March news & events from Southwold Library

Author Talk with Bestselling Author Simon Scarrow

Wednesday, 19th March, 6.30pm @ Reydon Village Hall

Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author with several million copies of his books sold worldwide. After a childhood spent travelling the world, he pursued his great love of history as a teacher, before becoming a full-time writer. His books – which have sold six million copies – include two earlier Berlin thrillers featuring CI Schenke: Blackout, which was a Richard and Judy Book Club Pick and a Sunday Times bestseller; and Dead of Night, which was a top-ten bestseller.

Simon is also the author of a quartet of novels about the lives of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte: Young Bloods, The Generals, Fire and Sword, and The Fields of Death; a novel about the 1565 Siege of Malta, Sword & Scimitar; Hearts of Stone, set in Greece during the Second World War; and Playing with Death, a contemporary thriller written with Lee Francis. He also wrote the novels Arena and Invader with T J Andrews.

Simon will be talking about his writing and his new book, A Death in Berlin, featuring CI Horst Schenke fighting crime against the backdrop of wartime Berlin.

Tickets: £6 with free glass of wine/juice – available from Southwold Library (tel: 01502 722519; web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries).

Suffolk Libraries Day: Southwold Library Treasure Hunt

Saturday, 22nd March, 10am–1pm, 2–5pm

Our fun treasure hunt leads you on a circular walk around Southwold.

Solve the clues to uncover our hidden message.

£3 per hunt. First Prize: Adnams vouchers!

Completed hunts to be returned to Southwold Library by 5pm on Saturday, 22nd March.

Fun for all ages – a lolly for every child that finishes.

Buy from Southwold Library or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries.

Suffolk Libraries Day: Cake Stall

Saturday, 22nd March, 10am–1pm, 2–5pm @ Southwold Library

Wide range of homemade cakes and biscuits.

Suffolk Libraries Day: Quiz Night

Saturday, 22nd March, 7pm @ Cardinal Newman Hall (Old Sorting Office)

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).

Coding Club Volunteer Wanted @ Southwold Library

Could you help teach children how to code?

Equipment provided (we have laptops and BBC micro:bits) and coding sessions will fit around your availability. If you know about coding, then please get in touch (tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: charlotte.clark@suffolklibraries.co.uk).

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

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, visit the box office at Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP or tel: 01502 722572.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursday, 13th March, 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 March, 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 March, 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 March, 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 spring, we’re building: Wonderful Wildlife.

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 March, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: The Details by Ia Genberg.

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).