Abbeygate ceremonial secured

Work has begun to ensure that a historic monument at the centre of arrangements for a homecoming parade will be open to the public.

Abbeygate, a historic building dating back to 1327, was closed for inspection on 24 December, when mortar and masonry damaged by recent cold weather began falling from the structure. It is an important gateway between the Abbey Gardens and Angel Hill used by thousands of people, and on Saturday 15 January, by 1 Squadron RAF Regiment who are due to march through it at the beginning of their homecoming parade.

To ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum, St Edmundsbury Borough Council is having an inner tunnel of scaffolding constructed, which will allow the gate to be used while English Heritage, the organisation responsible for its maintenance and repair, undertakes any remedial work necessary.

Cllr John Griffiths MBE, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said,

“Bury’s unique heritage adds greatly to the town’s quality of life and St Edmundsbury will continue to do everything it can to both preserve and protect it. We are happy to be working with English Heritage to make sure that the Abbeygate continues to be enjoyed not only today but everyday, and for generations to come.” 

Happy New Year to you all!

The new year brings new things, and one of those new things is a new look Moreton Hall Directory.

To see the January 2011 online version click the link here and let us know what you think!

Hoax Email

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We have been subject to a hoax email which was published in Frank Warby's Column in the June issue of the MHD, regarding mobile phone tricks, a couple of the points mentioned do work, a couple don't and are potentially not suitable to even try!.

For more specific information please see www.hoax-slayer.com/mobile-phone-tips.shtml

Moreton Hall Youth Club – can you help?

As the days grow longer more youngsters attend the youth club on Moreton Hall. This means they really need more mums and dads to help supervise.

On a rota basis, it would only mean having to attend once a month.

So come on mum and dads support your children’s club, we fought hard to get it please don’t let us loose it. Anyone interested please email Frank Warby at frankjwarby@aol.com or ring 01284 704138.

It’s official – the best things in life can be FREE

There’s not much good news about at the moment. So when something good happens, it is worth celebrating. And there’s very little that’s better than making something free for
the first time.

Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery have announced that from
now on entrance to all exhibitions will be completely free of charge.

Alison Plumridge, Director, said: “Although the entrance fee was small at £1 for adults, it was still seen as a barrier, although mainly a psychological one. By removing it we are offering a big welcome to everybody. Come and look. Viewing our exhibitions costs nothing and they really are worth seeing.”

The Gallery believes that this move will further widen its appeal. It hopes now to tempt more tourists to Bury and people in the town with time on their hands, like shoppers waiting for buses and office workers seeking something interesting to do during a lunch break. Also it is hoped that free entry will encourage visitors to return regularly to view the Gallery’s excellent and varied programme of exhibitions of contemporary art and crafts.

For more information about the gallery please visit www.burystedmundsartgallery.org or telephone 01284 762081.

Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery, The Market Cross, Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1BT.

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

BBQ/Disco raises £2246 for Cancer Research UK

A group of friends from Bury St Edmunds recently raised a fantastic £2246 for Cancer Research UK, by holding a BBQ/Disco at Moreton Hall Community Centre on Saturday 25th April.
Dave Neal, Steph Wright and Alex & Kerry Howell came up with an idea for a charity evening whilst having a drink together. Like many people, their families had all been affected in some way by Cancer, and they decided they would like to give something back. With the guidance of Nicki Stapleton from Cancer Research UK, they successfully organised a fantastic evening which included a live band, disco, charity auction and BBQ, with over 200 people attending.
Kerry Howell said “We were very grateful that the band ‘5 Mile High’ and ‘Sights & Sounds’ disco both offered to help us out, a fantastic evening was had by all and we raised an overwhelming amount of money”.
“We would also like to thank our friends, family and colleagues for their assistance in putting the evening together, Adrian Lewis of Frames Conservatories Direct for standing over the BBQ for hours, the band and disco, The Moreton Hall Pub, The Moreton Hall Directory, Dance Krazy and Sainsbury’s, plus all who contributed to make the event such a great success”.

Controversial New Homes on Moreton Hall...

I drive past the new homes that are currently being built at Abbotsford Park pretty much every day, and I'm amazed at how quickly they are coming along and how quickly the area is expanding.

I remember sitting in the Flying Fortress some years ago, knowing that at some point in the future houses would run all the way up to the beer garden (and maybe even beyond), it seemed like a long, long way off at the time!

I was also surprised to read that these homes are fairly controversial to some people. I'd love to know how people in the area feel about these themselves.

Do you feel there is now a need for more services on the Moreton Hall? If so, do you have any suggestions?, are more roads needed to accommodate the extra residents?

What are your views?