Powered by Bury Free Press, Suffolk Free Press, Newmarket Journal & Haverhill Echo Powered by Bury Free Press, Suffolk Free Press, Newmarket Journal and Haverhill Echo Home   Bury St Edmunds   News   Article A missing 14-year-old boy from Great Saxham has been found Kaiden had last been seen at 10.30am on Thursday 1 May He was found safe in Peterborough this afternoon Police have thanked members of the public for their help Home   Sport   Article Captain Callum Guest led by example as Sawston & Babraham (181-5) maintained their winning start to new Thurlow Nunn East Anglian Premier League season with a five-wicket triumph over Bury St Edmunds on Saturday (176-9) who took over as skipper from Dan Heath ahead of the 2025 campaign getting underway has often produced the goods with the bat down the years it was his performance with the ball that caught the eye on this occasion at the Spicers Sports Ground with six maidens thrown into the bargain for good measure The visitors’ top order had no answer to Guest’s bowling He removed Bury’s opening four batsmen of Wayne Routledge (8) Will Jarman (0) and Harry Gallian (1) for a combined team score of just 13 Guest also accounted for the wicket of Bury all-rounder Tom Rash (2) to leave the away side toiling on 18-6 after just 12.4 overs the away team from Suffolk did remarkably well to reach their final total and at least give the hosting champions something to chase down That was in no small part down to the display of Alex Cruickshank who soaked up 85 deliveries on his way to a score of 45 before he was run out by Ethan Rice Oliver Riddick also ensured that the Bury tail wagged with an unbeaten score of 43 runs off 49 balls while Ben Whittaker and the experienced Justin Bishop contributed 25 and 22 respectively to help push their side closer towards the 200-run mark the remainder of the wickets to fall were shared around by the rest of Sawston & Babraham bowling attack with one apiece for James Vandepeer (1-28) Guest was unable to replicate his bowling exploits with the bat Opening up the reply alongside Yousuf Choudhary Guest’s wicket was snared by Rash for nine while his partner also headed back to the pavilion early having made only five Rice – batting at number three – then fell for 28 to leave Sawston & Babraham on 51-3 to give Bury the slightest of hopes of an unlikely victory But all-rounder Ben Claydon duly dashed those small glimmers of optimism with a half century to steady the innings His wicket was eventually taken by Whittaker for 53 but by that point Sawston & Babraham were less than 50 runs from their target with five wickets still in hand he moved his individual total for the season on to 220 in three outings leaving him third on the division’s early run-scoring chart behind the Sudbury combination of Adam Jones (238) and Darren Batch (223) It was left to winter addition Henry Wilson (28 not out) and Ben Clilverd (17 not out) to complete the job for the Rams who will put their 100 per cent winning record on the line again on Saturday (10 May) when they play host to Copdock & Old Ipswichian Home   Bury St Edmunds   Sport   Article An emotional Bury Town captain Josh Curry was left to reflect on having gone ‘full circle’ with the club after yesterday’s promotion via the Isthmian League North Division play-offs a teenage Curry was part of a Blues squad that contained the likes of Gavin Johnson Ben Coker and the Reed brothers who went up to Step 3 as champions of the Zamaretto League Division One Midlands The defender subsequently left his hometown club taking in spells at the likes of Diss Town Lowestoft Town and Stowmarket Town before rejoining the Blues as manager Cole Skuse’s first addition in the summer of 2023 Curry felt the hurt of last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to Brentwood Town more than most he dusted himself down and has gone on to skipper the team back up to third tier of non-league football “I went on to my Instagram recently and one of the last posts I put up was all about losing the semi-final last time At the end of that I wrote that we’d come back stronger – and we have,” said the 32-year-old Winning on Tuesday night (against Waltham Abbey in the semi-finals) and getting over that hurdle I had every confidence we were going to do it in front of our own fans “It’s a massive crowd and one of the biggest games in the club’s history – and we’ve done it I couldn’t be prouder of the lads and everyone connected with the club Fifteen years ago I was involved in the squad that got promoted Asked what sets this group of players apart They’re a fit group of lads as well – I’ve never seen a group look after themselves so much “I’ve been in other good groups at the likes of Stowmarket Town and Lowestoft Town with some very good players but the spirit and belief we’ve got here is massive And that’s what has taken us all the way.” Time seemed to slow right down as Max Maughn played a square pass to Ed Upson inside the penalty box deep into stoppage time who like Curry was raised in Bury St Edmunds before enjoying a successful professional career in the game took a touch to assess his options before curling a left-footed shot into the corner of the net Every time Ed gets the ball it feels like it all slows down – he always seems to have so much time,” said Curry will not be displayed this bank holiday weekend arrived at the National Trust Ickworth Estate on Thursday and was available to view yesterday in a notice on its social media pages yesterday evening National Trust Ixworth said: “Unfortunately due to the predicted wind speeds for the rest of the weekend Helios will not be on display as previously advertised Helios will return next Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 Ticket holders will receive an email shortly “Additional evening openings for next week are being explored and details will be released soon.” combines the sound of the sun created by NASA and can be found in front of Ickworth’s Rotunda Helios’ arrival marks its first visit to Suffolk and the first time it will be exhibited outside The Trust said there are strict rules around wind speeds for displaying the sculpture A spokesperson confirmed the sculpture display has been cancelled on Saturday May 3 experiences and visitor programming manager at Ickworth said: “We have chosen a location at Ickworth that will be the most impactful while at the same time enables easy access to see Helios “The Rotunda backdrop will highlight Luke’s incredible work while showcasing Ickworth in the way it was always intended A Suffolk shoe shop is closing down its children’s department because of a trend of ‘self-fitting’ is currently holding a sale of children’s shoes It is then set to rebrand and relaunch as Siebel Shoephoric decided to stop stocking children’s shoes in December worried about a trend of parents ‘self-fitting’ for their children - rather than taking advice from trained shoe experts A notice at the time said: “We are sad to announce that Shoephoric will stop stocking children’s shoes and focus instead on a wider range of adults shoes and accessories “In the years that we have supplied children’s shoes we have taken care to fit and advise local families on the best shoes for their children from their first pair to their last pair of school shoes We have loved watching your families grow up “Trading has been increasingly difficult over the year as fashions and behaviours have changed during the pandemic some of the biggest children’s brands encouraged families to “self fit” children’s shoes at home “While we strongly believe that a trained fitter will always do this job best as they have a knowledge of feet and the shoes increasingly we have come across customers who believe that the length and width measurements shown on a fitting gauge will directly correspond to the shoe needed no matter who makes it or where it is sold “We have also experienced an increase in customers who will come in to be measured by our trained team members and then look online for cheaper alternatives to the footwear that we stock “Ultimately as a business continuing to provide this service has become unsustainable and we have taken the difficult decision to stop selling children’s shoes “All our current stock is now going into sale – we hope you get a bargain.” Shoephoric has also announced that it is to rebrand as Seibel and will undergo a refurbishment The Bury St Edmunds store will be closed for refurbishment from Monday May 12 until Wednesday May 14 The Stowmarket store from May 19 to May 22 The shops will not be stocking children’s shoes under the new brand Home   Business News   Article A hairdresser is helping to train new and existing stylists by launching a new academy Sarah Moore has run The Scissor Box salon for nine years Sarah has now also launched a training academy for those starting out in their career and existing professionals Sarah said: “I’ve always dreamed of helping others Blend is a new private education centre offering a fresh approach to professional training in the hair industry “Specialising in refresher courses for qualified stylists it also provides comprehensive level 2 and level 3 courses tailored for those eager to start their journey toward becoming qualified stylists under the guidance of the prestigious VTCT governing body “What sets Blend apart is its dedicated team of four educators boasting a combined experience of more than 80 years in the industry “This wealth of knowledge ensures students will receive top-notch instruction learning the latest techniques and trends in hairstyling.” The Scissor Box hair salon is still open as usual for clients Sarah added: “My passion is to help stylists grow and thrive in the industry Blend is dedicated to providing in-depth courses that cover all aspects of hairdressing from classic techniques to the latest trends “Students can expect top-notch training from a team of experienced and passionate instructors who are not only knowledgeable but also up to date with the latest trends “The academy's goal is to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the competitive world of hairdressing “Our refresher courses are for stylists looking to sharpen their skills or regain confidence A beautician has got off to a flying start after moving to a town centre location Clarissa Grahn has moved her beauty and skin care business to 6 Langton Place on Tuesday and is holding an official launch event today Clarissa was previously based at a hair salon on the Westley estate Prior to that she was based at Sports Direct Fitness in Easlea Road Clarissa said: “When a friend mentioned the unit in Langton Place was available for rent I contacted the landlord and said: ‘I’ll take it “It had previously been the Hestia medical aesthetic clinic and became vacant after they moved to Abbeygate Street earlier this year “I’ve been based in the Extraordinhair salon since Sports Direct closed and though this has been great I’ve always dreamed of having my own place and felt the time was right “I have been so excited to launch my own place and have also rebranded from Clarissa Grahn Skin Care to The Skin Specialist to mark the change.” The Skin Specialist offers advanced skin care treatments; custom facials including chemical peel ultrasound and microcurrent; men’s facials; permanent makeup including eyebrows It offers monthly membership facial packages and sells skin and beauty products including Korean Skincare The clinic also offers buy now pay later deals for more expensive treatments Clarissa said: “I have had some refurbishment work done inside the unit to suit my needs and it looks fantastic “Clients have stayed with me from when I first launched in 2018 and so I have been busy right from the get-go “My first week at the new location was fully booked I have arranged Prosecco and nibbles and a special golden ticket hunt “There will be five golden tickets hidden in shops in Abbeygate Street and they will qualify people for a free facial “There will be clues on my social media channels “I will also be doing some free mini-facials and little makeovers on the launch day A hot ember from a chimney was the most likely cause of a fire which ripped through five homes in a village A thatch roof blaze decimated five terraced properties in Low Street a fire service spokesperson said the most probable cause was a hot ember from the chimney igniting the dry thatch They said: “This comes with the caveat that further investigations may introduce additional information and evidence not available at this time.” All occupants of the affected homes made it out safely as well as their pets A fund-raiser to help affected residents has raised nearly £25,000 while a charity auction set up to accumulate more funds has accrued a full set of donations Tomorrow there will be live music at The Grumpy Goat with all bar proceeds being donated to the families There is a big charity auction planned for Saturday running in tandem with an event on the village green A man has admitted beating and verbally abusing police officers in a town appeared at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with two counts of assault of an emergency worker and three of using threatening or abusive words The offences took place on April 22 in Bury St Edmunds Culley indicated he was guilty of assault by beating of both PC Butcher and PC Lewis in the incident He also pleaded guilty to verbally abusing them with the intent to cause alarm or distress as well as threatening a third person with the intent of causing them to believe they may be attacked Culley will be sentenced at the same court on June 23 Two parish councils have described fresh plans for signs at a controversial A14 service station as obtrusive Elmswell and Woolpit’s councils have both objected to the latest advertisement consent proposals for Elmswell Services off the westbound carriageway at junction 47 The authorities have raised environmental and light pollution concerns questioning the impact it has on residents The application includes two totem signs as well as other signage The totem signs have already been installed said the plans would impose a ‘suburban result’ in a rural location “The night sky is seriously polluted and particularly so as a result of the horizontal green bands around the pump canopy,” he said “There is an inevitably deleterious effect on bio diversity and wildlife and a harmful visual impact given the setting cradled between the Listed churches at Elmswell and Woolpit.” Mr Dow also cited an environmental health officer submission to the application which said the function sought by the plans would be well served by a 20 per cent reduction in luminance Previous plans for similar signs at the station were rejected in November Documents submitted with the application show the 10-metre sign would be facing the A14 The totem would display the different outlets available at the site as well as fuel prices Woolpit Parish Council gave residential amenity visual intrusion and wildlife concerns as its grounds for objection A council spokesperson said: “We feel the level of light pollution caused is unacceptable The long green strip light is particularly obtrusive but the level of illumination of the signs in general creates excessive light disrupting natural night-time conditions to the detriment of nocturnal wildlife including insects “The excessive and unnecessary illumination reaches widely across the village and ruins the views of the village as you approach It is not necessary and is detrimental to residents sense of place.” The plans are due to go before a Mid Suffolk District Council planning committee on Wednesday Elmswell Services was forced to close earlier this year after being issued a temporary stop notice by Mid Suffolk District Council for failing to implement conditioned road safety infrastructure It reopened after the issues were addressed Home   Stowmarket   Article Travellers who pitched up at a recreation ground have moved on Caravans arrived at Stowmarket Recreation Ground a council spokesperson said: "We are in ongoing communication with local authorities and the police as part of a multi-agency approach and we are liaising with the Travellers to ensure the site remains well-maintained and safe.” Stowmarket Town Council announced; “We can now confirm that the Travellers have left Stowmarket Recreation Ground “Our town rangers are already on site carrying out any clean-up needed “Thanks for your patience — we'll keep you updated” Plans to light a beacon in nearby Stowupland have been cancelled after Travellers pitched up on the village green Stowupland Parish Council made the decision to cancel the event at a meeting on Thgursday due to ‘an unauthorised encampment’ of Travellers close to the beacon A council spokesperson said: “We need to consider the health and safety for all concerned.” Plans to light a village’s beacon to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day have been cancelled after Travellers pitched up on the village green Stowupland Parish Council made the decision to cancel the event at a meeting yesterday due to ‘an unauthorised encampment’ of Travellers close to the beacon They added that the parish council hopes to celebrate VJ Day on August 15 This comes after Travellers arrived at the Recreation Ground on Finborough Road in Stowmarket earlier this week with the town council confirming it is ‘actively managing’ the situation Stowmarket Town Council has announced it has begun legal proceedings to remove the Travellers and is liasing with Stowupland Parish Council to follow similar steps A Mid Suffolk District Council spokesperson said: “We are supporting both Stowmarket Town Council and Stowupland Parish Council to resolve the issue of these unauthorised encampments as quickly as possible A Suffolk Police spokesperson added that officers are also working alongside partners to find resolutions Home   Ipswich   Sport   Article Bury Town manager Cole Skuse admitted that this afternoon’s promotion is ‘up there’ on his footballing CV the 39-year-old was part of the squad when his boyhood club Bristol City went up to the Championship as League One runners-up in 2006/07 But as he took in the size of today’s achievement at the Getaway Cars Stadium where Ed Upson’s stoppage-time curler sealed a 1-0 victory over Brightlingsea Regent in the Isthmian League North Division play-off final Skuse conceded it will be something that he will always look back on with great fondness He said: “It's (winning promotion as a manager) so different you feel that extra sense of responsibility very fortunate I was one of a small percentage within the football world to get promotion with my boyhood club That feeling would be incredibly tough (to beat) because it's my boyhood club I’d gone through the youth team ranks throughout It’s so pleasing because you're overseeing so many moving parts in the group “You know what the group have sacrificed and I know what I’ve sacrificed so it’s up there in what I’ve done in football.” The promotion-clinching moment is one that will live long in the memory of the 2,000-plus supporters in attendance There seemed to be an acceptance around the ground that the encounter was heading for extra-time only for experienced midfielder Upson to bend the ball into the top corner from just inside the box four minutes into time added on “You can never (think it’s going to go to extra-time) as long as you got people on the pitch like that and they've (Brightlingsea) got it within their group as well,” added Skuse “You knew it was going to take a moment of magic because of how tight the game was I thought they were slightly the better side if I'm being honest but it always felt we were going to be split by a moment of brilliance “And for all of the people within our group but the certain individual you want at that moment in the game would be Ed “I was almost prepping myself and thinking about substitutes for extra-time and who to bring on and off When Bury Town were promoted to Step 3 for the first time back in 2010 Kieran Leabon was the hero with a hat-trick in the crucial clash against Marlow Fast-forward 15 years and today it was Ed Upson's name that will go down in club folklore after he returned the Blues back to that level with a stoppage-time winner in the 1-0 Isthmian League North Division play-off final victory against Brightlingsea Regent at the Getaway Cars Stadium As is often the case in games of such magnitude Neither side was prepared to give the other an inch and consequently it was a relatively comfortable opening 45 minutes for both goalkeepers In the 22nd minute the Brightlingsea defence backed off Bury midfielder Ryan Jolland who drove into the box with intent before sending a low cross that Ethan Mayhew slid in to convert only for Brightlingsea goalkeeper Lewis Greene to make the block which quickly came to a halt when referee Craig Charles deemed that Greene had been fouled Brightlingsea came closest to breaking the deadlock during the first half – and it was their livewire Fletcher Hubbard that was heavily involved The number 10 saw his shot from distance glanced on by team-mate Michael Okafor who saw his effort drift no more than a yard wide of Charlie Beckwith's left-hand post As the half drew towards a close Upson was not too far off target with an audacious effort from just inside the Brightlingsea half that had Greene back-pedalling while moments before the whistle the home side's wing-back Max Maughn was left perplexed after he was booked for simulation after going down under a challenge from Jake Clowsley inside the box The tension remained present after the restart although there was at least a little more attacking action at both ends Bury's leading marksman Cemal Ramadan twice went close with very different efforts In the 62nd minute his intended cross from wide on the left forced a back-pedalling Greene to tip the ball over at the back post while nine minutes later his hooked shot from Mikey Davis' inswinging corner was cleared off the line by Fin Adams That was the start of a busy couple of minutes for the Brightlingsea substitute who in his side's next attack called Beckwith into action with a left-footed shot from 25 yards out Another of the away side's replacements – Teddy Collis – had a good opportunity to end the stalemate with 10 minutes remaining but he volleyed well over the crossbar from around the penalty spot And as clock ticked into stoppage time it appeared that everyone had accepted extra-time as inevitably Maughn collected a poor clearance from Adam Bailey-Dennis drove forward and then squared a pass for the midfielder who bent a left-footed shot into the top corner The nerves then ramped up for the five remaining minutes of time added on but Bury held out and the final whistle was greeted by scenes of wild celebrations as supporters poured on to the pitch Police are appealing for help to trace a missing 14-year-old boy from Great Saxham Kaiden was last seen at 10.30am on Thursday May 1 morning with cropped brown hair - and likely to be wearing a black top Officers says they are concerned for Kaiden’s welfare He has links to Cambridge and Peterborough or who has any information on his whereabouts Missing person reporting website: www.suffolk.police.uk Alternatively, you can use the Live Chat service by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner of of the Suffolk Constabulary website A road in a town centre has been closed for works UK Power Networks are responsible for shutting Angel Lane in Bury St Edmunds the road has been closed for utility repair and maintenance works The works are set to last more than a week and finish on May 12 the Bury St Edmunds Monday league entered its second week of the season and Division 2 divisions showing off their skills on the field.Premier League Klose But No Cigar snuck out a narrow win over 6 Buhs 1 Ball in a high-scoring match NotinyourmumsForest made a statement with a resounding 11-0 victory over Fields FC setting a high standard for the rest of the season.Division 1 Also saw its fair share of exciting match-ups Molewall managed to get the better of Bulldogs OGs Leavemearsealona FC scraped past The Salahban by a thin margin of 5-4 Romasexuals put up a commendable performance defeating Batty Ballers FC 5-2.The action in Division 2 was just as intense with Net-Felix And Chill triumphing over Queens Park Raisins 5-3 and For The Badge edging past Game Set And Snatch 3-2.Though individual top scorers were not disclosed it was clear that the teams were firing on all cylinders the teams showcased a remarkable balance of defensive solidity and attacking flair.With plenty of unbelievable goals and impressive teamwork on display the Bury St Edmunds Monday league promises to be a thrilling spectacle for the rest of the season Football fans can expect more edge-of-the-seat action in the coming weeks.  Join our Bury St Edmunds 6 a side league at the link below or get in touch on 07969 731086 Communities across Suffolk are set to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a variety of events — from vintage music and beacon lightings to ration-style fish and chips marks the end of the World War II in Europe on May 8 the nation is prepared to celebrate the historic milestone once again Here’s a round-up of the events happening across the county to mark the anniversary Bury St Edmunds The celebrations will be in full swing tomorrow from 11am in St John’s Street bars and restaurants come alive with wartime spirit The street will host live music acts including Nik Lowe and JS and The Lockerbillies outside Beautiful Beers and Three Cats Vintage The Knightingales will perform nostalgic wartime tunes outside Pocket Watches and Petticoats where a vintage stylist will also be recreating 1940s hairstyles for pre-booked visitors Union Jack bunting and 1940s outfits will also transform the street into a tribute to the era alongside activities for children like face painting There will also be a WWII-era Jeep and memorabilia from the Rougham Control Tower Museum on display outside Vinyl Hunter said: “We have to thank the previous generations who sacrificed so much in order for us to be celebrating 80 years later “I was involved in the 50th anniversary in St Johns Street and am delighted to be co-ordinating and acknowledging the 80th anniversary alongside my son a new memorial stone dedicated to the Royal Navy will be unveiled in the Rose Garden at the Abbey Gardens The service will mark 43 years since HMS Sheffield was sunk in the Falklands War wreath-laying by HMS Sheffield veterans and the handover of the Bury St Edmunds Royal Navy Veterans Standard to the Sea Cadets military personnel and civic dignitaries will attend The third major Bury event will see the beacon in the Abbey Gardens lit on Thursday May 8 with the gates opposite The Fox pub in Eastgate Street open from 8pm The beacon will be lit at 9.30pm and entertainment will be provided by Eddie’s Swing Sisters as well as a piper Stowmarket A series of events to celebrate the VE Day anniversary has been organised in partnership with Stowmarket Town Council the Royal British Legion will host an event at the United Reformed Church and this will be followed by a tea party hosted by Red Gables and the Dementia Community Group at Rookery Bowls Club on May 8 the Royal British Legion will hold a celebratory lunch while the town centre is set to come alive with 1940s music performed in the Market Place Peter Prinsley MP and Stowmarket’s new mayor are expected to attend events on the day Mildenhall Mildenhall High Town Council will commemorate the historic day with a beacon lighting ceremony at The Jubilee Fields on May 8 The evening will begin at 8pm with live entertainment from DBL followed by a wreath-laying at 8.30pm in support of the Poppy Appeal Ipswich Ipswich will mark the 80th anniversary on May 8 with service of reflection at the Cenotaph in Christchurch Park at 11am led by the Royal British Legion The Mayor of Ipswich and the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk will attend alongside councillors while members of the public are welcome to join in paying their respects residents and visitors are invited to join the celebrations taking place on the Cornhill from 7.30pm Entertainment will include performances by 1940s singer Stacy ‘Kitty’ Collins and the Wattisham Military Wives Choir A bar will offer drinks and snacks and Union Jack bunting will run from the Town Hall balcony to posts on the Cornhill The evening will conclude with speeches from civic dignitaries at 9.15pm followed by the lighting of a ceremonial beacon at 9.30pm Clifford Road Primary School will be celebrating the occasion with a special VE Day tea party Haverhill Haverhill Town Council is set to host a commemorative event in Market Square and in St Mary’s Church on May 8 The day will begin with a formal raising of the Union Flag at 9am St Mary’s Church will open its doors for a community service starting with bell ringing at 6.30pm and a welcome from the Revd Max Drinkwater at 7pm The programme will include an introduction by the mayor a reading of the 1945 declaration of peace reflections on Haverhill Waits and a musical medley of pre-recorded songs by Haverhill Silver Band St Mary’s Choir will give two performances Readings will also reflect on those still in conflict and those yet to return home The service will conclude with a speech from Rev Drinkwater followed by the national anthem and a final blessing Thetford Thetford Town Council is preparing to transport residents back to the 1940s with its ‘VE80 Party on the Common’ to mark the 80th anniversary May 10 from 12pm to 5pm on Melford Common with live music food stalls and wartime nostalgia recreating the spirit of 1945 street parties Headliners The Swing and Jive All Stars will take to the stage alongside Charlie Wilson face painting and appearances by members of Dad’s Army Thetford A ‘Thetford Memories of War’ tent will offer a poignant tribute to the community’s heritage as part of the council’s 80 Stories project Visitors are encouraged to come dressed in 1940s fashion “This promises to be a truly special day,” town councillor Vic Peters said “VE80 is not just a celebration of the past but also an opportunity to come together as a community and honour the memories and stories that have shaped us.” Newmarket Newmarket will mark the 80th anniversary with a beacon lighting at The Severals the day will begin with a proclamation read by the town crier outside the memorial hall at 9am The town council is organising the beacon event which will begin at 7.45pm with the beacon lit at 9.30pm Hot drinks will be available and all residents are invited to attend the parish council will be holding a short service at the village’s war memorial in Warren Road at 10am This will be followed by a free lunch for the community at the sports pavilion funded by the council and hosted by community organisation Lightwave Lowestoft Lowestoft residents are being invited to a day of remembrance and celebration at Sparrows Nest Gardens on May 8 The event will begin at 3pm and feature a range of stalls exhibitors and food and drink vendors for visitors to enjoy throughout the day Live music will include performances from the Suffolk Glenmoriston Pipe Band The Maritime Museum and the Royal Naval Patrol Service Museum will both be open for extended hours and traditional fish and chips will be available at Giardino Bar and Grill The day will end with a beacon lighting ceremony at 9.30pm The celebrations are being organised by the town council and entry is free Felixstowe A series of commemorative events has organised been organised by Felixstowe Town Council which invites residents and visitors to come together for the anniversary the day will begin with a service of remembrance at 10.45am at the Felixstowe War Memorial in Undercliff Road West a torch parade will take place at 8.45pm along Undercliff Road West featuring 112 flaming torches in honour of each Felixstowe resident who died during World War II Each name will be read aloud as a torchbearer steps forward and extinguishes a flame with the ceremony ending with the lighting of a beacon Other events in the town include a day of entertainment at the Felixstowe Triangle on Monday May 5 with jazz performances and vintage military vehicle displays This will be followed by and a 1940s wartime tea dance at Martello Tower P on May 10 from 12pm — featuring live music and a welcome address from the town mayor at 1pm wreaths will be laid at the war memorial on the village green at 10.45pm on May 8 Fordham will mark the historic moment with a special Songs of Praise for Peace service at St Peter and St Mary Magdalene Church on May 10 at 5pm The event is open to all with a warm welcome extended to veterans ex-service members and current military personnel Organisations and community groups have each chosen a favourite hymn for the service which will be briefly introduced by a representative before being sung The service will be led by the church choir and organist David Poulter the celebrations are coming to Rougham with St Mary’s Church bells ringing out at from 6pm on May 8 The Bennet Arms in Kingshall Street will be offering ration portions of fish and chips and a wartime singalong with the Rougham Sings Community Choir from 6.30pm The pub encourages pre-orders as portions are limited an act of tribute will take place at the church and villagers are invited to take part in the national celebrations by displaying bunting and placing a light in their window at 9.30pm A stretch of the A14 around a town was blocked after a two-vehicle crash Police were alerted to the incident on the A14 westbound at Westley at about 8.10am A police spokesperson said officers were at the scene The slip road off at junction 43 had heavy tailbacks Anyone witnesses to the incident should contact police on 101 A major route has been shut in both directions following a three-vehicle crash Officers were called to the incident on the A134 at Shimpling, between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury The road is closed at the Thorn Corner junction Drivers are advised to find alternative routes Scaffolding has been installed and a footpath is closed in Bury St Edmunds while a significant heritage project gets under way Scaffolding has been put up around the Abbey wall in preparation for extensive English Heritage works The organisation confirmed this week that the scaffolding would remain in place over the summer ‘marking the beginning of a significant conservation initiative at the historic Abbey’ An English Heritage spokersperson said: “This initial phase focuses on essential repairs and conservation of the flint walls and Gatehouse long-term vision under the ‘Abbey of St Edmund delivered in partnership with the Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership.” The work will be carried out over the next two years with the main conservation activity scheduled between April and November each year “This vital project represents a key step in safeguarding the Abbey’s heritage for future generations,” added the English Heritage spokesperson Reborn project is a partnership between West Suffolk Council and English Heritage to conserve and protect the Abbey ruins build a visitor centre and west cloister on the Cathedral site and a network of footpaths was once one of the richest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England Its remains include the complete 14th-century Great Gate and Norman Tower An air ambulance has landed at a town estate this afternoon The East of England Air Ambulance was spotted at a field on the Mildenhall Road estate, in Bury St Edmunds Three land ambulances are also in Lake Avenue The ambulance service was approached for a comment Substantial improvement work is underway at Bury St Edmunds Library The work will be ongoing until the end of April and is part of the first phase of a substantial project to reconfigure and improve the layout and interior of the library The work is being funded by Section 106 developer contribution funding provided via Suffolk County Council It represents the biggest development project at the library since a major refurbishment in 2010 The first phase of work will focus on improving the ground floor with changes to the foyer area children’s library and the county council family hub which is based at the library New furniture will be installed and there will be changes to the layout with a focus on creating a more welcoming accessible and inclusive space for customers and families New energy efficient lighting will also be installed Suffolk Libraries is working with the contractors to reduce inconvenience to customers and maintain services and activities during the work but there will inevitably be some disruption whilst the work is carried out The children’s library has been temporarily relocated to the first floor quiet study area and the public computers from this space have been re- located in the main public library area for the time being The library’s family hub activities have been temporarily relocated to the Carousel Family Hub at New Bury Community Centre Whilst the work is carried out there will also be no access to the out of hours drop box for returning library books Suffolk Libraries is reassuring customers they will not receive late charges if this makes it difficult for them to return loans on time Two regular activities – Coding Club and Stay & Play - will unfortunately not be available during the work, but all the library’s other activities will be running as usual Customers are also being warned that there will have to be a short-term closure of the library when the new lighting is installed The first phase of work will be followed by other improvements including a new glass reading bubble for children the creation of a larger hireable community space new toilets and improvements on the first floor  There is no confirmed date for this further work at this stage Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment Visitors to Ickworth Estate can now get a close-up glimpse of the sun as a giant sculpture makes a stop in Suffolk during its national tour Helios, created by Luke Jerram, has been installed at the National Trust estate, near Bury St Edmunds and will be on display from today until Monday and again from next Thursday until Sunday Helios is lit from within and its surface incorporates solar imagery who is also behind exhibitions of the moon and the earth said: “We all know it is very dangerous to look directly at the sun as it can damage our eyesight “Helios provides a safe opportunity to the public to get up close to and inspect its extraordinary detailed surface lighting and sheer scale will combine to make an extraordinary and uplifting experience for the public.” It is a ticketed event and free but normal admission charges apply. Click here for times and tickets Visitors can view Helios from all angles and the installation is accessible for all with a step-free route leading in front and directly underneath the giant sculpture A town gym is set to host a Strongman contest for charity with more than 40 competitors battling to win a trophy Iron Island, based at Miro House in Western Way, Bury St Edmunds is putting on the event tomorrow and Sunday for the second time following its success in October Britain's Strongest Man and UK's Strongest Man competitions A total of 44 competitors will take part over the weekend intermediate and open categories for both men and women said: “I’m very excited for this weekend.” “There has been the usual stresses when organising an event but there’s a great team of people and volunteers here who help make it a lot easier “I’ve been involved with Strongman stuff for a few years now so being able to put this on is brilliant and I enjoy inspiring people so hopefully it may motivate others to give the sport a go.” “If people come along they get to see some exciting events at different levels and I know it will be great fun for a good cause.” The Strongman event will be raising money for Lupus UK The charity was picked by Matt in memory of his mum who was affected by the condition There is a £5 fee for spectators and a £35 fee for athletes entering the event with trophies awarded to the top three places in each category Matt spoke on what it was like to get Terry Hollands “It’s amazing that Terry is giving up his own time to be here for two days,” he said “He’s so inspiring and a super nice person He’s just a whole another level of human to be honest “The Strongman community is possibly the best community I’ve ever been involved in to be honest as it’s so supportive and a real pleasure to be a part of.” There will also be a BBQ party on the Saturday evening at the gym car park A charity has partnered with two Suffolk gyms to offer free fitness sessions for amputees Steel Bones has launched the initiative in partnership with Iron Island Gym, in Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, and Abbeycroft’s Hadleigh Pool and Leisure The weekly sessions – aimed at helping amputees build physical strength boost confidence and improve overall wellbeing – run every Friday morning at both venues said the initiative was made possible thanks to funding from the Suffolk Community Foundation Sports Fund “We are thrilled to be working with local gyms and to have the backing of Suffolk Community Foundation,” said Emma Joy-Staines “These sessions are about more than just fitness – they’re about building community rebuilding confidence and showing amputees that they are not alone.” The initiative forms part of the charity’s border mission to reduce isolation promote physical and mental health and empower amputee families across the UK The sessions are led by an on-site trainer and people of all fitness levels are welcome added: “We’re pleased to partner with Steel Bones to support amputee members through tailored gym sessions at our centre in Hadleigh “Having worked for several years with Steel Bones in Brandon we see how people thrive and feel connected in an inclusive environment benefitting their mental and physical health.”