Best of Sudbury

The Mayor and Caroline on the Compassion Stall

A fine collection of organisations was represented at the Sudbury on Show event yesterday.  A large number of different charities and associations, from local history recorders to those giving support to the sick and needy,  were ranged across stalls in the Town Hall and in St Peter's Church.

Compassion, the charity that combats domestic abuse in Babergh,  was allocated a good spot in the central aisle.  During the couple of hours that I spent on the stall we spoke to several people about the work of the organisation, which continues to need more volunteers.

In a moment of distraction I was enveigled into joining the Sudbury Society, being unable to resist the lure of a free fridge magnet, and also a wonderful glossy book displaying the unlisted glories of the town.  This was originally printed in 2002 and, since the first run rapidly sold out, this was a reprint from 2010.  At the time of the reprint only two of the many properties featured had disappeared.  I wonder if there has been much change today?  I am looking forward to going along to some of the interesting events that the Sudbury Society hosts and promotes.

It was great to see so many friends and acquaintances during the morning.  The event really does demonstrate the fact that Sudbury continues to be a caring and active society that includes many people keen to volunteer to improve the lot of the town and its residents.

Three Johns, two from Go Start Community Transport, and Cllr. John Sayers

Compassion, 15 years supporting the victims of domestic abuse in Babergh

The Cake!

There was a star studded turn out for Compassion's 15th Birthday Party in the Hills Room at Gainsborough's House yesterday morning.   The event coincided with White Ribbon Day, 25th November, the International day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

If you want to help  victims of abuse in our area there is no better way than to get in touch with Compassion to find out about how you can help.

You can learn more ON THE WEBSITE HERE.

Sue Ayres, Mayor of Sudbury with Sally Watson, SCC Localities Officer

Chairman and Founder of Compassion, Cathy Press, with James Cartlidge M.P. and Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.

Margaret Maybury, Babergh Councillor with Specisl Responsibility for Communities, with Nick Antill.

Quiz for Compassion yesterday

Well the staff at Newton Green Golf Club, and particularly the catering manager Hannah,  certainly did us proud at the Quiz for Compassion yesterday evening. The Quiz was well attended, and everyone very much enjoyed the comfortable venue and delicious hot supper provided.

The event was aimed at raising funds, and also the profile, of Compassion, the charity which aims to combat domestic abuse and support victims in the Babergh area.  Charity Administrator,  Elaine Jones, who worked really hard to make the evening a success,  is shown here with the Volunteer co-ordinator Caroline and two of her colleagues.

I am not really able to comment much on the quiz itself.   About two weeks ago our preferred Quiz master, Bryn Hurren, was taken ill, and we had to decide whether to go ahead or cancel the event. Since, after a slowish start, ticket sales had picked up strongly I took my life in my hands and offered to act as Quiz Master.   Nick devised an excellent electronic scoring display on the computer and we decided to give it a go.

I enjoyed making up the questions, and I don't think anyone found them impossibly hard, although those who were hoping for questions on pop music and sport would have been rather disappointed.  I was troubled in advance by a couple of e mails from well wishers warning me of the dire consequences of making the questions too difficult.   I did however try to make the quiz a little different by creating rounds where the emphasis was broader than the usual categories of ' History' 'Geography' etc.  I hope this made the process more interesting and instructive for all.  It certainly made playing the joker more tricky for some.

Two teams were very close in the end, both scoring over 50 marks out of a possible 70, but the team seen below, Alison and David Carse, Frances and Roland Bee, Fran Gregor Smith and Tim Harbord (temporarily absent from the table), just pipped Elaine Henson's team to the winning spot.