“Touch rugby is a much shorter version of rugby which does not have full contact and is suitable for mixed teams, young and old alike. It is a great introduction for those that have never played before and or a way to get back into the sport,” said Cllr Geoff Holdcroft, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Economic Development.

“The Woodbridge tournament was a great success, combining good competitive games with lots of fun. I hope that as many teams as possible will register by Friday, June 1 to take part at Thorpeness.

“There are many people, particularly some of the younger ones, who are often not sure how to get back into sport so the social aspect of touch-rugby tournament should prove particularly attractive, giving them a chance to get fitter while having fun,” added Cllr Holdcroft.

Squads should be between seven and 10 players aged 14 and over, two of which must be female. The games will be 7-10 minutes each way and played on a round robin basis so that every team plays each other once over the tournament duration. Games are seven a side with unlimited substitutions from the squad of ten—but one female must be on the pitch at all times.

At the first evening of matches, Tuesday, July 3, an introduction to the game, its rules and some coaching will be provided by Thorpeness RUFC. Anyone struggling to get a full squad can get help from the club who will provide players if needed.

The matches will take place every Tuesday, 7-8.30pm for six weeks. Each team player will contribute £1 per week to assist with the costs of staging this tournament. To book a team into the competition contact Suffolk Coastal’s sports development officer Sarah Shinnie on 01394 444652 or email active.communities@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.

Last year’s Woodbridge competition won the Innovative Project Award at the Suffolk Sports Awards and has just been named as an example of national best practice by the Sportivate project. Ten of the Woodbridge players were even invited to play at Twickenham, the home of rugby union.

This year as well as having discounted compost bins available, local residents can also buy a water butt to help capture rainfall off their roofs and so use it in their gardens.

“As well as regularly recycling around 60 per percent of their household waste, our residents have also shown their commitment to home composting by buying more bins than any other district. In these times of water drought, I hope they can also consider buying a water butt,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

“There are two sizes of butt available thanks to our involvement with the Suffolk Waste Partnership and could be a great addition to anyone who wants to keep their garden blooming or their vegetables growing.

“I would also recommend all gardeners to have a home compost bin where they can put their grass cuttings, fruit and veg peelings and so have their own ready supply of compost to help their garden grow,” added Cllr Nunn.

A 220 litre compost bin is £16, a 330 litre compost bin is £19, while a 100 litre mini water butt is £28.95, and a 190 litre water butt is £38.95. A buy one get one half price offer also applies to compost bins and water butts if you buy two of the same type. More details can be found on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourhome/waste/composting/ or www.suffolk.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444 to order one. There is a £5.49 delivery charge per order.

Cooked food waste is not suitable for home composting bins but can of course be put in the brown bin which is emptied every fortnight and turned into compost. Thanks to the support of its local communities, Suffolk Coastal is ranked in the top 10 of districts in England for recycling and composting.

Users of some of the Council’s car parks have been warned about the impact of the Olympic Torch relay on Thursday, July 5 as it travels through parts of the district.

“The relay organisers require us to put in place parking restrictions both to help the smooth progress of the relay and the vehicles following it, but also to allow people to have a good view of this once in a lifetime event,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

The four locations affected and the times that on street car parking along parts of the route will be suspended are Aldeburgh from 8am to 3pm, Wickham Market from 8am to 4.30pm, Melton/Woodbridge from 8am to 4.30pm, and Felixstowe 8am to 5.30pm.

“Given the number of people that are likely to want to witness the progress of the Torch through the district, it is likely that there will be some local disruption on the day.

“Residents and businesses might want to rearrange their day to avoid any possible hold-ups from the rolling road block that will surround the Torch Relay, and to ensure that deliveries which may require on street parking are scheduled outside of the times mentioned above.

“While this may cause some temporary disruption for residents and for businesses, we are sure that there will be some real benefits for all from this prestigious event coming to our district,” added Cllr Nunn.

The convoy will also take a 20 minute break in Woodbridge at around 4pm, which may cause some disruption to those who usually park at the front of Deben Pool and the Community Hall. This area will be closed off for the convoy, but there will still be all the usual spaces to park behind the buildings. Anyone with a season ticket is being asked not to leave their car at the front on July 5 as the parking area will need to be clear for the convoy.

The route has been drawn up the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and can be seen in full detail with times on www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map or on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.

The Suffolk Coastal Services (SCS Ltd) will be working Monday, May 7, visiting all those homes that are normally due a collection for either their recycling or refuse bins.

“The efforts of the SCS teams in providing such a great service across the year to our residents have helped this district become one of the top ten recycling areas in the country,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

“The teams will be working as normal on the bank holiday and I hope our resident can play their part by remembering to put their bins out by 7.30am and to recycle as much as possible of their rubbish.

“All the rain that we have been having means there are probably fast growing gardens out there, and I would remind people that they can put all their garden trimmings, along with cooked and uncooked food waste in their brown bins,” added Cllr Nunn.

Residents still have time to enjoy a special offer on discounted compost bins, or indeed water butts to store up all the rain. A buy one get one half price offer also applies to compost bins and water butts if you buy two of the same type.

A 220 litre compost bin is £16, a 330 litre compost bin is £19, while a 100 litre mini water butt is £28.95, and a 190 litre water butt is £38.95. More details can be found on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourhome/waste/composting/ or www.suffolk.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444 to order one. There is a £5.49 delivery charge per order.

For full details about the district recycling and refuse services visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourhome/waste. Thanks to the efforts of its residents, the district has recently been recycling nearly 60 per cent of its waste which put it officially among the top ten districts in the country.

Many new personal best times were achieved, and with more swimmers making finals than ever before, a highly successful weekend was had by all who took part!

Adam Last began his competition with a great start in the 50m backstroke in the 17 years and over category. With a new PB of 30.53 and making the final, he finished 7th.
In the 100m breaststroke he came 6th with a time of 1.11.69, gaining a place in the final and finishing 7th in 1.12.90.

Some of the Deben team who took part in The East Region Championships (from left): Kieran Whight, Lewis Rickards, Adam Last, Bethany Elmer and Caitlin Russell.

Bethany Elmer competing in the 17 and over age group had a busy 2 days of swimming. In the 200m breaststroke, she qualified for the final where she had a great race finishing 4th with a time of 2.53.25.

Racing in the 50m freestyle, she came 16th in a time of 30.27. Bethany than went on to compete in the 50m breaststroke, where she once again qualified for the final in 7th place (37.76) and was placed 8th in 38.10.

In the 200m freestyle, Bethany surprised everyone by making the final in 7th place (2.23.01), and then went one better in the final by coming 6th with a time of 2.21.85.

Once again making the final in the 100m breaststroke, Bethany finished 6th with a time of 1.21.19. She also made the final of the 200m IM in 8th place and converted it to 7th position in 2.40.26.

Caitlin Russell competing in her first ever Regional championships had a great weekend of competition. She was racing in all 3 of the breaststroke events in the 15/16 years age category.
In her first race the 200m breaststroke, she managed to qualify for the final in 5th place with a new PB of 2.53.31, which was a fantastic achievement at the lower end of the age group! In the 50m breaststroke, Caitlin also made the final coming 7th with a time 37.25.

Then in the 100m breaststroke, she made another final (1.20.61), converting it to a very commendable 6th position in 1.20.56. Caitlin also raced in the 50m butterfly with a time of 33.07 finishing 33rd in her age group.

Kieran Whight, stepping up to the Youth regionals for the first time, started his competition with the 400m freestyle, finishing 22nd in the 15/16 years age band with a time of 4.34.44.
Next in the 200 butterfly, Kieran made the final and finished a great 6th position in 2.23.51. In the 100m butterfly, he also made the final with a fantastic new PB of 1.04.21 and finished 8th slightly slower in 1.05.39.
In the 50m fly, Kieran produced another PB, 29.85, coming 34th in a tough age group; and finally in the 200m freestyle he came 25th in 2.11.16.

Fenalla Foskett and Robert Whight both home from University, were competing for the Deben Team in the 17 years and over age group.

Fenella coming back from a long period of illness, did a great job in the 50m freestyle, gaining a bronze medal with a new best time of 28.34.

In the 200 IM, she also made the final with a time of 2.25.91, narrowly missing out on the National qualifying time. In the final she gained a silver medal with a time of 2.26.04.
Fenella was the fastest qualifier in the 100m freestyle in 59.79, so she had everything to go for. In the final she finished with a fantastic silver medal going slightly faster in 59.16,
 but more importantly she came away with that elusive National qualifying time! A sensational achievement!

Rob Whight produced a solid 55.34 in the 100m freestyle giving him a place in the final, where he was placed 8th in 56.66.

In the 50m freestyle, he had a strong swim going into the final in 3rd place with a time of 25.11 and then gaining a silver medal position in 24.92.
In the 50m butterfly he finished 9th with a time 27.38. 

Also competing at their first Regional championships, (which is an achievement in itself just to get the qualifying times!)

Annabel Towns competing in the 50m freestyle came 58th in the 15/16 year age group with a time of 30.74.

Lewis Rickards had a very solid swim in the 50m butterfly with a time of 31.75.
Conor Lynch had a fantastic 50m breaststroke, achieving a new best time of 35.76 and coming 24th. 

Head Coach, Nikki Merrill, said “I am incredibly proud of all our swimmers, and although it was a long weekend, it was totally worth it. Our club captains (Bethany and Adam) swum their hearts out, as well as supporting the less experienced swimmers.”

The play revolves around three likeable but rather untrustworthy bookies. They plan to rig a horse race by kidnapping the fancied horse and it’s French Jockey. They stay in a country hotel recently taken over by a Colonel and his wife where they conceal the horse and later the jockey.

Secret doors, various stages of undress, mistaken identity and a touch of romance are some of the main ingredients of this hilarious farce. “Dry Rot” is showing at the Seckford Theatre from Wednesday 16th May until Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm nightly.

Tickets can be booked at the Deben Players website www.debenplayers.org.uk, or by phoning the Box Office on 01394 382240 or at the box office in person at the Woodbridge Tourist Information Centre.

Charles Notcutt was born in Woodbridge in 1934 but was educated in Edinburgh.

After horticultural training he returned to Woodbridge in 1958 to join the Notcutt family business which his grandfather had started. In 2008, after 50 years involvement in the management of the business he retired and is now Non-Executive President. During his career he was involved with many aspects of horticulture, receiving an OBE in 1993 and an Honorary Degree from the University of East Anglia in 2001.

Charles has been active in Woodbridge life. He was one of the three founders of Woodbridge Rugby Club, subsequently President; on the initial Committee of Woodbridge Museum; subsequently President of the Friends of Woodbridge Museum; twice President of Woodbridge Horticultural Society and first Chairman of the Abbeyfield Deben Extra Care Society which runs ‘Highlands’. He was also a Governor of Otley College for twelve years and is a long standing Rotarian, being President of Woodbridge Rotary Club 1994/95. He has given eleven of the Club’s Annual Lectures.

In 2007 Charles was elected to Woodbridge Town Council for the Riverside Ward and re-elected in 2011. Throughout he has served on the Finance Committee and on the Amenities Committee, which he chaired in 2011/12, when he was also Deputy Mayor.

He is highly appreciative of the honour of being elected Mayor, particularly for this special Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year with Woodbridge’s celebrations on 3rd and 4th June. He is hugely encouraged to see so many organisations working well together for these events.

Having served in the Royal Artillery as a national Service officer and then in the Suffolk Yeomanry for nine years, Charles is fully supportive of 23 Royal Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) at Rock Barracks and is involved in the launch with them of the new charity “The Woodbridge Soldiers Fund” to provide additional assistance to injured soldiers and to families at Rock Barracks. This will be his Charity of the Year.

Charles has three children from his first marriage and now eight grandchildren. He is married to Gill. They both look forward to serving Woodbridge, as Charles, yet again, follows in the footsteps of his grandfather who chaired Woodbridge Urban District Council 1937/38.

Thu 3rd May
WEBBY’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
SUFFOLK SONGWRITERS SESSION, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,
THE PJ’S PETER AND JIM, Olive’s Bar, Orwell Crossing, A14 East Nacton, Ipswich

Fri 4th May
ROX OFF, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
MIKE SOLO, The Bull Hotel, Woodbridge
HUMDINGERS, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, £3, 16+ ID Required
DEAN AUSTIN, Olive’s Bar, Orwell Crossing, A14 East Nacton, Ipswich
WALKWAY, The Cork Bar, Felixstowe
BARRY TONE as ELVIS, The Douglas Bader, Martlesham
GUNS & ROSES TRIBUTE, The Malt House, Ipswich
7TH STEP, The Dolphin, Felixstowe
FRICTION, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich
12TH NOTE, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich

Sat 5th May
HATED TIL PROVEN, RISING STRIKE, SPEED DINOSAURS, ALMEIDE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, £3
MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS, Kesgrave Social Club, Kesgrave
BOOTSCRAPER, The Royal Oak, Ipswich
THE AJ EXPERIENCE, Ye Olde Bell & Steel Yard, Woodbridge
I AM BEYONCE, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
HARRY PALMERS, THE BGOODES, Venue 77, Ipswich
COLOURBLIND HEDGEHOGS, The Strangers Home, Bradfield
GORDON BENNETT BAND, The Cork Bar, Felixstowe
ARE WE THERE YET, Olive’s Bar, Orwell Crossing, A14 East Nacton, Ipswich
LIVE & LOUD, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich
JUST BACKDATED, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich

Sun 6th May
EXIT STATE, SHOCK HAZARD, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, 3pm
INNER HEART REGGAE, Venue 77, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin, Felixstowe
TOM JONES TRIBUTE, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
JAZZ JAM, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, Food from 12pm, Jazz from 2pm
DOUBLE BARRELL, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich

Mon 7th May
I AM WHITNEY, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich

Tue 8th May
AIMEE’S KARAOKE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
SUFFOLK COLLEGE SHOWCASE, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,

Wed 9th May
SUFFOLK COLLEGE SHOWCASE, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich

Thu 10th May
WEBBY’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
FOLK JAM, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,
APACHE, Olive’s Bar, Orwell Crossing, A14 East Nacton, Ipswich

Fri 11th May
LICK N A PROMISE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
MOONSTREET, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, £3, 16+ ID Required
THE REASON, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
BACK PORCH, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich
ARE WE THERE YET? The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich
THE MARTELLS, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
COUNTRY COMPANY, Olive’s Bar, Orwell Crossing, A14 East Nacton, Ipswich

Sat 12th May
SHOOT THE GLASS, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
GOLDMASTER ALLSTARS, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, £5
MIKE SOLO, The Douglas Bader, Martlesham
SHABOOGAMOO SHUFFLERS, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich
KUDOS, The Cork bar, Felixstowe
CURVES, Kesgrave Social Club, Kesgrave
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
GOLDSTAR, The Plough, Ipswich
SHATTERED, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich
BACK PORCH, The George, Hadleigh

Sun 13th May
SECOND SUNDAY JAZZ, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, Food from 12pm, Jazz from 2pm
TONY KERR – COUNTRY MUSIC, Kesgrave Social Club, Kesgrave
NOASIS, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
THE REASON, Venue 77, Ipswich

Tue 15th May
AIMEE’S KARAOKE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich

Thu 17th May
WEBBY’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich
CAUTION HORSES, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,

Fri 18th May
RIVER JUMPERS, JRD SKA, BORN TO DESTRUCT, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
SOUTHERN JUNKIES, The Cork Bar, Felixstowe
COLOURBLIND HEDGEHOGS, The Spread Eagle, Ipswich
BLACK TOP HARRISON, FUTURE HASBEENZ, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, £3, 16+ ID Required
JADE PETERS, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
JACKNIFE HORSEBOX, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich
BOUNCING OFF CONCRETE, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich

Sat 19th May
WALKWAY, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
CAMELFOOT RAIDERS, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich
DANE, Ye Olde Bell & Steel Yard, Woodbridge
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
PAT JAMES, Kesgrave Social Club, Kesgrave
THE OUTLINES, The Cork Bar, Felixstowe

Sun 20th May
A JAZZY AFTERNOON, with PRESTWICH HOSPITAL & THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT, SHERBERT FOUNTAIN, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,
SOUL’D OUT, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
CEDIQ HAVANA, Venue 77, Ipswich

Tue 22nd May
AIMEE’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich

Thu 24th May
WEBBY’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
KEITH SADLER BAND, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich

Fri 25th May
NEW TOWN KINGS, FAINTEST IDEA, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, £3
MISERABLE MAN, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
RODDY AND THE REJECTS, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich
JEREMIAH MARQUES, THE BLUE ACTS, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, £5 including Chilli Supper
PAUL PRYCE, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
FISTI KUFFS, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich

Sat 26th May
CURT N ROD, Kesgrave Social Club, Kesgrave
MATT WHITE AND THE EMUISIONS, The George Hadleigh,
VOODOO CHILD, The Cork Bar, Felixstowe
DARK ENERGY, The Plough, Ipswich
ROX OFF, The Railway, Foxhall Road, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe
ROCKIT, The Mulberry Tree, Ipswich

Sun 27th May
MEDICINE HAT, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, £2
LAST SUNDAY JAZZ LUNCH featuring LA FONTAINE ENSEMBLE, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, Food from 12pm Jazz from 2pm
SHADOWS OF MOTOWN, Isaacs, The Waterfront, Ipswich
THE DOWN SETTERS, Venue 77, Ipswich
KARAOKE WITH BOZ, The Dolphin Hotel, Felixstowe

Tue 29th May
AIMEE’S KARAOKE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich

Thu 31st May
WEBBY’S JAM NITE, The Royal Oak, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich,
FOLK SESSION with PETE & GUEST, The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich,