain and improve our river's wellbeing. For further information contact hadleigh.heat@hotmail.com

The HEAT River Monitoring Group is a team of local volunteers who are carrying out regular sampling of the River Brett in order to measure and record the health of the river within the Hadleigh catchment area. The methodology we use conforms to ‘RiverWatch’, a citizen science project, which monitors the state of rivers across the country. RiverWatch is endorsed by The Rivers Trust, the national umbrella organisation that works towards improving the state of rivers in the UK and Ireland.

Training and equipment were provided by the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust (ESRT), which manages the RiverWatch process locally. We record a range of observational and test data at 8 sampling locations along the Brett, from Chelsworth to Shelley. This includes measuring levels of potentially harmful chemicals, such as phosphates and ammonia, assessing water quality and noting possible pollution indicators.

Any serious pollution incidents will be reported directly to The Environment Agency. Fortunately, no such incidents have so far been recorded on the Brett!

Early indications appear to show that while there is scope for improvement, the Brett within the Hadleigh catchment area is in reasonable health. As over half of the rivers monitored on RiverWatch are classified as ‘Bad’ or ‘Poor’, we can perhaps take heart from this. However, it will take some time before we can establish a baseline figure to work with.

Over the coming months, we hope to increase the scope of testing to include bacterial pollution such as E. coli and investigate practical measures that can help maintain and improve our river’s wellbeing. For further information contact hadleigh.heat@ hotmail.com

Keith Avis Printers

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Sounds wonderful!

Hadleigh Productions would like to thank all those who turned out on a Sunday afternoon to attend a Sound Bath in The Ansell Centre, run by experienced sound practitioner, Louise Carpenter.

Comments from the feedback were very positive. One couple said “It was amazing – we will certainly come again” while another participant said “Thank you for a wonderful session” I’ll sleep well tonight! Feeling refreshed and grounded.”

For those of you who expressed an interest in attending the session, but were unable to do so, on the back of a very successful event, Louise has booked four further dates for Sound Baths at The Ansell Centre. 19 July, 27 September, 22 November and 21 February 2027.

For further details, please email louisecarpenter@proton.me

FitFRAME Physio & Gym –

Keeping Our Community Active

As we move into the summer months, we’d like to thank everyone who continues to support FitFRAME Physio & Gym. Since opening our doors, we’ve been proud to provide a welcoming, friendly and motivating environment where people of all ages and abilities can improve their health, fitness and wellbeing.

Whether you’re looking to start your fitness journey, return to exercise after injury, improve your sporting performance, or simply stay active, we offer a range of services designed to help you achieve your goals. Our modern gym is available through membership options as well as pay-as-you-go access, allowing you to train in a way that suits your lifestyle.

For those looking for additional support and accountability, our experienced team of Personal Trainers can provide tailored programmes and one-to-one coaching. We also run a variety of fitness classes throughout the week, including strength and conditioning sessions, cardio-based circuits, and classes specifically designed to improve balance, mobility and overall wellbeing.

Alongside our fitness services, we continue to offer expert Physiotherapy and Sports Massage treatments. Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing pain, preparing for an event or simply looking to move more comfortably, our healthcare professionals are here to help.

June was an exciting month for FitFRAME as we hosted our first Outdoor Fitness Challenge. With both adult and junior categories available, it was fantastic to see so many participants taking part, supporting one another and challenging themselves. The event was a great success and highlighted the strength of our local community. We hope to build on this momentum and organise more events in the future, so keep an eye on our social media channels and website for upcoming dates.

If you’d like to find out more about what we offer, discuss your fitness or rehabilitation goals, or simply come and have a look around the facility, we’d love to hear from you.

Email: claire@fitframephysio.com | Tel: 07900 440141 Website: www.fitframephysio.com

We look forward to welcoming you to FitFRAME Physio & Gym soon.

holidays. You can sign up

—come along, pick up your magnifying glass, and join our Curious the library!

Hadleigh Library News

At the end of May, we were delighted to welcome classes from Hadleigh Community Primary School before their well-earned half-term break. It’s always wonderful to see children enjoying the library, discovering new books, and developing a love of reading. Schools, nurseries or playgroups interested in arranging a visit are warmly invited to contact the Library Manager.

Friends of Hadleigh Library will be holding a children’s book sale. - proceeds will support the Friends, who we are very grateful to storage cabinet for our craft resources.

volunteers for a morning of half-term crafts on and Sidney Sock’ proved very popular as puppets and sharing stories inspired by the theme, Proud to be Me. More activities are

Looking ahead, preparations are underway for this year’s Summer Reading Quest. We hope to see lots of children continuing their reading journey over the summer holidays. You can sign up from Saturday 18th July—come along, pick up your magnifying glass, and join our Curious Creatures adventures around the library!

At the end of May, we were delighted to welcome classes from Hadleigh Community Primary School before their well-earned half-term break. It’s always wonderful to see children enjoying the library, discovering new books, and developing a love of reading. Schools, nurseries or playgroups interested in arranging a visit are warmly invited to contact the Library Manager. Looking ahead, preparations are underway for this year’s Summer Reading Quest. We hope to see lots of children continuing their reading journey over the summer holidays. You can sign up from Saturday 18 July. Come along, pick up your magnifying glass, and join our Curious Creatures adventures around the library!

keep an eye out!

To mark the launch, the Friends of Hadleigh Library will be holding a children’s book sale. Please do stop by and say hello - proceeds will support the Friends, who we are very grateful to for recently funding a new storage cabinet for our craft resources.

To mark the launch, the Friends of Hadleigh Library will be holding a children’s book sale. Please do stop by and say hello - proceeds will support the Friends, who we are very grateful to for recently funding a new storage cabinet for our craft resources.

“Message in a Bottle” Scheme. We are also support the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme. This initiative helps services quickly access essential key details and medical information emergency, including details of allergies, medications, and emergency bottles offer valuable peace of mind, are free and available from please feel free to pick one up.

Families joined our fantastic volunteers for a morning of half-term crafts on Wednesday 27th May. ‘Susie and Sidney Sock’ proved very popular as children enjoyed making sock puppets and sharing stories inspired by the National Year of Reading theme, Proud to be Me. More activities are planned for the summer, so do keep an eye out!

Families joined our fantastic volunteers for a morning of half-term crafts on Wednesday 27 May. ‘Susie and Sidney Sock’ proved very popular as children enjoyed making sock puppets and sharing stories inspired by the National Year of Reading theme, Proud to be Me. More activities are planned for the summer, so do keep an eye out!

We are also pleased to support the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme. This initiative helps emergency services quickly access essential key details and medical information in an emergency, including details of allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. The bottles offer valuable peace of mind, are free and available from the library - please feel free to pick one up.

Lions “Message in a Bottle” Scheme. We are also pleased to support the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme. This initiative helps emergency services quickly access essential key details and medical information in an emergency, including details of allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. The bottles offer valuable peace of mind, are free and available from the library - please feel free to pick one up.

with help from a healthcare and-carers

HADLEIGH PATIENT

PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG)

The column may look the same but the info varies each month so please take time to read on.

online service.

HADLEIGH PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP

IT Help: Once a month, Communities Together offer helpful IT advice in the upstairs room of the Hadleigh Library. The next session will take place on Tuesday 7 July from 10a.m to midday. Booking is essential as places are limited. Call Tracey 01449 707031 or email info@communitiestogether-ea.org

The column may look the same but the info varies each month so please take ReSPECT Forms: Have you filled in a ReSPECT form? If you are living with a life threatening or you have strong feelings about you end of life care, this document will give your professionals a clear understanding of your wishes regarding your should you become ill. The form will indicate if you want admitted to hospital or receive resuscitation. Forms are available to all at the Practice with help from a healthcare professional. Further information visit www.resus.org.uk/respect/respect-patientsand-carers

ReSPECT Forms: Have you filled in a ReSPECT form? If you are living with a life threatening or limiting illness or you have strong feelings about you end of life care, this document will give your family and healthcare professionals a clear understanding of your wishes regarding your care and treatment should you become ill. The form will indicate if you want to remain at home, be admitted to hospital or receive resuscitation. Forms are available to all at the Practice and can be completed with help from a healthcare professional. Further information visit www. resus.org.uk/respect/respect-patients-and-carers

Heidi: Some GPs are using this programme for clinical transcription. How does it work?

A patient’s consultation with the GP is recorded, transcribed, reviewed and amended by the GP and then added to the patient’s clinical records. Heidi helps reduce error rates, is highly accurate and allows clinicians to focus more fully on the patient during consultations. The information is not stored or shared. It has been approved and signed off by the ICB Data Protection Officer and is not part of Palantir Technologies. Patients are informed via Anima when Heidi may be used during their consultation and may opt out if they wish. Clinicians should also ask for a verbal agreement at the start of the consultation. For further back information visit www.heidihealth.com/en-gb/ product/how-it-works

The Patient Car Park: You are kindly reminded that these spaces are for the convenience of patients with a medical appointment or who are collecting medicine from the Pharmacy inside the Practice. It should not be used for any other purpose. Don’t forget to register your car inside the Practice if you use the Toppesfield Car Park. Failure to do so could incur a hefty fine.

Heidi:- Some GPs are using consultation with the GP is then added to the patient’s accurate and allows clinicians stored or shared. It has been Palantir Technologies. Patients and may opt out if they wish. For further back information

Anima:- Anima has been tweaked when it first came on stream and save yourself a telephone this online service.

Heidi:- Some GPs are using this programme for clinical transcription. How does consultation with the GP is recorded, transcribed, reviewed and amended by the GP then added to the patient’s clinical records. Heidi helps reduce error rates, is highly accurate and allows clinicians to focus more fully on the patient during consultations. stored or shared. It has been approved and signed off by the ICB Data Protection Officer Palantir Technologies. Patients are informed via Anima when Heidi may be used during and may opt out if they wish. Clinicians should also ask for a verbal agreement at the start For further back information visit www.heidihealth.com/en-gb/product/how-it-works

Boxford Community Car Scheme: This service is available for patients needing transport to hospital or Health Centre appointments. Contact Jen Eastwood on 01787 211 853 or jen. eastwood8@gmail.com

IT Help: Once a month, Communities Library. The next session places are limited. Call Tracey The Patient Car Park:- You patients with a medical appointment the Practice. It should not inside the Practice if you use Boxford Community Car Scheme:hospital or Health Centre jen.eastwood8@gmail.com

Anima: Anima has been tweaked and streamlined. It is more user friendly, you can do so much more than when it first came on stream and you can also access it via the NHS app. Check out all the new possibilities and save yourself a telephone call. This will then leave the telephone lines free for patients unable to use this

Anima:- Anima has been tweaked and streamlined. It is more user friendly, you can when it first came on stream and you can also access it via the NHS app. Check out and save yourself a telephone call. This will then leave the telephone lines free for this online service.

IT Help: Once a month, Communities Together offer helpful IT advice in the upstairs Library. The next session will take place on Tuesday 7th July from 10a.m to 12noon. places are limited. Call Tracey 01449 707031 or email info@communitiestogether-ea.org

Mental Health Worker: A GPs, improve preventing mental and wellbeing.

The Patient Car Park:- You are kindly reminded that these spaces are for the convenience patients with a medical appointment or who are collecting medicine from the Pharmacy the Practice. It should not be used for any other purpose. Don’t forget to register inside the Practice if you use the Toppesfield Car Park. Failure to do so could incur a hefty Boxford Community Car Scheme:- This service is available for patients needing transport hospital or Health Centre appointments. Contact Jen Eastwood on 01787 211 jen.eastwood8@gmail.com

Mental Health Worker: A Mental Health Practitioner in general practice acts as a bridge between patients, GPs, mental health services, and community support. Their role is designed to improve access to mental health care, provide early intervention and support in preventing further deterioration. This demanding role involves helping patients with mental health difficulties. They can provide both emotional and practical support and assist people with long term mental health conditions to cope and manage their wellbeing. This often means signposting patients to services best suited to their needs, especially if they struggle to do this themselves. A Mental Health Worker always collaborates with other clinicians involved in the patient’s care to ensure the best outcome for the patient. Giving their time and care often reduces pressure on GPs. Their specialist training also enables them to detect early signs of deterioration and safeguarding concerns and bring those to the attention clinical staff or emergency services when necessary. There may be other contributary factors affecting a patient’s mental well-being e.g. isolation, unemployment and bereavement to name just a few. It would greatly benefit the patient if a coping mechanism was put in place to help address these disturbing issues. A Mental Health Worker would be able encourage self-management, resilience and community engagement.

Out of Hours Doctor Call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk Website: www.hadleighhealth.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hadleigh-Boxford-Group-Practice PPG Chair/ Art Work: Jan Devey deveys@btinternet.com 01473 827091 or 07881 798999 Health Centre 01473 822 961

Repair Café

needs, especially if they struggle other clinicians involved in and care often reduces pressure deterioration and safeguarding when necessary. There may isolation, unemployment and mechanism was put in place encourage self-management,

Our next Repair Café is on Saturday 11th July 2026 in the Dining Room at the Hall, 10am till 12.30pm. Our volunteers who do a great job every other month, there to try and repair your electrical, material/textile/clothing, art, dolls, teddies, woodwork items. We also have books, CD’s and DVD’s available for a small tea/coffee and cake while you wait, come and visit us. For further information contact Bridget on 01473 823884 or office@hadleightowncouncil.gov.uk

Mental Health Worker: A Mental Health Practitioner in general practice acts as a bridge GPs, mental health services, and community support. Their improve access to mental health care, provide early intervention preventing further deterioration. This demanding role involves mental health difficulties. They can provide both emotional and assist people with long term mental health conditions to wellbeing. This often means signposting patients to services needs, especially if they struggle to do this themselves. A Mental Health Worker always other clinicians involved in the patient’s care to ensure the best outcome for the patient. and care often reduces pressure on GPs. Their specialist training also enables them deterioration and safeguarding concerns and bring those to the attention clinical staff when necessary. There may be other contributary factors affecting a patient’s isolation, unemployment and bereavement to name just a few. It would greatly benefit mechanism was put in place to help address these disturbing issues. A Mental Health encourage self-management, resilience and community engagement.

Out of Hours Doctor

Art Work:Health Centre

Our next Repair Café is on Saturday 11 July 2026 in the Dining Room at the New Town Hall, 10am until 12.30pm.

Our volunteers who do a great job every other month, will be there to try and repair your electrical, material/textile/clothing, art, dolls, teddies, and woodwork items.

Doctor Call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk Website:- www.hadleighhealth.co.uk Facebook:- www.facebook.com/Hadleigh-Boxford-Group-Practice102959274690621/ PPG Chair/ Art Work:- deveys@btinternet.com

We also have books, CDs and DVDs available for a small donation, tea/coffee and cake while you wait, come and visit us. For further information contact Bridget on 01473 823884 or office@hadleightowncouncil.gov.uk

or

appreciate every large and small valued individual offering! At the end of each trip I create a video of thanks and

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor and readers,

Centre (donated for medical supplies), Mission Ukraine. As well as the faithful British locals helping these endeavours, there are numerous resident Ukrainians being active in many ways, for which I am so grateful. Olena, Natalie and Sasha being such key local partners, but of course many in Ukraine too!

Thanks very much to everyone who took part in the exhibition, The Celebration of Angels, at St Mary’s Church Hadleigh. And particular thanks to Reverend Jo and the church for helping and hosting it. I enjoyed being an integral part of the show, and to have so many different artist interpretations of angels to exhibit was great fun. Thank you to all who came.

I’m a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild, who themselves created the standards and guidelines for art framing together with picture printing. I continually work to these requirements.

Home or office visits are available.

Sassoon trained hair stylist offering high quality, eco-friendly services within a relaxing atmosphere. Call to book: 07517 874342 Facebook | @AliceCapriottiHairStylist Instagram | @alicecapriottihair The Black Barn, Hall Road, Lavenham CO10 9QX Book online: WWW.ALICECAPRIOTTI.CO.UK

Following discussions about your requirements, in situ you’ll see the various framing options.

Please contact me: 07769 858076 www.alb-framing.co.uk info@alb-framing.co.uk

Call Hazel Bradshaw, Church Walk Studio, Hadleigh. 07432 138966 for classes and information

Thank you

Hello everyone

Hazel Bradshaw

I am encouraged that there remains such a high level of local compassion and wise concern for the sufferings of Ukraine. James Cartlidge MP welcomed me back with a local coffee and encouragement for the continuation of this work. I am touched by the example of the “Mens Room” barbers who donated my haircut fee, on a hasty visit this week! The Ukrainian recipients of your care tell me it is “priceless”!

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the staff at Hadleigh Town Council for all their hard work and commitment and to all the residents in Hadleigh who supported, encouraged, provided tea and friendship during my tenure as Mayor over the last two years.  I have had a fantastic two years and learnt so much about Hadleigh and the people who live here. On the basis that every day is a school day, biggest lesson: Hadleigh people really do the most amazing things.  Your compassion, care and cheer make Hadleigh an amazing place to live.

The new Mayor Cllr. Zunaid Saiyed is relishing the task and will be a fantastic Mayor.  I wish him every success. With best wishes

I have already received some support towards the next trip, but much is needed still in addition to the funds required for delivery (fuel, ferry, return travel costs etc – I pay for food etc and any cheap hotel needed ); a 4x4 vehicle for the usual conversion to front line recovery transport, the priority material items (eg; medical etc and hygiene, vehicle maintenance tools, generators, high quality thermal clothing only – nothing less can be afforded the very limited space, blankets etc). If you wish to assist please contact me on the number below, use https://gofund.me/cb2f46a8 or access the QR code to donate via my “GoFundMe” (administered by registered charity BUA), or liaise with a relevant community group. My sincere thanks, and on behalf of Ukrainian recipients, to all who help in any way.

David Jacobs - Tel: 07500 531901

“Hadleigh Open Gardens 2026”.

Sue Monks

We would like to thank all those that attended the open gardens in such awful weather.

A special thank you to those who visited our garden in Raven Way and supported our chosen charity – EACH (East Anglian’s Children’s Hospices). Your generosity enabled us to donate over £500 to EACH on your behalf.  Health permitting we hope to open in the future and would love to see you all another year when hopefully you can relax and linger in our garden rather than shiver and get wet!

Thank you all again.

Angie and David Wild

Energy on Tap Limited

Installing SOLAR PV & BATTERY STORAGE in Hadleigh and the surrounding area since 2012

Please keep a look out on our Facebook page and notice board for information on upcoming entertainment.

All are welcome to use and join the club. We support the Local Branch and Poppy Appeal. For more details you can nd us on Facebook Email: rblchadleigh@gmail.com

NEWS FROM YOUR BABERGH COUNCILLORS

Jane Carruthers

jane.carruthers@babergh.gov.uk

Phone: 0751 4951196

Simon Dowling

simon.dowling@babergh.gov.uk

Phone: 0751 4951185

Better Recycling

Hopefully by the time you read this everyone will have their new bins. If you still haven’t, please email recycling@baberghmidsuffolk. gov.uk to report this including your full address. Meanwhile continue to use your existing bins, putting paper and card into your blue bin, which will still be recycled and food waste into the black bin. Put out bins for collection as per the new schedule and start to use your new bins once they arrive.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

The Future Suffolk website was launched on 15 May suffolklgrhub. gov.uk to provide information about LGR and a single point of contact for residents, allowing us to submit any questions, comments and thoughts.

The website includes:

• Clear explanations on LGR

• A timeline of key milestones

• Maps of the new council boundaries

• An interactive map showing provisional ward names and boundaries

• Information on councillor numbers – Hadleigh will have two Elections for the new councils will take place in May 2027.

Hadleigh High Street and Streets Public Consultation

Suffolk County Council (SCC) want to improve the High Street and other streets in Hadleigh as part of Suffolk’s Local Transport Plan and Area Transport Plans, using central government funding.

We have been involved with this, meeting the Active Travel Project Manager from SCC and the Sustainable Travel Manager from Babergh to look at ways of improving streets in Hadleigh.

The consultation seeks views on:

• Making Hadleigh High Street safer

• Improving it for people walking, wheeling and cycling

• Supporting a more attractive and vibrant High Street environment

• Simplifying traffic movement on the High Street, including the possibility of a single traffic direction

• Potential 20mph speed limits in some areas to improve safety and comfort

A leaflet about this was included in the June edition of the Hadleigh Community News.

The consultation runs from Monday 15 June to Monday 20 July atsuffolk.gov.uk/currentactivetravelprojects

Printed copies are available on request by contacting: Customer. services@suffolk.gov.uk or phoning: 0345 603 1842.

There will be two drop-in events where maps of proposed changes can be viewed and questions asked. These will be held at The Guildhall on:

Saturday 4 July 11am – 2pm and Thursday 9 July 5-7 pm.

Heating Oil Help

Babergh is working with Citizens Advice services to let people know that funding from central government is available for low-income households to help with the cost of heating oil. They’re writing to residents who might be eligible but who have not yet claimed.

You can check to see if you’re eligible and apply for support by visitingsuffolk.gov.uk/community-and-safety/communities/

healthier/suffolk-local-welfare-assistance-scheme or by contacting Citizens Advice in Sudbury sudburycab.org.uk or at the Ansell Centre on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 9.30am to 12.30pm. They can help with applications, whether you have been contacted by the council or not.

Information on community oil-buying schemes, interest-free loans and energy advice is also available on the council’s website: Energy, fuel and utilities - Babergh District Council - babergh.gov.uk / midsuffolk.gov.uk

Joint Local Plan Scoping Consultation

The Joint Local Plan is a planning document which guides decisions on housing, jobs, infrastructure, town centres, the environment, transport and community facilities in Babergh and Mid Suffolk. Councils are legally required to maintain an up-to-date Local Plan. The existing Joint Local Plan Part 1 was adopted in 2023, but national planning reforms and updated housing requirements mean further plan preparation is now needed.

This consultation will help inform the evidence gathering and planmaking process.

It is the first opportunity for residents and organisations to help shape the new Local Plan before it is written. At this stage, decisions are not being made about specific development sites.

The Scoping Consultation opened on 5 June and runs until 31 July. There is an online questionnaire at babergh.gov.uk/joint-localplan-scoping-consultation with printed copies available at council offices and libraries.

We are continuing with a Joint Local Plan despite LGR as the government has said that councils should continue plan-making using existing boundaries. They have also provided funding. Suffolk’s local authorities have been working together on local plan preparation to support a consistent approach and effective crossboundary working ahead of LGR.

Lidl

Babergh’s Planning Committee accepted the planning officer’s recommendation to refuse the application for Lidl. The reasons are summarised below:

1. The site is ‘out of centre’ and outside of the settlement boundary of Hadleigh. The development would be likely to have a significant adverse impact upon shops and the health of Hadleigh town centre. There was concern that the Co-op, which is important to the wider health and attractiveness of the town centre would be negatively affected.

The proposal was found to have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Hadleigh town centre and went against the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Paragraphs 94b and 95, the Babergh Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan (JLP) Policies LP11 Part 3 and SP03.

2. An acceptable waste water treatment method had not been provided.

3. The undeveloped site provides a buffer between employment land and the countryside. It was considered that too many trees were going to be removed with limited replacements having a detrimental effect on the immediate rural character of the site and its surroundings. This is contrary to policies LP17 (1) and LP24 of the JLP, Policy HAD1 of the Hadleigh Neighbourhood Plan, and paragraph 135 of the NPPF.

on 4th July

Hadleigh Garden Club

“Right plant, right place” was the topic presented by Alice Owen recently.

Her talk focused on shrubs and the importance of knowing your soil type.

I’m sure we have all purchased a plant for its colourful flowers or attractive foliage, only to find it isn’t happy where we plant it.

Don’t be afraid to dig it up and move it to more suitable position in your garden.

Enrich poor soil with organic compost if possible. The shrub will reward you for years to come.

Consider different levels when choosing shrubs to give interest with height and texture.

Plus watering of course . Gosh wasn’t the heatwave in May a challenge. Waterbutts empty and lawns dry and yellow. But we gardeners cope and things survive...mostly !

We do not have a meeting in July as a coach trip has been organised to East Ruston Vicarage garden in Norfolk . But we are back in the Guildhall on August 17 at 7.30 pm with a talk from Fincham Farm Flowers .

The competition is three tomatoes on a plate . We look forward to welcoming you; members £2 , visitors £4. Our raffle and refreshments complete the evening. For more details contact Angie on 07946744457 or hadleighgardenclub@gmail.com

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Hadleigh Evening Women’s Insitute

Ukraine Aid Update

Last month the Amblers and Lunch Bunchers joined forces when they visited the exhibition in Constable Hall commemorating the 250th anniversary of John Constable’s birth.  The WI group to which we belong had an exhibit which traced where Constable was born and brought up and where much of his early landscape painting was done, including the famous Hay Wain at Flatford.  We could be truly proud of Jane Haylock’s ‘river’ that ran across the table and Sonia White’s photograph of the many sites the Amblers have visited over the months.

Arboricultural equipment | Brushcutters & lawn trimmers

Blowers & Vacuums | Chainsaws and Forestry equipment Hedge trimmers | Lawnmowers | Pressure washers

Ride-on mowers and accessories | Rotavators / Cultivators Shredders and Chippers

This month the Amblers are returning to Felixstowe on the 8 July and the Lunch Bunch to Brantham Bull on the 9 July.  Bookworms are discussing June’s Leah Pitt’s The Beach Hut and bringing along a Jane Austen book of their choice.

We continue to be grateful for the toiletry and luxury items we are receiving for Love Grace, including the preloved handbags. Recycling has really taken off, especially the blister packs and egg boxes.  We also collect white plastic container tops.

I returned from my 11th trip to Ukraine, on 16 January ‘24, the journey having been delayed due to car preparation requirements and then very severe weather just before Christmas. In October ‘23, I mentioned the intended purchase, in Ukraine, of a new car carrying road trailer, which I have now directly seen in action! The large generator requested did not materialise from Suffolk but a new request, for a dialysis machine was received (from a military hospital). Within 9 days the exact model required had been located, technically approved and funds raised! But the requesting hospital no longer required it as they had been able to source four machines, so it was purchased by British Ukrainian Aid (who remain an active support for me) and redirected to another hospital. With donors’ ready agreement, the funds were used for my latest trip, transport and specialist supplies costs. I have also been able to take a fourth ‘John Grose’ free loaned Luton van load of living aids continually donated from ‘Medequip’ to the Ukrainian warehouse in London.

This month we will be welcoming Lindsay from HEAT who will be telling us about the organisation’s aims and objectives, also the plans for next year’s River Festival.

This mission I was fortunately accompanied by Viktor, a Ukrainian man, as co-driver from the UK to his home town of Kyiv. Very grateful for his experience of negotiating the snow and ice covered country roads! I then completed the remaining cross country deliveries, of the car and supplies, alone, rested a couple of days and then handed over the frontline prepared car the mechanics had worked their long hours of magic on!

We meet in the Seminar Room of the Library on the third Tuesday. Unfortunately, we now have a waiting list.  For more information contact the secretary Glenn Abbassi on 07870 312409 or the president Sheila Webb on 01473 827554 We

It is always a long slow journey home via various means, but satisfying to know the deliveries achieved and all possible done. There are always so many people contributing to enable these trips and support to be provided – and regrettably not the space to publicly appreciate every large and small valued individual offering! At the end of each trip I create a video of thanks and send personally to all I have contact

NATURE COACHING CONNECTION

Join Step It Out to make space for clarity, connection and one step forward.

Step in with a question, a worry, a hope, a decision, a feeling, a thought, or a wish for clarity.

Step away with a shift, a reflection, a possible answer, a next step or simply feeling clearer, lighter, braver, calmer, and more supported.

These sessions help you step away from everyday pressure, connect with others, reflect on what you are carrying, and leave with a little more clarity and confidence.

Monthly sessions for Professionals , Adults and Families

£20 per session | Hadleigh Booking Essential - Scan to book!

Unmask Your Potential Launches ‘Step It Out’ - A New Coaching Experience Connecting Nature,

Confidence and Community

Unmask Your Potential is proud to announce the launch of Step It Out, a new initiative that brings together coaching, nature and human connection. These outdoor coaching sessions are designed for Professionals, Adults and Families, offering a refreshing and accessible way to explore personal growth.

Step It Out was inspired by founder Helen Kent’s own journey. After leaving a long career in education and headship, Helen turned to coaching to rediscover her direction and confidence.

“Walking away from headship lifted a huge weight, but I needed clarity about what came next,” says Helen. “Coaching helped me uncover the answers I already had - I just needed the confidence to trust them.”

Much of Helen’s reflection took place outdoors - walking her dogs, spending time in her garden, and reconnecting with the natural world.

“Step It Out came from the feeling that every step can help shift something,” says Helen. “As we walk, we press into the ground, move forward, and give our thoughts, questions and ideas space to unfold. It is about walking things through and finding the next step.”

A Powerful First Step

The first Step It Out session took place in May with a diverse group, including parents, professionals, self-employed individuals and those between roles. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive and has shaped the programme now being launched.

How Step It Out Works

Each session follows a simple, grounding format:

HCN February 24 layout.qxp_Layout 1 24/01/2024 13:35 Page 5

Curious? Let’s Chat 07944 927395 | Support@UnmaskYourPotential.com www.UnmaskYourPotential.com

St Mary’s Renewal A Community Project

Vestry Renewal:- The Vestry open day on 19th January generated a great deal of interest. Over 80 visitors braved the cold outside to view the transformation which has taken place in this previously dark, dank little, but important, room hidden away in the corner of the church. Still small but now light, airy and above all warm, it was a pleasure for members of the Renewal Team (RT) to be present to answer any questions about the refurbishment. A photographic display of the work in progress and artefacts which came to light when the floor was dug up were also on display. The generosity of the Friends of St Mary’s enabled the vital work to be done.

Professional accountancy services with a personal touch

The Church Display:- A new display outlining St Mary’s Past, Present and Future is on show for visitors to enjoy. It also clearly demonstrates the evolution of the building from its very simple beginnings to its present-day iconic presence in the town. The renewal initiative is part of the ongoing process to meet the needs of worshippers and community.

Accounts Preparation

Bookkeeping, Payroll & VAT

Management Reporting Company Secretarial Services

Heating and Lighting:- After much research the RT has found an affordable solution to ensure that the Church is a comfortable venue all the year round for church users. 14 beautiful heating and lighting units will adequately meet the challenge of heating and lighting this cavernous space. These attractive hanging units can be used collectively or separately as the need arises. Pledges:- The estimated cost of each unit is approximately £10,000. The challenge is now on to raise sufficient money for their acquisition and installation. The RT will be pulling out all the stops to engage as many folks as possible in its fund-raising efforts. At this stage we are looking for generous sponsors within the community to ‘pledge’ money to pay for all or part of a light. Pledge Forms and Gift Aid Declarations are available in the church or from davidhoyle1967@gmail.com. Your pledges are vital. They will not only pay for the units but also pave the way to larger, national funding opportunities.

Personal Tax & Returns

Making Tax Digital

Software Training & Assistance

Specialist Tax Advice & Planning

To discuss your accountancy and taxation requirements please feel free to contact us – our initial meetings are free!

Hadleigh Office

In Loving Memory:- Understandably, the first run of Bryan Haylock’s new book has sold out so Jane is having a second run printed. Whether you are familiar or not with Bryan’s quirky humour and brilliant cartoons why not enjoy a selection of both in “What Ho”? It can be purchased for £5 from the Idler and Avis Newsagents. Jane will donate the profits to the Friends of St Mary’s. Don’t miss the opportunity to remember Bryan’s unique work in this delightful publication in his memory and support the Church’s renewal initiative at the same time.

T: 01473 657000

9 Byford Court

Crockatt Road

Hadleigh, Ipswich

Suffolk IP7 6RD

E: info@suffolk.tax W: www.suffolk.tax With offices in Hadleigh, Ipswich & Felixstowe

Saint Valentine:- With love in the air this month, aspiring romantics will be pleased to know that, once the heating and lighting problem has been addressed, weddings will no longer be confined to the warmer months of the year. The upgraded kitchen facilities will also pave the way for in-house

• Participants meet in Hadleigh and begin with a gentle walk to a beautiful open field.

• On arrival, refreshments and seating await, creating a calm space to settle in.

• Helen then leads a coaching session using reflective activities and peer connection to help participants explore challenges, shift perspective and uncover their own solutions.

• The aim is not to fix each other’s problems, but to listen, reflect and support one another in seeing what is already within reach.

• The session ends with a relaxed walk back, offering time for conversation or quiet reflection.

Who the Sessions Are For

Unmask Your Potential welcomes anyone looking for clarity, confidence and connection. Sessions are available for:

• Professionals – adults in employment or self-employment seeking to develop confidence, communication and direction

• Adults – individuals wanting space to reflect, reconnect and grow

• Families – parent-and-child sessions focused on communication, confidence and shared understanding Sessions are held monthly in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Helen looks forward to welcoming new participants and supporting them as they take their next steps - outdoors, together, and with purpose.

To book your place: https://unmaskyourpotential.com/event/

ST MARY’S RENEWAL A COMMUNITY PROJECT

ST MARY’S RENEWAL - A COMMUNITY PROJECT

RT - Renewal Team. CIL - Community Infrastructure Levy. DAC - Diocesan Advisory Commi

Key: RT - Renewal Team. CIL - Community Infrastructure

Levy. DAC - Diocesan Advisory Committee.

MARY’S RENEWAL - A COMMUNITY PROJECT

Community Infrastructure Levy. DAC - Diocesan Advisory Committee.

Hidden Gardens: St Mary’s iconic interior played its part in this annual town event. It provided the perfect place to meet and greet prospective visitors wan ng gardens, Deanery Tower or Belfry plus a dry alternative when the weather turned. The Cra Fair and delicious refreshments were a welcome addition and both contributed to the overall financial success of the day. This amounted to over £5.000. The money will go towards the never ending repair costs to keep this historical Grade 1 building fit for worship and community use. Sincere thanks to all who worked relessly to make it happen and to the garden visitors who supported their efforts in spite of the inclement weather.

interior played its part in this annual town event. It provided the perfect greet prospective visitors wanting to tour the participating gardens, Belfry plus a dry alternative when the weather turned. The Craft Fair and refreshments were a welcome addition and both contributed to the overall the day. This amounted to over £5.000. The money will go towards the costs to keep this historical Grade 1 building fit for worship and Sincere thanks to all who worked tirelessly to make it happen and to the supported their efforts in spite of the inclement weather. charity was delighted to take advantage of the spacious interior and pews created by a small army of home knitters and crochet experts. It was not creations but also their first chance to meet fellow knitters and the who came to collect the blankets. Philippa will distribute the items, hospitals, schools, care homes, mother and baby groups and individuals in

Project Linus UK: This invaluable charity was delighted to take advantage of the spacious interior and pews to display the colourful blankets created by a small army of home kni ers and crochet experts. It was not only an opportunity to show off their creations but also their first chance to meet fellow kni ers and the

Hidden Gardens: St Mary’s iconic interior played its part in this annual town event. It provided the perfect place to meet and greet prospective visitors wanting to tour the participating gardens, Deanery Tower or Belfry plus a dry alternative when the weather turned. The Craft Fair and delicious refreshments were a welcome addition, and both contributed to the overall financial success of the day. This amounted to over £5.000. The money will go towards the never-ending repair costs to keep this historical Grade 1 building fit for worship and community use. Sincere thanks to all who worked tirelessly to make it happen and to the garden visitors who supported their efforts in spite of the inclement weather. Project Linus UK: This invaluable charity was delighted to take advantage of the spacious interior and pews to display the colourful blankets created by a small army of home knitters and crochet experts. It was not only an opportunity to show off their creations but also their first chance to meet fellow knitters and the Charity’s Area Rep, Philippa Knights, who came to collect the blankets. Philippa will distribute the items, affectionately known a ‘hugs,’ to hospitals, schools, care homes, mother and baby groups and individuals in need of a comfort blanket.

Charity’s Area Rep, Philippa Knights, who came to collect the blankets. Philippa will distribute the items, affectionately known a ‘hugs,’ to hospitals, schools, care homes, mother and baby groups and individuals in need of a comfort blanket.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Visit The Vestry:- FREE ENTRY on Saturday 18th July 10.30a.m to 3pm. This important part of St Mary’s was the first to benefit from a tasteful makeover. There is an opportunity to view the refurbishment and its ancient architectural features. Fascinating items which were discovered under the floor will be on display. It will also be possible to visit the ringing chamber in the tower and hear tales of Hadleigh when it was governed from the Vestry. Local history books will be on sale and as ever light refreshments will be available too.

Saturday 18th July 10.30a.m to 3pm. This important benefit from a tasteful makeover. There is an refurbishment and its ancient architectural features. discovered under the floor will be on display. It will also chamber in the tower and hear tales of Hadleigh when Local history books will be on sale and as ever light

Visit The Vestry: FREE ENTRY on Saturday 18 July 10.30a.m to 3pm. This important part of St Mary’s was the first to benefit from a tasteful makeover. There is an opportunity to view the refurbishment and its ancient architectural features. Fascinating items which were discovered under the floor will be on display. It will also be possible to visit the ringing chamber in the tower and hear tales of Hadleigh when it was governed from the Vestry. Local history books will be on sale and as ever light refreshments will be available too.

Hadleigh’s Last Night of the Proms:- Saturday 24 October 7 for 7.30pm We are constantly trying to think of ways to engage the community and raise money for the renewal programme at the same me. Two years ago an enthusiastic audience enjoyed Hadleigh’s version of the Last Night of the Proms. If you enjoyed it then why not come back for more? If you missed it why not come along and see for yourself ? Tickets are £15.00 and will be on sale every Friday morning at Café Church plus other venues in the town nearer the time. There will be a beer and wine bar together with the customary flag waving, singing and bobbing up and down. The Hadleigh Orchestra, local singers and a youth orchestra will perform the traditional much loved musical programme. All proceeds to St Mary’s Renewal Project

Saturday 24th October 7 for 7.30pm We are think of ways to engage the community and raise money for the renewal same time. Two years ago an enthusiastic audience enjoyed Hadleigh’s Night of the Proms. If you enjoyed it then why not come back for more? and see for yourself ? Tickets are £15.00 and will be on sale every Friday venues in the town nearer the time. There will be a beer and wine bar waving, singing and bobbing up and down. The Hadleigh Orchestra, local perform the traditional much loved musical programme. All proceeds to St

and good food Café Church is the place to be on a Friday morning from a try and sample Andrew’s elaborate menu delicious freshly cooked concerns you may have to a member of the Town Council. Jim Wilding Prom tickets. The monthly Craft Market with some attractive, locally Other family orientated get togethers are advertised in the colourful St magazine. Come and support the Church and enjoy all that St Mary’s has to offer. davidhoyle1967@gmail.com office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk 01473 824 987 jessicanevard@btinternet.com 01473 822 671 sandrews518@live.co.uk> james4margaret@gmail.com 07419 325 713 deveys@btinternet.com 07881 798 999

Café Church: For convivial company and good food Café Church is the place to be on a Friday morning from 9.30a.m to 12 noon. Why not give it a try and sample Andrew’s elaborate menu delicious freshly cooked dishes? You can also bring any local concerns you may have to a member of the Town Council. Jim Wilding and or Jan Devey will also be selling Prom tickets. The monthly Craft Market with some attractive, locally created items will on Friday 3rd July. Other family orientated get togethers are advertised in the colourful St Mary’s entry elsewhere in this magazine. Come and support the Church and enjoy all that St Mary’s has to offer. David Hoyle (Donations) davidhoyle1967@gmail.com.

Emma Fleming-Ovens (Office) office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk 01473 824 987

Jess Janas (Craft Stalls) jessicanevard@btinternet.com 01473 822 671

Hadleigh’s Last Night of the Proms: - Saturday 24 October 7 for 7.30pm. We are constantly trying to think of ways to engage the community and raise money for the renewal programme at the same time. Two years ago an enthusiastic audience enjoyed Hadleigh’s version of the Last Night of the Proms. If you enjoyed it then why not come back for more? If you missed it why not come along and see for yourself? Tickets are £15 and will be on sale every Friday morning at Café Church plus other venues in the town nearer the time. There will be a beer and wine bar together with the customary flag waving, singing and bobbing up and down. The Hadleigh Orchestra, local singers and a youth orchestra will perform the traditional much loved musical programme. All proceeds to St Mary’s Renewal Project Café Church: For convivial company and good food Café Church is the place to be on a Friday morning from 9.30 am to midday. Why not give it a try and sample Andrew’s elaborate menu delicious freshly cooked dishes? You can also bring any local concerns you may have to a member of the Town Council. Jim Wilding and or Jan Devey will also be selling Prom tickets. The monthly Craft Market with some attractive, locally created items will on Friday 3 July. Other family orientated get togethers are advertised in the colourful St Mary’s entry elsewhere in this magazine. Come and support the Church and enjoy all that St Mary’s has to offer.

David Hoyle (Donations) davidhoyle1967@gmail.com.

Sue Andrews (Vestry Book Sale) sandrews518@live.co.uk> Jim Wilding (Prom tickets) james4margaret@gmail.com 07419 325 713 Jan Devey (Prom tickets) deveys@btinternet.com 07881 798 999

Emma Fleming-Ovens office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk 01473 824 987

Jess Janas (Craft Stalls) jessicanevard@btinternet.com 01473 822 671

Church Website stmaryshadleigh.co.uk

Jim Wilding (Prom tickets) james4margaret@gmail.com 07419 325 713

Jan Devey (Prom tickets) deveys@btinternet.com 07881 798 999

HADLEIGH’S “NEVER-CAME” CANAL

If

the canal idea had been successful – where would it have been?

When you read this section, please bear in mind that these notes are compiled from a hand-drawn map that may date from Rennie’s first survey in the 1790s. Since writing the second item in this series Suffolk Records Office have found another document

Ref B/105/12/8.1 enables me to explain some details of the route they actually expected to take through Hadleigh.

I believe the map was prepared solely to get Parliamentary Approval for the route – (probably in 1833) and shows very little other detail. It is very small-scale and of doubtful accuracy, Calais Street for instance is strangely shaped and has almost disappeared under the red ink-line marking the route: Bridge Street is not shown at all.

The High Street at that time was probably little more than a loose-stone road carrying only equestrian traffic, so the canal crossing it may not have caused as much disruption as we imagine!

Rennie had surveyed the Lavenham to Hadleigh section as either via Bildeston and Nedging Mill, or Monks Eleigh and Nedging Mill, where the routes converge. Records in both the Suffolk Records Office (Ref B/105/12/8.1 and 2) and a notice in the Ipswich Journal (1833) indicate that he intended to use the Monks Eleigh route. In Hadleigh

Canalling the Brett did not mean digging out and altering the existing river channel. Rennie was to have dug an entirely new channel, avoiding the need to straighten bends or clear trees. He would not have wanted to move too far from the river, however, because it would have provided the water supply. I haven’t found any information about what he planned to do with the excavated soil, but he could have used it to keep floodwater out of his canal. If we consider Kersey Mill as the starting point. The canal was to have approached Kersey Mill from the Semer direction, on the Whatfield side of the river and was to be set several metres away from the river’s edge. It bypassed the mill and followed the river’s general line through Stone Street in an almost continuous curve (still on the Whatfield side of the river). The curve continued as far as Peyton Hall, where it then “loops” to the right partially encircling the Aldham/Peyton Mill before heading towards Hadleigh. (The map isn’t very accurate and doesn’t show what he intended to do about the road, but creating enough room to almost circumnavigate the mill would have required major alterations to the lower part of Whatfield Hill) Once clear of the Mill, it was to have “sort of” followed the line of Whatfield Road between the road and river, as far as the end of Calais Street.

The canal was then scheduled to cross the High Street. As it approaches the High Street it straightens for a short distance before crossing it – somewhere between the Calais Street/Bridge Street road junction and the former “Shoulder of Mutton” Pub (Now “The Shoulder House”) There is no real detail, but “best-guess” is that it was to have been close to the former Blacksmiths workshop at the end of High Street.

There is nothing to show how he intended to maintain access to Calais Street or Bridge Street. (Bridge Street is not shown on the map anyway.)

Even these small canals were substantial! The “cut” itself might have been about 3 metres wide, plus banks, a towpath and edging strip it would have added up around 7 to 8 metres.

So - a fair “gap”somewhere at the very end of our High Street. Had Rennie been “armed” with an Act of Parliament, it would have given him the power to compulsory purchase land and buildings, alter the roads and purchase any obstacles in his way. Although he would still have needed to continue a route to Whatfield, the Act gave him option of diverting, moving or even closing Calais Street altogether, to fit round his canal.

After crossing the High Street, it was scheduled to run almost straight ahead for a hundred metres or so before curving left towards Duke Street, avoiding the bend in the river beside Corks Lane. This section would have been contentious because it passes very close to, or cuts across the gardens of Hadleigh Hall, the Deanery, and then Toppesfield Hall. All of which would have been owned by influential people who might well object.

Rather than using Toppesfield Bridge (which would have created problems accessing the river) he planned for his canal to be bridged under Duke Street about where “Silk-mill Close” now stands. The route was then to continue between Toppesfield Mill-Pool and Benton Street as it headed towards “Benton End” and Layham: still on the same side of the river: and with similar spacing.

Somewhere along this route he would have needed locks. Each mill he passes alters the water level by about 1.5 metres, and he has bypassed four of them, so several metres change in water levels

By staying on the “town” side of the river, he could keep the towpath on that side for the whole distance.

To move goods in and out of Hadleigh - although none are shown on the map - loading wharfs would have been needed. One would almost certainly have been positioned with easy access to the High Street – Calais Street area is likely.

At the Boswell Lane junction, where the road has bends, the canal was to have continued straight ahead into what is now part of the “QD” site before beginning a sweeping right-hand bend towards Calais Street, (Calais Street is drawn strangely shaped and is almost obliterated by the red line marking the canal, so it’s difficult to make out any detail.

From today’s perspective this all seems disastrous, but it would have offered a cheap, efficient way to move goods - especially coal - in and out of town; which - if it was going to save them moneythe townspeople of the time might even have welcomed..

In the next issue I’ll tell you more about the men who would have done all the work.

Mick T

Hadleigh United Football Club

As we look forward to another football season at HUFC, the Club’s Executive Committee would like give readers of the Hadleigh Community News an update about the club and what we offer to the Community.

Next season our organisation of dedicated volunteers of approx. 100 individuals will be running a total of 27 teams, namely 21 Youth Teams at every age group from Under 8’s through to Under 18’s including three girl’s teams, added to which we will have six senior teams at U18, U23, Brettsiders, Vets and our 1st Team.

Our base is at the Millfield, off Duke Street and down Tinkers Lane, where HUFC leases their ground where we have two marked out youth pitches and one main pitch mostly used for senior football. Over the last 25 years the club has developed a Tarmacadam Car Park for 90 cars, new Changing Rooms, a modern Clubhouse, Bar and Catering facilities. These facilities are available to the community to hire for private functions. Checkout our website for more info.

HCN readers may be thinking, how can we operate with all those teams on only three pitches at the Millfield? Each year this is becoming more of a challenge for the Club as the Hadleigh population and the demand from newly arrived Hadleigh families grows. The answer is, the Club already hires every other pitch available in Hadleigh, namely at the High School where the number of pitches available to HUFC has reduced due to the building of the new School, and we hire pitches at the Layham Road Sports Ground. In addition to that, many of our youth teams now play their home matches on nearby village pitches at Elmsett and Monks Eleigh and occasionally as far away as Rattlesden. During the winter months, when it is necessary to preserve our own grass pitches, our Youth teams, with parental support, travel out of Hadleigh and hire the facilities available in Hintlesham and Wattisham. Our senior teams have to hire and travel to All-Weather Floodlit Pitch facilities Ipswich and Colchester.

The lack of football pitches in Hadleigh has been an issue that has been highlighted for many years and our local authorities and councillors are well aware of the need for more sports pitch provision in Hadleigh. Hadleigh desperately needs an All-Weather Artificial Floodlit Pitch and this has been highlighted through several studies and reports to our local authorities who have the responsibility for providing adequate sports facilities for our

community. Our local authorities and the Hadleigh Sports Clubs that need more pitches can work together with major funding providers such as the Football Foundation to deliver such facilities. The stumbling point appears to be finding and acquiring suitable land to construct new pitches and the associated facilities.

It is only once every year, when the Senior and Youth sections hold their respective presentation events in the close season in a big Marquee erected on the main pitch at the Millfield, that our players, their parents and grandparents actually come together and we remind ourselves how big our organisation is and what all the volunteers connected to HUFC are contributing to the community. We thank our Youth Section Committee and Youth team managers and coaches for once again organising such a great day for the children to enjoy a few weeks ago.

In order for Clubs like HUFC to survive we must plan for the succession of our long serving volunteers who make up the Club’s Committees. The Club is always reaching out to find people who are willing to come forward and take on a role. We look to the younger generation of Youth Players Parents or indeed grandparents who are interested in taking up a role no matter how big or small the amount of time they can commit to.

We are currently looking for volunteers to fill two very important roles within the club, namely a Kit Manager, a Site Facilities Manager plus anyone who can spare some time to help our Groundsman maintain the grounds. This year, after many years of service to the Club, we say a big thank you to Sam and Pete Tampion and to John Chenery who have stepped down from their roles. Over the next few years, the Club Treasurer will be looking to ‘really’ retire and hand over the financial reigns. If any of these role’s appeal, please email hufcexecutivecommittee@gmail.com

Ventanil la Blinds

J C | Daughter of Resident | May

Best of British: London Concert Choir at St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh

St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh, is delighted to welcome the acclaimed London Concert Choir for a special fundraising concert on Saturday 11 July.

Set in  St Mary’s  Church, the evening will feature a varied programme of British choral music performed by one of the UK’s leading amateur choirs conducted by Mark Forkgen, organist Martyn Noble.

Proceeds from the concert will help support the ongoing preservation and maintenance of this historic Suffolk church.

Date: Saturday 11 July

Venue: St Mary’s Church, Hadleigh, Suffolk Time: 7.30pm -9.30pm including interval.

Tickets: £15 available online at ticketsource.com/ londonconcertchoir/best-of-british-choir-music/

Tickets also available  at Idler Book Shop Hadleigh High Street. (cash only)

More riders, more smiles at Hadleigh CC

This spring, Hadleigh Cycling Club hosted its first ever Spring Crit Series at Colchester Sports Park, giving young riders a chance to try road racing in a safe, friendly and supportive setting.

The series did exactly what we hoped it would do: create a local opportunity for young riders to have a go, build confidence and enjoy the sport.  Across the three events, rider numbers grew from 42 in Round 1 to 51 in Round 2 and 66 in Round 3, which was brilliant to see. We were especially pleased to welcome three firsttimers, Sean, Fikeey and Harrison, who pinned on a number and gave it a go. It was also great to see more girls taking part as the series went on, with 10 in Round 2 and 12 in Round 3.

The success of the series means a lot. It shows what can happen when racing feels welcoming, achievable and close to home. We are hopeful this will be the first of many, with plans to return next spring and, sponsorship allowing, grow the series to six races.

A huge thank you to everyone who rode, volunteered and supported the events. We’re excited about what comes next for the club and for the young riders coming through.

Our Wednesday coached sessions for young riders continue through the summer, whether they want to race or just improve their skills, and our adults’ Sunday social rides are still going strong with no one left behind. New members are always welcome. Contact us via facebook.com/HadleighCyclingClub.

Memorial Family Fun Day & Charity Rugby Match

On Saturday, 15 August, we are hosting a Memorial Family Fun Day and Charity Rugby Match in honour of Roonagh Faith Grimsey O’Halloran, who sadly passed away in November 2025 at just 7 years old. Roonagh was a fighter who underwent open-heart surgery, chemotherapy and a liver transplant during her short life. Despite these challenges, she had boundless courage, resilience and spirit. This event will bring together communities from far and wide for a day filled with all the things Roonagh loved – BBQs, music and rugby. The highlight of the event will be a match between Hadleigh RFC and Thomond RFC competing for the Roonagh Cup. Former players from Thomond RFC, along with supporters, family and friends, will travel to Layham Road to be part of this very special occasion.

We are looking for support to help make the event a success and to raise funds in-aid of EACH so the care Roonagh received is there to support other life-threatened children, young people and their families when needed most.

Support can be through either:

• Sponsorship (matchday kit, branded plastic glasses, water bottles, wristbands – all lasting souvenirs of the event);

• Financial donations towards the event’s cost (catering, music, event equipment);

• Raffle prizes (gift cards, vouchers, hampers, items to be auctioned on the day);

• Volunteer a few hours of time to help with transport, marshalling, setting up, photography.

Your support, no matter how small, will make a real difference. There will be:

• Recognition on event signage and social media;

• Association with a heartfelt community cause that celebrates courage, resilience and spirit;

• Most importantly, honouring Roonagh’s life with joy, community and plenty of heart.

If you can support in any way, contact Mike O’Halloran at mikeohalloranhadleigh@gmail.com or msg 07503 242838.

HADLEIGH UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

Stace Provision opens its doors to support young people across Suffolk

A new and innovative Alternative Provision has officially opened at Kersey Mill, Suffolk, providing schools, local authorities and families with an engaging and supportive environment for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Stace Provision has been established with a clear mission: to help young people re-engage with education, build confidence, develop essential life skills and achieve positive outcomes through personalised support and meaningful activities.

Featured on the Suffolk County Councils alternative provision directory, the provision offers a unique blend of education, mentoring, sports, gaming, community activities and therapeutic interventions, creating a flexible programme tailored to the individual needs of each young person. Alongside academic support in English, Maths and PSHE, learners can also access ASDAN programmes and develop practical skills that support future education, employment and independence.

Operating Monday to Friday during standard school hours, Stace Provision supports students referred by schools and local authorities. The provision works closely with educational settings, professionals and families to ensure each learner receives an individualised programme that meets their needs and helps them make meaningful progress.

Based at the historic Kersey Mill site, the provision provides a calm and welcoming environment where young people can thrive. Activities take place both on-site and within the local community, helping learners develop confidence, resilience, social skills and positive relationships.

Founders Amanda and Matt Stace said:

“ We created Stace Provision to offer young people a different pathway to success. We wanted to create a provision that is engaging, supportive and centred around the individual. Our aim is to help young people rediscover their confidence, enjoy learning again and achieve their full potential.”

The team is currently welcoming referrals and invites schools, professionals and families to visit the provision to learn more about the support available.

For further information, to arrange a visit, or to discuss referrals, please contact Stace Provision directly. Contact details can be found on their website www.staceprovision.com

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Babergh and Mid Suffolk had made various proposals; however, Cllr Ward said there was currently no funding to implement them. He confirmed that residents’ permits were already available in Sudbury and Hadleigh.

• County Council

Dunstone Optometry

Invite Citizens Advice to your group

With regard to funding to the arts and museums being cut, Cllr Hall said the announcement had been made now as the council was required to give 12 months’ notice. The cuts were necessary to allow adult social care to be funded, which was compulsory. Cabinet had approved an extra £10 million to repair and resurface local roads in villages and areas across Suffolk. The funding would nearly double Suffolk Highways’ £11 million annual road maintenance budget, but would be targeted at smaller residential streets.

• Gigaclear

Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens Advice can come and speak to community groups on a range of different subjects.

The Clerk was in touch with Gigaclear concerning the cabinet in Upper Layham; they had assured her that they ‘always liaise with parish councils and residents over the location of cabinets’ – she had pointed out that this had not been the case in Layham and was awaiting a further response. She confirmed that she had also asked James Cartlidge MP to intervene.

We aim to raise awareness of the services and advice we offer. We have spoken to many groups and have helped people access the financial help they are entitled to, as well as offering advice on a wide range of subjects.

• Finance

If you would like us to speak at your group, contact 07587 321400 and leave a message for Helen.

I’ll get back to you to discuss dates and subject matter.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Following the purchase of a new dog bin for the Playing Field, the Clerk said the other bin and the one outside the Village Hall should also be replaced as they were in a poor state; it was agreed that she should order two new bins. The Clerk had updated the budget for 2024/25 to take into account a CIL payment due in April, and increased charges for emptying litter and dog bins.

There is care… and then there is concierge care.

At City on a Hill Care, we are delighted to introduce a service designed for those who require more than the traditional model of care. Because not everyone simply needs “a carer”. Sometimes, what people truly need is someone who can seamlessly support their lifestyle, preserve their independence, and quietly make life easier in all the right ways.

Think of it as having an executive assistant - but one with professional care experience, emotional intelligence, and an exceptional understanding of people.

Our Concierge Service is not built around rushed visits or rigid routines. It is a refined, highly personalised support experience tailored to the individual. One client may need accompaniment to appointments and social engagements. Another may appreciate assistance managing day-to-day errands, organising schedules, arranging travel, or ensuring their home life runs smoothly after a hospital discharge. Others may simply value trusted companionship from someone capable, discreet, and attentive.

The beauty of concierge care lies in its versatility. It bridges the gap between lifestyle support and professional care. It is thoughtful without being intrusive, supportive without being overbearing, and practical without losing the human touch.

Quite frankly, life becomes infinitely more manageable when there is someone dependable in your corner.

Many people hear the word “care” and immediately picture clinical tasks or frailty. Concierge care challenges that perception entirely. This service is for individuals who wish to continue living wellelegantly, independently, and confidently - while receiving tailored support behind the scenes. It is ideal for busy families, older adults who value their autonomy, professionals recovering from illness, or anyone who could benefit from an extra layer of dependable assistance in their daily life.

And whilst the service itself feels polished and effortless, the impact can be profoundly life-changing.

A missed appointment becomes a well-managed day. Isolation becomes companionship. Stress becomes reassurance. Small inconveniences no longer pile into overwhelming burdens because someone competent is there to help shoulder them.

In many ways, concierge care is less about “doing tasks” and more about enhancing quality of life. It offers peace of mind, restores confidence, and creates space for people to continue enjoying the things that matter most to them.

This is not merely care in the traditional sense. It is lifestyle support with compassion, discretion, and excellence at its centre. Welcome to concierge care - where thoughtful support meets elevated living.

Want to know more about this service? Please stop by our office at 59 High Street, IP7 5DY anytime from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday. For a quick chat ring us on 07513 856 786 or 07864 775 401.

on

Hughes, Mark Polley and Sarah Fanning.

her death in 1976. Home Farm keeps alive various rare breeds and practices sustainable farming, all within the stunning Capability Brown landscape.

What has been happening and what is about to happen, at Hadleigh u3a.

Winning the regional awards, positioned their entry as the best in the East of England, beating strong competition from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire; and gave them entry into the National Competition. The National Awards were held in January 2024 at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

Left to right: Mr and Mrs MacKay Morris (Clients),

happening and what is about to happen at Hadleigh u3a.

There is no time of year that is not busy for us in the Hadleigh u3a. The only “pause” we have is in August when we take a break from having a speaker presentation. Otherwise, it’s full steam ahead, which is a cheesy lead in to our next visit, to Bressingham Steam museum and gardens.

SUREFIXSUREFIX

Architecture ONE’s entry, ‘Black Pheasant Barn’, went on to win and was recognised as an excellent example of what can be achieved whilst maintaining the fabric of a disused agricultural building. The resultant dwelling provided excellent accommodation with high standards of energy efficiency being achieved, despite the challenges of retaining the original structure.

Joint Founder of Architecture ONE, Jonathon Bensley-Byham, said of the Awards, “Being recognised at both local and national level is a fantastic result for our practise, it showcases our capabilities and rewards all the hard work and dedication shown by the team.”

Looking ahead, we celebrate summer with our summer party in the Guildhall, entertainment being provided once again, by the very talented Jane Hoggar. crossed the weather is also in a celebratory mood, although there is a plan Looking back, we really enjoyed the excellent presentation by Jim Stebbings History of the D'Oyly Carte Company. It was a tale of twists and turns, of lows all ending up with declining popularity as fashions and public tastes

Our visit in May was to Wimpole Hall. It’s been a while since any of us had visited and it was amazing to see how the National Trust manages to develop and maintain this beautiful estate. It is, of course, associated with Rudyard Kipling as its last owner was his daughter Elsie, his only surviving child, who passed on Wimpole to the Trust on her death in 1976. Home Farm keeps alive various rare breeds and practices sustainable farming, all within the stunning Capability Brown landscape.

of year that is not busy for us in the Hadleigh u3a. The only “pause” August when we take a break from having a speaker presentation. steam ahead, which is a cheesy lead in to our next visit, to Steam museum and gardens.

was to Wimpole Hall. It's been a while since any of us had visited amazing to see how the National Trust manages to develop and maintain estate. It is, of course, associated with Rudyard Kipling as its last owner Elsie, his only surviving child, who passed on Wimpole to the Trust 1976. Home Farm keeps alive various rare breeds and practices farming, all within the stunning Capability Brown landscape.

01473 807754 office@architectureone.co.uk www.architectureone.co.uk

we celebrate summer with our summer party in the Guildhall, the being provided once again, by the very talented Jane Hoggar. Fingers weather is also in a celebratory mood, although there is a plan if not. really enjoyed the excellent presentation by Jim Stebbings on the D'Oyly Carte Company. It was a tale of twists and turns, of high and with declining popularity as fashions and public tastes changed.

Members enjoying Wimpole and a ramble with our short walks group.

If you would like to know more about Hadleigh u3a, please look at our you can contact Louise, our membership secretary, hadleigh-suffolk.u3asite.uk

enjoying Wimpole and a ramble with our short walks group.

Looking ahead, we celebrate summer with our summer party in the Guildhall, the entertainment being provided once again, by the very talented Jane Hoggar. Fingers crossed the weather is also in a celebratory mood, although there is a plan if not. Looking back, we really enjoyed the excellent presentation by Jim Stebbings on the History of the D’Oyly Carte Company. It was a tale of twists and turns, of high and lows all ending up with declining popularity as fashions and public tastes changed.

to know more about Hadleigh u3a, please look at our website where Louise, our membership secretary, hadleigh-suffolk.u3asite.uk

If you would like to know more about Hadleigh u3a, please look at our website where you can contact Louise, our membership secretary, hadleigh-suffolk.u3asite.uk

We are delighted to announce our next Café Talks will be on Scam Prevention. Learn how to recognise, avoid and report scams. This informative session is designed to help residents stay safe and confident when dealing with potential fraud.

This will take place on Monday 20 July 2026 in the Dining Room, Town Hall, Market Place, Hadleigh. The talk starts promptly at 2pm and will finish by 3pm. Door will open for refreshment from 1.30pm. All welcome.

We are delighted to announce our next Café Talks will be on Scam Prevention. Learn how to recognise, avoid and report scams. This informative session is designed to help residents stay safe and confident when dealing with potential fraud. This will take place on Monday 20 July 2026 in the Dining Room, Town Hall, Market Place, Hadleigh. The talk starts promptly at 2pm and will finish by 3pm. Door will open for refreshment from 1:30pm. All welcome.

Hadleigh Walkers

Our July walk on Saturday 11 will be a circular one of 8.3 miles taking in the Dedham Vale. We will meet in the car park of the Stratford St Mary Black Horse pub (now closed but with a large car park) The post code is CO7 6JS (What3words ///potato.swept.aimed) and depart at 9.30am as usual. The route takes us to Dedham Bridge on the North side of the river, then to East Bergholt Place, down to the estuary and along to Flatford and back to the start on the South side of the river arriving around 1pm. We will have two short refreshment stops along the way.

As usual, we aim to average a not-too-demanding 2.5 mph (4 km/ hr) and walkers need to be able to maintain this pace. Strong shoes or walking boots should be worn as the ground may be very muddy in several places. Everyone is welcome, including well-behaved dogs.

Route maps can be requested from this web site.

For further information about these walks go to www. hadleighwalkers.com or email us at hadleighwalkers@gmail.com

Community Gardeners

Hadleigh Town Council have a small group of volunteers who look after the community gardens around the town centre and we are looking for a few more volunteers to join us. The community gardeners volunteer for a few hours at least once a week, sometimes twice a week depending on the needs of the gardens.

All equipment is provided.

If you have basic gardening skills, can work as part of a team and want to help Hadleigh look its best please contact Jackie, Assistant Clerk at Hadleigh Town Council by email with a brief introduction – her email is assistant@hadleightowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone the office on 01473 823884.

Hadleigh Parkside Pre-school

We have had a busy and exciting year at Hadleigh Parkside Pre-School. Behind the scenes, we are working tirelessly to make our dream of adding an additional building to create a dedicated baby room a reality. While we are still unable to confirm a timeframe for this project, please be assured that we are doing everything within our power to move the process forward as quickly as possible.

We have already begun taking enquiries for our future baby room, and everyone who has expressed an interest will be kept updated as soon as we have any confirmed news to share. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this expansion will bring and look forward to welcoming even more wonderful families to our setting in the future. Meanwhile, our pre-school room continues to thrive, providing children with a wide range of enriching experiences. The children regularly visit our allotment and Forest School sites, where they develop their confidence, curiosity, and understanding of the natural world. We have also enjoyed visits to the local care home, the market, and other areas within our community, helping children build connections and learn about the world around them.

Our children have flourished during their school transition visits to local schools. We are particularly proud of our Oak Class children, who have embraced these opportunities with confidence, supported every step of the way by our dedicated Oak Class team. This year has also brought some wonderful hands-on learning experiences. We recently partnered with Uplands Farm, who kindly provided us with chicken eggs to hatch. We were delighted to welcome four healthy chicks, which have now returned to their home at Uplands Farm. More recently, we have had the pleasure of hatching two ducklings, Pineapple and Mango, much to the excitement of both children and staff. We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from our community and partners, which enables us to provide such memorable experiences for the children in our care.

The excitement has continued with some very special visitors. We have welcomed Spiderman and Rumi from Lucy's Princess Parties, who brought plenty of smiles and excitement to the setting. Alongside these special visits, the children continue to enjoy our regular music and movement sessions with Jo Jingles, Allsorts Tots, and Breanna Keown Company.

As always, we remain committed to providing engaging, inspiring, and meaningful experiences that help every child learn, grow, and flourish. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you throughout the year.

Walking in the Footsteps of Constable and Gainsborough

Review by Robert Carr

To mark the 250th anniversary of Suffolk-born John Constable’s birth, Sudbury’s Gainsborough’s House is presenting a superb landmark exhibition, Gainsborough, Turner and Constable: Inventing Landscape.

Closely linked to ‘Constable Country’ was the twentieth-century artistic titan Lucian Freud, who deeply admired the work of Constable (1776–1837), especially his celebrated 1825 painting The Leaping Horse. He thought it his greatest achievement.

It is easy to appreciate Freud’s admiration for this masterpiece, on loan from the Royal Academy and displayed in Suffolk for the first time. Having waited so long to encounter it firsthand, I found the scale and grandeur of this monumental painting a revelation. I could fully share Freud’s response.

Painted along the River Stour between Flatford and Dedham, The Leaping Horse is widely regarded as one of the greatest of his canonical ‘six-footers’. Within Constable’s oeuvre, this large-scale work is an attempt to elevate landscape painting and command the Royal Academy’s walls.

Constable’s bond with two related clergymen, both named John Fisher and linked to Salisbury Cathedral, formed a fortuitous blend of artistic patronage, deep friendship, and spiritual refuge. His connection with them drew him repeatedly to the city, where its cathedral became a recurring artistic subject and emblem of solace. This inspired him to produce some of his finest creations.

On loan from a private collection is the dramatic oil sketch Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadow. Painted in the 1830s, it is believed to be a study for one of his series of important mezzotint prints.

Born a few years before the death of Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788), Constable clearly held an early reverence for his Suffolk predecessor. Indeed, in a 1799 letter to a friend, describing the Stour Valley countryside, he wrote: “’Tis a most delightful country for a landscape painter. I fancy I see Gainsborough in every hedge and hollow tree.” This may be read as an early awareness of his artistic lineage.

Being the ‘National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough’, his birthplace and comprehensive permanent collection stand as a monument to the artist. Yet beyond this, the museum and gallery also hold the Constable Family Collection of artworks, artefacts and correspondence.

For this special exhibition, an exceptional private loan is Gainsborough’s idyllic Landscape with Cattle, a Young Man Courting a Milkmaid. Painted in the early 1770s, it has not been shown in the UK since 1952, thus offering a rare opportunity to encounter this key work.

Working at the same time as Constable was the London-born Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), who forged strikingly different responses to the British landscape. Turner’s celebrated dazzling paintings, with their sweeping vistas and blazing sunsets, stood in contrast to Constable’s “truth to nature” and meticulous cloud studies.

From 1799, Turner’s large-scale watercolour Abergavenny Bridge, Monmouthshire: Clearing up after a Showery Day offers a less dramatic atmosphere than is usual for him. Following in the footsteps of Gainsborough, both Turner and Constable magnificently broadened what landscape painting could be.

In all, the exhibition assembles over forty significant works, including those by other notable British and European contemporaries. Alongside the main exhibition, there are displays by present-day artists Kate Giles and David Dawson. Visitors can see how their work reflects Constable’s continuing influence today.

The house and exhibition are open daily between 10 am and 5 pm until 11 October. With its garden and award-winning galleries, it offers an enriching day out in the heart of Sudbury. And be sure to drop into the delightful Watering Hole café/restaurant.

Further information is available at www.gainsborough.org or on 01787 372958.

HADLEIGH TOWN COUNCIL

Full Council Meeting

Thursday 21 May 2026 at 7pm held in The Guild Room at Hadleigh Town Hall, Market Place, Hadleigh, IP7 5DN

Minutes

Present Councillors Beggerow, Francis, Monks, Roberts, Saiyed and Shearly-Sanders.

In Attendance Town Clerk, 2 members of the public, 2 via Zoom. Welcome Councillor Monks (as the outgoing Mayor) welcomed everyone and advised that the Council, members of the public and press may record/film or broadcast the meeting, when the press and public are not lawfully excluded. Any member of the public who attends the meeting is advised that the Town Council cannot control 3rd party recording. The Town Council will record the meeting. Everyone was advised that agenda item 9 has been withdrawn.

Councillor Shearly-Sanders arrived at 7.09pm.

Election of Town Mayor Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders, Councillor Saiyed was elected as Town Mayor for 26/27. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

The declaration of acceptance of office was signed, and Councillor Saiyed presided over the rest of the meeting.

Election of Deputy Mayor Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Francis, Councillor Beggerow was elected as Deputy Mayor for 26/27. Vote = 6 For 0 Against, 0 Abstain

The declaration of acceptance of office was signed.

Apologies of Absence Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allan, Bayliss and Howlett and District Councillor Carruthers.

Declarations of Interest Councillor Roberts declared a nonregistrable interest in HTC26.052 as he has attended a meeting about HEAT River Festival.

Councillor Saiyed and Shearly-Sanders both declared a nonregistrable interest in HTC26.052 as they are members of HEAT. Dispensations There was no consideration of requests for dispensations.

Mayor’s Report Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Saiyed the Mayor’s Report for 25/26 was received. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

A vote of thanks was given to Councillor Monks.

Committee Structure Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the Committee Structure was reviewed. Vote = 4 For, 1 Against, 1 Abstain Committee Terms of Reference Assets Review Sub-committee Proposed by Councillor Shearly-Sanders, seconded by Councillor Beggerow it was agreed to add the words ‘including land registry checks’ under section a) of Roles. Vote = 4 For, 0 Against, 2 Abstain Proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor ShearlySanders it was agreed to add the words ‘prior to implementation’ to the end of the last sentence. Vote = 5 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstain Finance & Budget Sub-committee

Proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Beggerow it was agreed to add the words ‘prior to implementation’ to the end of the last sentence. Vote = 5 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstain Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks the Committee Terms of Reference were agreed with the above changes Vote = 4 For 1 Against, 1 Abstain Planning Committee Appointments Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Francis it was agreed that Councillors Beggerow, Francis, Monks and Shearly-Sanders are appointed to the Planning Committee. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Staffing Sub-committee Appointments Proposed by Councillor Shearly-Sanders, seconded by Councillor Beggerow it was agreed that Councillors Allan, Beggerow, Howlett and Monks are appointed to the Staffing Sub-committee. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Assets Review Sub-committee Appointments Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks it was agreed

that Councillor Beggerow, Howlett and Shearly-Sanders are appointed to the Assets Review Sub-committee.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Finance and Budget Sub-committee Appointments Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks it was agreed that Councillor Beggerow, Howlett, Monks and ShearlySanders are appointed to the Finance and Budget Sub-committee. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Youth Council Appointments Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Roberts it was agreed that Councillor Allan, Beggerow and Saiyed are appointed to the Youth Council.

Vote = 6 For 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Hadleigh Market Feoffment Charity Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders the appointment of Councillors Allan, Bayliss, Beggerow, Howlett and ShearlySanders to Hadleigh Market Feoffment Charity was agreed.

A recorded vote was requested 4 For (Beggerow, Monks and Shearly-Sanders), 1 Against (Roberts), 2 Abstain (Saiyed and Francis) Tree Warden Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Saiyed it was agreed to defer this item until there are new Councillors. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Minutes 16th April 2026 Proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 16th April 2026 were approved subject to an amendment to HTC26.012 Financial Risk Management by adding the agreed mitigation measures.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 3 Abstain

Reports from Suffolk County and Babergh District Councillors

The reports from Suffolk County Council and Babergh District Council were noted.

County Councillor Dowling was congratulated on his seat at Suffolk County Council following the recent elections.

Councillor Dowling discussed the Lidl planning application which had been refused at a recent Babergh District Council Planning Committee meeting.

Public Forum No members of the public spoke.

Standing Order 10a(vi) Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow it was agreed to move agenda item 19 forward to the next item. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain HEAT – River Festival Councillors heard from Paul Hodgkin on behalf of HEAT regarding the planned River Festival.

Payment Schedule Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders the schedule of invoices was noted and payments over £5,000 that have not previously been agreed were approved. In alignment with the adopted Financial Regulations, all payments under £1,000 are approved by the RFO, as are items between £1,000 and £5,000 with clearance of the Chairman of the Council or Chairman of the appropriate committee.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Quarter 4 Accounts Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks the Quarter 4 accounts (1st January 2026 –31st March 2026) were received. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Year-end Figures 25/26 Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks the year-end figures (including reserves) for 2025/26 were approved. Vote = 4 For, 0 Against, 2 Abstain

Finance – Internal Financial Verifier Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders, it was agreed that Councillor Monks would be the Internal Financial Verifier for the 2026/27 financial year. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

CIL Return 24/25 Proposed by Councillor Shearly-Sanders, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the amended CIL return for 24/25 was approved. Vote = 5 For, 0 Against, 1 Abstain

CIL Return 25/26 Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the CIL return for 25/26 was approved.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Asset Register 25/26 Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the Asset Register for 25/26 was approved.

Vote = 4 For, 1 Against, 0 Abstain

Statement of Internal Control Measures 25/26 Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks the Statement of Internal Control Measures for 25/26 was approved subject to an amendment to the Financial Regulations and to remove the VAT

line. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

The meeting was suspended at 9.14pm

The meeting reconvened at 9.16pm.

Earmarked Reserves – Church Clock Proposed by Councillor Francis, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the movement of £3,000 for Church Clock Fund (currently at £12,912) was approved.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Earmarked Reserves – Renewals Fund Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks the movement of £1,000 for Renewals Fund (currently at £14,154) was approved.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Earmarked Reserves – Cemetery Lodge Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the movement of £2,500 for Cemetery Lodge Fund (new fund) was approved.

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Earmarked Reserves – Corks Lane Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders it was agreed to change the name of the earmarked reserve called Corks Lane Rubber Mulch to Corks Lane Play Area.

Vote = 3 For, 3 Against, 0 Abstain. Cllr Saiyed used his casting vote to vote Against. The above item was not agreed.

Meeting Dates Proposed by Councillor Francis, seconded by Councillor Shearly-Sanders the meeting dates until June 2027 were agreed (the November meeting will be 12th November 2026).

Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Insurance Cover Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow the insurance cover for 26/27 was noted and it was agreed to sign up for a 3 year term. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Change of Chair Proposed by Councillor Monks, seconded by Councillor Beggerow it was agreed that Councillor Beggerow would chair the next item. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Councillors Roberts, Saiyed and Shearly-Sanders left the room at 9.35pm Grant Applications – River Festival (HEAT) Proposed by Councillor Francis, seconded by Councillor Monks it was agreed to award Hadleigh Environmental Actions Team £3000 for a River Festival. Vote = 3 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Councillors Roberts, Saiyed and Shearly-Sanders returned to the room at 9.36pm.

Grant Applications – Two Toed Skateboard CIC Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Francis, it was agreed to award Two Toed Skateboard CIC £1471 for Hadleigh Skateboard Skate Jam Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Tree Works Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks it was agreed to engage the services of Contractor A at a cost of £10,310 + VAT for works to trees to be carried out subject to risk assessments, public liability insurance and any other documentation being provided. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Poll Cards A discussion took place regarding poll cards being issued for a contested election for 2 of the current Councillor vacancies at an approximate cost of £5,146.48.

Poll Cards - Actions Proposed by Councillor Roberts, seconded by Councillor Francis it was agreed to issue poll cards. Vote = 3 For, 0 Against, 3 Abstain Standing Order 7 Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Francis it was agreed to suspend Standing Order 7 to allow agenda item 24 to be discussed. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain Interview Panel – Facilities Officer Proposed by Councillor Beggerow, seconded by Councillor Monks it was agreed that Councillor Shearly-Sanders would join Councillor Beggerow on the interview panel for the Facilities Officer along with the Town Clerk. Vote = 6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

Aldham Common Charity Councillor Shearly-Sanders and Councillor Francis nominated themselves to be a nominative Trustee for Aldham Common Charity. A vote took place – Councillor ShearlySanders received 2 votes and Councillor Francis received 4 votes. Proposed by Councillor Francis, seconded by Councillor Roberts it was agreed to elect Councillor Francis to be a nominative Trustee for Aldham Common Charity. Vote = 5 For, 1 Against, 0 Abstain Future Meetings The next scheduled meeting will be on Thursday 18th June 2026.

Close of Meeting The meeting closed at 9.55 pm.

Wendy Brame,

Town Clerk

Sunday 12th July at 2.30 pm

BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville joins Aidan Turner in a striking staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel. Filmed live at the National Theatre, Marianne Elliott directs this thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare. £14 (cash or card) on the door Or book in advance via Ticketsource: search for Ansell Centre Doors open at 2pm

Friday 24th July at 7.30 pm

HAMNET (12A)

This Oscar and BAFTA winning film is a moving, fictionalized historical drama that explores the profound grief of Shakespeare and his wife after their son, Hamnet, dies. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

£4.50 (cash or card) on the door. Doors open at 7pm

There will be a short interval for refreshments

Please note that we normally show subtitles to make our cinema an inclusive venue for those who are hearing impaired.

CONTACTING HOLLYWOOD IN HADLEIGH Call Jan 01473 823413/07714 537031 or email Jan at janetmdicks@gmail.com Take a look at our website - www.ansellcc.org.uk WHERE IS THE ANSELL CENTRE?

Next to the United Reformed Church and behind the Ram Public House in Market Place. Access through the church garden.

Elmsett and Aldham

Firstly can I thank everyone who has supported me over the last 10 months to enable the Indoor Market to run smoothly, and to those who came to enjoy the fabulous home-made refreshments provided by: St Peter’s Church, Whatfield School, Semer Church, Elmsett ECO group, Wattisham Military Wives Choir and Elmsett School PTA - raising funds for their own projects around the area. Thanks also to those who have recycled and refilled with us, and bought goods from our very talented hand crafters. I do hope you have enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere that was created and for caring about your community.

Over the year, the monies collected on the community plant, produce, and recycle craft stalls totalled £314.58 and this money went directly to the hospice head office via the lovely ladies on the St Elizabeth Hospice stall. The difference between the income from stall holders and the costs of the hall and advertising totalled £700 and this was donated online to the hospice before Christmas (plus gift aid). The week I sent it off there was an offer from local Ipswich businesses to match any donations made, so £1,575.00 went to an amazing cause, very close to my family’s hearts and many others who benefit from the hospice’s wonderful care.

I would also like to thank the Wattisham Military Wives Choir who gave up their time to come and sing for us, and get us into the

I am planning for the community Indoor Markets to continue on the second Saturday of each month in some shape or form. This year any monies made will be given to Cancer Research UK (CRUK) –another much valued and crucial charity

We will be back on Saturday 9th March 2024 with a full market, refreshments, refills and recycling. Mothering Sunday and Easter cards and gifts will be a focus. The other 2024 dates for your diary will be: 13th April, 11th May, 8th June, 13th July, 10th August, 14th September, 12th October, 9th November, 14th December. Although we have beautiful crafts made by very talented local crafters, it was felt that we should scale the crafters markets down to every other month. In the interim months we will still provide community refreshments and a warm meeting place, with just a few stalls more focused on food and refills, and of course the recycling. I have already had a request to run a plant stall too which is wonderful, but if anyone has any contacts for food stalls, please get in touch. I am also looking for groups or individuals to run the refreshments (profits to their own charity) or indeed have a craft stall on the bigger markets. Please contact me on 07712424901 or email me on King4kings@aol.com if you would like to help in any way. Please, if you are a supporter of your community, spread the word and encourage others to come along.

work commencing on 5th February lasting until 15th March. This will significantly boost the number of EV charging points in the town ensuring we can meet the demand for the future growth of electric vehicles. It will also provide charging points for residents who are unable to charge their vehicles at home.

“TREAT”

Are you looking for a colourful and creative space to relax, make friends and have some fun?

Jan King

Locality Awards - We are planning to use the remainder of our allocated Locality Awards to help fund a minibus for the Hadleigh Sea Scouts. We will be receiving our 2024/25 allocation of Locality Awards in April. Please get in touch if your project needs financial support.

Hadleigh Bowling Club reach final of the Junior Cup and get ready for Race Night.

Empty Homes Premium - Babergh District Council (BDC) cabinet have approved an empty homes and second homes premiums policy, following the introduction of new government rules. With almost 600 homes standing empty in Babergh the council is keen to bring them back into use to help meet growing housing need.

Under the new policy, properties left empty for a year or more will pay double the council tax, with a premium of up to 100% from April 2024; properties empty for five years or more will see their council tax bills treble with a premium of up to 200%; and owners of properties left empty for 10 years will be facing quadrupled bills, with a premium of up to 300%.

Council tax will double for the owners of the 576 second homes in Babergh from April 2025. The definition of a second home for council tax purposes is a property in which there is ‘no one resident’ but that is ‘substantially furnished’. There will be exceptions, in line with Government policy, including properties being actively marketed for sale or rent for a limited period, houses going through probate, caravan pitches and houseboat moorings.

It is estimated that the policy for empty homes premiums could generate an extra £300k in council tax in Babergh next year, with the premium for second homeowners in 2025 netting an additional £1.1m. However, Babergh only keep a fraction of the council tax they collect. For every £1 collected Babergh only get to keep 8p, with the bulk of the money going towards the cost of services provided by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cabinet member for housing at Babergh District Council, Cllr Jessie Carter said: “It’s unacceptable that houses are standing empty without valid reason. Each empty property is a potential home, and we must encourage owners to bring them back into use to help relieve the pressure on existing housing stock. We want to put more homes back on the market – and ensure that those who choose to own second homes make a higher contribution to local services at a time when they are under pressure.”

XL Bully dogs - As from 1st February no new dogs of this breed will be allowed in BDC properties following government legislation to ban them.

Treat is a Retreat for adults with learning disabilities / neurodivergent and their guests where everyone can enjoy creative, social and leisure activities. Set in the heart of the Suffolk countryside guests will have sole use of the facilities, including bespoke accommodation, swimming pool and dining/social area. A full timetable of day time activities will be on offer including dancing for wellbeing, sound bath and meditation sessions and wellbeing walks. In the evening an entertainment programme will offer quizzes, games, firepit meals and an interactive theatre performance. In addition to the timetable a fully equipped and staffed art space will be accessible throughout the week alongside areas for quiet activity and moments of calm. TREAT will take place on Mon 29th April - Fri 3rd May

Existing tenants who currently own this breed may continue to keep their pets so long as they comply with the law and have the necessary exemption certificate. This link provides more information on what you should do if you have a pet XL Bully dog https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-the-ban-onxl-bully-dogs Tenants also need to inform BDC if they have an XL Bully so that necessary measures are in place for the safety of other council residents, staff and contractors.

Fuel Support Information - Information regarding energy bills, how to reduce energy use and what to do if you are unable to heat your home are available on the Babergh District Council website: https://www.babergh.gov.uk/web/babergh/energy-fuel-and-utilities.

Our all-conquering (well this month anyway) players are through to the next round of the Norton Cup, our Federation teams are all unbeaten and our Bowls England teams have had a couple of good results playing in very tough leagues. And big congratulations to the team who played in the semi-final of the Junior Cup at Westerfield on a challenging green, when after two extra ends in a very exciting match Hadleigh won and go forward to the final on 19 June vs Norbrige. Slightly less successful were the arrangements for a friendly 2.30pm game at Hadleigh one May afternoon when Gerry Incles, our illustrious Chairman, was happily basking (he said working) in the sunshine on his allotment and he got a phone call from the opposing Captain surprised that our gate was locked when they arrived at 10.30am. I think that’s called a Time Out. More successfully, we’ve signed up nine new members this month and they and others are enjoying the mentoring programme run by the masterful Peter Miller. On the subject of winners, Melanie Joseph has organised yet another social, this time a Race Night, which fortunately involves horses on a TV and not lots of members running round the green in shorts. Mmmm... maybe an idea for another time.

If you have concerns that you want to raise with us, please get in touch: Jane Carruthers (Hadleigh South) jane.carruthers@babergh.gov.uk 07514 951196

If you want to try out bowling you can always arrange a convenient time by phoning Peter Miller on 07789 764941.

Hadleigh Bowling Club Stone Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk, IP76DN hadleighbowlingclub.com hadbowls@gmail.com

Simon Dowling (Hadleigh North) simon.dowling@babergh.gov.uk 07514 951185

Tales of Little Hall, Lavenham

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful medieval village of Lavenham, Little Hall Museum and Garden invite you to step back more than 600 years and discover the fascinating story of England’s medieval wool trade.

Construction of Little Hall began around 1390 as both the home and workplace of a prosperous wool merchant. At that time, Lavenham was one of the richest towns in England, enriched by the wool trade, and houses like Little Hall stood as proud symbols of wealth, ambition and success.

It is easy to picture the bustle of daily life within these timberframed walls in Little Hall’s early years. Through the wicket gate front door came carts and donkeys laden with raw wool, ready to be stored in the great open hall. Finished broadcloth would also have passed through in large quantities. Cleaned, spun, woven and dyed by skilled artisans working in cottages around the town, the cloth widely known as Lavenham Blue, was gathered here before being sent out across the known world. Life inside the house was far from comfortable by modern

standards. The windows had no glass, only shutters and screens to block Suffolk’s bitter winter winds. There was no staircase, so ladders linked the floors, making daily life awkward, especially for the wool merchant’s wife in her long, heavy woollen gowns. A fire pit in the hall burned through the cold winter days and nights, warming both workers and family. Smoke rose to the roof and escaped through gaps in the timbers. Upstairs, you can still catch the lingering scent of those long-extinguished fires.

As wealth grew during the Tudor period, Little Hall was gradually improved with features such as fireplaces, glazed windows and a staircase, reflecting changing tastes, new innovations and increasing prosperity.

But Lavenham’s fortunes eventually began to fade. After 1550, the broadcloth wool industry declined, and by the early 1800s wool weaving in the town had almost disappeared. Wealthy merchants moved away in search of new opportunities, leaving behind the grand houses that had once reflected their success.

Little Hall then entered a very different chapter in its history. No longer a merchant’s residence, it was divided into six small tenements. Families of labourers and tradespeople lived within its ancient walls, each in modest rooms where merchants had once carried out international business. Census records from 1901 and 1911 reveal a community of horsehair weavers, farm labourers, bricklayers, shoemakers and horse dealers, showing just how much the town had changed.

Little Hall’s fortunes rose again in 1924, when the twin GayerAnderson brothers, both former high-ranking officers in the British Army, arrived in Lavenham looking for a country home. They left a lasting mark on Little Hall, and their legacy can still be seen today, adding yet another fascinating layer to the house’s story. These, however, are tales for another day.

Little Hall is open daily from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

Admission is £6, and children aged 16 and under enter free. www.littlehall.org.uk

Owned by Historic Suffolk. Charity No. 265212

Hadleigh’s Independent Veterinary Practice

We are a passionate and experienced team, dedicated to providing an excellent standard of pet healthcare for Hadleigh and the surrounding areas.

We pride ourselves in building genuine relationships, because taking the time to get to know people and their pets is the key to delivering truly personalised care.

Our modern, purpose-built practice offers advanced facilities - including CT, endoscopy, and keyhole surgeryallowing us to handle complex cases in-house We also offer overnight care for hospitalised patients when needed, ensuring they receive round-the-clock attention

Experience exceptional veterinary care where your pet’s health and happiness are at the heart of everything we do

Life at The Shelley Centre

Letter from Layham www.layham.org

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Affinity Water

Parish Council

Are you new to Layham?

The winter months bring unpredictable weather which makes caring for our ponies challenging. It also means we can’t always use them for our Riding for the Disabled (RDA) sessions. Rarely are sessions cancelled – because I’m here to be used. I’m Ebony, the mechanical horse, situated in a warm room out of the weather. The physical therapy I give is as good as being on one of my real-life friends, and I can provide a variety of paces – walk, trot and canter. But RDA is much more than exercising the body. Our attitude is to get our clients to access and enjoy riding and engaging with the horses to the maximum of their ability.

The main points covered in the Parish Council Annual General Meeting on 13 May 2026

If you have just moved to the village and would like to know more, please visit the Parish Council website at www.layham.org

Affinity Water was due to start work near the Mill, to alter the stepped area near the bridge to a slope, which was more appropriate for the fish.  The work had been put on hold until the young bluetits in a nearby nest had fledged. The work was estimated to take 6-8 weeks, but the bridge would remain open during this time.

Hedge cutting

The photo shows Lesley, who uses me to help her recover from a dreadful fall off her own horse.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

Are you linked to our Community e-mail?

It was agreed unanimously that Steve Laing should be re-elected Chairman for 2026-27, and that Sue Keeble should be elected ViceChairman.

District Council

If you are not registered to receive local information via our Layham Community e-Mail system, please log on to our website and read about the benefits. We know from several years of experience how valuable it is for you to be kept informed about what is happening locally.

Parish Council

• District Council

County Council

Across the UK over 25,000 people of all ages and abilities ride or carriage drive with one of the 500 RDA groups. And did you know, there are similar groups right across world? At every group, our coaches are trained and qualified to deliver the best possible experience, based on our clients’ needs, ambition or therapeutic goals. Our clients include children and adults with physical and learning disabilities and autism. The difference that riding and being with the horses makes is amazing and often lifechanging.

National Grid had cut vegetation along the route of the BramfordTwinstead line. This work should have been done outside the breeding season, but SCC had issued a permit despite the ecologist expressing a preference for the work not to start until October.  The PC had contacted the NG’s contractor, Balfour Beatty, for comment.

Cricket bat willows

Simon Dowling was the new Suffolk CC representative, replacing Georgia Hall who had not stood for re-election; he was also a Babergh councillor and chair of the Planning Committee. Following Babergh’s annual meeting, Cllr Ward had handed over the leadership to Deborah Saw and was now Deputy Leader, retaining responsibility for finance.  The new arrangements for recycling and bin collections would come into force in June; new bins had already been delivered to residents.

Below are the main matters discussed at the Parish Council meeting of 10 January 2024

Several residents had expressed concern that cricket bat willows in the playing field conservation area had been felled during the breeding season; an owl nesting box on one tree had been lost. It was felt that the contractor should have employed an ecologist; councillors would discuss this further with the Playing Field Committee.

Brett River Festival 2027

Feedback from the meeting held by Hadleigh Environmental Action Team (HEAT) was noted; the Layham Events Group (LEG) would discuss the project at its next meeting.

Assertion 10

Reform had won control of Suffolk CC and the new Leader was Michael Hadwen, a Felixstowe councillor.

Casual Vacancy

Planning

Website: www.shelleyrda.com Telephone: 01473 824172

The Clerk explained that English parish and town councils were required to have an official domain and email gov.uk address for all official correspondence.  The website address had changed to www.layhamparishcouncil.gov.uk; visitors were automatically redirected.

Following the resignation of Julie Thickpenny, the Notice of Vacancy had been displayed on the noticeboards and website; the process for co-option would be discussed at the June meeting.

As well as our amazing riders, coaches and stable manager, the Shelley Centre is blessed with many dedicated and hard-working volunteers. They help with the RDA sessions; look after and exercise the ponies during the holidays and weekends; undertake general admin and maintenance tasks around the yard and raise funds to keep the Centre going. If you’d like to join this fantastic and friendly team, why not give the Centre a call and come up and meet us and see how you can help. And of course, you can always help by supporting our fund raising activities or giving us a donation. Please see our website for details.

It was noted that retrospective planning permission had been granted for the Orangery at the Marquis, with certain amendments to be made.  Listed Building Consent had also been granted.

In response to a comment that pylons should be located under the sea, Cllr Ward said National Grid was looking at pylons on a project-by-project basis rather than taking an holistic approach; it should be possible to have a coordinated grid, but speed and cost were their main concerns. It was the Secretary of State, not local planning authorities, that would make the decisions; local MPs were doing their best, but not making much headway. Cllr Ward confirmed that financial aid for flood affected properties following the recent storms was still available. The consultation on Part Two of the Local Plan – the ‘call for sites’ - had started and would continue for four weeks. With regard to Babergh’s proposal to introduce car parking charges, Cabinet had agreed to discuss tariffs; it was likely that the charge would be £1 for three hours in Hadleigh. Cllr Ward said it was vital that Babergh was able to balance its budget. Cllr Laing said the survey commissioned by Babergh and Mid Suffolk had made various proposals; however, Cllr Ward said there was currently no funding to implement them. He confirmed that residents’ permits were already available in Sudbury and Hadleigh.

• County Council

With regard to funding to the arts and museums being cut, Cllr Hall said the announcement had been made now as the council was required to give 12 months’ notice. The cuts were necessary to allow adult social care to be funded, which was compulsory. Cabinet had approved an extra £10 million to repair and resurface local roads in villages and areas across Suffolk. The funding would nearly double Suffolk Highways’ £11 million annual road maintenance budget, but would be targeted at smaller residential streets.

• Gigaclear

The Clerk was in touch with Gigaclear concerning the cabinet in Upper Layham; they had assured her that they ‘always liaise with parish councils and residents over the location of cabinets’ – she had pointed out that this had not been the case in Layham and was awaiting a further response. She confirmed that she had also asked James Cartlidge MP to intervene.

• Finance

Following the purchase of a new dog bin for the Playing Field, the Clerk said the other bin and the one outside the Village Hall should also be replaced as they were in a poor state; it was agreed that she should order two new bins. The Clerk had updated the budget for 2024/25 to take into account a CIL payment due in April, and increased charges for emptying

Marquis of Cornwallis

Babergh had requested several alterations to the Orangery including the removal of the roof lanterns, a simplified design and a change of colour from green to grey.  Several parishioners had expressed concern in the past about the lighting being too bright and it was hoped that these changes would address the problem; the PC would be monitoring this.

Highways Town & Parish Council Survey

It was agreed that the PC should respond to the survey.

Rands Lane

Residents of Rands Lane had contacted SCC to request that the byway / bridleway running alongside Rands Farm be restricted to agricultural vehicle use only, following a spate of incidents involving antisocial behaviour and speeding.

Brett River Festival - Summer 2027

Hadleigh Environmental Action Team (HEAT) had asked whether the PC would like to be involved; the Clerk had asked to be kept informed.

Playing Field 120 Club

The winners for the June draw were:

£25 Ticket No 40 Hall

£15 Ticket No 6 Short

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH LAYHAM

In the Benefice of Hadleigh, Layham and Shelley

Services for July:

Sunday 5

9.15am: Morning Prayer

Sunday 12 9.15am: Sung Eucharist

Sunday 19 9.15am: Morning Worship

Sunday 26 9.15am: Sung Eucharist at All Saints’ in Shelley

Morning Prayer is also every Tuesday at 8.30am

The church is open daily, and you are very welcome to visit.

Everyone welcome – Please join us on Saturday 25th July for a shared afternoon tea in the beautiful setting of the Deanery Garden in Hadleigh. Please see separate advert for further details Please do contact our Benefice office for more information office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk

If there is anything you wish to discuss, please do contact Fr Jo on 01473 822218

Village Rounders Match and BBQ

After a few miserable, rainy and windy days when we thought the tents would blow into the next village, Sunday 7 June 2026 turned out to be dry, bright and sunny – just the weather for the Layham Rounders Match and BBQ. After several games Lower Layham triumphed over Upper Layham, but everyone enjoyed themselves. Players and spectators revived themselves with burgers, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks as well as tea and homemade cakes –not forgetting the ice cream van, of course! Layham Events Group (LEG) would like to thank everyone who supported the event and particularly all the volunteers without whom these gatherings would not be possible. Special thanks to Martin, Debi, Ian and Sue for manning (and woman-ing!) the barbecue so efficiently. Same again next year, folks?

Social Club

We meet from 10 am to 12 pm at Layham Village Hall on the first and third Mondays of the month. There is a small charge of £2 for refreshments and hall hire. Everyone is welcome.

Recent Meetings:

Steve gave an interesting and highly informative talk from his personal perspective that included preparations for war, both in the UK and in transit to the Falklands. The stark reality of the conflict was described well and included the experiences of being in Bomb Alley with numerous threats to cope with. Steve alluded to some of the difficulties and improvisations that finally ensured the liberation of the islands.

July Meetings:

July 06 Mary and Jamie ‘Fiddlers Elbow’ The duo will perform for the session.

July 20; Pip Wright ‘Frolic Fervour and Fornication’ Another entertaining talk from our local author.

May 18. We enjoyed a very lively talk from Steve Everett, photographer, naturalist and volunteer at Minsmere. Steve guided us through some of the species that enjoy the reedbeds, lagoons, heathlands, shingle beaches and woodlands. Using superb photographs and video footage Steve vividly brought to life not just the many bird species including bitterns, godwits and avocets but also insects, mammals and snakes.

June 1 : Open Mic Session This session was presented by members of the social club and was the first time that memories and community became the focus. The theme was a place that mattered. Sue Keeble gave an illustrated talk with funny anecdotes about her early childhood in Clapham. Les Hambling spoke about his childhood in Raydon and his early memories of Layham. Enlivened by family stories and memories of local characters the talk was much appreciated by the audience.

June 15: A Ferry to the Falklands Steve Laing began his talk with an introductory film considering the emergency situation that led to the declaration of war by the UK and the formation of a large task force, comprising both naval and merchant ships.

donors’ ready agreement, the funds were used for my latest trip, transport and specialist supplies costs. I have also been able to take a fourth ‘John Grose’ free loaned Luton van load of living aids continually donated from ‘Medequip’ to the Ukrainian warehouse in London.

French’s Care Haven

Hello to all our readers, I hope as always you have been keeping well.

Ok so I am now writing the news for July edition and still waiting and hoping to get the final signatures on completion for the new land. Goodness me it has been one thing after another with hold ups, these things go on and on. Let’s keep everything crossed that by the time this magazine is on the shelves, I can start jumping with joy and tick off my list one of many stresses regarding this mammoth move. Thank you for all of you that follow us and care about what we do at our charity and to those who can help us in any way, do get in touch with me. As well I need your help finding someone or a business that would sponsor us for some good advertising in return, we also need a fencing company and someone who does ground work, plus someone in the tree service who can cut and mulch some bushes and broken trees.

Our laminitic ponies need an area that has a solid foundation put down and then the mulch on top, as they can only have a short time if any on grass, because of the effect the sugar in the grass has on their condition. If you can help or know a tradesman/company who does not charge the earth and can do a good job, then please pass me their contact number.

This mission I was fortunately accompanied by Viktor, a Ukrainian man, as co-driver from the UK to his home town of Kyiv. Very grateful for his experience of negotiating the snow and ice covered country roads! I then completed the remaining cross country deliveries, of the car and supplies, alone, rested a couple of days and then handed over the frontline prepared car the mechanics had worked their long hours of magic on! It is always a long slow journey home via various means, but satisfying to know the deliveries achieved and all possible done. There are always so many people contributing to enable these trips and support to be provided – and regrettably not the space to publicly appreciate every large and small valued individual offering! At the end of each trip I create a video of thanks and send personally to all I have contact details for. Pete Elliston (Essex) bought, undertook extensive repairs and donated the vehicle for this trip. Rick, a soldier in Wales, donated some military protective clothing and other survival kit. Churches active in prayer and donations include; St Mary’s Hadleigh, Ipswich international Church, All Saints Kesgrave and Bealings, St Mary’s Burstall, Felixstowe URC and a church in Sussex. Other groups supporting include; Kesgrave Ukraine Hub (Natalie), Ipswich Polish Community (Magda), Morrisons Hadleigh (Lisa), the Ansell Centre (donated for medical supplies), Mission Ukraine. As well as the faithful British locals helping these endeavours, there are numerous resident Ukrainians being active in many ways, for which I am so grateful. Olena, Natalie and Sasha being such key local partners, but of course many in Ukraine too!

ALB-Framing

If your picture needs framing, contact me!

I am encouraged that there remains such a high level of local compassion and wise concern for the sufferings of Ukraine. James Cartlidge MP welcomed me back with a local coffee and encouragement for the continuation of this work. I am touched by the example of the “Mens Room” barbers who donated my haircut fee, on a hasty visit this week! The Ukrainian recipients of your care tell me it is “priceless”!

This month we have a photo of dear Tess who is with Leanne and Claire, two of our helpers. Tess is in her early 30s so will be classed as a horsey pensioner, Tess has a bit of arthritis in her front leg and not many teeth, but apart from that she is a happy soul who gets lots of love from our helpers. As I have talked about previously, we do have a lot of elderly animals, but as in life, if you are well looked after and have lots of care and love given to you, life goes on with a smile on your face and that is what we like to see with our animals. We give them all the best of care, support and lots of love, which they show to us back in one way or another, that they appreciate the loving care and attention they get from me and my team. If you would like to come and meet our animals and choose one to sponsor that would be nice for you and for the donkey, pony or horse you would be helping, please do contact me if you would like to come along and meet our beautiful rescues. Call, Jann on: 07747755556 or email: jann.turner@hotmail.co.uk Website: Frenchscarehaven.org.uk

I’m a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild, who themselves created the standards and guidelines for art framing together with picture printing. I continually work to these requirements.

Home or office visits are available.

Following discussions about your requirements, in situ you’ll see the various framing options.

Please contact me: 07769 858076 www.alb-framing.co.uk info@alb-framing.co.uk

I have already received some support towards the next trip, but much is needed still in addition to the funds required for delivery (fuel, ferry, return travel costs etc – I pay for food etc and any cheap hotel needed ); a 4x4 vehicle for the usual conversion to front line recovery transport, the priority material items (eg; medical etc and hygiene, vehicle maintenance tools, generators, high quality thermal clothing only – nothing less can be afforded the very limited space, blankets etc). If you wish to assist please contact me on the number below, use https://gofund.me/cb2f46a8 or access the QR code to donate via my “GoFundMe” (administered by registered charity BUA), or liaise with a relevant community group. My sincere thanks, and on behalf of Ukrainian recipients, to all who help in any way.

Ducklings and Fishes Galore

David Jacobs - Tel: 07500 531901

The first bunting workshop last month got off to a flying start with fifteen ladies in attendance and raring to go. Workstations were soon established and it wasn’t long before yellow fabric ducklings and multi coloured fishes began to appear in large numbers. Many attendees wanted homework so that was easily arranged. To give us a target a fiendish wheelie machine measured the total length of the High Street. This has been calculated and doubled to take care of both sides. As the crow flies, we will need 1,420 meters of bunting but more if we are to accommodate some fancy dips in the line. If production continues as last month, we will easily achieve that goal long before it’s needed at the town’s Brett River Festival 2027.

The next workshop will take place at the Leisure Centre on Sunday 28 June from 10 to midday. Why not come along and join us? If you have sharp scissors, pinking shears and any fabric please bring them with you. Like to know more?

Contact me Jan Devey deveys@btinternet.com 07881 798 999 or 01473 827 091

HADLEIGH COMMUNITY FORUM

No 71 - Tuesday 9 June 2026

CHAIR: Shearly Sanders Notes: Jess Janas

1 WELCOME: The Chair welcomed everyone.

2 REPORT OF THE LAST MEETING: The Notes were accepted.

3 SPEAKER: Arthur Charvonia – Chief Executive, BMSDC. PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM (Local Government Reorganisation)

• Arthur was thanked for finding time out of what must be a hugely demanding schedule to come and speak with the Forum. This follows his talk last November. He opened with remarks about this being a full public sector reform and not a re-hash of current styles and is an extremely complex time of change. Everything that is happening, and everything that will happen, is ultimately reliant on what happens in Government and what changes are made “at the top”.

• Hadleigh needs to be very clear on what it needs and how it sees itself developing in the future. Robust Neighbourhood and Local Plans are vital.

• The Secretary of State decided in March 2026 that Suffolk will be divided into three unitary councils. Secondary Legislation (confirmation) should be in place by November 2026. See the Future Suffolk website: www.suffolklgrhub.gov.uk

• Joint Voluntary Committees (JVCs) are expected to be set up comprising current councillors in the three new unitary areas –West Suffolk, East Suffolk and South Suffolk with Ipswich. The JVCs will prepare for, the shadow councillors to be elected in May 2027 who will shape and take things forward in April 2028. Senior Officer roles will then be chosen.

• Currently, staff are in an information discovery period (not design or implementation), divided into nine themes of local government work. From September 2026 they will be looking at designing new service options, focusing on the needs of the community but not making any decisions. These options will then be given to the new councillors after the May 2027 elections to prepare for Vesting Day, 1 April 2028.

4 STANDARD UPDATES

4.1 POLICE STATEMENT

PC Johnson sent in a report for the meeting and all information will be in his regular column in the Hadleigh Community News. Due to work schedules, he will be unable to attend Forums but will be available at St Mary’s Café Church (9.30am – noon) on the following Fridays: 10 July, 21 August, 11 September, 2 October, 13 November, 4 December. Please note, these are subject to shortnotice cancellations.

4.2 HADLEIGH TOWN COUNCIL (HTC):

• Grants Budget 25/26 c.£15k is now available. Details and criteria can be found on HTC’s website: https://hadleightowncouncil. gov.uk/grants-donations or speak with Jackie in the office.

• New Town Mayor is in role – Cllr Zunaid Saiyed and the Forum wishes him well.

• Councillors: New councillor: Ms Angela Wiltshire. There are five councillor vacancies, likely to be filled by election. See HTC’s website and/or BDC’s website.

• Ignite Festival, run by the Youth Council is on 20 June from 2pm at the Layham Road Sports Ground. This showcases young people from the local area and is open to everyone.

• Café Talks: After the first successful talk on the new Waste Collection service, sadly no one attended for the talk by the Fire Service. On 15 June, Shaftesbury will be speaking on Dementia Support – website: shaftesburygroup.org/service/shaftesburysuffolk-memory-and-dementia-support/ and the July speaker will be dealing with scams.

4.3 HEAT (Hadleigh Environmental Action Team).

• The River Brett Festival planning group is going well. More than 40 community groups are now involved. Email info@brettfest. org.uk to get involved. Thanks to Hadleigh Town Council for their grant of £3k towards the costs of the festival.

• Living on the Edge won an award at the Hadleigh Show – thanks to everyone who contributed.

• The volunteers are planning work on the Fuzz and the Railway Walk starting in September – after the nesting season. Sessions run every Wednesday from 10am – noon. Email if you’d like to join them. For this and general information about HEAT, email hadleigh.heat@hotmail.com

4.4 St MARYS CHURCH

• St Mary’s supported the Friends of St Mary’s (a separate charity concerned with the structure and fabric of both the church and the Deanery Tower) in running the Hidden Gardens of Hadleigh. All-day breakfasts and a soup’n’roll lunch option, alongside an amazing array of home baked cakes, scones and muffins; a brilliant craft market; Bell Tower tours; Deanery Tower tours and the Community Bus running all day between Benton End and St Mary’s, all helped the day go swimmingly, despite the rather poor weather. Grateful thanks to Frank Minns for almost single-handedly organising all the gardens as well as opening his own: no mean feat!

• Since being ordained Deacon last June, Rev’d Dr Glenda Hall has, amongst all her other duties, undertaken a chaplaincy at Hadleigh High School and is helping a number of students. She will be ordained Priest at a service at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral on Saturday 27 June followed by presiding at her first Eucharist at St Andrew’s Layham on Sunday 28 June.

• There is an Open Day for the Friends of St Mary’s in church on Saturday 18 July to visit the Bell Tower and the 550 year-old Vestry & Sacristy, see the improvements and hear tales from when it was the meeting place for 400 years of town governance. 10.30am – 3pm. Everyone welcome.

• Last Night of the Proms: Saturday 24 October – Save the date !

• Regular Dates for the Diary: (for further info, contact Emma at: office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk )

• Café Church: Every Friday 9.30 – 12 noon with optional Eucharist at 10am.

• St Mary’s Craft Market: Every first Friday of the month (except January, Good Friday & June). To book a table, email jessicanevard@btinternet.com.

• FroGs & Y7Up?: Every Friday (term time) 3.45pm - 5.15pm for all primary-school age & Y7Up?

• For years 7+ Pop Ups: In term time, every second Wednesday 2.30-5pm. In school hols, every Weds 12 noon – 2pm

4.5 PPG - (Hadleigh & Boxford Patient Participation Group) A report was given to the meeting, the full version of which can be found in the PPG’s monthly column in the Hadleigh Community News.

4.6 VISIT HADLEIGH

• Visit Hadleigh website: visithadleighsuffolk.co.uk Promotion of town events is free of charge. Advance listings can be made on receipt of text details PLUS a poster or picture (which must be submitted) as these greatly enhance listings. Contact snowdonjane@hotmail.co.uk This is a good place to check for, and avoid, event dates clashing.

• Town Guides: For enquiries and bookings for events and walks, email townguides@visithadleigh.co.uk.

• Feedback is that the “walks and tours are really, really good”.

• Clopton Rose Ceremony – the Town Guides supported the new Mayor, Cllr Saiyed, at this annual event at Trinity Church Long Melford where there is always a warm welcome.

• The Town Guides will join the Mayor and invite Trinity Church to the Open Day in St Mary’s on 18 July.

4.7 BABERGH & MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCIL (BMSDC)

• Lidl’s planning application was refused for a number of reasons. It is expected they will appeal.

• The new waste recycling system is underway. Some residents still have not received the new bins – they should now email recycling@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk with their full address. Current bins should continue to be used until the new bins arrive.

• High Street Consultation: SCC is aiming to improve Hadleigh High Street and seeking input from 15 June until 20 July to better understand, from shopkeepers and residents, how improvements could be made. Go to www.suffolk.gov.uk/ currentactivetravelprojects There are also two drop-in events at the Guildhall on Sat 4 July 11am-2pm and Thurs 9 July 5pm-7pm

• The Joint Local Plan Scoping Consultation, running until 31

July, is a vital document for Hadleigh in the reorganisation of the councils. Part 1 was adopted in 2023 and now requires updating. This online survey seeks views on key issues facing Hadleigh. Pick up a hard copy from the council office or go to www.babergh.gov.uk/joint-local-plan-scoping-consultation Current administrative boundaries are being used at this stage and cross-boundary working in Suffolk has been adopted ahead of the reorganisation, which is consistent with Government expectations.

4.8 TOGETHER TUESDAY

• A very successful outing to Felixtowe for 35 of the group was undertaken with invaluable help from both Kathryn and Franklyn. Sea swimming (for a few brave souls !) time on the beach and a fish’n’chip lunch were all greatly enjoyed. It was a very hot day so risk assessments took on a deeper meaning. Two vehicles were used from Go Start (the Community Bus was not able to assist). Thanks were offered to Jill for her amazing organisation of the day and to all leaders for their care of the group.

• The group enjoyed a talk on independent living from BDC. There are grants of up to £15k for stair lifts and to reconfigure bathrooms and grants of up to £7k towards moving into a more appropriate property if necessary.

• Anyone with a little time to spare who would like to consider volunteering their help, or if there is an activity or talk you could share with the group, contact jill.mason@acleisure.com

5 A O B

• 5.1 A number of High Street retailers have formed a group to consider a better approach to the way forward. There are currently seven empty premises in Hadleigh. It is hoped this may lead to the re-establishment of a Chamber of Commerce.

• 5.2 Trevor Sheldrick, 22 years our first-line Community Responder, is retiring due to ill health and was thanked most sincerely for his long and valuable service to the town. There are eight Responders but, sadly, most are dealing with personal illnesses. Recruitment is underway and anyone considering finding out more about this hugely rewarding and very necessary role should contact Trevor on tesheldrick@gmail.com

• 5.3 Jane Snowdon reminded the Forum that the RNLI is raising funds by asking people to collect 5p pieces in miniature jam jars, which if requested, they will provide. Everyone is encouraged to join in this initiative. Filled jars can be given to Jane Snowdon.

• 5.4 Simon Dowling, now our County Councillor, although unable to attend today, hopes to be able to attend future meetings. He has offered to produce a monthly CC report for the Forum which I am sure everyone will welcome and find helpful.

• 5.5 Teresa Edwards, Feel Good Suffolk, is promoting the free healthy living service across the county. Due to time pressures, Teresa was unable to speak but will be invited to do so at the meeting in July.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 14 July 2026 @ 4:15pm.

Hadleigh Pool & Leisure, Social Room. ALL WELCOME. Chair: Very Rev’d Jo Delfgou

A Summer Concert in Hitcham Church

There will be songs from the musicals, mixed with calypso music and other popular, easy listening songs from the Jubilee Ladies Choir. The programme will also include a variety of instrumental pieces from different performers.

Saturday 11 July 7:30pm in Hitcham Church

Hitcham Church is off the B1115. Parking is in the church car park which is accessed from Fen Lane (What3Words expel.materials. magically) with just a short walk up to the church. Tickets, sold in aid of church funds, are £12 which includes a glass of wine and strawberries with cream. These are on sale at Hitcham Shop or on the door where we can take cash or card. Email RNFCurrie@gmail.com for more information.

Keith Avis Printers

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Lavenham’s unique historic Theatre returns with star-studded summer line-up this August.

The historic Lavenham August Theatre returns from 7 to 16 August, bringing an outstanding programme of live music and entertainment to one of Suffolk’s most unique summer venues. This year’s event promises an unforgettable series of performances featuring chart-topping artists, acclaimed tribute productions and internationally renowned musicians, all under the cover of the unique Lavenham August Theatre.

The 2026 line-up includes:

David Essex, Russell Watson with special guests The Song Circle Choir, Bay City Rollers, The Shires, Collabro, A Foreigner’s Journey, Genesis Connected, Holding Back The Years-The Simply Red show, Karnataka, Roxy Magic, The Carpenters Experience, T.Rextasy with special guest Acoustic Bowie and Yes Please

From progressive rock to country music, pop favourites and spectacular tribute performances, the programme offers something for every music lover.

The Lavenham August Theatre has become one of Suffolk’s most anticipated summer entertainment events, attracting audiences from across East Anglia and beyond. Its unique undercover setting creates an intimate concert experience while providing comfort, regardless of the weather.

Visitors can also take advantage of on-site parking (fee applies), making it easy to enjoy the day or evening of live entertainment at the venue. For those travelling from further afield, a limited number of pitches are available for self-contained camper vehicles

and caravans (maximum length 7 metres), as well as tent pitches. Guests may arrive from midday on the day of their concert and stay on-site for up to 24 hours. Please note that camping and parking reservations do not include concert admission, and tickets for performances must be purchased separately. Availability is limited and advanced booking is recommended.

Event organiser John Hessenthaler said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing such a diverse and exciting line-up to Lavenham this August. From legendary names and chart stars to some of the UK’s finest tribute productions, we’ve put together a programme that we believe offers something special for everyone. We look forward to welcoming both returning visitors and first-time guests for what promises to be a fantastic series of events.”

For full show details and tickets, visit weloveconcerts.com or contact the Box Office on 07879 208141.

Fancy a healthy summer salad?

Summer has finally arrived – hooray! The flowers are blooming, the scent of freshly cut grass is in the air, and the crops are beginning to turn a lighter shade, signalling that harvest time is on its way. Happy days indeed.

Here at Corn Craft, we’ve introduced some delicious new healthy Summer Salad Bowls to the Tea Room menu, and they’re already proving very popular. For just £12, you can choose from: “beetroot & goats cheese with toasted walnuts”, “buffalo mozzarella & tomato” or “smoked mackerel”. Each salad is served with its own special dressing, allowing you to drizzle it over fresh salad leaves, tomatoes and cucumber to your own taste. We know not everyone enjoys their salad pre-dressed, so we’ve left the choice up to you. Our Salad Bowls are served carb-free, giving you the option to add buttered potatoes or locally baked Sparlings bread if you wish.

On selected days, we’re also serving delicious Dressed Cromer Crab Salad for £20, which has been a real hit with customers so far.

This year marks our 36th year in business – quite an achievement in today’s world. We are incredibly grateful to all our customers who choose to visit us, and like all small businesses, we appreciate your support more than ever.

So, if you fancy a summer outing, why not come along and say hello? We’d love to see you.

Corn Craft Gift Shop & Tea Room, Bridge Farm Barns, Monks Eleigh, IP7 7AY. Tel: 01449 740456 www.bridgefarmbarns.co.uk www.corncraftgiftshop.com

Orchard Barn News

Learning from the past how to build a greener future

Nature-based Traditional Skills at Orchard Barn

Orchard Barn is a small community project rooted in gardening, nature connection and environmental education. Over the last 18 years volunteers have helped restore the historic barn, reinstate a 1580 timber frame long house, and create spaces in the old orchard for people to learn, grow and make together.

This July we warmly invite local people to come and get involved.

On Saturday 18 July we are holding:

• Orchard volunteer working party, 10am–1pm

Help care for the orchard and wildlife spaces in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. OR

• Nettle String Workshop, 10.30am–12.30pm

Learn how to transform foraged nettles into surprisingly soft and beautiful cordage using ancient techniques. No experience needed and families welcome.

To book or find out more: Drop in between 10am and midday any Wednesday, Thursday or Friday morning. Orchard Barn is on Bildeston Road, Ringshall, IP14 2LY (nearer Mill Road, Battisford) sarah.orchardbarn@gmail.com www.orchardbarn.org.uk

Learning from the past how to build a greener future

LEAK TESTING AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

Hadleigh Hares News

The temperatures at the end of May started to soar, which is usually the case at the beginning of the Friday 5 series. This popular series of 5 mile races and accompanying junior races are held on Friday evenings between May and July.

Kicking off on the 22 May at Kirton near Lowestoft. We hoped that being nearer the coast there might be some relief from the heat, but sadly not.

We had nine Club members taking on the challenge with a strong men’s team consisting of Kevin Long, Kevin Carpenter, Tom Cowley, Alli MacLean and James Watson. The two Kevins finishing 2nd in their respective age categories, Tom and Alli finishing in just over 30 mins and James putting in a great performance despite struggling with the heat.

Nathalie Hooper, Nikki Vince, Belinda Godbold and Joanne Sargent made up the ladies team and all ran keenly with Belinda also finishing 2nd in her age category.

It was wonderful to have some of our juniors taking part with Lydia Farmer, Rosalie Van Aswegen and Grace Watson making up the U11 team, Alex Long for the MU09 and Elsie Price FR13. They all ran fantastically and full on enthusiasm.

The 29 May was the next event in Framlingham. More of an undulating course than anticipated and the heat of the day to contend with. Stuart Price, Kevin Long, Tom, Kevin Carpenter, Alli, Richard Cowley, James Watson and Andrew Cross took on the challenge. Kev Long yet again finishing 2nd in his age category as well as Stuart and Kevin Carpenter smashed it coming 1st in his age. This put our men’s team into 6th overall out of 61 teams after two races. Nathalie was the only runner representing the ladies this evening and ran hard finishing 6th overall in her age group.

wmatramtlyersuorg.uk

conquered the challenging hill and produced excellent times. These strong performances have propelled the men’s team into third place after three races. With three races still to come, there is every chance they can continue to climb the standings.

Representing the ladies and putting in superb efforts were Nathalie Hooper, Belida and Julia Bilotta, all of whom tackled the challenging course with determination and enthusiasm.

It was great to see Lydia, Felix, Elsie and newcomer Marta SlingerAkers participating in the junior races with Lydia finishing in 4th place in her age category.

To mix things up a bit, Nathalie and Jo headed over the border to take part in the Boxted 10k on 14 June. This well-attended race combines both trail and road sections, with some spectacular views across the Essex countryside from the tops of some very challenging hills.

Both runners were delighted to cross the finish line after tackling the demanding course and enjoyed soaking up the friendly party atmosphere in the finish area. And what better way to celebrate a successful run than with a well-earned ice cream!

Save the Date!

The Hadleigh Hares Annual 2k, 5 Mile and 10 Mile Race will take place on Sunday 22 November. Entries will open at midday on 26 September, so be sure to mark the date in your diary and secure your place early.

Whether you’re aiming for the 2k fun run, testing yourself over 5 miles, or taking on the full 10-mile challenge, we’d love to welcome participants and supporters for another fantastic day of racing. Further details and entry links will be available closer to the opening date.

Don’t forget – if you’d like to join Hadleigh Hares, you can try the club for one month completely free, with access to as many sessions as you like. For more information, visit hadleigh-hares.co.uk or email secretary@hadleigh-hares.co.uk. And if running isn’t for you but you’re interested in coaching, we’d love to hear from you too!

With three juniors taking part, Rosalie, Elsie and Felix Clover ran superbly despite the heat.

Sudbury was the venue for the third race in the series on 5th June. There was plenty of pre-race discussion about the infamous “never-ending hill” at mile two, which had some of the first-time runners feeling a little apprehensive. However, as they say, what goes up must come down, and our members certainly made the most of the downhill sections with some excellent performances. The men’s team continues to go from strength to strength, with James Woodley, Stuart Price, Kevin Long and Tom Cowley all completing the five-mile course in under 30 minutes. Alli MacLean was not far behind, while Andrew Cross and James Watson both

Hadleigh United Football Club

What a season across the club. The 2025/26 campaign brought a mixed bag for the seniors and plenty to celebrate in youth football too.

• First Team: We’ll start next season in the Thurlow Nunn Division One North and will be pushing hard for promotion back to the Thurlow Nunn Premier League.

• Under 23s: A solid year with a mid-table finish.

• Under 18s: Fantastic runners-up in their division.

• Brettsiders (Dragons):  Champions of their league and backto-back Divisional Cup winners. An outstanding double. Huge congratulations to the lads and manager Gary Groves (see photo above).

Coaching updates:

• Lewis Aubrey moves across to manage the Under 23s next season.

• We thank David Spraggons and John Simpson for their service as they step down.

• We welcome new U18s manager Jon Haines, assistant manager Rhys Tinson, and coach Carl Green.

Events: Our annual presentation evening took place on Friday 22 May, followed by a brilliant youth presentation day on Saturday. Senior team award winners:

• 1st Team: Managers’ Player, Supporters’ Player, and Top Goal Scorer — Curtis Harvey. Players’ Player — Ellis Girling.

• Under 23s: Managers’ Player — Jim Gregory & Riley Dennett. Supporters’ Player, Players’ Player & Top Goal Scorer — Ed Townrow.

• Under 18s: Managers’ Player — Alfie Tynan & Zach Simpson. Players’ Player & Top Goal Scorer — Jervel Youngs. Supporters’ Player — Luke Hyde.

• Brettsiders: Managers’ Player & Players’ Player — Travis Spraggons. Coaches’ Player — Will Roblin. Supporters’ Player — Ros Jobson.

A heartfelt thank you to our committee, staff, and volunteers for your dedication and hard work. Without you, we simply couldn’t run and thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the season. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming friendlies and into the new campaign. Follow our social channels for regular updates for fixtures and events.

Hadleigh Cricket Club

It’s not every day you get to rub shoulders with the England Test team, but that’s exactly what our young all-rounder Jack Auld got to do recently when he was selected as one of the 12th men for the 1st Test at Lord’s against New Zealand. Jack got this amazing opportunity because he plays for Essex CCC’s Academy, and we are incredibly proud of him.

Jack was in fine form for the 1st XI against Coggeshall, top scoring and being part of a dominant bowling display. The huge 164 run win, together with wins over Mildenhall and East Bergholt, has kept us in touch with the leaders in Division 1, Woolpit and Halstead,

but Tom Piddington’s team slipped up at Worlington. The all-spin attack (at times) is certainly reaping rewards, with Lovejeet Singh returning remarkable figures of 5-6 against Coggeshall and Ainsley Ndlovu already having taken 20 wickets. The win at Mildenhall was very much against the odds, with the away team 159-1 at one stage, chasing 267. This is a team that keeps fighting and can get results from anywhere.

The 2nds are finding it tough, and are really feeling the impact of reduced squad numbers this season. One of our new additions this season, Danial Naeem, is continuing to perform well with both bat and ball, and veteran Bloss Tampion is bowling as steadily as ever. It’s been a hard introduction to the job for new captain Taylor Locke, and we need better availability over the next month or so and a few more wins to stay out of trouble. On a Sunday, it was great to see Euan Wilson-Downes score his maiden 50 for the club at Bury. Euan is ever present for both Saturday and Sunday sides, and fully deserves his success. It’s a shame that the team is finding it hard to play a game at home at the moment, having had their last two opponents concede – meaning we continue to wait for the delights of the Skipper Jones tea, which he’s been trailing for months! Although the Academy XI are also still looking for their first win on the field, one of its players has made the league take notice, as 13-year old Johnny Amos won the Hunts County Bats League player of the month award for April and May. Well done Johnny!

It was a huge accolade for the club to host the Suffolk Men’s side for the first time last month. It was a great team effort, but special thanks must go to groundsman Dave Levitt for his meticulous pitch preparations, and chairman Simon Gladwell for ensuring we had everything covered. Thankfully no covers were actually needed, because the weather was good, and we seemed to bring Suffolk luck, as they won both T20 matches on the day.

Gary Wiles

ST MARY’S CHURCH, HADLEIGH

office@stmaryshadleigh.co.uk 01473 824 987

St Mary’s Church is open every day.

The church is a beautiful and peaceful space, and you are most welcome to visit.

Service

Times

Sundays: 8am BCP Eucharist 10.45am Eucharist Tuesday: 11am Row Chapel

Matins (BCP) Friday: 10am Eucharist with Café Church 9.30am12pm and ‘St Mary’s Market’ on the first Friday of each month (except January)

SATURDAY 11TH JULY ~ London Concert Choir are coming to St Mary’s! Show begins at 7.30pm and tickets are available from Idler bookstore on Hadleigh High Street or online at londonconcertchoir.org

SATURDAY 25TH JULY ~ 4pm-6pm everyone is invited to share an afternoon tea in the beautiful setting of the Deanery Garden. See separate poster for details.

POP-UP AT ST MARY’S ~ July dates are Wednesday 8th 2.30pm-5.00pm & 22nd & 29th 12pm-2pm (3.30pm onwards & 12pm-2pm sessions are reserved for children and their carers only). Free food, drink and activities for all. Could you help in some way? Come along, have a chat with the team and have some fun!

Please see the Church notice boards for information on this month’s services or search us on “A Church Near You” website.

The Benefice Office at St Mary’s is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10-12 noon. Our Administrator is Mrs Emma Fleming-Ovens.

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Hadleigh Tennis Club

Now that the rain has gone away, and the sun has decided to appear we can at last dust off our racquets and stretch those legs on our tennis courts! It is good to see more players turning up and we will be holding a couple of club tournaments and inter-club matches as the season continues. Of course Wimbledon is almost upon us and another benefit membership brings for LTA registered members is the option to take part in the Wimbledon ticket draw and as in previous years, a number of lucky members will be attending the tournament this year – we hope the weather is kind to them!

Contact the team for a free no obligation quotation Telephone: 01473 822775 www.cjplumbheat.co.uk E: ashley.hammond@cjplumbheat.co.uk

It is also encouraging for the club to see that the coaching initiative which has been started with our coach Joel McLeod is taking off too. Joel, (LTA registered coach) has a wealth of experience coaching in many different environments including schools and clubs and even developing players to play at Junior National Tour standard events.

For anyone wishing to start or re-start playing tennis Joel offers junior as well as adult coaching sessions throughout the week to members, beginners, and those looking to improve their game. His coaching sessions are as follows:

Juniors 5-8 years

Monday & Thursday 4pm-5pm and Saturday 10.30am-11.30am

Juniors 9-11 years

Thursday 5pm-6pm and Saturday 11.30am-12.30pm

Juniors 12-17 years

Friday 6pm-7pm and Saturday 12.30am-1.30pm

Adults: beginners & improvers

Saturday 9.30am-10.30am

If you would like to participate in any coaching at Hadleigh Tennis Club, or if you have any further questions, please do contact Joel: email - Jmctenniscoach@gmail.com or 07496 365619.

INTERNAL DOORS SUPPLIED AND FITTED SEE OUR FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE FOR REVIEWS AND EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK TEL: 07710 502657

Hadleigh tennis club is located on Layham Road, (alongside the rugby club) and we have club sessions on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm and Sunday mornings from 9.30 am to 11.30 am. We are a friendly club and would be happy to welcome you if you would like to pop along and meet us at one of these sessions.

INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: CONOR STYLES CARPENTRY

Council support at Hadleigh Library

Babergh District Council offer a faceto-face service at Hadleigh library every Wednesday from 1.30pm to 4.30 pm.

Staff are on hand to support with uploading and submitting documents, completing online applications, reporting issues, or requesting repairs, setting up direct debits, making online payments and more.

No appointment required – simply drop in

sessions, include centres provide regular are to Strikersltd@aol.com

and

Hadleigh Rugby Club

Special congratulations to Sarah Bartholomew who received a welldeserved ‘Unsung Hero Award’ at the 2026 Eastern Counties Volunteer Recognition Awards at Wymondham RFC on Sunday, 24 May. These awards recognise the dedication, passion and commitment shown by so many individuals within clubs and the rugby community for giving countless hours to ensure the game continues to thrive. Sarah was also put forward to the RFU National panel and, although not the winner, she can now sport her RFU beanie.

INTERNAL DOORS SUPPLIED

TEL: 07710 502657

INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK: CONOR STYLES CARPENTRY

Sarah took up rugby at university and went on to play for Thurrock, Richmond and Basingstoke as well as the Pink Ba-Bas Sevens team. She coached girls at High School when living in Hampshire but then left the rugby community until her children started playing in Hadleigh. In 2022, Sarah decided to get back involved with rugby and is currently working with girls up to U14s and leads the club’s primary school programme… “It is fantastic being involved in the women’s game during a period of rapid growth and I am delighted that young girls now have female role models to inspire them”. If you would like more information about girls’ rugby at Hadleigh Rugby Club, please contact Sarah at bartholomewsarah71@gmail. com.

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To every volunteer across clubs and counties, thank you for everything you do for the game.

Tel: 01473 823051 Mob: 07775 913854

Email: ansuncutts@btinternet.com

Save the soul of our Village

elmsett storshops

70 Hintlesham residents packed the Community Hall on Thursday 28th May for a public meeting, hosted by the Community Opposition Group, to update supporters on the campaign to overturn proposals for an estate of dozens of houses on agricultural land to the east of Duke Street and adjacent to Timperleys.

We offer clean, secure, easy access storage from £50/month and workshop options from £75-£400/month

● Access all hours ● 24 hour CCTV & Security Barrier

● Flood Lighting ● Parking available adjacent to unit

The Chair of the group, Richard Cowley, thanked villagers for the ‘amazing’ support given to the campaign’s GoFundMe appeal, which had raised more than £3000 to engage a top planning consultant to advise the group. However, Mr Cowley warned that this could be a long term campaign, which would require on-going funding and urged the meeting to continue supporting the GoFundMe appeal. See QR code below.

www.elmsettstorshops.co.uk Gate Farm, Elmsett

Tel: 01473 822162 M: 07767 290 469

One Duke Street resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “The developers seem hell bent on ripping the soul out of the village.” A Chattisham woman added, “The existing infra structure in the village is already under pressure,” and she felt more people, and especially more cars, would result in roads becoming blocked and services threatened.

Finally, ideas were discussed for future fundraising and a mass emailing campaign to ensure the community’s voice was heard loud and clear by the planning authorities and politicians.

24/01/2024

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SIMON FARTHING

GENERAL

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Phone: 07823 333451

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Hadleigh Garden Club

Our first meeting of 2024 was held on our new night of the third Monday of the month 15th January and was again well attended on a bitterly cold night.

The speaker was Fay Jones, The Woodland Haberdasher who spoke very knowledgeably about Taxonomy (the science of classification of living and extinct organisms) a very wide ranging subject. The talk was specifically about how species of plants are categorised and then Fay went on to talk about Pines and Firs one of her speciality subjects. Fay bought along some amazing cone specimens for the audience to see and feel explaining the different types and their reproductive cycle. The Competition, “A photograph of your own garden in the past year” was won by Kate Banks.

Raffle and there was a sale of a few plants. There was also a sale of garden books kindly donated by a non-member. Our February meeting is on Monday 19th at 7.30

that came from Stoke by Nayland resort.

I have to say this winter so far has been extremely hard for us with the weather damaging and destroying our feed, belongings and the huge vet bills keeping the oldies we have happy, healthy and well, which is always my priority, but all of this comes at a financial cost! Finding donators is also hard, but I have to keep everything crossed and pray for some generosity to come our way. If you are reading this Cherry, thank you, you have been a silent blessing. All donations are welcome with open arms and much gratitude. We are planning to have another curry night and dog walk soon, as well as other events through the year, so keep an eye out in the village shops or on our website/facebook page for our posters as well as in our monthly write up that this informative magazine put in for us each month.

The photos for February are of our sweet donkeys having their breakfast and Lucy our therapy dog making one of our rescued young cats Milo feel relaxed and loved. Lucy is so good with all animals, from the horses to rescued or injured birds, chickens, rabbits, kittens, you name it she will give her support to them, whether it is an animal or person in need, she goes to their side and offers her love.

Hadleigh United Youth - Girls Weetabix Wildcats

I am still looking for a part-time person who can work with us 3 mornings a week, one being a Tuesday. I need someone who is reliable and can be flexible to cover odd mornings when needed and someone who is physically capable, believe me your fitness and strength will improve, ask any of our helpers. One of our ladies has lost two stone and says she hasn’t looked that fit in years, so there are positives. Contact me (Jann) if you would like any more information about becoming part of our small team and helping care for our lovely horses and donkeys. French’s is a charity on your doorstep, can you help, either with time, donations, or sponsorship.You are welcome to come along and meet our animals. Call me for an appointment. Jann on: 07747755556 or email: jann.turner@hotmail.co.uk Website: Frenchs Care Haven.org.uk

Calling all future Lionesses! HUFC Weetabix Wildcats restarts on Tuesday 5th March at Hadleigh United Football Club - from 5:00pm - 6:00pm. The Weetabix Wildcats is an F.A. initiative and provides weekly coaching sessions, which are fun orientated and include lots of skills and games. These centres are designed to inspire and provide girls aged 5 to 11 years with regular opportunities to play football in a fun and engaging environment. They are open exclusively for girls at a cost of £3.00 per session. If your child wants to become a Wildcat, please contact Gavin Peters by email: Strikersltd@aol.com for further information or to confirm your attendance.

Hadleigh Tennis Club

Great news! We at Hadleigh Tennis Club are excited at the prospect of seeing the long awaited new pavilion at the Layham Rd sports ground this year. It will mean we can properly entertain visiting tennis teams for home league matches. We will also be able, once more, to offer refreshments to our members and any other players who want to join us on court during club hours.If you fancy picking up a tennis racquet again this Spring why not come along and give it a go. Club hours are from 9.30am on Sundays and 6.30pm on Tuesdays.

Hadleigh Rams deservedly win third hard-fought game on the bounce

Hadleigh have had many recent challenges in recruiting new players and have had to play games with players out of position and a minimal bench. The tides, however, are starting to turn in the club’s favour and this means they are now competing on a more level playing field with other clubs in EC1 South. After the narrow loss of an earlier miserable away game at Felixstowe during