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Autumn 2005
Our Autumn program opened on 15 September with a talk on Astrology by Andy Gray. He explained to us that there is a lot more to Astrology than just looking up you star-sign in the paper for the weekly prognosis. The ancient Chinese and other far eastern civilisations had been studying the movements of the planets long before the Greeks named them and allotted them the characteristics of their gods. Astrologers noticed the solstices and the patterns of movement of the sun and moon; They observed fields of energy, and created charts to explain how different factors interacted on each other, with results that could react on people's lives, a very complex set of variables. The meeting ended with a lively discussion!
The visit to the Citizens Advice Bureau scheduled for 6 October was unfortunately cancelled, so our next event will be the Harvest Supper at Capone's on 20 October.
On 3 November there will be Line Dancing with Tracy ,at the Church Room at 8pm. All are welcome.
September 2005
On June 23rd, we assembled at Rougham Nurseries, on the way to Bury St. Edmunds, where iced drinks cooled us before we set off to explore the propagation areas. This is not a garden centre, but a family-run plant-development business, which specialises in producing new varieties and hybrids in a vast range of colours and sizes. After roaming through the gardens, we returned, heavy-laden, to the reception area, very thankful to find comfortable seats, fresh coffee and chocolate biscuits waiting for us. The scents seemed to follow us as we drove off in the cool of the evening.
July 7th found the cars assembled by the Church Room for the start of Diane's Car Rally. We set out by way of Woolpit and Bacton, to ramble through the summer countryside. I found my mind being diverted by the scenery and sunshine, and not concentrating on the job in hand, so only arrived at our destination, The Retreat on Stowupland Green, as the others were sitting down to dinner, thus earning myself the inevitable wooden spoon!
Margaret Pedge at Harleston was our hostess for the Garden Party on July 21st. The Committee, who proved to be a team of versatile chefs, had prepared a summer feast, so the rest of us were free to make the most of the scents and colours of Margaret's delightful garden, and enjoy the meal. It was certainly an occasion for savouring life's pleasures, and we thank everyone who made it such a success.
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The Programme for September 2005 - February 2006 begins on September 15th at 8.00pm, in the Church Room, with a talk by Andy Gray entitled "It's all in the Stars". He will show how real Astrology provides differentiation between us within the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The talk will include relationship compatibility and forecasting. This is an Open Meeting, so please feel free to bring family and friends.
July 2005
Our plans for May were altered to accommodate the General Election so we went down to the Magpie at Combs for a thoroughly self-indulgent Dinner, having duly cast our votes, and reconvened on 19th May for the Annual General Meeting to re-elect our hard-working Committee en bloc. Both were very pleasant occasions, but hardly newsworthy.
On June 2nd Lucinda Rogers spoke on a subject that is the keystone to health and longevity, namely Nutrition. This is a subject which seems to be on everyone's minds these days, but one about which most of us are appallingly ignorant. It is not just a matter of being fatter or thinner! This is a study of the needs of a healthy body with all its different components and their requirements; of the careful balance that governs their efficient performance. We need to understand how to get the best out of what is a marvellously well designed system.
Lucinda explained how her own interest developed when she went through a spell of poor health and found that by following the advice she was given, her problems fell away one by one. High blood-pressure and cholesterol counts which can be life-threatening are avoidable, so are feelings of giddiness or lethargy, skin disorders and many internal conditions. Our livers, pancreases, glands and brains become old friends as do the hosts of friendly bacteria that keep our digestions running efficiently.
One of the biggest dangers we need to guard against is the multitude of unfriendly chemicals that are used to increase cost-effectiveness in the food industry. Legislation to control these is far from adequate as yet, so we unwittingly pour these damaging substances into ourselves.
Luanda's 'Keep-fit Tips'.................
• Treat your bacteria right, and they will treat you right
• Wean yourself off sugar. Flavours will suddenly improve
• Brain and body cells need good, unsaturated fats (Try mixing olive oil into butter and keeping it refrigerated, for a healthy, delicious spread)
• Steam-fry by adding a drop of water to oil or lard if you have to fry
• Only use fruit juices that have NO additives
• Remember that supermarket bread tends to have a lot of sugar and extra yeast to speed the rising process
• Beware of crop-sprays and any unfriendly wind or rain-born chemicals
The next meeting will be a visit to Rougham Hall Nurseries on Thursday 23rd June, meeting at the nurseries at 7.00pm.
On July 7th, also at 7.00pm, we foregather in the Church Room Car Park for the Car Rally, which ends as usual with another Pub meal. Please ring Gill if you have not ordered your meal.
Our final Garden meeting will be at 1 Haughley Road, Harleston, at the usual time of 8.00pm, by kind invitation of Margaret Pedge on Thursday 21st July.
May 2005
'All Dressed Up' was the title of Roger Pooler's talk on high fashion. He had started out in the late 1940s by applying for an apprenticeship at the prestigious workshop of Norman Hartnell. He found out that life for an apprentice was far from glamorous and he could spend whole days just stitching facings on collars or edging button-holes in a basement room - far from the excitement of the actual salon. Apprentices could spend a whole season without getting a glimpse of the 'Collection' they were working on. However, he discovered that if he arrived very early at the premises, while the cleaners were at work, he could get into the storeroom where the current models were hanging under dustsheets and examine the finished items in detail, noting down ant particular techniques used on each. As the time for the next 'Show' approached, these dresses would be joined by spectacular hats created by Madame Vernier, the top milliner of the day.
Those beautiful hats, some tiny concoctions of velvet and feathers, others great straw cartwheels, really excited young Roger and he realised that he had found his ideal medium. When heh had served his apprenticeship at Hartnell's he haunted Madame Vernier's ateliar until he was given a post there. In later life, with a family to support, he became a teacher and lecturer with students of his own, while still accepting commissions for individual customers who wanted hats for special occasions.
Roger brought a selection of beautiful and varied hats made by some of his present students and demonstrated how they were created. It was a fascinating evening.
On 21st April, it was my turn to talk about 'Growing up in the Himalayas'. Thanks to Michael Palin's magnificent series about this little known area, everyone in the hall already had an idea of how spectacular the scenery of this mountain range really is. What I was fortunate enough to be able to add was some detail about the history of the Everest area before it was changed forever by the Chinese invasion of Tibet.
I was also able to describe the institution where my parents worked, 'Dr Graham's Homes', the Dr Barnados of North Bengal, where children of all races and religions were cared for and educated - an institution which never had government funding, but which is still going strong on public support 105 years after it was started. It is a community that proves how well people of different backgrounds, races and faiths can support each other.
April 2005
'Sense and Sensibility' was the title of Jill Nibloe's presentation on 17 February. Taking the five senses, Jill explained how a better understanding of our own functions can enhance our enjoyment of day-to-day life. Having explained the thinking and co-ordination governing them, she went on to challenge us to develop our awareness of them. She then gave the group exercises to use our responses to the senses, and experiments in touch, hearing, taste, smell and sight, with a few surprising results which proved conclusively that things are not always what they seem! Life would be infinitely dull without the contribution the senses make to our appreciation of it.
'Goings-on at the Inn' was the title of Pauline Llewellyn's talk on March 3rd. She has been researching the origins and history of many of this region's oldest and most interesting hostelries.
In the Doomsday books (there were actually two, one being more detailed than the other,) places which supplied ale, which was safer to drink than water were listed. They used to be marked by a tall pole with the old Roman sign of a bush or garland fixed on it. These establishments were often found by river crossings or cross-roads where travellers would be glad to break their journeys. Hostelries sometimes belonged to the Lord of the Manor, and would carry his coat of arms, or a sign depicting the number of bells in the church, if they belonged to a monastery. Some, like The Black Horse' or The Green Man' referred back to pre-Christian superstitions.
Licensing did not begin until 1600, and as travel became easier, coaching-inns were set up every seven miles along main roads to provide fresh horses as well as refreshments for travellers. The guard on the Stowmarket coach would blow his horn on reaching Combs Ford to warn the ostlers at The Fox' in Ipswich Street to have a team harnessed and waiting as the coach drove into the yard.
Pauline also brought her extensive collection of photographs and documents to illustrate her subject. We were very late in leaving the Church Room that evening, in spite of the snow!
Forthcoming events..............................
April 21st
A change of program, Kathleen Butt will be remembering 'Growing up in the Himalayas'. Lucinda Rogers talk on 'Nutrition' will now be on June 2nd.
January 2005
Now that Christmas and the tail end of 2004 have slipped behind us, it is time to plan fresh events for 2005.
We shall gather at Carole's Primrose Barn Cottage in Harleston again, but this time for a Fund-raising Dinner in aid of a charity of her choice, Tickets cost £5, and Carole would like to know who will be coming by Friday 14th January. Those of us who enjoyed our Christmas party on December 16th will know what a perfect setting this is for a convivial occasion.
On Thursday 3rd February, there will be an opportunity to hear Michael Robinson talk about his amazing collection of what I call Bygones, and what his wife irreverently calls "Mike's Relics". These are artefacts, some really antique, which Michael has saved from old cottages and farm-houses, and provide a vivid picture of daily life from the times of Queen Victoria up to the end of the Second World War. They range from old measuring chains, past working horn-gramophones (with records!) to charcoal irons and gas-masks. The best part of the show is Michael's running commentary in broad Suffolk, i have known him keep over a hundred children spell-bound for a whole afternoon, and that is no mean feat! This will be an Open Evening, so feel free to bring family and friends.
2004
November Meeting
The Committee must be congratulated on discovering a wide-ranging selection of topics to whet our interests! At our meeting on November 4th, Bev Mayhew of Harleston came to explain and demonstrate the ancient Japanese system of Reiki Healing. This, she explained, embodies the secret art of inviting happiness, the miraculous medicine of all diseases;
As the treatments are given by using the hands, they can compliment prescribed medicines, or be given on their own. They are also effective for animals. Our volunteer who came forward at Bev’s request declared that after about five minutes, she felt stress giving place to a deep sense of complete relaxation. That sounds like something we could all benefit from! Bev can be contacted at 01449-737618.
The next two meetings to be held at 8.00pm in Onehouse Church Room are:
November 18th, Cards for all occasions, by Brenda Walker, December 2nd, Beauty for Christmas, by Benedicta Ward.
You will be very welcome if you would like to join us
October Meeting
At this meeting, Helen Oldfield , Manager of the Stowmarket Citizen’s Advice Bureau explained some of the many ways in which they are able to give advice and practical help to people with problems and difficulties. Beside resolving legal, financial or relationship entanglements, they collect evidence to highlight local problems for local councils , MPs and even the Government. Because they are a Registered Charity and do not receive Government funding, they are able to take an unbiased stand over major issues, without fear or favour. Most of their workers, including many specialist professionals, are volunteers giving their time and services freely under the seal of confidentiality. We are fortunate to have such an organisation which is available without charge to us all.
September Meeting
On September 16th, Pip Wright gave us an insight into his latest research project, the life and adventures of the Rev. John Steggall, a man better known as “The Suffolk Gypsy”.
Born in Wyverstone in 1791, John was sent to a “Dotheboys Hall” - type school at the age of seven. Unable to face he brutality of its regime, he ran away and was found and adopted by a kindly band of gypsies, the Gibsons. Their free and easy way of life suited him and all went well until a few years later, Gipsy Gibson was arrested in a pub brawl and accused of murder. He, and John, were incarcerated in Bury Gaol,(Moyses Hall),until John was able to clear Gibson’s name. Unfortunately Gibson had contracted gaol-fever and died.
Meanwhile, the publicity had attracted the attention of John’s father, who recognised his son. The two were reconciled. Subsequently, having completed his education in Botesdale, John went to sea, joined the East India Company, returned to England with a war pension for having been wounded, and became a parson. His first post was as curate in Westthorpe, which he supplimented by working as a surgeon as well. Later, his patron, Lord Thurlow gave him the living of Great Ashfield, and built him the parsonage which still stands there today.
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