Blaxhall Herald

Archive Group Exhibition

2008-08-21T20:20:00.004+01:00

There is no denying that rural life consisted of a lot of hard work in the past but there were times for relaxation and creativity. The grocer’s daughter found time to be an accomplished photographer; the farmer’s son, a naturalist and painter whilst one of the daughters was a nationally important sculptress. The working man not only drank in the local pub for his relaxation but sung and danced whilst his wife would also sing and step dance at community events.

These are some of the characters that will feature in an exhibition with this creative past as its central theme to be held in Blaxhall Village Hall, on 20th and 21st September 2008 between 11am and 5pm both days.

We also need your help – there will be a display of cottages and landscapes either drawn or painted by George Thomas Rope between 1870 and 1930 BUT we do not know where he painted them! So can you help and tell us where you think some of these cottages that George painted were - or still are today?

Photographic database

Old photographs recording past events and village life have become an important visual record of our social history. And finding and recording them has been one of the objectives of the Group. There are now over 2000 images in the database – come and search through what we already have and if you have any photographs please bring them along for us to copy.

A small selection of some of the Blaxhall photographs can be found in the History section.

Fate Suggests a Fete

2008-08-11T18:18:00.003+01:00

Yep, it's that time of year again. Blaxhall's much loved Fete is coming up, and this year the attraction list has got even better; amongst the popular regulars there will also be such treats as a demonstration by the fire brigade and a visit from some Alpacas. All that remains is to pray for good weather!

House Martins back nesting on Stone Common

2008-07-30T07:32:00.003+01:00

After many a year, a pair of House Martins have returned to a house on Stone Common to nest. They arrived very late at the end of June and it was feared that they would never finish the nest, as this is what has occurred in the past. But I am happy to report that they have completed the nest and seem to be sitting - hopefully on eggs. I shall keep you posted.

Margaret G.

Festival News

2008-06-19T22:00:00.003+01:00

Some news of the upcoming festival, to be held on Sat/Sun the 28th and 29th June, is filtering through to the website:

The art exhibition will be open between 11am and 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with a preview evening on Friday the 27th at 7.30pm, and features 6 paintings by well-known local artist Maggie Hambling.

The flower festival at the church will be open on both days between 11am and 5pm. Lunches & teas will be available, and Blaxhall Archive Group will have a display.

There will be an evening of music in the church on Saturday 28th at 7.30 pm, featuring music for all tastes provided by Tony Roy's new benefice music group (their debut performance).
The British Legion training Band conducted by ex-Blaxhallite Richard Wilding will also perform.

The service on Sunday at St Peters will be a benefice service, starting at 11am, all welcome. Keep an eye out for the shepherds who will be directing visitors.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who manage Blaxhall Common, will also be at the church over the weekend.

Please do come along and see our festival, the culmination of many hours work for many in the village. There are several reviews of festivals past in the Archive section of the website.

Grand Opening

2008-05-21T11:24:00.007+01:00

(Updated below) After Private Fundraising, Major Renovations and General Building had finished, the new hall was opened as planned on a glorious May day.

Florrie Shaw and Peter Fletcher cut the commemorative cake.

The plaque will be mounted in the new entrance hall.

Update: Ebb and Flow readers may notice the photos of the event were supplied by Blaxhall.com, high resolution versions are available for download for those interested.

Summer Ball

2008-05-06T22:46:00.003+01:00

Frosty mornings are not yet a distant memory, but the summer ball is nearly upon us. Tickets for the event are now available from Joyce, Graham and Nigel, up until the 29th. There will be a licensed bar and Buckshee will be providing the music for the event on the 31st. The picture links to a bigger image of the flyer.

Out of Africa

2008-05-05T10:30:00.002+01:00

Swallows have been seen in Blaxhall over the Bank Holiday weekend, and if they did indeed arrive back so recently they certainly chose the right time to enjoy a glorious spell of weather. Long may it last.

Hail the New Hall

2008-04-19T09:47:00.006+01:00

After several years of blood sweat and tears the village hall renovations are finally complete. The official opening of our splendid new facility will take place on 10th May at 2.30pm.

Crossing Capers

2008-03-07T10:56:00.005Z

We learned today that the Beversham road from Blaxhall to Little Glemham (U3822) is to be closed from 10.30pm on 22 March in order that the level crossing can be repaired. The work is expected to last around 12hrs, but may take up to 18 months. Yes - you did read that correctly :-)

Arboreal Antics

2008-03-01T14:06:00.013Z

It happened on a still, foggy February morning.
I was out walking with a friend when the slightly menacing bark of a distant chainsaw cut through the air. As we approached the church the sound grew louder, and once inside the gate the outlines of vans, trucks and men up trees became visible through the mist.
Some days later, all became clear. The fog lifted to reveal the stumps of once mighty branches, while
word trickled through the village that the old oaks were deemed dangerous; branches, apparently, might fall off and hit people on the head. So it came to pass, that for the first time in two thousand years the clergy took action to prevent an act of God!

On a Rocky Road

2008-02-17T16:38:00.005Z

Rectory road, never the greatest road surface in Suffolk, has reached new lows in recent months. A combination of run-off from fields, oversize farm vehicles and blocked ditches has resulted in numerous pot holes, swathes of sand & stones, and long sections of exposed & broken road edge. The situation is perilous enough for car drivers, but for cyclists and resident wheelchair users attempting to use it can be a veritable adventure, and not one for the old, weak, infirm, or those of a nervous disposition. More letters than ever have been fired off to the relevant bodies by residents and visitors alike, so now we sit back and wait with bated breath and crossed fingers.
Should readers wish to add their voice please write to Suffolk County Council - Saxmundham County Buildings, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 1AL.

Station Road Closure

2008-02-17T11:33:00.003Z

Station road will be temporarily closed during weekdays over the next fortnight - between 9.30am and 3.30pm. It's all in a good cause: to update the Jurassic era telephone wires so that all us Station Road dwellers can experience the joys of the information superhighway!

Christmas Party

2007-11-10T16:02:00.000Z

A little more information for those interested in coming along to the Christmas Party at the village hall on the 15th Dec. - in addition to the live bar there will also be some buffet music and a licensed supper - have I got that right? Check the flyer to be sure!

The Big Push

2007-11-10T15:26:00.000Z

Activity over the past week at the village hall has heightened as the project nears completion. The plumbing is finished, the electrical work is all but done and on Friday the floors were being laid. The new kitchen will be fully installed during the coming week leaving a short list of bits and pieces, the largest of which is the new floor in the meeting room. For all those eager to cast a critical eye over the completed project there are some upcoming events planned.

There have been times over the past few years when the village hall committee wondered whether they would ever secure the funding necessary to carry out this major work, and with the hall so close to completion I think the village must surely be proud of the hard work and sheer man-hours volunteered by the committee members. Now there's something to toast at the Christmas Party!

Archive Group DVD

2007-11-05T20:45:00.000Z

Following on from the success of their first book, Blaxhall's Living Past, Blaxhall Archive Group's companion DVD is to be launched on Saturday 17th November at 12 noon in the Ship Inn. The event will continue until 3pm and copies of the book, DVD and a new limited edition calendar will be available.

Harvest Festival

2007-09-15T23:52:00.001+01:00

In spite of a particularly soggy July and August it seems the crops are all in, as the Harvest Festival is going ahead on schedule! Plough the fields and scatter on the 23rd.

Village Hall phase two

2007-09-15T23:37:00.000+01:00

Work on the interior of the village hall is nearing completion, with all the plasterwork now finished and the second fix carpentry well under way. Patient hall users will no doubt be pleased that the assorted paraphernalia temporarily stored on the stage will soon be moved to a more permanent home in the new store rooms - and of course the new toilets will provide the greatest relief for those holding out for the conclusion of the work.

It's Fete time again!

2007-08-13T21:05:00.002+01:00

This Saturday it is Blaxhall's perennially popular fete, and all the usual exciting attractions will be there. More information can be found in this newsletter or you can take a peek at the flyer.

Edinburgh bound group visit Blaxhall

2007-07-27T07:28:00.000+01:00

Late news I know, but interesting nonetheless. From 2pm tomorrow (Saturday 28th) until midnight, there will be live music, theatre and drum and bass at the village hall delivered by a group for whom this is their last opportunity to rehearse before hitting the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets are £3, proceeds to help with their Scottish expeditionary expenses.

Rounders

2007-07-17T00:27:00.000+01:00

This coming weekend, on the playing field, come and watch grown men cry as Blaxhall yet again experience a sound thrashing at rounders. Or better, come and play! Barbecue and bar until late, should be a cracking evening. Rounders from 6.30pm - see the flyer (clickety click).

Update: There was a very respectable turnout and you know I'm not fully certain but I think we didn't lose!

Blaxhall Archive Group at the Festival

2007-06-23T17:32:00.000+01:00

More information is filtering through about Blaxhall Archive Group's event at the festival, on the 30th June / 1st July. For a peek at the flyer click the image.

Summer Ball

2007-06-09T07:48:00.000+01:00

Blaxhall Summer Ball is to be held on June 23rd this year in the village hall. It has proved a popular event in years past, and the band "Buckshee" will again be providing the music.
There will be a licensed bar, and a buffet supper is included in the ticket price of £9 (under 12s half price) with all proceeds going to the village hall, which this year would be exceedingly glad of them! The flyer (right) encourages partygoers to "dress up for the occasion" and, although June evenings can be pleasantly warm, I must say this does seem sound advice.

Open Studios - 9th/10th June

2007-06-04T22:28:00.000+01:00

Maggie Grenham will be opening her studio again this coming weekend as part of the Suffolk Open Studios project. Suffolk Open Studios goes on throughout every weekend in June.

Photographer Gillian Plummer and potter Maggie have joined forces this year as "Pure Inspiration" and the studio at Longfields Nursery in Rectory Rd (map) will be open on both days next weekend from 11am to 5pm, free tea and coffee is available.

Other studios open in the Blaxhall area this coming weekend are Simon Trinder - Painting and Drawing at Ardenbank, Wadd Lane, Snape, and Jenny Partridge - watercolour, drawing, painting and prints at Romany Studio, Woodbridge Road, Tunstall.

Festival Weekend update

2007-05-26T13:22:00.000+01:00

This just in from the Blaxhall Festival organisers:

Blaxhall Festival Weekend
Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1, 2007

What a year Blaxhall is having: the long awaited refurbishment to the village hall is now well underway; the village pub is back in business and doing a fine trade; and the village archive group has just produced a 160 page hardback book called ‘Blaxhall’s Living Past’ which was issued free to all the households in the village.

To continue this community theme Blaxhall village are organising a Festival Weekend to be held on June 30 and July 1.The village church is dedicated to St. Peter and the flower displays in the church are an annual event that celebrate the saint’s day. This year other activities around the village have gathered together to support and also celebrate the Petronal festival.

There is much to do and see over the two days:

An art exhibition (with many works for sale) is being held in the Village Hall. Opening times 11 am. until 5.00 pm. both days

The local archive group will have displays and books for sale. And on both days, Bridget Hanley of the Suffolk Record Office will talk about ‘How to Start a House History’. There is limited seating so it is advisable to pay and book in advance – contact 01728 688611.

There will be an ‘Open Gardens’ event which poses to be a sensory and visual delight. Tickets for entry to all the gardens can be bought at each individual garden – all gardens are signposted. There will plants for sale in some gardens.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust will have a stall outside the church open both days, whilst in the church, besides the flower festival , which is there for both days, there will be An Evening of Light Entertainment including music and comedy and lots of fun on Saturday evening – admission free with a retiring collection. The Sunday Morning Service of Celebration will be at 11.00 am, everyone is welcome to attend.

Food and drink is available on both days at the church.

Contact: Shirley Leek
Telephone: 01728 688220

For those of you interested in previous festivals, please see the Archive section.

Morris dancing at the Ship

2007-05-24T23:30:00.001+01:00

Prepare yourselves, the Morris dancers are coming to Blaxhall. On Sunday 27th at 12.15pm Barley Brigg will be performing at the Ship, so come along and witness the joy that is North West Morris dancing at first hand.