When no news is good news

There is growing excitement in the town as months of work on the Co-op extension nears completion. However, there are concerns about image-conscious trolley-dashers risking life and limb on Magdalen Road.

It is expected that the newly renovated store will carry products never before sold in the town and that Tesco, Sainsbury and Waitrose shoppers may be tempted in to sample the new goods. Whilst in the past an occasional desperate purchase in the Co-op was acceptable, the large scale shop requiring a trolley was never an attractive option.

It is reported that Middle class shoppers are struggling to recall their divvy numbers and practising their trolley-dash skills to avoid being seen by friends and neighbours.

Meanwhile, the Co-op has closed its other operation on the High Street, formerly Alldays. Late night shoppers presumably will have to rely on the Beer Barrel.

One rumour has it that if Tesco fail in their planning application they may end up buying the Co-op. Surely not!

Two significant retirements occurred this year that will mean a great deal to parents and children in the town. Both headteachers from the Community Primary and St Mary's concluded their careers this summer.

Mrs Jenny Auber was headteacher of the CP for 14 years and during that time she has overseen major building works, introduced disabled features, the creation of a nursery and above all, overseen the teaching of hundreds of the town's children. She has been succeeded by her deputy Gary Pilkington.

St Mary's headteacher, Stephanie Holt, retired after 7 years as head of the schools. She also oversaw many building projects and physical improvements to the school but her legacy will be impact she made on many young lives. The new headteacher is Alison Herbert.

Not perhaps the crime of the century but the EADT carried a report that for the second year running Allotment holders on Gallows Hill have had huge quantities of potatoes stolen.

In two incidents over 100kgs of potatoes have been stolen. In one instance this amounted to 180 plants.

The few hardy souls that marched from the Community Primary School to the Market Place on Sunday 18th July 2004 deserved a medal.

At the pre-arranged start time the skies opened and the small gathering of adults and kids, dressed in the Olympic theme outfits, were nearly drowned. As they marched down Magdalen Road, small huddles of damp spectators gathered and were pelted with boiled sweets.

The stars of the parade were the staff and friends of The Smugglers, all attired in tartan and dragging a small boy on a rocking horse, they proudly advertised "Highlanders Against Greek Inferior Sports". A small group of St Mary's parents and kids whistled and banged sticks and the majorettes twirled their batons.

There were reasonable numbers in the High Street. They gathered outside Crabtrees and opposite the Beer Barrel. Monday's EADT estimated that there were around 1,500 on the streets for the annual fair organised by Hadleigh Entertainments Committee.

There appeared to be fewer stalls run by local groups this year. Though there was a strong showing from HADS and Hadleigh Hares.

If anything the weather was even worse on Saturday, prior to the free music event at the Layham Road sports field. Eight bands played for free.

Hadleigh Bowling Club which was founded in 1754 celebrated its 250th birthday recently.

The damp weather didn't prevent David Grutchfield, Mayor of Hadleigh, from joining the party and bowling the first wood.

The club was founded by John Ward, publican of the White Lion. James John Hissey who visited the town in 1889 and stayed at the White Lion noted that "at the back of our inn we discovered in the morning a pleasant garden and bowling-green".

When Magdalen Road was constructed in 1990 the bowling clubs links with the White Lion were severed and it was sold to the members.

A survey of 450 youngsters carried out by the Substance Misuse Action Group, and funded by the Babergh Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, found that 37% thought there was a problem with alcohol and drug misuse.

It is hoped that the survey will unlock funding for a digital cinema project in the summer, a teenshelter and for the purchase of computers.

David Grutchfield has been elected Mayor of Hadleigh for the second time. He also represents Hadleigh as a town, district and county councillor.

Jean Chapman was elected as Deputy Mayor, replacing the recently deceased Eileen Banks.

Hadleigh won the Two Counties division four championship at Stowmarket on Saturday 21st August 2004.

The next challenge for the team will be the Suffolk Plate Final against East Bergholt on Sunday 5th September.

Hadleigh Rugby Club's top try scorer last season, Martin Lacey, has left the club and joined National Divison 2 side Launceston.

The new coach New Zealander Keith Roderick has signed a new flanker Andy Dawling to replace Lacey. Dawling played for the British Army and Combined Services side which won the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham earlier this month.

In a dramatic penalty shoot out Hadleigh emerged as winners against Long Melford in the Suffolk Senior Cup Final at Portman Road on May 26th.

With the game tied at 2-2 at the end of extra time, and all 10 penalties scored, only sudden death could decide the fate of the two Ridgeons League Division One sides. Eventually Donovan scored the winning penalty, making the final score 7-6..

Godbold, Gaston, Pritchard, Donovan, Grant, Chinnery, Ferrage, Godbold, Bradford, Cracknell, Beckett. Subs - Arnold, Leeks, Oakes and Bignell.

A national rugby magazine has nominated Hadleigh Rugby Club as Team of the Month following a series of outstanding displays. Rugby World will provide a set of kitbags with the team's name to mark the award.

Hadleigh Rugby Club is in the London League Division 3NE and this season has reached the final of the Eastern Counties Cup and the Suffolk Cup.

Despite two disasterous clubhouse fires in recent years, the Club has thrived under the leadership of Terry Sands. The team is coached by South African C T du Plessis.

The Hadleigh Show of 2004 was notable for fantastic weather and improvements to the layout of the Holbecks Park showground.

A crowd of more than 12000 flocked in during the afternoon as the temperatures rose. People gathered to watch events in the main arena and view the dozens of stands.

Particularly noteworthy was the arrival of the hunters and their hounds. In keeping with the message of the Countryside Alliance the announcer stressed that any Tom, Dick or Harriet can don pink and join in the fun. Dozens of children raced into the ring to stroke the hounds at the end of the parade.

The improvements to the layout seemed to ensure that stallholders were busy on the avenue closest to the gate and there was a large crowd at the top of the park as parents queued with eager kids to hand over a fiver for the bungee trampolines.

The art show had been moved and amongst the typical pictures of church spires and hay fields there were some attractive sculptures.

Residents and town councillors were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former mayor and independent town councillor, Eileen Banks-Edwards on 26th April.

Mrs Banks-Edwards, was a standing Conservative candidate and stood later as an independent. She re-married in February 2004 and was the mayor of the town in 1997, and was currently the deputy mayor to Peter Matthews.

Eileen was a Babergh councillor from 1991 - 1195 and again from 1999 - 2003. During her second term she sat on the Strategy Committee, the Health Panel and the Local Plan Task Group.

David Grutchfield, district and county councillor, described Mrs Banks-Edwards as hard working and committed:

"She always stuck to her guns and was a very diligent worker for her community. She was always doing something and will be greatly missed".

If you have any memories of Eileen Banks-Edwards, please e-mail us, and we will add these to this website.

9th May 2004

Major maintenance work at Hadleigh Swimming Pool is likely to be required in the next few months, after a serious leak was discovered. Babergh District Council's Strategy are due in May to discuss the best way forward.

“Like everything, Hadleigh Pool has a limited lifespan and in spite of Babergh having spent £500,000 on improvements, maintenance and repairs, it is inevitable that a pool of this design will suffer increasing problems of this sort” explained Tim Mutum, Babergh’s Head of Leisure and Community Services.

Babergh’s engineers were called in when it was noticed that the pool was losing significant amounts of water. Investigations showed that the leak is in the water inlet pipes that run under the concrete pool.

It is believed that any repair would cost between £15,000 and £30,000 to complete. Councillors on Babergh’s Strategy Committee are due to consider the matter when they meet on 6^th May.

Hadleigh Library will be closed for minor refurbishment from 5.00pm on Saturday 21^st March and will reopen at 9.30am on Thursday 1^st April.

You can still return any borrowed items via the library letterbox, or wait until the library opens, as any items issued which would normally be due for return when the library has been closed, will have been automatically issued for return on or after 1^st April.

Don’t forget you can continue to use the Library website http://libcat.suffolkcc.gov.uk to order and renew any items, and arrange to pick them up at any Suffolk Library. You can also use the automated renewal service on 0901 888 8989 (cost 25p per minute)

Four Hadleigh heroes were honoured by Babergh DC when the winners of the 2004 Community Achievement Award winners announced by Babergh DC. At a ceremony on 25th February, Alan Murray, Grace Root, Jonathon Chown and Frederick Seager were presented with their awards by BBC Radio Suffolk's Mark Murphy.

Alan Murray has been involved with rugby for 40 years both in the North West and more recently in Suffolk. Alan has been involved with Hadleigh Rugby Club for the last 11 years being President and also the Club’s Youth Director where is objective is to encourage youth rugby in South Suffolk and to promote the Club’s Youth Community Development Project. In particular Alan has promoted the ‘Rugby in Schools’ initiative. With funding from the lottery and from Suffolk Acre the Rugby Club has been able to place a coach in each of the local primary schools to develop an in-school rugby club and to promote an interest in the game. Membership of the Club’s Youth Section now stands at 60 who regularly attend Sunday morning coaching sessions. We are told that “Alan has successfully encouraged younger people to become actively involved in sport, particularly rugby, and encouraged parents to participate by providing support and assistance. He has improved the quality of life within the community by extending the range of sporting activity in South Suffolk”

Jonathon Chown at 17 is another of our young achievers who for the past year has taken over sole responsibility for the Hadleigh Junior Tennis Club whilst battling with a rare bone disease which has required major surgery. Although Jonathan has been provided with a wheelchair he refuses to use it and is now making progress with the aid of crutches. When no qualified organiser could be found to take over the Junior Tennis Club Jonathan volunteered to take on training as a tennis organiser/coach, at his own expense, giving up his evenings and Saturdays to achieve the qualification. Whilst awaiting his operation, Jonathan persevered to run classes for youngsters aged 4-16, organising games and activities as well as dealing with all the administrative and organisational issues. Although he is still temporarily incapacitated Jonathan shows great commitment and in order not to disappoint the youngsters, he has trained another member of the senior club to help carry out his duties. His proposer says “for a young man Jonathan has shown great levels of organisation, commitment and enthusiasm and we are delighted to be able to nominate him for a Community Achievement Award”.

Frederick Seager is 82 and was born in Hadleigh in 1922. At the beginning of World War II he joined the RAF serving at various bases including a spell in Iceland! Frederick joined the Hadleigh Branch of the Royal British Legion in 1946 and has served the Legion for nearly 60 years, being Chairman for 12 of those years. He has chaired the Legion’s Poppy Appeal for many years and has been Branch Chairman for 35 years. Frederick is a man who will turn his hand to anything to help the British Legion and together with his friend still carries out repairs to the Club premises. Self-styled S&H Builders, their motto is “no job too small”. His sponsors say “Fred is a man well worthy of a Community Achievement Award, for his services to the Hadleigh Royal British Legion over 57 years”

Hadleigh High School has been successful in its bid to become a specialist science centre. The school and its supporters raised £50000 and have received £100000 from the Government.

Over the next 4 years the school will receive £90000 annually to develop science for the whole community, including the local feeder schools.

The news from Mark Murphy on Radio Suffolk caused problems for many families in the town on Thursday morning (29th January). Two of the schools in the town were closed due to snow. (See photos of snowy views across Hadleigh)

From 7am schools around Hadleigh - Kersey, Nayland, Boxford, Capel, Copdock and Bildeston - announced that they were closed to pupils and it looked inevitable that Hadleigh schools would follow suit.

However two hours later, as children from St Mary's and the Community Primary trudged uphappily schoolwards, their neighbours from Beaumont and older siblings from the High School hurled snowballs, built snowmen and slid about the place.

Both schools had managed to draw together a scratch workforce and so at least 600 children missed out on the brief snowfall.

Council gritters with nearly a week's warning had managed to salt most of the town's roads and therefore drivers were able to get about, albeit gingerly. But with the news that the main road to Sudbury was blocked at Boxford and the alternative route via Bury St Edmunds on the A134 also impassable, some grownups took the day off.

Parents gathering at a Hadleigh school were amazed by the Stonehenge-like layout of the Stonehouse Lane car park.

As workmen put the final touches to the elaborate lining scheme, the resemblance of the bollards to the standing stones of Wiltshire sparked much interest.

However, there was a conviction amongst some of the crowd that the school run on Monday, 26th January 2004 would be an occasion when conflicting groups would clash on the site.

"Can you imagine all those mums turning up with their 4x4s to drop off the kids, just as the pensioners are leaving the swimming pool after their early morning swims and the Squirrels' coach attempts a 3-point turn?" commented one bystander.

Setting aside the obvious sexist nature of the remark, one mum said that she maybe tempted to walk her children from George Street. "It will be easier than finding a parking space."

There was a general conviction that there has been a significant loss in parking in the car park over the last three years as Babergh has altered the site to regularise parking.

The other main users of the car park, Hadleigh's very own boy racers, have presumably been consulted on the changes and no doubt will be sharpening up their handbrake turns before they take on the bollards.

Arsonists target playgroup

The Playstation playgroup was attacked by arsonists at the weekend and a considerable amount of damage was done to computer equipment.

The attack happened around 3am on Saturday. This was just one of four attacks which occurred during the night of 16/17th January. Firefighters also attended incidents at Sisters Court, Gallows Hill and Meadows Way.

There have been spates of fire starting in the town over the last decade and it seems to be the crime of choice of one individual or group.

The Playstation group will be meeting at Beaumont Primary until April. Meanwhile Babergh will be assessing the cost of repairing the building.

Suffolk County Council officers are considering closing the Fire Station in the Market Place and re-locating to a new site on the Lady Lane Industrial Estate. The new station would include training facilities and would be built under the Private Finance Initiative. Check out Hadleigh Firefighters' website.

Over the last fortnight Hadleigh residents have seen significant emergency and maintenance work on Angel Street, Stonehouse Road car park and George Street. This has led to major diversions and car drivers forced to walk their children considerable distances to school.

Xmas light switch on

The town’s Christmas decorations were officially switched on by the Mayor Peter Matthews who was assisted by two pupils from Beaumont Primary School.

The Rev Strannak led a 30 minute carol concert, accompanied by children and parents from the town's schools and the Elmsett Brass Band.

Whilst the turn out for the event did not appear to match the 2002 switch on, the High Street was crowded. Many of the shops were open and the pubs appeared to be doing a roaring trade.

Domestic violence report

Last year there were 58 incidents of domestic violence recorded by the Police in Hadleigh. In the first six months of this year, there have been 105 incidents recorded.

Children trapped in library lift

Two boys were trapped for nearly 30 minute in the town library’s lift on the afternoon of Wednesday, 19^th November.

Despite the valiant efforts of the librarians to force open the door, in the end the Fire Brigade (www.hh04.co.uk) had to be called out. The trained professionals managed to free the children in seconds.

Throughout the ordeal the Primary age children appeared to be calm and relaxed. Fortunately, they were kept amused, as they were able to select from the library’s extensive range of children’s literature.

The lift is usually used by customers wishing to attend events at the meeting room on the first floor or the toilets.

Xmas light switch on

The town’s Christmas decorations will be officially switched on at 6.30pm on Friday, 28^th November.

The event is being organised by the town’s Entertainment Committee. There will be stalls in the Market Place and on the High Street and some shops will remain open until 9pm.

It is hoped that the event proves as successful as last Christmas’s switch on, when the town attracted hundreds of lively visitors.

Car park charges – a step closer

Babergh District Council has until Easter to decide whether to introduce car park charges in Hadleigh. Tariffs could be set at 20p for 2 hours, 50p for 3 hours and £1 for all day parking.

Reading this week’s Suffolk Free Press caused me to recall a Talking Head’s favourite of the 80’s, “Heaven”. The newspaper which proudly boasts on its masthead that its “Hadleigh’s Own Newspaper Since 1855” carried no news about the place.

Actually, there is a crowded photo of the massed ranks of the local Amateur Dramatic Society – all 40 of them. Presumably, that will guarantee at least 40 sales.

Don’t get me wrong. This website is happy to promote the activities of HADS. Please go along and support “Night Fever – The Heat is On” (November 19-22 at 7.30pm in the Town Hall).

What I would like to call attention to is the complete dearth of news. Setting aside the press release, which has been copied verbatim, and the tiny photo advertising a future event, nothing appears to have happened in the past week.

Whilst the good folk of Sudbury, Cavendish, Long Melford, Clare and the other villages nestled 10 miles away have been busy murdering, vandalising, thieving and moaning about each other, Hadleigh residents have remained calm and presumably confined to their homes.

If I were responsible for the SFP I would be a tad worried. Why would Hadleigh folk shell out 37p to find out that the Council is planning to dig up more roads in Sudbury and the film reviewer thinks that the Matrix Revolutions is worth 9 out of 10 (oh and you can’t see it in the neighbourhood)?

I suppose we should really be glad that no news is occurring. I’m sure that the residents of downtown Baghdad would be delighted to get on with their lives in peace.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a bit of excitement, I should just hang on and wait for the HADS production.

Children trapped in library lift

Two boys were trapped for nearly 30 minute in the town library’s lift on the afternoon of Wednesday, 19^th November.

The lift is usually used by customers wishing to attend events at the meeting room on the first floor or the toilets.

Xmas light switch on

The town’s Christmas decorations will be officially switched on at 6.30pm on Friday, 28^th November.

The event is being organised by the town’s Entertainment Committee. There will be stalls in the Market Place and on the High Street and some shops will remain open until 9pm.

It is hoped that the event proves as successful as last Christmas’s switch on, when the town attracted hundreds of lively visitors.

Car park charges – a step closer

Babergh District Council has until Easter to decide whether to introduce car park charges in Hadleigh. Tariffs could be set at 20p for 2 hours, 50p for 3 hours and £1 for all day parking.