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WINSTON, THE SINGING FARMER – 2 July 2010

Valerie, Trevor and Mary

Winston, from Norfolk, delighted a capacity audience at Brandeston with a lively mix of songs and humour delivered in his cheerful and friendly style, accompanying himself on guitar. He also showed great skill playing a variety of harmonicas, including a clever impression of a train journey from start to finish.

The dedicated team from the Driving for the Disabled Group provided, as always, first-class refreshments which were greatly appreciated by all.

The new trailer, the cost of which was to be covered by our event, was brought for all to see; it has been named the Brandeston Trailer. We were delighted to hand over a grand total of £796, which met the cost with some to spare.

Our grateful thanks go to all who supported our event so generously in so many ways. Without their help an event like this would be impossible.

Brandeston Fete - 19 June 2010

Imagine a balmy, midsummer’s afternoon on the Queen’s Head lawns. The marquees are in place; the bunting just rustling gently; the stalls tastefully set up. Already the BBQ coals are alight, Pimms in people’s hands and we’re ready for another Brandeston fete.

Well, that image was rudely disrupted by heavy torrential downpours and winds of over 20 mph that had the eager crowds of visitors scuttling towards the precarious shelter of billowing tents or the bar in the Queen’s Head. The bottles on the bottle stall were doing their domino impression, scarves and handbags were rescued from the perimeter ditch and cakes and plants covered with protective plastic sheeting.

Then, suddenly, we are away! The Brandeston village fete at the Queen’s Head is in full swing.

Alan’s traditional fete morning rain dance has worked ... intermittently. Out comes the sun and the smiles and the selling begins. David Risk, celebrating 50 years of village service as a parish councillor, opens the proceedings and his reference to the five cornerstones of traditional village life strikes a chord. We have lost our shop but the pub, village hall, church and school have all pulled together to organise an event which displays the best side of village life – community spirit. Alan at the pub is supported not only by his wonderful staff but by his parents, Andrew and Sandra, and other members of his family and their friends. They lend a willing hand to prepare the pub’s grounds from Thursday and are still there helping with the final clear-up on Monday. Alan and Robin, our priest-in-charge, did an inspired job-swap with Robin pulling pints at the Beer Festival bar and serving burgers, while Alan talked about belonging to a village at the Sunday service at All Saints.

We say this every year but it is at the fete where everyone comes together that we experience this sense of community at its best.

Eileen and Peter Arbon, in their 80s now, worked tirelessly on the draw and bowling respectively, and at the other end of the age spectrum, the young children in the village did their bit by thinking up even more ingenious games to raise money.

After a gap of possibly 30 years, the “lads” of Brandeston took on Kettleburgh and guests for a spot of friendly village rivalry in a Tug-of-War. It was such a laugh that no one minded who actually won .... honestly! This event was followed by the unexpected arrival of Dr Daniel Poulter, our new MP, who was escorted around the stalls by David Risk for an informal chat.

As the afternoon drew on, stallholders (too numerous to mention by name) refined their selling techniques in order to shift the contributions so generously donated. We must especially applaud those whose hard work behind the scenes contributes so much  - those who constructed the games and signs, organised the publicity, sold raffle tickets, loaned the tents, put up the marquees (and took them down), shifted chairs, straw bales, plants, and books, and made those journeys to the charity shops and the dump with the unsold goods when the rest of us (using the standard World Cup cliché) thought it was all over.

Paul Baker then counted the money and came up with the final figure – an amazing £4900.67. Who would have thought it was possible on a shiveringly cold and wet day in June. So, until we start planning for Brandeston Fete 2011, is the 2010 fete actually over? ....... It is now.

More photos from the fete.

Fete 2010 - The Tug-of-War

Brandeston’s first Tug-of-War in over 30 years resulted in a stunning win for the home team. A large crowd moved from the fete’s tented area to the other lawn at the Queen’s Head to watch Brandeston pull Kettleburgh and guests over to win 2-1.

The first end was over quickly when Brandeston, pulling downhill from the bus stop end, pulled Kettleburgh into the bushes to win fairly easily. The second end was a completely different story. Kettleburgh were pulling downhill and gave everything. The heave just went on and on and on with grimacing lads digging their heels in before sliding, their noisy grunts competing with the cheering crowd.

Tim Bater was pulling at No 1 for Brandeston against Martin Churchill at No 1 for Kettleburgh. Every inch was fought over with Tim doing a balancing act to avoid his leading foot crossing the line. His acrobatics worked as Brandeston managed to gain a few inches. Kettleburgh resynchronised and Brandeston were being pulled forward again and once more Tim was doing everything he could to avoid going over. With the rope moving alarmingly under the tension, Kettleburgh heaved once again and this time Brandeston, with no strength left, were pulled over.

The third leg then had to be delayed as everyone was exhausted!

Kettleburgh won the toss at the start of the deciding leg and unsurprisingly chose the bus stop end to pull Brandeston down hill.

For some unknown reason, someone on the Brandeston team took control and started calling the heaves. Where did this level of organisation suddenly come from? Who was that leader? Why wasn’t he there on the second leg?

Whatever the reason, the synchronised heaving was too strong for Kettleburgh and they were pulled uphill towards the Queen end giving Brandeston a famous victory.

After warming up on beer from the Beer Festival, both teams, who hadn’t done so much pulling since their teens, started their cool down ..... on yet more beer from the festival.

Bruises, scrapes, stiffness, aches and pains not withstanding, the Tug-of-War will be back next year.

More photos from the Tug-of-War.

Neil Innes - 20 February 2010

A People’s Guide to World Domination

Pat Morgan

It is thanks to Fred Mugleston’s friendship with Neil Innes that Brandeston Village Hall became the first venue of Neil’s UK and US tour with his one-man show “A People’s Guide to World Domination”. His involvement over the years with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, The Ruttles and more recently Spamalot ensured a keen fan base in Suffolk and it didn’t seem long before all tickets had sold out and the waiting list for returns started growing.

From the moment he made his appearance on the stage to an excited and enthusiastic audience, it wasn’t only Neil’s jacket that dazzled. He showed an appreciative crowd what a talented song-smith and musician he is moving from song to song with seemingly effortless ease. He ranged from the dark philosophical and reflective to the comic and light-hearted, manipulating the audience’s emotional response as he sang. In one of his songs, the juxtapositioning of a late fifties style doo-wap, doo-wap sample being played on the keyboard and a blues rhythm, coupled with comic lyrics, was quite surreal.

His musicality is impressive to watch as he showed his expertise on so many different instruments. It is no mean feat to perform such a variety of songs whilst humorously providing a theme to link each one.

The first half of the show flew past, the audience then enjoying a selection of canapés with a glass of wine before returning to their seats for another hour of original material delivered with such flair and wit.

Neil invited his audience to join in the chorus of his songs, encouraging them to lose their inhibitions. The foot stamping and the clapping (where we had to have a lesson to be told that there were only two beats and we were to clap on the off beat  making it sound more in time with the music and less like applause) led to much laughter. A moment when some sustained low notes on the keyboard caused the noise limiter to cut the power to the amplifiers could have thrown a lesser performer. Not Neil though who with good grace spontaneously improvised, virtually making the blip a part of his show.

No one wanted the evening to end and Neil was persuaded to give two encores. We all had to go home sometime and everyone agreed that it was a magical evening when some real showbiz came to Brandeston.

More photos from the show.

http://www.neilinnes.org/

Main Photo: Glenn Claff Photos

Other Photos: MP&D

Art and Photography Exhibition - 5 to 7 February 2010

Rachel Chesman and Sophia Rogers

The Art and Photography exhibition that we held at Brandeston village hall was a great success. There were thirteen exhibitors and one of the main comments in our visitors book was the fact that the work was so diverse - this was one of our main aims. We donated over £65 to the Church, All Saints, Brandeston and would like to thank all of our supporters.

Our next exhibition is at The Pond Gallery Snape, 15th - 21st April 2010. Please see our website - www.suffolkexhibitions.co.uk for further information.

We hope to bring our exhibition again to Brandeston later in the year.

The December 2009 Christmas Lunch

Read Nick Hayward’s report here.

Hoofers Demise - December 2009

Nick Hayward

After four and a half years – since the new hall first opened – Haywards’ Hoofers drew to a close on Thursday 3 December as it had run its natural course.

Nick and Anne are most grateful to everyone who supported the event over the years and made it most rewarding to be involved with. The style of the evening ‘evolved’ from amateur tuition initially to a more relaxed social dance later on, where some people came mainly for the social rather than the dance …. not that we were monitoring, of course.

Around 37 couples attended during this time with a number staunchly carrying on to the bitter end. Whilst the event was not intended to be a major fund-raiser, we did in fact contribute over £1,600 to the coffers in that time, so many thanks to all for your support and repartee.

So, as they say in Strictly, `Keep Dancin’………..

Nick and Anne

Harvest Horkey

10 October 2009

At one point in the week, it looked as if only twenty or so people were going to attend the Horkey but on Saturday night, a respectable number of over 60 people eventually turned up. Harvest time doesn’t seem as important in Brandeston as it used to be. Very few people in the village are directly involved in agriculture and the farms that surround us employ contract harvesters so we generally don’t see village farmers in their combines any more. Moreover, as someone pointed out on Saturday night, no active farmer was present although some former farming families were represented.

Dinner this year was a starter of home made tomato soup followed by a gorgeous slow roasted belly of pork with seasonal vegetables and a selection of pudding to follow. The entertainment for the evening came from Reg Reader and Friends who played a variety of country tunes, songs and monologues. Sue Thurlow and her team of cooks and helpers are to be congratulated for one of the best harvest dinners for some time.

More photos from the Horkey can be found here.

The Boots or Bags Concert - 15 August 2009

Janet Weston

On Saturday, 15 August, Brandeston Village Hall was privileged to host two talented entertainers who flew in from Germany to a fund raising concert in aid of Mid Suffolk Driving for the Disabled.

Joanna Scott-Douglas (daughter of Patience who lives in Mutton Lane) and Pascal Gentner, a German-French citizen of North Germany, captivated a large and appreciative audience with a powerful, humorous but at times sensitive, vulnerable and thought provoking programme of lyrics written and sung by Jo. Her lovely, true voice accompanied by herself on the bodhran (Irish drum), blended perfectly with Pascal’s inspired and catchy rhythms, melodies and vocal harmony on guitar and keyboard, all cleverly arranged into a variety of folk-pop songs.

The photo above shows Boots or Bags performing in the Chequers, Kettleburgh on 16 August.

Driving for the Disabled: Boots or Bags Concert

Patience Scott Douglas

Those involved in the Mid Suffolk Driving for the Disabled are very grateful for the wonderful support we always receive from the people of Brandeston and from Jackie O’Brien who is in charge of letting out the hall. We especially want to thank those who helped with setting up the staging.

We made £864 with which we are delighted. Both our ponies are now 16 years old and will need replacing one day. I hope some of you spoke to our disabled members who were there on 15 August and learnt how much their outings with us mean to them.

We could not have added to our funds in this splendid way without the generosity of Green Thumb who lent us the marquee and of Richard and Mary Mitson-Woods who put it up and took it down – not a five minute job. Brandeston Hall School lent us the staging and the piano and transported them for us. Lady Ann Thorne arranged and donated the beautiful flowers. Peter and Sue Rainbird and Chris and Mary-Jane McArthur donated the wine.

We would like to thank everybody who came to the concert and we hope you all enjoyed it. I know that the food provided by our members was very popular. I heard the words “super meringues” and “lemon drizzle cake” mentioned a lot!

Brandeston Fete - 20 June 2009

Waking up to grey, overcast skies and threatening winds last Saturday, we feared a repeat of last year’s fete when a tent was destroyed. The heavy downpour just as we had all set up our stalls didn’t raise our spirits either but we needn’t have worried. Our loyal supporters turned out in droves and within minutes, the Queen’s Head gardens were thronged with people vying to buy the best bargains.

And what wonderful stock we had this year. Lady Cunliffe’s plant stall with its impressive array set the standard; the cakes with outsize meringues, elegant muffins, freshly baked bread and outstanding fruit cakes would have been perfectly at home in any French patisserie and the piled high bric-a-brac had something for everyone. Villagers had been so generous with the quantity and quality of the books they donated, the multitude of accessories (including designer ties by Trussardi and a velvet Aquascutum hat) and the tombola and draw prizes.

No fete is complete without its competitive games and Peter Arbon was in a prime position with his bowling game (ably assisted this year by his young apprentice, Don Evans) and flanked by Trish and Peter Smyth’s Bash the Rat game, Kate with her hook-a-duck game and Phil Summers with his crossbow game. All good fun and no fatalities! Lucy’s Booze Barrow, an idea, it has to be said, borrowed from Kettleburgh, was a great success again this year.

Add to this the imaginative competitions to recognise objects from odd angles and guess the mileage to win a bike and you get some idea of what an English country fete entails. The children were entertained by Anna with her races and Marian and Karren with their competitions.

Mary, Kelly and Anne seemed to have an endless supply of cakes and tea while Alan, as well as the usual BBQ fare, came up with the brilliant idea of a cone of chips in retro packaging washed down with a summery glass of Pimms or one of the beers from his weekend beer festival.

In short, the fete had something for people of all ages whether it was the stalls, the games, the food, the teas or the musicians from Brandeston School under the direction of Rob Rogers.

When Paul counted up the takings, we were all amazed: we had raised the impressive sum of £4300 to be shared between the All Saints fabric fund and the village hall. We should all be proud of ourselves for our efforts towards producing this amount of money, not only those who manned the stalls but those who planned and choreographed the event, ferried tables and set up marquees (and dismantled them on Monday).

Furthermore, we should be proud of our village spirit, our creativity and how much fun and enjoyment we get from working together. A village is defined not only by its people but also by the institutions that hold it together – the church, the school, the pub and the village hall. The fifth is the shop that we lost a few years ago. Over the weekend, all of these worked together in a true community spirit and was reflected in Martin Myers-Allen (above, right), the head of Brandeston Hall, opening the fete (in the rain) and Eileen Leach (above, left), an Elder of All Saints closing it (in the sunshine) in the grounds of our pub for the benefit of the church and village hall. We need to look after the things that bind us together and last weekend was an example of Brandeston at its best.

Photos from the fete can be found here.

 Exhibition at Blacksmith’s Cottage, Monewden - 31 May 2009

The blacksmith workshop at Monewden was put into retirement in the 1950s and the workplace is still frozen in time. On 31 May this year, an exhibition was held there with Brandeston’s Mary Moore being on hand to guide visitors. Nick Hayward was one of the visitors and his report and photos can be seen here.

Return to Akenfield

Eastern Angles - 12 May 2009

Jacky O’Brien

Again, Eastern Angles sold out the hall for this year’s village tour of their play “Return to Akenfield”. Performed by just five actors, the story of Akenfield, 40 years on from Ronald Blythe’s original book, was brought to life. It showed how present-day villagers are contending with the demands of the 21st century. The actors spent all evening on stage and were brilliant in depicting over 20 villagers with just a change of hairstyle, accent or a different item of clothing.

It was a very thought-provoking, poignant and funny evening, especially with Richard Earl’s portrayal of Chris Clarke, who was in the audience with his wife, Faye!

A bonus was the £216.50 made for the hall funds.

Left: Sally Ann Burnett, Charlotte Thompson and David Redgrave

Below: Robert Macpherson and Charlotte Thompson

Photos courtesy of Eastern Angles Theatre Company Ltd, 2009

Beating the Bounds - 24 May 2009

A revival of the old village tradition of beating the bounds of Brandeston took place on Sunday, 24 May 2009 when a group led by Steve Western walked eleven miles around the parish. You can just about make out the boundary (shown in red) in the photo which was obtained from a tracker device on the day.

Nick Hayward’s report and photos can be found here.