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The village of Westleton

Westleton is situated some 2 miles in from the Suffolk coast is roughly mid-way between Ipswich and Lowestoft and approximately 100 miles from London.

It is set in a landscape of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the parish lies the internationally renowned Minsmere Reserve, owned and managed by the RSPB.

Westleton Heath National Nature Reserve and parts of Dunwich Forest also lie within the parish.
The majority of the 500 or so inhabitants live close to the B1125 Blythburgh to Leiston road, the remainder living in scattered cottages and farmhouses in this otherwise agricultural landscape.

Westleton Panorama, summer scene

Westleton Panorama, winter snow scene

Westleton Village Panoramas
(Photos: Roy Jones)


 

Westleton Village Hall - snow scene

Photo by Hilas Smith

St Peter's Church, Westleton, snow scene.

Photo by Hilas Smith

The Village Hall and St Peters Church are the focal points of village activities, whilst the White Horse and The Crown are the main social centres.

The parish of Westleton is bounded by the parishes of Dunwich, Darsham, Middleton cum Fordley and Theberton cum Eastbridge.

The placename Westleton (or Westledestuna as it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086) is believed to derive from the Old Norse Vestlithi (a personal name) and Old English tun i.e. Vestlithi's homestead.

To contact the webmaster please send an email to                             Westleton webmaster.

Mim Hendricks – An Appreciation Mim Hendricks passed away on Sunday 20th September 2020 after several years of declining health. Mim had been a stalwart of Westleton Village Hall and member of the hall committee for many years until she retired towards the end of 2013. I got to know her when I joined the hall trustees in 2004. The village hall was a very important part of Mim’s life and without her hard work the hall would not have been as successful as it was. And without her contribution the hall would not be the important part of Westleton community life that it is today. She played an important role in laying the foundations for the hall’s present success. Mim looked after all the bookings, was the key holder and prime means of access to users. She ran the annual Table Top Sale and took charge of all the catering during the annual Exhibition and Wild Flower Festival. As well as all this she also did all the cleaning and it was not unusual for her to work long into the night after evening events. I also found her very helpful personally. When I joined the committee, I was very new to the hall and the, sometimes, strange ways of Westleton. She was always ready with advice, she put me on the right path when I didn’t understand how things should be done, she helped me understand the idiosyncrasies of various colleagues and put those colleagues right when they didn’t understand mine. As well as her work with the Village Hall she also instigated and ran the Youth Club and was a staunch WI member running the supper club for many years. Mim also served on Westleton Parish Council. Mim’s contribution to Westleton was considerable. Thank you, Mim. John Bebbington Former Secretary to Westleton Village Hall Trustees

Westleton Community Care Network says

 

Coronavirus - Covid-19

Local Information for Self-Isolation

To see the latest update of local advice and information please read Useful Local Information 20th August 2020

Westleton Food Bank

A Westleton Food Bank has been established. If you want to know what to donate and how donations can be made help is available.

Emergency Frozen Meals

Annie has included a note in the "Useful Local Information" about frozen meals, which are available from  the village hall in an emergency.

Emergency main meals (premade, frozen for microwave or oven) are available from the Westleton Community Carers Network. Call Annie on 01728 648354 or email centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk  No immediate payment required; on a donation-only basis at a later date. 

The WCCN has purchased the following frozen meals, stored at the village hall for emergencies.  Do contact me if they are required by anyone (the hall phone is diverted to me 24/7) and please promote their availability.  No cash on delivery, to be paid once restrictions are lifted if people can/want to donate (£3 suggestion). If you have any queries please contact me.  Available are:    

  • Lamb Moussaka
    Lamb mince & capsicum in a tomato, mint & red wine sauce.
    Topped with sautéed potato, béchamel & roasted aubergine.
  • Chicken Korma
    Chicken breast pieces in a mildly spiced almond & coconut curry sauce.
  • Cottage Pie
  • Fish Pie
    Salmon, smoked haddock, pollack & prawns in a creamy leek sauce.
    Topped with mashed potato & toasted breadcrumbs.
  • British Beef Lasagne
    British beef & Italian pasta
    with a cheesy béchamel.
  • Vegetable Lasagne
    Tomato, capsicum, courgette, mushroom,
    aubergine, & pasta with white sauce. Vegetarian. 

Make your own (and other people's) face mask

Visit the Masks of Love website for instructions on how to make a face mask.

Here is the pattern for making a face mask. 

A "Thank You" from Annie

"Many thanks to all the Westleton village residents who have been supporting the Leiston Food Bank so generously.  You are doing a great community service.  The numbers coming to the Food Bank have doubled in recent weeks and we anticipate  further increased need as the furlough scheme ends and school holidays begin.  So please continue your good work, keeping in mind meals that might be appealing to children.  Drop off is on Thursday at the Village Hall.  Just a tin or two of non perishable food would be gratefully received. Well done Westleton!"

Thanks,

Annie 

Annie Groves

Centre Manager, Westleton Village Hall

Contact Annie by email at centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk

or telephone 01728 648354

 

Case-Sera Wines; Eve & Richard Berrill

Eve's latest wine list is available. Please order directly from Eve via their website, by email or by telephone 01728 638395.

Truly Traceable Pies and Sausage Rolls

The Truly Traceable Pies & Sausage Roll Company are now delivering to villages including Westleton.

Their latest menu and price list is available and more information and details about how to order is available on their website.

There is also "A quick guide to safe shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic" produced jointly by the Charted Institute of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Association of Ireland and Irish Global Health Network. To read this see A quick guide to safe shopping.

Annie has also attached a document she was sent from school regarding well-being for families during this pandemic; some useful information and links for you. Please read Coronavirus - Wellbeing Tips for Families (help and advice from Southwark Educational Psychology Service).

The Westleton Community Care Network co-ordinator is Annie Groves, Westleton Village Hall Manager. Annie can be contacted on  01728 648354 or centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk , or contact your local co-ordinator  who is named on the leaflets which were distributed to all households.

Weekly Online Coffee Social

Starting on Friday 10th April from 10.30am to 11am, will be a weekly online coffee social via Zoom for anyone in Westleton.  Do sign up with Annie on centremanager@westletonvillagehall.co.uk for the link so you can join in, and please promote it to any of your Westleton contacts.  All are welcome, and you don't need to be on Zoom already -  we can help people set it up - it's really easy! Thanks to Judie Shore for creating this social; we look forward to seeing whoever would like to join in on Friday! 

Westleton White Horse

Take-Away Service

The Westleton White Horse is offering a Take-Away Service for delivery or collection. The White Horse menu will tell you what is avaiable and how to order. 

Update from The White Horse Inn

Dear all,

Firstly can I say a massive thank you to everyone that has been supporting us in the last 11 weeks. We have quite honestly been overwhelmed by all your support and desire for The White Horse to continue to play its part in Westleton life.

We have been closely following the news with regard to Covid 19 and the possibility of pubs being allowed to reopen soon, and have had regular Zoom meetings with Adnams about the best ways to move forward with this. The current information we have is that July 4th is a real possibility and with that in mind we need to be spending some of our time concentrating our efforts on ensuring that the pub is ready to welcome you all back safely. 

We are also aware that people are beginning to meet with each other again, obviously following social distancing guidelines. With this in mind we have looked at how the pub might be able to play its part . With the green in such close proximity to The White Horse we are going to be opening our serving window Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings so people can collect drinks and takeaway food and should they wish, consume it there. Food and drinks will be served in sealed disposables, we urge you all to use the bins to dispose of them. We are able to do this as long as people refrain from consuming items in the beer garden and car park areas. This option is still available for people to collect food and drinks and takeaway to their homes. 

Moving forward to hopefully The White Horse being in a position to reopen on July 4th we will be changing our operating hours to the following:

Monday and Tuesday Closed

Wednesday and Thursday food and drinks for collection and delivery 17:00-19:30 Friday Food and drinks collection only 17:30-20:00 Saturday Food and drinks collection only 17:30-20:00 Sunday Food and drinks collection and delivery 12:00-14:00  drinks collection only 17:30-19:30

When we have any clearer information from the government on guidelines as to how our pub will be able to reopen we will send out further information as to how this will work..

Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Amy and Matt

 

Community Update from Suffolk Police

There is a Community Upate on Covid-19 issued by Temporary Assistant Chief Constable David Cutler.

A Railway Carriage by the Common.

Read Tony Ingram's article; A Railway Carriage by the Common.