The Reydon Community Quiz 2024/25 season commenced on 18th October, and it was lovely to see many of our regular quizzers back.

Amanda Humphry took the role of quiz leader for the evening and presented six rounds of varied questions, which provoked plenty of discussion and much deliberation along the way!

Winners were ‘What the Ecc?’ with 106 points, ‘Who are we?‘ in second place with 104 points, and in third place, ‘Threes Company’ with 98 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised £222. The local good cause selected to receive this month’s donation is ‘New Leaf for Reydon and Southwold’. This volunteer group has continued to maintain and tidy the area along Mights Bridge as well as other local areas, and the money donated from this month’s quiz will help to fund more bulbs and plants. The local community are very appreciative of those who generously give their time like this, and we will all look forward to seeing lots of daffodils in the spring!

A huge thanks as always to our loyal quizzers, for their generosity, participation and support, to hosts Sole Bay Bowls Club and raffle helpers. Thanks also to Southwold Press for providing paper for the quizzes.

The next quiz will be on Friday, 15th November, and the Christmas quiz will be on Friday, 13th December 13.

Dates for the new year are to follow. There is sometimes space for another team, so do contact me if you are interested in joining us at ahumphry@talktalk.net.

Southwold Literary Festival

Friday, 8th–Sunday, 10th November @ Southwold Arts Centre

Inspired by the success of ‘Slaughter in Southwold’, Southwold Library, Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Books launched ‘Southwold Literary Festival’ in November 2023. The 2024 Festival features an amazing mix of fiction and non-fiction authors speaking about a fascinating range of subjects.

Tickets are £6 a talk, £10 for a Friday Day Ticket, £25 for a Saturday or Sunday Day Ticket, or £60 for the whole weekend

Tickets can be booked at Southwold Library, either in person, by phone (01502 722519) or by visiting: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries; or at Southwold Arts Centre, either in person, by phone (01502 722572) or by visiting www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

Friday, 8th November

• 2pm: Carol Woolton, who is a jewellery historian, editor, author and stylist, and was Jewellery Editor at British Vogue for 20 years.
• 3.30pm: Professor Richard Fortey talks about his new book, Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind: In Pursuit of Remarkable Mushrooms.

Saturday, 9th November

• 10am: Lisa Wollett talks about her experiences and researches creating Lost to The Sea: A Journey Round the Edges of Britain and Ireland.
• 11.30am: Jane Cholmeley co-founder of the Silver Moon Women’s Bookshop, details her experiences in A Bookshop of One’s Own.
• 2pm: D J Taylor, George Orwell expert, in conversation with the author of Orwell in Southwold Ronald Binns
• 3.30pm: Samuel Burr, TV executive, talks about his hot debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.
• 5pm: Ian Collins and Richard Mabey: local biographer Collins is in conversation with nature writer Mabey.

Sunday, 10th November

• 10am: Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily, speaks about her new historical novel, The King’s Mother, about the War of the Roses.
• 11.30am: Lucy Hughes-Hallett speaks about her latest historical biography, The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham.
• 2pm: Simon Loftus, local phenomenon, in conversation with Lucy Hughes-Hallett about his latest book, Who’s There.
• 3.30pm: Rachel Hore bestselling author, on her new novel set on the Cornish coast, The Hidden Years.
• 5pm: Kate Sawyer author of The Stranding, talks about her new book, This Family.

Orwell in Southwold: A Guided Walk With Local Author Ronald Binns

Saturday, 16th November, 11am, from Southwold Library

Join Ronald Binns on a tour of George Orwell’s Southwold and see the houses where he lived and wrote.

Learn about his long association with the town and how Southwold and its people entered into his writing.

Ronald Binns is the author of Orwell in Southwold.

£5 per person. Approx. 75 minutes. Limited number.

Book your tickets at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

What on earth is Cacao? Talk with Mili Mendez, Local Cake Maker and Cacao Enthusiast

Sunday, 24th November, 2pm @ Southwold Library

Can you tell your Ocumare from your Porcelana? How about your Güasare from your Sur del Lago Hybrid? Cacao seems to be everywhere now, but how do you know what you are getting?

Learn about Venezuelan cacao and why the Sur del Lago region in Venezuela is a genetic hub for Criollo cacao varieties, not just in Venezuela but possibly worldwide.

Join Mili Mendez for a talk on all things Venezuelan cacao.

Free talk, no booking required.

Hop to it Quiz Night!

Friday, 29th November, 7pm @ Cardinal Newman Hall (Old Sorting Office)

Southwold Library is pledged to raise £650 for St Elizabeth Hospice in exchange for a Little Hare statue to decorate and keep.

Teams of 4, £3 per person.

Bring your own drinks and snacks. Raffle!

Book early to avoid disappointment, limited places. Contact Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; online: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Vindication Swim 2024 (PG) – Wednesday, 20th November, 3pm

The inspirational story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. Discover Mercedes’ struggle in overcoming both the cold waters of the English Channel and the oppressive society of 1920s England.

Swede Caroline 2024 (15) – Wednesday, 11th December, 3pm

As Caroline readies herself for the championship, the competitive giant vegetable-growing world is rocked by scandal. Her prized marrow plants are stolen and her life turns upside down, so she hires two private detectives.

Tickets are £5 including refreshments. Book a ticket at www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk; or visit the Box Office – tel: 01502 722572; or Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursdays, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and wellbeing in young people by developing their confidence, interest, and enjoyment in reading.

Dogs are non-judgemental and great listeners – they don’t interrupt or correct – so they aid confidence and concentration levels. PAT Dogs are also known to encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem and inspire young people to relax and have fun.

Come and read to Ash and enjoy his calm company.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 1st November, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday, 8th and 22nd November, 2.15–4.15pm

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Can you play Mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 14th November, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Crochet Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all abilities of crocheter. Barbara will be on hand to teach beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems. Or just bring along your latest project and crochet together.

Bring your own equipment or Barbara can supply at a price.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This autumn, we’re building: Vast Vehicles.

All donations of Lego welcome.

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club? Just ask staff.

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 28th October, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Free event, no booking required.

Baby Bounce and Tot Rock

Every Sunday and Tuesday, 10.30–11am @ Southwold Library

Instruments, clapping, jogging and action rhymes.

For babies and toddlers of all ages.

Free event, no booking required.

Realise Futures Walk-in Advice and Guidance

Every Thursday, 10am–12noon @ Southwold Library

Do you have a learning disability/autism?

Do you need some support, advice or information?

Come along to one of our walk-in advice and guidance sessions. There is no need to book an appointment. Our advisors will talk to you about the support you need.

We can provide advice, guidance and information on housing, employment, benefits, training, money, travel, safety, health, bills/letters and social.

Please contact: Anita Fiddy, Service Locality Co-ordinator (East) – tel: 07598 582955; e-mail: anita.fiddy@realisefutures.org.

Climate Change – Why Do I Need to Do Anything?

The October meeting of the Blyth Valley and Southwold Suffolk Wildlife group had a talk with a difference. The conservationist Simon Hooton gave a presentation in two halves. The first outlined the science of climate change, with many graphs and diagrams to explain the negative effects of the burning of fossil fuels over the last couple of hundred years – it made for grim reading. The global situation continues to worsen, with rising sea levels, huge changes in habitat, both man-made and natural, and extremes in temperature and weather as the Earth continues to warm.

After a welcome cup of tea, the second half brought hope. Simon suggests that we can all act individually to consume less and think carefully about how our purchases reflect the wider conservation picture. We can raise awareness in our communities through discussion with family, friends, community groups and county representatives. Novels, art, poetry, and storytelling help to raise awareness in a different way, and Simon uses these tools too. These acts may be small in themselves, but together they can make a difference. On a global scale, there are many agencies, such as the United Nations, working to find alternative ways to mitigate harmful effects, and avoid over-exploitation in all its many forms. New technologies able to capture carbon is one positive example; sustainable forms of energy another. There is an increasing awareness of the urgency required to save and improve natural habitats, and find new solutions for our needs. We were left with the reflection that although there is a great deal to do, a better more sustainable future for our planet is still possible.

It was a lively, informative, and thoughtful presentation that was also entertaining and enjoyable. It gave us all much food for thought.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 14th November, 7.30 pm, in the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP 18 6JP. Will Harvey and Alan Miller will talk about the work of the Wilder Wenhaston group, and the River Blyth Project. Admission £4, to include refreshments; under 25s free. Everyone is welcome.

Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.

Penny Mansfield