See, also, Neighbour's Events at Occold, Debenham, Pettaugh, Redlingfield, Thornham and Thorndon.
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All in the Village Hall unless otherwise stated.
April 2025
Thursday 3rd Mobile Library 2 stops @ 9.50 and 10.10am Saturday 5th Book Sale & Coffee Moring 10-11.45am @ Highbanks Saturday 5th Grand National live screen 3pm Tuesday 8th Hilltop Women’s Group AGM & Supper 7.45pm Wednesday 9th Lunch Club 12 for 12.30 Advance Bookings Please Saturday 12th Crafternoon 2-4pm Wednesday 16th Country Dance Club 7pm Wed 23rd Accidents and Emergencies in the Middle Ages 7.45 pm Saturday 26th Pete’s Village Quiz 7.30pm Monday 28th Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2pm Tuesday 29th Village Afternoon Tea 2-4pm
May 2025
Thursday 1st Mobile Library 2 stops @ 9.50 and 10.10am Monday 5th Afternoon Tea 3pm: 80th anniversary of end of WWII Saturday 17th FA Cup Final Live Screen 2pm Wednesday 21st Country Dance Club 7pm Wednesday 28th History Group Remembers: 80th anniversary of end of WWII
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Our recent Afternoon Tea on Tuesday 25th March was a success and, although we had slightly lower numbers than we have seen in the past, everyone still had a great time. The next Afternoon Tea will be on Tuesday 29th April from 2pm to 4pm. All are invited, dogs included, and plenty of sandwiches, cakes and scones will be consumed along with bottomless tea and coffee. A quiz and the usual games and lively chat will all be on offer. Come and join us!
Our first event of the month was the pub night. It was so good to see so many of you there and especially some of our families. The table tennis was enjoyed by adults and children alike. Thanks to Tamsin and Julian who stepped in to run the bar while Kevin was away.
On the 15th March we transformed the Village Hall into an Indian Restaurant and held a very enjoyable Curry Night. 39 people booked, many through our new online booking system. Thanks must go to the cooks, Graham, Verity, Jenny and Harriet for the variety of curries and to Kevin who ran the bar all evening and to Dave our chief washer up. Will ran the ‘Curry Quiz’ and in total we made £342 to help maintain the village hall.
On Saturday 5th April we will be showing the Grand National on the big screen. The hall will open at 3pm, when we will hold a very short Village Hall AGM, followed by the lead into the Grand National on the big screen. The race itself starts at 4pm. The bar will be open all afternoon and we will be selling sausage rolls. There will be the usual village Sweep Stake this year organised by Peter Davidson, Mark Little and Jenny Harvey who will be coming around the village to sell tickets to those who wish to participate, all proceeds go to our local church.
The FA Cup Final is held this year on Saturday 17th May
And we will be showing the match on the big screen in the hall. The hall will open from 2pm and the match starts at 3pm. The bar will be open throughout the afternoon. Watch this space for more information.
Hall maintenance and improvementsThrough the Winter Grant from Mid Suffolk Council, we have been able to make some improvements to the hall. We have purchased several kitchen items such as a set of mugs, large chopping boards, some inside and outside lights, a large storage cupboard for the storeroom and several new games tables. These have all added to the effectiveness of our activities. Many of the events we run require a limited number of volunteers. We are lucky that we can call on a few people to help in providing refreshments etc, but each event needs a set up and set down team. If anyone is willing to be called on to help for this, please contact Jenny Elphick or talk to any member of the Village Hall Committee. On a couple of occasions recently several sticks have been found rammed into the lock of the village hall door keyhole. This caused damage to the lock and made it very difficult for our cleaner to get into the hall and for the cooks on curry night to access the hall. On one occasion a couple of boys (about 10 or 11 years old) were seen hanging around and then running away. We have no idea who the children are, and they could have come from anywhere, but if you have children, please could you have a word with them as they may know something about it. It was a real nuisance. Thanks. |
59 ClubRecent winning numbers: Mar – 53, 21, 28, 26. Pete Davidson pjdavidson42@gmail.com |
Once again there will be a chance to enter the sweepstake in aid of Wickham Skeith Church (FOSA). The team will be calling around the village on the morning of Sat 5th April. It costs £2 for a horse; the winner will get £25 and second place £5. The race is at 4pm.
This race will be shown on the big screen in the village hall, where you could also take part in the sweepstake.
On Bank Holiday Monday 5th May from 3pm onwards at the Village Hall to commemorate the ending of the Second World War in Europe there will be an afternoon tea and other refreshments (the bar will be open as well for those wishing to purchase drinks).
Enjoy music of the period.
Hopefully some memorabilia and vehicles of the period will be on display.
And please come in Period Style Clothes if you would like to!!
We ask for bookings and a donation of £2 to help with costs by 19th April
(any surplus funds will be donated to Royal British Legion)
Donations and Bookings to Kevin Knights either
through the letterbox at 6, Grange Road
or in person at the Grand National Viewing in the Village Hall on Saturday 5th April
or in an envelope into the Village Hall Letterbox please.
Details for
Wickham Skeith Remembers (Part Two)
VJ Day (Victory over Japan) Friday 15th August
will be published soon.
This event organised by the Community for everybody
As it was in 1945, the heart of the VE Day celebrations will be focused on commemorating in our communities with the 5th of May being dedicated to nationwide community celebrations. The 80th anniversary is a time for a nation to come together to learn about the stories of those that served and the VE Day generation, from the servicemen who fought, to children who were evacuated, and women on the home front.
Please support Wickham Skeith’s event and for more information about the national significance and celebration see here:
https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/ve-day/
The church annual meeting (APCM) will be held this year at 2pm on Monday 28th April in church. In preparation the church electoral roll is being revised and this year is the six-yearly total revision.
Even if you are on the present roll a new form must be completed for you to be included in the 2025 electoral roll. The roll closes for revision on 10th April so forms must be returned to Margaret Jones-Evans before that date.
If you are not currently on the roll, please consider completing a form which is available in church or from Margaret Jones-Evans the electoral roll officer. Completed forms must be returned to Margaret before 10th April 2025. The only requirements for being included on the electoral roll are that you must be baptised, over 16 and either live in the Wickham Skeith parish or worship at St Andrew’s. Being on the electoral roll does not impose any requirements on you but it is a means of indicating that you are part of the church family. Only those on the electoral roll may vote and stand for election at the APCM.
Margaret Jones-Evans
There are no words to adequately express my thanks to everyone who gave dad a wonderful welcome at the end of his long road.
Wickham Skeith Environment Group Wildlife Friendly Village
The first toads emerged on 22 February, Chiffchaffs started singing on 7th March, a swan arrived on the Grimmer and a swallow was seen on 26th March. Brimstone, Peacock, and Comma butterflies have all been spotted. With the arrival of spring the Wildlife Group has started its 2025 programme. The toad patrol has been out on most nights but it has been a cold dry spring and, on many nights, there were no toad movements. Towards the end of March, we recorded 73 toads, 12 frogs and 1 smooth newt helped and sadly 18 toads squashed. Toads will start leaving the Grimmer soon so please keep looking out for them as you drive round at night. A Wild Flower Identification and Management course has been arranged for the Wildlife Group on Monday 12th May. We will be learning to identify the main groups of wild flowers and, in the afternoon, will visit two or three sites in the parish to practice our skills and to discuss suitable management. There are currently two places left on the course so if you would like to join us, please contact me. We hope to start monitoring the water quality in the river Dove and are being loaned a water testing kit for nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia. This comes courtesy of our District Councillor and the EYE Love the Dove group. The River Waveney Trust will be providing training for us. I have a few volunteers already but if you would like to take part let me know. We will be starting a few wildlife ‘ambles’ to explore the habitats and wildlife within the parish – varying times and locations to suit people. If you would like to join the Wildlife Group, please let me know. There is also a WhatsApp group to share news of wildlife in the parish.
Contact Melinda on mole7@protonmail.com
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The Patrol started in a spell of milder weather on Saturday 22nd February with only two toads lifted. No further toads have yet been collected but the Patrol is now out and about from dusk for an hour or two depending on traffic. If the weather is above 5-6 degrees and damp then toads may start to move again. Please take care on the roads round the Grimmer and look out for our patrollers carrying buckets and torches!
Toads are very particular about where they breed and often migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds. They follow the same route, regardless of what gets in their way, which in Wickham Skeith leads to them crossing roads around the Grimmer. We get a toad vs traffic scenario and the toads inevitably come off worse.
With spring arriving and the weather turning milder, volunteers from Wickham Skeith are gearing up to visit the site during February and March, depending on weather. We will carry toads over the busy road to help them reach the pond.
The toad is experiencing declines in the UK of nearly 70% in the last 30 years. Our village population has declined from an annual count of over 1400 helped, to a couple of hundred. Toad migrations can start anytime between late January and March so we will check the local weather forecast for the first run of consistently mild (>5°C), wet nights.
The van stops in the lay-by outside the chalet bungalows, from 9.50 to 10.05am. Then outside Haymead House in The Street from 10.10 to 10.25.
Next visit: 3rd April, 2025 and 1st May, 2025
Do come along for a fun quiz & help to raise funds for our wonderful medieval church. The next job will be to reroof the tower, which will not be cheap.
We start at 7.30pm, with a light supper halfway through. The bar will be open.
Teams can be up to 8 people. £7.50 per person (cash please).
If possible, please book with Pete Davidson pjdavidson42@gmail.com or just turn up on the night.
THE WICKHAM SKEITH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB
We had another successful evening in 19th March. The dancers are getting the hang of it now. I added a couple of new dances + went over a few standards. We even had a new face pop in and join us. Hope he will be back next month. It really is starting to gel as a club. We were slightly down on numbers. I am hoping this was because the date was moved to the third Wednesday of the month. We need a few more members otherwise we will not be able to survive! As country dancing is usually danced in ‘sets’ there is a minimum we can get away with, probably 10 dancers. Having more means a wider variety of dances can be called and it is more fun. Plus, it does mean you get a breather without feeling no one can dance unless you do! So please pass the word round! I will be doing flyers soon so I can pass them out to people but generally word of mouth is best or bring a friend.
We meet every third Wednesday of the month in the Village Hall from 7pm. Entry is £5 and includes refreshments. We dance to live and recorded music. For more information call Jayne.
Next dances:
Wednesday 16th April
Wednesday 21st May
Wednesday 18th
Whatever your art or craft bring along your current project. Share skills, ideas, tips, and techniques. Inspire and be inspired in the company of other creative people.
If you have an ‘arty’ or ‘crafty’ friend then bring them too.
Next Crafternoon on Saturday 12th April 2025 2-4pm
Entry: £2.50 per person (inc. tea/coffee/biscuits).
HELP TO HEAT YOUR HOME
Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk Free energy advice and support to help you pay
your bills, top up your prepayment meter and apply for charitable support. Visit
www.midsuffolkcab.org.uk or call 01449 676 060
Local Welfare Assistance A grant for people struggling with the cost of
essentials. Visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/LWAS for more information and to apply.
Surviving Winter Financial support for people over pension age to help with
fuel costs. Eligibility criteria apply, visit www.suffolkcf.org.uk/surviving-winter-
appeal or contact Sudbury Citizens Advice on 01787 321 400.
Oil loans - Eastern Savings and Loan Credit Union offer interest-free loans of £500 to help spread the upfront cost of oil and LPG. To become a member and apply visit www.eslcu.co.uk or call 03336 000690. Subject to a manual decision process, affordability, and a credit check.
Visit www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/energy-fuel-and-utilities for more resources to help you keep fuel and utility costs down. If you would prefer to speak to someone, you can contact our Customer Services team on 0300 123 4 000, option 7 to discuss your situation and find local organisations available to support you.
As we do our Christmas shopping this year, spare a thought for those less fortunate than us.
Every Wednesday from 5-6pm, Francesca offers physiotherapist-led Pilates at the village hall.
Pilates is an excellent form of low-impact exercise, that helps to strengthen not only the core, but the whole body and mind, too.
Suitable for mixed abilities; the only necessity is that you can comfortably get on/off the floor.
For queries or booking details, please contact Francesca: francescadavey@outlook.com
Wickham Skeith Oil SyndicateThe next order deadline is 31 March. If you need any oil, please email jerrybassett@icloud.com
Telephone LinesThe council has noticed that several telephone lines around the village are running through trees. Whilst at present they are not causing concern, it would be a disaster if a line broke. Not only do they carry the land line but also the internet. If a line runs through your property, you are responsible, as the landowner, to keep it clear of branches which could break or bring down the line.
Please take note. The Parish Council
The Parish Council has booked a tree surgeon to carry out work on 21st March 2025 to three trees on Little Green where phone lines are entangled .
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The SID in The Street was recently vandalised. It is working again. Parish Council points out that the SID does not record registration numbers so vandalising this advisory device achieves nothing.
A bus service, VC001, runs 3 x week to Stowmarket and villages on the way [Mon, Weds & Fri @ 9.52am]. It is operated by Stowmarket Minibus & Coach Hire [01449 614271]. The minibus (white and labelled on windscreen 'VC001') comes to the village green by the post box. People wishing to travel should hail it. Apparently, no-one usually gets on in Wickham Skeith so the driver is not expecting to pick up! The driver is not supposed to arrive too early in case people miss it, so be patient if he is very slightly later! Timings were pretty accurate overall. It is a sixteen-seater bus and will arrive from the direction of Finningham, heading in the direction of Mendlesham.
To Stowmarket the cost is £3.70 return or £2.00 single and paid by 'cashless' card transaction or cash. To catch the bus back from Stowmarket, you need to wait at the bus stop opposite Stowmarket railway station, on the bend near the level crossing. There are other pick-up points and the driver was quite accommodating to the needs of individual passengers.
There is enough time to have a good potter around the town and perhaps a cafe stop too, before the return journey. The bus also stops at Mendlesham, Mendlesham Green and The Crown, so could be useful for someone who wants to meet up with a friend but not able to drive.
Since the bus starts at Gislingham and goes to Finningham, then to us, you could do the journey in the other direction. This could be useful for anyone wishing to bus out and walk back. No dogs allowed on board due to limited space, however.
Passengers were a friendly crowd; there was one conversation between all - and you get to find out all the local news! Worth supporting.
A bus service, VC1, runs 3 x week from the village to Stowmarket and villages on the way. It is operated by Stowmarket Minibus & Coach Hire. It departs from the post-box on the Green at 9.52am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving Stowmarket Crown 10.12 & railway station at 10.22. Return journey leaves from near Stowmarket Railway Station at 13.04 arriving in the village at 13.34.
If wishing to travel please check details as your Editor has found it difficult to get hold of information. Company Phone No. 01449 711 117. Best link here:
https://www.suffolkonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-02-Stowmarket-MCH-VC001.pdf
Rosemarie Hayne Email - wsvh.treasurer@gmail.com
New Rates from April 2025
The Hall hire rate is £12 per hour or part thereof. The minimum booking period is 2 hours. A one hour "warming up" period will be granted in cold weather.
Bookings over 7 hours will be charged at the day rate of £120.
There is a 25% reduction for Wickham Skeith residents and Village groups.
The day rate for official bodies and corporate bookings is £300.
Stoke Ash Gardening Club is looking for new members to join us. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month (except on Bank Holidays) at 7.30pm in Stoke Ash Village Hall.
Next meetings:
Membership is just £15 per year and £2 subs per meeting. We also have a
raffle. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Val Lane or Geoff
Tancred on 01379 678568
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Village DefibrillatorAs villagers will be aware our defibrillator was used over the Easter weekend. This sad event has highlighted the importance of this piece of equipment to the village. So, I thought I would remind people about the device.
Defibrillator GuardianI am the Guardian of the defibrillator and as such am responsible for the upkeep of the device and ensuring that it is ready for use. Please contact me if there any problems regarding the defibrillator or if you have any questions. My contact details are: Julie Keable, Hawthorn Cottage, The Street, Wickham Skeith. Tel. 01449 766771 or 07724577383
My contact details will now be in the village Newsletter every month.
Location of DefibrillatorThe cabinet containing the defibrillator is on the external wall of the village hall (next to the car park and emergency exit).
In the event of an emergency - DIAL 999
They will ask you for the cabinet number – 2336 and Postcode – IP23 8LX
These numbers are also on the outside of the defibrillator cabinet. The 999 service will then give you the access code to allow you to open the cabinet. The defibrillator is portable and so can be taken to wherever it is needed.
999 will talk you through how to use the device and, once switched on, the device will also give you verbal and visual instructions.
You do not need training to use the device and once the pads are attached it will tell you when to shock and if NOT to shock.
The defibrillator cabinet also contains a defibrillator responder’s kit, which has cleansing wipes, tissues, disposable gloves, a razor, scissors for cutting clothing and a res-Cue mask if it is needed for CPR.
AFTER USE Please let me know the defibrillator has been used and return it to me. If I am not in leave me a message and, if possible, give the defibrillator to another member of the Parish Council.
DO NOT let the emergency services take the defibrillator with them. I have spare pads and can get the device fully working again. Thank you. Julie Keable
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From Stephen McKie There are no words that are adequate to express my thanks to everyone who gave Dad a wonderful Wickham Skeith welcome at the end of his long road.
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