The Link

'No sooner than I had said 'be patient, Christian ministry does not need to have clergy present', than a new minister is announced for the group of eight parishes based around Willisham. Your new incumbent will be the Revd. Linden Fletcher, who will be moving up from Oxfordshire in the beginning of June, and will be licensed on June 27th. Linden is a musician, having been head of music in a large comprehensive. She has also taught overseas in India, and has a real love and appreciation for rural ministry. We are very lucky to be getting her, and now we just have to be patient until she comes.

The combined eight parishes meal up at Ringshall Village Hall at the beginning of February was great fun. Whoever said that there was no life left in the villages, and more particularly in the church? It was a joy to meet so many people, some old friends, and some new as the parishes begin to get to know one another. With over 90 people present, it shows that there is a great opportunity in getting together, for the church to continue to be at the centre of many rural communities. Our challenge is to ensure that it is not just the Church that is at the centre, but Jesus, his love, and his wisdom.

March is the month this year when we take the long walk to the cross and the resurrection. We start it in the season of Lent when we recall the true state of the world, and our lives, and seek to put things right, and we end in the greatest event of all history - God in Jesus dying, God rising from the dead. It is the journey from despair to hope, death to life. A journey that we can all make at this time of year, and a journey that we need not make on our own, but are encouraged to make with others, for then it is no longer a lonely journey. Join us please on this pilgrimage.'

Each year, around Easter, the Annual Parochial Church Council Meetings are held, preceded by the election of Churchwardens. Everybody on the civil electoral roll is entitled to vote at this election, although only regular communicant Church members who are on the Church electoral roll may be elected as churchwardens.

First, however, potential churchwardens must now be nominated and seconded, in writing, and the completed forms handed to church secretaries before the meeting. Churchwardens have a very responsible role to play so please play your part in helping to select suitable people-2 for each parish-for the coming year.

At the Annual Meetings there are reports and accounts presented for scrutiny, and new Council Members are elected. This year also we have to elect new representatives to the Deanery Synod-1 from each parish.

Before any of this can happen we have to effect a complete revision of the Electoral Roll. Everybody who is at present on the roll must complete a new application form, and new members are invited to do so also. Again, ask a Churchwarden or Church Secretary for details. These have to be completed more than 14 days before the meeting.

Dates for the Annual Meetings:
Monday 15th April Flowton, in the church vestry at 7.45pm
Wednesday 17th April Willisham, in the church at 7.30pm
Tuesday 23rd April Somersham, in the church at 7.45pm
Tuesday 30th April Offton, in the Village Hall at 7.00pm

Note for your diary: the Reverend Linden Fletcher will be licensed to the eight linked churches on June 27th, by Bishop Clive. The venue has yet to be decided. Please pray for Linden.

We are having a Trivia Quiz Night on Friday 8th March in Somersham Village Hall at 7.30pm.
Teams of 6 @ £2.50 per person
Bring own drinks & glasses (Coffee, biscuits & nibbles provided)
Raffle Tickets available from Christine's Haircare, Somersham Garage,
or any PCC member.

Answers to our Christmas quiz sheet and details of the winner will be in the next month's Link as copy date is before the closing date!

Once again a pretty dismal story I'm afraid, so if you're easily upset please read no further.

I won't go into all the sorry detail of the last four weeks, suffice to say we haven't been doing very well. Here are the results:
1st Team 4 matches played - 2-3, 1-4, 1-3, 1-7 i.e. 4 defeats.
Reserves 4 matches played -1-2, 0-2, 0-7, 1-3 i.e. 4 defeats.

Not very inspiring is it? Although the 1st Team should have won their home match against Elmswell on 11th January. With less than 30 minutes gone we were 2-0 in the lead when Elmswell had a player sent off. Against the ten men we should have been four or five goals up by half time. However, after missing a golden opportunity to go 3-0 up just before half time, Elmswell, with their first real shot on goal, made the score 2-1. In the second half Somersham just went to pieces and we finally lost the match 2-3. It just shows that there is something there, which hopefully we can use in a lower division.

I suppose the only plus so far this season is that through all our troubles and disappointments we've always managed to field a full team - a real credit to the loyal players and managers.

More details appear elsewhere in the Link, but I will just tell you that we're holding another Race Night in the Village Hall on Saturday 30th March. It starts at 7.30 pm and should go on until about 11.45 pm. There will be a licensed bar. Tickets are £2 each.If this night is anything like our last one it will be well worth coming to. Hope to see you there.
Dennis Mumby

We are pleased to report the Somersham Carpet Bowls Team is doing well in the Winter League, with a position roughly halfway up the table and about mid-way through the season.

Results for January 2002:
East 3 League
Team Shots Points
Rivers 60-30 10-0 Win Home
Bentley 40-36 5-5 Draw Away

If anyone out there is interested in joining the club for a very sociable evening on Club Night or would like further information please ring Keith on 831157

2002 Programme (please keep)

Monday 11th March - 7.30pm "Herbaceous Perennials" Steve Coghill

Monday 10th June - 7.30pm at Wyken Hall Gardens (Fee £4 each includes refreshments)

Meetings will be held on the second Monday of the month in Somersham Village Hall in winter and monthly "out and about" in summer as detailed above.

Membership subscriptions for this year are £5 for individuals and £7.50 for couples and are due in January 2002

The Council have contacted Mid Suffolk District Council about the state of the concrete path in front of Park Cottages. Agents for MSDC have come back and said that they hope the path will be replaced by April 2002 using modern pavement materials.

Information Request
I am currently collating a list of small businesses in Somersham, and also a list of clubs and organisations in the village. These lists are to be put onto the village website and the Parish Council website where applicable. We will also be creating a printed version of the list. Please can anyone who owns a small business, or runs a club or organisation within the village or related to the village please contact me with their details, so that we can have a comprehensive list to let people know what Somersham can provide. Contact details at the end of this article.

Finance
At our January meeting the budget for the year 2002/03 was agreed at £10,284. This therefore becomes the amount of the precept that will be collected by Mid Suffolk District Council through the Council Tax system.

The precept was not increased last year and so the increase amounts to 6% over two years. The Council are anticipating increased activity in the coming year through the Community Action Plan tasks and also the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

It should be remembered that £6517 of our budget is spent each year on the repayment of a loan taken out in 1996 to help the construction of the new village hall.

Recreation and Services
One of the tasks arising from the Community Action Plan process was to investigate the provision of a community car scheme from Somersham. We know from the questionnaire responses that various people have difficulty with getting to places like doctors, dentists, nearby villages and towns.

Our investigations have shown that we come under the umbrella of an organisation called Rethink Transport based in Stowmarket. They organise various types of transport schemes based on volunteer drivers. Their community car scheme provides for various types of journeys. The journeys do not have to be health related, they could be for shopping or visiting friends and anyone can use the services.

The first thing we have to do is to identify some car owners in Somersham who can help. The volunteers can determine how much or how little they commit to and get paid a mileage allowance, which covers their costs.

French Connection
The community of Challain La Potherie have kindly sent a wood carving to us commemorating the link between our villages. The Village Hall Committee have kindly agreed that it be displayed in the hall.

You may be aware that a party from Challain La Potherie visited us and a party of up to 35 from Somersham are due to visit them on the 3rd to 6th May 2002. If you wish to join the party please contact David Haughton - 831511.

Somersham Pond Project
Tina Abbott, a Parish Councillor, has been organising the Somersham Pond Project, and has written the following report:

At last we have had a visit from the Environment Agency, who have agreed with our plans, but have yet to formally agree in writing. This means we can now get stuck into clearing the area of long dead grass and weeds. The trees will be cut back and the willow cut right down by Mr Latham's team. This work must be carried out before the nesting season is in full swing. I have had several offers of help, to whom I shall be calling upon soon on a weekend, so get your wellies and tools ready.

We have applied to the Community Champions Fund (COVER) for a grant, to cover the cost of the contracted digger, I should know if the application has been successful by the end of February, beginning of March.

Next Parish Council Meeting
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 6th March 2002, at 7.30pm in the Pavilion.

After this there are two meetings on one night. First comes the Annual Parish Meeting, this is followed by the Annual Parish Council meeting.
The date for these two meetings is 1st May 2002, and the evening starts at 7.30pm

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

An Exciting New Project for the Playing Field
The Community Association are hoping to enlarge the playing field and provide an all weather Arena for Multisport activities, a small football pitch for the junior teams (the senior pitch is too big, and the juniors have to use the school field.), improvements to the children's play area, replace the fencing, improve the parking area, incorporate an embankment slide and hopefully a junior "Trim Trail" as well as other improvements to seating, waste bins etc.

The Arena
Many of us have known for a long time, and something the Community Action Plan questionnaire has also recently highlighted, is the lack of all year round facilities for older children in the village.

A major part of the new project is the Arena. This is a fenced, hard play area of 24m by 12m, with goals and nets which can be used for netball, basketball, hockey, roller hockey, tennis, skating/skateboarding, football, volleyball, etc. It will be illuminated by low intensity floodlights (facing away from residential housing) and operated by PIR. Thus the Arena can even be used in the winter when it gets dark at 4pm. The lights will also provide illumination for people going to and from the pavilion as well as additional security. Additional hedge screening would be planted between the Arena and channel.

Pavilion
Hopefully we would be able to pave a small area on the field side of the pavilion, to include bench tables and possibly a community BBQ, so that families can come down and use the facilities whilst their children are playing on the field or on the play equipment. The grass in front of the pavilion will remain as a general play area, although we could consider a boules/ petanque area if there was a demand.

Children's Play Area
To be fenced in on all sides and the safety surfacing improved. Hopefully we will be able to increase the levels of equipment and remove the tall slide, which is past its sell by date. We would also provide seating/tables for parent/supervisors as well as 'children friendly' waste bins.

A suggested scheme for the triangle in the NW corner of the field is to create a woodland fitness and adventure trail. This is based on facilities found at Center Parcs but on a much smaller scale.
The excavation for the Arena and demolition of the slide mound will produce an amount of earth. This could be used to create a crescent shaped bank at the far corner of the field, down which a safe slide could be installed (similar to the one in Christchurch Park).

A circular gravel track could be made up and round the bank. This could be used by walkers, mountain bikers and for access to the slide. Around the track could be the occasional simple piece of fitness/fun equipment e.g. trapeze, parallel beam, monkey bars, tyres, and a narrow beam 'tightrope' bridge for bikers and walkers.
The surrounding area could be sympathetically landscaped to make it enjoyable for adults and children alike.

Funding
We already have a Database of organisations to approach and as there are quite a lot of funds available for this type of project we would hope that the project would be totally grant aided.

We are currently at the stage of assessing the requirements, getting quotations and organising funding. If there is anybody that would like to get involved in the project please give me a ring.

PAVILION HIRE
The pavilion is available for hire for meetings, parties etc. It will accommodate 25 or so youngsters. It is centrally heated, and has a small kitchen and a fairly indestructible carpet, so if you want to preserve your home give it a try. There is also a video and TV available.

The current price is £7.00 for meetings, £12.00 for children's parties, £15.00 for adult's parties (the premises are licensed).

It is available most of the time with the exception of Saturday's during the football season (unless there is no match).
If you want to look around or book, give me a ring.
Mike Shelmerdine (831661)

Somersham Primary School

Since we last wrote to let you know what is going on in the life of Somersham School, we have already had half a term with another holiday coming up at the end of this month! O.K. so this is a very short term but next term will be a bit of a marathon!
The children are all working really hard and do get very tired, especially the younger ones. The teachers sometimes wonder if anything is being remembered by the children, then out of the blue, wonderful pieces of work will be produced. Believe us, that is when it all becomes worthwhile.
The Lower Junior class have probably been having the most fun this term. Not only have they been having their swimming lessons at Hadleigh, they have been making sandwiches in their D.T. class. Smells lovely in the bottom corridor on a Thursday afternoon!

Somersham School is collecting the following:
Walkers crisp tokens (books for schools)
Tesco Computer tokens
Nestles Box Tops (off cereal packets)
Sainsburys points for schools
Old mobile phones/ telephone chargers
Empty laser / inkjet cartridges

If you or anyone you know/ work for have any of these items to donate to the school we should be very grateful. It really adds up how much free equipment we receive as the years go by.

Again F.O.S.S. is very busy raising funds for the school. Since Christmas we have held another disco for the children, this time incorporating a karaoke; what voices!!! These events are always popular and the children certainly know how to enjoy themselves; we, of course, blame the parents…

This month we are holding a "Beetle Drive", again for the children. It will be interesting to see how that one goes.

What, you may ask, is all this money being spent on? Well FOSS has so far financed:

¨ a computerized overhead projector at the cost of approx .£1400
¨ each class was given £50 to spend in the classroom just before Christmas
¨ the children all had a gift of a book for Christmas
¨ we are also sponsoring a book shelf in the library, where we are purchasing mainly fiction books for the children to borrow,
¨ and, best of all, we have bought some crockery and glasses for our "dos".

But of course, the wish list is never ending so with no further ado we would like to announce the "Big One".

We aim to make it bigger and better than last year so watch this space folks!

It has come to our notice that there may be some mums out there who have not realised we are still open. Well we are!

We meet at Somersham Primary School one afternoon a week from 1.25 'til 3.25. Each session costs £4.00 which we think is very good value.

If you have ever been to a race night, you will know what we mean. If not, here's how it goes.
Pre-recorded horse races in sealed containers are selected and shown on a big screen. You in the meantime choose a horse, have a flutter, cheer like crazy for your horse and hopefully turn out to be one of the winners of the race ready to collect your winnings!

Then come to Somersham Football Club's
Race Night
Saturday 30th March
in the Village Hall
7.30 'til 11.45 (1st race 8pm)
Tickets £2.00 available from Derek 832562
LICENSED BAR

The Somersham Cycle Speedway club can't wait for the new season! Still a month to go before our first meeting but the squad has been training and practicing whenever the weather allows. The winter-held AGM highlighted the current stability within the club. All members committed themselves to another season, and there were no changes to the official posts. Gary Brown continues as chairman and treasurer. Steve Copping is secretary, Pete Williamson team manager, and Peter Mittell track manager. The highlight of the annual meeting is always the rider of the year voting, and Andy Mittell won the award - incredibly for the third time in a row!

The Stars will be continuing in the South East Division 1 and Norfolk & Suffolk leagues in 2002, plus there will be plenty of ancillary events for riders of all ages and abilities.

We are still very keen to encourage more locals to try the sport and we will be staging some special sessions for anyone to have a go. The events are FREE and there will be track bikes available to use. The dates for your diary are March 24 & 31, around 11:00 at the playfield track. Open to all - the only requirement is that you can ride a bike.

Safety is important so make sure you are fully covered and have helmet and gloves if possible.

If you fancy a go but can't make the dates or just require further information please call 831474 or e-mail: ovalking@yahoo.com

Friday March 8th-Flower Festival planning meeting -7.30pm in the Vestry-please come with lots of ideas for all aspects of the weekend.

(There will also be quilting meetings in the Vestry on the Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm so it will be a well-used venue this week)

Thursday March 28th -special service for Maundy Thursday with Holy Communion by extension in church or vestry

Easter Day is the latest date for handing in your Electoral Roll application forms for the new register.
Have you nominated / seconded a churchwarden?
Please return your Jar of Grace offerings.

Monday April 15th -Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting at 7.45pm in the Vestry-come and help elect the churchwardens for the coming year.

Wednesday April 24th-Annual Parish Meeting-in the Vestry-come and elect officials and hear the reports on the last year and plans for the coming year.

The Church Electoral roll has to be renewed every six years - and the time has come! Even if your name is on the existing roll you are required to complete a new form. Please contact me if you would like a form and when completed return it to me before April 15th 2002. I will then be able to have the new roll prepared ready for the Annual Church Meeting. Church Secretary

Annual Church Meeting
1. The Annual Meeting of Parishioners will be held on Tuesday April 30th at 7 pm in Offton and Willisham Village Hall for the purpose of electing the church wardens for the coming year.

2. This will be followed immediately by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. This business will include the election of a Deanery Synod representative and Parochial Church Council members and the consideration of reports including the accounts for 2001.

3. This in turn will be followed by a short meeting of the newly elected Parochial Church Council.

Dining Out in Ringshall
Good places to have dinner with entertainment in Ringshall are indeed scarce and so when we arrived at the imposing hall and found the commodious car part nearly full we knew that this was going to be a special evening.
There was a warm welcome on entry, which was enhanced by the cheerful, friendly ladies behind the bar offering wine and fruit juices. Dinner was for ninety-four and was served with such style and efficiency that no one was left waiting, showing good organisation in the preparation. The white clothed tables were set out in an orderly fashion and each sat eight allowing for some intimacy in the Banqueting Hall. A nice touch, to remind us that we were part of an European family was the request to keep our knives and forks for several courses "a la Francaise" . Wine was served throughout the meal and, thoughtfully, containers of spring water from some nether part of the country and fruit juices were left on the table.
The fish and the main course were well received, the salmon being especially tasty, but as with the story of the water turning to wine, so the best was left until last. The sweet table was a gastronomic extravagance of home made pies, fruit crumbles and many other dishes featuring chocolate and cream: and there were seconds - and then cheese.
The musical entertainment was provided by the flautist Joy and with two of the pieces, an Ocarina counterpoint by Pam and Nicola. These were followed by some most amusing readings by Frances spoken with great clarity amid the tinkle of coffee and tea cups.
The Guest of Honour, Paul Daltry, came around to visit each table and here lies the source of the splendid dinner for Paul is the Rural Dean of the eight parishes that are the new benefice soon to be under the care of Linden Fletcher.
The dinner is an annual get-together formally for five parishes but now for eight and is organised by a lady from each parish. The tickets are available to everyone in the parishes and it good to see the hall nearly full. I recommend the evening to you all.

Next dinner - Saturday 8th February 2003 - Ringshall Village Hall

Mothering Sunday
Sunday the 10th March at 3.00pm - this service will include a baptism. We will be making posies from 10.00am on Saturday the 9th March, at the Church Secretary's home. Any help will be most welcome.

Easter Day
There will be no service at Willisham Church on the 31st March, but we are joining with Offton for their 10.00 am Holy Communion. For other services that day, see the list of Church services.

Annual Church Meetings
These will take place in Willisham Church on Wednesday the 17th April, commencing 7.30pm Please come and support your local church. Prior to these meetings the Electoral Roll will be revised, and forms are available for existing and new members.

The Archdeacon's Visitation
The service for the Bosmere Deanery (at which churchwardens are admitted to office) takes place at Bramford Church on Wednesday the 15th May at 7.30pm

Coffee Morning
Will take place home of the Church Secretary from10.00am on Saturday the 25th May, and will include a bring and buy and plant stall.

Somersham Baptist Church

Easter is a Christian celebration of events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. But who was Jesus and what did he do that should give people any reason to become his followers? Why do Christians believe he still changes the lives of the people who take up with him?

This year on three Sunday mornings in March we will take a fresh look at Jesus in order to explain who he was, what he did and why.
· Sunday 10th Who is Jesus?
· Sunday 24th Jesus; his crucifixion.
· Sunday 31st Jesus; his resurrection.
All three sessions will be held at the Baptist Chapel in Chapel Lane, Somersham and will begin at 10.45am with Coffee and will finish at 12.00am.
You are welcome come, don't worry you will not required to answer questions, pray or read the Bible aloud. There will however be ample opportunity for discussion.

Women's Fellowship Friday 8th March at 2.30pm.
Friends and Neighbours Monday 18th March 'Ten Pin Bowling' contact 464833 for details.

Children and Young People (Held during term time)
Yr. 1-6, Wednesday Club 6.30pm.
Yr. 6-8 Quest Club Wednesday 7.45pm.
Yr. 9 on, 14+ Friday 8.00pm.
Somersham Baptist Church, Chapel Lane, Somersham, IP8 4QE
Contacts;
Mark Newcombe e-mail mark.newcombe@btinternet.com

E-mail address: sbcnews@aol.com
*Our practice is to welcome those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour to communion, as visitors, and regular worshippers who believe and have been baptised by immersion.

CHURCH SERVICES in our 8 linked parishes
Please check with a Churchwarden if you think that a mistake has been made in this listing.

For the children:
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday-10.00am-12 noon-morning workshops contact 658522 for details

March 28th Maundy Thursday
Memorial of the Last Supper and Holy Communion by extension
7.45pm Flowton

March 29th Good Friday
Reading of the Passion and special hymns
7.45pm Offton

Home page	In the latest edition	Village News
Click here to go back to home page	Prieist-in-charge Church Services Community Policing Forthcoming events Local News	Somersham Offton Willisham Flowton Offton & Willisham PC

The Link Magazine
Linking the villages of - Somersham, Willisham, Offton and Flowton - Suffolk

The Link Magazine