Archive
Here are records of our speakers from some meetings in the last few years.
Look in our Photo Gallery to find the pictures .
September 2021
Our first meeting in the village hall after Covid and we invited local lad Casper, who had been delivering homemade food locally throughout the lockdowns, to tell us about his catering business.
He runs his own catering business from his home in the village. Casper told us all about his journey into catering – from sitting on the worktop watching his mum and gran cooking; to baking cakes for friends and family; going to college; gaining work experience and finally achieving his aim of setting up his own business. Casper’s business was just taking off when the pandemic struck and with some thought he managed to develop a successful takeaway food delivery service. He has supplied lots of delicious food and his varied menus are emailed out to his customers on a weekly basis. His younger brother is following in his footsteps and is now also studying catering and gaining work experience in helping Casper. We were then treated to some samples of his cakes and tray bakes
November 2021
Cheryl telling us about Artistry in Chocolate
Cheryl who runs a chocolate making business from her home in Newmarket. She has been making her chocolates for the last sixteen years and has expanded from just making chocolates into workshops; demonstrations; masterclasses; parties and mail order kits. Cheryl began by telling us all about the history of chocolate and how it as first discovered in Central America and eventually made its way to Europe as a luxury drink. She explained how the pods are grown and harvested and how it was first turned into the chocolate bar we know and love today by Mr Fry. We were all given taster pots of white, milk and dark chocolates. She then went on to demonstrate how she melts, tempers and makes her own chocolates. After a brief cooling off in the fridge we were then able to sample her delicious salted caramel and whisky gnash chocolates.
February 2022
Petra Wenham – A Transgender Journey
Petra’s talk was aimed at bringing awareness to the transgender world and to dispel some of the myths and misinformation that is attached to the subject. Petra’s journey began from an early age when as a young boy she realised that she was slightly different to other boys of her age. She always preferred the company of women to men and was always interested in women and women’s fashion. She grew up with this problem and eventually went to work and got married. She told her new wife that she liked to cross dress and this was accepted from the beginning of their marriage. It was only recently after a serious illness in 2017/18 that she had a light bulb moment and realised that she could change how she lived her life. After lots of research and talking to her family she began her transition. Initially (because of long waiting lists) her treatment was through a private clinic but she then transferred to the NHS to complete the process. She now lives life as a woman and has recently celebrated her 49th wedding anniversary with her wife Lorraine. Petra has done a lot of research into the reasons why some people are different to others and further info can be found on transipswich@outlook.com
November 2022
Ollie and Tree of Bonitas Wholefoods
Ollie and Tree told us all about how they set up their new wholefood business in Stowmarket. Over the last two years the business has grown from strength to strength and they have recently been presented with the “business of the year” award from the Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce. They had brought along a whole table full of goodies to sample and also told us all about some innovative cleaning products which they have carefully sourced. Following a question and answer session we then sampled some of the treats including some delicious cheese and chocolate and some very strong ginger cordial.
February 2023
Malcolm Parkinson – Blood Bikers
Malcolm Parkinson gave an interesting presentation on the work of the Blood Bikers – which is a registered charity that provides a valuable delivery service to the NHS. The volunteers combine their passion for motor bikes with delivering essential blood supplies and other medical essentials to health units i.e. hospitals; laboratories and the air ambulance. The riders use their own bikes and they pay for their own petrol. A central co-ordinator organises the rotas, handles the calls and dispatches the riders, which operate 24 hours/7days a week. The charity relies solely on public funding to keep them riding. One of the ways to raise funds is by recycling old phones and electrical devices. After Malcolm’s talk we all agreed to have a rummage and bring our old phones to the next meeting for collection by Malcolm.