News Updates
It's all happening here in Walsham! If you don't believe me, just look below!
Tuesday November 22nd 2011
Old Walsham on screen
An appreciative audience studied old photographs of Walsham, screened on Tuesday the 22nd of November 2011 by the Walsham History Group in the Village Memorial Hall, during the regular Coffee mornings which accompany the visiting Post Office.
The Street in 1891.
Due to the success of this screening it was suggested that a siniliar event should be held in 2012. It will be noted that in the accompanying photograph showing members of the audience they tend to be older residents mainly because this screening took place at 10.45am when of course the younger residents will be occupied in earning their living! Due to the recent large housing developmernt within the village it would be rather nice if the next event was at a more convenient time of the day when the newcomers would no doubt be interestd to see Walsham as it was in the past. If you study the photograph you will no dout realise that many members of the audience can actually recall Walsham from some of those past times!
That housing development has increased the number of households by nearly 20% and it is noticeable that these new residents are now beginning to integrate within the village and this could be yet another means of encouraging them to join in.
The audience looking at the screened photographs..
Saturday October 29th 2011
The Annual Pumpkin Competition
The annual pumpkin competition sponsored by the Community Council took place at the Six Bells at lunchtime on Saturday October 29th.
This event attracted many young children who enjoyed carving their pumpkins and of course they were often"helped" by their parents! As usual the main event was the actual weigh-in of the larger pumpkins grown by the older members of our community but unfortunately this year saw a much lower turnout of these heavyweight pumpkins due no doubt to many different reasons but the result was a very worthy win for Bob and Margaret Smart's impressive 95lb entrant. This was particularly appreciated as the last few years have been dominated by other residents, so it was very encouraging to see that there will now be a different name on the trophy! Well done Bob and Margaret
The winners with their pumpkin.
Friday October 28th 2011
The opening of the new extension to the Walsham Sports Club area
A large number of people were gathered in the Sports Club premises late on Friday morning to enjoy the opening of the extexnded playing facilities on the other side of Summer Road. Apart from the members of the club there were representatives from other village organisations along with many older, past members of the club and there were also representatives from both Suffolk County Council and Mid Suffolk District Council.
Special mention must be made to the generosity of the Martineau family in providing the land for this fine development and then to The Football Association, Football Foundation and Suffolk FA for their much needed financial support..Ian Campbell started the proceedings with a fine speech, followed by David Sheepshanks and then everyone was invited to progress across the road - carefully! - where David Sheepshanks unveiled the relevant plaque. There followed the requisite photographic session and then two young teams of footballers went through their paces on the new all-weather pitch whilst the older members trooped back to the clubhouse for more food and drink.
The new facilities include the all-weather pitch and the long awaited public tennis court making the Walsham Sports Club absolutely idael for all the most popular sports. A terrific achievement!
The new area.
David Sheepshanks with the young footballers.
On the next day there followed a second event - the Halloween Fireworks Evening, run in conjunction with the Gardens Weekend Committee. This was another very successful event.
Thursday August 18th 2011
The annual Horticultural Show
Once again last Saturday, August 13th saw the annual Horticultural Show taking place as usual in the Village Memorial Hall, but this year there was a significant change, the extension to the main hall was now open. Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy all of that extra space and, as it transpired, there was a very good, large turnout to admire the flowers, vegetables and various cakes, biscuits etc. that had already been judged and were now on display for everyone to enjoy.
A table of exhibits with the extended hall seen in the background.
For details of the winners of the various sections you will need to see the September issue of The Observer. For those of you who live outside the Parish of Walsham le Willows the details will appear here after the publication of that aforementioned magazine.
Monday August 8th 2011
The Hanging Baskets Competion 2011
The Walsham Hanging Baskets Competition took place during the latter part of July 2011 and, as usual the weather had been pretty difficult, early on it was very warm etc.; you know exactly what it was like! Once again there was a very varied display of hanging baskets and when it comes down to selecting the current winner it becomes a very difficult task, but never-the-less our judge finally made her decision and the winner was Mr. & Mrs. A. Largent of Badwell Road. This garden is famous for the immaculate lawn with those regular stripes diagonally to the road which enhances the colourful beds AND the hanging baskets. Dare I say that it was also a treat to see this display become the 2011 winner as this is a 'new' winner which always encourages other residents to greater efforts - hopefully!
The second display was that of Mr. & Mrs. J. Kenny of Crownland Road which was also a first for this popular couple and then, the third position went to Mr. & Mrs. R. Baker of Rickinghall Road. As already mentioned, there were many more very good displays and mention must be made regarding, for example, those of Mr. & Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Pollard and Mr. & Mrs. Seeley. However! there were one or two 'old favourites' missing and we hope to see them back in action next year when, as required by the 'rules' this years wnner will be the judge for 2012 - you have been warned!
Monday August 8th 2011
The Scarecrow Weekend 2011
This year saw the first full-blown Walsham Scarecrow Weekend where over 30 scarecrows could be seen around the village. These were basically 'judged' in two sections, one being for the scarecrows made by any village organisation with the second category covering everyone else. The only real stipulation was that all of the entrants must be of a 'sporting' nature, which left the exhibitors plenty of scope!
We were blessed with quite good weather, much to everyones relief and the judging took place on the Saturday afternoon when our Vicar, Sam Long 'inspected' all of the entries - not an easy task as the competition standard was very high. Eventually the decision was made for the individual scarecrow and that was the entry from Debbie Watson named I.B.Fishing... This was a reclining 'fisherman' postioned across the hedge alongside the road. The organisation winner was the Primary School with their scarecrow named The Schwimmer.
Our judge was extemely impressed by the number of entrants and also by the quality of the scarecrows, but as in any competition, there can only be one winner... He did however comment that, "There was an awful lot of work put into this; they were all very well done. Well done to you all for the effort."
The good news is that the first stage of the restoration of the Memorial Hall is now completed. Our residents can now see the rear extension and it is now finally open, on time!. The new disabled toilet and shower room is complete along with the new smaller meeting room which, for some unknown reason is known as 'The Green Room' ! These areas are decorated, the floor in the actual hall is laid and the old, rottind fire doors on the North side of the hall have beenn replaced with new glazed doors and, along with the glazed section above the doors this had let in extra light to this part of the hall. All of this extra space looks huge! (It is!)
The lighter walls of the extension can be seen in the hall.
We ask that everyone continues to respect the builders when they eventually return to start on the next stage of this ongoing restoration as it is something that has been the subject of much debate over the last few years and as everyone knows it is vitally necessary, as the hall has been badly in need of updating for the last ten years. Or more !
In particular, mention - and sincere thanks - must also be made to the new patio area now being processed outside the kitchen window. This is a very welcome addition to the outside of the hall and this is bound to be very populat during next year - it is still beng laid out at present, August 2011.
This whole patio project has taken place entirely due to the generosity and the hard work of Mr. & Mrs. R. Freeborn, a very popular couple from the new Elmside development - thank you both very much.
Ray & Joan Freeborn in front of 'their' new village hall garden!!
IT IS A START, BUT THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL STILL NEEDS TO RAISE A LOT MORE MONEY TO COMPLETE THE OTHER STAGES, PARTICULARLY THE TOILETS! So, please support the various events that are being staged to raise that much needed money – it's for you AND IT IS FOR YOUR CHILDREN!
August 12th 2010
“Pieces Of Cake”
Cake recipes and tales from the Coffee Shop at the Walsham le WillowsVillage Memorial Hall
“It was a bad day in 2003 when Walsham le Willows Post Office closed, until eventually a Satellite Post Office was set up in the Village Memorial Hall on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Rob Barber then set up a Coffee Shop to run jointly with the Post Office from August 5th 2004..”
The Coffee Shop is run entirely by volunteers who take their favourite homebaked cakes, biscuits etc. to serve along with coffee, tea or a cold drink for a very modest £1.00. This booklet gives the public the opportunity to share those recipes and it is a very welcome addition to the various booklets published by the Community Council. Any profits accrued will help to fund the Village Memorial Hall Restoration Fund project.
Copies are available from the Coffee Shop or from Rob Barber on 01359 259689, at the cost of just £4.00
Bernard Pollard 1922-2011
There have been Pollards living here in Walsham for at least 100 years and Bernard was born here in the Guildhall in 1922. He joined the choir when he was just 5 years old and stayed until his voice broke, when he then started to chime the church bells which he continued to do until he was eventually made Tower Captain in 1970.
Local people would have heard the tenor bell, the one he always rang, tolled to mark his passing a day or two after his death. It was rung firstly eleven times for a man and then eighty more times for each year of his life. The bells were half muffled as the mourners entered the church at his memorial service, and were then rang again as people left, but this time they were rang 'open' to celebrate his life.
Bernard was 'called up' in 1942 and served in India and then in Burma. In December 1948 Bernard married Anne and they proceeded to live a long and happy life together until Anne died over 15 years ago. Their son Geoffrey and daughter Valerie were both still here in Walsham and obviously they both attended his funeral service. He worked elsewhere until 1955 when he then spent the rest of his working life here at Clarke's of Walsham. He was an active member of the local football team and played regularly from the late 1940's.
Bernard was active in many areas of village life including the election to the Parochial Church Council in 1958 and becoming a Churchwarden three years later, a position that he held for the rest of his life. In 1976 he was commissioned as a Lay Elder, once again a position that he held until the end of his life. He was also the organist for 18 years and only stopped winding the clock in 1995!
As well as his commitment to the church he was Clerk to the Old Town Trust and Chairman of the Town Farm Trust and he was elected to the Parish Council in 1971 and was its Chairman for 21 years from 1979.
One of his greatest pleasures came from his 'picking up' with his Black Labradors which during the season would involve two days each week.
His dedication to the community was recognised on a couple of memorable occasions, one was when he and Valerie attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, and the second was when he was chosen to be one of the recipients of the Maundy Money that the Queen gave out at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral. One of the other services that this extraordinary man carried out was reading out the names of the local people who had given their lives in the last two great wars, he did this at the annual armistice sevice which takes place around the war memorial in St Mary's churchyard. He first did this in 1953 and carried on doing this until just last year.
Truly an extraordinary man.
Thursday July 22nd 2010
AUDREY McLAUGHLIN
Audrey Mc Laughlin
Walking the claylands of Walsham le Willows after autumn ploughing in a search for fragments of ancient pottery was considered a somewhat eccentric occupation for people in the 1970’s & 1980’s with an interest in history, particularly when you made your way back to a metalled highway after a couple of hours plodding across fields, your aching limbs dragging feet heavy with tenacious clay.
Yet here was the origin of Audrey McLaughlin’s deep and lasting interest in Walsham’s past. She helped to map the location of scores of Roman and Medieval homesteads to reveal a village layout quite different to our present village. This corroborated Sir Nicholas Bacon’s survey of 1577 in The Field Book of Walsham which had already been transcribed and edited by Kenneth Dodd. But Audrey taught herself to read and transcribe the documents, wills, inventories, surveys, accounts, court rolls and to understand the evolution of timber framed buildings. Thus, over a period of twenty years she came to know and understand Walsham's past, to identify an earlier landscape from the fragments which remain today and to appreciate something of the lives of its inhabitants.
Along the way she enthused others to work with, alongside, or independently of her but always wanting the knowledge and understanding gained to be accessible to the general public. For some years static displays and informative exhibitions were staged in the Scullery of The Priory, in The Guildhall and later in St Mary’s Church. A programme of lectures and informative walks was instituted. From 1997 Audrey edited items of research for publication in The Walsham Village Museum Quarterly Reviews; number 54 was published this month. The culmination of her work was the publication of The East Anglian Archaeology Report number 85 " Towards a Landscape History of Walsham" and written jointly with Stanley West. But other publications followed documenting yet more of our village history.
On moving to Halesworth, this rigorous and indefatigable researcher embarked on the more difficult project to uncover something of the history of the group of parishes making up South Elmham, onetime seat of Anglo Saxon Bishops and her own chosen final resting place. Here in Walsham she leaves a fine legacy of research and education. She was inspirational.
March 23 2009
Victorian Walsham – A reflection of 19th Century Life in a Suffolk Village
The Walsham History Group is pleased to announce the publication of a new book by James Turner. This is the second of two accounts of life in Walsham during the 19th century (the first, which appeared one year ago, covered the years 1800 – 1850, and is still available, price £3.50).
This new booklet, of 57 pages, is illustrated with Victorian photographs. Like the earlier booklet, it is based on contempory press reports, in this instance from the 1850s to the end of Victoria's reign.
Victorian Walsham is available for £3.50 tel:01359 258535.
Donation to the Memorial Village Hall.
We are also pleased to announce a further donation of £500 to the Memorial Hall for the refurbishment programme. In total the History Group has donated £1,000 to the hall fund. This has been raised by sales of publications by James Turner and Audrey McLaughlin who asked for the proceeds to go to the Memorial Hall.
March 22nd 2008
"A Story of Walsham Folk" - 1800-1850
This booklet is yet another publication from the pen of James Turner. This time he has recorded various items about some 145 people who were living in Walsham le Willows during this 50 year period or else their family were here during that time. These snippets of information have either been gathered from Bury Record Office Archives, from the Walsham Quarterly Reviews published by our own History Group,contemporary maps and press accounts. From page 1, which reports an order of bastardy against a Walsham farmer, to the final pages about a local burglar transported in 1848, it shows the village to have been a lively, sometimes lawless, place. It was by no means miserable; public festivities at young Victoria’s accession show that folk knew how to enjoy themselves.
The fascinating information in this book also includes items relating to the social climate of the period and here I will quote just one example taken at random; "Among village tradesmen were 4 butchers, 4 boot/shoe makers, 12 carpenters, 4 blacksmiths, 5 dressmakers, 5 beer sellers, 2 rope makers, 1 cutter/grinder, and one watch and gun maker. Those working on the land totalled 157 and a further 99 worked as servants. There were 114 with the name John."
Thank you James, we look forward to the sequel to this book, could it be 1851-1900?
The price of this most interesting book is a mere £3.00 (introductory offer until the end of May 2008). Copies are available from the Coffee Shop or by telephone from 01359 258535. £1.00 from each copy sold will be donated to the restoration of the Village Memorial Hall.
October 2009
The Elmside development is now almost complete with just five houses remaning for sale. The builders are about to hand over to Flagship Housing the final Afordable Housing units and the roads have now been resurfaced. Details of this development can be seen in the Amenities/Accommodation pages.
Planning consent was given to extend the Elmside development and as can be seen in the above paragraph the development is now almost complete..
We are delighted to see that many of these new residents are now taking an active part in various village activities and we look forward to seeing this involvement continue and expand.
For only £20.00 per year anyone can become a "Friend of the Memorial Hall" and they then become eligible to be entered into the monthly draw to win:-
- First Prize £25.00
- Second Prize £15.00
- Third Prize £5.00
- PLUS; 2 bonus draws of £100.00 to be made in June and December
The first draw took place in January 2007. The number of Friends are strictly limited to 100, hence the "100 Club".
Anyone wishing to join should contact Mike Wills on 01359 258982
All profits go towards the restoration of the Village Memorial Hall.
