The Felixstowe Flyer November 2023
In The Felixstowe Flyer November, The Flyer November editions, we hear from local community groups, local schools as well as charity groups.
And other updates from local community groups, also local schools and organisations.
The Felixstowe Flyer November 2023
Felixstowe Mayor’s Update November
A lot has happened in a month – the world needs wise leadership more than ever. The horrendous atrocities perpetrated on Israeli citizens on October 7th and the country’s brutal, enraged retaliation on Gaza, has put the Middle East and the world in a very precarious place. A friend with relatives in the region sent me a link to a video from the Women Wage Peace movement, which brings together thousands of Hebrew, Muslim and Christian women walking and singing for peace, with the song “Prayer of the Mothers” by Yael Deckelbaum a moving view on YouTube.
And here in Felixstowe the 4th WAMFEST brought women together to showcase and celebrate exceptional skills, talents and energy – superb singing, dancing, arts and literature performances took place at Harvest House, the Grosvenor and @inc, all with workshop try-out opportunities. Bravo Laura Locke and team for continuing to broaden our cultural horizons, and thanks to sponsors Port of Felixstowe, the Town Council, Suffolk Community Foundation and ESC councilors Deacon and Wiles.
As Mayor, October looks like being the busiest month so far. There was my third (and most successful;) ribbon-cutting at the new Poundstretcher (at last the old M&S is in use again), visiting the incredible new ultra-container ship ‘OOCL Felixstowe’ as guest of the Port and opening the first ‘Love to Work in Felixstowe’ job fair, which was a huge success – well done Felixstowe BID and the Jobcentre. I have also been out to support Walton Parish Nursing’s annual celebration, Langer Primary Academy’s MacMillan coffee morning, Old Felixstowe Community Centre’s 50th AGM, Suffolk Refugee Support AGM, the Lions Club (doing a superb job keeping our Christmas lights ship-shape and ready for the big Dec 2nd switch-on) as well as speaking up for public transport at Felixstowe Travelwatch. I loved attending the Ipswich Civic service at historic St Mary-le-Tower church, joining a procession with many other Suffolk mayors and looking, according to my brother, as if I hadn’t got the fancy dress memo! I also gave a warm welcome to 40 hardy wetsuitless swimmers from Cambridge’s Jesus Green lido, celebrating their centenary year with a bracing dip and local fish & chips. The same day was dinner at Trinity Park, marking 25 years of BSC Multicultural Services. In the absence of the Mayor of Ipswich, I became the ‘main chain’ in the room speaking to over 400 people from all faiths and local communities. Shami (Bombay Nite) and team do great things, having won a Queens Award for Volunteering last year – this type of multicultural working does wonders to foster understanding and empathy – so vital in light of recent world events.