Simon Mayo – Join Simon for Afternoon Tea

Saturday, 1st February, 3pm @ Reydon Village Hall

Black Tag is the gripping new thriller from bestselling author and legendary broadcaster Simon Mayo.

When the West End Gallery is set alight, it seems like a tragic accident. But as the ashes settle, a far more sinister discovery is made: an unidentified body. Black Tag takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the hidden corridors of power and privilege.

Simon Mayo, known for his compelling storytelling and intricate plot weaving, has once again crafted a novel that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Simon will be talking about his writing and signing copies of his books.

Tickets are £6, including refreshments – available from Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519; web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries).

FoSL February: Why Not Become Our Friend?

Speak to existing Friends to find out how being a Friend of Southwold Library is free, fun and supports your library.

• Tuesday, 4th February
• Wednesday, 12th February
• Thursday, 20th February
• Friday, 28th February

10am–12noon Friends of Southwold Library Registered Charity No. 1163525.

Face-to-Face Legal Matters Advice and Information: I’m Nervous About a Power of Attorney – What are the Safeguards?

Monday, 10th February, 10.30am @ Southwold Library

Local solicitor Stuart Johnson, fully accredited with Solicitors for the Elderly, will advise on Power of Attorney safeguards.

Free talk, no need to book.

Know Another Drop In – Drink Awareness Campaign

Tuesday, 11th February, drop in 2–4pm

Do you know how much you drink? Join us for our Know Another drop-in session at Southwold Library and chat with others in a welcoming and friendly environment!

Our non-judgemental and specially trained staff will be offering advice and resources on how to better understand alcohol and cut down on drinking. You can also take our short questionnaire to learn about your drinking habits and show you what your alcohol intake could mean for you.

Know Another is our drink-awareness campaign to help you understand your alcohol intake and get advice to help cut down. Our libraries offer regular drop-in groups for you to chat with trained staff and find resources, and we host free mocktail events every few months at different libraries to socialise with others and try new non-alcoholic drinks.

Elly Griffiths

Friday, 14th February, 2pm @ Southwold Arts Centre

Elly Griffiths is the author of the best-selling Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Stephens and Mephisto books. In 2016, she was awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library for her body of work.

Elly will be talking about her writing, including her new book The Frozen People, and signing copies of the book.

Tickets are £6 – available from Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519; web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries).

Emergency Services and Everyday Heroes Crafts

Tuesday, 18th February, 11am and 2pm @ Southwold Library

Free crafts – no need to book

Make a wide variety of crafts celebrating everyday heroes including their vehicles, hats and dogs.

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Freud’s Last Session (2024) 12A – Wednesday, 19th February, 3pm

3rd September 1939. The world is on the brink. A monumental session with two of the greatest minds of the twentieth century over the future of mankind and the existence of God. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Goode.

The Critic (2023) 15 – Wednesday, 26th March, 3pm

A powerful London theatre critic lures a struggling actress into a blackmail scheme that has deadly consequences. Starring Ian McKellen and Gemma Arteton.

Conclave (2024) 12A – Wednesday, 23rd April, 3pm

Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church. Starring  Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow.

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

Terrific Train Fun! Trainmaster Suffolk

Thursday, 20th February, 10.30am and 11.45am @ Reydon Sports and Community Centre

Miles of track and trains to play with plus ride on train and a train rollercoaster!

£4 per child for 1 hour’s play!

Limited spaces. Book your place today! Tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk; web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries.

Hop to It Quiz Night!

Saturday, 22nd February, 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; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk).

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursday, 13th February, 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.

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.

Hop-to-It Hare Fund

Southwold Library is pledged to raise £650 for St Elizabeth Hospice (as part of their Hop-to-It Statue Trail 2025) in exchange for a Little Hare statue to decorate and keep.

We have a variety of handmade hare crafts, hare merchandise and hare games to help us raise the funds, so do pop in and see how you can support us and St Elizabeth Hospice.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 7th February, 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, 14th and 28th February, 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, 13th February, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

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 winter, we’re building: Humongous Houses.

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, 27th February, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: If We Were Villains by M L Rio.

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).

The Birds of North Carolina

On a bitterly cold January evening, the Southwold and Blyth Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust gathered to hear Simon Thompson’s illustrated talk on the birds of North Carolina. Originally from Suffolk, and now returned here, Simon lived for 30 years in North Carolina, observing the wildlife, travelling extensively and running birding tours around the world, which he continues to do. This part of America is not often on the British tourist trail and it was fascinating to learn more about it. North Carolina has three geographical areas: the Mountains, the Piedmont Plateau, and the Coastal Plain, and each area is rich in birdlife. The forested mountains are home to many species whose general names we recognise – warbler, robin, waxwing, siskin – but whose bright colours and songs are completely different. Many are migrant species from the tropics. The Northern Saw-whet Owl was a particular favourite. The lower Piedmont, with more open farmland and longleaf pines, has the grassland species and wildfowl – sparrows, woodpeckers, teal – but again with bright colourations. The Coastal Plain has huge marshlands and lakes, as well as sandy shorelines and barrier islands. The area attracts a wide variety of water fowl, such as rails, oystercatchers and plovers, and vast numbers of snow geese and other migrant seabirds. Offshore there are storm petrels and shearwaters.

It was a relaxed and enjoyable evening, and although it ended with a look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September last year, we were left with the positive message that nature will heal itself over time.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 13th February, at 7.30pm. Anne Westover will talk about a Life Working in Landscape, with a passion for trees and hedgerows. Please note that this will be held at  Reydon Village Hall, Lowestoft Road, Reydon IP19 9EQ. Entrance is £4, which includes refreshment. Under 25s free. All are welcome.

Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.

Penny Mansfield

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Tim Passmore is seeking the views on his new Police and Crime Plan.

The plan sets the direction of policing in Suffolk for 2025–29.  Please go to SUFFOLK POLICE & CRIME PLAN 2025/29 to access the survey which will close at 9am on Monday, 20th January 2025.

The PCC is also seeking your thoughts on his proposal for the policing budget and the amount of council tax you pay towards policing in the next financial year. He is proposing an increase of 5.1% which is the equivalent of £14 a year for a Band D property. Please go to the survey to make your views known: Council Tax Precept Survey 2025–26.  This survey closes at 9am on Thursday, 30th January.

Anyone in Suffolk can receive a 50% discount off their purchase of 200mm or 370mm wide insulation rolls (up to £200) with free delivery, from High Loft, the UK’s leading eco loft insulation brand. 

Go to www.bit.ly/suffolkloft and fill in the short form to receive your personalised link to order, or call High Loft’s insulation experts on 01706 248203. The offer is open to anyone in Suffolk and will close once the allocated funding has been spent.

According to The Energy Saving Trust, an uninsulated home loses a quarter of its heat through its roof. For the second year in a row, help to afford eco-friendly loft insulation is now available.

The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership (Suffolk County Council, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council and West Suffolk Council) has teamed up with High Loft to help Suffolk residents make their homes warmer and save money on their energy bills.  

High Loft also offers Klarna as a payment option, allowing you to spread the cost of your insulation purchase.

To find out more visit www.greensuffolk.org/at-home/funding.

Adnams has partnered with Bio Capital to rebuild the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility in Reydon and invites you to our second local consultation. To be held at Reydon Village Hall, located on Lowestoft Road (by the junction at Covert Road – IP18 6RF).

Monday, 27th January

6.30–8.30pm

Presentation to start 7pm, with a Q&A session following. First 30 minutes is a drop-in session.

Tuesday, 28th January

4–6pm and 7–8.30pm

Drop-in session 4–6pm, followed by a second session starting with a presentation at 7pm, and followed by a Q&A session.

More information can be found in the leaflet being distributed locally, and available as a pdf here.

Officer urges Suffolk residents to be aware of fraudulent calls

A Suffolk police officer is urging Suffolk residents to be cautious and aware of fraudulent calls reporting suspicious activity on their bank accounts.

Between 2 and 4 January, Suffolk Constabulary received at least two reports of residents in the county receiving calls, supposedly from a Suffolk police officer, reporting fraudulent activity on their bank accounts.

The victims were given officers’ names and collar numbers and are asked to contact police to verify these details.

Detective Sergeant Jamie Adams, of Suffolk Constabulary’s Fraud Assessment Unit said: ‘Police would never call you and ask you to withdraw money to be collected by an officer nor would they ask you to transfer money into a different bank account.

‘If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of the call please contact Suffolk police to verify the details of the officer provided in the call.

‘If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, friends or family, I would ask you to inform them of this guidance and to check with someone they trust if contacted in a similar manner.’

For more details about checking police officers’ identities, please visit: www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/how-to-check-an-officers-identity/

If an officer needs to speak to you on the phone, they’ll identify themselves clearly.

A police officer should never:

• ask you for your bank details or PIN
• ask you to transfer funds to another account
• ask you to hand over cash or bank cards to a courier
• ask you to pay a fine or a fee to them or a third party over the phone or online
• ask you for access to your computer, passwords or log on details over the phone or online
• ask you to register personal details in an attachment or website online
• ask you to ‘assist’ in an investigation by doing any of the above
• state that you are committing a crime by not complying
• communicate in an abusive, threatening or coercive manner.

Crime prevention advice can be found here.

The Reydon Community Quiz (Christmas edition) took place on 13th December and was a well-attended and lively evening. Quizmaster for the evening was Brad, with an entertaining mixture of Christmas and other rounds. Many thanks to him!

Winners were ‘What! No Broadside?’ with 109 points; ‘Nirvana’ and ‘Treacle Tarts’ joint second, both with 98 points; and in joint third, ‘What the Ecc’ and ‘If Onlys’, both with 96 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised a generous £350. It being that certain time of year, the local good cause selected to receive this month’s donation was Reydon Christmas Lights. The Committee works so hard all year round, and the village Christmas trees provide much cheer for us all, so we send our thanks and good wishes to all involved.

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

The next quiz will be Jim’s New Year Quiz (in lieu of Jim’s Christmas Quiz!) to be held on Friday, 17th January.

Further dates for the new year are as follows. . .

• Friday, 21st February.

• Friday, 21st March.

• Friday, 18th April (TBC as it is Good Friday).

If there is enough demand, there will be one on 16th May.

There is sometimes space for another team, so do contact me if you are interested in joining us on ahumphry@talktalk.net.

Friday, 24th January and 21st February, 9am–1pm @ Reydon Village Hall

Tea/coffee and toast (pastries when available) 9–11am.

Soup and bread 11am–1pm (plus takeaway soup – bring your own container).

Reydon Village Hall Management Committee in conjunction with Reydon and Southwold Community Fridge and Pantry.

Friday, 28th February, 7–10pm @ Reydon Village Hall

With the Once Bittern Ceilidh Band.

£15 per person, including bowl of chilli and rice (meat and vegetarian options).

BYO alcohol.  Soft drinks and snacks available.

Book your tickets in advance with Charlotte (tel: 07715 388916; e-mail: frogclock@hotmail.com) or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/reydonvillagehall.

All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate and refit the Hall.

Friday, 7th February, 7pm @ Reydon Village Hall

£5 per person.

Teams of up to six.

Bring your own snacks and drink.

Raffle!

Soft drinks, sweets and crisps available to buy.

Book your tickets with Charlotte at Southwold Library (tel: 07715 388916; e-mail: frogclock@hotmail.com).

All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate and refit the Hall.