HENLEY OCCASIONAL GOLF SOCIETY....
HOGS!!
The 'HOGS' - were formed in January 2000. The Society organise
meetings throughout the year, at venues like Fynn Valley,
Waldringfield, Brett Vale and Felixstowe, with always a full
day Christmas event at Thorpeness Golf Club. We have over 20
members within the society. New members are always warmly
welcomed.
CONTACT: Mr. K Lawrance, Secretary. Tel: Ipswich (01473)
831432.
Subscription: £10 per annum.
GOLF
MATCHES FOR 2008
Date |
Venue |
Arrival
Time |
Tee-Time |
Cost |
|
7
Mar |
Waldringfield |
9.30am |
10am |
£20
golf, followed by Ham, Egg & Chips |
|
20
& 21 April |
The
Suffolk |
10.15am |
11am
(Sun)
10am
(Mon) |
£154
Dinner, Bed/Breakfast, 2 rounds golf |
|
30
May |
Southwold |
12.15pm |
1pm |
£15
plus cost of meal |
|
8
Aug |
Brett
Vale |
9.15am |
10am |
£31.50
coffee, bacon bap, golf then meal |
|
26
Sept |
Stowmarket |
8.45am |
9.30am |
£38
coffee, bacon bap, golf then one course
meal |
|
7
Nov |
Fynn
Valley |
9.20am |
10am |
£25
golf followed by 2 course meal |
|
12
Dec |
Seckford |
9.15am |
10am |
£28
coffee, bacon bap, golf followed by
meal |
|
29
Dec |
Thorpeness |
10am |
11am |
TBA |
REPORTS FROM HOGS EVENTS.......
THERE IS A LOT OF GRASS ON THIS
COURSE
After returning from France, there was only just enough time to
wash those orange shirts before it was time to assemble at
Stowmarket. Prior to this meeting, only once has someone forgotten
their golf shoes and that was yours truly, but now there are enough
members to form an elite society within the HOGS. Neil Gerrard
arrived with no shoes and resorted to purchasing a new pair, so he
now has two new pairs. Meanwhile, Paul Challener arrived with his
son Tom’s and with some extra socks, they almost fitted.
Fortunately, these shoes are not like “Billy’s Boots” made famous
by 1970’s comics, although it would have been funny to watch Paul
running down the fairways and rowing down the River Rat.
There was a certain inevitability about the outcome of the match
with just as last year, the winner of the French tour following up
his success on home soil. Brian Shaw maintained his incredible form
by scoring 36 points, beating Paul Gerrard by 3 points with the
rest of us left trailing in their wake. The nearest the pin winner
was Scott Vincent and at the other the end of results sheet, was
Martin Allum. It was pleasing to see that he had recovered from the
asthma attack that had afflicted him at Brett Vale, but the result
was just the same and he did not bother taking the ‘Golden Boot’
out of his car. It is worth pointing out that we do not actually
know how many points Martin got as a certain person who had been
forced to buy a new pair of shoes had also forgotten to record
anything on Martin’s scorecard.
Two paragraphs completed and still no mention of the most
disruptive person on the French tour. Yes Ivan Fisher was playing
and he was indeed responsible for the quote “there is a lot of
grass on the course”, that left his playing partners dumbfounded. I
think it was a reference to, thanks to our glorious summer, the
lush grass, but it may have also been a cunning ploy to distract
us. Ivan also had forthright views about the choice of the longest
drive hole, moaning before, during and after the game that the
choice was too early in the round. As it happened, he was the one
player to hit the fairway as everyone else looked for alternative
and unconventional approaches to the green. So as he was awarded
his prize, we all agreed with his view, only to discover he had
changed his mind.
We now have just 3 more meetings this year. Next up is the short
trip down the road to Fynn Valley on November 7th, where
we tee off at 10:00 and the last 2 meetings are both at Seckford.
In past years, the Christmas meeting has been held at Thorpeness,
but over the years, the tee off times have been later and later, so
rather than play in the dark, Keith has done one of his deals with
Seckford. We know that the food is excellent and it will certainly
be easier to get to. The golf course is a completely different
challenge to Thorpeness and with the ‘practice’ meeting at the
start of December; it may be a very completive event.
Bandit Bill
EURO HOGS 2008
The HOGS 2008
European adventure was a bit more incident packed than expected.
Firstly, we do need to deny any involvement in the fire that closed
one bore of the channel tunnel – we had safely passed through a few
hours earlier and the subsequent travel changes only delayed our
return by about 3 hours. Secondly, the crash of Lehman Brothers and
general banking crisis cannot be associated with Scott Vincent
losing his wallet. Of greatest concern are the cooking skills of
Ivan Fisher, one of the regular chefs who cook at the village
brunch. According to Delia Smith, when someone says “Oh I can’t
even boil an egg”, what they are really saying is “I can’t cook
anything at all”. Perhaps he was testing a new hangover cure or it
was just one of those senior moments when at breakfast, Ivan forgot
to cook his boiled egg.
The annual visit
to France was another great success, although the tour shirt,
described during the trip as car park attendant orange, was similar
to in colour to a Guantanamo Bay prison uniform. There were return
visits to Le Touquet and Wimereux, with the stunning Hardelot
course replacing the visit to St. Omer, a course that in previous
years has got the better of the HOGS. This was also a contributing
factor in the scoring being significantly higher than previous
years, with the winning score being 102, 9 more than last year’s
winning score and the average score per round was
28.
Once again, the
prizes were funded predominately from the fines levied every
evening, for a variety of misdemeanours as varied as yours truly
driving to fast on the autoroute and Ivan verbally abusing the tour
organiser; and that was before being presented with a hard boiled
egg at the prizing giving.
The overall
winner was Brian Shaw, who also won 2 longest drives, was half of
the blind pairs winners and a quarter of the yellow ball winning
team. Second was Simon Fisher and tied for third place were Neil
Gerrard and Scott Vincent with Shaun Vincent taking the booby
prize. It is worth noting that Neil was in first place after the
second round but did not have the stamina to register a significant
score on the final day.
And finally, we
are all indebted to Keith Lawrance for organising the
trip.
Bandit
Bill
LOCAL VENUE A
SUCCESS
Since my last publication, it has been a busy time for
the Henley Occasional Golf Society. Firstly,
Thanks to all those
who supported the HOGS race night and BBQ back in June. Over the
last couple of months, the HOGS have played at Crettingham and
Brett Vale and plans are now well advanced for the 4th
HOGS International trip to the France.
Whilst the world’s best golfers were playing in The Open
as Royal Birkdale, the HOGS were playing at Cretingham. There were
few similarities. Whilst many of the professionals had to qualify
and had been playing, in appalling weather on a course that is
7,700 yards long for winner’s prize fund of £4.2m, most of the HOGS
took at day of work to play on a course that is about two thirds as
long for a prize purse of a few bottles of wine and some golf
balls.
The meeting at Cretingham was a bit of an after thought
because many would miss the Brett Vale visit due to family
holidays. Although less than 10 miles away, many of us have never
played the course, and no one recently. Most of us were very
pleasantly surprised, with some picturesque holes and some
inconveniently placed trees that make you think about how you play
the holes. I found the 1st tee particularly
intimidating, with an avenue of trees/bushes meaning the tee shot
had to be straight or high over the trees on the left – not what an
occasional golfer wants at the start of a round.
For club captain Tim Clarke, the day did not start too
well. Upon arrival, he discovered that following his success at The
Suffolk, his handicap had been slashed by 3 shots. Next he realised
he had left 3 clubs at home and to cap it all he discovered that
his team mates were Martin Allum and Steve Brock! However, he led
his team well and achieved a very credible second, being beaten by
three points by a team made of Neil Gerrard, Scot Vincent and Keith
Lawrance, who for the second meeting running accumulated the
highest score. All three scored over 30 points on a day when more
than half those playing achieving this feat. Another special
mention for Scot who tried to hit cars on the road at Southwold and
this time went for the stationary cars in the car
park.
In addition to the team event, there were individual
prizes up for grabs as well and these where all secured by the
proper golfers with the low handicaps. Tim had a suitable club to
win the nearest the pin and Alan Farnish was hit the longest drive.
But the biggest surprise was that the Golden Boot was won by Ian
Addicott, to the dismay of those assembled.
Moving on to Brett Vale, and normal service was resumed,
with Ian Addicott accumulating a massive 42 points and he also won
the nearest the pin. The longest drive once again went to Alan
Farnish, who on average wins this price 25% of the time and has won
3 out of the 6 rounds this year. I missed this event, but via the
village grapevine I have heard a few stories about the day. Most
worrying was that Martin Allum had an asthma attack and really was
not too well. By finishing his round, he qualified for the golden
boot prize but I feel he deprived another member of the glory of
winning the society’s booby prize. I believe Martin has also
emulated Scott Vincent’s achievement of hitting a ball into the car
park, but also raised the bar by hitting a car.
Next month I’ll report on the visit to
Boulogne.
Bandit Bill
THE HOGS VISIT THE SEASIDE
Considering, it was school half term and a
couple of days after the Suffolk Show, the chances of the HOGS’
visit to Southwold being a bit damp were high. However, Friday was
probably the best day of the week, and considering the amount of
rainfall earlier in the week, the golf course was in great
condition. But I am getting ahead of myself, as before the golf,
the HOGS met for a good fry up at Wyevale. Others also enjoying the
food were a good number of local pensioners who have got to the age
where they no longer need to worrying about cholesterol.
Back to the golf at Southwold. As I said last month, the fairways
are flanked by thick gorse bushes and if you don’t play well it is
difficult to accumulate a good score. I witnessed at close hand the
competition for the Golden Boot, and both Grahame Hughes and Scott
Vincent did well to generally avoid the gorse. However scoring was
a problem, with Grahame still in single figures after the first
nine holes. His improvement coincided with Scott’s decline. On the
16th green, Scott generously gave Grahame a ‘Gimme’ for a par
before saying that he was still ahead on points. Going down the
17th, Grahame found the gorse on the left, but it was worse for
Scott who was off to the right using cars as targets – you will not
believe how high a golf ball will bounce off tarmac. The 18th was
the nearest the pin hole, and whilst my shot trickled onto the
green, theirs did not, but Grahame managed a point to draw level.
Scott was the loser on count back and also after discovering he had
played using the wrong handicap.
Those who had a better a day were Keith Lawrance who had the
highest score and won the nearest the pin; John Clough who hit the
longest drive and John and Steve Brock who were drawn together in
the blind pairs and had the highest combined score. It was a lucky
day for John who had turned up from work and forgotten to pack a
suitable shirt so played without a collar, a cardinal sin at some
golf clubs.
The next meeting will be on July 18th at Cretingham, a first for
many of us. I’ve been on the internet and discovered that nearly
half the holes have water hazards, so I must remember to buy some
more balls. We are meeting at the golf club at 9.45 for Coffee
Bacon Baps, then 18 holes of golf (1st tee off 10.30) followed by a
meal – have you told Keith you are playing?
Bandit Bill
the hogs visit the suffolk
Since I last wrote, many of the HOGS and a few of their
partners have spent a couple of days at The Suffolk. It is safe to
say that the golf course provided more of a challenge than Dunston
Hall, but there was some remarkably good golf played – both Ian
Addicott and Brian Shaw both registered eagles on the first day. Of
course being the HOGS, this was balanced by some equally bad play.
One of the Vincent brothers was saved the embarrassment of smashing
a local resident’s conservatory because the ball hit a tree that
was clearly 10 yards out of bounds. And there was a case of golf
rage. Having just missed a short putt, I witnessed a HOG putt the
ball from the green straight into the adjacent pond. This was
followed up by the next two tee shots ending up in the same pond as
well.
Having said that, day 1 was a great success for the
Vincent brothers as Shaun came first with 35 points and Scott won
the nearest the pin competition. The other winner was Brian Shaw
for the longest drive. The only other notable events from the day
were that a senior member disturbed our evening meal when his phone
went off and that despite the close proximity to Bury, the bar ran
out of Greene King IPA!
Last month I mentioned my golf lessons and my expectations
of loads of prizes from HOGS meetings. Well day 1 was not a great
success, but felt I had played well without scoring well.
Unfortunately, on day 2, the wheels well and truly came off. Yes, I
came home empty handed, almost quite literally as I misplaced a
large number of golf balls (mostly in water hazards) and even
offered up my clubs for sale whilst ‘sulking’ my way down the
18th fairway. The moral to this is to listen to the golf
pro and do what he says, rather than what feels
right.
Others had a better day. Nick Medlam won the Tim Clarke
Key Handling Award for leaving his car keys on the roof of his car
all day and Tim himself had the best score of the day and was
nearest the pin, with Alan Farnish hitting the longest drive. Once
the scores from both days were combined, Tim was declared the
overall winner with Shaun taking the runners up slot. My day 2
performance put me in contention for the Golden Boot, but Martin
Allum’s day 1 score ensured I went home empty
handed.
So before our visit to Southwold (May 30th, tee
off at 1pm), I need to have some more lessons and spend a few more
hours on the driving range. The now annual visit to Southwold
provides a unique challenge, with the 18 tee positions feeding via
fairways flanked by thick gorse bushes into just 9 greens. The only
good news is I can not recall there being any water hazards as the
North Sea is just out of range. Also, the chances of the club bar
running out of Adnams are minimal. As with last year, those who
want to practice being a Henley Senior Citizen member will be
meeting at Wyevale for brunch at 10:30.
Bandit
Bill
IVAN SAYS
For the first HOGS meeting of the year, I was cruelly cut down
with life threatening back ache, so was not able to make it to
Waldringfield. Consequently, all the following details are based on
what Ivan Fisher says! I have to say that as I wandered through the
village on the morning of 7th March, it was not hard to
notice the rain, so I was not too disappointed to miss out on a
game of golf. However, within the hour, the sun was shining so the
14 HOGS who did make it to Waldringfield were blessed with good
weather.
The competition for the day was a team event, with the winners
being Tim Clarke, Kevin Griggs, Nick Medlam and Neil Gerrard. I’m
sure they had some advantage as there must have also been two teams
of three. I guess we can trust club captain Tim to ensure there was
no foul play. The longest drive was according to Ivan a ‘real
cracker’, with Grahame Hughes beating Alan Farnish by a few inches.
Ian Addicott won the nearest the pin competition proving that his
recent lessons were worthwhile – prior to the back ache I sat
though the final minutes of his lesson as I waited for my lesson.
Clearly I had better prepare my wine cellar for loads of prizes
this year.
Now according to Ivan, the Golden Boot was awarded to Ivan’s
son, Simon. When Ivan was telling me this, he double checked my
understanding to ensure he was not credited with the lowest score
of the day. I did think there was some sort of cover up. I think
had better find out what Simon says!
The next HOGS meeting is at The Suffolk where we are due to play
Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. This has replaced the annual
visit to Dunston Hall where they have had their greens vandalised.
We have previous played at The Suffolk a couple of times, so it
will be interesting to see what the overnight accommodation is
like.
Bandit Bill
HENLEY
ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB
The village football club has two sides in the Suffolk and
Ipswich League.
The 1st team play in Division 4 and the Reserves in Division
5.
The SIL season runs from September to the end of April and matches
are on Saturday afternoons. Training is on Wednesday evenings from
7-9 pm.
If you are interested in playing,
please contact Peter Harvey, Club Secretary, on 07760
160276.
League tables and forthcoming fixtures can
be found on the SIL website at ....
http://www.suffolkandipswichleague.co.uk/
After last season’s mid-table finish, Mark
Dunham took over the 1st team and has injected some much
needed energy and pace by bringing in many of last season’s
promising young Reserve players.
Brian
Vella is the new Reserves manager
HENLEY TOTS
Venue Broughton Room, Henley Community Centre, Henley
Time Tuesday’s – during term time only
1.30pm – 3.15pm
Contact Alex Adams 01449 760641
Nadine Servent 01473 833124
Cost 70p per session
(includes refreshments for children and adults)
A small but friendly group of Mum’s from Henley and the
surrounding villages - together with their “Tots” aged, 0 – 4 year
olds enjoy this weekly gathering.
There are lots of toys for the children to play with, together
with books and jigsaws and we have an activity table for children
who are able to participate in one of the following:- painting,
playdough, sticking or stencils/stamping.
The children also get an opportunity to play outside in the
Courtyard garden with various ride-on toys when the weather is
good.
Come and join us if you’ve a youngster!
Henley Senior Citizens
Henley Senior Citizens meet fortnightly on a
Wednesday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Lounge Bar
of Henley Community Centre. Our usual activities are Bingo
for approximately 1/2 to 3/4 hour followed by tea/coffee and
biscuits. The "men folk" then get involved in dominoes while
the ladies hold conversations on various subjects or play
board games (scrabble, dominoes or a game of
beetle).
From time to time we enjoy entertainment by having
slide shows or a choir. We have even been fortunate enough to
have a speaker who is involved in the Wimbledon Tournament
and ladies showing us the use of the "Spinning
Wheel".
During the year we try to organise outings,
especially in the summer months. One of the most popular
outings is to the Wyevale Garden Centre at Hasketon, near
Woodbridge, where everyone enjoys a lunch before browsing
around the shop and ending with afternoon tea before heading
home.
The year always ends with a superb Christmas Lunch
where over the years members of the W.I. have given their
services to cook and serve this meal.
We are always looking for new members, so just come
along and see what it is like.
Contact members - Gill Earey (secretary) 8 Pond End,
Henley.
- Mary Vincent (treasurer) 6 Pearsons Place,
Henley
Henley Yoga Group
The yoga group meets on Monday evening.
The class transferred from Claydon High School when Suffolk
College closed most of its evening clases. Since then the class has
grown and more that doubled in numbers.
We practice Hatha Yoga which is the original form, a science
over three thousand years old. The yoga postures are geared to
improve general health and well being and keep the joints mobile
and the body supple.
Everyone works to their own limitations as yoga is not a sport
and not competitive.
We end the evening with a relaxation session.
Lavinia Gurney - 01473 690762 Jemma Addicott - 01473
832646
Henley Pre-school
Henley Pre-school has been a part of village life for many
years. Those of you who have lived in the village for some time may
well have been part of the fold yourself, or may have sent your own
children or maybe even Grandchildren. From humble beginnings in the
old WI hut, the Pre-school now occupies modern accommodation in the
Boughton Room of the Community Centre with access to the main hall
for the highly acclaimed annual Nativity play!
We are a charity run childcare provider, managed by a Committee
of parent volunteers. We currently employ six members of staff, two
of whom are residents of the village. Most of the children are from
Henley, Hemingstone and Gosbeck, although such is our reputation
that we attract families from as far afield as Ipswich and Needham
Market. We are currently open for business five mornings a week,
0900 – 1145 and two afternoons, Monday, and Friday 1245-1530. With
the option of an hour packed lunch club on those two days, we can
offer a full day’s childcare.
We accept children between the ages of 2.5 and 5 and have strict
adherence to required adult : child ratios. Each session is
competitively priced at £6.50 although Government Grant Funding is
available to all children aged 3 onwards. This equates to five free
sessions per week. With each lunch club costing a modest £3, this
leaves parents with affordable options for their childcare. Please
note the prices quoted are correct as of April 2007 but may be
subject to change.
We have recently received an Inspection from OFSTED, our
regulatory body. This resulted in a grading of GOOD which we were
very pleased with. The full report is available to view at
www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports
. If you are considering pre-school childcare we are more than
happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have. We
can be contacted on 01473 833848 during our business hours, or on
07979 468467 outside these hours. We look forward to seeing
you.
Kind regards
Henley Pre-school Committee
Henley Taoist Tai Chi
Taoist Tai Chi is a series of gentle
movements, which are becoming increasingly popular with people of
all ages and from all walks of life who want to regain or maintain
their health. Taoist Tai Chi recognises the importance of mental as
well as physical well-being and therefore incorporates involvement
of the mind as well as the body. Tension blocks the natural flow of
energy and by integrating relaxation into the moves this form of
exercise can reduce stress at the same time as it improves
health.
The movements, when practised
regularly are designed to improve health, initially by exercising
all the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. This leads to
increased flexibility and strength, better posture and
co-ordination, with improved circulation and breathing. The turning
and stretching movements that are taught during a beginner class
work to release tension and therefore reduce stress. These slow,
gentle movements allow every part of the body to be exercised
without strain.
The Taoist Tai Chi Society of Great
Britain is a Registered Charity (No. 1053425) and all of their
instructors are accredited volunteer instructors who are motivated
by a wish to share their knowledge of this art with others. The
Taoist Tai Chi Society is a worldwide organisation running classes
throughout Great Britain and more locally in and around Suffolk,
our European Centre being based in Colchester, Essex.
The society has a class here at Henley
in the Community Centre on Thursday afternoons between 2.30pm and
4.30pm. Our local contact is Alain on 01284 750961 or alternatively
visit our website below.
For further information about the
Taoist Tai Chi Society or a class near you please contact the
European Centre on 01206 576167 or visit www.taoist.org
Community Light Orchestra
We are the
CLO, we number around 68 playing musicians: playing all the types
of instruments that you would expect to see in a full orchestra.
Our repertoire covers Elizabethan, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and
Modern, Popular, Jazz and music from the shows. We meet on Tuesday
mornings from 10.00 to 12.00 in the Henley Community Centre,
Ipswich for our rehearsals. Our Conductor and Musical Director is
Barry Salmon.
We perform
three concerts each year in Spring, Summer and Autumn for the
benefit of various charities.
Because we
meet during the day we offer local schools the opportunity to see a
full orchestra in rehearsal at no charge, which we shape to the
schools needs by discussion with the head teacher.
Secretary
Hilli Thompson: 01473 726771
Membership Secretary
Sue Hockenhull: 01394 279368
Bookings for Concerts Bookings for Schools
Ted Finch: 01473 215710 Ginette Johnson: 01473
256991
ginette_johnson@btopenworld.com
Publicity & Website
David Dyer 01394 276034
Davidbobtail@aol.com
Website: Communitylightorchestra.co.uk
Henley WEA
The WEA meet for 10 weekly sessions, during spring and again
during the autumn months, in the Broughton Room at the Community
Centre on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm
A professional lecturer leads each course and the subject matter
varies. Recent courses have included History – Local, Industrial,
Natural, Russian & Chinese.
Geography – Volcano’s & Tsunamis. Other subjects covered
have been Painting, Music & literature.
The fee is the lowest permitted under the national rules and
there is a coffee break to allow informal discussion of the
subject.
Outings are arranged to places linked to the courses.
Further details can be obtained from Arnold Hornsby
– 01473 831105