I have been History Recorder since 1996 and one of my tasks is to submit an annual report about the village.
In the past I have been able to use the Scene, What’s On, newspaper articles and the village website to keep up with what is going on but I am finding more and more that Facebook is the place for information, although it is very fleeting!
This year it has been especially difficult as ‘nothing’ has been going on….but you will see from my report that this is not the case.
Please, if you run an organisation, a business, or are involved in village life in any way, I would love to have your input.
The report goes to the Record Office in Bury for future study.
Dorothy Anderson
2020 Recorder’s Report for Wickhambrook
In January, all clubs and societies were eager to get back together for sport, socialising, education and the rest. We have a thriving WI, History Society, Horticultural Society ; Football, Bowls, Yoga, Pilates, Keep Fit; Walking groups, Reading Groups, Craft Groups , Toddler Groups; Tea Parties, Pizza Van, Pub Quiz – there really is something for everyone.
As we all know, the year did not work out in the usual way, and all activities ceased in March.
When Lockdown hit, the good people of Wickhambrook sprang into action. A Coronavirus helpline was set up by the owners of The Greyhound. They had a team of volunteers to help vulnerable people with shopping, prescriptions and whatever else was needed. This was a lifeline for older residents. Our Surgery set up an outdoor collection point at the pharmacy and the village shop changed its hours, arranged deliveries and left newspapers in an outdoor kiosk to stop queues building up.
Very soon all kinds of good deeds became the talking points as we all phoned one another. Painted stones with ‘Stay Safe’ on them appeared on doorsteps. Books, cakes, rhubarb and eggs were left on doorsteps too and then as if by magic, hearts made of twisted willow appeared on doors. It was a while before the identity of the Willow Fairy was revealed but it was Julie Little, a florist and busy mum of five who cheered us up with her thoughtfulness.
During the summer a lot of gardening took place, followed by DIY as everyone had time to look around at the home they had been spending so much time in.
The enforced time at home made people closer. The daily walks made more people talk to neighbours and the limited VE Day celebrations brought a feeling of togetherness to the village as many people, especially in Nunnery Green, Meeting Green and Bunter’s Road put up bunting, had tea outside, played wartime music and waved to those walking by. Kathy and Alan Cordy put on a wonderful display of artefacts in their garden.
Another act of kindness came to my attention via Facebook with photos of excited children finding Christmas presents on the Rec. I assumed it was something organised by the Carnival Committee who usually hold a children’s party at Christmas, but they knew nothing about it. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that they had been left by a youngster in the village, 8-year-old Daisy Wilkinson, who had undertaken an Advent of Kindness by doing a good deed every day in December. She wrote letters and sent cards to the elderly and housebound. She did a litter-pick and left decorations on the Rec for people to find. She painted glass tea-light holders and sold them to raise money for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust as well as leaving the presents for her friends, paid for out of her pocket money.
There have been many acts of kindness in the village this year but this tops the lot!
Women’s Institute
We have 40 members in our WI and were pleased to welcome seven new members in January. As well as monthly meetings the WI ladies run a Monthly Tea Party in their Hall and walking, reading and craft groups as well as many fund-raising events for the upkeep of our WI Hall, a World War 1 Army hut. With no income in prospect, we were very pleased to receive a grant of £10,000 from the local council to keep the Hall going. As the Hall was not being used, the committee agreed to spend some of the money on updating the kitchen floor and electrics, and installing new windows. The Hall was made Covid Secure, but alas we have not been able to use it except on a few rare occasions in September/October when restrictions were lifted briefly. Reading Groups have continued, outside in the summer and by email in the winter. Walking Groups have obeyed the rule of six, or walked with one other person. The President and Federation send out newsletters and phone those not online.
The Memorial Social Centre
Our village hall was also awarded a grant from the Local Authority and their hard-working committee lost no time in making the MSC Covid Secure with warning signs, arrows, marked positions on the floors and hand sanitiser, to be ready for re-opening.
Local History and Horticultural Societies
Because of the pandemic, all visits and meetings had to be cancelled, but the secretaries of both organisations have amended their programmes and moved talks and visits forward in the hope that when we get back to normal, everything will be in place to start again.
The churches
All Saints – In February the Rev Eve Bell was installed as Rector of the Bansfield Benifice with a special service attended by the Bishop of Dunwich, The Archdeacon of Sudbury, the Rural Dean, Cathedral Dean and clergy who have helped out during the interregnum as well as representatives from the Parish Council, the Head of Wickhambrook Primary Academy and parishioners who enjoyed socialising after the service. A joyous occasion!
Services began being held again in September when members of all seven churches in the benefice gathered at a social distance in the church. No singing was allowed but organ music was played.
Methodist Chapel
Members have not met since March. The elderly congregation would have had to sanitise the whole building each time. Ministers would have had to travel here.
United Reformed Church
It has been a sad time for the URC members as they have not been able to meet, their vicar has been appointed to another post and there is no one prepared to be caretaker. They have opted to close this interesting church, a big part of the history of the village. Nonconformists worshipped in a barn near Badmondisfield Hall until the Church was built in 1734. The building is listed, and has a burial ground.
Wickhambrook Primary Academy
In line with all other schools, Wickhambrook was open for the children of key workers and has remained a safe environment with separate entrances for ‘bubbles’ of children, staff on a rota, and full use being made of their sports field as appropriate.
I sent a Lockdown Questionnaire to the school in the summer and had around 80 replies. Everyone was missing friends, family and playing in the park
Sports Clubs
Everyone concerned has followed Government guidelines during the pandemic. Keep Fit, football and Yoga made a cautious return in the autumn only to be shut down again.
The Greyhound and Twentyone
The local pub has made a huge effort to keep the village together and keep running throughout this difficult year. They helped set up a helpline, did takeaway food, worked on the building and garden to make it Covid Secure and kept at all times to the Government’s sometimes arbitrary rules.
Whenever they could, they were open for business and the excellent summer weather meant that they could serve food and drink outdoors. They organised an open air funeral tea, Zoom quizzes and music nights and took part in ‘Eat Out to Help Out’.
Farmers’ Markets
Ann Corlett , a Wickhambrook WI member who lives in Stansfield took on the running of the Farmer’s Markets and was able to have one in the summer in the pub garden. Another, in October, was held in the WI Hall with all Covid secure rules in place. A Christmas one in December was held on a wet, cold and windy day, again in the WI Hall.
Changes
For many years we had a bi-monthly magazine, The Scene, which publicised events, reported on meetings and let local people advertise goods and services. It cost £8 per year to subscribe. We also had What’s On, a free sheet with details of meetings every other month. Neither of these has been produced during the pandemic and I feel that they won’t be back. Facebook has taken over from the printed word and it is so quick to spread news and advertise this way and of course the younger generation go straight to it for everything from road closures, hare coursing and dog theft concerns to birthday greetings and jokes.
There will be many changes to life after this year and this is one that I regret.