Needham Village Link
November / December 2013
The newsletter for the villagers of Needham
Monday 28 October 2013
Hello/Goodbye
Hello
We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Needham to Ben & Jenny Wick and Genevieve Bridgeman who have recently moved into the village. We hope they will enjoy living in Needham and we look forward to seeing them at Village events.
and...
Goodbye
Farewell to Caroline Dear & Karen Smith who have moved away from Needham. During their years in the village Caroline was a key member of the Village Hall Committee and Karen served on the Parish Council. On your behalf, I’d like to thank them for all their hard work especially for the Jubilee celebrations in 2012.
Christmas Trees
Sue Elsden at White House Farm is selling Christmas trees again this year. They will will be available as usual at White House Farm from Saturday 30th Nov everyday from 9am to 5pm. They are all locally grown and there will be the usual selection of Norway Spruce, Nordmann and Blue Spruce in various sizes from 3ft to 13ft and smaller potted trees. Plain or decorated wreaths will also be on sale.
Free delivery in Needham. If you have any special requests please contact Sue Elsden on 01379 853290 or 07891869120 or sueelsdenoffice@yahoo.co.uk
Letters to the Editor
Why should anyone be concerned about the church closing! It seems that religion has caused more hatred and death in the world for what it is worth. Perhaps it’s the Friends of St Peter`s who are concerned more than most. When it does close, why not convert the church into flats and the Friends can all move in together and get some return for their money? Please don't ask people to attend church.
A very unconcerned resident
(name and address provided)
How lucky Needham is to have a "Motoring Correspondent". Shame no one knows who he is!! It wasn’t until I drove pass SAM that I realised what the dial in my car was for. I have been driving a car for many years with a speedometer, so thanks SAM . Like SAM it tells me what speed I am travelling at, so thanks SAM. The sad thing is that looking at SAM I nearly crashed into an oncoming car, so thanks SAM. Perhaps they could invent a WET SAM to tell us when it’s raining or a SNOW SAM to remind us that it’s winter, so thanks SAM.
Unknown Correspondent
(name and address provided)
The Editor is not responsible for the content of letters which may be edited. If you would like to reply to these letters or have comments on other matters please send letters to needhamlink@gmail.com or post them through the door of Mill Farm Cottage.
Village Hall Committee
The last edition of the Link contained a request to let us know if anyone in the village would be interested in joining a group to help restore and run the children’s play area. Unfortunately, we received no response and it was therefore resolved at the October committee meeting to dismantle the existing play area. However, action will be held off until after the November meeting.
Needham Village Parish Council
At the Parish Council meeting held on 23rd September it was announced that both Paul Bird and Karen Smith had stepped down as Parish Councillors. This means there are now two Casual Vacancies on the Parish Council.
A Casual Vacancy means that we are now able to co-opt new Councillors. To qualify to be a Parish Councillor it is necessary to be an elector in Needham, or hold property in the village.
The Parish Council meets every two months. We are able to assist residents maintain a link with the work of both South Norfolk District Council and also with Norfolk Council on wider issues such as highway maintenance. In both these areas we enjoy the significant support of our District and County Councillors.
We would welcome any resident who cares for the running of our community and would be interested in joining the Parish Council to contact either myself, telephone 852958, or the Parish Clerk Philip Freeman, telephone number 783203.
We are extremely grateful to Karen, who has moved out of the village, and to Paul who, for several years filled the role of Chairman, for the support they have given to the Parish.
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 2 December at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend and to raise any issues at the public forum.
A full list of the members of the Parish Council is available on www.needhamlink.co.uk or on the Village notice board.
Andrew Major, Chairman
Local Radio for Harleston (& Needham?)
Harleston and the surrounding villages could have their own local radio station! As a result, residents will be involved and entertained, and Harleston and other nearby Waveney Valley businesses will have a new, cost effective and highly-focussed advertising medium. With the support of the ‘Harleston’s Future’ partnership, Park Radio have agreed to include Harleston and its environs in their imminent licence application, provided it can be proved viable.
If you want to find out more about Park Radio, email chris.moyse@parkradio.co.uk or visit the Park Radio web site at www.parkradio.co.uk .
Because of limited space it has not been possible to print the whole article but the full version of this report can be read at www.needhamlink.co.uk
Needham Carpet Bowls Club
Our friendly match played at home against Cratfield was won by a few shots and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.
The Winter League has now started and we have played an away match against Kenninghall. Although we won one game and drew one game, Kenninghall were the eventual winners.
On 1 October a team of five players from our club competed in the knock-out cup at Wortwell. Unfortunately Needham lost all our games.
On 11 October seven club members attended the Summer League Presentation & Quiz Evening held at Alburgh Village Hall. This too was a very enjoyable evening.
Unfortunately, one of our long time members has decided to leave the club.
Our club evenings are held at Needham Village Hall every Wednesday evening beginning at 7:30pm. New members are very welcome so do come along and join us. Membership is £2 per year. Fees are £1.50 and all equipment is provided. Tea / coffee and biscuits are included in the fees.
Nudger
News from the Red Lion
Sue Massey is proposing to restart the Village coffee mornings at the Red Lion on the first
Tuesday of each month, the first being Tuesday 5 November. Sue would like to invite everyone from Needham & Brockdish to come for coffee and a chat from 10:00am to 12 noon. Please drop in - bring a friend. Cakes which can be used for a raffle prize or sold to boost takings are very welcome!
The Christmas menus are now available and booking is essential (01379 853930). The Red Lion will be open for Christmas Day lunch and also, this year, on Boxing day.
Don’t forget, the petanque pitch is available to all - just phone 853930
Quiz Night
Social Correspondent
Macmillan Coffee Mornings
The coffee morning held in aid of the Macmillan charity held at the Red Lion was a great success. £360 was raised. Thanks are due to the Massey family and all the ladies who baked the cakes.
Friends of St Peter's
The Friends of St Peter’s are holding a Christmas Coffee Evening at Robi Doves - 8 High Road Needham on 29 November starting at 7pm. There will be a raffle and a cake stall. David’s popular Quiz Papers will be on sale for £1 each with the closing date 31 January 2014. Please return entries to Pauline Spinlove at 119 Grove Cottage Needham 1P209LG. Contact Pauline if you would like an entry form. The first Prize is a bottle of wine. Hope you enjoy doing it over the Christmas/New Year Holidays.
Pauline Spinlove
stop press - date for your diary
Please note that the date of the Churchyard tidy-up is Saturday 9 November from 9:30am to 12:30pm. George Miller
St Peter's Church Services
NOVEMBER
Sunday 3rd 6pm Evening prayer
with FOODBANK collection
Sunday 10th 6pm Remembrance Service
(Remembrance Sunday)
Sunday 17th 11am Morning prayer
Sunday 24th 11am Holy Communion
DECEMBER
Sunday 1st 6pm Advent Carol Service with a Difference
and FOODBANK collection
Sunday 8th 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 15th 11am Morning Prayer
Sunday 22nd 6pm Carol Service
Tuesday 24th 4pm Crib Service (Christmas Eve)
Wednesday 25th 11am Children’s/Informal Service
(Christmas Day)
Sunday 29th 10.30am Benefice Communion at St. Peter’s
Harleston's Special Attractions
Harleston may be a small town but it has big ambitions and is determined to buck the trend of failing High Streets. The latest manifestation of this is a new Harleston Shop Guide, which spotlights fifty-five independent businesses offering everything from antiques and auto parts to Zumba classes and Zanussi dishwashers.
‘The point we are trying to make’ comments Sue Smith of ‘Home Comforts’, who co-ordinated the guide with her colleagues Rachel Smith and Cindy Debenham, ‘is that people don’t have to trek to Norwich or Ipswich to get what they want, it’s all here in Harleston. Unlike buying on-line you can see the quality of an item, get advice from experienced staff and have an enjoyable experience. I think that is worth a lot.’
The team from ‘Home Comforts’ got a lot of support from the local shopkeepers and other businesses. The guide was designed for free by Carly Newton and Kieran Robinson from Pen & Paper* as a gesture of goodwill.
‘Harleston has a special appeal because it has more independent shops than any other Norfolk market town. And it still has free parking’ adds Meryl Harding of local chocolatier’s Just Truffles, and chair of the newly established Harleston events sub-committee, part of the ‘Harleston’s Future’ partnership and the town’s new Town Team. ‘Add to that the 200+ listed historic buildings, a lively weekly Wednesday market, monthly Farmers’ Market and masses of great cafes, pubs and restaurants – and what is there not to love about the place?’
In the wake of a recent packed town meeting to consider how to ensure Harleston’s continuing prosperity, four new working groups have been set up to move things forward under the banner of ‘Harleston’s Future’.
Chairman Paul Stephen commented ‘There are such exciting plans for the town being developed. We want to exploit the strengths of Harleston. We want to help businesses to thrive, ensure visitors have a really good experience and local residents feel part of a happy and lively community.’
‘Harleston’s Future’ is a partnership project, run by the Harleston Town Team, to ensure the continued prosperity and well-being of Harleston, for the benefit of local businesses, the local economy, residents and visitors. Find us on Facebook or @HarlestonFuture on Twitter. Copies of the Harleston Shopping Guide are available from ‘Home Comforts’ – 01379 853419
For more information please contact:
Sue Smith Tel: 01379 853419 Nicky Stainton Tel: 07747620386
Meryl Harding Tel: 01379 851933 Paul Stephen Tel: 0786-7531817
* now, unfortunately, closed
Harry Peters
Harry Peters (1920-2013)
We are sad to report that Harry Peters of 125 High Road has died at the age of 93 years.
Harry had lived in Needham for 50 years.
Harry had served as a sergeant in the Air Ministry police in Pulham. He was a Normandy veteran and had entered the Belsen concentration camp when it was liberated at the end of the World War II.
Harry had trained as an architect. One structure he designed, the bus shelter in Broad Street Harleston, is probably well known to many residents. He was also an accomplished water colourist’
Harry was married to Bea who pre-deceased him in 2007.
Gardening Tips
get ready for winter
Plants vary in their ability to survive the winter unscathed. Many borderline-hardy plants will require protection from penetrating frosts and cold winds. Others can cope with the cold but are prone to rotting if the soil remains wet for long periods. Even hardy plants can struggle to survive a cold snap if they have only recently been planted. Plants in containers are, perhaps, the most vulnerable of all since both their top-growth and root zone can freeze solid during prolonged sub-zero temperatures and the pot may be damaged too. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to help your plants survive the winter. The ones you choose should depend on the plants you are trying to protect.
- Wrap up the top-growth
- Insulate the roots
- Shelter from wind
- Protect against winter wet
- Insulate containers
Gardening Correspondent
Long Term Care Planning
You have parents who are likely at some time to need long term care. This is very expensive; £500 a week (£26,000 a year) is not excessive in this part of the world at present, and may even be on the conservative side. And that's just for one of them. Unless you are very poor indeed, this is what it will cost them.
Your parents worked hard to buy their house so the moment you start thinking about it, you can see your inheritance disappearing all too quickly as it needs to be sold to pay for the care. What was that; you thought the NHS was 'free at the point of delivery'?
Sorry, it doesn't work like that for long term care. If they have the money, they have to pay up, sooner or later.
But it doesn't need to be like that; all you have to do is plan ahead to stop the house being sold, or a mortgage being placed on it by the Council so they can get the money when your parents have died and the house has been sold. If the long term care bill is greater than the value of the house, what then?
The problem is that most people don't plan ahead to stop the worst happening, which results in thousands and thousands of homes being sold every year to pay for the care. Why is this ? Why don't people do something about it ? I don't know, but you and your parents don't need to be one of them.
There are plenty of (fixed fee) legal steps you and your parents can take to preserve your inheritance; the trouble is, most people leave it too late, or don't bother at all.
So I just need to say again; you need to plan in advance, before the care is needed, if you want to keep your inheritance.
Philip Martin
Thank You
Thank you
I would like to thank everyone who attended the event my niece organised to raise money for the Stroke Association at the Red Lion in July. In particular, a big thank you to Sue and her family from the Red Lion for all their hard work.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank villagers for their support , offers of help and good wishes to me and my family during my illness.
Heidi Williams
Pembury, High Road, Needham
Thank you
A big thank you to everyone who made the Art and Craft Exhibition held on 7th September in Needham Village Hall such a great success.
There were many complimentary comments and visitors to the Art Exhibition were asked to vote for their favourite painting, which was 'Old Bear' by Tina Hannay. We look forward to doing it all again next year!!
Evelyn Ives
thank you
Colin Asprey would like to thank everyone who gave a donation to Cancer Research UK in memory of Cindy. A total of £518.50 was donated to this very worthwhile cause.
Thank you....
Ed
Christmas Evening
Needham Village Christmas Evening
Saturday 14th December 2013
Mulled wine & Christmas Carols from 7pm
Traditional Christmas Dinner served at
7.30pm
By John Groom, Bungay
*
Every ticket entered into a
Luxury Christmas Hamper Prize Draw
Kindly Donated by HLC wood products
Licensed Bar and Christmas Raffle
Book a table & bring your friends
£16.00 per person
Early Booking Essential
For tickets contact:
Helen Walker
Jean Youell
Helen Major (Needham Link Editor)
Friday 25 October 2013
November/December Edition
The latest edition of The Link is with the distributor - you should be receiving your copy soon!
Monday 21 October 2013
November/December Edition
The next edition of the Needham Link will be online on the morning of Monday 28 November.
Don't miss it!
Monday 14 October 2013
Saturday 5 October 2013
St Peter's Church - Change of Date
Please note that the date for the Church Yard 'Tidy Up' is on Saturday 9 November not !7th November.
Thursday 3 October 2013
Hobbies
Do you have an interesting hobby? If so, the editor would like to hear from you. Please make contact through needhamlink@gmail.com or post through the letter box at Mill Farm Cottage.
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