Hello and Happy New Year to you all!
As ever the people of Stowmarket have been very community minded throughout December and it was it has very lovely to be able to attend several of the events around the town. There were some we could not get to, as we can only be in one place at one time and I am so very sorry to those who invited me and Maria to an event we could not make. Every event we were invited to is worth supporting and it is incredible how many worthwhile causes we have in the town.
Unsurprisingly December was very much a Christmas themed month and it started on December the 1st with a carol service where we were invited to represent Stowmarket at the West Suffolk District Council Christmas service in Bury St Edmunds Cathedral. I imagine most of you are familiar with Bury St Edmunds Cathedral and it is a beautiful space for an event, although it lacked the absolute charm of having a Christmas Tree festival in it at the same time as the service unlike our own parish church.
Then on the 3rd was another invitation to the Haverhill Town Council Christmas Civic service. The Mayor of Haverhill had organised some local groups to be part of this service as this was also his civic service for the year and we had young people performing dance and singing songs alongside the usual Christmas carol singing. All in all it was a charming evening.
Then we were back into Stowmarket for the weekend with the Jubilee Ladies Choir on Saturday 6th at the United Reform Church – and they were absolutely at the top of their game. It was a lovely evening of harmonious singing from them. If you get the chance to see them at one of their performances I would suggest you go. The URC is a wonderful venue for listening to this style of music, we are fortunate such a venue within the town. If you are interested in the group – go to Facebook and search for them, or if you want to book them for an event you can email them at jubileeladieschoir@gmail.com. If you look at their Facebook page you can see and hear them, go and have a look!
Then on the Sunday we had the Stowmarket District Scout Group Christmas service in our parish church of St Peter and St Mary. If was great to see so many there from all the different iterations that fall under the scouting umbrella and I had a chance to speak to some of the young people their and see the pride they have in their achievements in scouting, badges everywhere. Another group completely held up by the volunteer community of Stowmarket and beyond, and has been for well over 100 years now. They provide activities and community for people from 6 to 25 years old – go to stowmarketscouts.org.uk to find out about their different groups for different ages.
No let up into the next week as on Monday 8th we were invited to the Redwoods Lunch Club which has been running for many years as well. Their Christmas lunch was lovely, and it was good to get a chance to speak to many of regular attendees who are towards the older side of the Stowmarket demographic. There was a raffle and bingo and a general spirit of Christmas was enjoyed by everyone. Another volunteer led success in the town – if you think you may want to join the lunch club please have a look here redgables.org.uk/redwoods-lunch-club
Then on Tuesday we were invited to the Stowmarket and District Dementia Community Group Christmas Tea Dance. This group is another special group within the town and I have attended three of their events in this past year – and they are a lot of fun and really quite joyous. So much effort goes into the planning and execution and as ever – volunteers leading the way. These are great people – see redgables.org.uk/sddg/ or find them on Facebook.
We did have a bit of a pause at that point and we had a short break where we went to see our Grandchildren before Christmas. Two little girls aged 4 and 2, and yes we do have the urge to spoil them terribly. We may be biased, but we think they are terribly sweet and lovely (because they are!)
The next Monday we were back in action with the Monday Club Christmas Party. The Monday club is based in Stowmarket Community Hub and provides fun and social activities for adults with learning difficulties. Again – completely joyous! They had a live band playing hits from the 60s and 70s and we all got up and had a boogie and it was just fantastic. Everyone just joining in and being happy – and that’s the spirit I love to see. If you are an adult with learning difficulties and you need a bit of extra social, or if you know someone who may have their lives improved being part of this group I highly recommend it.
We headed into the final few days before Christmas with the Stowmarket Concert Band performing in the United Reform Church on Saturday the 20th. The treated us all with a selection of pieces, themed around the time of year, and I have to say we are lucky to have them in the town. They are versatile and talented and they have their main band which performs various types of music from traditional brass band pieces to German Octoberfest “oompah” style. Additionally they have a training band for people coming back to playing an instrument after a long break (or are learning a new one) and they have a Beginner Band for helping anyone of any age start learning. We were delighted with he chance to see all three bands in action that evening. If you are interested in seeing them, or joining them – see www.stowmarketconcertband.org.uk
Then on the 21st we had our own Stowmarket Town Christmas Civic service. It was delightful to see so many people from the town in St Peter and St Mary’s church packed as it was with Christmas Trees for the festival. It felt like a cosy, happy and traditional way to enter the Christmas week. A massive thank you to everyone involved with the organisation of the event, and the provision of tea, coffee and mince pies afterwards. It was a beautiful thing.
Christmas Day then came around – and we were invited to the Jam Community Pot Christmas dinner which has been a free event for the past 10 years run by the indefatigable Michelle Frost. It is there for anyone that would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day and it was another joyous event for both me and Maria to volunteer at. We were engaged in serving food and drink to the attendees and it was wonderful to see how much this event meant to those who would otherwise have been alone on Christmas Day. Michelle organised raffle prizes and presents for everyone, and the other volunteers who gave their time for this event on Christmas Day should be appreciated and applauded. The Pop Choir based in Stowmarket also came along to entertain the diners, and they did so with style and with harmony and I can only apologise for my singing – but they did invite me to join in! The event took most of the day, and it was so worthwhile – thank you to everyone involved. Again – Joyous! If you want to find out more go to Facebook and look for “Jam Community Pot” and look for Stowmarket.
What town, what a joy to living here amongst some of the most giving and generous people.
Thank you