HONINGTON AND SAPISTON PARISH NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2025
PARISH COUNCIL
The Inspectors’ report into the examination of the West Suffolk Local Plan was received on 1 July 2025. Following our recent meeting Cllr's discussed the report received from Inspectors after they examined the West Suffolk Local Plan. This was formally adopted by West Suffolk Council on 15th July 2025. The findings for Troston Road, Honington allocate up to 12 homes. Whist the Bardwell Road, Sapiston site allocate up to 10 homes. Further details can be found on https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/planning/Planning_Policies/local_plans/ws-local-plan-review.cfm
Inspection of the Audit continues until 11th August 2025. Further details can be obtained from the Clerk.
Cllrs agreed to purchase a new street light for the A1088 by the dropped curb and a second new picnic bench is being installed at the playing field once the area has been paved.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 8th September 2025 at 7pm in the Village Hall.
FIREWOOD
There is some timber behind the seat in the Playing Field that is free to anyone who would like it.
BLACKBOURNE TREE GROUP
The group meets once a month on a Saturday morning. More info from Giles Smith - [email protected]
VILLAGE HALL
Hello everyone, what a hot few weeks, thank goodness for hall air conditioning! We had a very successful visit from the coffee van last month, it was very well supported and we are looking to re-book her in September. The Pop-Up Pub in June was reasonably well attended, not so much in July so the next Pop-Up Pub will be in September - any ideas very welcome. A reminder for those who have booked picnic tickets to pay for them. Remaining tickets will be given out at the beginning of August.
The picnic is on 7th September in the field weather permitting.
Don’t forget the Village Show Bank Holiday Monday August 25th
This month’s Community Lunch will be on Thursday 14th and the menu choices will be Beef Hot Pot, Chicken Leek and Ham Pie, followed by Apple Pie. Coffee or Tea £8.00. Raffle and Play your Cards Right. Doors open 12.30 lunch 13.00. please call 01359 789195 (answer machine) to book your menu choices or email me on [email protected] by 11.00 Friday 8th.
Community Supper will be on Friday 29th doors open 19.00, supper 20.00. On the menu this month will be Beef Casserole, Hunters Chicken, or Vegetarian Lasagne followed by various puddings and cheese board. Tea & Coffee £10.00. Quiz, Raffle and Play Your Cards Right.
Please ensure you book your menu choices by 11.00 on Friday 22nd on 01359 789195 or email me on [email protected]
CHURCH NEWS
Congratulations to the July Monthly Money Draw winners, Angela West, Vic and Val and Mary and Terry Taylor. We will have the draw this month at our Coffee Morning on 5th August which starts at 10.30am.
WANTED: Volunteers to come and ring the church bells before our services on the first and third Sundays of each month. How about a parent and child to do it together?
Have you been saving your coins to add to the Coin Carpet Trail to be held in church, during the Bike Ride on Saturday 13th September? We would like the line to cover the length of the aisle by the end of the day!
Instead of forming a Calendar with photos of our two villages as a fundraiser, we have decided to make the chosen photos into Note-lets to sell throughout the year.
A date for your diary, Sunday 28th September we will hold a Harvest Ploughman’s Lunch in the Village Hall.
SUNFLOWER COMPETITION
If you have entered the sunflower competition then don't forget to measure it and send with a photo of you next to your sunflower to Harriet at [email protected] by the end of Sunday 17 August. Full details on the Village Hall website at https://www.hsvh.org.uk/sunflower-competition.html This is on the Village Hall website under 'Events' - winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Village Show on Monday 25 August - good luck!
VILLAGE SHOW
Not long now until the Village Show on Monday 25th August. As the intention of the show is to raise funds for the upkeep of our Village Hall, we can't wait to see you all there supporting us, whether you are entering or just viewing the exhibits and enjoying the refreshments. We are looking forward to seeing all your entries which we are sure will be of a high stand-ard as previous years have consistently shown.
Don't forget that the show isn't just for adults, there are categories for those 15 years and under as well. So, whether you are green-fingered, artistic or a culinary superstar, there is a category for you (whether you are young or young at heart). Not forgetting our Limerick competition which has been revived for this year. Please bring along your submissions for our volunteer judges to cast their eyes over and we wish you luck in being one of our placement winners. Here's hoping that the recent rainy weather has spurred on the growth of your intended flower/plant and fruit/vegetable exhibits.
Any donations for raffle prizes are gladly accepted.
HONINGTON & SAPISTON W.I.
The WI have provisionally booked a coach trip to Southwold on Wednesday 3rd September leaving Sapiston Village Hall c.10am. If we can fill the coach, seats will cost £20. Open to non-members. Contact Val Norman on [email protected] if interested, or WI members.
CAMERA CLUB
Our July meeting was very enjoyable with our "Bugs/Insects" entries proving more popular than our "Portraits" section, however the quality in both was really good. Overall, an excellent choice of subjects with great images projected on our large screen.
Our August 19th meeting has two subjects to challenge us "Shorelines" & "Evening/Night " photography.
Intrigued? Then pop along for a 7pm start, have a chat and refreshments in the main village hall.
Email [email protected] if you have any questions.
ROWING THE ATLANTIC
In December Mark Jacklin, along with three colleagues, will be rowing across the Atlantic from La Gomera to Antigua - a journey of 3000 nautical miles. For two of the team, Mark and Matt, it is the 21st anniversary of their last row across the Atlantic. Despite their bodies being 21 years older, and a few more aches and pains, the rowing boats have improved dramatically and thankfully they will be using a very modern rowing boat which they have full confidence in. The team have recently completed the race organisers’ minimum requirements - log 120 hours rowing at sea and completed, with video evidence, some key skills such as man overboard/pulling oneself back into the boat/deploying para anchor et al. Whilst the event is classed as a race not all teams’ goals are to ‘win the race’ and that is certainly the case for Mark and the team; their goals are to get across safely, go as fast as they can, get off the boat as they started as friends and hopefully enjoy the experience. Life on board will be very simple – 3 hours rowing and then 3 hours off (when we say ‘off’ they will still have to navigate, clean the boat (remove growth from hull of boat), boil hot water to rehydrate the food (6000 cals a day per person), make drinking water (desalination pump) and undertake general boat maintenance). To date the team’s main effort has been to secure sponsorship in order to raise circa £85K required to enter the event, rent the boat, service equipment, accommodation at start/finish and buy freeze dried food etc. The Team will soon be switching their efforts to fund raising for their charities …. watch this space for an event at the Village Hall with a special guest speaker. The team depart for La Gomera at the end of November, will start their row on 12th December and hope to arrive in Antigua after approximately 45-50 days at sea.
AUGUST 2025
PARISH COUNCIL
The Inspectors’ report into the examination of the West Suffolk Local Plan was received on 1 July 2025. Following our recent meeting Cllr's discussed the report received from Inspectors after they examined the West Suffolk Local Plan. This was formally adopted by West Suffolk Council on 15th July 2025. The findings for Troston Road, Honington allocate up to 12 homes. Whist the Bardwell Road, Sapiston site allocate up to 10 homes. Further details can be found on https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/planning/Planning_Policies/local_plans/ws-local-plan-review.cfm
Inspection of the Audit continues until 11th August 2025. Further details can be obtained from the Clerk.
Cllrs agreed to purchase a new street light for the A1088 by the dropped curb and a second new picnic bench is being installed at the playing field once the area has been paved.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 8th September 2025 at 7pm in the Village Hall.
FIREWOOD
There is some timber behind the seat in the Playing Field that is free to anyone who would like it.
BLACKBOURNE TREE GROUP
The group meets once a month on a Saturday morning. More info from Giles Smith - [email protected]
VILLAGE HALL
Hello everyone, what a hot few weeks, thank goodness for hall air conditioning! We had a very successful visit from the coffee van last month, it was very well supported and we are looking to re-book her in September. The Pop-Up Pub in June was reasonably well attended, not so much in July so the next Pop-Up Pub will be in September - any ideas very welcome. A reminder for those who have booked picnic tickets to pay for them. Remaining tickets will be given out at the beginning of August.
The picnic is on 7th September in the field weather permitting.
Don’t forget the Village Show Bank Holiday Monday August 25th
This month’s Community Lunch will be on Thursday 14th and the menu choices will be Beef Hot Pot, Chicken Leek and Ham Pie, followed by Apple Pie. Coffee or Tea £8.00. Raffle and Play your Cards Right. Doors open 12.30 lunch 13.00. please call 01359 789195 (answer machine) to book your menu choices or email me on [email protected] by 11.00 Friday 8th.
Community Supper will be on Friday 29th doors open 19.00, supper 20.00. On the menu this month will be Beef Casserole, Hunters Chicken, or Vegetarian Lasagne followed by various puddings and cheese board. Tea & Coffee £10.00. Quiz, Raffle and Play Your Cards Right.
Please ensure you book your menu choices by 11.00 on Friday 22nd on 01359 789195 or email me on [email protected]
CHURCH NEWS
Congratulations to the July Monthly Money Draw winners, Angela West, Vic and Val and Mary and Terry Taylor. We will have the draw this month at our Coffee Morning on 5th August which starts at 10.30am.
WANTED: Volunteers to come and ring the church bells before our services on the first and third Sundays of each month. How about a parent and child to do it together?
Have you been saving your coins to add to the Coin Carpet Trail to be held in church, during the Bike Ride on Saturday 13th September? We would like the line to cover the length of the aisle by the end of the day!
Instead of forming a Calendar with photos of our two villages as a fundraiser, we have decided to make the chosen photos into Note-lets to sell throughout the year.
A date for your diary, Sunday 28th September we will hold a Harvest Ploughman’s Lunch in the Village Hall.
SUNFLOWER COMPETITION
If you have entered the sunflower competition then don't forget to measure it and send with a photo of you next to your sunflower to Harriet at [email protected] by the end of Sunday 17 August. Full details on the Village Hall website at https://www.hsvh.org.uk/sunflower-competition.html This is on the Village Hall website under 'Events' - winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Village Show on Monday 25 August - good luck!
VILLAGE SHOW
Not long now until the Village Show on Monday 25th August. As the intention of the show is to raise funds for the upkeep of our Village Hall, we can't wait to see you all there supporting us, whether you are entering or just viewing the exhibits and enjoying the refreshments. We are looking forward to seeing all your entries which we are sure will be of a high stand-ard as previous years have consistently shown.
Don't forget that the show isn't just for adults, there are categories for those 15 years and under as well. So, whether you are green-fingered, artistic or a culinary superstar, there is a category for you (whether you are young or young at heart). Not forgetting our Limerick competition which has been revived for this year. Please bring along your submissions for our volunteer judges to cast their eyes over and we wish you luck in being one of our placement winners. Here's hoping that the recent rainy weather has spurred on the growth of your intended flower/plant and fruit/vegetable exhibits.
Any donations for raffle prizes are gladly accepted.
HONINGTON & SAPISTON W.I.
The WI have provisionally booked a coach trip to Southwold on Wednesday 3rd September leaving Sapiston Village Hall c.10am. If we can fill the coach, seats will cost £20. Open to non-members. Contact Val Norman on [email protected] if interested, or WI members.
CAMERA CLUB
Our July meeting was very enjoyable with our "Bugs/Insects" entries proving more popular than our "Portraits" section, however the quality in both was really good. Overall, an excellent choice of subjects with great images projected on our large screen.
Our August 19th meeting has two subjects to challenge us "Shorelines" & "Evening/Night " photography.
Intrigued? Then pop along for a 7pm start, have a chat and refreshments in the main village hall.
Email [email protected] if you have any questions.
ROWING THE ATLANTIC
In December Mark Jacklin, along with three colleagues, will be rowing across the Atlantic from La Gomera to Antigua - a journey of 3000 nautical miles. For two of the team, Mark and Matt, it is the 21st anniversary of their last row across the Atlantic. Despite their bodies being 21 years older, and a few more aches and pains, the rowing boats have improved dramatically and thankfully they will be using a very modern rowing boat which they have full confidence in. The team have recently completed the race organisers’ minimum requirements - log 120 hours rowing at sea and completed, with video evidence, some key skills such as man overboard/pulling oneself back into the boat/deploying para anchor et al. Whilst the event is classed as a race not all teams’ goals are to ‘win the race’ and that is certainly the case for Mark and the team; their goals are to get across safely, go as fast as they can, get off the boat as they started as friends and hopefully enjoy the experience. Life on board will be very simple – 3 hours rowing and then 3 hours off (when we say ‘off’ they will still have to navigate, clean the boat (remove growth from hull of boat), boil hot water to rehydrate the food (6000 cals a day per person), make drinking water (desalination pump) and undertake general boat maintenance). To date the team’s main effort has been to secure sponsorship in order to raise circa £85K required to enter the event, rent the boat, service equipment, accommodation at start/finish and buy freeze dried food etc. The Team will soon be switching their efforts to fund raising for their charities …. watch this space for an event at the Village Hall with a special guest speaker. The team depart for La Gomera at the end of November, will start their row on 12th December and hope to arrive in Antigua after approximately 45-50 days at sea.
Future Dates for your Diary:
Saturday 6th September – Emergency First Aid at Work Course
Monday 8th September – Parish Council Meeting
Sunday 7th September – Village Picnic
Saturday 13th September – Church Bike Ride and Coin Trail
Sunday 28th September – Church Harvest Ploughman’s Lunch
Sunday 16th November – Christmas Market
Saturday 29th November – Christmas Meal
Please remember to leave your bins out the night before the stated collection day, or by 06.15 on the actual collection day. NB: Bin days may differ for people living on the outskirts of Sapiston and on bank holidays.
All meetings and events listed above take place at Honington and Sapiston Village Hall unless otherwise stated. If you are interested in setting up a new group please contact Ian Patterson-Parker to discuss hall availability and costs. 01359 789195. The hall is licensed for weddings and is available to hire for parties, meetings, exercise classes etc. The hall has a fully licensed bar and full catering kitchen.
Please don’t forget to use our new and updated website for information on all Hall events. Here you can view menus for all community meals, dates of church coffee mornings, different activities being held, copies of the newsletter, etc. www.hsvh.org.uk. Also, the parish council website www.honington and sapiston.com
Contributions for the June newsletter to be submitted via e-mail to Carol King ([email protected]) by 20th August. Entries can be dropped off to Carol at Boreham House, Sapiston, if preferred.
Saturday 6th September – Emergency First Aid at Work Course
Monday 8th September – Parish Council Meeting
Sunday 7th September – Village Picnic
Saturday 13th September – Church Bike Ride and Coin Trail
Sunday 28th September – Church Harvest Ploughman’s Lunch
Sunday 16th November – Christmas Market
Saturday 29th November – Christmas Meal
Please remember to leave your bins out the night before the stated collection day, or by 06.15 on the actual collection day. NB: Bin days may differ for people living on the outskirts of Sapiston and on bank holidays.
All meetings and events listed above take place at Honington and Sapiston Village Hall unless otherwise stated. If you are interested in setting up a new group please contact Ian Patterson-Parker to discuss hall availability and costs. 01359 789195. The hall is licensed for weddings and is available to hire for parties, meetings, exercise classes etc. The hall has a fully licensed bar and full catering kitchen.
Please don’t forget to use our new and updated website for information on all Hall events. Here you can view menus for all community meals, dates of church coffee mornings, different activities being held, copies of the newsletter, etc. www.hsvh.org.uk. Also, the parish council website www.honington and sapiston.com
Contributions for the June newsletter to be submitted via e-mail to Carol King ([email protected]) by 20th August. Entries can be dropped off to Carol at Boreham House, Sapiston, if preferred.