Summary

  • Updates for Suffolk

  1. Golf tees off as coronavirus restrictions easedpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Golfers still have to adhere to social distancing regulations and clubhouses will remain closed.

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  2. Suffolk cancer referral rates plummetpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Rates of cancer referrals in Suffolk have plummeted according to health bosses as people fail to see a GP due to coronavirus.

    Cancer cellsImage source, Science Photo Library

    Data from the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) revealed that "two-week wait referrals", those requested by a GP for a hospital check on suspicious symptoms within a fortnight, were currently 50% of their normal levels.

    The CCGs said around 8% of referrals will turn out to be cancers, meaning an estimated 50 confirmed cancers per month were being missed per CCG district.

    Dr Peter Holloway, GP and cancer lead with the Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG, said they were worried people were getting diagnosed at a later stage than they should.

    "We know the earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome," he said.

    Health chiefs said the reasons for people not wanting symptoms checked included those not wanting to burden the NHS, while others did not wish to visit a GP or go into a hospital for fear of catching the virus.

  3. 'Foolish' sailor rescued after lockdown easedpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The sailor's boat was "barely seaworthy", according to a boating association chairman.

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  4. Buildings turned bluepublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Several buildings across the region were bathed in blue light yesterday evening...

    The Royal Hospital School on the banks of the Stour estuary in Suffolk tweeted, external to say it was "in honour of all nurses and midwives, past and present in this their International Year".

    Royal Hospital School tower, HolbrookImage source, Royal Hospital School
  5. Ipswich sees differing approaches to resumption of tennispublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Tennis is one of the sports the government says can resume as lockdown restrictions are relaxed, but it's led to varying approaches in Ipswich.

    Only singles is allowed, and the town's borough council is reopening the public courts in its parks.

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    However, one of the town's larger clubs, Ipswich Sports Club, external, is still reviewing how it will re-open and it is expecting a delay until later this week.

    "There is a lot for the club to assess as we want to satisfy the Lawn Tennis Association's recommended approach to venues to 're-open safely rather than rushing'," said Vanessa Penn, club chairman.

    For the moment the club facilities, which also include squash courts and gym, remain closed.

    Ipswich Sports Club
    Image caption,

    Ipswich Sports Club with its dome deflated

  6. Shop owner hosts online coffee-making courses for mental health charitypublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Phil Shepka
    BBC News

    Beth CookImage source, Beth Cook

    The co-owner of a coffee shop business closed because of coronavirus has begun online coffee-making courses to raise money for charity.

    Beth Cook from Applaud Coffee, external, which has two shops in Ipswich, said she has a "passion for teaching people about coffee and improving people's skills".

    She said she wanted "to be creative in thinking of ways to help" the mental health charity Mind, and has asked those who take her courses to donate money to them instead of paying her.

    She said: "Mental health obviously is going to [be a] struggle massively for a lot of people during this time and after."

  7. Gardeners delight at centre openingspublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Garden centres have been allowed to re-open from today and Graham was first in the queue at the Cherry Lane Garden Centre at Carlton Colville, Suffolk.

    Garden centre

    "I usually come here twice a week and that's been closed all these weeks and there's quite a lot of stuff I want," he said.

    "I'm also getting some stuff for some pensioners who can't get over here so I made sure I was first in the queue so I don't miss nothing."

  8. How the UK's most easterly port is powering onpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    The Port of Lowestoft in Suffolk says the majority of its business is related to offshore energy.

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  9. League One and Two expected to be scrappedpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    Scrapping the rest of the football season in Leagues One and Two is likely to be the most significant topic for discussion at an English Football League (EFL) board meeting, later.

    It is not certain the leagues will be formally ended this week as there are a number of issues that need to be resolved, not least surrounding promotion and relegation, and the EFL is adamant no decision about the rest of the season has been made.

    However, BBC Sport understands there is a general acceptance among clubs that resumption of the season in Leagues One and Two is impossible.

    That means Ipswich, Peterborough, Colchester, Southend, Cambridge, Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton and Stevenage and Wycombe may not play again until next season - whenever that may be.

  10. Return of some children to schools 'sensible'published at 11:24 British Summer Time 13 May 2020

    A consultant virologist and Cambridge University lecturer says the reintroduction of some children into schools is a "sensible" approach.

    Dr Chris Smith, a BBC radio representer on the Naked Scientists show, said it would see children "benefit enormously from the socialistation".

    The government has announced plans that would see some reception, year one and year six pupils return to school from June.

    Dr Smith, who lives in Essex, said: "I think it's a very sensible approach. It's a staged approach."

  11. 'You nurse the patient and their family'published at 14:40 British Summer Time 12 May 2020

    Rob England
    BBC News

    On International Nurses Day, we're hearing stories of amazing nurses from across the country.

    One such nurse is Nichola, who works at Ipswich Hospital.

    After leaving a career in banking to re-train, she lost her mother a year into her course.

    “Losing my Mum has been devastating," Nichola said, "but it’s made me realise you nurse the patient, but you also nurse the patient’s family too.

    "I know my mum would be proud I carried on with my course and am now doing what I always wanted to do when I left school.”

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    People are being invited to shine a light out of their windows at 20:30 BST, in tribute to nurses.

  12. Drone shows empty town centre on Saturday afternoonpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 11 May 2020

    The pictures show normally bustling streets deserted as the coronavirus lockdown continues.

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  13. Covid-19 lockdown is 'boost to bicycle trade'published at 16:03 British Summer Time 11 May 2020

    However, one retailer says he is "scrabbling around" to get hold of spare parts.

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  14. Supplies for vulnerable delivered by rickshawpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 11 May 2020

    Rob England
    BBC News

    A wheeled volunteer service which normally helps people get out and about is now delivering supplies to vulnerable people in isolation.

    Before the pandemic the Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw project used specially-adapted tricycles ridden by volunteers to transport people with limited mobility around the town.

    Now, with many users in self-isolation, the volunteers have kept the wheels spinning by working with West Suffolk Council to help deliver food and medical supplies to vulnerable groups.

    Amanda from Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw projectImage source, West Suffolk Council

    Libby Ranzetta, one of the project's founders, said the response of people who had volunteered had been "fantastic" and they had completed 663 deliveries since lockdown began.

  15. That's all folk - another festival bites the dust/mudpublished at 10:44 British Summer Time 11 May 2020

    The Unthanks

    Another summer music festival has been cancelled.

    Folk East was due to take place at Glemham Hall in Suffolk in August, with headline acts including Afro-Celt Sound System and The Unthanks.

    A statement on its website, external said: "We are sure it will come as no surprise to you that we have made the difficult decision to officially postpone FolkEast until 2021.

    "The restrictions on large gatherings look likely to be in place throughout the summer and it’s clear that we'll have to continue social distancing in one form or another for some time to come."

    Organisers said "the majority" of this year’s line-up will be returning next year on 20-22 August 2021.

    Folk East, 2016
  16. KFC 'lockdown litter lout' angers thousandspublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 10 May 2020

    A man pleads with people not to return to "lazy habits" of littering as more takeaways reopen.

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  17. The effect of lockdown on Little Americapublished at 00:14 British Summer Time 9 May 2020

    How are the communities that rely so heavily on the US airbases coping under lockdown?

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  18. Isolating friends, 97 and 92, spend VE Day togetherpublished at 09:30 British Summer Time 8 May 2020

    New friends Doug and Margaret will spend the anniversary together while isolating as a pair.

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  19. Care home highlights residents' war experiencespublished at 09:27 British Summer Time 8 May 2020

    The care home says the project was "providing great comfort at this challenging time".

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  20. Devoted couple died days apart from coronaviruspublished at 00:17 British Summer Time 8 May 2020

    Clive and Doreen Hubbard, both in their 80s, died without each other or their family.

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