October news & events from Southwold Library

Home Educators Group

Wednesdays, 10–11am @ Southwold Library

Are you educating your child(ren) at home?

Come and meet with like-minded adults and children and shape this new group.

 

The Aliens Have Landed! Free Workshops for Kids

Sunday, 11th October, 11am and 1.30pm @ Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

This is the latest workshop from the “Lab in a Library” team and they need your help to test them out.

The session will include games, challenges, potions and science. Imagine hands-on science, puzzles and a children’s escape room all in one.

You will need to help the aliens to complete some tasks so that they are able to take their spaceship home. You will need to be quick or the spaceship will leave without all of the aliens!!

Open to children ages 6–9.

Limited spaces. Book your place today!

Southwold Library:

• Tel: 01502 442817.
• E-mail: library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.
• Online: ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

 

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

Saturday, 17th October, 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: ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

 

Harry Potter Activity Day  

Sunday, 25th October, 2–3pm @ Southwold Library

Harry Potter crafts, games, sorting hat and fancy-dress competition!

Free event – no need to book.

 

Free Spider Crafts

Tuesday, 27th October, 11am and 2pm @ Southwold Library

Make a disco spider, jumping spiders, spider decorations, weave a web and more!

Free crafts – no need to book.

Crafts supplied by the Friends of Southwold Library.

 

Autumn Half-term Pottery Painting with Gallery Thea and Southwold Library

Wednesday, 28th October, 11am and 2pm @ Reydon Sports and Community Centre

£15 per painter.

Hanging decorations, mugs, tiles and trinket boxes.

Limited spaces available, book now to avoid disappointment.

• Tel: 01502 722519.
• E-mail: library@suffolk.gov.uk.
• Online: ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

 

Balloon Modelling with Mr Bean Entertainments

Thursday, 29th October, 11am and 2pm @ Reydon Sports and Community Centre

Skills for all ages.

Learn how make a variety of balloon models including mice, dogs, swords and more!

£2 per child. Limited spaces. Book your place today!

• Tel: 01502 722519.
• E-mail: library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.
• Online: ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary.

 

Meet the Romantics – From the Page to the Stage

Friday, 30th October, 10–11am @ Southwold Library

A context workshop suitable for GCSE- and A-level Students to tie in with 1816, a musical that brings the Romantic writers to life.

What happens when the writers you study in the classroom become real people? This immersive workshop brings the world of the Romantics to life, connecting the poetry and prose studied by GCSE- and A-level students with the extraordinary lives, personalities and relationships of the writers behind them. Designed for students studying Frankenstein, Byron, Shelley and Romantic poetry.

A combined under-18s ticket for the workshop and the musical is just £14 – 1816 is performed on Friday, 30th October at 7.30pm at Southwold Arts Centre. Book now:

• Tel: 01502 722572
• Online: https://southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

 

Beginners’ Coding Club @ Southwold Library

Suits those aged 7–11.

Learn to code with Scratch.

An after-school group or weekend group will start in October.

To register an interest (and a preference as to a day/time), contact:

• E-mail: charlotte.clark@suffolk.gov.uk.
• Tel: 01502 442817.

 

Southwold Literary Festival

Friday, 13th–Sunday, 15th November @ Southwold Arts Centre

Booking opens 1st September.

Inspired by the success of Slaughter in Southwold, Southwold Library, Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Books launched the Southwold Literary Festival in November 2023. The 2026 Festival features an amazing mix of fiction and non-fiction authors speaking about a fascinating range of subjects.

Tickets are £7 a talk, £18 Friday Day Ticket, £30 Saturday or Sunday Day Ticket, £78 for the whole weekend. Tickets can be booked at Southwold Library, either in person, by phone 01502 442817 or by visiting www.ticketsource.co.uk/southwoldlibrary or at Southwold Arts Centre, either in person, by phone 01502 722572 or by visiting www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

Friday, 13th November

• 2pm: Felicity Goodall – The remarkable life and legacy of Suffolk writer and naturalist Mea Allan.
• 3.30pm: Erika Clegg – Author of Southwold 365, celebrating Southwold gems.
• 5.30pm: Kevin Crossley-Holland – Celebrated poet inspired by Britain’s landscapes, myths and folklore.

Saturday, 14th November

• 10am: Robert Ashton in conversation with Matt Gaw – Storyteller of vanished rural traditions meets the award-winning nature writer.
• 11.30am: Robert Colls in conversation with Ronald Binns ­– George Orwell: Life and Legacy.
• 2pm: Alexander Ballinger – Phyllis Dalton: A Career in Costume. From Lawrence of Arabia to The Princess Bride.
• 3.30pm: James Aldred and Alistair Carr – Emmy-winning natural history cameraman Aldred with explorer and artist Carr.
• 5pm: Stewart White – BBC Look East Legend’s biography, See You at 6.30.

Sunday, 15th November

• 10am: Geraldine Roberts – The Rebel and the Peacemaker: The Incredible True Story of Mary and Charles Bagot.
• 11.30am: Piers Blofeld – Master of Lies: How Anthony Blunt’s Treachery Changed Our World.
• 2pm: Lucy Hughes-Hallett – Cleopatra: Histories, Dreams and Distortions.
• 3.30pm: Scarlett Thomas – Award-winning fiction writer of The Sleepwalkers and The End of Mr. Y.
• 5pm: Louis de Bernieres – Smelling of Rooks: Nine Years in the Norfolk Alps.

 

Come and Read to Amber! Meet Amber the Canine Concern Therapy Dog

Wednesday, 7th October, drop in 3.30–4.30pm @ Southwold Library

Amber loves being read to by young readers.

First Wednesday of the month. All children welcome!

 

Rummikub Klub

Thursday, 1st and 15th October, 2.15pm @ Southwold Library

Usually the first and third Thursday.

Refreshments available.

 

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 8th and 22nd October, 2.15pm

Second and fourth Thursdays of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in The Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

 

Blyth Poets – “The isle is full of voices”

Friday, 2nd October, 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, 9th and 23rd October, 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.

 

Chess Club

Friday, 2nd and 16th October, 4.30pm @ Southwold Library

Free play every week for kids 7+ and adults.

Beginners’ teaching and assistance.

Interested in other board/strategy games? Let us know and we can expand the group.

Contact Southwold Library:

• Tel: 01502 442817
• E-mail: southwold.library@suffolk.gov.uk.

 

Crochet and Craft Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all crafters as well as those who crochet (to any ability). Barbara will be on hand to teach crochet beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems, should you want to. Or just bring along your latest craft project and work on them together.

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

Hot drinks supplied.

 

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, 29th October, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library.

Free event, no booking required.

Contact:

• Tel: 01502 722519
• E-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

 

Citizens Advice East Suffolk

Last Friday of every month, 10am–12noon drop in @ Southwold Library

Whatever the problem, we are here for free, confidential and impartial advice.

Debt and money; housing; benefits; consumer; family; work; immigration; and health.

Face-to-face drop in: Southwold Library, Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LD

• Tel: 0808 278 7866.
• E-mail: via https://citizensadviceeastsuffolk.org.uk/.

 

Have You Been Affected by Crime? Support from Catch 22/Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care

Friday mornings @ Southwold Library

We provide free and confidential support for young people and adults who are victims and witnesses of crime. Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care provides: Practical support; someone to talk to; signposting to relevant agencies; and support through the justice system.

Meet the team and learn more about how we can help Friday mornings at Southwold Library, Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LD.

Contact:

• Tel: 0300 303 3706
• Online: https://nsvictimcare.org/.

 

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.

 

Weigh your baby @ Southwold Library!

• Tuesday–Friday: 10am–1pm and 2–6pm.
• Saturday: 9.30am–1pm and 2–5pm.
• Sunday: 11am–4pm.

No booking required.

 

Friends of Southwold Library 100 Club

Would you like to turn your £1 in £25 and support your Library?

For just £1 a month, you could win £25 at our monthly draw.

Southwold Library 100 Club is a fundraising club and money raised will be used to support the facilities and services supplied by the Library

***  More members = More prizes  ***

Ask to join at Southwold Library today!

 

Southwold Library Jigsaw Swap Shop

Come and help yourself to a jigsaw at Southwold Library completely free! You can take one and return it, take one and return a different one or just take one (we have plenty).

Come and check out what we have available.