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BRETTENHAM
MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2014
No. 321
Blackthorn Sloes
At the Village Inn on Friday 3rd the Church Team will be in
the kitchen. The Harvest Festival service is on Sunday 5th with
all food donated going to Stowmarket Food Bank, (details
inside).
Can you help?, the Gardening Club plan to plant 5000 daffodil
bulbs around the village over the next four years to
commemorate WWI., (details inside).
The deadline for the November magazine is Wednesday 15th
October.
David Carter, Editor.
Tel: 01449 737792. [email protected]
The Brettenham Magazine is published and edited by David Carter on behalf of
Brettenham Parish Council. Collated by Robert Holmes and printed by Realisefutures
BRETTENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
A Parish Council Meeting took place on Thursday 4 th September 2014 and
the following is a brief account of the meeting. The Minutes of the meeting
will be available on the village website in due course:
Planning
Application No 3373/13 - Rattlesden Gliding Club, High Town Green,
Rattlesden (part in the parishes of Felsham and Gedding) Application to
vary conditions 1 (ii) and 2 of planning permission 0049/90 for ‘continued
and permanent use of land for Gliding Club purposes (renewal of planning
permission 977/87) in order to allow an increase in aerotow operations
hours currently from 1000 to 1600 hrs to become 1000 to 1800 hrs 7 days
a week and to extend number of light aircraft movements to 30/month in
connection with the Gliding Club activities but not restricted to Rattlesden
Gliding Club members. At the time of the meeting a decision on this Planning
Application had not been made by Mid-Suffolk DC Planning Services
B/14/00921/LBC Gate Lodge Cottage, Old Buckenham Hall School,
Brettenham Park - Listed Building Consent for internal and external
alterations to existing lodge and outbuilding to provide modernised living
accommodation. ‘No objections to this application’ lodged with BDC by BPC
Planning Committee
B/14/00677/FHA Lower Farm, Lower Farm Road – erection of two-storey
front extension and single-storey rear extension. ‘No objections to this
application’ lodged with BDC by BPC Planning Committee
Vehicle Activated Speed Sign (VAS)
It was agreed that a Request for Assessment for a VAS would be submitted
to Local Highways in view of ongoing problems with vehicles speeding
vehicles through Brettenham.
Redundant Poles and Cables
Despite a request for these to be removed from The Street Openreach
have not yet dealt with them. The Clerk will ask when the work is likely to
take place.
Potholes/Resurfacing
The Parish Council were happy that all the work proposed by Suffolk County
Council had been carried out satisfactorily although the potholes in Lower
Farm Road had been filled badly.
Extended parking area at Village Hall
The work on this is now complete and appropriate signage will be erected.
Finance
The 2013-2014 Annual Audit papers for Brettenham Parish Council have
been approved by the External Auditor and a Notice of Conclusion of Audit
was displayed for the required length of time on the Village Hall
noticeboard with accompanying paperwork.
Parish Clerk/RFO
This vacancy is being advertised as widely as possible in order to fill the
position by the end of November.
_______________________________________
Clerk/RFO:
Margarette Birkinshaw Tel 01473 822860
Email: [email protected]
BRETTENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
JOB VACANCY (PART TIME)
CLERK / RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER
The Clerk/RFO to Brettenham Parish Council is retiring after many years and a vacancy
has arisen for a successor. The job entails 4 to 6 hours work per week and attendance
at parish council meetings. For more information please view the full job advert on the
Brettenham website. Interested applicants should contact Chris Clarke,
Chairman Brettenham PC, on 01449 736607.
Brettenham Village Hall.
To book the Village Hall for all your family events
contact the booking clerk.
Anne Townsend at 65 The Street Brettenham.
01449 736052
[email protected]
If Anne is not available please contact Paul Brinkley 01449 736147
*******************************************
To request a licensed bar you must contact Peter Truin 07799640326.
28 days notice is usually required.
Horticultural & Garden Machinery Suppliers
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1 Brettenham Road
Buxhall, Stowmarket, IP14 3DL
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01449 736060
Opening Times
Mon– Fri
Saturday
7.30 am to 5.00 pm
7.30 am to 12.30 pm
Visit our LARGE SHOWROOMS
Brettenham Parish Website
http://brettenham.onesuffolk.net/
Co-ordinator Emily Adie
[email protected]
01449 736965
This advert is too small to be able to show you all we have to offer, p lease visit
our website or co me and have a cup of tea/coffee and discuss your require ments.
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Ode to the Purple People Eater
The Purple People Eater is coming!
Your Local Specialists
In
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Maintenance & Repairs.
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But is it? Is it? Is it?
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But Lo, behold, what is this space?
Tis but a void, empty, sorry.
Tel: 01787 247540
Why was this we have to ask,
Was the venue not right for task?
Too many cars, no space to park?
The smell of Curry on the breeze?
We hope a space can be found,
Which suits all those who live around,
To escape the kitchen every Wednesday,
Bring on the Purple People Eater!
[email protected]
Martin Dye
A message from the Rector.....
As I write this newsletter piece the voting for Scottish Independence has not yet
started, but when you read this you will know whether "the union" is still intact, or
whether our two countries are now just that. I am 50% Scottish and 50%
English so I'm a little split on the issue - perhaps independence won't be good
for the economy, but then I'm not entirely sure that I remember Mel Gibson
caring about that much in Braveheart! But then he had it in for the English in the
Patriot too. The English always seem to be the baddies.
If Independence has been granted, then alarmists have claimed we might one
day have passport checks and border guards. Whether that's true or not, it is
clear that there are consequences to this separation.
And there are
consequences to being separated from God, too. If we live as if we are the
master of our own lives, then the bible says we are separated from God, and
that has consequences, both in this life and the next. If we want to claim
independence from the kingdom of God, then the great day when that Kingdom
eventually takes over will be a pretty disastrous one for us. Thankfully God
loves us, and just as a parent loves a child, He has given us every opportunity to
reopen the border. Jesus was sent to the cross pay the price for our enmity, our
separation, and give us access to God again.
I wonder if an independent Scotland would still sing "I vow to thee my
country". It's the last verse that I love;
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
However the vote has gone in Scotland, whatever terrible or tumultuous things
go on in this world, we can always look towards the new creation, and have
hope for the future.
Rev'd Christopher "Tiffer" Robinson
Rector of Rattlesden, Hitcham, Brettenham and Thorpe Morieux
01449 737197 or 07789772024
Church Contacts
Revd Tiffer Robinson
For info - my email is [email protected]
my number is
01449 737197 or 07789 772 024
Church Warden: Annie Tavener 736412
St. Mary’s Church
Harvest donations
We are collecting produce to be donated to the Stowmarket Food Bank.
Tinned and dried goods will be best. There is a shopping list below from
the bank. There will be a box at the village hall and goods can also be left
at the church. Please leave donations by Sunday Oct 5th as we will be
delivering the goods on Monday October 6th.
Many thanks.
Stowmarket Food Bank - Shopping List
Tinned corned beef, tinned spam/ham, tinned sardines/fish,
tinned spaghetti, instant/tinned potatoes
Pasta and sauce packets, jars of cooking sauce,
savoury rice packets, cuppa soups
Hot chocolate, long life milk, bags of sugar, jelly/angel delight, bottles of
squash, tinned/twin packs sponge puddings
Toilet rolls (packs of 2 and 4), nappies sizes 2,5 & 6
SUFFOLK HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST CYCLE RIDE
The SHCT Cycle Ride was held on Saturday 13th September. Only 15
people visited our church and the general view was that there were fewer
cyclists out this year. No one cycled from Brettenham, but many thanks
to Rebecca, Lindsey and Nick who recorded the visitors. My day was
made by a gentleman who greeted me with 'Good morning young lady'; I
replied that it was very nice to be referred to as a 'young lady' to which he
replied 'when you get to my age everyone else is young. I am 92 and if I
live until January I will be 93'! He had been cycling all morning and had
visited several churches.
Annie Tavener
October Diary Dates.
Wed 1st
Fri 3rd
Wed 8th
Thurs 9th
Wed 15th
Sun 19th
Tues 21st
Wed 22nd
Wed 29th
Whist Drive 7.30 pm Village Hall
Village Inn 7.30 to 11.30 pm Village Hall
Whist Drive 7.30 pm Village Hall
BVA meeting 8.00 pm Village Hall
Whist Drive 7.30 pm Village Hall
Sunday Village Inn 12.30 pm Village Hall
Book Circle 8.00 pm Rose Farm
Whist Drive 7.30 pm Village Hall
Whist Drive 7.30 pm Village Hall
Friday October 31st, Slide Show Village Hall
Cancelled until spring 2015
Saturday 8th November “Fireworks in the Park”
Saturday 22nd November, BVA Quiz
New Year’s Eve Party with Live Music, (Jabs the singer)
“Bigger Ernie”
September Draw Result
1st
129
Stella Carey
£30
2nd
35
Charles Camp
£15
3rd
5
Laurie Rudder
£10
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The Village Inn
Will be open on
Friday 3rd October
7.30 to 11.30 pm
This month the team from the church will be cooking
with all profits going to church funds.
Menu
Coq au vin
£7
Chicken in red wine, with bacon, onions
and mushrooms (gluten free)
****************************************
Pork tagine
£7
****************************************
Chilli con carne
£7
****************************************
Vegetarian Lasagne with salad
£6
****************************************
Puddings £3
Chilled lemon flan with cream
Apple and blackberry crumble with custard
Chocolate pudding
Plum tart with custard
Sunday Village Inn
October 19th
12.30 to 2.30 pm
(Featuring the Potting Shed)
Neighbourhood Watch
Congratulations to Eric Vanlint. He recently spotted two men at five in
the afternoon acting suspiciously in his garden. Upon seeing him
watching them they beat a hasty retreat. Eric then called 101 and reported the
incident. The police responded within 20 minutes and treated the matter
seriously. Hopefully the two men saw the police arriving so maybe they will think
again.
Also be aware of these two young men seen around the village, one with
carroty red, curly short hair and one with black hair standing up on top of his
head, in their 30's about 5 foot 6 ins tall. They come to the house asking about
old vehicles, are persistent and intimidating and will not leave until they are
threatened with the police. A worry is that one could be looking around the back
of the house while the other keeps you on the door.
One householder tried to get their registration number and the redhead threw
himself across the back of the car covering the number plate, hanging on to the
back windscreen wipers. The other drove away 200 yards until out of sight with
his companion hanging on over the back and a door wide open. Some of the
number was recorded and the car and the two men were later seen elsewhere in
the village so the full number was seen. Again they were intimidating. They have
visited at least three properties in the village.
The vehicle is a dark green Volkswagen saloon, number R270 TUD. The police
are on the lookout for them. If you have any trouble with them report to the
police quoting crime reference "189 Sept 10 2014".
See anything unusual, call 101
Martin Dye, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator
Thorpe Morieux and District Gardening Club.
Hardy Perennial Plants was the title of the talk given to the members of The Thorpe
Morieux and District Gardening Club for the August meeting held in the Village Hall on
the 18th. Richard Ford and his wife Mary had for many years run a specialised nursery
growing a large range of Hostas. Now retired from that task they enjoy travelling around
giving talks to interested bodies on many aspects of gardening specialising in the
Perennial range of plants. Richards talk was most enjoyable and he was most ably
supported by Mary who had a very extensive memory for plant names. Showing their
true love for this aspect of gardening they were able to generate some enthusiasm among
the members to give these plants the rich display that they deserve. Richard explained
with the aid of a series of beautiful photographs how Hardy Perennial Borders can give
pleasure throughout the year not solely depending on flowers. These plants need little
attention once established giving colour from foliage as well as flowers including seeds
and fruit throughout the seasons.
Foliage, Richard explained, is very important giving a range of colour, shape and
texture. Grasses are also quite pleasing in the border giving a good coloured background
and some movement in gentle breezes. Generally no pruning is necessary and with
careful planning ground cover gives little room for weeds. Occasional lifting and dividing roots limits too vigorous spread of some plants. There is also available a range of
plants that flourish in variation of light, temperature, dampness and dry soil conditions.
Many perennials grow well in containers and these can be placed in areas where other
plants are dyeing down.
Continuous flowering and colour throughout the seasons from bulbs early in spring to
attractive seed pods in autumn make the use of Perennial Borders a very attractive
proposition.
The club chairman, Linda Shotbolt, thanked Mr and Mrs Ford for an excellent evening
and expressed the thought that many of the members present might make some changes
in their gardens to encompass the ideas expressed and get more joy from the display
Competition. This month’s competition was to produce a vase of three flowers from
your garden. There were several good entries and our speaker judged the event declaring
Joy Howe the winner with a vase of three roses. Sid Broughton was runner up with a
display of Ivy Geraniums.
Sid Broughton.
BRETTENHAM VILLAGE ASSOCIATION (with a few digressions)
The Village Inn on September 5th was its usual success, nicely busy, but without
being over crowded or manic. Fiona was in the kitchen, so it goes without saying the
food was well received, and this was despite her usual assistant, Sarajane, being
unavailable due to her mother being very seriously ill. My thanks go to Fiona, and to
those who stepped in to give her some help. I’m already starting to think about the
chefs for next year’s V I’s. Fiona has, once again, offered to do some, but she can’t
do them all. I’m hoping we may have some new chefs next year, and some
suggestions have already been made, which is very encouraging. If you think you
can do it, and would like to have a go, please let me know.
It will soon be fireworks time again
Fireworks in The Park will this year be on Saturday November 8 th. You will notice
one change from last year. The bonfire will still be in the same place, where it was
moved to last year following the installation of Old Buck’s new all weather sports
pitch, but the fireworks are to be launched from a different area of the school’s
grounds. This new site, we think, will make it safer, and give everyone a better view
of the display. Ticket prices and times for the event are likely to be unchanged from
previous years, with discounted tickets available to purchase in the Village Inn on
November 7th. For full details please see next month’s magazine. Before then much
work will have to be done to build the fire. Paul (Brinkley) will once again be in
charge of this, but this year, it will be mainly in a supervisory capacity, as he will be
out of action at this time, following a day in hospital for some repairs and general
maintenance to his knee. If you have some rubbish you would like to put on the fire,
you must contact Paul on 07917 061831. Please remember the bonfire is in the
grounds of a school, which has very strict child protection laws to obey, so it’s
absolutely imperative you do not enter the grounds of the school, to take material to
the fire without contacting Paul first. We will need lots of helpers for this event, as
usual, so if you can possibly help, please contact Paul, Charles or me. Charles will
once again be organising the actual fireworks display. Last year’s display was
extremely good, perhaps the best ever, but I’m sure he’ll be able to better it again
this year. So, Charles, no pressure.
Time flies, when you are having fun
I hope to see you at the BVA meeting, to be held on October 9 th. We will be
discussing, amongst other things, the final arrangements for the fireworks and our
New Year’s Eve party, which this year, will have live music. (It’s hard to believe,
and somewhat depressing, that another year will soon be gone) There was a good
turnout for our last meeting, which was very encouraging, and I hope this will be
repeated this time.
Slow fast food
I expect the non-appearance of the Purple People Eater may get a mention at the
BVA meeting, even though this is nothing at all to do with the BVA. I have heard
that some blame me for it not arriving, which is interesting, as not having read the
PPE’s ad in the last Magazine, the first I knew about its plan to serve food in
Brettenham, was when I was told it was not coming after all. Actually, I find it very
flattering that some seem to think I have the power to stop two private individuals
operating a private business venture on private property. Even if I did have this
power, quite why they think I would want to exercise it, is totally beyond me. It has
been suggested we could invite the PPE to operate from the Village Hall car park
(when the Hall is not in use, obviously) this is possible, however, it would first need
careful consideration, but it can be discussed.
Roy Crane
I’m not really sure when I first came to know Roy, but it will have definitely been at
least forty, probably forty-five years ago, so I was very sad when he contracted the
illness which led to his recent death. Roy had to overcome many difficulties in his
life, but he always seemed to be cheerful, and it was always a pleasure to be in his
company. The way he’s usually described, is as a character, and so he was. There
are many Roy stories, but I think my favourite, and the one that sums him up so
well, is this. Living at the Shambles, with its then huge garden, he was into the
“Good Life” long before that TV programme was ever shown. There were many
kinds of animals, mostly kept for reasons of self-sufficiency. Among them were
pigs, and when it came time for the first one to be dispatched, he decided he could
do it himself, and so the poor pig was to meet its end in the bath. It didn’t go well.
Of course, this was in the days before animals had “rights”, but even so, this
exercise was not repeated. It was a different world in those days, but it’s so
wonderfully ironic that the present owner of The Shambles is an environmental
health
officer. Roy had many jobs in the early days, but I only knew him as
an architect, and he helped me with a number of projects, and never really charged
enough for his services. Of course, his major legacy for our village, is the design
work he did, ten years ago, for the extension and refurbishment of the Village Hall.
How pleased he would have been, if he could have heard the comments made about
its kitchen by the caterers at his funeral wake. They said, without knowing about
Roy’s connection with it, that it was the best village hall kitchen they had
encountered. Roy will be long remembered, and much missed. My thoughts are with
Thelma, it was not easy for her during Roy’s long illness. I hope to see her soon,
back in the Village Inn, where she will be very welcome indeed.
Peter
07799 640326 or [email protected]
Gardeners’ Notes
At time of writing, I have been thinking a lot about apples as the village Apple
Day is fast approaching. It’s been a good year for apples and fruit in general as
the spring was mild without the hard frosts that can strip a tree of its blossom
in one night and we haven’t had the strong winds that caused such devastation
last year.
This year, as well as the plentiful fruit and veg in the garden, there is an
abundant crop of blackberries in the hedgerows. Now this presents me with a
problem because Martin, my under-gardener, is a blackberrying enthusiast.
Every year, he becomes like a man possessed, daily wandering the countryside,
foraging in the hedgerows and bringing home containers filled to the brim with
blackberries which he deposits with panache on the kitchen counter as though
they are caskets of jewels. I’m afraid I am not as impressed as I should be with
this wonderful bounty. The problem being, I have to decide what to do with
them.
Annually from September to mid October, we eat a lot of blackberries:
blackberry & apple pie; blackberry & apple crumble and stewed blackberry &
apple. When time permits I make blackberry and apple jam and bramble jelly.
There are days when we eat blackberries in some form or other at breakfast,
lunch and supper. And what we can’t eat fresh is frozen.
This year, due to the bumper harvest and Martin’s best efforts, we
have reached capacity early in the season. Already we are bursting at the
seams and our freezers are bursting at the hinges. So it was, a couple of days
ago, when Martin had that mad glint in his eye which warned me that he was
thinking of heading off yet again for a pleasant morning of foraging in the warm
autumn sunshine, that I felt I had to put my foot down with a firm hand and say
“No more!” Martin was surprised and disappointed at his wife’s lack of
appreciation. However, I have to admit that on a cold winter’s day when we
tuck into homemade blackberry & apple crumble with custard, I am pleased
we’ve got a couple of freezers full of blackberries.
If you have any gardening news/ideas/comments, please contact
Carrie Dye, tel: 736305 email: [email protected]
Brettenham Gardening Club
This month we will be planting daffodil bulbs throughout the village. If you would like
to
be
involved
please
contact
Charles
Camp
on
740464
/
[email protected] .
If you would like to be involved in any of our events or become a member of the Club,
you would be most welcome.
Please contact Carrie Dye, 736305
[email protected] .
Don’t forget to join us at the Potting Shed (aka The Sunday Village Inn) on 19th
October from 12.30. It’s a social get together and a chance to swap plants, produce,
advice and chat.
"Brettenham WW1 bulb planting scheme”.
Nature Notes
The plan is to plant in and around the village 1250 bulbs per year for the 4 years
of the war i.e. a total of 5000 bulbs. The final bulbs will be planted by Armistice
Day 2018.
The recent warm and settled weather that we have been enjoying has
helped to produce an abundant supply of fruit in the hedgerows, and as
you will read elsewhere in the magazine a bumper crop of blackberries.
There is also a good crop of hawthorn berries and sloes, see front page,
for your wine and gin!
Young hedgehogs have been seen in village gardens and we saw a
grass snake basking in the sunshine near our pond.
As I write House Martins are still feeding young in the nest on our house
and we also have Chiffchaffs in the garden.
I have had reports of Greenfinches being found dead in gardens,
including our own garden, I’m afraid they have a disease called
Trichomonas which particularly affects Greenfinches. Below is a press
release from the BTO explaining the disease and what you can do to
help control it.
Hopefully this will be a lasting reminder to the generations who will come after
us of the sacrifices the men and women of Brettenham made during WW1 and
subsequent wars.
I will get the ball rolling with a gift of the first years bulbs - a standard daffodil
called "Carlton". I have pictures taken in the spring by Emily Adie so we know
where bulbs are currently planted. The idea is to plant a different variety each
year to make a dazzling display.
We need to get the bulbs in by mid-November so I am looking for volunteers to
help with this year's planting. I estimate 10 "planters" for 2/3 hours on a Sunday
morning should crack it - this could be split over a couple of dates. I suggest the
following dates:
Sunday morning 19th October
Sunday morning 26th October
Sunday morning 16th November
Sunday morning 23rd November
I have other ideas about fundraising, sponsorship and perhaps a plaque in the
Church which will appear the next Village Magazine.
Please let me know by either e-mail or telephone if you can help.
Charles
01449 740464
[email protected]
"Looking for a good home:
No payment required!!
1 pair Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 speakers
1 pair Wharfedale Super Diamond speakers
A 2 drawer filing cabinet in black - good condition.
01449 740464
[email protected]"
Trichomonas typically causes disease at the back of the throat and in the gullet. Affected
birds show signs of general illness (lethargy, fluffed-up plumage) and may show difficulty
in swallowing or laboured breathing. Some individuals may have wet plumage around the
bill and drool saliva or regurgitate food that they cannot swallow. In some cases, swelling
of the neck may be evident. The disease may progress over several days or even weeks.
The trichomonad parasite is vulnerable to desiccation and cannot survive for long periods
outside of the host. Transmission is most likely to be through contaminated food or
water, e.g. where a bird with difficulty swallowing regurgitates food that is then eaten by
another individual. Trichomonas gallinae is a parasite of birds and does not pose a health
risk to humans or their mammalian pets.
What you can do:
Follow sensible hygiene precautions as a routine measure when feeding garden birds
and handling bird feeders and tables. Clean and disinfect feeders and feeding sites
regularly. Suitable disinfectants that can be used include a weak solution of domestic
bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) or other specially-designed commercial products.
Always rinse feeders thoroughly and air-dry before re-use.
Rotate positions of feeders in the garden to prevent the build up of contamination in any
one area of ground below the feeders. Empty and air dry any bird baths on a daily basis.
You may wish to consider stopping feeding if you have an outbreak of the disease at your
feeding station, in an attempt to force the birds to feed elsewhere at a lower density
(although in reality they may end up visiting another feeding station and possibly one
where no hygiene measures are in place.
I hope you find this helpful.
David
WAR POEM
Useful phone numbers and contacts.
I was particularly moved by the evocative extracts quoted by Beverley from the
book clubs latest reading list.
The book in question, Erich Maria Remarques ' All quiet on the Western Front '
tells the story of German soldiers and their experiences during the First World
War.
This allows us to look at the common man who is thrust into war via whatever
foe his country fights against. We explore this theme through the beautiful song
and words by the inimitable Don McLean and goes as follows.
Cynthia Kershaw
The Grave
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colours
And the brown earth bleached white
At the edge of his gravestone
He's gone
When the wars of our nation did beckon
A man barely twenty did answer the calling
Proud of the trust that he placed in our nation
He's gone
But eternity knows him, and knows what we've done
And the rain fell like pearls on the leaves of the flowers
Leaving brown muddy clay where the earth had been dry
And deep in the trench he waited for hours
As he held to his rifle, and prayed not to die
But the silence of night was shattered by fire
As guns and grenades blasted sharp through the air
One after another his comrades were slaughtered
In a morgue of Marines, alone standing there
He crouched ever lower, ever lower with fear
They can't let me die, they can't let me die here
I'll cover myself with the mud and the earth
And I'll cover myself, I know I'm not brave
This earth
This earth
This earth
Is my grave
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillside in bright summer colours
And the brown earth bleached white
At the edge of his gravestone
He's gone.
West Suffolk Hospital Bury St. Edmunds.
Bildeston Health Centre
St. Mary’s Church:
Revd Tiffer Robinson
Church Warden: Annie Tavener
Brettenham Parish Council:
Chairman: Chris Clarke
Vice-chairman: David Golding
Clerk: Margarette Birkinshaw
Brettenham Village Association:
Chairman: Peter Truin
Secretary: Cathy Schofield
Brettenham Village Hall:
Booking Clerk: Ann Townsend
Or Paul Brinkley
Caretaker: David Carter
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Living opposite Roy!
In 1973 we moved into No.23, opposite the Shambles, Roy Crane had already
rebuilt his house following the fire in 1969, doubling it in size in the process.
Before we moved in Roy had helped us by preparing the plans for refurbishing
our house and obtaining a housing grant for the work. We were keen to get
started so I was chasing Roy to get the plans finished, so it was of no great
surprise that when I was going home one night about 1am I saw Roy with a
torch and tape measure in the garden making his notes.
It was never boring living near Roy and over the years we watched the family
growing up, Robert, Imogene, Linda and Jackie, visiting school chums , then girl
and boy friends and later assorted husbands! Lodgers, George and Ian, foreign
exchange students Julia, Inka, and Christina from Germany and B&B guests all
were encouraged by Roy to join in with the family activities.
An assortment of animals over the years, several dogs usually from rescue
centres. Neddy the donkey who I had to chase out of my vegetable patch more
than once! Romanoff the horse who also managed to escape occasionally,
chickens, geese, goats one of which hung itself on the tether Roy had attached it
to and ended up in the freezer and Roy serving goat spare ribs to his guests!
Rabbits were also butchered in the kitchen sink and the meat sold at the gate
along with the usual eggs.
Roy had numerous unreliable vehicles and he always said that you should never
pay more than £500 for a car, one got stuck in gear in Stowmarket and Roy
decided to reverse all the way home and then suffered a stiff neck for several
days! VW Dormobile vans were one of Roy’s favourites and we can remember
one that he used without a side door. Many times we had to help push start cars
up and down the road. I went with him and Clive Simmonds from The Forge to
Thetford one Sunday evening to collect a pottery kiln, which must have weighed
half a ton, no way could the three of us lift it, but Roy commandeered six RAF
personal off the street to help us, the VW just managed to crawl back to
Brettenham.
Always resourceful Roy would bring home road kills and I can remember a
“jugged hare” and a duck being roasted that Roy had found and much to his
delight a bonus of an omelette from the eggs he had found inside the duck when
he was preparing it for the oven.
Roy always had some ongoing building projects, sheds, animal shelters, using
reclaimed materials and would spend ages de-nailing old wood and joining bits
together adopting a make do and mend policy.
Roy took a keen interest in village matters and would attend the Annual Parish
Meetings always asking the County and District councillors awkward questions,
some serious and some trivial, but always with a glint in his eye.
Roy and his first wife Shirley ran the Church Sunday School and later Roy was
the much involved with the Swimming Club at OBH.
He championed the Village Fund using his drawing skills to produce all the
posters for firework evenings, fun days and the various fetes decorating them
with his L S Lowry like matchstick figures.
Roy always supported village events and activities, drawing the plans for the
extension of the village hall and car park.
Those of you that knew Roy will know that I could easily fill the whole
magazine with Roy “stories” and at his funeral all his children spoke and
recalled their many happy and moving memories of growing up in Brettenham
and of their “Dad” warts and all.
We extend our sympathy to Thelma, Robert, Imogene, Linda and Jackie and all
the family.
David & Margie
ROY CRANE
Roy was born on 17th December 1931 in Lewisham and didn't have the easiest
of childhoods, his father was away fighting in the Far East and the family had
their home bombed twice. In his younger days he was a very keen cyclist with
Ruxley Wheelers, winning various medals and thought nothing of cycling to
Wales - for tea ! He attended Woolwich Polytechnic to learn building and
architectural drawing skills. His first job was at W H Smith, then Mather & Platt
who sent him to draw up a sprinkler system for Colmans Mustard's headquarters
at Norwich where he may have fallen in love with East Anglia. By this time he
had married Shirley and they had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Imogene. I think
the company thought he was mad but agreed that he could commute from
Suffolk to London and the family settled into 22 The Street named it The
Shambles, and over time the 2-up, 2-down cottage grew into a 5 bed-roomed
house, to accommodate two more daughters, Linda and Jacqueline, as well as
dogs, cats and cage birds, plus more land for ponies, donkeys, goats, geese and
chickens (not all at the same time). However the long journey proved a step too
far, especially in bad weather in pre bypass days so he went freelance, both
building and architectural design for planning applications etc. Very few local
villages do not have an example of his work. In his 'spare' time he drew and
painted, in all mediums including Dulux(!) and these revealed his sensitive side.
The family joined in with local organisations such as the Swimming Club and
supported the various activities of the time. When he married Thelma in 1982 he
supported her work with the Parish Council and became even more involved,
especially in the early days of Brettenham Village Fund, for example, he
designed the extension to the Village Hall. When The Shambles was sold and
Willow Cottage built in the garden, this gave them the funds and time to travel
and although some of the trips turned out to be more adventures than quiet
excursions, they left memories in his retirement which were sadly lost in his last
days suffering dementia'.
He was an 'original' and much loved by his extended family and many friends;
he will be sadly missed.
from Thelma and the family.
Roy Crane at the Village Hall in 1995