Brandon Town Magazine - Issue 97

Remembering John Gentry

Pages 6-7

Photo by Gino Riggi

Welcome to Brandon

You often wonder what makes our town so special, but you need look no further than the tiniest act of a wave.

John Gentry, aka Wavy Man, was given a send off few others in the town would generate. Not just because of who he was but because of the simplest act of a wave or blowing a kiss to those who passed by his home.

Crowds gathered to wave him off as Mark

To

Skinner held a special service on Market Hill. As we mention the community spirit, this edition of the magazine announces this year’s Best of Brandon award nominees. Those who have gone above and beyond for our town over the last year. Photos from the awards event will be in the next edition.

Regards

Brandon Town Magazine

Deadline for March edition 17th February

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this publication, the publishers take no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by it’s contributors, in any advertisements or for any loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Reproduction of any part of this publication without permission is strictly forbidden. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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Rotary Club of Brandon & District

Since moving into the town and holding our Thursday evening meetings at the Royal British Legion Club, our Rotary Club have increased their active membership from 20 to 32! Each Club member, young or old, brings their own skills and experience and really throws themselves into getting involved in the Club’s social activities and fundraising events. Weekly meetings are fun and very informal, with a relaxed dress code. Members go out to eat together once a month at a different venue with partners, friends and potential new members welcomed.

We have found being in the British Legion bar before each meeting, getting involved in various activities in the town, helping marshal at local charity events, having stalls on the market square and at fetes and fairs and inviting local people to join in a Rotary shoebox day have all helped local residents be able to chat to and get to know us and learn about what we do.

We are really proud to be part of such an active presence in the town and we’re proud too of the funds we raise to support the local community and so many other causes. We do this by holding events such as our Race Nights and our annual Bonfire and Fireworks eventwhich has been held at Brandon Hall for over 40 years. Our Santa sleigh rides through the town were the culmination of a busy, really fun year for the Club.

the team of Santa’s enthusiastic helpers.New members Dave Nutt and his wife Sue made and decorated the sleigh and Santa’s cushion, and another new member, Jill King, made the beautiful sign and the intricate reins with individually sewn on bells. Many other members had great fun helping to build and decorate the sleigh and adding the sound system.

Along with friends and family, Club members dressed warmly to spread cheer throughout the town on the very frosty nights of the 17th and 18th of December. We hope you love our new sleigh as much as we do!

We borrowed a sleigh in 2020 when Vice President Kevin Curtis came up with the idea of spreading cheer after the Covid-19 lockdown. Together we built our own beautiful sleigh this year, with Kevin (AKA Santa) leading

As well as many elves, also helping Santa and Mrs Christmas were the Grinch, Elsa from Frozen, a Christmas cracker and present, a snowman and Club members with high vis vests and collecting tins. We visited as many streets as possible, giving children ‘I’ve seen Santa stickers’ and collecting for the Mark Skinner appeal - with £323.37 generously donated (along with various foreign coins, an 1894 farthing and a Great Yarmouth pleasure beach token!) We were delighted once again to be invited to visit Brandon Park Care home - where each resident also wanted a sticker to wear!

The sleigh rides drew a really fun, successful year to a close. We hope you’ve enjoyed helping us support the local community in so many ways and we look forward to seeing you at our events and activities in 2023.

If you’d like any more information about joining the Club or helping at our events, please contact us via our Facebook page facebook.com/brandonrotaryclub, contact Club President Matt Arnold on 07710 819259 or mja@marnold.co.uk or Sue Meader on 07884 313563 or suemeader1@gmail.com

Remembering John Gentry

Photo by Gino Riggi

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Gary Brocklehurst

Photo by Gino Riggi

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Jean Betts

Photo by Gary Brocklehurst

Breckland Cats Protection

Did you know that cats may show no signs of being infested with worms? Although you might not see them, intestinal worms can be a serious health risk to your cat and your family, so it’s important to understand how to protect against them.

Kittens pick up roundworms from their mother’s milk and by swallowing eggs from the environment. Cats pick up roundworm eggs from contaminated soil and by eating infected hosts, such as rodents. Adult cats often don’t show any signs of roundworm infestation, so its easy for the problem to go undetected, yet a recent study has shown that just over 1 in 4 cats that go outside are infested with roundworms.

People become infected with roundworms by accidentally swallowing tiny worm eggs from the environment. Cats pass eggs in their faeces and as they prefer to go to the toilet in soil or sandpits, this poses a risk to children playing in these areas. Roundworms in people can cause damage to their eyes, lungs and heart. They can also be a risk factor in eczema and cognitive dysfunction. Children are especially at risk as they play on the floor, in sandpits or in soil where worm eggs maybe present.

Cats pick up tapeworm by swallowing fleas when grooming themselves. Tapeworms

are picked up by eating rodents or birds, so cats who hunt are at much greater risk. Cats often show no signs of tapeworms, but may lose weight and coat condition. Tapeworm segments around the bottom can also lead to irritation. Due to their size and behaviours, cats often share areas of the home with their owners. Indeed a recent survey has shown that 53% of cats sleep on the beds of their owners or their owners’ children.

To protect your pet and family always wash hands after outdoor activities and before eating. Wash fruit and vegetables intended to be eaten raw. Cover sandpits when not in use and if possible cover vegetables in allotments and gardens.

Treat your cat with a product that’s effective against worms regularly throughout the year and this is especially important in kittens, cats who regularly hunt or roam, cats in households with young children or someone elderly or with a poor immune system. Always buy your worm treatment from your vet as they have the most up to date products that work.

For help or advice or if you need assistance with the cost of neutering, please call us on 01842 810018.

Rita Thompson.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

YOUNG VOLUNTEER

Carl Conway Jacob Ball Oliver

Nolder

David Doughty

Mia McDonald

Susan Nutt

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Brandon in Bloom

Brandon Fire Station

Mark Skinner Campaign

Bill Bishop

John Maxim Les Barber

Lynx Fitness

Omar Homes Roots & Boots Forest School

Brandon Car Centre is an independant garage offering used car sales, service and MOT testing for cars. We service and repair all makes and models at competitive prices and guarantee all our work and parts for 12 months. Our technicians are all qualified and we have the latest diagnostic equipment which is continually updated. Call us today on 01842 819999 for a quote or to book your car in for a MOT or service.

To view our current car sales stock list please visit our website at

Rachel Sobiechowski

february Gardening

P&R Garden Supplies

www.p-rgardensupplies.co.uk

The problem with February is that the weather is so fickle that it is hard to determine what to do in the garden, it can feel like the start of spring or it can feel like winter is never going to end. However there are always plenty of jobs to do even if it’s just washing out empty plant pots, cleaning your tools or turning your attention to seed sewing!

When the weather is kind, one task to do is dividing clumps of snowdrops and aconites whilst they are ‘in the green’ (in leaf). Planting ‘in the green’ is the best way to increase your collection, for free if you already have these gorgeous early spring bulbs flowering in your garden! Once they have finished flowering dig up dense clumps and divide them into 2 or 3 smaller bunches. Make sure you replant them straight away so they don’t dry out and start to wilt. Plant the bunches spaced apart and plant at the same depth as they were growing when you dug them up (burying the white section at the base). Water in thoroughly to settle the roots.

Spacing out snowdrop bulbs in this way can help them to flower better next year, and the increased space creates room for new bulbs they may produce. Your snowdrops will naturally reproduce, creating breathtaking swathes of white that

TOP TIPS

Plant some late winter / spring containers for a splash of colour

Prune winter flowering shrubs that have finished flowering

•Feed fruit trees and bushes

delight us all. If you don’t have snowdrops already growing in your garden that you can divide, you can buy snowdrops in the green, either in bunches or small pots, make sure you purchase from a reputable supplier and never remove snowdrops (or bluebell) from the wild/ common ground as these are protected species in the UK.

Another task to do in February is to remove the top layer of compost from outdoor potted plants. Replace with fresh compost and add in slow release fertiliser to keep your potted plants looking great all summer. Its also a great time to dig in (or as I do, mulch with) soil conditioner around your borders and vegetable gardens.

You may be tempted to start some lawn renovation in February, however keep off the lawn as much as possible whilst it is wet or frozen. If, towards the end of the month, the weather turns dry and mild, the lawn is firm and the grass is starting to look a little shaggy, give it a very gentle mow with the blades on the highest setting. Also, if you are planning a new lawn, late February is probably the earliest you could start preparing the ground for seeding or laying turf.

Breckland School rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted

The headteacher of Breckland School has spoken of his pride after the Brandon secondary school received a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted.

Polite and considerate pupils, behaviour and a “well-considered” education programme all came in for praise following the inspection in November.

Jon Winn, principal at Breckland School, said: “We are delighted that the Ofsted inspectors praised the many positive things that we see on a day-to-day basis.

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we prepare students well for life beyond secondary education, and were particularly pleased that this was recognised.”

Ofsted inspectors found that pupils access a well-considered personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme, which makes them knowledgeable about diversity, equalities and how to keep safe in an age-appropriate way.

The inspection report added: “Pupils are

happy at Breckland School. Pupils are looked after well by staff, particularly their ‘mentors’ who they see every day.

“Pupils’ opinions and concerns are taken seriously [and] pupils are respectful to each other and to staff.”

Effective safeguarding and support for pupils with SEND were also highlighted with Mr Winn believing the report to be a reflection of everyone pulling in the right direction.

Mr Winn continued: “We would like to pay tribute to everyone in our school community – all staff, students, parents and the wider community.

“We would also like to thank Unity Schools Partnership for all their support since we began working with them in 2021, and subsequently joined the trust in July last year.”

Breckland School, formerly IES Breckland, was last inspected in September 2017 when it also achieved a ‘Good’ rating.

Slow Cooker Cajun Pasta

This is a recipe for one of those days when you don’t feel much like cooking but know you’ll want something tasty and filling to eat at the end of the day. The ingredients are easily adapted to be able to add any other vegetables to it that you wish to use. Just bear in mind if you’re adding vegetables with a high water content, such as mushrooms, they are best put in the slow cooker about an hour before it’s ready so as not to lose shape and texture.

Ingredients

2 Red Onions sliced into chunks.

2 Peppers, any colour you wish, sliced into chunks.

300g Dried Pasta, this works well with shapes rather than spaghetti or linguine.

2 Tbsps Cajun Seasoning.

1 Litre Chicken or Vegetable Stock.

1 Egg.

2 Tbsps Soft Cream Cheese.

35g Grated Cheese, a good strong cheddar works well.

Fry the onions and peppers in a drizzle of oil along with 1 tbsp of the cajun seasoning.

Tip into the slow cooker.

Fry off any other vegetables that need to go in the pot at this stage. Cover the ingredients with the stock and mix in the remaining seasoning.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 2.5 hours.

After this time tip in the pasta and stir well making sure the liquid covers the pasta. Cook for another 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together the egg, cream cheese and grated cheddar in a jug to combine. Switch off the slow cooker and stir in the egg and cheese mixture until the sauce is thick, creamy and smooth. You’re done!

Any leftovers can be frozen but upon defrosting you may need to loosen the sauce with a little boiled water.

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