Year in the Life of the Village Hall

ADRIAN JONES 11th December 2018

Did you know that the Thorpe Morieux Village Hall that many of you were sat in (or outside of) on Sunday the 11th of November at the commemoration of “100 years since the end of World War 1” is actually derived from a World War 1 Army Hut itself? The land it stands on, together with its car park, was gifted to the Village in 1929 by Alan Dyer who at that time lived in Moat Cottage.

Since 1929 it has been used as a school for evacuees, seen weekly dances for both British and US troops and has even held a creche. Nowadays it is used for Village events, Yoga, Gardening & Bowls Clubs, private parties and Art displays.

The Hall is looked after by its Committee. Every Committee member is a volunteer and the Hall could not run without them. Currently we have 12 members including a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. We also have a Duke Of Edinburgh scheme participant joining in on our meetings as part of her course requirements. We have around 6 meetings and an AGM every year. As a committee member it is hoped that you will join in at events; including the planning, helping to set up, the serving of food and, ofcourse the washing up and tidying away. We do have a lot of fun and it really is great to sit down at the end of a busy night, knowing that you’ve given lots of people an awful lot of fun and plenty of good food ! We are also blessed to have lots of great people in the village who come along to help out and, without them, we would be still washing up on the following weekend!

Over the past 12 months we have held 4 Village Hall fundraising events; a litter pick with the added bonus of a full English Breakfast, a Wild West Shindig, our annual Harvest Supper and of course most recently the Centenary Fire Globe event. The proceeds from our events are used to maintain the Hall and keep it safe and sound for future generations to enjoy.

Although the Hall is a “un-sectarian and non-political place of recreation” it is important to remember that it is part of the Community and as such it has many other uses including being used as a Polling Station. We have also hosted a fund raising event for St Marys Church (back in February) and more recently have decided to gift some of the proceeds from the Centenary Event to St Marys Church which will form part of their donation to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

The Hall has also seen some private parties this year along with a Yoga Weekend Event, an Art Exhibition and a Swing Night. We are also a popular stop off point for passing cycle events and do a roaring trade in bacon rolls, tea and cake.

Income from the hiring out of the Hall also goes towards its maintenance. This year we have replaced the Fire Doors, repaired a window, upgraded the notice board, added a Thorpe Morieux Village Hall sign to the car park end of the Hall, commissioned the Fire Globe with a seating area around it AND had timers put on the heaters around the hall. We also plan to have the bar renovated this December and add new fridges, cupboards and coolers.

If you would like to come and join the Committee please do let us know. Hiring the hall can be done through Jasmin Gagen who would be only too pleased to book you in.

2019 looks like it will be a busy year with events such as a Beer, Banger and Bingo night, the SoapBox Derby BBQ, the Harvest Supper, a couple of Breakfast Walks and some further Yoga weekends and Art events already being planned.

Finally on behalf of the TMVH Committee I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and we hope to see you all in 2019.

Cala Russell
Secretary.

Horse Power

ADRIAN JONES 11th December 2018

Happily we have many horses in the village today but not as many as we had in the past! My grandfather said that in his youth (about a hundred years ago) that there were usually about fifty horses in the village and they were mainly working types. I also remember him saying that at that time, life moved at about seven miles an hour, the pace of a horse. Modern tractors are still rated by their horsepower and it has always intrigued me that at that time the village could be farmed with fifty horsepower, when today the combined horsepower of the tractors that do the work must run into thousands. By “working types” I think he meant the heavy horses that did the farm work, like the pair pictured with Frank Morton at Thorpe Green in 1940 (this was two-horse land). Sadly this picture has a tragic element in that Frank, by then living at Cockfield was killed in the Second World War.

One of the joys of the working horses was that they were self perpetuating and pictured are mares with their foals opposite New Cottages in about 1940. With them are horsemen Ernie Shipp, Arthur Lister and Tom Ruffles. Ernie was my aforementioned grandfather and he was greatly saddened by the demise of the working horse just a few years later. He carried on working on the farm but never took to mechanised farming, like many of his generation.

In the background of the picture, notice how narrow the road was then, this is also a feature on many of our other archive photos.

Not all working horses in the village were heavy types. The horse with the precarious looking straw rake was called Julius and is pictured with Norman and Betty Squirrell at Hill farm in 1946. Julius was a multi tasking horse used for lighter fieldwork but he also did a lot of road work with a trap and they rode him as well.

Armistice Commemoration

ADRIAN JONES 10th December 2018

The 11th of November this year was the culmination of the commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. Here in Thorpe, there were two main events, which were very different to each other, but were both very special.

On the morning of the 11th, a substantial group of villagers, led by Len Smith, met at the World War 2 crash site memorial. Anne Nicholls read a poignant speech before she invited those present to share their personal family stories of the war and how it affected them. Len told the story of the crash at Blacksmith’s Lane and pointed out the area where the plane came down. His vivid retelling of this moment in the village’s recent past was very moving. After reading the names of the village’s war dead and the American airman involved in the crash, we held a two-minute silence. Sid Broughton laid a wreath at the memorial site, which brought the commemoration to a close.

In the evening, the Village Hall Committee arranged a splendid unveiling of the commemorative fire globe. The fire globe is situated behind the Village Hall and is decorated with working horses and the phrase “Thorpe Morieux Remembers” which honours not only the men who died in both world wars but also the many horses that were taken from the village to the front line, never to return.

The event began with a short service led by the Reverend Tiffer Robinson and a two-minute silence. The end of the silence was broken by a rendition of The Last Post and was followed by a peal of bells from St Mary’s Church and a fantastic firework display.

As you can see from the photographs, the lit globe looks fantastic and is a beautiful and functional memorial to those we have lost. After this, over 80 villagers sat down together and enjoyed a sausage and mash supper, washed down with a fine beer or two.

Thanks must be given to the Village Hall Committee who organised not only a great memorial, but also a very fine evening too.

Church Fundraising and Clear Up

ADRIAN JONES 10th December 2018

Many thanks to everyone who rode, strode or Church sat this year for the Suffolk Historic Churches Bike Ride. Between us we raised £797.85. Half of this money goes directly to St Mary’s Fabric Fund, half to the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust which can be applied for by any Suffolk church requesting grant aid for repairs and restoration work. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all those that supported the raffle for the painting of the Suffolk Punch ploughing near Bulls Wood.  This raised £630 which has been put towards the cost of the centenary memorial fire pit, a wonderful addition to the village.

Thank you also to all those who gave up their Saturday morning to help with the church yard clear up and to Jasmine for the yummy refreshments. The weather was very kind to us and a beautiful sunny autumn day was enjoyed by all.

Girl’s Night In

ADRIAN JONES 21st October 2018

Come along for a fun, free, casual Christmas shopping evening.

Stalls include: Tropic Skincare & Cosmetics with Catherine Fisher

Handbags, Scarves, Fashion and Accessories from Hintlesham Barns

Scentsy with Leighann Green

Contact Catherine Fisher on 07950 607 049 for further information.

Parish Council Meeting

ADRIAN JONES 20th October 2018

The Councillors of Thorpe Morieux Parish Council are summoned to an Additional Parish Council Meeting to be held on Thursday 25th October at 8pm in the Village Hall, Thorpe Morieux.

AGENDA

  1. Apologies for absence:
    1. To receive apologies for absence
    2. To consent/non consent to accept the apologies for absence
  2. Members’ Declarations of Interest
    1. To receive disclosures of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests for the agendaunder discussion;
    2. To receive declarations of gifts of hospitality received;
    3. To consider requests for dispensation for pecuniary interests for the agenda underdiscussion.
  3. Public Forum
  4. Clerk’s Report: to consider and approve payment of the VAT element of the Firepit Company invoice (to be recovered by the Parish Council).
  5. Planning Matter:
    Appeal – Chapel Farm Barn, The Green, Thorpe Morieux.
    Refusal of application for a lawful development certificate for existing use or development for the use of a barn as 1 no dwelling. Enforcement notice served on 2nd February 2018 requiring cessation of the use and occupation of the barn and its curtilage as a residential dwellinghouse.
  6. Cllrs Report (if any)
  7. Date of Next Meeting: 8th November 2018.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE VERY WELCOME TO ATTEND AND RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE PARISH COUNCIL WITHIN THE PUBLIC FORUM

Nicola Smith, 20/10/18 Parish Clerk

thorpemorieuxpc@gmail.com

Asian Hornets

ADRIAN JONES 2nd July 2018

Vespa velutina, also known as the Asian hornet is an invasive non-native species from Asia.  It arrived in France in 2004 where it spread rapidly.  As a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, it can cause significant losses to bee colonies, and potentially other native species.

Asian hornet was detected for the first time in Tetbury, Gloucestershire in September 2016. A single nest was found and eradicated and no subsequent sightings have been made in the area.  A further sighting was made in Woolacombe, Devon, in September 2017 where a single nest was located and destroyed. Another sighting was made in April 2018 in Lancashire.

It is important to report any suspected sightings of this species as soon as possible.  Vigilence is particularly required in southern parts of England and the areas where other sightings have been made (Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Lancashire).  The Asian hornet is active mainly between April and November (with peak activity recorded in August/September) and is inactive over the winter.

For further information, please refer to the Non Native Species Secretariat.