The Link Magazine

From the Registers:

Farewell to
Robert William Walford, aged 82 years, whose funeral took place at Ipswich Crematorium on 20th February October. Bob will be much missed by everyone at Offton Church, and our sympathies go to his stepchildren, Ken and Betty.

May he rest in peace

F.O.S.S.

Already, we find ourselves in the month of April and hope that we will have had a successful Jumble Sale on 11th March. As usual we are busy arranging future events. We are holding a Beetle Drive for the children in the school hall on Thursday 20th April (6 p.m. start), which is usually a very noisy, but enjoyable event. Later in the same month on Friday 28th April, we are having an Archive Film Evening in Somersham village hall starting at 7:30 p.m. We hope that many of the people who came along to our Local Chat Evening will join us again for an evening of nostalgia and reunions with people that they may not have seen for some time. The plan for the evening is to have a selection of films lasting approximately 90 minutes. We will have an interval, during which time you can have a chat with your friends and enjoy a plate of food that will be included in the admission price. Teas, coffees and cold drinks will be available and we will also have a raffle.
Provided that there are no changes in circumstances, two of the films to be shown are: “The Harvest Shall Come” – a film scripted by Harold Freeman, previously of The Shoulder Of Mutton (now Armigers) in Offton. It was filmed in 1942 and features Maurice “Razor” Taylor at the age of 13. Locations include Saxmundham, Needham Market, Badley, Barking Tye, Offton and Willisham.

“A Writer’s Suffolk” – a film looking at the work of George Ewart Evans and based around the village of Blaxall. Locations also include Helmingham, Needham Market, Wickham Market and Stoke By Nayland.

For catering purposes we need to know prior to the event if you are coming along. Tickets may be purchased from Jenny King on (01473) 830623 and Leita Minns (01473) 658352.
Adults £5.00, Children £2.50.

Apologies to anyone on the French Exchange Trip, as we were unable to arrange a date without other events on the same evening!
F.O.S.S. committee members are busy making arrangements for our School Fete on Saturday 24th June. This year we are having a fete with a 1960’s theme, so it will not be long before we are searching the charity shops for our outfits! We also intend having another Scarecrow Festival in mid September and hope that many of you in the village of Somersham will once again join in with this fun weekend. Details of all our future events will be included in the Link Magazine

Please remember that we are always happy to receive any ink/toner cartridges and old mobile phones for recycling. If you shop at either Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s, please would you collect the vouchers and send them into the school. Nestle box tops or any other vouchers/tokens are also collected.

We should, by now, have new toilets and washbasins in the cloakrooms in the Key Stage 2 corridor. The walls are being tiled and the paintwork redone. Should be a pleasure to go to the loo now. We can feel a mass exodus on the cards. "No, you cannot go to the toilet, wait until break time".

What else has happened? Oh yes, Class 2 and 4 have held class assemblies (on different occasions you understand). We had a group called XXL come and sing Sea Shanties (we enjoyed that). Key Stage 2 children have had a dance workshop with the Dance East people and, best of all, we have been on Lord Blakenham's land planting more trees. If you remember we did that last year and had such a lovely time.

And now we are on our Easter break......again!

p.s. did you know Mrs. Chinnery is having a baby?

IPSWICH APPEAL FOR ROMANIA - FORTHCOMING EVENTS.

Only one indoor car boot sale remaining at Gt Blakenham Village Hall. Sunday 2nd April. 8am - 12pm (sellers 7am.) Hot food and light refreshments available. Plenty of car parking space available. Free entrance to buyers. Tables £5. Enqs 01473-833292.
On Saturday 29th April Ipswich Appeal For Romania are presenting their annual pig racing night at Gt. Blakenham Village Hall. This event appeals to young and old alike and with a hog roast, craft stall, raffle and bar a great night is in store! Race programmes are only £2 (which includes entry). So if you fancy a good laugh come along and join us as farmer Peter Trotter races his delightful pigmy porkers and keeps everyone in stitches with his West country banter and jokes. Enquiries to 01473-833292.

Somersham CSC News

The first 2 practice sessions and the first league match of the 2006 season (at home to Norwich) will have taken place by the time you read this article. A brief report from that match will appear in the May issue.

After a very quiet March there is plenty of action to look forward to in April. There are 2 regional rounds of the British Youth & Junior League taking place, the first of these is on Saturday April 1st at Spixworth. A brief report on this will also appear in the May issue. The 2nd regional round takes place on April 22nd and this will be staged at Somersham.

The Suffolk Grand Prix also starts in April with the Under 9’s,11’s and 13’s having their 1st round at Ipswich on Wednesday April 5th. One week later it is the turn of the Under 15’s,Under 17’s and Seniors for their 1st round, this time at Great Blakenham. On April 19th there is a Suffolk Under 16 Team Tournament at Great Blakenham open to all Under 16 riders.

April will also see the start of the East Anglian Grand Prix series(formerly the South-East Grand Prix series) and Ipswich will stage the opening round on Sunday April 9th.

Somersham will also be in league action on 2 Sundays during April, starting on Sunday 16th with a double header at Somersham in the Norfolk & Suffolk League. At 11.00am we race Eaton and then at 3.00pm it is the turn of Hethersett. The final league match in April sees us visit Ipswich in the South-East Division 1. A round-up of all these events will appear in the June issue.

We hope to fit in some practice sessions during April but we are not sure of the dates yet so please check the village green for signs or feel free to get in touch if you fancy a go.
That’s it for now.

Steve Copping (sjccopping@aol.com)
Club Secretary: Peter Mittell 01473 831474
www.btinternet.com/~somershamcsc/

Magical Musical Moments

It has been a privilege these past few winters to drive to Offton for the MMM evenings at St. Mary’s Church with its excellent acoustics.
My knowledge of music is limited. Do I really know whether the musicians I am listening to know their stuff? Do they have command of their instruments?

I do know that I have sat in total silence, enraptured with what I was hearing and seeing. It is likely that I do not appreciate the technical aspects of these performances, but you know when something wonderful is happening in front of you.

And so it was again when the Seven Up Brass Ensemble entertained us in the middle of February. Seven friends who got together, apparently to play at another friend's wedding, thoroughly enjoyed each other's company and found that a good sound ensued, so they decided to see if others would be interested in sharing their joy of brass. And, YES, we did.

Three cornets accompanied by a horn, tuba, euphonium and trombone made a great sound with a variety of music from Lennon & McCartney to Scott Joplin to Schubert and back again. Great!

Further variety, in both halves of the evenings entertainment, was provided by the vocals of Juliet Parker & Michelle Pilborough.
With a generous interlude to enjoy an excellent glass of wine and a number of less common cheeses it was a great night.
People like me don’t buy tickets to listen to brass ensembles, chamber music, saxophone /clarinet quartets, etc. at Snape or Glyndebourne (yes, I know that’s opera), but I have been given the opportunity at Offton to have a taster of several of these. Thoroughly good evenings which really should not be missed by anybody. You might not like some of it, but at least you will find out what your taste really is!
The organisers are to be applauded for their efforts and enthusiasm in staging these evenings. This winter MMM raised £1375 to help Offton Church Fabric Fund and a number of charities.

PS Gift aid helps the church even further. That is why you are encouraged to pay by cheque and sign a form. You can still do this. If you would like to contribute in this way please contact Mr Paul Chapman on 01449-721181. David Schofield

Magical Musical Moments

The season has come to an end and we thank all who came to support the events. You may like to know that a share of £1375.00 has been distributed to St Elizabeth Hospice, Macmillan cancer relief, Alzheimer's Society and Offton Church Fabric Fund.

Mr & Mrs Munson of Flowton were the lucky ones to win the Stena Line prize. Proficiat!

You will appreciate only many hands make these evenings possible. Thanks therefore go to Alan, Alison, Christine, Elizabeth, Eric, Fred, Gay, Helen, Hilary C, Hilary D, Ian, Josie, Janet, Judy, Lucy, Mike, Nigel, Paul, Pieter, Robin, Sue, Ted and Val for various parts played.Though we look forward to next winter with new MMMs, we now focus on enjoying spring and summer. Whilst on the subject, note the following:

Organising a Party?

Since there will be no more Magical Musical Moments events until the end of the year a range of items used on those evenings lie idle. If you are planning a party and would like to use some of our items, these can be hired at modest cost, though the bar tables incl cloths will be £ 5.00 each.
3 high bar tables with cloths
3 buffet tables
100 Royal Doulton small snack plates, white
6 large 5-section serving dishes, white
60 champagne glasses
36 medium sized coffee cups, white
Please contact Maartje Rondeboom on 658024 or maartjerondeboom@aol.com

Flowton News

GOOD FRIDAY WORKSHOP

Pottery and card making for children – parents also welcome- 10.00am –12 noon on Friday April 14th in Flowton Church. Contact Mary on 01473 658 522 if you want more details.
Everybody welcome.

Sunday April 3rd is the date for the Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting at 7.15pm in the Church Vestry. This is when we elect the Churchwardens and Church Council.

Wednesday April 26th is the date for the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm in the Church Vestry.

FLOWTON OPEN GARDENS
& FLOWER FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Friday 16, Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 June

Please see the full page advertisement for full details.

Songs of Praise
Sunday June 18th at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church

All proceeds from the weekend in of St Mary’s Church fabric fund
& the East Anglian Air Ambulance

Notes from your Community Police Officer- PC 466 Dave Clark

Hello again, As per normal for this time of year the weather has been cold and wet …and this means we tend to use our cars more and have to drive during periods of bad weather and darkness. Please check not only that your lights work, but that the lenses are clean – they are not only there to help you see to drive – but for other road users to see you.

Crimes of interest
Offton – overnight 9th – 10th February – damage to window of a Motor Vehicle
Nettlestead – overnight 10th – 11th February - another break in to farm building – chain saw stolen

Frequently we receive reports of doorstep callers – sometimes trying to sell cleaning products, pictures or similar items. Although they can be often nothing more than a nuisance we have recently received reports from Cambridgeshire Police of a group who are targeting the elderly in particular and will often use aggressive tactics to try to get a sale. These people do travel extensively so please be on your guard.

Similarly – if you have unexpected callers purporting to be from the electricity, water gas or similar companies – please check their ID. If you are not happy with them, look up the company’s telephone number in the phone book and give them a ring (never accept any number given by the caller). Any genuine caller will be happy to wait outside whilst you make these checks.
Any genuine caller will never pressure to come into your home.
If you are suspicious of the caller and he is not prepared to wait them please ring 999 and we will attend to check.

Whilst talking about “ unwelcome “ calls – you may like to have the following links:
Junk Mail – to reduce the amount of junk mail received register with the Mail Preference Service –
www.mpsonline.org.uk or call 0845 7034599
Phone Calls – to reduce “cold calls “ register with Telephone Preference Service www.tpsonline.org.uk or ring 0845 0700707
Emails – If you receive Scam e-mail you can normally report the offending email to the web provider by putting the word “abuse before the @sign of the sender …i.e. if the scam came from a hotmail address forward it to abuse@hotmail.co.uk

"OFFTON LODGE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEEDS YOU"
The Neighbourhood Watch scheme for Offton Lodge has been without a Co-ordinator for nearly a year now and a volunteer is required in order to keep the scheme going. It is not an onerous job - you would simply act as a point of contact for the local Community Police Officer and will be kept up to date with any crimes happening in the locality. The scheme covers the 24 properties between Prospect House and the Elms.

Unfortunately, if a volunteer is not forthcoming, the scheme will close and this will impact on those of you who claim a reduction in your household insurance for being a member of NHW as you will then have to advise them that you are no longer a member.

If anyone is interested in more information or would like to volunteer, please contact Theresa Jones, the Community Watch Liaison Officer at Stowmarket Police Station, on 01473 383388."

Lastly, if any one has any amusing stories , jokes or anecdotes connected with the police …please contact me by email if possible ……. I will included them in future editions
If you have any information or would like any advice on police matters I would be more than happy to discuss this with you.
I can be contacted at Stowmarket Police station on 01473 613500 or by email david.clark@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
Pc Sally Parkes will be my deputy – she can also be contacted on the above telephone number or sally.parkes@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
If your call is of an urgent nature please ask to speak to an officer on duty.

PC 466 David Clark

To go to the Suffolk Police web site please click here

To go to the Neighbourhood Watch site of Suffolk Police click here

Offton Church News

Two events coming up! Please note the dates!

Festival of Talents

Sunday 14th May in Offton Church at 4 pm
Contact Scott (telephone 01473 658733) for further information or to participate.

Also - a weekend of flowers plus the fete -

OFFTON FLOWER FESTIVAL

in the church,
Saturday and Sunday June 10th and 11th

2 - 6 pm on Saturday
10.30 am - 6 pm on Sunday

OFFTON CHURCH FETE

in the churchyard on
Saturday June 10th

SONGS OF PRAISE

at 6.30 pm in the church on Sunday June 11th

OFFTON & WILLISHAM VILLAGE HALL
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Festival of Talents

Once again the good folk of Offton and the surrounding area are presenting their artistic and performing gifts to the community at the Festival of Talents, 4pm on Sunday 14th May at St Mary's Church.

Anyone interested in participating at the event whether, playing, singing, reciting or even miming - please do get in touch with Scott Dolling the festival organiser on 01473 658733.

CHURCH SERVICES in our 8 linked parishes

If you think there may be a mistake in the rota please contact your Churchwarden.

There are some special changes for this month only.

April 2nd Passion Sunday

April 9th Palm Sunday

April 12th Wednesday in Holy Week

April 13th Maundy Thursday

April 14th Good Friday

April 16th Easter Day

April 23rd Second Sunday of Easter

April 30th Third Sunday of Easter

Probable services for May 7th Fourth Sunday of Easter

Somersham Church Notes

Please note that on Sunday 2nd April we are invited to join our friends at the Baptist Church for a combined service. This will replace our normal service.

There will be another chance to hear the Ladies’ Co-operative Choir on Friday 5th May in the church. Those who came to their previous concert will know what an enjoyable and entertaining evening it was.

There will be a Coffee Morning on Saturday 13th May from 10 to 12 o’clock at March House. There will be the usual refreshments, Bring & Buy, cakes and plants for sale, as well as the opportunity to chat with friends and neighbours.

You may notice when visiting the church over the next few months that an area on the northern side of the church is being left to grow more naturally. Churchyards can be very important for wildlife, providing a refuge for a wide range of wildflowers, birds, animals and insects. As the grassland hasn’t been fertilised or reseeded it is often rich in wildflowers that are scarce elsewhere. We have asked the Suffolk Wildlife Trust for advice on managing the area, and they are going to record species that are found. The area will be cut twice a year, after species have flowered and seeded. Pathways will be cut to enable everyone to have access to all parts of the churchyard. We hope you agree that this is an important way of encouraging wildlife in our area, as well as enhancing the quiet tranquility of the churchyard.

To our friends at Somersham and surrounding areas-greetings from Mary and Eddie in Villereal , Lot and Garonne, South-West France.
 
The last time Eddie and I wrote a note for the Link we were making our way, with our caravan in tow, down the Valencia-Alicanti coast to visit some friends. 

Since last autumn, much has happened.  Following our trip to Spain, we made the life-changing  decision that our next home would be in South-West France.  With the Pyrenees and Spain behind us, we headed for Lot and Garonne, having only a little idea as to how we would start searching for the right house.
 
Fortunately, we were helped by friends we had met earlier - Margaret Laflin’s niece Lyn and her husband Derek.  This lovely couple suggested various villages and towns they thought might be suitable for us to look at.  It took only a dozen house detail leaflets and half a dozen or so viewings,  for us to find our near perfect house.  Our new or rather 400 hundred year old house would be in Villereal, a Medieval Bastide ville built around the 13th century.  A Bastide town was at the time, considered a new concept and a truly planned and purpose-built community. The houses were built on a square, with a covered market in the middle, and the often twin towered and pinnacle turreted churches were built close-by.  Such is the lay-out of Villereal.
 
The need to return to England and back to France again on a couple of occasions was then necessary.  We immediately started the ball rolling with regard to buying the house, while also visiting Eddie’s mother who had become ill in the autumn.  When Eddie’s mum sadly passed away, we made the decision to stay in England for Christmas.  We moved to France in the New Year when the contracts for the house were complete.  
 
With freezing cold weather and the heaviest snow known in these parts, there was nothing more we could do but get on with the planning of the house as we wanted it.  Now, writing at the beginning of March, we look forward to a warm spring and hot summer.  The South-West of France has almost always lovely warm dry summers, and we are sure this year will be the same.  We remember from last year the bright blue skies, the fields of sunflowers and the green sloping vine-yards.      
 
As for our new home, we love it.  It is a town house on three levels, beamed and full of character.  On the top floor the attic has been fully renovated (as has the whole house) and converted into a studio apartment.  ‘The Studio’ is a large space, light with velux windows, beamed and with it’s own en-suite shower-room and toilet.  Added to this, we are very shortly having a small kitchenette added, making the space totally self-contained.  Indeed from the beginning of May, ‘The Studio’ will be available for family, friends and acquaintances to use for holiday accommodation, in this beautiful part of France.  ‘The Studio’ is twin bedded, would suit two adults, but parents with up to two children over the age of six could also get in contact with us. (We love little ones, but whilst the stairs have a banister, they are a little steep and perhaps unsuitable for toddlers)  At the back of the house we have a small courtyard garden and guests would be welcome to sit there and enjoy the sunshine and a cool drink. 
 
For those who wish to travel a little further afield, we have the lovely Lot Valley, La Dordogne and about 3 hours away Arcachon and the Atlantic.  Add another hour to your journey and heading south and you are in the Pyrenees and Spain.

Villereal has the added advantage of being just 30 minutes away from Bergerac airport, to where, during the summer, there are 2 or 3 flights out of Stansted.  Fly-drive is available.  Also, there is of course the regular Calais to Dover Ferries.
 
If you are at all interested in a holiday here in the Lot and Garonne, please give us a ring on 0033 553493883 for more details.  We hope to see some of you later this year.  Oh, and a very big thank you to all of you who kindly sent us greetings and cards to our new home.   Mary and Eddie Fagg.

“I like to treat other people as I would like them to treat me” was the waitress's reply to being thanked for the positive, cheerful way she had served us. A sentiment that we could all adopt as part of our way of life.

It is a very different sentiment that says, “I treat people the way I want them to treat me” The first is an expression of hope that our own attitude will bring a positive response; the second is telling others that this is how they should behave to us.

Both are better than the “Blow you, Jack, I'm alright” attitude that is so common in the world today. That clearly tells us that the speaker does not really care about us as long as he/she is alright.

Sentiments are O. K. in their place many will tell you but when it comes to the crunch it is what is happening to me that matters. And yet every year those same people will applaud the Citizen of the Year awards and similar events. We admire the people, young and old, who give selflessly of themselves for others. I particularly admire those youngsters who get “Young Carer” awards.

Later this month we will remember the actions of the “Greatest Carer of all time” as we come to Easter. Why do I say the greatest carer ? Because despite all the abuse that generations of people had given him God sent his Son into the world to treat humankind the way that he wanted then to treat one another – with family love of the highest quality. On the face of it the move did not work because they treated Jesus with scorn and ridicule, they put to death by the cruelest method ever devised by the human race the most innocent man that ever lived.

When we try to help somebody and face rejection we may keep trying for a while but then we give them up as a bad job and leave them to their own devices. Not God he stuck at it for thousands of years with the Israelites in particular. But instead of giving up he put his all, in the form of His Son, into a bigger effort and widened the scope to include all, yes you and me, and in human terms, logically, lost. But HE WON and lives to love today

Think on that love when you open your Easter eggs !!
Derek Jaggard

FLOWER & CLEANING ROTA

(NO FLOWERS DURING LENT)

Somersham
April 16, 23 Christine Jarrold + help for Easter
30 Flower Fund
May 7, 14 Josie Irons
Cleaning: Team A

Flowton
April 16, 23 Mrs Fawcus + help for Easter
30 Mrs Carter
May 7, 14 Mrs Crick
Cleaning: Mr & Mrs G. Dunnett

Offton
April 16 , 23 Mrs Jo Gray
30 Mrs Janet Dickson
May 7, 14th Mrs Anne Chapman
Cleaning: Mrs Alison Rumsey

Willisham
April 16,23 Miss Taylor + help for Easter
30, May 7 Mrs Cage
Cleaning: As Flower Rota

Somersham & District Community Association
Playingfield Improvement Project - Update

It is all really coming together now and hope you like what you see! The major items are complete being play equipment, arena and perimeter fencing.

Hopefully by the time you read this you will also see a re-vamped and extended car park, a patio area adjacent to the pavilion and also some litter bins. A number of children have asked when the litter bins are arriving and so there is little doubt they will be used (we hope!).

We hope the children (and parents / guardians!) are enjoying the new facilities and are remembering the mottos :

“It will last as long as you let it”
“Inclusive play NOT exclusive play.”

There are a few more finishing touches to go like lighting for the arena and training area, new hedging and storage. In addition we need to think about turning the extra land into a playingfield. If anyone has any expertise or contacts on this subject please get in touch with the project team.
Plans are going well for the official opening day and at the moment the event includes:

Mother’s Union

Our meeting this month falls in Holy Week and so we are particularly pleased to welcome the Rev. Linden Fletcher who will take a service of Holy Communion for us on Wednesday, 12th April at 2 pm. For anyone who will not have an opportunity to take communion at Easter, this is an ideal opportunity to do so and we welcome any ladies or gentlemen to join us in Flowton church on this occasion. Transport can be arranged by calling 658330.

Somersham Parish Council

Forthcoming Parish Council Meetings
Wednesday 5th April 2006 – 7.30pm - Village Hall
(Annual Parish Meeting)
Wednesday 3rd May 2006 – 7.30pm - Playing Field Pavilion
(Annual Parish Council Meeting)
Wednesday 7th June 2006 – 7.30pm - Village Hall
Wednesday 5th July 2006 - 7.30pm - Playing Field Pavilion

Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting takes place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 5th April 2006 at 7.30pm. This meeting belongs to parishioners and is a chance to hear annual reports from County and District elected representatives, the Parish Council and the Police. This is your chance to come along and hear what has been happening in Somersham during the past year, and more importantly, to let us know what you would like to see happening next year. This is your meeting; don’t miss the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns you may have.

Playing Field Improvements
It is a marvellous sight to see the new multi-sports arena being enjoyed by so many youngsters, which has been noticed by many passing motorists! These improvements to the playing field have given the village an enhanced recreational facility, which it is hoped will be enjoyed by all sections of the community. The Parish Council wishes to congratulate the Somersham and District Community Association, especially Terry Fordham, for all the hard work and efforts in bringing the project to fruition. Although there is still more work to be completed we can now begin to see what a fantastic amenity this is going to be.

Broadband
Thank you to everyone who responded to our appeal about broadband connection problems. The Parish Council will continue to co-ordinate replies in an attempt to find a solution. Initial enquiries have drawn a blank, but further efforts are being made to identify the reason for intermittent connection problems suffered by so many. If you would like to be added to the database of residents with problems, please contact the Clerk with the following information: -
Make/model of modem + ISP,
Nature, times and dates of problem, is it affected by weather,
Have you changed your modem or ISP, if so has there been any change in the problem?
Watch this space!!

Rural Coffee Caravan
Last year many of you enjoyed the visits of the Rural Coffee Caravan Information Centre and we are delighted to announce that the project now has a new caravan. Even better, the new Rural Coffee Caravan has chosen Somersham for its launch. This will take place on Monday 15th May 2006 at 2.00pm at the Village Hall. Amelia Reynolds from BBC Look East will officially ‘open’ the event, so come along, have a cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a homemade cake and meet new friends. The caravan contains a wealth of information leaflets about a vast range of subjects and we can guarantee a warm welcome.
 
Somersham Allotments
There is a vacant plot at the Town Land Allotments at a rent of £5.00 per year, payable from October each year. The Town Land Charity administers the allotments. Please contact the Clerk for further information.

Janet Clarke
Clerk to the Council
Tel. No. 01473 830398 E-mail: janetinclaydon@aol.com

Somersham Baptist Church

Getting to grips with Christianity
The backdrop to Easter, a garden, a cross, and a grave are familiar scenes. These locations provide a snapshot of Christianity that focuses understanding of this faith.

A Garden: The final hours of Jesus’ life provide a pattern for Christian’s to follow, one of complete obedience to the Fathers will and love, compassion and service for people.
Jesus readily accepted the task of saviour and at the first Easter the time had come for him to deliver what he had agreed upon. The reason Jesus endured persecution, abuse and in the garden of Gethsemane inner turmoil, was because he was committed to saving a lost humanity. In following Jesus Christians take on that same commitment, which can only be fulfilled by obedience to the Father and with love for people.

A Cross: The death of Jesus is our assurance of forgiveness, it is those who recognise the guilt of their sin and commit themselves to him that are true followers of Jesus. To use a banking illustration, sins of omission and commission can only be cleared from our account by receiving his deposit, have our penalty charges paid, and his credit transferred to our account.
The followers of Jesus take sin seriously and exercise personal discipline to abandon its practice on a daily basis, this discipline is our cross. But also this message of forgiveness based of Jesus’ death must be told to others.

A Grave: The resurrection of Jesus our hope. It is no dead leader we follow, but one who was raised to life and promised his presence always. In his strength and by his direction Christians live, and it is this hope of personal resurrection that fortifies the Christian when facing loss, persecution and suffering. Just like the belief in his resurrection fortified Jesus for his Easter experience.

Getting hold of Christianity can be confusing; Easter is the handle to grasp it with.

Sunday April 2nd at 11.30am at the Chapel the Parish Church joins us for Worship.

Please join us in our Easter celebration on Sunday 16th April at 11.30 a.m.

Regular Sunday Morning Programme (You are welcome to join us for all or part of the morning).
10.00-10.30 Prayer Meeting
10.45-11.15 Bible Study (Communion 1st Sunday)
11.30-12.00 Worship
12.00-12.30 Sermon

Other Meetings
Children and Young People (During term time); Wednesday Club 6.30-7.30pm for primary school children, 14+ Friday’s 8.00-9.30pm Year 9 upwards.
Meetings for Ladies; Women’s Fellowship 2.30pm 21st April.
All events are held at the Baptist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Somersham.

Contacts;
Pastor Mark Newcombe 01473 831940 Mobile 07930 543583. e-mail mark.newcombe@btinternet.com
Colin Low 01473 464833 or Edwin Mayhew on 01473 658100. Web site www.somersham.com

SOMERSHAM CARPET BOWLS CLUB

Quite a varied month for the club. We had hoped to carry on the good bowling from January, but the first match of the month brought us up against Harkstead. A great match against a friendly club, but unfortunately for Somersham the visitors were on good form and by the very narrowest of margins came out the winners. Wins don’t come any closer than by one shot, and that was the result of this match (see below).

Our next encounter took us to Stanningfield, which was the next round of matches in the Chairmans Plate. We do not usually go so far afield as the teams we bowl against in the league are quite local, but on this occasion it was the case of an away trip into the sticks. Cup and Plate matches depend on what clubs are left in the competition in the later stages and the distance to travel becomes a bit of an unknown.

As in the Cup matches last month we struggled again, and over the home and away ties we unfortunately came off second best. Consequently this knocks us out of the Joe Rice Cup and also the Plate; so now we will have to concentrate on the final league games, and hopefully finish higher up the table than we did last season.

Winter League - February Results : -

OFFTON and WILLLISHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Following from Councillor Bolton's initiative, the Council is delighted that curbing has been installed around the Green and between the Church Porch and the Village Hall.

Elections to the Parish Council are due in May 2007.  Although the Council have protested it seems certain that the number of Couincillors will be reduced from twelve to ten.  MSDC have imposed this judgement and they claim that it could result in more Councillors being elected rather than being coopted.

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on May 8th at 7 pm in the Village Hall.  If there are issues involving our Parishes which you would like to discuss with Councillors then this is your opportunity and I'd be quite happy if you want to let me know of them beforehand though of course you don't have to.  It is hoped that an Officer from MSDC will attend to talk about Affordable Housing with time for debate and questions.Pip Sands    Parish Clerk
Tel 01449 721173

Visit of Class 7JWT Chantry High School to St Mary's Church Offton
It was a bitterly cold day and fortunately for them, the class had been told to dress warmly, to recreate how the church would have been in Mediaeval times - no heating.

Comments from the pupils:
-The things I really liked were the stained glass windows especially the Mary ones with the lilies on because they looked really pretty and its amazing how you manage keeping them nice and clean and uncracked. Rachael
- I didn't feel that comfortable walking over the grass where there were graves - Kelly
-My best bit was when I was put in the choir section because it felt that I was really singing - Aiden
-I would have liked to play the bells - Shannon
-I was not interested in Jesus but I am now. I would love to come back to your Church - Jade
-Our class had a nice time looking in and around the Church. We learned quite a bit about what kind of things happen and what people do in churches - Charlotte
-I really liked the altar it interested me. I never was interested in Jesus but now I am - Kerri
-I drew the font it was hard but I did it and I drew the gargoyle that was scary - Jordan
-Things I liked best and why was the font and the stained glass window because I have never ever been near a font and the stain glass windows were fab, especially the one with Mary holding a lily - Cherry
- My feelings of the people that have died is sad all those people lost their lives in a family, so sad I hope they are in heaven having a good time - Louis
- I liked sitting behind the organ. I would love to come again - Michael
- I liked how the church was set out - Terry

Forthcoming Event   Date for your diary.     Late entry
Craft Fare. Great Blakenham Village Hall. Sunday 18th. June 10am-4pm. Exhibitors may set up their tables from 8am.  Tables £10. Hot food, snacks and refreshments.
Buyers enter free. Enqs. 01473-833292

Somersham Primary School

We should, by now, have new toilets and washbasins in the cloakrooms in the Key Stage 2 corridor. The walls are being tiled and the paintwork redone. Should be a pleasure to go to the loo now. We can feel a mass exodus on the cards. "No, you cannot go to the toilet, wait until break time".

What else has happened? Oh yes, Class 2 and 4 have held class assemblies (on different occasions you understand) We had a group called XXL come and sing Sea Shanties (we enjoyed that) Key Stage 2 children have had a dance workshop with the Dance East people and best of all we have been on Lord Blakenham's land planting more trees. If you remember we did that last year and had such a lovely time.

And now we are on our Easter break......again!