Clubs & Societies

It is always best to start a yearly report with some good news, so I shall start with the attendance figures for the beginning of Spring term 2000.

OSCAH now has 91 children registered, which is a healthy increase on last year, with 55 different children attending every week, with a daily attendance of, on average, 25.

I think all of OSCAH staff have done an amazing job and have earned their summer break this year! So my thanks to Pat, Helen and Elaine for the daily care of the children; Anna for her 3-day coverage and Lesley for stepping in for illness and holiday cover, and last but not least, Jenny for helping children to OSCAH safely and for her help with the children needing one-to-one care. Although OSCAH is a club run by adults, it is the children who get a real say in which activities they want to see and the type of equipment purchased, as their enjoyment is paramount in the continuing success of OSCAH.

Once again this year we have enjoyed the Strikers football coaching course, which began after Easter and continued up to the summer holidays. It is popular with both the boys and girls, and is provided at no extra cost to the parents. The ‘season’ as always ended with a penalty shoot-out competition, with a variety of prizes and sweets for everyone.

Because of the large number of children attending OSCAH lat year we decided to take them all to the panto, Snow White, held in the town hall. Sixty-six children attended along with adult helpers, with all of them behaving extremely well; the adults weren’t bad either! OSCAH also provided every child with a selection box at Christmas.

I have enjoyed my occasional appearances as face painter during the spring/summer, which has kept me very busy and, hopefully, the children entertained, and shall be happy to continue as long as ‘requested’.

Lastly, Pat had a few weeks off in the spring when her son Matt was injured in a car accident. We were pleased to see her return, especially me as I helped out for a few days during her absence, and would like to know the secret of getting all of those children to OSCAH, looking after them for nearly three hours and still be standing at the end of it! So now I have experienced it for myself, I can appreciate the great job all the staff are doing. I would like to wish Matt well for his return to University, and his continuing speedy recovery.

Anne Churchill

We are fortunate in having as a member, one Major Peter Lee, MBE., who devotes some part of his retirement years in escorting small parties round the War Graves of France and Belgium. He recently guided a few of our members round the Somme area and we believe our readers would be interested to read his report of the visit, which we are pleased to give below:

‘At the beginning of August, four members of the Legion made the pilgrimage to the battlefields of the Somme. We traced the line of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries running from Beaumont Hamel to La Boiselle, through Fricourt and Maricourt to Delville Wood, each one, large or small, beautifully kept in an immaculate condition. We surveyed the old trench lines where they have been maintained to commemorate those who suffered and died there, and the patches of shell shocked earth which are still evident in the surrounding fields.

We stood in silent contemplation at the beautiful memorial to the missing at Thiepval upon which are inscribed the names of 72,412 British, Commonwealth and French soldiers who have no known grave. In surveying these old battlefields from this old war, we meditated upon the bravery, horror and suffering the soldiers endured in their long fight and eventual victory for King, Country, Freedom and Justice. If we ever allow future generations to forget the pain and sacrifice made by so many on their behalf and who now lie in so many corners of so many foreign fields that are now forever England, we will never be forgiven by those who made that supreme sacrifice.’

Let us, on our part, echo his final exhortation and even hope that our local vandalising younger generation (who have again struck) eventually appreciate history as made evident on our Town War Memorial.

Two serious reminders are necessary.

Our Poppy Appeal Organiser awaits, impatiently, instructions to order wreathes for our local Associations and Businesses. Time marches on.

Our Secretary is anxious that all members appreciate that the Affiliation Fee of £7 is due at the end of this month. Much work is entailed in the issuing of the new Membership Cards. Early payment of the Fee will help.

We read with satisfaction that the final total of last year’s Poppy Appeal is £18,770, 522.94, of which Suffolk contributed £382,218.08 (an increase over the previous year of nearly 22%).

The Club has obtained a visit from Darts Professional Bobby George, who has agreed to give an exhibition on the evening of Friday 6^th October. Members need to contribute £2 and members’ guests £3.50.

We add to the notes featured on another page by reminding you of the Battle of Britain Association Parade and Service on the 17^th of this month. We will be there. Please join them.

Four visitors have visited the Club during this period. Francis Jacobi from the East Anglian Film Archive showed some film clips relating to Hadleigh and spoke about the work of the Archive. It was formed 24 years ago as part of the Centre for East Anglian Studies at the University of East Anglia. There are now more than 1000 pieces of film in the Archive, but only a few are available for viewing. The items shown on this evening included Raydon Airfield in 1946 and two items by Boulton Hawker Films – rope making in Hadleigh and Coco Matting manufacture at Brett Works in 1947.

Linda Wade, accompanied by Philip McCormack, the chairman of HYPE, came along to talk about the aims and aspirations of Hadleigh Young Peoples Energy (HYPE). The enthusiasm for this new project was very apparent and the aims probably mirror the hopes of most people in Hadleigh. HYPE would like to bridge the generation gap and allow the youth of the town to feel more a part of the community, to provide a safe meeting place, which is drug and alcohol free, as well as suitable for the young to enjoy themselves without annoying the older inhabitants and finally to keep the youngsters in Hadleigh.

The long term aim is for a purpose-built centre, perhaps on the Industrial Estate, but costs will be high and completion will be very much dependant on major support from Local Authorities and other grant-making organisations, including the Lottery. This dream is some years away but they will need the help of everyone in Hadleigh to work towards this. The organisation is at a very early stage but members were impressed by the dedication and determination to make this work. The HYPE Committee, who are all under 21, deserve support in the many initiatives which they plan during the coming months.

TV personality Rex Garrod visited the Club accompanied by his wife Sally and one of his Robots. He produces high-tech robots which contest the Robot Wars programme on TV, and is also well known for children’s TV programmes. He started in the business by making props for films, then progressing to special effects for Anglia TV. He helped with the production of weapons for the BBC’s Ivanhoe, and he now lectures on TV and at schools explaining technology and scientific phenomena in an interesting and simple way.

His next project is to build a mileage marathon car with almost 100% efficiency. We wish him success.

The final speaker meeting turned into a double act with John Anderson and Archie Carmichael giving a presentation about Raydon Air Show. They showed a short video of the highlights of the 1997 show and explained its origins and organisation.

The logistics of setting up such a show are tremendous and take many hours of work involving many people and organisations. Safety is paramount and much planning is needed to comply with all the regulations and ensure the safety of spectators. Liaison is essential with Local Authorities, police, emergency services, Civil Aviation Authority and Insurance companies. There are road and footpath closures to organise, flight plans and special radio frequencies to arrange, as well as persuading all the specialist performers and aircraft owners to participate.

It appears a very daunting task and members were perhaps surprised to learn that this is all carried out by a team of four led by the two speakers.

They are to be congratulated on achieving so much and the show deserves great support in the future. It is hoped that the next show will take place in September next year.

For all enquiries about Hadleigh Rotary Club please contact Derek Cranston on 01473 823130

For the remainder of 2000 and 2001 the Brett Valley Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust have organised an illustrated talk every third Thursday of the month, alternating between Hadleigh, East Bergholt and Polstead, so that a regular slot can be kept in the diary. In addition "special" events are interspersed, as shown in the list below.

Members of the SWT and non-members will be warmly welcomed. Please come along and support your local Wildlife Trust.

Further information on these and other activities can be obtained from Steve Flowerday (Chairman) 01473 828442.

Thurs 21^st Sept "Plants of the Local Neighbourhood". An illustrated talk by Robin Ford. Hadleigh Library Seminar Room, 8pm. Members £2, Non-members £2.50.

Sun 1^st Oct Fungal Foray – Hadleigh Railway Walk. Leader – Johnny Turner. 10am – 12 noon. Meet Raydon Station End. Cost: £2 per head. Limit 15. Names in advance please to Steve Flowerday 01473 828442.

Thurs 19^th Oct "Birds of the Mediterranean". An illustrated talk by Bill Baxton. East Bergholt Lambs School, 8pm. Members £2, Non-members £2.50

Mon 6^th Nov "Role of a Police Wildlife Liaison Officer". An illustrated talk by Barry Corfman-Wright. Hadleigh Town Hall Dining Room, Market Place, 7.30pm. Joint Meeting with Hadleigh Naturalists’ Society. SWT stall – gifts, cards, etc. Free to HNS and SWT members.

Fri 10^th Nov Suffolk Evening. Julian Roughton (Director SWT) will be talking about the SWT. Francis Jacobi will be showing two archive films about Suffolk. Local Food dishes and Bar available. East Bergholt Constable Hall, 8pm – 10.30pm. Tickets: £6.50 each to include food and a glass of wine/soft drink, available from committee members incl Steve Flowerday 01473 828442, Mandy Charleston 01206 262073, Liz Kotarska 01206 299347.

Thurs 16^th Nov "Wildlife and your Garden". An illustrated talk by Steve Flowerday, Senior Teaching Officer, FSC Flatford Mill. Hadleigh Library Seminar Room, 8pm. Members £2, Non-members £2.50

Wed 6^th Dec "Birds at Your Winter Bird Table". An illustrated talk by Edward Jackson, Centre Manager, FSC Flatford Mill. Polstead Village Hall, 8pm. Also SWT stall. Members £2, Non-members £2.50

2001

Thurs 18^th Jan "The Natural History Slides of Ted Ellis." An illustrated talk by David Nobbs, Warden, Ted Ellis Nature Reserve, Wheatfen Broad. East Bergholt Lambs School, 8pm. Members £2, Non-members £2.50

Thurs 15^th Feb "Suffolk Flowers in Their Habitat". An illustrated talk by Nonothan Oldham, Deputy Director, FSC Flatford Mill. Hadleigh Library Seminar Room, 8pm. Members £2, Non-members £2.50.

New members are always welcome.

The season consists of two terms each, concluding with a major concert. English music is the theme for this season.

Our new term’s rehearsals begin on Tuesday 5^th September at 7.30pm-9.30pm in the Drama Hall, Hadleigh High School for a concert which will be performed on Saturday 2^nd December. Whilst the ability to read music is desirable, no auditions are required. The subscription of £23 per term includes hire of music.

Enthusiasm and commitment are important; singing members are expected to attend at least 75% of rehearsals before singing in a concert, as the Society has a reputation for quality performances with professional soloists and orchestral players.

This term’s concert is a prelude to Christmas. Finzi’s "In terra pax" spells out the Christmas message of "Peace on Earth" through the poetry of Robert Bridges and the words of St Luke’s Gospel. Britten’s "St Nicolas" tells of the life and work of this fourth-century Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, the patron saint of children.

The second term will prepare for a performance of Handel’s "Messiah" on Saturday 7^th April 2001.

Hadleigh Choral Society is fortunate to have as its concert venue the beautiful historic wool church of St Mary’s. Christopher Phelps has been the Society’s Musical Director since 1991. He is Course Tutor for the BA Music course at Colchester Institute School of Music where he trains and conducts the Symphony Orchestra. He is also Music Director of the Colchester Orchestra and the Kelvedon Singers.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact the Secretary, Peter Sankey (01473 822872) who will be pleased to give you any information you may require.

The Music Forum of the Ipswich Arts Association has been running an annual inter-society quiz night for several years, and 4 years ago it was decided to buy a trophy in memory of local people who made a considerable contribution to amateur music making. Three former members of Hadleigh Choral Society – Margaret Atkinson, Beryl Sankey and Edward ‘Ted’ Dendy – are named on the scroll which is displayed with the trophy in Ipswich Town Hall.

This year Hadleigh Choral Society were winners by a comfortable margin after several years of being runners-up. The team will be presented with a replica of the Memorial Shield at the meeting of the Music Forum on Friday 8^th September.