Bell Ringers
Friends of the Fabric and Bells of St Mary's
Church
Kersey Church has 8 bells ranging in weight from 3cwt to 14 cwt.
Practice night is every Thursday from 7.45pm until 9.15pm, to which
beginners, learners and experienced bell ringers are most welcome.
There is 30 minutes ringing before every morning Sunday service.
The object of the association of Friends is to promote support for
the maintenance and repair of the bells of St Mary’s Church, Kersey
and the associated fabric of the bell tower. Membership is open to
all; including people from outside the village who are interested
in bell ringing. The association is run by a committee of which the
incumbent is an ex-officio member.
Further details from: Chair Mr R Banks Tel: 01787 210366
Tower
Captain Mr N Whittell Tel: 01473 822616
Tower
Correspondent Mrs K Banks Tel: 01787 210366
Forget-Me-Nots
The Forget-Me-Nots hold tea parties
once a month in different homes in and around Kersey. These parties
start at 2.30 pm and usually end about 4.45 pm. Everyone is
welcome, whatevery age. The parties are always happy occasions and
often celebrate a birthday.
Everyone is collected by car and
then delivered safely home. There is always much chat and laughter
and tea is laid on by our hostess. We have a raffle of garden
produce, flowers or any small present. These proceeds go towards
our outings. We used to have about 2 a year but these days seem to
have them more frequently.
Suggestions are always gratefully
received and anyone willing to host a party should get in touch
with Viv. It is always very exciting to have new venues.
Further details from: Mrs Viv Bourne Tel: 01787 211060
Grays Trust
In 1910 the small one up one down former bakery on Church Hill
was left in trust by the Rev William Brice Gray for use as a
Reading Room. With improvements in education its original use
became obsolete and from the late 1930s the downstairs room was
used by a Men’s Club to play snooker and billiards. The upstairs
room was used for church meetings and Sunday School. These uses
gradually became infrequent and ceased in 1993, and the snooker
table was sold in 1995. Different uses for the building were
investigated and the parish was consulted, but nothing was
identified. An application for lottery funds to convert the
building into two small meeting rooms was rejected as an unviable
project. The Charity Commission were consulted and a Scheme dated 4
December 2002 was granted giving the Trust different objectives but
still maintaining Rev Gray’s original purpose in providing
educational benefit for the people of Kersey and residual support
for the church. The new scheme provided the Trustees with a power
of sale of the Reading Room and this was sold in 2004 with
permission to convert to a private dwelling. The proceeds of sale
were added to the capital fund. The income from the capital may be
applied to the following objects:
- To promote the education of persons
who are resident in the area of benefit. This has been defined as
the parish of Kersey and the surrounding area which includes Kersey
Tye, The Uplands and Wickerstreet Green, in the County of
Suffolk.
- If and insofar as the income of the
charity cannot be applied toward the object above, it may be
applied in furthering the religious and other charitable work of
the Church of England in the area of benefit.
Trustees: Rev Tim ffrench
(ex-officio)
Mr John Robinson Chairman Tel: 01473 823247
Mrs Joan Hattrick Secretary Tel: 01473 828215
Mrs Rachel Wells
Mr Peter Martin
A notice inviting individuals and organisations to bid for
financial support of educational studies appears in the Kersey
Newsletter in January and July each year.
KCPC (Kersey Community Playground Committee)
KCPC is a working group of the
Parish Council, which has the aim of maintaining and improving the
recreation facilities for local children and adults. The playground
at the west end of the Glebe sports field was established following
local fundraising efforts. It caters for ages 2-12 with a wide
range of activities in a safe enclosed area. There is a cricket
practice net located at the east end of the Glebe sports
field. A recent addition to the facilities at the Glebe are
some pieces of outdoor gym equipment. KCPC hold regular fundraising
events so the recreation facilities can continue to be maintained
and improved.
Further details from: Chairman Jonathan Marsh Tel 01473
822927
Secretary
Mrs Linda Newbigging Tel 01787 210137
Kersey Millennium Book Fund
The Kersey Millennium Book Fund was set up in 2000 to
administer, in conjunction with the Parish Council, income from the
sale of the book, "Kersey Within Living Memory". This oral history
was compiled in the late 1990s by Anne Maltby from tape recordings,
reproduced verbatim, and photographs, given by the older residents
of the village. The book was launched in 2000 and the first 1000
copies sold within 18 months, with a second run of 1000 books now
all but sold out. The book is now on the internet, you can download
the book chapter by chapter (in pdf form) Go
to www.kerseymemories.wordpress.com
Funds from income received from sales of the book
are available for the benefit of Kersey village
organisations.
Further details from: John Maltby Tel: 01473 828383
Kersey Neighbourhood Watch
John Robinson is the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for
Kersey, he acts as a two-way communication channel between the
police and parishioners.
Further details from: John Robinson Tel: 01473 823247
Kersey Playing Field Association (Glebe)
The Glebe sports field is on the
Hall Road adjacent to the Old Vicarage and is owned by the Kersey
Playing Field Association, which is a registered charity. The
objects of the charity are ‘to provide and maintain in the interest
of social welfare a playing field and recreation facilities for the
inhabitants of the village of Kersey and its neighbourhood’.
The Trustees have leased to the
Parish Council 2 plots, one at the west end of the Glebe on which
the children’s playground has been established and another plot at
the east end of the Glebe for a cricket practice net. During term
time the field is used regularly by the school. It is available for
organised events.
Further details from: Ian Hattrick Tel: 01473 828215
The Kersey Society
The Kersey Society evolved in 2010 out of the former Kersey
Study Group, which for many years facilitated weekly lectures
during the autumn and winter. The Kersey Society aims to organise
three or four annual events of a broadly educational nature each
year. In addition, it will encourage the formation of groups to
explore special topics of interest, so far a theatre group and a
book group have been started.
Further details from: Ian Hattrick Tel 01473 828215
Secretary: Maraday Robinson Tel 01473 823247
Kersey Table Tennis Club
The Kersey Table Tennis Club was formed in September 2009. The
Kersey Parish Plan, completed in
2008, indicated that there was considerable interest in table
tennis amongst parishioners. As a result, a group of volunteers
successfully applied for some grant funding to purchase 2 tables
and start a table tennis club in Kersey Village Hall.
The objective of the club is to
promote sporting and social activity for anyone in the locality.
The club’s mission statement is to promote healthier living through
exercise, give the opportunity for people to learn, improve and
play table tennis and to provide a recreational amenity for all age
groups to inter-act and socialise.
The club hires Kersey Village Hall on a Thursday evening from 8
– 9.30pm. The club will probably only run between September and
early summer each year depending on demand from players. Players
pay a small charge each week to play; currently adults pay
£2/evening and juniors pay £1/evening.
Further details from: Adrian Blyth Tel: 01473 827805
Lewis Mowles Trust Fund
This Trust Fund was set up in memory
of a well-known Kersey gardening enthusiast and character. Fund
income came from hiring out the 2 village marquees, now
administered by the Village Produce Association, of which Lewis
Mowles was an initiator and founder member. Monies are used to
support various village projects at the discretion of the
trustees.
Further details from: Chairman Paul Ryde Tel 01473 823183
Secretary
Mrs Rachel Wells Tel: 01473 822230
Nightingale Trust and Allotments
The Nightingale Trust was founded in 1580 by the will of Robert
Nightingale. There are 6 trustees, two representative trustees
appointed by the Parish Council and 4 co-opted trustees who must be
residents of the village. The income, mainly derived from garden
allotment land, is distributed at Christmas to the elderly of the
Parish.
The allotments are situated at the end of Kedges Lane and are
owned and managed by the Nightingale Trust. They are let, as
available, generally on a first come first served basis.
There is now a special class at the VPA show for allotment
holders. The annual tennants meeting is held in
October.
Further details from: Allotments & Applications Mrs Norah
Orriss Tel: 01473 827513
Secretary
David Griffiths Tel: 01473 823341
Toddler Group
The Toddler Group meets in the
church or at Kersey Primary School every Wednesday afternoon during
term time. They currently meet at 2pm for a fun hour of mixed play
and craft for the children and tea and chat for the adults. At 3pm
they usually join in with class 1 for a short play time and then a
story which every one really enjoys.
The group is open to all
children under the age of 5 years and their carers (parents,
grandparents or carers are all welcome), whether you are local to
the village or from surrounding areas all are welcome. They make no
charge for the group although occasionally small donations are
asked for to go towards drinks and parties, etc. as required from
those attending.
Further details from: Kersey Primary School Tel 01473 823397
Tuesday Club
The Club meets on the first Tuesday of the month from March to
December, usually in Kersey Village Hall at 7.30pm. It is open to
any age group. A mixed programme is arranged each year including
speakers, demonstrations, a meal and a fundraising event. It may
include a visit to a place of interest. Members pay £1 per meeting
(50p when unable to attend) to cover the costs. Non members are
welcome £1.50.
Further details from: Mrs Rachel Wells Tel: 01473 822230
Village Produce Association (VPA)
The Association was formed in 1947, the idea being to enable
members to buy seeds and seed potatoes and also hold an annual
flower show. Now the main function of the year is still the Flower
and Vegetable Show, usually held in September. Annual outings are
organised to gardens, etc. The Association also owns 2 marquees,
which are available for hire to groups and individuals. The AGM is
held in March with other meetings as required. Membership is £1 per
year.
Further details from: Chairman Pete Partridge Tel: 01473
827231
Secretary
Mrs Rachel Wells Tel: 01473
822230