Organisers of this year’s Suffolk Show are counting down to the unveiling of the Suffolk Sport Village and the rarely seen ‘In The Zone’ interactive attraction.This particular attraction will only be seen at 12 locations throughout the UK and is endorsed by none other than Olympian Steve Redgrave.

The arrival of the attraction is not the only sporting celebration for Suffolk Show planners. This year, for the second time, the county event has been awarded the prestigious Inspire Mark.

Christopher Bushby, executive director of Suffolk Agricultural Association, said: “We are delighted to have the superb In The Zone activity here at the Showground as part of our Show and think it will really help the people of Suffolk get in the spirit of the Olympics.

“To be welcoming that attraction, as well as gaining the Inspire Mark two years in a row is such a terrific accomplishment for our organisational team and we know it will contribute to great excitement over the two days.”

Professor Bill Tancred MBE, Chairman of Suffolk Sport said he is really looking forward to welcoming the Suffolk Show crowds to the Sport Village.
“We want the Sports Village to be as interactive as possible this year and really delve into people’s Olympics enthusiasm. We want people to have a go at their favourite sport or one they’ve never tried before. We’ll also be informing people about how to volunteer with their local sports club. Visitors can see how Suffolk is supporting its up and coming talented athletes and there will also be the chance to meet some past, present and future Olympians and Paralympians.

“When the Show comes around there will just be a few weeks to go to the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Suffolk Sport will be continuing their public pledge to get 25,000 more people in Suffolk active.

“Alongside the sports showcase I’m delighted to reveal that this year we have been extremely fortunate to be one of only 12 locations nationwide to play host to the Steve Redgrave endorsed ‘In the Zone’ interactive attraction.”

For more information about this year’s Suffolk Show and for tickets visit www.suffolkshow.co.uk.

Ida, Lucille and Doris are part of a club – the cemetery club. Every month they meet at Ida’s New York house for tea then trundle off to the cemetery to remember the good times and gossip with their late husbands. Lucille fancies herself as a flamboyant swinger, Doris is a traditional matronly widow and Ida is somewhere in between. When Sam, a butcher, meets the widows at the cemetery while he is visiting his wife’s grave he changes their lives forever.
From Thursday 21st until Saturday 23rd June Fresh Glory productions present Lilies on the Land. A truly remarkable and sparkling piece of theatre that celebrates an extraordinary episode in Britain’s history – the Women’s Land Army of World War II. This delightful and often deeply touching play charts the personal journeys of four women who sign up to become Land Girls, determined to work endless, backbreaking hours on farms across the country in a bid to do their best for the War Effort. Based on hundreds of letters from and interviews with the original Land Girls, along with songs from the period, Lilies on the Land is a revealing, funny, wonderfully moving and utterly captivating portrait of some of Britain’s pluckiest, unsung heroes.

Tickets for The Cemetery Club and Lilies on the Land, priced £11.50 – £18.50, are available from the Mercury Theatre Box Office on 01206 573948 or online at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

The canopy supplied by Able Canopies was funded by a grant from Early
Years at Suffolk County Council and an Easter fundraising event at the
pre-school which included a raffle, with prizes donated by local
businesses, and a visit from the Easter bunny himself!

The new canopy provides extra teaching space and will enable the
children to play outdoors all year round, even in bad weather. The
canopy’s polycarbonate roofing system also provides UV protection
which ensures the children are able to play outdoors safely in sunny
weather without getting sun burnt. Sharon Thompson who has been the
Pre-School leader for 11 years explains the benefits the canopy now
brings to the school: “The canopy allows the children a free-flow of
play and enables us to enjoy the outside area whatever the
weather.”

The Pre-School that caters for 49 children recently received a glowing
OFSTED report achieving outstanding or good in all categories. They
have also received 5 stars out of 5 in a recent hygiene inspection
which is very important. “We are very pleased with our achievements
and along with the installation of the canopy we’ve had a good
year.” – Verona Banks – Pre-School Administrator.

The staff at Bramford Pre-School Playgroup are planning to hold an
Olympic themed sponsored event in the summer to raise additional funds
needed to complete the groundwork under the canopy and to further
develop the outside area.

Niels Hansen-Nord appeared at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court on Friday 11 May having been reported by police for failing to keep his guns secure.

In January 2012 Hansen-Nord had removed three shotguns from a secure cabinet for cleaning. He then left his property with the guns still insecure. Whilst he was out his property was entered and the guns were stolen. They are still yet to be recovered.

Hansen-Nord was found guilty of the offence and fined £3,500 plus costs by the court.

Richard Kennett, manager of the joint Norfolk and Suffolk Firearms Licensing Unit, said: “It is clear that the courts are as concerned as the police, that proper care should be taken to reduce the risk of lawfully held guns from falling into the hands of criminals which could result in their use with tragic results.”

The play revolves around three likeable but rather untrustworthy bookies. They plan to rig a horse race by kidnapping the fancied horse and it’s French Jockey. They stay in a country hotel recently taken over by a Colonel and his wife where they conceal the horse and later the jockey.

Secret doors, various stages of undress, mistaken identity and a touch of romance are some of the main ingredients of this hilarious farce. “Dry Rot” is showing at the Seckford Theatre from Wednesday 16th May until Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm nightly.

Tickets can be booked at the Deben Players website www.debenplayers.org.uk, or by phoning the Box Office on 01394 382240 or at the box office in person at the Woodbridge Tourist Information Centre.

Families can enjoy a fun packed half-term, start off by visiting the Mansion in Ipswich to celebrate the Jubilee – come along to Christchurch Mansion on 3rd June and make a crown for just £1 then head outside for the Ipswich Borough Council ‘Big Lunch’ event on the front lawn (remember to bring your own picnic!). You can travel through time and join the captivating Tudor storyteller (6 – 8 June, Christchurch Mansion) or you could get creative with other events Quirky Aquarium (6 – 8 June, Ipswich Museum) or One Mans Rubbish… (6 – 7 June, Ipswich Art School).

In Colchester you can join the Castle Adventure (2, 4 – 9 June, Colchester Castle) where you can climb the largest Norman staircase in Europe and marvel at views from the roof of the Castle, and then you can Meet a Roman Solider (6 June, Colchester Castle) and learn about his weapons and life in the army! Do you know how people used to tell the time before clocks? Well come along to our creative Clay Sundials event (6 – 8 June, Hollytrees Museum) and find out whilst getting messy with clay to create your very own sundial. On Friday 8th June you can come and meet a whole host of animals including snakes and many of the reptilian, arachnid and amphibian friends at the Natural History Museum. Plus lots more!

Adults can enjoy Medieval Archery on Saturday 12th May at Colchester Castle, where you will have a hands-on experience with a medieval archer. You can learn about the equipment based around an archer on campaign during the early stages of the Hundred Year War and have a go at shooting an English Longbow. Or take part in a Torchlight Tour at Ipswich Museum on 18th and 19th May where your will discover the galleries in a new and interesting way! There are also three art classes in May (9, 16 and 23 May. Ipswich Art School) where you can experience a range of media, all are suitable for beginners!

Find out more about these events and more by visiting www.cimuseums.org.uk. You will need to pre-book for some events, call the event booking lines on 01206 282940 for Colchester events or 01473 433691 for Ipswich events.

Mary Jane Toulson is a hand weaver, thread maker and dyer based in Suffolk. She works with wool, spinning it into threads, dying it with natural dyes and then weaving it into rugs and wall hangings.

Mary Jane explains the natural colours she uses, “The dyes I use are from plants; in the Spring – daffodils and forsythia, Summer – weld and bedstraw (madder), and Autumn – walnut and elderberry. The colours rotate like the seasons, from creamy yellows through gold and orange to brown and purple. They have a luminosity similar to watercolours. It is a slow process, but gentle and satisfying and does not waste much power.”

On the first day of her exhibition, Saturday 19th May, Mary Jane Toulson will be at Gallery 2, along with another Suffolk Craft Society member Heidi Browning, leading a workshop and demonstration in spinning and weaving. Mary Jane will also be explaining plant dyes. Places on these workshops will be just £5 for 2 hours (11am – 1pm), contact Sarah Young at Gallery 2 to book your place.

Alongside this exhibition of Mary Jane Toulson’s work, and throughout the year, Gallery 2 shows an ever-changing range of contemporary designer crafts, including items to wear and accessories for the home, made by members of the Suffolk Craft Society. Gallery 2 is the Society’s permanent showcase in Ipswich Town Centre open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am –5pm. Admission is free to the Town Hall Galleries.

This national campaign led by the Fostering Network provides a great opportunity to help raise the profile of fostering, and reduce the growing deficit. This year Suffolk County Council are aiming to recruit at least 35 new foster carers to help with the growing demand, and hope this campaign will help give their recruitment drive a boost.

Many people unnecessarily rule themselves out of fostering because they think they can not foster for reasons that simply are not true, so this year Suffolk County Council are keen to use Foster Care Fortnight as an opportunity to dispel a few myths and stereotypes surrounding fostering, and help the public understand that it really does take all sorts of people from all walks of life to improve the life chances for Suffolk’s most vulnerable children.

Sue Lowndes Head of Fostering comments, “We believe there is no such thing as a typical foster carer; they come from a number of different backgrounds. Foster carers can be male or female of any sexual orientation, in full time or part time employment or unemployed. They may have their own children or be childless, and come from any race religion or culture. You also don’t need any formal qualifications, as we will provide training and on going support. You do need to be over 21 and have a spare bedroom.”

Suffolk County Council are keen to encourage anyone thinking about fostering to come along to one of their information events and speak to representatives from the Suffolk Fostering Service as well as existing foster carers to find out more.

Schedule of Events
Date Venue Time
Wed 24th May Rookery Park Golf Club,
Carlton Colville (Nr Lowestoft) 1.30pm – 7.30pm
Wed 30th May Holiday Inn, London Road, Ipswich 1.30pm – 7.30pm
Thu 31st May The Ramada Hotel, Bury St Edmunds 1.30pm – 7.30pm

Anyone interested can just turn up at anytime throughout the afternoon or evening, or if you would like to book a specific time to speak with a social worker you can call us on 0800 328 2148.

If you would like to find out more about Fostering a Suffolk child but you’re unable to attend one of these events, you can also call the office on 0800 328 2148 or visit www.suffolkfostering.com.

You can also now follow Suffolk Fostering Service on facebook.

2012 is the 19th Year of Ride for Life, which has raised more than £726,861 since it began, and this year promises to be just as successful and just as fun. In 2012 EACH is also celebrating 21 years of Quidenham hospice.

Ride for Life 2012 will take place in the heart of Thetford Forest on Sunday 20th May. Ten mile and 25 mile off-road routes and 19 mile and 35 mile on road cycle routes are available, as are three mile and nine mile walking routes- so there really is something for everyone.

Based at the village green in Santon Downham – participants and supporters will also be able to enjoy live acoustic music as well as an array of food stalls including a Barbecue. The event has grown significantly since it began in 1994 and approximately 1,000 cyclists and walkers of varying ages and abilities now take part every year.

Monies raised from the event ensures EACH can continue to deliver care and support to local life-threatened children and their families- in families’ homes or at one of three hospices; Quidenham, Milton or Ipswich.

EACH needs to raise £4.8 million from the public to deliver their services this year and Ride For Life plays a key role. Adult cyclists: £10, adult walkers: £6, child cyclists (13 and under): £5, child walkers: £4 and team entry prices vary. Participants are asked to raise sponsorship.

• For more information visit www.each.org.uk or call: 01953 715559.