Sunrise over Loompit Lake, Summer Solstice, 2021. Overview After the 2020 Christmas that never really happened, the nation as a whole and our community moved into the New Year with minimal expectations ‘things’ would improve. A third Lockdown seemed inevitable and indeed so it proved to be. On 4th January 2022 it was announced it … Continue reading Trimley St Martin Village Recorder’s Annual Report 2021 →

“One of our most fundamental rights is to protest. It is the essence of our democracy”[1] Ian Cowan, aged about 2 Anyone driving through Trimley St. Martin in the last year cannot have failed to notice the new housing springing up along the High Road. People appear surprised and ask, “What is going on?” in … Continue reading Ian Cowan: threads and tangents. Reader, traveller, protester. →

  The 201 outside The Hand in Hand on Sunday 15th May 1966 (Courtesy of Bryan Frost) Sometime in January 2021, during the early days of our third National Lockdown, I found myself consulting one of Ray Howlett’s[1] books. I was struck by the date of the publication; 1984. Not because of any Orwellian reference … Continue reading The 201. Mid-century transport experiences. →

Blackie December 2021 Earlier this month I strolled down Thorpe Lane to interview one of its illustrious inhabitants.  Renowned for his benign character and forbearing stance, he is known not only to villagers but the wider world beyond our boundaries. During the last eighteen months many people have passed him on their way to Trimley … Continue reading A Horse named Blackie →

The Men’s Shed Barn in Trimley St. Mary. Tony Allen About a month ago, a kind and alert friend contacted me to let me know a Felixstowe Men’s Shed had arrived in Trimley St. Mary. This news was followed up some days later when a post appeared on Facebook with a link to a video … Continue reading Felixstowe Men’s Shed in Trimley →

  Rosemary Gitsham 1935 - 2021 Rosemary in 1948; on top of the world and looking out at the many enticing horizons ahead of her. It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude, I write this brief article. My subject is Rosemary; personal friend to many; kind friend to myself and an all-encompassing friend … Continue reading Remembrance for Rosemary →

 Rhonda’s Baby hats and blankets made during the Covid Lockdowns. It’s been more than eighteen months since Christine’s Club last met. Covid placed a temporary block on such activities but now the doors are open again to welcome anyone who might like to join a small social club intent on friendly conversation and good company. … Continue reading Christine’s Club re-opens… →

3rd September 2021 – 4th September 2021 After three Lockdowns, many of us can’t wait to engage with as many cultural opportunities as possible. In just over 4 weeks, the pioneering “Women in Arts and Music Festival”  or WAM Fest, will take place in Felixstowe.  The Festival, which will run for approximately 30 exhilarating hours, … Continue reading Women in Art and Music: A celebration of Women’s creativity →

  Some of the dominant words of 2020 Last year in 2020 life in Trimley St. Martin and the rest of the world became overwhelmed by something neither living nor dead. First identified in China, by the middle of January, the first C.O.B.R.A. meeting had been called to address the emerging Covid 19 emergency. All … Continue reading Trimley St. Martin Village Recorder’s Report 2020 →

Last year, on 23rd March 2020, the Prime Minister announced the nation would go into Lockdown, commencing on the 24th March. Much has happened since then. Covid 19 has advanced, receded and advanced again with increasing ferocity. Too many people have died and the majority of us might struggle to think of anything good which … Continue reading New Footpath maps for Trimley St. Martin →

Kingdom of United Voices The true and inspirational story of music from Trimley St. Martin and the wider world   Have you heard ‘Across the Borders’ before? Do you know the story of the song? Have you heard of The Kingdom of United Voices? In this country, the answer to these two questions is probably … Continue reading The top song of 2020: ‘Across the Borders’ by Chandra Grover →

The Mills, Trimley c.1900 -1905 (enhanced postcard image in sepia)   Enhanced postcard image in black and white   Enhanced postcard image of the reverse, I purchased the postcard above in October 2020 and can truthfully say I have never paid so much for a 3” X 5" piece of card. The amount was eye … Continue reading Millers’ Tales →

“Harry’s Bar celebrates ‘The Few’” at 2 Sisters It is now possible to see live performances again. The 2 Sisters Arts Centre has opened its doors to audiences who want to see real people performing or acting. During the long months since Lockdown started on 24th March 2020, the word ‘zoom’ has come to mean … Continue reading 2 Sisters re-opens: Championing live performances →

  I continue to be fascinated and beguiled by postcard messages from the early twentieth Century, acquiring examples on a casual basis when they come on the market. Postcards were introduced in Great Britain in October 1870[1] but they were plain and unillustrated. It was not until 1894 the familiar photographic cards began to be … Continue reading Postcards from Trimley →

  Although friends evolve over time and are generally  the people we choose to be with, it isn't  possible  to  choose our family nor to any great degree, our neighbours. My   husband and I are fortunate to live close to people who have always been friendly, outward going   and obliging. If we ask for help, … Continue reading Yelling at the neighbours →

Today, Tuesday 19th May, is the start of the ninth official week of Lockdown or Day 57 if you’re counting carefully. For some, who voluntarily retreated from the public world on the 17th March 2020, it is Week Ten. One way or another it has been a long time; the clear and beautiful Spring is … Continue reading Birthdays in Lockdown…and other things →

and  also, how Trimley St. Martin Marked V.E. Day     Pauline's contribution  to V.E. Day  celebrations  - beer but no  skittles.   The  Lockdown   view from  the Village,  Day  48 For at least one Villager, the last seven days have been a source  of anxiety and concern.  In truth,  many people continue  to  struggle … Continue reading When Disaster strikes … →

When is the last time you saw more than one vapour trail stretched across the skies? The air is clear and bright inside and out, as I was putting together this week’s Blog.  One of my correspondents, Paul R. sent me an image of flights coming into and out of, the U.K. and  I reproduce … Continue reading Peerless skies: Another week in Trimley St. Martin during lockdown →

Susan Hughes This is our blog for the week. Today I had to tell my daughter that a friend of hers died of Coronovirus. She was the youngest person to die in Suffolk. 31. This has been a very sad time. ************************************************************************************* It seems to me there are two truths to our current situation. One … Continue reading Missing You … Lockdown: Week 6 →

    As the Pandemic Blog continues, contributors continue to send in their weekly reports.  You may see subtle changes in the tone and content they despatch. This week, there are several  who look back reflectively, remembering the hardship their parents or grandparents endured; others recall times from their childhood.  Reflection during compulsory isolation is … Continue reading Living in the present, thinking of the past: Life in Trimley St. Martin during the Pandemic, Week 5. →

  Pink Moon   Courtesy of Laura Locke   Over the last three or four weeks, regular correspondents have been contributing weekly reports about their life in self isolation to this Blog. One of the common features of all correspondents is their positive approach to the crisis of the Covid 19 pandemic. Everyone is sustaining themselves … Continue reading Lockdown continues. Another week in the life of Trimley and the Corona Virus: Week 4. →

 “The budding twigs spread out their fan…”  (William Wordsworth) After nearly three weeks of being confined to quarters, two of them compulsory, I awoke one morning to find the hedge outside my house had  sprung into  life  with blossom, flowers and tender ferns  unfurling  in  front of me. In the  weeks of  ‘lock down’,  the … Continue reading Spring arrives as the Great Pandemic continues: Week 3. →

...in  the time of the Great Pandemic. We live in the  short section of Grimston Lane which finishes in spiked metal and a dead end.   Compulsory self-isolation means that although we may hear our  neighbours, it is no  longer a frequent occurrence to see them in actuality.  Last night, at five to eight, I … Continue reading A round of applause … →

    Small spring flowers in the hedgerow We appear to still be in a ‘phoney war’ period with the Covid-19 virus. It’s sniping fiercely around the edges while building up strength for a full onslaught. This  time  last week  the  total number  of cases in Suffolk were 22. As  of 11.00 p.m.  on Monday … Continue reading Official lock down in Trimley. The Great Pandemic: Week 2 →

Tuesday 24th March 2020 "...Will these hands ne'er be clean?" I have never incited any one to murder knowingly or otherwise but for the last three or four weeks  I have assumed the persona of Lady Macbeth, as I wash and wring my hands until they are red raw. This is my diligent attempt to … Continue reading Pandemic in Trimley St. Martin: Week 1 →

   Sue Biddle in 2009 A fortnight ago, before the world became something unfamiliar to us all, Sue Biddle cycled round to see me with the aim of discussing one of her longstanding projects. Some years back I met Sue in the Ipswich Branch of Suffolk Record Office, one dull Saturday morning when she was … Continue reading Sue Biddle… Headstone Hunter →

“Bound for Van Diemen's land, brave boys, Far, far across the sea”  (The story of Lydia Rackham and her family was originally published in three separate parts in 2018 and 2019. I have decided to put all three together as one long narrative for ease of access.) Part 1 If you have lived in the … Continue reading The true story of Lydia Rackham… →

…and all about the new 2020 season at Two Sisters. “Not just an Arts venue for Trimley but for the whole Felixstowe Peninsula.” This was how Suzanne Hawkes described the Two Sisters Arts Centre, when it opened last year in Trimley St. Mary’s Church. The first year’s programme brimmed over with plays, gigs, music and … Continue reading All that Jazz. Suzanne Hawkes talks Jazz … →