Great Waldingfield revealed!

Last week I took delivery of my copy of the Great Waldingfield Village Scrapbook.

The book has been maintained and compiled by Edna Allan, who, I learnt, came to the village on her marriage in 1947. Material in the book dates back to 1951 when it was started by the WI.  Mrs Allen was encouraged to publish the document by Mike Stone, who, as is well known, is interested not just in local history, but also in the stories of the people who lived, and still live, in the village.

The book is really beautifully produced.  There is much of interest in it, including a history of the village dating back to the 1950’s.  There is also a fascinating report of the Coronation in 1953.  It seems that some two weeks after the event children and pensioners from the village were taken to the cinema in Sudbury to see a colour film of the event!

The scrapbook promises hours of interest, even to one who has got to know the village well relatively recently. It shows that much changes over time, but much also stays the same.  What is clear from the scrapbook is that the Big Society has been alive and well in Great Waldingfield for many years.

Copies of the scrapbook are available from Mike Stone (who can be found at GW Business Associates next to the shop).  I do recommend it to anyone interested in our area.

Flower festival and Harvest Festival in Great Waldingfield this weekend

Harvest Festival by Andrew Strange

I am sorry that owing to a prior engagement I will be unable to attend the Great Waldingfield Flower Festival in the Church this weekend.

I understand that proceedings commence at 11a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and that there will be a Harvest Festival service on Sunday at 11.a.m.

In addition to floral displays there will be refreshments and a number of stalls.

I hope that the weather continues to be kind until the weekend!

Is there a message for our planners here?

Suffolk Preservation Society donations are on the right!

I am always intrigued when I look at the Community Matters donation box in Waitrose.

The number of little green tokens given by customers to each of the month's good causes often shows that some charities attract a lot more support than others despite appearing on the face of it to be equally worthy.  Anything to do with animals seems to fill the box to overflowing in a few days, as is the case for charities which support servicemen, whether retired or active.

I have been quite surprised (and pleased) this month to see the Suffolk Preservation Society streaking ahead in the green token stakes, against what I would have imagined would be stiff competition from other causes.  I feel to some extent that this vindicates my continuing struggle to ensure that economic growth is not the dominant driver behind Babergh's planning policy.  It is quite clear to me that what many of the residents of Babergh want is to preserve our wonderful natural and built, and this is further evidence of this.

Of course it has to be admitted that the customers of Waitrose are not really a random sample of the population.  It is a relatively expensive place to shop, and is not the supermarket of choice for many.

Nonetheless I do not think that the clear opinion of its customers should be ignored.

Vote on Monday for a local project!

Bookends of Sudbury is planning an artistic extravaganza for Sudbury in 2012.

The community art gallery (which can be found just opposite the back door to the Town Hall in Gaol Lane) is a not for profit organisation devoted to supporting local artists and promoting artistic education for all in the local community.  Courses are run throughout the year, and for 2011 they are hoping to organise a ‘summer of art ‘trail through the town.

At Gainsborough’s House we are very excited about this project, since we are keen to play our part and encourage all artistic activity in Sudbury.  We know that, as a gallery and museum, we will benefit from more visitors to the town, particularly if they are interested in art.  Additionally we want to encourage all residents in and around Sudbury to discover for themselves how much more enriching life becomes once you get the ‘art habit’, whether as practitioner or aficionado!  We hope to be able to lend our support to Bookends in a number of ways.

It is hoped that the event, once established, will become an annual event, exploring different themes each time.

To get the project off the ground, funding is currently being sought from Natwest Community Force, which supports community projects around the country.  It is a competitive process however, and the initiative needs your vote!

You can help to get the project off the ground by going to

http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/1593

on or after 26^th September to register your support.

Questions by candlelight

Yesterday evening's quiz at Chilton Church was a wonderful event.

The Church looked really stunning; the pews having been moved to the sides of the church, and, of course, since there is no electricity at the church, the event was illuminated by hurricane lamps and candles.

There was enough light however to see the numerous pieces of paper that we were obliged to fill in, and also the plasticine models which each team was asked to construct as part of a 'sculptural charades' competition.

We would have done better if I had not leapt in prematurely in one round and scored nil points...so apologies to our team mates for that!  I was sure that the answer was Ronald Regan, but it turned out to be Paul Newman.....

It really was an evening with a difference, and I hope it will be repeated next year.  The Church, which is not very large,  provides a wonderful space for this sort of event.

Thanks to the Friends of St Mary's Church in general,  and David Tibbetts Chaplin and Eileen Gore in particular.

Lullaby Concerts return to Suffolk

Back in Suffolk by popular demand, the City of London Sinfonia will be presenting a Lullaby Concert in St Peter's Church on Wednesday 26th October.  There are two performances, one at 11 a.m. and one at 2p.m.

Presented by specialist musician, Clare Bloor, the theme of the concert this year is 'magic'. Audience members are encouraged to take inspiration from the theme and dress the part, and also to enjoy a good deal of  singing and other audience participation.  The programme will include pieces such as The Sorcerers Apprentice and the overture to the Magic Flute.

At the end of the concert some musical instruments will be available for children to try out.

Children aged up to 7 and their parents will be very welcome at the concerts which are presented by Babergh through Orchesras Live, in partnership with other District Councils in Suffolk, The County Music Service, and MusicLeader, East of England.

Three events this weekend

Yesterday I spent a busy afternoon visiting three of the four churches in the Ward, all of which are hosting events this weekend.  All events continue today, and I strongly recommend all three of them.

My first stop was at Chilton where a most interesting exhibition about the history of the Church is on display.    The exhibits provoked a good deal of interest as can be seen below.

Visitors at Chilton Church admiring the exhibition

Then on to the Little Waldingfield’s biennial Flower Festival.  I think that the exhibits this year, if it is possible, surpass even the wonders that were on display in 2009.  The displays were based on places in Suffolk. The lighthouse in the font, representing Southwold, shown above, was quite spectacular!  Woodbridge was also very inventive with its reference to the Sutton Hoo Treasure:

My favourite display however was that representing Aldeburgh:

Finally I arrived at Acton Church just in time to take in this year’s art show.  As usual the range of paintings on display was impressive.  I was a little concerned that the show appeared to be hung by theme rather than by artist, which is an interesting approach, but, possibly, a rather confusing one for the visitor.   On balance I prefer to look at one artist’s efforts at a time, but I know that this is a matter of taste.  The show, which has been on for two weeks now, closes at 5 p.m. today.

Art in Acton Church