Our Twinning weekend (25/26 October) was a great success. The Maire, Claude Maquet and his delegation from Doullens in Picardie, France, paid a return visit to Woodbridge to cement the friendship agreement we signed in Doullens in June. There were many highlights including the launch of the Poppy Day Appeal with the French flag and national anthem in the Thoroughfare and a reception for over hundred people at the Shire Hall. This reception brought together our sporting, cultural and charitable associations. Some good contacts have been made and firm foundations have been laid for the launch of a full twinning agreement by the end of 2026. Our Twinning Committee is responsible for the efforts to renew our international connections. In time, it is hoped that cultural, educational and sporting exchanges can be followed by a re-connection of our local produce markets with continental Europe.

As Christmas nears, the shops in Woodbridge are dressing their windows and the Christmas lights will soon be up. Woodbridge Town Council and Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music will be celebrating Choose Woodbridge’s hard work making the town sparkle with not one but two Lights On events – 27 and 28 November. There will be a street fair run by Choose Woodbridge on Sunday 7 December and, on Wednesday 17 December, there will be the Annual Open-Air Carol Concert with Woodbridge Rotary and a visit from Father Christmas. See our website for more details.

We send our best wishes to all residents and visitors over this Christmas season. And we hope that those needing support during this time, will find it within our community.

Woodbridge Town Council has taken the decision to bring our gardening staff back in-house by April 2026. The contracted out, largely minimum wage model, that has been operated since 2012, has not provided the level of grounds maintenance in Woodbridge that is desired by your Council and by the many residents who have made clear their unhappiness with the state of things. We are currently advertising for two gardeners and at the time of writing we have received over eighty requests for application packs. This is a significant project for your Town Council and we will work assiduously to make a success of it. Once selected, our gardeners will become familiar faces around Woodbridge, so please support them and even help them in areas of the town that are particularly valued by you.

Nigel Phipps CouncillorPhipps@woodbridgesuffolk.gov.uk