Braithwaite Trust going strong.

Great Waldinfield allotments

After the horrors of the Babergh Planning Committee it was a relief to drive to Great Waldingfield to attend the bi-annual meeting of the Braithwaite Trust. 

Newer readers of the website may not know that this is the organisation that looks after the allotments in the village.  The Trust was set up after the First World War by the Braithwaite Family in memory of family members that were lost during the conflict.  According to the Trust Deed the Trustees must include the Rector as Chairman and the Headmistress or Headmaster of the School who acts as Secretary.  The Chairman of the Parish Council, and a District Councillor is also included and it has been a great pleasure and privilege to sit on the Trustee Board over the past 6 years.

Due to the need to come from Hadleigh I was a little late, and so only arrived at the end of the annual allotment inspection.  I am told that all is looking neat and tidy, but that unsurprisingly everything is very late this year.  An increase in interest in vegetable growing from village residents means that there is at present a waiting list for plots.

The Trust has some limited funds that are surplus to requirements.  A year or so ago, having consulted the Trust Deed,  we started to make small community grants to village organisations.  The most recent grant was to Great Waldingfield First Friends Pre School for equipment for their wildlife area.  An application from the Great Waldingfield PCC for maintenance to the church clock was considered and the Trustees are now waiting for a formal application for this.  Other requests that are known to be in the pipeline were discussed.

We said farewell and thanks to Mrs Angie Jones, Headmistress of the School, who is retiring in the summer and who will therefore be relinquishing her role as Secretary.  We hope that she has warned her successor about this additional responsibility!