Editor : Jim Fieldsend
8 Croft Close, Wickhambrook
Tel : 01440 820108
Published by the Wickhambrook MSC Supporters Association |
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| Issue No. 218 - September -
October 2005 |
Previous front cover of
The Scene
Photo by Ron Weir |
Unfortunately we have to report that the vandalism to the hall
and surrounding facilities has raised it's ugly head again. Just
what is it with these morons? What sort of warped pleasure do they
get from wrecking what other people strive so hard to build and maintain?
Would that we could bring back the village stocks and show the culprits
what we really thought of them. Right moan over. (That'll be the day.
Er-Indoors.)
Elsewhere in this issue you will find a plea from John Bean asking
for someone to take over as editor of the village 'What's
On' and promoter of the weekly draw. John moved to Wickhambrook
in 1973 and within two years became Editor of the Scene. A position
he held for 18 years as well as serving on the Community Council/Association
Committee. After the demise of the C.A. he carried on as Editor of
the What's On and Prize Draw Promoter up to the present day, a total
of 30 years in harness. Now past retirement (his true age being a
secret between him and his Grecian 2000) he would like to sit back
a bit. So if anyone out there is willing to give it a go give John
a ring. Full training given.
I received through my letterbox the other day a slim volume entitled
'A Taste of Lidgate'. A brief description of the history of our neighbouring
village which existed as a named village many years before Wickhambrook
did and boasts a Roman Villa and a Norman Castle. This is being sold
in aid of St. Mary's Church in Lidgate and can be obtained for the
miserly sum of £1.50 from Sean Hogan, Pond Cottage, The Street,
Lidgate, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9PW.
Well I think that's about it for this time although I'll probably
think of something when I've sent this to Joanne. I seem to be going
through a C.R.A.F.T. period at the moment, I Can't Remember A Flaming
Thing.
Jim Fieldsend |
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As newer issues of
The Scene are published, some articles that are regular features
in The Scene will be updated and so will not have a link back to
this page |
MSC 2005 AGM
...will be held on Monday 7th November in the MSC Pavilion. Would
all clubs with MSC keyholders, and individuals with keys, please ensure
that the keys they hold are available at the AGM so that the key register
can be updated with current keyholder details, the key suite numbers
recorded and the keys marked for reference.
Thursford
Christmas Spectacular 2005
This year the annual trip to Thursford will be on Saturday 3rd December.
The 11/2 hour stopover before the show will be at Holt instead of
Swaffham as in previous years. Holt is a delightful old town which
among other things is famous for its Christmas lights. These are,
according to reports, a 'must see' at Christmas time. We'll have time
for a bite or other refreshment, and time to visit just a few of the
many interesting and unusual shops. The afternoon/evening schedule
is: * Depart Wickhambrook MSC car park on Saturday 3rd December promptly
at 2pm as usual. * Arrive at Holt sometime between 3.30 and 4pm. *
Spend 11/2 to 2 hours enjoying the delights of Holt, and leave at
about 5.45pm to drive through the town centre and see the lights.
* Arrive at Thursford about 10 minutes after leaving Holt with, perhaps,
a little more time than usual to enjoy a pre-show shop for souvenirs,
a comfort break, a snack in the cafe, a warming bevvie (and order
interval drinks if that is your thing) and wander around the static
exhibition of superbly restored steam bygones. * Then the main attraction
for the evening - the Thursford Christmas Spectacular - which is truly
spectacular and moving. The first-time visitor it is an astonishing
and for manu immediately becomes an essential part of Christmas. *
Then its back to Wickhambrook with that warm Christmassy glow. At
the time that this is being offered to the Scene Editor, there are
only 19 place left. Tickets for the whole trip (including coach, the
show and a tip for the driver) are £31. Phone Steve on 01440
820520. Don't leave it too late to book your place(s). When they're
sold, they're sold.
The next MSC management committee meeting will be at 7.30pm on
Monday 5th September. The MSC AGM, which is open to all, will be
in the Pavilion, at 7.30pm on Monday 7th November. It will be followed
by an MSC Trustees meeting.
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Panto
help! We need somebody... ...to run the panto Box Office from home
from November to early January. It involves taking phone calls, receiving
money and posting off the tickets. Basically that's it. It gets off
to a slow start in the run-up to Christmas and picks up in the New
Year. If we cannot get a volunteer to do this essential job, while
the rest of the panto crazies are rehearsing and building sets, we
can simply not stage the panto next January. So please give it some
thought. If you could help us with this one job it will save the annual
panto. We have all the necessary bits and pieces needed (tickets,
envelopes, stamps etc) and can show what to do and how best to do
it. But we simply don't have enough manpower (or womanpower) within
th Players to cover this particular job. We desperately need a volunteer.
Please help us if you can.
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Thank you
In 1983, I was persuaded by Barbara at the Post Office to take on
the village post round, and to fill the void left by my predecessor
the late Fred Thearle.
My occupation at the time meant that I worked unsociable hours, namely
evenings and weekends, and that my mornings were free. But although
the extra money came in useful, and the job itself was classed as
part time, I told myself that it would only be a stop gap measure.
Twenty one years later I retired from Royal Mail - and a job that
had long since become full time - left for what should have been pastures
new.
Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances with potential buyers for
Cuttbush, and a general slump in the housing market recently, we find
ourselves still in Wickhambrook, and come September we will have been
a part of this village for 29 years.
And as good as it is in many ways to still be a part of this community,
Janet and I have been very low of late, and feel as if we are in a
sort of limbo.
So how nice and how uplifting, when Peter Bayman called recently and
presented me with a cheque that represented a collection made in the
village after I retired from the Post Office. Whatever I spend it
on, it will remind us of all our friends in Wickhambrook. I would
therefore like to thank everyone so much for their generosity, not
only for the collection, but also the many years of happiness generated
by the friendliness of everybody towards the good old village postie
on his rounds.
Several people have asked me if I miss the job, and my answer has
always been the same. No, I do not miss the work, but the people,
now them I miss very much.
Colin Bird
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Wanted
New Editor for the What's On I would be grateful if a volunteer could
take over the editing and production of the Wickhambrook What's On.
The work involved does not exceed approximately 2 hours every 2 months,
and I am getting slow! Contact John Bean, East Cottage, Attleton Green,
Tel: 820387, e-mail: JohnatJBAPR@aol.com
Also... I am looking for someone to take over the position of Promoter
for the Wickhambrook MSC Supporters Association. This entails keeping
the books of members subscriptions, outgoings such as prize money,
conducting the draw once a month, and liaising with Collectors (who
do most of the work, unsung). Work varies for time of year, but is
approximately 4 hours per month. I need to have a replacement by 31st
December.
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Two sides of village
life What a contrast!
A summer Saturday evening in early August and our village hall is
full with happy revellers celebrating a wedding. Local families with
relatives and friends enjoying themselves while wishing the happy
couple every good fortune for their future together. Lovely, lovely
people, a busy bar, a buffet spread to dine for and an excellent disco.
A real achievement by the organisers, giving happy memories for families
to share forever. Compare that scene with the small gang of louts
skulking outside, drinking and mouthing off with loud foul language.
Finally, they deliberately smashed the Pavilion door. From anti-social
behaviour to criminal damage in one evening. That was the height of
their achievement. The memories of that Saturday evening they would
dare not admit to or share with decent people. What a contrast!
To put matters straight
The issue before last I complained bitterly about the prices being
charged for beer in the local hostelries and reported that I could
buy 'Abbot Ale' cheaper in a pub 150 miles away than I could buy ordinary
I.P.A. in the village pub. It would seem that following that piece
some people are under the misapprehension that I was complaining about
our local Landlord Ian. nothing could be further from the truth. However,
at Ian's request and in the interest of fairplay I did a short survey
of the prices in other pubs in the area to find that many were charging
up to ten pence per pint more than he was, making him one of the two
cheapest pubs in the area tied to any one brewery.
The sad truth is that because of the rules governing tied houses and
the fact that large breweries hold a monopoly in an area they can
charge as much as they think the market will stand, plus a bit. Yet
at the same time I bought two pints of excellent bitter in one establishment
for only thirty pence more than I could have bought in the more expensive
tied houses. During a trip back home in July I found another pub selling
Abbott Ale again cheaper than I can buy I.P.A. in any of the local
pubs. We are without a doubt being taken for a ride in this area.
If they can afford to sell beer as cheap as they do to free houses
in other regions then they should be able to sell it to our local
landlords a damn site cheaper than they do. The average price of a
pint of bitter there is £2.00. Another thing we have back home
are oversized glasses, something the breweries down here say we don't
like. Well they do back in the East Midlands and other places further
north. Why? Because you get exactly what you pay for, a full pint.
What are we some sort of tight wads? No just realists who insist on
value for money.
Jim Fieldsend
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New Year's Eve wanna
party-party venue?
At the time of going to press, the village hall is available for your
New Year's Eve bash. £86.40 from midday to 1am New Years Day.
Bar til 12.30am
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Georgian East Anglia
Tutor: Douglas Baker
East Anglian life from 1700 - 1837: a social and economic history
Using memoirs, press reports and local records, discover the impact
on its people of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions and unrest
following the Napoleonic War
Come along and join us on Thursday mornings Chevington Village Hall
Starting 22nd September 2005 10.15am - 12 noon. Full fee £33
World Religions Roundabout
Tutors: Liz Pichon & others from SIFRE (Suffolk Inter-faith Resource)
An opportunity to develop and understanding of World Faiths found
in Suffolk. With particular focus on Islam and Buddhism
Come along and join us for this 6 week course on Thursday afternoons
Chevington Village Hall 6th October - 17th November 1.30pm - 3pm.
Full Fee £20 Concessions and Remissions available For further
details & course enrolment contact: Margaret Slade, Hargrave WEA
Branch Secretary WEA Eastern District - Charity Registration Number
314001 |
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