Needham Village Annual BBQ

                  Sunday 3 August

                  1:00pm

                     BAR

                     MUSIC

                     RAFFLE

                      TOMBOLA

                     &

                     MORE!

Donations for the raffle & tombola would be greatly appreciated.  These can be left with either of the following management committee members:

Jean Youell                                                       or                                   Celia Snaith

77 High Road                                                                                          133 High Road

Harleston U3A

S.O.S

Top of the “wish list” for several members of Harleston and District U3A is forming a “Singing For Fun” group but we are in urgent need of a leader. Can anyone out there help? There will be support for the administration i.e. organising times, venue, contacts and material. Now that a ukulele group is up and running, it would be wonderful to have our very own U3A choir.

Reverend Clive Hudson

It is with great sadness that we report the death of the Reverend Clive Hudson who died peacefully at home on 21 June.  He was a true friend to Needham.

There will be a funeral service at St Mary's Church Redenhall on Monday 7 July at 2:30pm.  Immediate family flowers only but donations payable to Susan Whymark Funeral Service to benefit Harleston, Redenhall & Needham Churches may be sent to: 

Susan Whymark Funeral Service

31 Redenhall Road

Harleston I

P20 9HE

July/August Edition

.... will be online on 29 June.  Watch this space!

A Date For Your Diary

Needham Village Annual BBQ

Sunday 3 August

1:00pm

     

BAR

MUSIC

RAFFLE

TOMBOLA

&

MORE!

Harleston & Waveney Art Trail

There are two Needham artists opening their studios this year for the Harleston & Waveney Art Trail.

They are:

Gill Levin at the Tithe Barn in Mill Lane

and

Victoria Townley at the Granary in Mill Lane

May 24th - 26th (inc Bank Holiday Monday)

May 31st - June 1st

Open Farm Day

Not to be missed.  Great day out for all the family!

www.needhamlink.co.uk

needhamlink@gmail.com 

Needham Village Link

May/June 2014

The newsletter for the villagers of Needham

www.facebook.com/NeedhamLink

@needham_link 

From the Editor

Congratulation belatedly to Denis Tavener on the occasion of his 85th birthday on March 25th and thank you Denis for all the hard work you put in for the village.  There is a report of a chat our Features Editor had with Denis in this edition of the Link. And from one long term resident to a newcomer - I’m very grateful to Genevieve Bridgeman for her article.

A very warm welcome to Andrew & Debbie who have recently moved into what was Harry Peters’ house on the High Road

It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice that 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.  Forty-five men from Needham served in the First Great War. There is a plaque in St Peter’s Church in memory of the twelve men who gave their lives. Of those who survived three won special honour for ‘heroic service’. I should be really interested if you are related to or know anyone who knows of any of the forty-five  men.

Helen

And finally, thank you to our Art Editor for his latest cover for the Link.  Summer must be here as I saw four swallows over Priory Farm airfield on 15 April.

Helen

Letters to the Editor

It was exciting to see comments from Catherine (Née Foulkes) in the last edition of The Link.  I remember her family - her father, Robert, lives in Mexico and keeps in touch. Whilst in the British Army Bob was its youngest Captain.  Bob’s wife, Hazel, now sadly demised, was attractive and charming.  She had been a model when younger.  Catherine’s sister, Lydia, lives in London.

Just a few memories.

Derek Buttle

It’s very good to see that the two new dog waste bins provided by the Parish Council are being used.  Hopefully this will reduce the amount of dog poo on pavements and make walking for non dog owners and dog owners alike more pleasant. 

A dog walker

New to Needham

My introduction to Needham was fairly memorable.  I moved in over the weekend of 24/25 October 2013 and just two days later came the first storm of what was to be a very wet and windy winter.  Named ‘St Jude’ by the media, the storm rampaged across East Anglia on its route from the Atlantic and over the North Sea to mainland Europe.  The high winds arrived here early on the Tuesday morning as forecast by the Met Office.  The electricity failed soon afterwards and remained off for about 36 hours due to a tree falling on a nearby power line.  Inconvenient as it was, this did provide a welcome opportunity to meet my new neighbours who kindly came round to make sure I was ok and had a sufficient supply of candles.

With birding as a major interest it had always been my plan to move to this part of the country after a working life spent teaching science to reluctant London teenagers.  When the opportunity finally arrived it proved harder than expected to find the place I had in mind; a small house with a very large garden.  Eighteen months and 43 viewings later it suddenly appeared on the estate agent’s website; exactly what I had been looking for and within easy reach of the wetlands, heath, woodlands and coasts that I’d visited on so many weekend birding trips.  Needham, being in the Waveney Valley, is a prime birding spot and even before the summer migrants arrive I’ve recorded over 30 species in the garden here, including marsh tit, house sparrow and song thrush; all red-listed species which have declined dramatically in recent years.

The plan for the two acre garden is to develop it further as a wildlife habitat.  The pond, previously overgrown with trees, has been opened up to let in light and warmth so that water plants, insects, frogs and newts can thrive.  Mixed native hedging has been planted and in a few years time will provide additional food and habitat for the birds.  A wildflower meadow to attract bees and butterflies is the next step and may take some years to develop.  The recommended method is to collect wildflower seed from the local area, so if anyone in the village already has a wildflower meadow…… any offers of seed later in the summer would be most welcome!

Genevieve Bridgeman

Needham Parish Council

The meeting held on Monday 24th March was delighted to vote unanimously in favour of appointing Celia and Delwyn Snaith to fill the casual vacancies on the Parish Council.  A full list of Parish Councillors is given below.

It was reported at the meeting the two new dog bins purchased by the Parish Council have been installed at the corner of The High Road and Mill Lane and Upper Burnt House Lane and Mather Lane and appear already to be well used.  The meeting recorded its thanks to Chris Nicholson for installing them.

The Parish Clerk was requested to again notify the Highways Authority of potholes that remain unfilled since the end of the winter.  This is in addition to highway matters that have been raised on our behalf by our County Councillor.  The Parish Council have also requested South Norfolk Rangers on their next visit to clear brambles on local footpaths.  

The Rangers make periodic visits to help keep verges and footpaths clear.  Parishoners are welcome to bring to the Parish Council’s attention any problems they are aware of and these will be passed on.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 18th May in the Village Hall.  It will start at 7.00pm with the Annual Meeting at which the Parish Council will report on the previous years proceedings.   It is also the opportunity for the village community to report on its own activities and is therefore an ideal chance to come up to-date with village life.

Andrew Major                                   852958        andrewmajor@mac.com
Diane Clarke                                    852603
Rose Martin                                    854852        roseamartin1@gmail.com
Sylvia Miller                                    852059        georgeandsylvia@btinternet.com
Celia Snaith                                     851987        celia_snaith@hotmail.com
Delwyn Snaith                                  851987        delwyn_snaith@hotmail.com
Denis Tavner                                   854108


Philip Freeman (Parish Clerk)          783203         philip.c.freeman@btinternet.com
Jenny Wilby (District Councillor)    741504
Martin Wilby (County Councillor)

Recipe

lemon possett

This is a modern take on a traditional dessert and it’s delicious!

300 ml double cream

75g  caster sugar

finely grated zest of 1 small lemon

2 tbsp lemon juice (from above lemon)

• Combine the cream, sugar & lemon zest in a small pan over a low heat and stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.  
• When bubbles start to form around the edges of the mixtures continue cooking without stirring for 2 minutes. Do not let the mixture come to a rolling boil.  
• Take the pan off the heat, add the lemon juice & stir in thoroughly. 
• Strain the mixture through a sieve into a jug.

Pour into 4 small glass dishes or ramekins.  Cover them with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least two hours.

Cookery Editor

Open Farm Sunday

A Fun Day Out for all the Family!

8 June at Shotford Hall Farm, Harleston IP20 9QT  11:00am-5:00pm

Visit Shotford Hall mixed farm on Open Farm Sunday for a day of fun and discovery.  

Meet and touch the animals (milking from 2-4pm), take a close look at the farm machinery, enjoy a tractor and trailer tour, take a leisurely riverside walk, meet some food producers and find out where your food comes from.  

Free entry for everyone.

Refreshments are available - hog roast, cream teas, coffee & tea.

For more information contact Tim Lewis on 07767 708106.

An audience with Denis Tavner

It seems that Denis has always been at the heart of our village but in fact he moved here when he retired in 1995 to be near one of his three sons who lives in Norwich.  Whatever the village activity Denis seems to be in the thick of it.  He is a Parish Councillor and a member of the Village Hall Committee.  He also seems to have a great knack of winning raffle prizes at the Red Lion Coffee mornings.  However, Denis already knew East Anglia well as after leaving school at the age of 14 he worked for an electrical contractor in Catford in South London, and was responsible for getting the pay packets to the workmen on the many airfields in our  region.

School was in Brockley where Denis, with four sisters and three brothers, was born in 1929.  It was a happy childhood - although they had very little they wanted for nothing.  His father worked as a coal merchant but served as a special constable during the war.  Mr Tavner senior was also a member of the Great Britain gold medal tug o’ war team in 1934.  Denis recalls of his mother “she never had her hands out of water”.  He also remembers her coming to school to get her packet of ‘Players Weights’ that Denis had bought for her and inadvertently taken to school!

Being in London during WW2 was an experience for Denis.  He witnessed the daylight bombing of his local school that took the lives of dozens of children and teachers. He also witnessed the doodlebugs falling on nearby Lewisham & Blackheath. He remembers the rocket sites on Blackheath where, before the war, he had had fun at the travelling fairs. 

. 

As was usual in those days Denis was conscripted and chose to join the Royal Navy as a Seaman.  He served on HMS Superb, a cruiser and HMS Rocket, a destroyer.  His vessels worked as escorts for the carriers Implacable & Illustrious and he remembers seeing Barracudas, Sea Fires & Sea Furies taking off and landing on the decks.   He loved his time in the Navy and would have stayed in after his time as a conscript ended were it not for an accident which cost him the sight in one eye.  It seems that Health & Safety has come on a long way since those days!  After leaving the Navy Denis qualified as a Quantity Surveyor and joined Bovis.  On marrying he moved out of London to Badgers Mount in Kent where he built himself a house.  In those days a plot of land cost just £2500!

Denis recalls that he was an enthusiastic dancer spending time in the dance hall above Burtons in nearby Eltham or at the Thursday dance at Welling Embassy where he loved the swing bands - including the Billy Cotton Band.  He may not be cutting so many shapes on the dance floor now but an interest that has stayed with him all his life is breeding hens, especially show birds.  He has been a member of the Poultry Club of Great Britain for over 50 years and has in the past been a judge.  He still shows his birds at the Norfolk Show.  

It was a real pleasure to chat with Denis about his life and his memory is undimmed.  If you were ever a train spotter you will be impressed to know that he can name all 40 of the Southern Region Schools Class locomotives from 30900 Eton to 30939 Leatherhead!

Features Editor

Poem

I'm very well, thank you.

There is nothing the matter with me
I’m as healthy as can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk - I talk with a wheeze.
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin,
But, I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in.
And supports I have for my feet
Or I wouldn’t be able to be out on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night
But every morning I find I’m alright.
My memory is failing, my head’s in a spin,
But, I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in.

My moral is this - as my tale I unfold
That for you and me who are getting old
It’s better to say “I’m fine” with a grin
Than to let folks know the shape we’re in.
How do I know that my youth is all spent?
Well, my ‘get and go’ and ‘got up and went’.
But I really don’t mind when I think with a grin
Of all the grand places my ‘got up’ has been.
Old age is golden, I’ve heard it said
But sometimes I wonder as I get into bed
With my ears in a draw, my teeth in a cup
My specs on the table until I get up,
‘Ere sleep overtakes me I say to myself
Is there anything else I could lay on the shelf?
When I was young my slippers were red
I could kick my heels right over my head.
When I was older my slippers were blue
But I could still dance the whole night through.
Now I am older my slippers are black
I walk to the shop and puff my way back.
I get up each morning and dust off my wits
And pick up the paper to read the obits.
My name is still missing so I know I’m not dead
And so I have breakfast and go back to bed.

By Beatrice Wigg, courtesy of Derek Buttle

(Beatrice Wigg taught many past residents of Needham.  Does anyone have any recollections of her?)

Needham Carpet Bowls Club

Since our last report we have played a home match against Occuld. and I am pleased to report that we won all the games. Unfortunately we were the losers in the next match away at Syleham.  The last match in the Winter series was away against Garboldisham.  The games were very close but ultimately we lost by 28 to 34 shots.

The AGM which was held on 19th March at the Village Hall was very well attended.  The committee elected for the coming year is:

Chair Person:            Frances Burton

Vice Chair Person:    Delwyn Snaith

Captain:                    Harold Jefferson

Vice Captain:            Brian Carlile

Treasurer:                  Jean Youell

We will shortly play the Club Singles, Ladies & Gents and Pairs Mixed with trophies for the winners.  These will be presented at our Annual Dinner.

We also hope to arrange friendly matches with local clubs.

We are a friendly club and pour members always enjoy matches and club evenings.  The latter are held each Wednesday in Needham Village Hall starting at 7:30pm.  Fees are only £1.50 per evening and this includes tea/coffee and biscuits.

It is a game for all ages and all equipment is supplied by the club.  Do come along and join us - new members would be most welcome.

Nudger

Open Space Theatre Company.

BORED VICAR’S WIFE!

Susan becomes so disillusioned by her role in life as a wife & mother that she begins to imagine an imaginary family.  Reality  and illusion eventually collide with hilarious & devastating results in this brilliantly crafted drama by one of Britain’s greatest playwrights.

While Ayckbourn, a prolific writer with nearly 80 plays to his name, is sometimes perceived as the doyen of light, middle class satire, some of his plays contain a very dark humour and this is certainly true of ‘Woman in Mind’. a play which enjoyed a long West End run in the 1980s.

This devastatingly funny play is being rehearsed in Needham Village Hall by the Open Space Theatre Company prior to an eight-venue tour in May. Local performances include Hoxne Village Hall on Friday, May 2 (box office 01379 855101, Wingfield Barns on Friday, May 16 (box office 01379 384505) and Fisher Theatre, Bungay on Saturday, May 17 (box office 01986 897130).

Tickets £9.50 and £8.50 (concessions)          Start 7.30pm

Approximate.running time 2hrs 15mins (including interval).

Red Lion Coffee Mornings

The monthly coffee mornings at the Red Lion continue to be a success with £110 being raised at the March event split in half for the Village Hall and Needham Church and £108 raised in April again split in half for Bullock Fair Charity Shop and Needham Church  

There is always a fantastic turnout of people who enjoy this really good social occasion.  The organisers would be very grateful for any contributions towards raffle prizes and if you’d like to bake a cake or biscuits they would be more than welcome.  

The coffee mornings are held on the first Tuesday of every month.  If you haven’t been yet do give it a go!

New Beat Manager

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as your new Beat Manger.

I come to the Harleston Safer Neighbourhood Team with 18 years police service in various roles. And in the last 8 years I have worked on South Norfolk Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

We still have PCSO Chris SHELLY on the team and I look forward to working with him and yourselves to continue the hard work that has built this community team.

So we can plan for the months ahead, as and when your dates are confirmed for any fetes, fun days or community engagements for the year, could you let us know so we can try and arrange to attend.

Over the next few months I will endeavour to visit you all, but in the meantime if you are passing the station and one of us is here the kettle is always on!

If there are any issue please contact us at Harleston Safer Neighbour Team on 101 or alternatively you can email us at harlestonsnt@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.

Pc 1224 Jim Squires

Beat Manager

Harleston SNT

Tel 101

Ext 3885 Fax 3880

Jim Squires                                                                 Chris Shelley

                                                   

St Peter's Church

4 May        Evening Service        6pm
11 May        Holy Communion   11am
18 May        Morning Prayer       11am

25 May        Holy Communion   11am
  1 June        Evening Service       6pm
8   June        Holy Communion   11am
15 June        Morning Prayer       11am
22 June        Holy Communion   11am
29 June        Brockdish H.C Benefice Service 10:30
                                                                                         



Friends of St Peter’s Church

The AGM of the Friends of St Peter will be held on 23 May at 7:00pm in the Needham Village Hall.

Sports News

Lucky escape for Lottie, the Red Lion cat!

There was a tense end to the Village Pétanque competition on Easter Saturday.  Members of the Carpet Bowls Team, Harold & Jean, found their skills on carpet were transferrable to the boules pitch but the eventual winners were Joe and Tim. Lottie insisted on supporting throughout and her trespasses onto the pitch nearly ended in disaster as she narrowly missed being hit by one of the boules - one of her nine lives used up!

 

May/June Edition of the Needham Link

The May/June edition will be on line from Tuesday 29 April.

It's a bumper edition with features, letters, recipes, sports news, poetry, all the news and much more!

Pétanque

There will be pétanque games on the Village Pétanque court at the Red Lion on the 19 April.  If you haven't played before, this link might come in handy! http://www.playaboule.com/Simple_petanque_rules.aspx

Open garden

Don't forget!

Open Garden

at

The Old Coach House

Brockdish  IP21 4JY

Sunday 6 April 10:00am - 4:00pm

Many Happy Returns!

Happy 85th birthday today to Denis Tavner!

Open Space Theatre Company

WOMAN IN MIND - Bored Vicar's Wife!

Vicar’s wife, Susan, is so bored and frustrated by her life that she starts to imagine a fantasy family. Illusion and reality collide with hilarious and tragic results in Woman in Mind, one of Alan Ayckbourn’s finest and darkest comedies.

This devastatingly funny play is being rehearsed in Needham Village Hall by the Open Space Theatre Company prior to an eight-venue tour in May. 

Local performances include: 

Hoxne Village Hall         on Friday    May    2 (box office 01379 855101, 

Wingfield Barns              on Friday    May 16  (box office 01379 384505) 

Fisher Theatre, Bungay  on Saturday May 17  (box office 01986 897130).

Tickets £9.50 and £8.50 (concessions)

Start 7.30pm

Approx running time 2hrs 15mins (including interval).

Error

Please note the correct phone number for Colin is now shown in the post about the Gainsborough Bath.  Sorry that the incorrect number was shown.

www.needhamlink.co.uk

needhamlink@gmail.com 

Needham Village Link

March/April 2014

The newsletter for the villagers of Needham

www.facebook.com/NeedhamLink

@needham_link

From the Editor

If you have a favourite recipe/s please send it/them in.  Our Food & Cookery Editor would like to compile a Needham Village Recipe Book so your contributions would be very welcome. Either post them through the letter box at Mill Farm Cottage or email to needhamlink@gmail.com

In the light of the almost continuous rain we seem to have been having, our Environment Correspondent contacted the local press office of the Environment Agency to ask how they managed the water level of the River Waveney.  I think the reply makes interesting reading especially as this year, so far, the river has only come up over a limited part of Mill Lane despite all the rain

I was delighted to receive this post on the Needham Link Facebook page from Catherine Sutton (née Foulkes)
"Hello Needham....I was born at home in the Old Fishmongers in 1965, and we lived there until early 1976. Still have the greatest memories of childhood in a house that was truly magical!  I moved out to LA in 1995, due to a great career opportunity.  Suddenly it's almost twenty years later, and I'm still here!  I miss Norfolk, and find any excuse to visit it when I'm back in England, but not sure I could give up the California sunshine now. We are in the middle of a really serious drought, so would happily swap weather with you, for a while at least!”

I’m hoping that Catherine will be able to find some photos of her childhood  in Needham and that she’ll keep in touch with us.

Needham Link is on Twitter now! Find us at @needham_link

Helen

River Waveney

The River Waveney has numerous flood defences and water level control structure throughout its length. We monitor water levels at these sites through a telemetry network which is controlled and data is utilised by our flood incident duty officers.

The Environment Agency does not control or own all such structures on the river as, for example, some sites are in private ownership such as mills.

Historically, a lot of investment has taken place on the Waveney to install electrically automated sluice gates.  These gates operate on pre-determined trigger levels so we can use live river level data to trigger a gate to open or close in reaction to rising water levels during flood or low flow periods.  All river channels have a maximum capacity of water which can be conveyed before water levels exceed the height of the river banks and spill into the natural floodplain.  When the quantity of water that inflows to the river system is high enough and the river capacity exceeded then flooding will be experienced.  In some cases intense pockets of rainfall and storms mean that this can occur quite rapidly and on other occasions it can happen over many days of moderate rainfall amounts which build to eventually cause water to spill out of the channel onto the floodplain.

The Waveney is generally one of our river systems where levels can take many hours/days to build and react to localised flooding to fields and floodplain.  In some instances the influence of the tidal river system in Broadland can cause river waters to be artificially held back due to storm surges pushing and holding tidal waters high up in the Broadland river network precluding normal drainage of the fluvial river network - this is more of a problem at the lower end of the Waveney, for example round the Ellingham area.

Pete Roberts

Asset Performance Team Manager (Environment Agency)

Borderhoppa

Are you using the Borderhoppa?
If not, why not?!
Our excellent friendly service is available to anyone of any age who needs transport to appointments, to get to work, to go shopping or just to visit a friend!
Our fleet of mini buses serve the local parishes within an approximate 10 mile radius of Diss, Harleston and Eye. From April we will be adding 2 brand new buses to bring our current fleet to 8 and to start serving Long Stratton and the surrounding villages. So watch this space!!!

To book a journey we need a minimum of 2 working days but you can book up to 4 working days in advance. Concessionary bus pass holders travel free after 9.30am. Others are charged by distance depending on area and distance travelled. Our service currently operates Mon – Fri, 8.30am – 4.30pm. Our helpful staff will help you plan your trip and advise a collection time from your home address.

Our new outings list for 2014/15 will be available shortly and will feature all your favourite seaside towns, shopping trips, garden centres etc. This year we’ve added a third date for the Waveney Stardust boat trip, a trip to Sandringham House and some other new ones to get you out and about.

2014 has seen lots of changes at Borderhoppa and we are now able to help more of you with your transport needs. Most of our buses are fully accessible with powered wheelchair lifts.

We also hire out our mini buses on days, evenings and at weekends for community group hire at very competitive rates. So, please contact us if you organise trips or outings for your club, society or group.

For any further information, to book a journey, outing or to hire one of our mini buses,
call: 01379 854800
Email: adminborderhoppa@btconnect.com
Web: www.borderhoppa.org

Open Garden

at

The Old Coach House

Brockdish  IP21 4JY

Sunday 6 April 10:00am - 4:00pm

Daffodil walk down to the banks of the River Waveney

In aid of Prostate Cancer, East Anglian Air Ambulance, N & N Colney Cancer Centre, All Hallows Hospice

Refreshments:Tea, cakes, bacon butties

Tombola

Stalls including cake stall

Plants

Admission £2.50 (Adults)

Sorry - no dogs

Poppy Appeal 2013

Poppy Appeal 2013

The total from the 2013 Poppy Appeal Collection was:
Red Lion:         £ 21.77
Libby Troake:   £ 50.09
Gill Powell:     £110.11
Total:               £181.97

Thanks very much to everyone who gave donations.

Gill Powell

Wanted - A good home....

…. for an as new Gainsborough bath with integrated powered (12V) transfer seat. This ensures safe and easy access in and out of the bath allowing bathers to retain a greater level of independence.

 


Free to a good home. For more details phone Colin on 01379 853408

Red Lion Coffee Morning

The coffee morning held on 4 February in the Red Lion was another great success.  The pub was full and over £100 was raised for the Quiddenham Children’s Hospice and St Peter’s Church.  Thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes and cakes.

The next coffee mornings will be on Tuesday 4 March and Tuesday 1 April

If you haven’t been to one of the coffee mornings why not give it a try?

Harleston's Future

‘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.

If you live in Harleston or depend on Harleston for shopping or recreation then you will want to see Harleston survive and thrive.  If you have marketing or events experience or, especially if you have experience of preparing funding bids, HARLESTON NEEDS YOU!  Please give some serious thought to volunteering.

If you would like to know more please call, with absolutely no obligation, Paul Stephen (Chair ‘Harleston’s Future’ Town Team) on 07867 531817
or email paulstephen2@btinternet.com

Find us on Facebook  www.facebook.com/HarlestonsFuture

Sunday Breakfast

A Nourishing Sunday Morning Breakfast

Blueberry Pancakes
Small tub of cottage cheese (200g)
An equal volume of rolled oats (use the cottage cheese tub)
Two eggs
Blueberries

Blend together (does not have to be completely smooth)
Cook thick pancakes over medium heat in butter/oil/fat
Add blueberries while still runny / soft in the pan before flipping
Serve with honey, yoghurt, crushed nuts and more fruit

You could also add:
1 cap vanilla essence (for added flavour)
Generous sprinkle of cinnamon (levels blood sugars)
For an extra treat why not try melting some 70% dark chocolate for a wickedly delicious sauce?!

Food & Cookery Editor

Needham Village Hall

Thank you to members of the working party who gave up a Saturday morning to ensure that the paint work in the Village Hall is kept looking good.

Parish Council News

A report on the Council’s budget at the meeting held on Monday 13 January showed that the Parish Council continues to manage within the existing level of funding. It was therefore decided unanimously not to make an increase to next year’s precept.  The amount that is paid to the Parish Council from the Council Tax has now remained unchanged for at least four years.

Two new dog bins have been purchased by the Parish Council.  It was agreed that they should be located at the top of Mill Lane on the High Road, and at the far end of Burnt House Lane on the far side of the A143.  The current annual charge by South Norfolk Council for emptying the bins is £59.48 + VAT for each bin so it is hoped that dog walkers will take full advantage of this facility.

The Parish Clerk was requested to notify Highways of the location of potholes requiring filling.

The meeting was pleased to note the increasing number of public attending the meeting.  The meeting is preceded by a public forum open to all to raise issues concerning the village.  The next meeting is at 7.30 on Monday 24th March, in the Village hall.  If you would like to receive copies of the agenda for Parish Council Meetings by email please contact the Parish Clerk at philip.c.freeman@btinternet.com

Andrew Major

Chairman

Health Announcement

You may have seen a recent CountryFile programme which featured a parasite called Neospora which is the most common cause of bovine abortion.

The Neospora parasite is passed from cows to their calves or spread by dog poo, but it’s so tiny that you need a microscope to see it.
All the more reason to use the new dog bins which the Parish Council has just bought.

Environment Correspondent

Recycling Your Waste Textiles

Why recycle textiles?

High quality second hand clothing can be sold for re-use through charities either in the UK or abroad. Second hand clothing is always required by charities overseas for use in emergencies such as earthquakes or other disasters.  Medium grade textiles can be used for industry cleaning cloth and rags.  Low grade textiles are used to produce filling and flocking for the furniture industry.

75% of thrown away clothes could be re-cycled.

Textile banks accept:

• clean, dry items (place in a bag to keep dry)
• all clothing
• accessories such as hats, handbags and belts
• blankets, curtains, towels & bed linen
• shoes (tie them together)

*Don’t forget your used cooking oil can be re-cycled.  There is a container in Budgeon’s car park.

Needham Carpet Bowls Club

The club evenings are every Wednesday starting at 7:30pm.  Fees are only £1.50 which includes tea/coffee & biscuits.  New members would be very welcome so do come along and join us.

Is splashing a pedestrian an offence?

Should you be aware of splashing a pedestrian?

Something to bear in mind as you negotiate all the puddles & potholes in the roads…..

According to the guidelines published in 2007, motorists may face penalties for splashing pedestrians and it could lead to fixed penalty of up to £2500. Such misdemeanours are being treated now as dangerous driving, which carries a two-year maximum prison sentence, rather than careless driving, which can be dealt with only by a community order or fine.

The fine isn’t the only thing that could happen to you. If you are a learner driver taking your test, you could receive additional points that could contribute to you failing your driving test.

The Highway Code does not specifically mention splashing pedestrians but rule 144 states you must not `drive without reasonable consideration for other road users' while rule 147 says `Be careful of and considerate towards all types of road users'.

Even more, how would you feel yourself being splashed all over and walking in wet socks?
It is worth being considerate even if police aren’t around.

http://www.ttcautomotive.co.uk/blog.aspx?b=5&y=2011

Motoring Correspondent

Happy Birthday

I would like to thank all the kind people of Needham who sent such lovely cards, flowers and gifts for my ninetieth birthday.  Such lovely surprises which were greatly appreciated.
Thank you all.
Ellen White

On behalf of all readers of the Link I’d like, belatedly, to add my good wishes to Mrs White on her 90th birthday.
Ed

St Peter's - A Poem

Our village church is small and simple - plainly built of stone,
A place of peace and quiet thoughts in which to be alone.
Many love it for itself - as dear as kith and kin
United as a family - our home to worship in.

Fond hands have cleaned and polished and operated with flair,
Beautified with flowers and plants, arranged with gentle care
This Festival of Flowers, a rare event indeed,
We hope that all who view, enjoy; whatever race or creed.

So congregate with all of us, our three day celebration;
Remembering that all life’s grace is born of God’s creation.
When winter comes, with stark black branches, hoary
With the frost, recall St Peter’s days of Glory.

Audrey Jones

Audrey Jones’ father-in-law lived at Tiny Cottage.  He was a good modest artist who helped to re-design the flight controls of wartime bombers thus reducing aircraft and crew losses. German fighters focussed on vulnerable areas of control mechanism of previous aircraft.

Derek Buttle

St Peter' Church

Services for March & April 2014

March
Sunday 2nd 6pm Evening Service with  
                                                      Foodbank collection
Sunday 9th 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 16th 11am Morning Prayer
Sunday 23rd 11am Holy Communion
Sunday 30th 11am Holy Communion
Mothering Sunday

April
Sunday 6th 6pm Evening Service with
                                                      Foodbank collection
Sunday 13th 11am Holy Communion
Wednesday 16th 10.30am Morning Devotions
Friday 18th 11am Devotional Half hour
(Good Friday)
Sunday 20th 11am Holy Communion
(Easter Day)
Sunday 27th 11am Holy Communion

March/April Edition

The next edition of the Needham Link is being printed.  You will be able to read it here from 26 February.

The Link is now with the distributors.  You should receive your copy in the next couple of days.

River Waveney - Mill Lane

This was the sign in the river down by the mill on Sunday morning

 This was the sign on Friday morning - just visible above the rising water.