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A frosty day in Brundish, December 2023

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Dear Reader,

Quite an impressive year of events in our villages, some of which seem to have been absolutely ages ago. Brundish joined Wilby by starting to run pub nights, we had a whole series of joint village events for the jubilee staged by the WI and others, there was an outstanding musical evening at Brundish Church plus the regular gatherings of coffee mornings, harvest suppers and more. For two very small villages it's a pretty impressive line up, although we did miss having a village fete this year. Obviously these events don't just happen, they all take effort to plan, organise and run, so a very special thanks to everyone involved in building and maintaining our villages' social calendar.

Help is always welcome, so if you have time to help contact the newsletter for more information - it's a great way to get to know the people around you.

We have a crab apple tree just outside our door. In the spring it's spectacular with its show of flowers, in the autumn it glows with bright red fruit. This year in particular that fruit has been an absolute magnet for birds, everything from great tits to redwings have been feasting on it tugging away at the little apples. The blackbird here was just about to tuck in! Once they had discovered it, the tree was stripped bare in just a few days. The birds we see at this time of year, such as blackbirds and thrushes, are probably not the same ones that we see in the summer, many of those will have moved south to be replaced by others of the same species from Scandinavia and Russia. You'll probably be able to tell from their accents!

One of the loveliest sounds in the evenings at this time the year must surely be the robin - I don't think i had really appreciated how much and quite how loudly they sing before. There's a great video of one singing here if you're interested - it also shows the song slowed down which is particularly impressive, The little chap shown here was one I captured through our kitchen window a few days ago.

Very Best Wishes to you all for 2023
Neil
E: brunbynewsletter@gmail.com
T: 07710 154255

Newsletter Contributions
All contributions are much appreciated - please keep sending in your news, pictures, comments notices etc - make it your newsletter!

Brundish Parish Council is seeking a volunteer to become our footpath warden. If you like walking, keeping fit and enjoy the countryside then being a Footpath Warden is an excellent way to achieve this by ensuring our paths are open to villagers and visitors alike, with all the benefits that brings.

The role is very straightforward, simply requiring someone willing to walk the parish footpaths and report back on any issues found such as problems with bridges, impassable sections, fallen signpost and the like. Any such problems can be reported directly to Suffolk County Council using a smartphone app or an interactive map on their web site, or if preferred they may notified to the Parish Council.

If you are interested in this role please contact Amanda Austin, our parish clerk via brundishparishclerk@gmail.com

10:00am on Thursday, 5th January

Join us on this lovely social occasion to catch up with neighbours and friends

As ever we will be serving Lane Farm's excellent bacon in baps along with home made cakes, coffees and teas all available at bargain prices!

Everyone is made very welcome, do come along - it's a great opportunity to meet others from Brundish and beyond.

We can now take card payments, including contactless, so now it's even easier to buy that essential slice of cake!

This month, as a slight nod to Burn's Night, we're offering haggis, or as the bard himself described it, the 'great chieftain o' the puddin'-race'. For those less enthusiastic about such far flung northern tastes we're also offering a more southern option of steak and ale pie!

If you plan to order food please let us know in advance, no later than Tuesday, 10th January - it helps us enormously with preparation and is the only way to ensure you get your preferred selection (or indeed, anything at all!).
For pub night food orders or other enquiries contact us on brundishpubnight@outlook.com.

Don't miss it!
Brundish Village Hall Committee

Brundish Film Programme, January - April 2023

We have a line up of very good and popular films for this season, we hope that the change of date to the first Thursday of the month will enable more of you to come and enjoy this sociable occasion.

Thursday, 5 January

The Outfit – The year is 1956, Leonard (Mark Rylance), a master English tailor, has ended up in Chicago where he makes beautiful clothes for those who can afford them: a family of vicious gangsters. One night, two killers knock on his door in need of a favour and Leonard is thrust into a deadly game of deception and murder.

"Movies rarely come as chic as “The Outfit,” a thrifty, continually unpredictable whodunit, fashioned with the same meticulousness found in the bones of a deceptively simple suit."
Certificate 15.

Thursday, 2 February

The Lost King – In 2012, having been lost for over 500 years, the remains of King Richard III were discovered beneath a car park in Leicester. This is the life affirming story of the amateur historian, Phillipa Langley (Sally Hawkins), whose unrelenting research met with scepticism from experts and academics but forced the country’s most eminent historians to think again. Certificate 12A.

Thursday, 2 March

See How They Run – In the west end of 1950s London, plans for a film version of a smash hit play come to an abrupt halt when a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. The case is taken on by world weary Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) aided by an eager rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan), who are quickly immersed in a puzzling whodunnit, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril. Certificate 12A.

Thursday, 6 April

Living – a remake of the film Ikiru with a screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro, when Mr Williams (Bill Nighy), a buttoned up bureaucrat in 1950s London, is diagnosed as terminally ill, he decides to achieve something for once in his life and sets about supporting a group of ladies to create a children’s play area in their neighbourhood. Hailed as Bill Nighy’s perfect role at last by The Times. Certificate 12A.

The final film of the season will be shown on Thursday 4 May, the details of which are not yet known.
We trust the change of date for films in Brundish will prove popular and that the films to be shown will be of interest.

As usual doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 pm start with payment at the door, cash or contactless (Still £5 for Adults and £4.50 for Under 18s).
The usual bar facilities offering wine or juice will be available.

Poet's Corner

Tea

You made me tea
while I shook the rain from my jacket.
You stooped to fit into the kitchen,
but handled the cups as if they'd been
the fontanelles of two young sons
whose picture sits in the hip of your 501s.
We spoke of - what? Not much.
You weren't to know how your touch
with the teaspoon stirred me,
how the tendons of your wide, divining hands
put me in mind of flight.

You wouldn't have known
when you bent to tend a plant
that your shirt fell open a smile's breadth.
You parted the leaves and plucked
a tiny green bud. Best to do that
with the early ones, you said.
I thought of the salt in the crook
of your arm where a fine vein kicks.
Of what it might be like to know
the knot and grain and beat of you;
the squeak of your heart's pips.

Tiffany Atkinson

Tiffany Atkinson was born in Berlin to an army family, but has lived in Wales since 1993, when she moved to Cardiff to study for an MA and PhD in Critical Theory. She now teaches English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University.

News from Wilby Coronation Hall (WCH)

News from Wilby Coronation Hall (WCH)

Happy New Year! We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the hall during 2022. At the time of writing, final preparations are being made for our New Year’s Eve Party. We are looking forward to welcoming around 40 people to the party which will include games, quizzes and a buffet supper provided by Gary from The Coconut Monkey. Thanks to everyone who has helped to organise and advertise the event and to all those who have donated prizes for our raffle and reverse auction. We are sure that it’s going to be a great night!

At our AGM in November, we reflected on our successes since re-opening after the pandemic which include:

The size of our committee has increased and now includes representatives from the Parish Council, the WI, the church and the community.
Our hall hire income has increased as a result of regular bookings (such as Yoga on Monday evenings and LK School of Dance on Tuesday evenings) and a number of private bookings for weddings, training events and parties.
We have welcomed a wider range of people from the local community to attend events at the hall such as Foodie Nights, Pizza Pub Nights, Sporting Events, the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and the Pool League.
We have upgraded the hall through installing new fire safety equipment, a new waste treatment plant and new solar batteries.
We have improved the hall facilities including new equipment for the kitchen, an upgraded AV cabinet and new EV chargers.

In addition to the major expenses that have resulted from our upgrades, we have also had to contend with the increased day to day running costs of the hall.  You might not realise this but in order to just cover the cost of keeping the hall open we need to generate almost £500 per month.  We do this through regular lettings, private bookings and community events that we run which are mainly staffed by a small team of volunteers.  We also rely on volunteers to manage and maintain the hall and would like to thank extend a special thanks to those who regularly give up their time to support our hall.  If there is anyone within the community who would like to get involved, we are always looking to expand our team.  In particular we would welcome volunteer bar staff for events.  You don’t need to make a regular commitment -  any support is appreciated.  Please contact our secretary, Charlotte (head@charlotteswood.co.uk) if you are interested.

Our next Committee Meeting is on Wednesday 22^nd March at 6pm and all are welcome to attend.  We would particularly welcome a representative from the school and/or a youth representative to join our committee so if you are interested, please get in touch with our chairperson, Alison Taylor: alisonemmataylor@gmail.com

The future of Pub Nights

Following a ‘Pub Night Viability Study’ we have decided that for 2023 Pub Nights at Wilby Coronation Hall will go back to one per month.  These will be on the third Friday of each month and on these nights the bar will be open from 6.30-9pm.  The Suffolk Wild Flour Pizza van will also be on site.  The next ‘Pizza Pub Night’ will be on Friday 20^th January 2023. See below for menu and how to order.

We will also continue to run our popular Foodie Nights in 2023.  Gary from ‘The Coconut Monkey’ is in the process of setting dates for three or four special themed events; the first of which will be on Friday 31^st March and is going to be ‘A Taste of Asia’ (a combination of Thai and Chinese cuisine).  More information and booking details to come in next month’s newsletter.

‘Ma Durga’ Yoga for your body and mind – Monday evenings 7- 8.15pm

If your New Year’s resolution involves getting fit, relaxing more or having more ‘me time’, why not join give yoga a try?  ‘Ma Durga Yoga’ with Melanie Sharman is a dynamic hatha yoga mix and the classes, which take place on Monday evenings from 7-8.15pm (and always end with a resting phase of at least 15 minutes), are suitable for all levels of experience and ability.  If you would like to come along, please book online: https://eequ.org/experience/1586 .  The new term starts on Monday 9^th January and classes cost £10 per week or £6.40 per week for a block booking.  Melanie is pleased to answer any questions if contacted by phone on 07527 850116.

Hall Hire

If you have a special event coming up you might want to consider hiring our attractive, well-maintained and competitively priced facility.  There is a large ballroom, separate lounge area, a well-equipped kitchen and a bar that is well-stocked at club prices and staffed by friendly volunteers. For availability, prices and full details of facilities please visit:
https://www.hallshire.com/halls/view/2038/wilby-village-coronation-hall

Amazon Smile

If you shop on Amazon, you can donate to our hall charity by clicking on this link: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/304839-0  Information about donating to our village hall through Amazon Smile can also be found on smile.amazon.co.uk

With best wishes for a happy and peaceful 2023 from all the committee!

Church Services & News

Letter from the Clergy

Our new incumbent, Revd Enid Pow, will be joining us in February but in the meantime the other clergy are writing the letter in our monthly magazines; this month, Revd Clive Mobbs.

It is New Year and resolution time, a good time to review the way we live and particularly how we steward God's creation. It's one of the five marks of mission we have as a church. 'To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth'. The awesome wonder of creation is one of the things that is at the core of my faith.

Small things! I am also a believer in small things - taking small actions that may seem insignificant but which have a ripple effect. Last year it was transport and I really looked at my car use. I am trying to reduce the miles I drive, car sharing when I can, planning my journeys to make every mile count and more often than not, if it is a local journey, you will see me out on my bike. As well as saving money and fuel, it has brought all sorts of benefits that I have not envisaged - not least the conversations I have as I share journeys or just because I am not 'in a car'.

This year, it is changes at home - you might be like me - a bit stuck. Stuck in an older house, stuck without the freedom or wherewithal to install an efficient heat fuel pump with all the structural changes that go with it to make it a realistic option, stuck with some expensive fuel bills. Even so, there are small changes I can make like tweaking the thermostat down a degree, wearing an extra layer and, most importantly, stopping the heat leaking and escaping.

A small group of us in the Four Rivers Benefice have volunteered to helpThe Suffolk Climate Change Partnership (SCCP) by piloting a thermal imaging camera scheme. We are hosting one to help households and organisations reduce their heating bills. These clever gadgets take pictures of heat emission to identify where it is escaping from your home.

The scheme has proved so popular that the camera we are hosting is already booked out until the end of April but we have block booked it so it can be used in our villages from 24th January to 10th February. If you want to know more, please contact me or Mike Turton (miketurton2001@gmail.com) who can tell you more.

Wishing you a peaceful and healthy 2003.

God bless

Reverend Clive Mobbs (rev.clive.mobbs@gmail.com)

News from St Lawrence's

Many thanks to those who contributed, ran stalls and turned up at Brundish Village Hall for Brundish Christmas Fair. It is always an intimate and cordial event and this time was no exception. Just over £500 was raised for the church, which, considering the parlous financial position everyone is enduring at the moment, was a very pleasing total. On behalf of the Parochial Church Council and the Ministry Team for the church, I wish you all a very Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year.
David Mulrenan.

--

Come and celebrate Candlemas with the Four Rivers Lightwave team

Sunday January 29th, 2.30pm at All Saints Church, Laxfield

Many Christians bring candles to church on this day to have them blessed before they are used during the coming year. We’ll be marking the festival with a short walk and treasure hunt around Laxfield, followed by hot chocolate and snacks back at the church when we will decorate jam jars to hold our special Candlemas candles.

We look forward to seeing many of you there.

News from Brundish Village Hall

Pool Table Installed!

We have just installed a top quality slate bedded pool table in the hall in addition to the dart board and a range of table games such as crib which have already proved to be very popular on pub nights. Hopefully this will encourage even more of you to come along to these popular and enjoyable evenings - perhaps we could even start holding inter-village challenges...

New Storage Shed

Our old storage shed finally became unusable after many years of service and has just been replaced with one that is larger and far more substantial - and made from scratch in the village! The main use of it is to store away large items of furniture such as tables that otherwise clutter the hall when not being used. The build and installation team are shown below!

Pantomime

A village first, live streaming of The Wolsey Theatre's pantomime Goldilocks and the Three Bears was a great success. It's the first time we have tried anything like it ourselves, only possible technically since we upgraded to fibre from the ever excellent Fram Broadband, and providing the service to a community facility was also a first of its kind for the Wolsey - so there were various challenges along the way. In the end though it all worked very well and received an extremely positive response from our audience who became more vocally enthusiastic as the evening progressed which all provided for a great atmosphere. I suspect having the bar open was a factor in that!. A picture of the pantomime in flow at the hall below

Wilby WI

The Wilby WI’s Book Club section held their final December meeting of 2022 at Brundish Village Hall with many Christmas Games and much festive merriment.

December’s Wilby WI Members Meeting... A fabulous fun, Festive evening was had with Santa’s Elves (Michelle Rhodes & Alex Gwyn) showing members ‘How to Make’ the festive Mistletoe Martini and Poinsettia Cocktails... with tastings too (Hic!)

The photo-shoot Christmas Picture was also an opportunity to break into an impromptu singing of Christmas Carols... washing Socks ‘n all!

A fun filled evening of Christmas Games and – of course – the WI Chirstmas Buffet ‘Banquet’... which goes without saying!

Wilby (& Brundish) WI wish all readers a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year 2023!

December was an expensive month, with presents to buy and heating bills going up, and now I’m really struggling financially. I’ve seen offers for ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ when I’m doing online shopping. It seems like a good way to spread the cost of some of the things I need but how can I make sure I don’t get into debt?

With everything getting more expensive, it’s sensible to be thinking about how you can manage. There are lots of things you can do to try and stay in control of your money.

Before you start spending, work out exactly what money you have coming in and going out each month. Be realistic about what you need for essentials like food and travel. Take a look at the budgeting tool on the Citizens Advice website citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting. This can help you set a budget you can stick to.

You’ll also be able to find tips on how to reduce your regular living costs, which might be helpful if you’re struggling to keep within your budget. While it can be tempting to split payments with schemes like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), you’ll need a plan to pay the money back. If you're using something like that repeatedly, you might be managing for now, but it could also be a sign that it's unaffordable in the long run. Keep a record of how much you owe in total.

Always make sure you understand what you’re signing up for, how you’ll make the repayments and what will happen if you can’t pay on time. It’s important to check the returns process for both the retailer and credit provider. Paying through BNPL may also affect the cost of postage returns if you’ve ordered online. The riskiest thing about it is that you’re not guaranteed to be protected if something goes wrong. For example, you can’t go to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you have a complaint.

If you find yourself turning to credit cards, your overdraft, or store cards for your spending, keep track of what you owe. You should prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first, because not paying these has the most serious consequences. On the Citizens Advice website, you can find information on what bills to prioritise and how to manage debts. There’s also information on the support available for paying these and other bills.

If, like many during this crisis, you find you can't afford to reduce your debts after paying your priority bills and essentials, seek advice as soon as possible. If you need specific support or don’t feel able to manage your situation alone, contact Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk so they can help you find a way forward.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, particularly when it comes to managing personal finances, so it’s important to get support that’s correct for you.

Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk can provide advice on this and other issues, including debt, employment, benefits and family law. You can contact them on 01449 676060 or use the contact form at midsuffolkcab.org.uk/contact-us . More information and our opening hours can also be found at midsuffolkcab.org.uk/contact-us .

In the first instance, I hope you all had a very happy and peaceful festive season and my best wishes to you for the New Year ahead.

We all want to ensure that our children and grandchildren have good homes to live in. We also recognise the need for new housing developments where there is a need, and to ensure that there are affordable new homes, including social rented houses, built as a part of larger new developments. However, I have always firmly believed that decisions about new housing developments should be taken locally, and that brownfield development should be prioritised ahead of building on the countryside.

I am pleased to say that it is these principles that now underpin our planning laws. When I was first elected as an MP in 2010, the Government introduced the Localism Act to support local councils to develop evidence-based housing plans according to local housing need.

Suffolk’s towns and parishes now also have the power to develop their own neighbourhood plans.
Thanks to these important Government reforms, the top-down regional housing targets were rightly scrapped, and Whitehall civil servants, many of whom have never set foot in Suffolk, lost the power to impose massive new housing developments on our area.

It is because of my belief in protecting the countryside from over-development, and letting councils take the lead in developing evidence-based housing growth plans based upon local need, that I recently worked with other MPs to block suggested changes to the planning system which would have potentially reintroduced a form of regionally set housing target by the back door, as well as fast-tracked developments in certain areas without proper local consultation or scrutiny. These changes were wrong and I am pleased to have played my part in stopping them from happening.

I remain firmly of the view that we must continue to better protect local consultation and decision making in the planning process.

I am currently fighting to ensure that new laws are introduced to allow a community right of appeal against a planning decision. Currently, developers have the right to appeal but communities do not. It is time to level the playing field. Bad planning decisions need to be challenged, and residents deserve the right to do so.

Over the past few years, there have been developments recommended and granted for approval because of the fear of the cost to the council of defending an appeal. Levelling the playing field by creating a new community right of appeal would support council planning officers and councillors to make the right planning decisions - decisions which are in the best interests of the local community rather than decisions that best protect the council from the costs of a planning appeal.

I shall continue to do all that I can to ensure our local councils have all the tools they need to make the right planning decisions in the future.

Artificial Intelligence...!

I rather liked this verse, apparently created by a computer following the direction stated.

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non-profit · The Village Hall · The Thorofare · Brundish, Suffolk IP13 8BB · United Kingdom