Needham Village Link
July/August 2012
Saturday 30 June 2012
From the editor
I’m sure all those who attended the Needham Village Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the village hall on 2nd June will agree that, despite the unseasonably chilly and windy weather, it was a wonderful community event. You turned up in numbers and we all met villagers whom we hadn’t met before. I received the following email from a grateful villager...
“A big thank you to all who planned, organised and worked very hard on the day to provide the Needham Jubilee Party .
I appreciate that the weather made everything harder but it was a lovely occasion !
Many thanks
Marion Taylor and Family”
..and April Clarke posted this comment on www.needhamlink.co.uk
“Had an excellent afternoon/evening as did the rest of my family! Although, I may have fell victim to the Pimms....
Thanks to you all for doing such a brilliant job organising it!”
Thanks to you all for doing such a brilliant job organising it!”
The Auction of Promises held in the Red Lion was a resounding success. Bidding for some promises was fierce resulting in over £1000 being raised to fund the Tea Party and a lasting memorial to the Jubilee. A big thank you to all our promisors, bidders and our most accomplished auctioneer, David Cunliffe.
If you were a successful bidder and have not yet claimed your promise please get in contact with the promisor. If you have lost the contact details please contact Caroline or me at needhamlink@gmail.com
More events have been planned including the Open Gardens on 15 July (see back page) and a Village BBQ on Sunday 9th September. Make a note of those dates in your diaries and keep them free!
Please submit articles for the next edition of The Link by 14 August. Post them through the door of Mill Farm Cottage or email them to needhamlink@gmail.com. Thanks.
Helen
Village Hall Committee
Have you noticed anything different about the village hall recently? Anyone who was at the Jubilee Tea Party will have found it a great deal easier to hold a conversation over tea. The reason is that acoustic panels have been installed in the ceiling of the hall. They are barely noticeable, but have made a huge difference. The reverberation time, that is the length of time that sound echoes in the hall, has been halved. As well as controlling background noise when there is a large group of people in the hall, it also means the acoustics are far better for making music. This is just one of the recent improvements that have been carried out with funds that have been raised by our activities. Another has been to carpet the new community room at the rear. The Hall Committee is grateful for the grants for the acoustic panels from the Townlands Trust and South Norfolk Council.
After the AGM we are entering a new year for the Hall Committee with additional people joining; Steve Neaves, Caroline Dear, John Morrish and Helen Walker. Sadly, Cindy Asprey has left us due to ill health and our previous secretary Brenda Hider has retired. We are very grateful to both Cindy and Brenda for their tremendous support over the years.
The Village Hall is now on Facebook.
The webpage is www.facebook.com/needhamvillagehall . There are lots of photos from the Jubilee Tea Party and you don’t have to join Facebook if you want to look at the postings.
Needham Village Hall
For enquiries or bookings please contact Jean Youell on
01379 854819
Over the fence ... musings of a canine nature
Jubilee in Needham was apparently quite a success. To be honest, I was quite pleased it was all over so we could get back into the normal routine...or so I thought. But the next thing you know they were off again. First thing Monday morning they were waving goodbye to me. I couldn’t believe it. Where were they going now? Anyway, they were back on Tuesday, draped in Union Jack scarves and waving flags....turns out they had been picked in the lottery to have tickets to the Queen’s Jubilee Picnic and Concert at Buckingham Palace. I think it was a bit over the top; after all they’d had a lovely day at the village event on the Saturday before so I don’t think it was necessary to drag it out any longer. I overheard them telling...........EVERYONE.....about it. They had EACH received a Heston Blumenthal hamper, full of delicious foods, a flag, a waterproof poncho and a glass of champers, Moet apparently (means nothing to me!). They sat in the garden overlooking the palace whilst the likes of Princesses Anne, Beatrice, Eugenie and Prince Edward to name a few, circulated chatting casually to everyone. They were allowed to wander freely around the gardens (bet it wasn’t the same without me!), which were beautiful but nettles were spotted in a few places......even with all the money in the world.....nettles will still get the better of you!!
After the picnic they were ushered to their seats around the Queen Victoria Memorial to enjoy the concert. It was a fabulous event. They reckon the highlights were Grace Jones, Kylie Minogue, the Commonwealth Choir and the images projected on Buckingham Palace.
But you know what? They said the best part about the whole event was that everyone from the taxi driver to the police man to the lady on the Thames river boat who gave them a cheap ticket - just because she could - oozed the high spirits and pride of being British
All I can say is, I’m glad they’re home and things can get back to normal around here and they can start giving me a bit more attention....mind you, a Union Jack still hangs in the kitchen, but the minute it drops to the floor that’ll be the end of it!!
Right that’s me, I need a snooze. Come on Mutley.
Thank you Needham!
I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who contributed their valuable time and efforts to make such a success not only of the Jubilee Tea Party but the ‘Auction of Promises’ we held in May. We couldn’t have pulled it off without each and every one of you! Thank you!
We were so pleased to see everyone at the Jubilee Celebrations, there was a lovely feel to the whole day with lots of fun and laughter. No one will forget the ‘Red Barrows’ in a hurry! There were some fantastic crowns and best dressed outfits on the day too, with a fine afternoon tea and such a super display of cakes. Please have a look on the Needham Village Hall Facebook page for photos of the day.
It may have been a bit cool and overcast, but we definitely had the best day weather wise as well! We hope you all enjoyed it as well!
We hope you enjoy the selection of Jubilee photos on the centre pages. There are also some of Sandra Jordan’s photos on the Link page at www.needhamlink.co.uk
What next? Let the Editor know what you would like to see happening in Needham in the future! Email your suggestions to needhamlink@gmail.com or pop them through the letter box at Mill Farm Cottage.
Caroline
Parish Council
The Annual Meeting of Needham Parish Council was held at the Village Hall on Monday 28 May. Reports were received on the past years activities on behalf of local charities, including the Village Hall Committee, Needham Towns Lands Trust and the Friends of St. Peter’s, as well as from local groups and societies. Reports were also received from our District Councillor, Jenny Wilby, and our County Councillor, Martin Wilby.
The Chairman, in his annual report, stated that the Parish Council, over the last year, had maintained a full programme of bi-monthly meetings and thanked the Parish Councillors, and the Parish Clerk, for their continuing support. The Chairman also thanked Martin and Jenny Wilby for their invaluable support and for reporting at each meeting on their own activities.
The Parish Council plays an important role in caring for this village and its environs and connecting its people with their Local Government. In the past year there have been encouraging signs that the village is continuing to grow stronger as a community and that the Parish Council is playing a part in this. In the previous twelve months we have funded the production of a village information booklet, and we continue to fund the bi-monthly Link newsletter. We also paid for commemorative Needham Jubilee mugs that were distributed to children of 16 and under on the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. They were also given to anyone celebrating a 60th birthday or anniversary this year.
Following lengthy efforts, including a letter on our behalf from our local MP, we finally secured the return of the refurbished village sign from HM Wayland Prison.
The Parish Council has been active in responding to notifications of planning applications. We have been pleased to support applications that range from proposals for a dog training centre and a retirement livery to an application to extend a listed building.
The Parish Council did oppose the extension of time for the approval for the Needham Nursery site and the Chairman spoke on behalf of objectors at the Planning Committee meeting at South Norfolk Council. This application was however approved. Our objection to extensions to the house at 111 High Street was initially upheld on highway grounds but a revised proposal has now been approved by South Norfolk Council.
The report concluded that the Parish Council is in a strong position to continue to represent the parishioners of Needham through the coming year.
At the Parish Council meeting that followed, Andrew Major was elected as Chairman for a further year.
Borderhoppa Outings
Mon 11th June: Yesterdays World, Gt Yarmouth. £22.50 includes entrance
Mon 18th June: Felixstowe. £16.
Mon 25th June: Raveningham Craft Centre & Beccles. £12.
Mon 2nd July: Sheringham. £18.50.
Mon 9th July: Gorleston. £16.
Mon 16th July: Boat trip on Waveney Stardust from Brundall. £21
Mon 23rd July: Southwold. £14.
Mon 30th July: Rushall Gardens. £21 includes entrance, lunch, & tea
Mon 6th Aug: Gt Yarmouth. £16.
Mon 13th Aug: RHS Hyde Hall Gardens, Essex. £23 Includes entrance
Mon 23rd Aug: Aldeburgh & Thorpeness. £16.
Our outings are for Borderhoppa members only; to become a member (which is currently free) please call 01379 854800 for an application form.
If you would like to make a booking on one of our buses on our Demand Responsive service, (formerly called Dial-A-Ride & now available to anyone, any age) or you would like to hire one of our mini buses day, evening or weekend, please call the office between 8.30am & 5pm Monday – Friday 01379 854800.
Borderhoppa are currently looking for a book keeper 2 – 3 hours per week.
If you are interested, please call 01379 854800.
Love on Two Wheels
I read somewhere that the bicycle is the most revolutionary form of transport ever invented as it expanded the human gene pool. No longer did you have to marry the girl next door; you could hop on a bike and find a mate miles away – it happened to me!
I lived in London and my late lovely wife, Sheila, lived in Coventry. We met cycling in North Wales and most of our courtship was by letter.
I was in the RAF and was a keen cyclist. I took some leave to compete in a seven day cycle race which finished in Pwllheli in North Wales. My “mucker” back at camp, Alan C, was a cyclist from Coventry who knew Sheila. He bet that she could not ride from Coventry to Pwllheli to support her club mates who were competing in the same race. At the farewell social after the race I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a charming young lady who said, “Tell Alan C he owes me two and six (12 ½ p).” This was the start of our beautiful romance and I have cycling to thank.
Derek Buttle
Many of you may not know that Derek, still a keen cyclist, took part in the first Tour of Britain in 1951 and as a professional rider in the Hercules team, participated in three Tour of Britain events in the early 1950s as well as competing in international races across Europe. You may find the following links interesting.
Carpet Bowls
Since our last report the Winter League has been completed.
We were invited by Cratfield to play a friendly match and nine members from our club enjoyed a very pleasant evening there. We will be arranging a return match at Needham during the summer.
We also received an invitation to attend the presentation and social evening of the Waveney League which was held at Shelfanger village hall on Friday 25th May. It was a really enjoyable evening. However, only four members from our club went and it would be appreciated if members were more supportive. The ladies’ singles competition was won by Jane Debattista and the gents’ singles was won by Brian Carlile.
Our club evenings are held every Wednesday starting at 7:30pm. Fees are only £1.50 per evening and this includes tea /coffee and biscuits. We are a very friendly club and would welcome new members. All equipment is provided so do come along and join us.
Nudger
Harleston & Waveney Art Trail 2012
You still have time to visit the studios and workshops of artists living in Needham. We have Gill Levin (aka Gill Alexander) at the Tithe Barn in Mill Lane and Rose Martin at Skeetsmere House in Upper Burnt House Lane. There are over twenty artists who are opening their studios on three weekends (June 23-24, June 30 – July 1, July 7-8) this year.
Details can be found on www.hwat.org.uk
A Message from your Churchwardens
We were very pleased when the announcement was made that the Revd Nigel Tuffnell will be joining us as our incumbent, and we look forward to the joyful day of his induction. We are sure you will all join in welcoming him and his family to our parishes.
Many changes lie ahead, particularly as Nigel will be priest in charge of both the Redenhall Benefice and the Scole Benefice, giving him seven churches to look after. We will be working together to combine these two benefices into one. Nigel will have less time for each separate parish and will probably do things in a different way from what we have known in the past. We trust that you will all face this time of transition with open minds and show your support for him during this change and reorganisation.
Please remember that we have to get to know only one man; he has to get to know seven congregations with six PCCs, and we must all give him time to settle in. In the same way we must respect his free time on his days off.
We trust that we can all work and pray together to ensure that the Church in this area is united, happy, and growing.
As the planning evolves, details will be given in the weekly news sheets, and the Benefice Magazine.
Maureen, George, Lindy and Charles.
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