Community News – October and November

The Dorian Singers

The Dorian Singers began rehearsing for their Christmas Concert under the direction of a new musical director, Dr Brian Latchem. Brian is no stranger to the Dorian Singers as he joined them back in the late 1980s and then became their assistant musical director for a few years before leaving to join a national choir, the English Concert Singers. He has chosen a varied programme of Christmas music, many pieces of which he has arranged specifically for the choir. He has also included several carols that he has composed. 

Since the pandemic, choir numbers have fallen and we are looking to recruit new members, particularly tenors and basses, although the choir will welcome anyone who would like to come and sing. The Dorian Singers have always been known for their friendliness. They rehearse every Wednesday evening, arriving at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start at Trimley St Martin Primary School. The rehearsal usually finishes at 9.30pm. So, if you would like to join us, please come along, you will be made to feel very welcome. 

There is no audition, although it would be helpful if you can read music a little and/or have some previous experience of singing in a choir. All music is provided and our subscription rates are very competitive.

For further information visit the website: https://www.thedoriansingers.org.uk or find us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/doriansfelixstowe

The concert, Christmas Joy, A Christmas Celebration will be held at Trinity Methodist Church, Felixstowe IP11 7AN on Sunday 11 December at 3pm. Tickets cost £12 (£3 for under-18s) and include refreshments, and will be available soon from The Card Centre, 6 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe IP11 7AU (01394 283170), from choir members or at the door. 

7th Felixstowe Scouts Christmas post

We are again offering our Christmas card delivery service this year along with groups in Ipswich and some outlying villages. The collection boxes will be going out on 25 November and the last posting date will be 7 December. The boxes will be removed between 2-4pm.

The cost has had to go up to 35p per card, this is around half the price of the post office. The money raised is used by the group to continue offering activities to the young people, maintaining our hut on Cemetery Path and keeping our equipment in good working order. We also have a fund for a new building when we have to move.

The Felixstowe and local area collection boxes will be at Conkers Garden and Pet Shop, Felixstowe Library, Goslings Farmshop, Michael’s Butcher, Roselea Nursery, The Bread Basket and The Card Centre. We are working with some other establishments to see if they will host a collection box. The group thank all these businesses for supporting us by hosting a collection box.

Cards can be delivered to a large area: Felixstowe, Walton, Trimley St Mary, Trimley St Martin, Kirton, Falkenham Ipswich (postcodes IP1-IP5), Kesgrave, Rushmere, Martlesham, Martlesham Heath, Pinewood, Claydon, Bramford, Great Blakenham, Barham, Henley, Westerfield and Tuddenham.

A full list of the collection boxes and the roads that are covered can be found at: https://scoutspostipswich.org.uk. If a road does not appear on this list, we cannot deliver to it.

The reason for the early closing of the collection boxes is to give time to sort the cards before they are given to the deliverers. The families, supporters and leaders will start delivering the cards on Saturday 10 December, which gives two clear weekends and a few days to complete the delivery before Christmas.  

Group Scout Leader, John Meyrick

Mayor’s Charity Fashion Show

The Mayor’s Charity Fashion Show on Tuesday 8 November at River of Life in Felixstowe is one of the Mayor of Felixstowe’s flagship evenings this year. Doors open at 6.30pm and the show will start at 7.15pm. 

At least eight Felixstowe based fashion retailers will be showing on the catwalk, which will be professionally compered, and models include some local celebrities. The show aims to focus on all budgets as well as considering the importance of sustainability. Local soprano Christina Johnston will also be showcasing her couture gowns. 

There will also be stands around the venue where Felixstowe businesses will be selling a variety of goods, including fashion, accessories, beauty, homeware and festive gifts. It promises to be an exciting evening and a great start to the festive period. 

Tickets cost £12.50 (includes a drink on arrival) and are available by emailing: mayorscharityfashionshow@gmail.com  

Santa’s Grotto and Craft Fayre

Come along to the 8th Felixstowe Scout Group Santa’s Grotto and Craft Fayre event on Saturday 10 December, 10am-4pm at Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Orwell Road, Felixstowe. Meet Father Christmas, enjoy a cuppa and mince pie and buy gifts from the craft stalls.

A poem by Sarah Caddick

Lying in State

The world stares on in awe

at our five-mile queue

Well behaved, standing for hours 

to file past her coffin

Young, old, tall, short, all colours

Formal black suits, casual hoodies

White t-shirts, flowery dresses

All faces serious, respectful, sad

Non-royalists can still respect 

a lady who worked at ninety-six

Kept her promise, a life of service

An inspiration to us all

Personal loss revisited

United in grief, the world

shares our sorrow

Surreal, the end of seventy years

Find more community news in Spotlight on Felixstowe magazine: https://www.spotlightmagazine.co.uk/category/read-online