The latest, Winter edition of The Reydon Robin, the free quarterly magazine devoted to all things Reydon has just come out today, 7th December, and will be delivered over the next few days to all households in Reydon by a team of dedicated volunteers. It is also available to read online here.

The next, Spring edition of The Robin will be out on 28th March 2024, with a copy deadline of 15th March. If you would like to contribute to this, please contact reydon.robin@gmail.com

An initiative by Reydon Parish Council, the Sole Bay Care Fund and Latitude Volunteers

Reydon Parish Council has teamed up with the Sole Bay Care Fund and the Latitude Volunteers to launch a pilot project providing free school lunches for all children at Reydon and Southwold Primary Schools.

In recognition of the impact of the cost-of-living crises, the project will ensure children have access to a nutritious and balanced hot meal during the school day to support both physical and academic development. 

Councillor Pam Cyprien, Chair of Reydon Parish Council, said: “Following the success of our Community Pantry, we are delighted to be able to extend support to the children in our community through the Feed The Children intiative.  Both schemes are designed to benefit everyone, de-stigmatising those in need, and supporting everyone through these difficult times. No child should go without a nutritious meal, we want to thank all the volunteers who have got this project off the ground, and we look forward to making a positive difference to our community.”

Mrs Katy Last, Academy Head, Southwold Primary School, added: “Southwold Primary School is benefitting every day from this wonderful project, and with 95% of our pupils now having school meals each day, we know that the families are benefitting too. Financial pressure is always a concern and can be very stressful, particularly at this time of year and anything done to ease this makes a difference. A number of our school staff were Latitude volunteers, so directly helped fundraise for this brilliant project, and seeing the results of their efforts, and of all the volunteers and fundraisers, all those months ago is amazing.”

Dr Cathy Ryan MBE, Sole Bay Care Fund, commented: “The Sole Bay Care fund is delighted to be able to facilitate the donations for this project and want to say thank you to the other community groups, charitable trusts and individuals that have really got behind it. Knowing all children in our nursery and primary schools have access to a hot meal during the school day, through the winter months is an amazing achievement.”

The future of the project is reliant on continuous fundraising. You can donate to the project through www.solebaycarefund.uk or via bacs to Sole Bay Care Fund.  Sort Code 20-44-11.  Account Number 03084086.

For more information, please contact Lena O’Shea on lenaoshea@gmail.com or 07971910843.

The second round of the Reydon Community Quiz took place on 17th November.

Nick Humphry was quiz master for the evening, and, among other things, many of us found out that we knew a lot about old sitcoms and very little about flags of the world!

In third place were ‘Dun Thinkin’ with 97 points, in second place ‘Load of Bowls’ with 104 points, and, in a first for the Community Quiz, no fewer than four teams shared first place with 113 points!  The tie break was won by the ‘If Onlys’, who took home the trophy (they guessed exactly the height of the letters that stand above Hollywood), leaving ‘Who Are We?’, ‘What the Eck’, and ‘What! No Broadside’ so near and yet so far also on 113 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised £286. This will be donated to the Sole Bay Care Fund, which does such wonderful and supportive work for so many members of our local community, with our thanks and appreciation.

Huge thanks to all who support our Community Quiz, it is truly appreciated.

The next quiz will be the Christmas Quizon Friday, 15th December. . . It promises to be an evening of festive merriment!

Dates for the new year are 12th January, 16th February, 15th March, 19th April and 17th May (all on the third Friday of the month, with the exception of January, which is on the second Friday).

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

December 1st, 2nd and 3rd; open 10am–5pm on Friday and Saturday, and after our service on Sunday, 11.30am–5pm.

There will be a display of over 80 crib sets of many different styles and sizes from all over the world. There is also an ‘Angel Quest’ for children, Christmas craft and refreshments. Entry is free, but there will be a collection to be shared by Access Community Trust and Hope and Aid Direct.

The Reydon Church section on this website has more about St Margaret’s as well as contact details.

Saturday, 16th December @Reydon Village Hall

4- to 8-year-olds: 2–3.45pm.

9- to 14-year-olds: 4–6pm.

£3 per child (including refreshments).

All money raised will go to the Blyth Valley Rotary’s Sightbox Appeal (www.blythvalleyrotary.co.uk).

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

Southwold Library Christmas Tree Festival

Throughout December during opening hours

Guess the Christmas food! Free! Donations welcome.

Big thanks to all the local groups, clubs and businesses who have decorated our trees.

Visit Santa @ Southwold Library

Saturday, 9th and 16th December, 10am–12pm and 2–4pm

£4.50 per child.

Reindeer crafts, meet and Photo with Santa plus gift.

‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Simon Callow on the Big Screen

Sunday, 17th December, 3pm @ Southwold Arts Centre

PG 90 minutes.

Tickets £5 including refreshments.

Based on Charles Dickens’s own performance adaptation, Simon Callow and director Tom Cairns have created a one-man theatrical extravaganza of festive storytelling that is both heart-warming and deeply moving.

Following critically acclaimed, sold-out theatre seasons in 2011, 2012 and again in 2016, Simon Callow (‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, ‘Shakespeare in Love’) returns to wow audiences with this tour-de-force performance, re-imagined especially for cinema.

A Christmas must see!

Booking via Southwold Arts Centre – tel: 01502 722572; online: www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

‘Lab in a Library’ – snow globes and other Christmas science experiments with Kinetics Science Adventures – SADLY THIS HAS HAD TO BE CANCELLED DUE TO SICKNESS

Friday, 22nd December, 11am and 1.30pm @ Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

£2 per child.

Open to children 5+. Find out about the science behind the festive-favourite snow globes and make your own to take home. Plus other Christmas-themed science experiments.

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

Festive Dragon Crafts

Thursday, 21st December, 11am and 2pm @ Southwold Library

Free crafts – no need to book. Make a wide variety of festive-themed dragon items.

Bedtime Stories @ Southwold Library

Tuesdays in December and January, 5.30pm

Free drop in. All welcome for some bedtime stories – nightwear optional.

Southwold Library Reading Groups Christmas Do

Wednesday, 13th December, 6.30pm

Are you in a reading group? All reading-group members welcome to this annual Christmas get together. A chance to compare notes, discuss group favourites (and the ones you hated) and get recommendations for the new year.

Tea, coffee and squash provided, but please bring nibbles and any other drinks to add to the evening’s offerings

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

• Oppenheimer (2023) 15 (historical drama), Wednesday, 6th December, 3pm.

Tickets £5 including refreshment.

Book a ticket at www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk or visit the box office – tel : 01502 722572;

Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP.

Be kind to a kid this Christmas! With Suffolk Libraries and BBC Radio Suffolk

Spread a little festive fun by donating new toys for 0 to 7-year-olds at your local library and we’ll get them to children who need them. Take what you need, give what you can at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/be-kind.

Southwold Library Pigs in Blankets Quiz Sheet

Each of the clues has an answer with pig (or synonym) in it. To help further, next to the clue are the initials of the answer; for example: A popular pet GP? Answer = Guinea Pig.

£1 – Prize £10 book token.

Available from Southwold Library and online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibrariesActivity.

Kids, come and read to Ash the PAT Dog

Wednesdays, 4pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs Scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and well-being 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 for up to 15 minutes at a time plus enjoy a range of dog-themed games, jigsaws, and crafts while you wait. Free event, no booking required.

Activity Afternoons @Southwold Library

Weekdays from 2.15pm

Crochet every Wednesday; Scrabble third Thursday; Poetry first Friday; Mah-Jong second and fourth Friday; Ongoing jigsaw all other afternoons. Free hot drinks. Sponsored by East of England Co-op in association with East Suffolk Council.

Realise Futures Walk-in Advice And Guidance

Every Thursday, 10am–12 noon @ 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.

Chess Club

Every Friday, from 4.30pm @ Southwold Library

Free event, no booking required.

Free play every week for kids 7+ and adults. Beginners’ teaching and assistance from Phil weeks two and four.

Mah-Jong Group

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

Second and fourth Friday of the month.

£1 per person.

Can you play Mah-Jong? Do you want to learn? Come along and join the group at Southwold Library.

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.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 1st December, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

Free event, no booking required.

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.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 21st December, 2.15pm

Third Thursday of every month.

Free event, no booking required.

All equipment supplied. Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Free event, no booking required.

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages. This winter, we’re building: Humongous Houses. All donations of Lego welcome.

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

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 4th January, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

Free event, no booking required.

This month, we are reading: Warlight by Michael Ondaatje. Pick up a book at Southwold Library.

Tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Baby Bounce and Tot Rock

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

Free event, no booking required.

For babies and toddlers of all ages. Instruments, clapping, jogging and action rhymes.

Throughout the autumn and winter, the Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group organise monthly meetings where they invite guest speakers to present on various topics of interest. Here, Penny Mansfield reports on their November meeting.

The Broads and its wildlife

In November, the Blyth Valley and Southwold branch of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust welcomed Tony Brown to talk about the many facets of Broadland wildlife. Tony is a naturalist and keen photographer, and we were treated to a fascinating presentation of the rich variety of Broadland flora and fauna. Some species have been brought back from dangerously low numbers to become part of our regular sightings, such as otters, bitterns, marsh harriers and avocets. We looked at rare sightings of black terns, and an American wood duck. We could see details of the unusually large feet of moorhens, the stunning display of the ‘eyes’ of the emperor moth, and the intricately detailed feathers of the barn owl, complete with its prey, a wood mouse. Tony had many wonderful anecdotes to tell, but the prize goes to the stowaway stoat, which refused to leave his dinghy until the boat was turned upside down on the shore.

We all enjoyed seeing the beauty and richness of the wetlands that are part of our local area, and which we can visit now with a clearer eye of what to look out for.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 11th, 7.30pm at the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road IP18 6JP. Hannah Nutt will talk about the work of the World Land Trust. Admission is £4 to include refreshments, under 25s free. There is no need to book: just come along, all are welcome.

Penny Mansfield. Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.