CCA Race Night
Watch out for further information about an exciting new CCA fundraising event! On Saturday 14 October 2023 we will be holding our first ever RACE NIGHT in the Town Hall.
Tickets are only £5 and can be bought from Tuckermans.
(this article updated on 5 September 2023)
Can you help our NHS?
A community project has been launched in the Clare area to sew scrubs for West Suffolk Hospital.
Our NHS is fighting its biggest challenge ever and we want to help. Similar schemes are in place for Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals and across the country.
We have been provided with a specification by West Suffolk Hospital and the appropriate fabric and materials are on order.
If you are interested in helping please get in touch.
If you don’t have a sewing machine there may be cutting out work to be done or putting together packs for delivery to those who can make them.
Speed is of the essence as the next couple of weeks could be very difficult for the NHS.
A Justgiving page is being set up to accept donations to help cover the cost of the materials.
In these challenging times we can’t meet up and share information, so please help by passing the word around- but stay safe!
Call either:
Susan Moore at Clare Golf Course on 07802611376 (the landline is not currently manned) email: claregolfcourse(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aol.com or
Margaret Godwin on 01787 278243 email: margaret.godwin(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)me.com
Mary Evans email: Mary.evans(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)suffolk.gov.uk
(Article written by Susan Moore and posted on 6 April 2020).
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CANCELLATION OF VE DAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS IN CLARE
The CCA has reluctantly taken the decision to cancel both of the Victory in Europe 75the anniversary celebration events it had planned for the community in Clare. One event was going to be for all primary school-aged children in the town and the second was for our older senior citizens.
You will not be surprised to learn that the reason for the cancellations is the current issues arising from the COVID-19 virus. We did not feel it appropriate to pursue the organisation of the events particularly as they entailed bringing people together in one place.
It may be that, once the current COVID-19 issues have abated, that we reassess the situation and we may hold the events later this year if we feel that there is an appetite for such events.
(Article posted 19 March 2020)
CLARE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION……EVENTS FOR 2020
As many of you may know, this year marks the 75th Anniversary of the end of WW2 and the Government has moved the traditional May Day Bank Holiday to Friday 8th May in order to coincide with this illustrious occasion.
Here at the CCA, we thought it would be a great opportunity to mark the Anniversary with a weekend of events for residents at either end of the age scale!
Planning is at an early stage but there are some great ideas being put forward – watch this space for more details!
Other events in planning for 2020 are
- Car Boot Sale
- Pumpkins in the Park
- Remembrance Day
- Santa’s Grotto at the Christmas Fair
As a relatively small group, we do have to accept that our limited resources cannot deliver two major Summer events and as a result, we have taken the difficult decision not to organise a ‘Party in the Park’ this year – but be assured, it will return in 2021 bigger and better!
We are always looking for new members to join the CCA and the more volunteers we have, whether it be for the Committee or just on-the-day event helpers, then the more events we can deliver.
So if you are a public-spirited member of the local community and you can spare a bit of time to help – get in touch. It’s not as time-consuming as you may think and whilst serious work takes place, it is all done so in a light-hearted and friendly atmosphere. The happy smiles and enjoyment brought to the visitors at YOUR events makes it a truly worthwhile effort.
For more details visit our website www.clare–community-association.co.uk
Alternatively, message Gary Brown or Kelvin Green via Facebook/Messenger.
(Article posted Friday 14 February 2020)
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Santa is coming to Clare tomorrow and Saturday!
It has been confirmed that, as part of his very busy schedule in the last few weeks before Christmas, Santa has decided he would love to come and see children in Clare! He is being looked after by Clare Community Association and is waiting to see you all in the Old School Community Centre at the following times:
Friday 29 November from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Saturday 30 November from 2pm to 4pm.
After his Saturday appearance Santa will lead the children’s procession from outside the West Door (in the High Street) of Clare Parish Church at 5.30pm and he will be part of the Clare Christmas Lights Switch-On at 6pm.
Visits to see Santa cost only £1.50.
Santa’s Grotto is part of Clare Christmas Fair and Christmas Light Switch-On events this Friday and Saturday. Do come along and visit 90 stalls in three locations – Clare Parish Church, the Old School Community Centre and the Cock Inn. Don’t miss out on all the fun!!
(Article added Thursday 28 November 2019)
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PUMPKINS IN THE PARK 2019
Just a few days to go to this year’s PUMPKINS IN THE PARK. It takes place on Saturday 26 October 2019 between 1pm and 4pm from outside the Old Goods Shed in Clare Castle Country Park. Buy a map for just £2 and then the fun begins, following a trail through the Park picking up letters to make a word that might win you a prize! There’s also several witches’ hats and bats hidden in the Park that need to be counted! Come and mingle with several ghoulish characters who can’t wait to meet children of all ages – and try to scare them as much as they can!
Fancy dress is optional but adds to the fun. The trail ends at the Social Club where refreshments can be bought, including a bar for the grown-ups. NEW FOR THIS YEAR: Why not let your child(ren) try some pumpkin carving in the Social Club when you have finished the trail?
PLEASE NOTE: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The CCA are extremely grateful to Sainsbury’s in Sudbury for donating several pumpkins for children to carve after the Pumpkins trail is completed.
THE CCA AND THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
As you may be aware by now, the Christmas Lights Committee has folded and it has informed the CTC that they are no longer going to be organising the annual Switch-On. BUT DON’T FEAR – In response, Paul Bishop (as chair of CTC) has set up a working party to organise and deliver this year’s event. The CCA, as a major community organisation in our town, is delighted to be represented on the working party and we hope that we can make a considerable contribution to the success of this year’s event. We will also be getting involved in the Christmas Fair. What this situation allows is for the Switch-On event to be coordinated with the Christmas Fair which is a position that the CCA have striven for several years now. If you would like further information, please go to www.clare-suffolk.co.uk and click on the Announcements’ and News tab.
(Article written on 1 August 2019 by Gary Brown)
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THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
Thank you so much to everyone who attended another very successful Party in the Park last Saturday. The sun brought out visitors in their hundreds and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
As ever, these large community events cannot be put on by a Committee working alone. Lots of people helped in putting it together and I wanted to take the opportunity to mention as many of them as possible. If I miss anyone out, please forgive me:
Clare Town Council, Clare Playing Field Association, the Bell PH, the Swan PH, the Globe PH, the Cock Inn, Benson’s Driving Instructors, Gainsborough Health and Spa Club, Clare Golf Club, Sturmer Nurseries, Paula Rippingale, Cineworld (Haverhill), Haverhill Leisure Centre, Volume One and Andy Bush (GA Group Health and Safety Suppliers)
Gary Brown
Chair, Clare Community Association
(This article posted 2 July 2019)
PARTY IN THE PARK 2019 – Last minute bits and pieces
The CCA Committee are very proud to present Party in the Park tomorrow, Saturday 29 June 2019 (don’t forget – this year it is taking place on Clare Playing Field in Cavendish Road between 1pm and 8pm.)
There will be plenty there to keep you entertained. Its looking like we are going to be lucky with the weather so please do not forget to bring your sun screen and please also make sure you have plenty of water to drink during the day.
Car parking is provided free of charge at Stour Valley Community School. From there it’s only a short walk to the Party. We very much look forward to welcoming you and your family to the Party in the Park tomorrow!
paCLARE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of Clare Community Association (CCA) to hear about the events they have put together for the community over the last year and what they have planned for the coming year.
The meeting will take place as follows:
WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE 2019 starting at 7.30pm.
It will take place at Clare Social Club.
(This article was posted on 29 May 2019)
THIS IS THE LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE TWISTER CHALLENGE 2019
Entries for what promises to be a fun event at this year’s Party in the Park 2019 end THIS FRIDAY (31 May 2019). Please see the poster below and the link to the rules of the competition below it. Application forms can be obtained from Kayleigh in Party Hat.
Here is the (engraved) Twister Challenge Trophy for the winning team. Surely the ‘must have’ trophy of the summer?
PARTY IN THE PARK 2019
At this year’s Party in the Park (taking place at the Playing Field) we are launching an exciting and fun new event – the Twister Challenge. To learn about the rules of the Challenge, please click on the link below the poster:
To see the rules for the Twister Challenge, please click here.
This article entered on 12 May 2019.
PARTY AT THE PLAYING FIELDS 2019
The CCA are currently working hard putting together the latest edition of the biggest, brightest and most fun summer event in Clare. This year the Party (which still has free entry and will have plenty of activities for the whole family) will take place at Clare Playing Fields in Cavendish Road (we were unable to use the whole of the Country Park this year because the Outer Bailey is being re-seeded.)
The Party will take place on Saturday 29 June 2019 between 1pm and 8pm.
Look out for further details in the near future on this website, our Facebook page and elsewhere out in the community.
(this article added on 6 March 2019)
REMEMBRANCE EVENTS 2018
JOIN US ON SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2018 TO COMMEMORATE BATTLE’S OVER – 100 YEARS SINCE THE ENDING OF THE GREAT WAR.
Please join us at approximately 4pm for the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial as we again commemorate the Fallen. In the evening there is an additional event.
The Clare Community Association (CCA) on behalf of Clare Town Council cordially invites all residentsof Clare to join them in Clare Castle Country Park for a short but respectful ceremony to mark Battle’s Over, a national tribute to the Fallen on the Centenary of the ending of the Great War in 1918. This free event takes place on Armistice Day – Sunday 11 November 2018.
The centrepiece of the event will be the lighting of the Beacon of Light and Hope by our special guest Mr Mark Pendlington, Her Majesty the Queen’s Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk.
The ceremony will take place between 6.15pm and 7.15pm in front of the beacon in the Park.
If you would like more information, please ring Gary Brown on 01787 827411 or send him an email to garybrown60(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)talktalk.net
COMMUNITY HALLOWEEN EVENT
The CCA are delighted to post the following message from Clarissa Seeley about an event this coming Sunday.
Come and join us on Sunday 28 October in the Country Park for an exciting trail through the trees! You will be following a map to try and find different characters lost in the park. The event will start at 2:00 pm by the platform where a mini play will take place at 2:15 to help explain what you need to do. There will also be a few different challenges along the trail for you to complete. If you would like any more information, please contact Clarissa Seeley: clarissaspss(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com or 07482 976269.
Note from the CCA: The CCA are really pleased that Clarissa is putting on this event. We tried to hold Pumpkins in the Park on 27 October but, at the time of planning the event several weeks ago, we were informed that the Park would not be available because of the desilting operation. We are pleased that the operation has now finished, and Clarissa’s event can go ahead.
THE CCA’S EVENT FOR THE SUMMER OF 2019 CAN NOW BE REVEALED!
The bad news is that there is no Party in the Park next summer. The very good news is that there is going to be a Party at The Playing Fields! The event for all the family will take place on Saturday 29 June 2019 between 2pm and 8pm. We have moved the Party to Clare Playing Fields because of the desilting process in the Country Park means that we could only use the Inner Bailey (that is, the railway station side of the Park) and not the Outer Bailey. The CCA Committee felt that this was not a large enough area for what we would like to do. We are delighted and grateful, that the Clare Playing Fields Association trustees agreed to the CCA using their excellent facilities. So, watch this space for more details in the coming weeks as the planning has already begun.
Pumpkins in the Park 2018
The CCA regrets to announce that the very popular Pumpkins in the Park will NOT be taking place this year. The reason is that this October we are unable to use Clare Castle Country Park because of de-silting work and the renovation of Clare Park Centre (aka the Visitors’ Centre.) We have looked at alternative locations for the event (including Clare Playing Fields) but we have decided that it would not be the same fun event anywhere other than in the Park. We very much hope to have the event back in the Park in 2019. See you then!
There is more to come….
Following the excitement of another successful Party in the Park, the CCA is working on various other projects to bring events to Clare. Please keep an eye on this website for further details as ideas are progressed.
Excitement is mounting as the Party in the Park draws ever nearer
Saturday 7 July 2018 will see one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) events ever seen in Clare when the Party opens at noon on that day. The CCA is delighted to announce EVEN MORE attractions have been added in the last few days since our programme and posters were published. We now have an exciting Gladiator game which will allow you to pit your combat skills against an opponent using a padded pole to try to knock them off their perch onto the inflatable bed below. We also have DONKEY RIDES for the kids which are bound to be a hit with our younger guests. With so much to do at this year’s Party in the Park, the CCA cordially invites one and all to join us for this fun day out which is free.
Party in the Park – Can you help?
Clare Community Association are looking for a team of volunteers to help with setting up and various other tasks associated with this year’s Party in the Park.
Can you spare a little time on the day? Even better how about all day? (Saturday 7th July, 12-till-6 if you haven’t seen the posters, flyers etc.)
Some tasks would be more physical than others but with a wide range of jobs on the day, we’re sure there will be something to suit all ages and abilities.
We appreciate the help that all our volunteers give and as such you can expect to be well ‘fed and watered’ during the day!
We already have a great bunch of people committed to the team but are looking to find a few more ‘community-spirited’ people to ensure that all our visitors have the best day possible.
For further details, please contact Kelvin Green (Volunteer Co-coordinator) 07765 248 553 (e-mail kelvingreen67(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com)
PARTY IN THE PARK 2018 PROGRAMME
We promised those booking a stall at this year’s Party in the Park that we would publish the programme on this website by 1 June 2018 and here it is! Please ensure that you scroll down this page as there is more below. We will be delivering a copy of it to every household in Clare in the next week or so.
PARTY IN THE PARK IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!
….to the brand-new CCA website. We will be adding much more information on our site in the next few weeks so please return later. In future we will be publishing details of all of our events. Watch this space! (This article was added on 21 January 2018.)
How it all began:
In the Autumn of 2015 a small group decided to get together to see if the Clare Community Association could be revived. A body has now been formed that will benefit every resident and business in Clare and the surrounding area, not just organising community events but being able to advise and help others who want to put on events.
The primary aims are to be open and transparent, and to get as many people and sections of the community involved as possible.
CCA organised its first major event last year: the Party in the Park in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday: 200 volunteers…..a special tea for pensioners in the Town Hall…..a host of stalls, performances, animals, vintage cars, fancy dress in the style of the 20s, food and drink, music, dance, games, fire & rescue demo, readings, dog competition, art work, most within the Castle’s Outer Bailey…..an untold number of visitors – a phenomenal success.
The Town Council offers a heartfelt thanks to all those volunteers & participants, young & old, businesses, groups & families whose contributions made the Party in the Park such a success. Give yourselves a hug, a pat on the back, a kiss, a glass in the hand, a sigh of relief, a standing ovation…….thank you!
The shape of things to come?
