News in Shotley Peninsula

It has been a busy year for me as District Councillor for Orwell Ward in spite of a lot of regular meetings and events being either cancelled, postponed or moved to one of the virtual platforms we have all become very familiar with.

My locality fund grant money has been used for a number of innovative community projects in the Ward some of which are, The Shotley Peninsula Cricket Club who are based in Tattingstone, they had money for equipment, Tattingstone Good Neighbour Scheme who had money for start up needs following the lockdown and Wherstead who had some for a much needed drainage project along The Strand.

2021, The virus strikes back...2022, A new hope

Looking back on the year, it's not been an easy one. Better of course, than 2020 which was, all in all, a rotten one. The big game changer has been the anti-Covid vaccines, not to mention the clever use of existing therapies and treatments.

We are now at the end of another unusual, unpredictable and difficult year that has again seen huge changes to the way we live our lives. We are clearly in for the long haul as Covid continues to cast its shadow over everything we do and the decisions we take.

The year started with strict lockdown imposed in the face of high infection rates, hospitalisations and, sadly, deaths. The NHS was stretched, but the measures put in place did protect it from being totally overwhelmed and the staff performed heroically to treat so many people. But there was a glimmer of hope as the first vaccinations were underway. The roll out was spectacular and by Spring was often passing half a million doses a day. At the same time, new antiviral treatments became available for those most severely affected by the disease. Things improved rapidly during Spring and all restrictions were lifted in early Summer. Life slowly returned to a 'new normal' and businesses recovered as we started going out, returning to the office and taking staycations.

During the coronavirus pandemic the Church of England has had to put public worship on hold. This means that many people who would have received Holy Communion each Sunday, are not able to receive the comfort and benefits of the sacrament.

It is not the first time that the Church has been in such a position though. Throughout Christian history some Christian people have found themselves isolated from the sacramental life of the Church for all sorts of reasons, and particularly in times of plague, famine and warfare.

A week after the murder of Sir David Amess I find myself reflecting on the meaning of this horrific incident. I think anybody in every form of public life has been doing the same.

In the last 10 years, and more heavily in the last six, I've seen tempers escalate to produce increasing violence in both language, threat and regrettably action.

A great moment for Harkstead Church when we were finally able to hold our opening concert of 2021, Greensleeves and Yellow Lace.

The Hexachordia trio presented a programme of words and music inspired by the style and fashion in sixteenth century England, from fine lace and dainty slippers to garters and petticoats. Singing and playing on lutes, renaissance guitar, viols, recorders and bagpipes, the trio delighted the audience as they effortlessly moved from one instrument to the next.

Two churchgoers narrate their their favourite bible stories.

Click on You Tube video to hear Allana and Rodney here...

"Slowly Mary Alice became a real, vibrant and exhilarating woman whose astonishing life grew more complete and complex before my eyes."

Being the bibliophile that I am, I jumped at the opportunity to read a book by a peninsula author about a peninsula figure - the peninsula figure being Mary Alice Berners.

A man who fled from a Felixstowe bar and restaurant has been jailed for eight months after admitting a series of incidents where he failed to pay for meals consumed at various restaurants.

Alan Rogers, aged 46, of Market Place in Hadleigh appeared before Ipswich Crown Court today where he was sentenced to a total of eight months' imprisonment.

]A Second Morning Liturgy

In the beginning