Hello one and all,
Yet another month has passed by.
We were delighted to be invited to the Battle of Britain Service and lunch held at the Parish Church and the Royal British Legion. It was a well organised event by RAFA. It is important that we never fail to remember those who influenced our lives by sacrificing theirs in the belief of a better world. It is also right that we recognise Suffolk’s role during this critical period. From Bawdsey Manor, the Observer Corps and the Ack-Ack gunners, to the pilots and ground crews based locally, all played their part
Louise, my Consort, and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Stowmarket Tennis Club. The venue is extremely impressive, and it is remarkable that this organisation has been thriving for 125 years. There is a wide range of age groups involved, with opportunities for players of all abilities to learn or improve their game. We were invited to present trophies and prizes and were fortunate enough to watch the Ladies’ Doubles Final, which was a terrific showcase of the talent on display and a reminder of how fortunate we are to have such a well supported and well organised club in our town.
I always look forward to visiting different groups around the town, and my next outing was to the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust Day. Having been involved in organising many music events in the past, I was especially pleased to attend. The transition of this event into the town centre has worked extremely well. It was wonderful to see so many residents and visitors stopping to enjoy an array of traditional music and dance performances. Those who appreciate the significance of East Anglia’s heritage work tirelessly to maintain our links to the stories, songs and dances passed down through generations. I can fully recommend maypole dancing as a fun cardiovascular workout, provided you are not colour blind, know your left from your right, and can anticipate when to duck
We enjoyed our second visit to the Redwood Lunch Club. The sausage plate was delicious, and the rice pudding took me straight back to my school days. Yes, I mixed the jam in! The team behind this well-attended gathering for over-65s are an inspiring group of people who willingly give up their time to provide a much-needed and much-loved service at Red Gables.
It was also nice to engage with some of the younger residents of the town this month. I attended both the 1st Mid Suffolk Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association, and met with Year 4 pupils from Combs Ford Primary School for question-and-answer sessions about being Mayor and the work of the Town Council. I was very impressed by how well prepared both groups were, the thoughtfulness of their questions, and the attention they paid to the responses. It is important that future generations understand that Mayors and Councillors are approachable and always willing to listen and engage.
I was deeply honoured to be asked to host the Stowmarket Town Awards 2026. This event is a key part of our calendar every two years, shining a light on the selfless residents who do so much to support others and strengthen our community. We received an amazing 271 nominations and, as always, selecting the winners was an incredibly difficult task. We should be proud of everyone who was nominated in each category. Our town is a better place because of the care, commitment and dedication shown by them all. It was a fantastic evening, celebrating some truly remarkable people.
