Redlingfield, a tiny village of less than 60 households in north Suffolk, doesn’t believe that being small should hold you back.
Redlingfield is using the Jubilee Year & Festival of Suffolk 2022 to raise money for an ambitious set of projects that will have lasting community benefits:- Along with planting some 600 Queen’s Canopy trees, ten for every household, they aim to save and update their medieval church, which is currently on the Heritage At Risk Register, so it can be used for community events, as well as setting up a permanent Jubilee Fund to help village youngsters starting college or their first job and also repairing and improving facilities on the Doorstep Green, Redlingfield’s Village Green, to provide better access and more facilities for older and younger children as well as making it and the village much more wildlife friendly.
Redlingfield Pedal to the Palace
Five brave souls (see above) will be cycling more than 100 miles from Redlingfield to London over the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July, taking greetings from Redlingfield to Her Majesty in this Jubilee year. The local church group is raising funds to repair and update the wonderful Anglo-Saxon Church of St Andrew - currently on the Heritage At Risk Register. The aim is to repair and update it so it can also be used as a community space, with a kitchen, toilets and sustainable heating that works. They are also raising funds to improve Redlingfield’s Doorstep Green. They hope to raise £5,000 and have set up a Just Giving campaign page called “Redlingfield Pedal To The Palace” for donations: www.justgiving.com/campaign/redlingfieldpedaltothepalace
The team taking part are Reverend Richard Court, Alison Smith, Adrian Smith, Andrew Hemmings and his partner Heather. For the last few months, as well as keeping up with busy work and home commitments, they have been cycling regularly to build up their speed and stamina.
Alison Smith, who works with the NHS to keep patients safe, says
“It’s been really difficult, I’ve been getting up a couple of hours earlier each day to try and cram my training in and it’s taken ages for me to get fit enough to not be wheezing like a steam train when I get to the top of a hill”.
“What was just an idea has actually started to happen and I am so grateful for the support this little community has provided me to make this fundraising possible."
Where possible, they will be using quieter roads as well as established cycle routes. On the first day they plan to cover just over 60 miles with stops for food and refreshments in Sproughton, Colchester and Tiptree arriving in Chelmsford, where they will stay the night. On Sunday they hope to reach Buckingham Palace by around 2pm in the afternoon, having stopped for a break in Romford on the way. After a late lunch they plan to take their bikes and themselves home by train.
This assumes that everything goes swimmingly and there are no punctures or delays. Just in case, Alison Smith’s parents, Alan and Sandra Hemmings, will be following along in the support car to deal with any problems that arise.
Redlingfield’s Church of St Andrew is Grade 2* listed, Anglo Saxon in origin and currently on the Heritage At Risk Register because water is penetrating through the mediaeval floor and walls, damaging the fabric of the building. In the past the external walls were repaired and re-pointed with concrete, which has prevented the building “breathing” and trapped the damp. All of this will need to be removed and replaced with lime mortar.
Redlingfield does not have a village hall or meeting place, currently residents have to hire halls in other villages. To overcome this, there are plans to update the church with a kitchen, toilets, running water and eco-friendly lighting and heating so that as well as being the parish church it can be used by the whole community for meetings, events and village activities.
Redlingfield Doorstep Green (the village green) was created by the villagers in 2004 with grants from the Countryside Agency and help from the local Council and Wildlife Trust along with hundreds of volunteer hours by residents. Before that children played in the busy road, dodging the traffic. Twelve years later it was expanded by a further two acres, once the village realised it was too small. Once funds are available there are plans to add more sports and play equipment for younger and older children and adults as well as restoring the paths as they aren’t suitable for people with pushchairs or wheelchairs or who are unsteady on their feet. The wildlife areas will also be expanded and improved. See the village website www.redlingfield.suffolk.gov.uk for more about the Doorstep Green and village.
Auction of Promises
Later this year Redlingfield plans to hold an Auction of Promises - to raise funds for the Redlingfield Doorstep Green and also to create a Jubilee Fund - to help Redlingfield youngsters who are starting college or their first job with grants for essential items such as books, equipment and travel costs. To begin with they are asking people to offer something that can be auctioned, be that an experience or skill, a piece of art of something for the home or garden. They hope to raise as much as possible! So if have anything you can offer please get in touch with Janet Norman-Philips 01379 678835 or email jnphilips@gn.apc.org.