Comic Relief, Japan, The Digital Switchover and a Final Farewell at the March 2011 Breakfast in Stowmarket

Red Nose Mayhem, Thoughts for Japan, the Digital Switchover and the End of an Era 

…and thanks to the lovely Celene a breakfast that’s all free-range, locally sourced from the market and organic – even the food is doing its bit to support local businesses!  

30 attending members and non members from Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Sudbury, Felixstowe and Long Melford did their best for Comic Relief at the “mad” March breakfast at Stowmarket Rugby Club.

Poems, songs and a fairy tale were among the items on offer in a competition to find the most entertaining 60 seconds on the theme of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland.

Even those businesses that we don’t normally associate with humour demonstrated their hidden talents, thanks to Matt Moss, from Ensors, who proved that accountants are not actually boring and Andrew Bingham’s cautionary tale of why it’s not a good idea to put a red nose on a hearse.

Jonathan Steed, of Gipping Press, entertained everyone with his “fairytale” of Firefighters R Us founded by Peter, Allan and Shelli, and their first firefighting effort and Bridget Keevil produced a poem, a collaborative effort from the Travel Stop staff.

Hats off to Shelli for delivering a poem through the breathing restrictions of a red nose and to Nigel George’s Welsh accent as Dylan Thomas’ lawyer encouraging everyone to “put yourself in writing and avoid a lot of fighting”, which won third place in the competition.

Allan Scott can always be relied upon to produce a musical version for these occasions, this time the tale of “Henry the Red Nosed Hatter”, which won second place in the competition, and Simon Burton of 8CW produced another useful tip to get rid of Peter Bunnykins and other pests in the garden – and yes, you’ve guessed it, involving another use for white vinegar.

The winner of the competition was Kate Kelly, the Business Plumber, with her fairytale – so good that it’s reproduced below.

On a more serious note Tim Meadows-Smith, of K2 Business Rescue, invited everyone to stand for a minute’s silence for reflection of the Japanese people struggling with the triple catastrophe of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant emergency.

Congratulations to all the regulars for demonstrating to those visitors who had never before experienced a Stowmarket Chamber Breakfast that promoting a business can be fun, entertaining and “a bit different” even at 7am in the morning!Congratulations also to Sue Hall, of Maid2Clean, who set up her business to be able to achieve her dream of having a dog, achieved at last with the arrival of new puppy Presto, and for finding the “holy grail” under her seat at the show Spamalot, and being presented with a commemorative scroll by Phil Jupitus and Todd Carter as “best peasant”.  Whatever will she do next?

…and thanks to all those who donated to the total of £80 raised for Comic Relief

The sad tale of the Mad Hatter’s tearoom – by Kate Kelly

The Mad Hatter was very worried. “The tea room takings are down again,” he confided to the March Hare.

“Well, there’s a reason,” replied the hare, reasonably.

“Yes,” replied the Hatter, “but whatever’s causing it, our business is leaking away as we speak.”

“Leaking? Leaking?” mumbled the Dormouse, sleepily. “I’ve met someone who helps with leaks – a Business Plumber.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” snapped the March Hare, “we don’t need a plumber!”

“A Business Plumber” said the Dormouse, firmly.

Just then the Hatter exclaimed: “It’s Alice – quick, put the kettle on!”

But Alice walked past the tea room and straight into the Red Nose Restaurant.

“But that place is a mess!” exclaimed the Hatter. “Takes ages to be served and you can never find a clean table!”

“Ah,” said the Dormouse, sadly. “That was before they brought in the Business Plumber.”

But the Hatter and the Hare weren’t listening – as usual.

….and the end of an ERA

It was the last breakfast meeting for the master of the acronym BBH, (aka) Bob Boxall-Hunt, who is moving away from Stowmarket to Torquay.

He took the opportunity to highlight the opportunities and facilities of both the Rugby Club, and all the other Stowmarket activities he has been involved in during his eight years in the town.

Chamber members were a “superb bunch of people,” he said emphasising that there was a lot of business collaboration between members and inviting all to his official leaving do at the Football Club on June 10 anytime from 7.30pm.

Chairman Peter Down presented Bob with a commemorative plaque as a leaving gift and reminder of everyone.

The Digital Switchover – presentation by Bob Scott

Bob has a very helpful, informative and detailed presentation of the implications of the switchover for TV and DVD recorders from analogue to digital which is due to hit the area this July, over a period from July 6 to 20 because for the Stowmarket area three transmitters will be involved.

Unfortunately because of all the Comic Relief presentations it was not possible for Bob to deliver it in full but points particularly to be noted are that the transition will take several days and may involve retuning TVs and DVD recorders more than once, depending on how members receive their current service (eg: Sky, Freeview, Freesat). Bob advised everyone to get familiar with the re-tuning process well in advance of the switchover.

TVs and DVD player/recorders need to be checked to ensure they are able to receive the digital signals.

Most importantly, he said, there were many elderly people who would find the whole process beyond comprehension and may have equipment that is not capable of receiving the digital signal.

He urged people to check on elderly relatives and friends firstly to ensure they have compatible televisions and secondly to help them with the re-tuning process. He also warned anyone who had treasured family archives on tape that it would be a good idea to have them copied to DVDs as sooner or later it will not be possible to buy replacement video recorders.

A final reminder that there was a scam emerging with people being contacted and warned they would need to change their TV aerials.  This is not true, he said.

Chairman’s report

Peter reminded everyone of the official launch of the Town Centre Partnership which will take place on Thursday, March 31, at 6.30 pm at the Barnards VW Showroom, Station Road East.

He said this was one of a number of initiatives currently happening in the town, in which the Chamber was involved, another being the refurbishment by the Museum of East Anglian Life of Abbotts Hall, where the Chamber hopes to sponsor a room.  The Hall is expected to be ready this summer.

The merger of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils is moving closer, he said, and there is to be a four-week consultation period starting from May 9. The Chamber and the Federation of Small Businesses have combined to urge the councils not to forget the business implications of the merger and a forum has now been established to liaise with the councils.

Proposals for a two-tier membership to allow smaller traders to join Stowmarket Chamber for a lower fee are progressing, he reported, and it was hoped that the details would be published within the next month.

Finally, continuing the collaboration theme, Peter has used the services of Gipping Press to publish his grandfather’s memories of World War 1, and £1 of the £5 purchase price will go to the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund.

Anyone who would like a copy should contact Peter:

peter.avoca@talktalk.net

Dates for your diary

Breakfast meetings coming. Venues vary so make sure you turn up at the right place:

April 15  Golf Club 

May 20  Golf Club

June 17 Rugby Club

July 15 Golf Club

Next Meeting:

April 15 7am Golf Club

phone: 01449 770965

e-mail: mailto:secretary@stowmarketchamber.org.uk

website: http://www.stowmarketchamber.org.uk