Featured Inside Grove Surgery
Benjamin Foundation Thetford Academy Jane James Vicky at The Bell Roger’s Recipe Bob Blogg A Secret garden MIND Sheep on a Hill and much more
Welcome to Issue Five of Reflections of Thetford magazine.
by Martin Angus (Editor)
Welcome to the penultimate edition of 2024, and what an exciting time we all have had putting this magazine together this month.
As always, we could not have done it without the amazing Thetford Guildhall Writers Group, who I think you will agree, have exceeded all expectation this edition with their ever evolving creativity and writing skills. A shout out to Keystone for the use of Riversdale for our pop-up studio portrait location.
Also included this month, are three local residents of Thetford, who have come forward to share their stories, primarily inspired by the writing and stories in previous editions of ‘Reflections of Thetford’ magazine, and then wanting to share their stories and love of our town of Thetford.
The business collaboration photo-shoot was again an exciting day, with 11 Thetford businesses being involved, and an ever evolving plan through the life cycle of the project. I had originally thought we would be doing a hard-core Halloween theme, but as it evolved, it became a more sophisticated autumn themed photo-shoot instead.
The feedback we have received for the previous issues of the magazine has been tremendous, with emails and messages coming in daily from individuals and businesses all wanting to be part of what we are doing. What are we doing? We are offering the good folk of Thetford, a platform to shout about all the great things going on in this town, and by doing so, we are creating not only a jolly good read, but we are creating a ‘great’ read for everyone.
I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the wonderful advertisers, all of whose support has made this possible by believing in the idea, which only 8 months ago was a folded sheet of A4 and a strange man knocking on their door asking if they would like to advertise. The wheels of karma I know have turned, with many of these businesses receiving great feedback and new customers from being part of this journey.
Please enjoy the magazine, and if you have any ideas for editorial, would like to comment on what we are doing, or would like to see your business included in our lovely magazine, then please get in touch. We can’t do this without your support!
©Reflections of Thetford is published by The Bubbly Hub. All rights reserved. 2024 Whilst every care is taken, the publisher accepts no responsibility for loss or damage resulting from the contents of this publication, as well as being unable to guarantee the accuracy of contributions supplied as editorial, images or advertisements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission.
Grove Surgery - Lisa Gearing
A Baker and a Gardener - Roger Stebbings
A True Public Servant - Jane James
The Sacred Garden - Ford Place
Something for Everyone - Ash Simonds
The Forgotten Soldiers - The Medusa Project
Thetford Academy - Dr Michael Fordham
Autumn Photo-shoot - Business Collaboration
Benjamin Foundation - Mike Towndrow
A Regular Walk - Nunnery Lakes Reserve
My Life in Thetford - Carol and Nancy
Autumn Problems - Breckland Cat Protection
Sheep on a Hill - Castle Hill
The Bell - Victoria Witheridge
The Rest of the Puzzle - MIND
-
The
-
‘Lisa Gearing’ Photography by Martin Angus
Grove Surgery
Lisa Gearing - Assistant Practice Manager
Written by Andy Eden
If, like me, you thought your local doctor’s surgery simply contained the GPs consultancy rooms and the receptionists who arrange their diaries, think again. I recently visited Lisa Gearing who is the Assistant Practice Manager at Grove Surgery to find out about the other services they provide and the people who work there.
The first thing that struck me is the passion that Lisa has for her role and everything that the practice does. She has worked in health care for almost 20 years and has been at Grove Surgery for over 8 years now. Since then, Lisa has worked in many of the roles including reception and admin before becoming the Assistant Practice Manager.
The practice itself is part of the Breckland Alliance, which is a group of three surgeries, Grove Lane,
School Lane and Watton Medical Practice. Primary Care Networks form a key part in the future of primary care. They are part of a model of care in which commissioners and providers work together in different ways to achieve closer integration of services locally. The Healthy Living Centre is one example of where the Alliance works together to make services available to its patients. The joint delivery of Covid 19 and flu vaccinations and giving patients greater accessibility to appointments are amongst its successes.
The reason Lisa wanted to talk to me was not to explain the Breckland Alliance or talk about herself, it was to let people know what the surgery could offer, how it worked and to champion the staff who make it all possible. She feels very strongly about being able to provide the best care possible for the people
of Thetford and part of that is making them aware of what is available and why things are done as they are.
Care is now provided in a different way as demand has grown significantly. As we all know, Covid changed many things, and as you would expect, the medical profession was greatly impacted. It was during this time that Grove Lane Surgery decided to reorganise the way they work. Rather than have patients call in to make an appointment, perhaps weeks in advance, everyone who contacts the surgery now is assessed on the day to decide the best course of action for them. The GPs, of which there are six, five partners and one salaried, will look at each case in turn and triage them. A decision is taken about how to proceed which could involve an appointment with the GP or other medical professional, repeat or changed prescription or even a paramedic visit.
If you end up seeing someone other than the GP it is not because they are too busy to see you, it is because the person you are in front of, is often in a better position to help, or at least as capable of helping in your situation. It is these people that Lisa wanted to talk about.
The first person that Lisa mentioned was Jettie Vije who is the nurse lead. Jettie qualified in the Netherlands and after working there and in Africa, she moved to the UK. She has now been at Grove Surgery for 11 years. As nurse lead Jettie is responsible for supporting the other nursing staff both professionally and with all things administrative. But her role does not stop there. She is also the infection control nurse lead, the diabetes lead, the hypertension lead and the heart failure lead. In short, she is the go to person if any of the team need advice or support on any of these subjects as well as everyday situations and conditions.
In addition to all of this, Jettie also does cervical screening, swabs, vaccinations both baby and adult, hormone injections and wound care. In this she is ably assisted by Catherine who is a locum nurse at the surgery. If you have diabetes, kidney disease or have had a stroke or cardiac condition, when you go in to the practice to have a review, it is likely that you will see Jettie. Despite this huge workload, which includes leading the nursing team, leading the group consultations and organising the follow ups, her passion is for prevention of disease through education. In this role she helps patients make informed choices to alter and improve their lifestyles which reduces the risk of serious illness and improves their day to day quality of life.
Marlena and Courtney are the two main HCAs (healthcare assistants) who do the majority of the part one appointments for those with long term conditions. That means taking blood samples, checking blood pressure, weight and providing dietary advice. They also look after wound care, ECGs and the many health checks that are available. B12 injections and vaccinations such as Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia and COVID are also part of their role. Both provide support to the phlebotomy service which is run by Emma, of whom more later. Both are going to be trained to do spirometry which is a test for lung function and capacity.
With an eye to the future, the practice supports a student nurse in her training. Tiffany has previously worked at The West Suffolk Hospital and is now involved in most of the functions that Marlena and Courtney cover. In addition to this and her study, she has created the QR codes used by the practice and masterminded the group consultation presentations.
Another role in the practice, is the Care Coordinator, who is Gemma. She looks after the elderly and frail patients, helping them to live well in their own homes
as long as possible. This may be addressing the person’s physical needs by supporting referral’s to provide equipment and exercises or referring them to Occupational and Physiotherapy teams. It could alternatively be helping with their personal wellbeing such as providing care needs, socialising and group membership or referring them on to Social Services or volunteer groups. Gemma visits those with long term conditions who are unable to get to the surgery for their reviews as well as 3 month cancer reviews. Gemma also contacts patients when they return home from a stay in hospital, providing a link in the care provided. As someone who has previously spent nine years working in Dementia care, she is ideally suited to attending local Dementia clubs which she does to provide support and advice. As I previously mentioned, Emma is the practice Phlebotomist. She does the bulk of the clinics and volunteers to do extra afternoon clinics for those who can’t attend a morning appointment at The Healthy Living Centre. Emma also helps out with the various vaccine clinics and will provide support when HCA’s are on annual leave.
A newer member of the team is Olwen who works across all three sites of the Breckland Alliance. She provides cover for all those who are housebound and need a COVID vaccine. She also provides adult vaccine clinics in the surgery once a week, for example MMR and shingles.
Clearly all this work needs a good deal of administration and that is where Jan comes in. Jan is the practice Nurse Administrator. She organises the calls and recalls for smears, baby immunisations and the myriad of vaccinations such as Pneumonia, Flu, COVID, Hepatitis A & B as well as Shingles and Whooping Cough. She also administers the longterm condition patients and, in conjunction with the receptionists, books the appointments. There is a relatively new role within the NHS, that of
Physician Associate and Grove Surgery have two of them, Rachel and Ruth. So what is a Physician Associate? Well, you have to be a graduate who has then undertaken postgraduate training. The Physician Associates then works under the supervision of a doctor, in some ways filling the space between a GP and a nurse. This frees up the doctor to work with patients where their expertise is required but their knowledge is still available to the Physician Associate. On a daily basis they see patients with a range of conditions from coughs and colds and infections to minor injuries and wounds. They will also make home visits where necessary and work with the other teams in the practice. For acute, on the day concerns you will often see Rachel or Ruth.
Andrea Green is the practice Social Prescriber and I must admit that that is a new one on me. Social prescribing recognises that a persons health is determined or at least affected by, a range of social, economic and environmental factors and it is the prescriber’s role to address these needs in a holistic way, enabling the individual to take greater control of their own health. Andrea helps GPs, nurses and the other members of the practice refer people to a range of non-clinical services.
People who could benefit from this approach are those with low moods, mobility or weight concerns, those concerned about caring responsibilities, those who feel isolated and many more. Social Prescribing can put those in need of help, in touch with clubs and activities, advice groups, support services and groups as well as direct help like community transport and job search.
Grove Surgery also has the services of a trained paramedic, Brigitte. After 18 years in health care, two of which were spent in A & E and ten as a qualified paramedic, Brigitte sees patients on a face to face
basis and of course deals with any emergencies that come into the surgery. She also does some home visits. It should be noted that the surgery does not have a walk in service, all appointments must be booked.
The administrative, prescription and reception teams are fundamental to the practice operating smoothly. The prescription team is led by Annabel, the clinical pharmacist supported by Melissa, the pharmacy technician, Sophie who is a trainee pharmacy technician and Louise who is the prescription administrator. The team is able to help with medication queries, reviews and issuing prescriptions. As such, they are the surgery’s experts in medication. In an average week the team will issue 2,200 prescriptions.
The surgery’s administrators and receptionists have an incredibly busy role to fill, answering, on average, 1,375 phone calls a week. The peak time for calls being between 8.30am and 9.00am. The average time for a call to be answered across the week is 1 minute 30 seconds and much quicker than that after the morning busy period.
There are approximately 300 appointments every day for patients. These are a mixture of face to face and telephone consultations at both Grove Surgery and The Healthy Living Centre.
So there you have it. When you add Tina Oakley the Patient service Manager, Kay Watkinson the Practice Manager and Lisa Gearing the Assistant Practice Manager it is a very full, busy and efficient local practice, even before you include the doctors.
It is very obvious that the practice isn’t just somewhere you can go to see your GP when you feel unwell. It has a lot of people with a wealth of talent
and experience, offering a range of medical, support and holistic services to the local community.
So, if you call the practice and, instead of seeing the doctor, you find yourself speaking to one of the people I have mentioned above, you should not feel in some way short changed. Firstly your case will have been triaged by a doctor and they will have selected the best and quickest way to get you the care and treatment you need. You will be speaking to a highly trained medical professional who, if required, has access to the whole range of services available at the practice. Perhaps we need to adjust our approach a little and when we feel unwell, instead of thinking ‘I need to go and see the doctor’, we should be thinking ‘I need to go to the medical practice.’
To find out more about Grove Surgery, please visit their web site https://grovesurgerythetford.co.uk
‘Roger Stebbings’ Photography by Martin Angus
Roger Stebbings
Award Winning Baker and Gardener
Written by Roger Stebbings
Editors Foreword
One of the loveliest things we can do in this magazine is share the achievements, journeys and stories of some of the great people working behind the scenes of Thetford society. One such person is Roger, award winning baker and gardener, who has kindly shared his story and his late mothers Christmas cake recipe, for you all to enjoy.
I’m a true Thetfordian, and proud to be born and bred in Norfolk.
My love of cooking came from my mum, she was a school cook in the school kitchen of what was known then as Staniforth Secondary Modern, which is now The Charles Burrell Centre.
Watching her get the school dinners ready for all my class mates I guess something must have rubbed off on me. I am not quite as confident as she was
with ingredients, she would seem to just throw things together and they would always come out perfect. I still have to weigh my ingredients carefully.
I am now retired, having worked for The Thetford Town Council, where I finished my time as Works Foreman and Mayor’s Officer. The Mayor’s Officer position was very rewarding for me, I drove the Mayor to his or her Civic Ceremonies and many functions, ensuring they were correctly robed, on time and at the right place.
One occasion that sticks in my mind was attending and being part of the official ceremonies when Prince (now King) Charles visited Thetford.
Since retiring I have got more interested in my cooking, my late partner Pauline Quadling, who I sadly lost in January this year, would always get onto me about portion size and how big my dinners were.
I guess this stems back to watching my mum in the school kitchen, handling ingredients on an almost industrial scale to feed us kids.
I am improving on y portion size now that I am cooking just for me, but I cannot help myself when it comes to baking cookies and cakes, but I can share these with my family and grandchildren, who have never complained how big my cookies are.
It was an honour this last year to be asked to be the President of the Garden and Allotment Club, where I attended committee meetings, and also helped with judging of The Front Garden Competition and Allotments, which was organised by The Thetford Town Council.
I only have a small back garden, but I try to utilise the space, growing a good crop of tomatoes and peppers, which I normally give away to family and friends, having first taken what I need to make chutney. This year I also experimented with growing new potatoes in bags, and had quite a successful first crop.
When my garden crop is to my satisfaction, I will enter it into the Garden and Allotment Club’s shows, I also love entering the baking shows. I was very pleased this year to win The Rose and Sweet-pea Show Culinary Plate, to say I was shocked was an understatement, but nevertheless, I was very pleased of myself, and I know my mum would have been very proud of me.
As it is getting near to Christmas, I would like to share with you a recipe for a Christmas cake, that was my mums favourite.
Happy Growing and Baking!
Roger’s Mum’s Christmas Cake
Ingredients
1Kg mixed dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, currants, cherries, cranberries, prunes and figs)
Zest and Juice of 1 orange
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
150ml brandy, sherry, whisky or rum (plus a little extra for feeding)
250g butter
200g light soft brown sugar
175g plain flour
100g ground almonds
Half tsp baking powder
2tsp mixed spice
1tsp ground cinnamon
Quarter tsp ground cloves
100g flaked almonds
4 large eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
Method
1. Put the mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of the orange and lemon, brandy (or chosen alcohol), softened butter and the light soft brown sugar in a large pan, and set over a medium heat.
2. Bring the pan of ingredients to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, tip the mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 minutes.
3. Heat your oven to 150°c/130°c Fan/Gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment.
4. Add plain flour, ground almonds, baking powder, mixed spice, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, flaked almonds, eggs and vanilla extract to the fruit mixture and stir well.
5.Tip the cake mixture into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake in the centre of the oven for around 2 hours, after 2 hours insert skewer into the centre, if the skewer comes out with wet cake mixture, return the cake to the oven for a further 10 minutes, and then check again until the skewer comes out dry.
6. Remove cake from the oven, poke holes in it with the skewer, and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Store your cake in a cake tin and feed 2 tbsp of alcohol every 2 weeks until you are ready to ice the cake. Do not feed the cake in the final week to ensure the surface is dry before icing.
Enjoy!
‘Roger’ Photography by Martin Angus
Photograph
‘Jane James’ by Martin Angus
Jane James
A True Public Servant
Written by Dave Griffiths
Idon’t know about you but when I meet and speak with people, I can’t help but form a snap opinion of them. I have to admit I’m pretty much always wrong, but can I stop myself? Na, not a chance!
Over the past 4 or 5 years I’ve met and spoken with Jane several times in various contexts, and I got the impression of a confident, professional, personable individual and a natural leader. But an hour’s chat with her over a pint at The Bell recently was really eye opening. It added so much context and colour to that initial impression. On reflection I don’t think I’ve ever met someone quite like her. I’ll try and explain what leads me to say this.
Jane’s early years were spent in Cambridge, moving to Thetford at the age of 9. She describes where she lived in Cambridge as ‘not its nicest part’ and was
immediately attracted to her new home. Thetford’s historic buildings, the greenery and the people were all new and exciting. She moved on to the Abbey Estate and went to Abbey School, favouring the arts with a passion for drama and English; she loved to read. Through secondary school and sixth form she was drawn to a career in law. It involved a lot of reading and the theatrics of a courtroom appealed to her love of performance!
Unfortunately, A levels didn’t pan out as hoped and Jane didn’t head off to university at that time. It was a setback and required a rethink, but as it turned out her next few years in Thetford set the foundation for much of her future success. Not being someone to sit and let life pass by, Jane had several jobs mainly in sales and admin. But she was looking to stretch herself into new areas and when a friend
introduced her to a bookkeeping course, she saw the opportunity and embraced it enthusiastically. This led to doing the books for many businesses, sole traders, charities etc. combining her talent for connecting with people to financial skills and an eye for detail. It provided her main source of employment for over 20 years, in the process forging close links with the business community.
Bookkeeping also provided the flexibility to allow Jane to dedicate the time she needed to raise her children Alfie and Millie with her husband Mark. Once her children were at school, it then allowed her to fit in that university experience she had missed out on earlier in life by enrolling on an Open University degree in English Literature, her favourite subject in school. She actively participated in the Institute of Bookkeepers, latterly becoming a Fellow, as well as playing and umpiring for Thetford Netball Club.
Along the way she fitted in being a school governor, a cub scout leader, directing/producing plays and doubtless many other things!! She clearly has boundless energy and a drive to be involved in lots of activities. It’s a trait she jokingly puts down to “hating housework and not being able to say no!”. To me it feels like she simply has natural desire to make things better for everyone and she gets involved in anything she can to achieve just that.
Given all I say above, it is perhaps no surprise that Jane became involved with local government. She had insight to the workings of the town council through her sister Emma’s role as assistant Town Clerk and in January 2017 a vacancy came up on the town council which she successfully secured. Two years later she was elected on to Breckland District Council,a post she held for 4 years. In 2021 she joined Norfolk County Council. Her ability to collaborate to affect positive change were obviously becoming clear to more and more people. In May 2022 she
was elected as Thetford’s Mayor, a mayor making ceremony that I had the pleasure of singing at with the Guildhall Choir.
In the midst of all this public service work and just after the first lock-down in 2020, in true Jane fashion, she decided to open a bookshop in Thetford Town Centre called “Not Just Books”. The shop name betrays Jane’s love of, not just reading, but also a passionate belief that literacy has the power to unlock so much for people; that lack of literacy leads to exclusion. Her deep knowledge of the Thetford community made her believe that access to reading in a friendly, supportive environment was important to improve literacy and so inclusion. It was not just a place to buy books, but a place to come, to browse, to talk, to get advice and guidance; and hopefully to also buy a book! It was never intended to be a great money maker; it was more a labour of love. Unfortunately, after the second lock-down foot fall fell sharply and the venture became unsustainable. Very regrettably the doors had to shut. But in her words “better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, you know what I mean”.
Jane’s role and reputation on Norfolk County Council has grown rapidly since 2021 to a point where she now holds a cabinet position with a diverse portfolio. It includes, amongst other areas, responsibility for over 16,000 acres of farming land across Norfolk, land that is leased out to farmers enabling entry into an industry that is extremely difficult to access without land ownership. She’s also responsible for digital inclusion, data and innovation allowing her to direct real action on community inclusion, something she believes so passionately in. There are more areas of responsibility I’ve missed and I’m sure the list will only grow. We strayed on to discussing my area of expertise in telecoms and the impact on the vulnerable of PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) closure. Her grasp of the technology and
social issues was impressive; I’d definitely be hesitant to be across the debating table from her anytime soon!
So, what are my reflections from our chat? I suppose I’d expected a bit of an organised download of information from Jane that I could jot down and write up. It was nothing like that. I’m always nervous of how chats like this will go but I sensed Jane was equally uncomfortable initially, reticent to talk about herself. But we soon warmed up and our conversation was quite rambling with key points dropping out along the way. She is a surprisingly humble lady for one who has achieved so much. She is also someone who deals with what’s in front of her rather than having long-term goals or career plans. I also sense a healthy balance between the needs of business and social justice and fairness. In my experience, judging at what’s in front of you in a balanced way, without irrational dogma, leads to the best, fact-based decisions.
‘the last person you want in politics is a person who wants to go into politics’.
Now, I have to confess to having a degree of cynicism about government, politics and politicians. I’m a little in the camp of ‘the last person you want in politics is a person who wants to go into politics’. But speaking with Jane I sense that her position and title comes a very distant second to the opportunity to make a difference to the community. I think in her you find the very definition of a true public servant. I don’t know what the future holds for Jane, and I very much doubt she does, but I’d love to see her progress further in government. She has all the drive, balance and ability to connect with people that is essential for effective public office. Maybe they’ll be a box for me to tick one day with her name by it.
Photograph
‘A Garden’s Secrets’ by Liz Gibbons
The Sacred Garden
A Glympse Behind the Garden Gate
Written by Liz Gibbons
The wooden sky-blue door stands ajar, revealing a forgotten garden on the other side. A passageway of quince trees arch overhead, branches intertwining like structured stone columns supporting the ceiling of sky. The sunlight imprints intricate filigree shadows onto the stone aisle path, where green moss blooms underfoot. The air is filled with the fragrance of ripening fruit, grass and warm earth that culminates into a rich incense.
Shrouded and solitary in furred robes of mustard and charcoal, a bee glides through the walled garden, a haven shielded from the rest of the world. Its hum is low and constant like a resonating chant that undulates, intermingling with birdsong. The sounds coalesce, spiralling
upwards on soaring wings that brush against the heavens.
The bee’s movements are slow and deliberate as it hovers and dips onto an open flower before pausing as if deep in contemplation. The bloom is a delicate star of purest white, nestled amongst verdant leaves and pointed purple thorns. Its buzz becomes higher-pitched, a concentrated melody, funnelled by the petals sounding it, like a ringing trumpet echoing in the stillness. The bumblebee, having performed its sacred ritual of gathering pollen, moves on to another so it may repeat its act of contrition.
After a time, the insect passes through the orchard, the air perfumed with the scent of
apples. The trees bow low to the ground as the bee traces a meandering path through their gnarled branches laden with fruit. Segments of leaves in the canopy overlap, casting varying shades of greens and yellows forming a natural stained-glass window against a cloud strewn sky. Some of the apples have already fallen, cushioned in the long grass, the green orbs deepening to shades of brown, releasing a sweet, vinegary scent.
Birds soar overhead, casting fleeting shadows before they land in twisted brambles. They hop expertly, curling claws around smooth stems before they greedily pluck at the early blackberries, staining their beaks dark with juice. The garden, encapsulates all in its enduring embrace, providing so much life within its walled confines. A quiet sanctuary where time moves in an endless, rhythmic dance with the seasons, relentless yet serene. On the outer wall, the silent shadow waxes and wanes in a ceaseless circle across the face of the sundial, tracing the passage of venerated hours.
The bee, now heavy with pollen, weaves its way back to the hive where it divests itself. The precious substance it has carried is carefully removed as if unburdening its soul in prayer. All around the hive hums with life in a constant buzz of activity. The solitary bee rejoins its brothers, becoming once more ensconced, bound together in a singular purpose. The bee’s ritual, seemingly small and insignificant is in fact vital to providing food for the colony and the queen. Another chapter in the garden’s endless story, unfolding seamlessly into the very nature of the world.
The garden follows its eternal rhythm, growing, dying and renewing. Leaves unfurl in vibrant
‘The bee, now heavy with pollen, weaves its way back to the hive where it divests itself.’
Photograph ‘A Busy Bee’ by Liz Gibbons
green only to wither and fall, transforming into brittle, brown shapes that rustle and scatter in the wind. The season shifts becoming colder and the bee, in its unyielding devotion, throngs with the congregation, protecting the queen at their heart.
Soon, hands will return to sweep, prune and tame the wildness, reclaiming a sense of order over nature’s sprawl. The garden’s sacred cycle will thrive and continue, retaining every minute detail. For its roots of memory run deep, clinging to secrets and traces of all that has been. The language is written in every flower and branch and engrained into the very soil, an ancient script that can be read by all, if only we take the time.
Author’s Note: I had the great privilege of visiting the Ford Place Nursing Home garden, which understandably is not accessible to the general public. After walking around the space and soaking up the atmosphere, I felt inspired to write about my time there so that everyone can experience it in some way.
Upon further research and resources kindly provided by our Magazine Editor extraordinaire, Martin Angus, there was in fact a small Friary on the opposite side of the wall. St Augustine’s church and Austin Friary housed just 6 monks and was built around 1387 by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. By 1538 the Friary was dissolved as it had become severely impoverished and later on the buildings were demolished entirely. Although there are still sections of stone that remain strewn across the grounds, there is very little sign that such a place ever existed. Then in 1985 and subsequent dates, archaeological teams were granted permission to excavate the site and the earth divulged its scattered secrets. To find out more please visit: https://www.heritage.
norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF5912-Site-ofSt-Augustine%27s-church-and-Austin-FriaryThetford
Finally, I was ready to write my piece and now I had a very clear image in mind. In my mind’s eye I viewed the two locations as pages of an open book. On one side, the garden, which still exists today and on the other side the Friary which has been removed. I imagined pressing the pages together so that the places became superimposed, a palimpsest of the past and the present. The garden and the Friary would now inhabit the same space. Nature and religion would become a conjoined construct. All I needed was a character, and so a humble bee became a monk, guiding us on a meandering journey through the garden, celebrating nature, religion’s architecture and the rich tapestry of history.
Photograph ‘Evie, Laura and Ash’ by Martin Angus
Verve Martial Arts
Something for Everyone
Written by Joanne Lock
Would you like to keep fit, or maybe you would like to gain more confidence, motivation or self awareness and acceptance? If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed about getting started Ash Simonds and his excellent team of instructors at Verve Martial Arts offer something for everyone and can show you the way to achieve your goals and discover a whole lot more, one step at a time.
The Paris Paralympic closing ceremony had just taken place the day before and Team GB’s martial artists Amy Truesdale and Matt Bush both won gold in Taekwondo and in Judo Dan Powell won silver and Chris Skelley bronze. In addition to Team GB’s Paralympic success, Toyota’s Every Body Moves initiative was a way to encourage people to discover inclusive local opportunities to become active. The timing of my chat with Ash Simonds of Verve Martial Arts couldn’t have been more perfect.
At school Ash wasn’t academic and struggled with sports, he was living with asthma and ME or chronic
fatigue syndrome as it is also known these combined impacted his immune system. The extreme tiredness and other physical symptoms didn’t stop Ash from trying out sports such as football, cricket and rugby, but he couldn’t find enthusiasm for any of them.
Like many others of his generation Ash was drawn to and felt the allure of martial arts whilst watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Karate Kid, with their flashy, flamboyant moves and in Karate Kid the enigmatic, spiritual and wise Mr Miyagi showing Daniel the way and helping him to negotiate the difficulties of being a teenager where he was new to an area and struggling to fit in.
After much begging Ash’s parents finally took him to the local Shotokan Karate class at Breckland Leisure Centre, which was very traditional in style, all the students wearing white karate gis and practising kata in lines. Students grading for black belt take a 3 hour test and after this are required to spar for 45 minutes, there was no sparring at Ash’s first club until 6 months
before black belt. At the time he wanted to be better prepared for when the time came for his black belt grading, so Ash mixed other styles like kickboxing into his martial arts practice.
During this time of experimentation with other styles, at the age of 15 Ash started to train with a 16 year old blackbelt, Dave Pleszko, in the Wado-ryu style of Karate. This style derives from Shotokan and Ash found that the shortened stances and the reason behind the application of each gave it practicality and flow which suited him better, he got the bug and stuck with this style. Another thing that stuck was his friendship with his teacher and the two men are still best friends today.
The three parts of the name Wado-ryu translate to harmony, way and school or style (Wa = harmony, do = way and ryu = school / style). Ash’s dedication and years of training have given him a way to be healthy and with that comes motivation and the self belief of being able to do more which has led to higher self esteem. He now has the confidence and self acceptance that has brought a sense of harmony to his life.
Verve Martial Arts was founded in 2006 by world renowned Master John Swift with association schools in Birmingham and Wales for Taekwondo and Kickboxing. Ash felt passionate about sharing all the positives that Wado-ryu had brought to his life with others and joined the Verve Martial Arts family in 2018 when he set up the Thetford school which is one of only a handful of Wado-ryu schools in the UK.
The school started off in the squash court at Breckland Leisure Centre with Ash teaching two friends and his niece, over the years the school numbers have increased and after outgrowing other venues are now based at Thetford Academy and have expanded by offering weekly classes at Brandon
After working in sales for most of his working life and balancing the running of the school part time, being made redundant was a catalyst for Ash and he now dedicates all his time into growing the school by branching out into new locations and broadening the range of classes in the timetable.
The school has recently celebrated its six year anniversary and as well as celebrating how much the school has grown, Ash has been chosen to be a British Coach and five members of the school were selected for the National Martial Arts British Team.
Although the school is owned and run by Ash, he is very keen to stress that he is also helped by assistant instructors, Andy Reid and Evie Simonds, Laura Simonds looks after admin, and there are also many senior grades that help with the classes.
Everyone of all ages and abilities are welcome and Verve Martial Arts has an amazing team of instructors ready to welcome you to a place that feels like family, in fact two of Ash’s sons, Torin and Jaiden both train there, and Torin who has been training since the age of three is a double European champion at nine years old. It’s also somewhere, where friendships are made and it’s not just about fighting or self defence, martial arts offers a way to build confidence, self esteem and situational awareness to help navigate many other aspects of life.
Martial arts is for all ages and abilities and is an avenue for lifelong learning, Ash is still learning, particularly about his interactions with others when coaching. Over the years he has taught people in wheelchairs and neurodivergent children and adults and has built up a wide range of experience of adaptations that can be made to ensure a fully inclusive environment, one example was recognising
Abbey Garage
a sensory issue when someone didn’t want to wear their uniform to train in which was resolved when Ash sourced a uniform made from a different material.
For some the thought of trying something new or walking into a Karate class for the first time can feel intimidating and the mantra at Verve Martial Arts is “every accomplishment starts with the decision to try” and the approach is simply to focus on one task at a time, everything is broken down into manageable goals for each individual and as no week of training is the same everything feels fresh and engaging.
More information about the school and class timetable can be found here
https://vervekarate.co.uk/
Everyone is welcome and everyone is invited.
something truly extraordinary
In the world of flooring installation, there are projects that stand out as true testaments to skill, precision, and dedication. One such endeavor involved fitting herringbone Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) at an exceptionally high standard after an extensive amount of preparation. The task?
Transforming a floor that had previously been a maze of different levels and channels, necessitated by new pipe work and walls being demolished.
Before laying a single tile, the groundwork was laid— quite literally. The team embarked on a journey of preparation, smoothing out the surface, filling ingaps, and leveling out discrepancies. Each imperfection was addressed, ensuring a flawless canvas for the intricate herringbone pattern that would soon grace the space.
The complexity of the project lay not only in achieving a smooth surface but also in navigating the intricacies of the herringbone design. Precision was paramount; each tile had to be carefully placed to ensure perfect alignment and symmetry. The herringbone pattern, with its interlocking angles, demanded unwavering attention to detail and a steady hand.
Despite the challenges posed by the uneven terrain of the existing floor, the team persevered, their dedication unwavering. Countless hours were spent measuring, cutting, and laying tiles with a precision
that bordered on artistry. Each tile was not just a piece of flooring but a testament to craftsmanship and expertise.
As the project neared completion, the transformation was nothing short of astounding. What was once a patchwork of uneven surfaces had been reborn as a seamless expanse of herringbone LVT, evidence of the team’s skill and dedication. The once disparate levels and channels were now seamlessly integrated, proof of meticulous preparation that preceded the installation.
The end result was not just a floor but a masterpiece—to the artistry and dedication of those who had brought it to life. It stood as a reminder that with patience, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, even the most challenging of projects could be transformed into something truly extraordinary.
www.youtube.com/@TheMedusaProjectThetford
The Medusa Project
The Forgotten Soldiers, Lunch and the Hidden Cafe
Written by Bob Blogg
Firstly: The Forgotten Soldiers
One of my viewers gave me a suggestion. It wasn’t ‘Drop Dead!’ like you might expect, but it was ‘Had I visited any of the War Graves in Thetford?’
It was a very polite suggestion and a very good one. This viewer now lives in New Zealand since retiring there to be near his daughter.
My first thoughts were: where are these war graves?
So I did a bit of research.
I discovered that there are 48 war graves in Thetford London Road cemetery. 26 from the First World War, 21 from the Second World War, and an unidentified seaman of the Indian Merchant Navy.
That’s a lot of heroes.
I have driven passed the entrance to the cemetery
on my mobility scooter hundreds of times whenever I was going shopping, but I had never thought of venturing inside to look around, and I have been fortunate enough never to have had a reason to attend a funeral service there.
Anyway, his interest awoke my interest.
Why hadn’t I gone in there, what was I scared of and what would I find?
So, I looked at a map, jumped on Tigga, my faithful scooter, and went exploring.
Well, long story short, I found a beautiful, well kept cemetery full of fascinating memorials and memories, stuffed with history and wildlife, and full of an atmosphere that was both peaceful and thoughtful. I discovered it was not only a lovely little journey on any scooter or wheel chair, but also a scenic, unexpectedshortcut between Fulmerston Road and Queensway to London Road that bypasses the horrible Kimms Belt and Icknield Way alternatives.
And, it’s not just foodstuffs. You can even get a flowerpot man, an Indian headdress or a Disney Stitch handbag!
You do have to bear in mind that it does have opening and closing times, but if it is daylight, it is most likely open.
I strongly recommend that you pay it a visit if you have never been there, and just take a few moments to switch off from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets and pause for a while.
Have a look at the full video here and reflect for a while.
Secondly: Lunch
As I said ‘Rolling along the river’ is my pet project and I am now about ready to release the second episode, which follows the Little Ouse River from the Captain Mainwaring statue in Bridge Street all the way down Spring Walk to Nuns’ Bridges Road.
But, if you started at episode 1 at the top of Canterbury Way and you have already wandered around the water meadows and maybe even the Priory, you are probably going to have built up a bit of an appetite.
In fact, and if you have any kids with you, they are probably loudly telling you that they are starving and will report you for cruel and abusive parenting unless fast food isn’t delivered very fast!
So, were can you eat on your journey without straying too far from the river?
A quick detour to King Street is the best option for most.
To start with it is a pedestrianised area, so it is fine for all wheeled access, and it has all the usual high street eateries. There is a Greggs, a Costa, a Subway, Fish and Chips, a few burger/chicken/pizza/kebab bars, Tall Orders (which is an independent coffee shop), and it is bookended by the Bell Inn at one end and the Red Lion at the other.
Anyway, you certainly won’t go hungry or thirsty. Be careful how you quench your first or you really will be rolling along the river.
But if you wanted to be a bit more adventurous you could time your visit to coincide with the continental market.
This market visits Thetford a few times a year and has all sorts of weird and wonderful foodstuffs on offer. You can choose between bratwurst, burritos, crêpes, noodles, paella, pomme frite and pulled pork. Candyfloss, donuts, fudge and a plethora of other sugary goodies are available for those who don’t like their teeth – or don’t have any!
And, it’s not just foodstuffs. You can even get a flowerpot man, an Indian headdress or a Disney Stitch handbag!
I did just that, timed my visit to coincide with the continental market that is, not purchased a flowerpot man, Indian headdress or a Stitch handbag –although I was tempted by the flowerpot man.
The next market is at the end of November I believe*. It’s a festive one, so you can probably get roast potatoes and a pig in a blanket, hopefully.
*Editors note: https://www.thetfordbubblyhub.com/events to find out about all events in town.
Unless you know it is there, the chances are you will never find it.
See Tiglet’s video Bridge Street to Bridges Walk via the Continental Market in King Street, and start salivating.
Finally: The Hidden Cafe
Well. Mama Mia. Actually, I mean Mama D’s.
I have been waffling on about food for ages and where you can get something to eat in town.
So I thought it was appropriate that I brought this hidden gem to your attention.
Unless you know it is there, the chances are you will never find it. I have only recently discovered it.
It is in the Riversdale Centre in Tanner Street, which is just a stone’s throw from the library.
It is very wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly; it has a very light and bright dining room and a beautiful garden.
I have also easily driven my big scooter, Tigga, straight through the building and into the garden.
They have a section that does cakes; they do a carvery on Sundays and even have a bar!
It is well worth a visit.
I filmed it a few days ago on my boot scooter, Tiglet.
I hope to have released a video by the time this article is published so you can find it.
The enAble Thetford team also use the offices here and it is home to the Rickshaw.
I gather this Rickshaw is now hibernating in the shed, so the race with Tigga will have to wait until next year now.
Happy scootering.
To find out more please visit my amazing free resource for anyone wanting to know more about ‘getting about’ Thetford on a mobility scooter
www.youtube.com/@TheMedusaProjectThetford
Photograph
‘Dr Michael Fordham’ by Martin Angus
Thetford Academy
Dr Michael Fordham
Written by Andy Greenhouse
If Michael Fordham had stuck to his first vocational aspiration, he would by now have become a highly skilled and much respected doctor.
But instead, having discovered a penchant for History on his path through high school academia that culminated in a GCSE in the subject in year 10, and then going on to complete his degree at the University of Cambridge, Michael’s journey has brought him to Thetford Academy, where he is now the very professional, and passionate, Principal, or Head Teacher.
Now in his 19th year of teaching, Michael looks back with great clarity on the events, pivotal moments and influences that shaped his life and career to bring him to where he is now.
Originally from Exeter in the West Country, and then moving to Cornwall, he draws a stark similarity between that area and Norfolk. Both areas, lacking in major industry, seem to have garnered the reputation of holding few prospects, where phraseology like ‘If you want to succeed then move out’ would be heard. But Michael could see through this common misconception, and it became a driving force for him to try and change people’s perception that, no matter what, there is more here than it seems, and it’s not difficult to see how he has brought this ideology to bear at Thetford Academy.
He graduated from Cambridge University in 2006 and then spent a year on a teacher training course, completing a Ph.D. in History education and spent the next six years as a teacher in Cambridgeshire schools.
There followed a period spent as a Senior Teaching Associate, working on an education development project in Kazakhstan. He then went to London where he was instrumental in setting up a 6th Form at the West London Free School in Hammersmith, and ran it for the first year before returning to Norfolk and joining the Inspiration Trust as Director of Teacher Training.
But school life was calling him, and in 2019 he came to Thetford Academy as the Vice-Principal, until Easter of 2023 when he became Principal.
Michael has always been firm in his belief that a school is more than just a place where one comes to learn different subjects. A school should be a place of opportunity. And he has seen the divide that can exist between some state comprehensive schools and those in the independent category and has felt the frustrations at seeing how things could be better. And I could feel the pride in his voice when he described the progress the school was making in that direction and the achievements of the pupils.
Thetford Academy came into existence in 2010 with the closure of the Charles Burrell High School and the Rosemary Musker High School. The Academy operated at both these sites until the new (much) larger building was built at the Rosemary Musker site and completed in September 2013.
Prior to this the school was originally sponsored by a consortium consisting of Wymondham College, Easton College and West Suffolk College, but after an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted judgement in March 2013, the school began its relationship with The Inspiration Trust, and subsequent re-inspection in 2014, 2018 and 2020 resulted in consecutive ‘Good’ judgements. A tremendous improvement and an achievement that Michael has made great steps in
maintaining.
I asked Michael what accomplishments or changes he was most proud of since he’d been at the Academy. Without hesitation, he highlighted how he felt the school had transitioned from it’s dark days of bad reputation and poor results to now being the first choice for parents to want to send their children there. He showed me his wall chart that proudly stated 190 children left the school in their year 11 but 300 had joined in year 7.
Michael always knew that it was important to get the academics of education right and this belief became more pressing when it was noted that many children were arriving at the school lagging behind what was considered the National average level for their age. During his tenure as Deputy Head, or Vice Principal in Academy-speak, his driving force became to raise the children’s aspirations, to make them want to succeed, and this in itself proved to be successful. Levels of accomplishment in maths particularly, and also the sciences and language skills, improved greatly.
Michael is also pleased with the amount of extracurricular activities that are available to the pupils, considering them to be vital to their development, both educationally and socially in a controlled and safe environment. He went on to praise especially the musical advances that were being made within the school citing the formation of a full orchestra, something that not many schools could lay claim to but, although still in its infancy, pupils were showing great aptitude for it, even to the extent of turning up early for school so they could use the music rooms for practise before their actual lessons started.
Speaking about behaviour, Michael is exceptionally proud of the way in which the pupils conduct themselves both in, and out, of school. While
accepting there will always be mischief afoot, he states that the school stands firm in its expectations that misbehaviour will not be tolerated and will always be dealt with accordingly. Kids will always try to push boundaries, but at Thetford Academy, they have come to learn when to stop pushing and while the rules are strict, they are certainly not Draconian, and the children certainly come to understand exactly what is expected of them.
He then went on to describe what, as a teacher, his greatest sense of fulfilment is, which is to see a pupil do or achieve something special when it’s least expected. He explained that, as to be expected in a large school, there is the whole gamut of abilities, from those that do things well as though it was second nature to them, to the other end of the scale to those that might not usually be expected to do so well in certain things. And it’s when one of those children do the unexpected with spectacular results that gives Michael his inner glow.
Talking about the staff at the school, of which there are over a hundred, it is obvious they are like one big happy family. Michael’s selection process when it comes to hiring boils down to the fact that prospective teachers must want to come and work with the children, which has paid obvious dividends.
Having spoken with Michael at great lengths about his back story and incumbency, it was time to wind down the proceedings and I asked about his vision for the Academy in the next few years.
He was quick to assert that in this moment, things are right – the academics, the behaviour, the extracurricular activities, they’re all positive and going in the right direction and to this end his main fear was complacency. What’s in place now, simply must be kept going and this would be the guiding light of his
vision.
Having previously praised the pupils advancements in maths, science and language he feels there is a need to encourage their writing skills which would boost confidence no end, and in so doing hopefully raise their aspirations and start to grow the 6th form which is currently only at around 50 – 60 students.
Then, mentioning briefly how the local Business Forum has been very supportive, he went on to talk about Community Engagement and how it would be beneficial for the school to be involved in events in the community such as the Remembrance Parade and other annual events. They will soon have a market stand to highlight their curriculum and achievements to the general public and also plan to hold ‘Open Mornings’ at the school for interested parties to have a look around.
He put great importance on celebrating everything the children do within the community. And that rationale is exactly what sums Michael Fordham up – everything he does is for the greater good of the children under his ward and the results worthy of celebration.
When I left him, I found the front gate to be locked and I couldn’t get out so I had to go back and knock on his office window to gain his attention, and he shouted to say he’d come and open it.
As he unlocked the padlock we joked about being stuck inside he said ‘It’s like the Hotel California’. Although I didn’t acknowledge it to him at the time, I understood his analogy, as it is one of my favourite songs. The last line goes, ‘You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.’ And that is the mark of a good school. Pupils for years to come will check out when it’s their time, but there will always be a part of them that will be in that school, Thetford Academy.
‘Michael’ Photography by Martin Angus
Autumn Themed Photo-shoot
Collaboration Between Businesses in Thetford
We wondered what would happen if we got a few creative designers together, two beautiful models, a photographer, a beautician, a hair stylist, some props, and put them all in an amazing venue for a few hours.
We are happy to present to you the result of all the hard work.
The Royal British Legion was the venue, kindly offered to the team outside of normal opening hours.
Models, Amy and Ruby, who brought with them some amazing coffee courtesy of Harmony Health, were pampered by Hannah and Keri from Elite Hair and Beauty.
The ‘legends’ at Legend Textiles kindly suplied the fabric and Irena Volunge then worked her magic to create and hand make the centre piece tops for the photo shoot.
Bags were handmade by Eileen, jewellery was supplied by Louise Peyton, Bogdan of Cool Luxury supplied the handmade candles, Simon the plants, Scott the mini pumpkins, and photography was by Martin from The Bubbly Hub.
In total, 11 businesses colaborated, we hope you enjoy the fruits of our labour.
Please get in touch with any of the businesses below if you would like to know more.
The Team
Royal British Legion, 1 Market Place, Thetford 01842 762213
Harmony Health Store, 1 The Shambles, Thetford https://www.ancientextracts.co.uk
Elite Hair and Beauty, 19A Station Road, Thetford IP24 1AW 01842 630923
Legend Textiles, 13 Bury Road, Thetford 01842 818511 https://legendtextiles.com
Irena Volunge Seamstress, Thetford 07742 320442 https://www.irena-volunge.com
Louise Peyton Jewellery, Market Place, Thetford 01842 762099 https://www.louisepeyton.com
Cool Luxury Candles, Thetford 07432 192267 https://www.cool-luxury.co.uk
The Meadow, Fruit and Veg, Thetford Market https://meadowmarket.co.uk
Moat Road Nursery, Thetford Market https://www.moatroadnursery.co.uk
Hand made Bags by Eileen
Model s-Amy @skylargrey888 and Ruby @ruby_khristinaadams
Photography - Martin Angus c/o https://www.thetfordbubblyhub.com
Photography and Prop Assistants- Bernard
The Elite hair and Beauty Studio also known as The Elite Hair and Beauty Training Academy are able to offer the following services.
BEAUTY
Make up/prom/bridal, Session styling, Eyelashes, Manicures, Basic and Luxury Facials, Dermaplaning, Skincare , Eyelash extensions, Waxing, Eyebrow Definition.
HAIR
Colour, Colour corrections and Vivid Colours, Cutting, Styling/Hair Up, Hair Extensions and Fitting (most methods), other treatments available.
AESTHETICS
A wide Variety of Aesthetic treatments available including, Botox, Filler, Chemical Peels, Fat Dissolving. A lot more treatments are available, feel free to contact us with any enquiries.
NAILS
BIAB, Gel Polish, Acrylic , Extensions/Tips, Manicures, Pedicures, Nail art
ALSO
Massage Therapy, Hypnosis, Holistic Therapies, Hopi Ear Candles, Pamper Parties, Bridal/Hen Parties and Children’s Parties.
TRAINING ACADEMY
19A Station Road, Thetford, IP24 1AW
01842 630923 or find us on Facebook
As The Elite Hair and Beauty Training Academy we offer support to the local and wider community. We are able to offer 1-to-1 training for private student’s. We also offer smaller classes and classes that offer additional support for those that feel like they need it.
We have been working with the Pathfinder Trust, supporting individual student’s and doing larger project’s with the schools. We work in partnership with the following organisations: YOT (Youth Offenders Team), NCC (Norfolk County Council) and Social Service’s.
Local Schools, and Virtual schools, to help prevent exclusion and provide recognised qualifications. We also offer community support working with local counsellors, to be able to do referrals for food bank and gas/electric vouchers.
Photograph ‘Mike Towndrow’ by Martin Angus
Benjamin Foundation
What a Difference 3 Days Make
Written by Joanne Lock
Aonce very well used building on the Redcastle Furze estate stood empty, declining into a state of disrepair, a target for vandalism and break ins. Until 2013 when The Benjamin Foundation obtained funding from The National Lottery to purchase, repair, refurbish and staff the community centre so that it could begin to provide support and be a hub again for the residents of the estate.
This was a detour for The Benjamin Foundation, founded in 1994 by Richard and Vanessa Draper in memory of their son Benjamin who lost his life in a motorcycle accident, aged 17. The Foundation provides support for children, young people and families across Norfolk and Suffolk and focuses on preventing youth homelessness, providing emotional wellbeing support services, childcare and youth support and activities for young people who may have limited access to opportunities.
The Redcastle Furze Community Centre is both a flagship and the only one of its kind within The Benjamin Foundation because it does a bit of everything and caters for all members of the
Redcastle Furze community regardless of age.
Projects were funded by The National Lottery for 12 years and today the centre has to generate its own income to ensure that it continues to exist. Local companies and family trusts are generous sponsors and include The Mercers Company, Garfield Weston and Hughes to name but a few and supplemented with local grants.
Mike, along with his team Ali, Hannah and Sofi are familiar faces on the estate after working tirelessly for many years to gain the trust of the community by getting to know the residents and the challenges many face.
A military police career in the RAF brought Mike to Norfolk and he recalls visiting a girlfriend on the estate as a young lad and going to discos held in the community centre. Retiring from the airforce in 2010, Mike found himself wanting a job working with people. When he saw an advertisement in 2013 placed by The Benjamin Foundation, looking for people to work in the restored and reopened community centre he
applied and has worked there ever since.
Hannah, who also works in the local shop next door to the centre, attended the support group from the age of 17 and then volunteered to help with the running of the groups. She is now a qualified youth support worker who divides her time between working at the centre and the shop.
Both the centre and the team like the rest of society are facing difficult times and it’s a fine balancing act for the extremely committed team as they manage the interrelated resources of funding and staff time. Although times are uncertain the team strives to offer as much as possible with what they’ve got.
Meetup is open 3 days a week, Tuesday to Thursday from 10 - 6.30pm and it’s surprising what a difference 3 days can make.
Tuesday
Being a parent, grandparent or carer can sometimes feel a lonely and isolated space. Cliques are formed at the school gates and those left standing on the outside overhear snippets of conversation that sound judgemental.
Sometimes a break is needed from everything that needs doing at home or respite and a bit of time for yourself is needed during the school day.
Every Tuesday from 11am to 1pm a childfree, safe, supportive and non judgemental space can be found at the Parent Support Wellbeing Group where parents, grandparents and carers can talk about anything that has an impact on wellbeing. From challenges their child / children have at school, relationships and mental health. A chance to have a coffee, talk and be listened to. Around the ages of 8 - 9, independence starts to
form away from parents and siblings and the desire to be seen, heard and be thought of as intelligent and knowledgeable increases. Friendship becomes more important and with it comes the need for approval and to be liked.
School Year 4 children meet from 3.30pm - 5pm after school on Tuesdays for after school fun and a safe space to explore social interactions and build life skills.
Wednesday 9.30am - 11am Parent & Toddler Group
The majority of other groups charge, this one is completely free and welcomes parents, grandparents and carers with children from birth to age 5. It’s a friendly and safe space to make new friends, take part in activities with your child / children and have fun.
Thursday
Sometimes the only person some people see for a chat is a cleaner if they have one, this could be once a week or every two weeks or nobody calls or visits anymore because of a family argument. A partner, spouse or friends may have died and it’s a struggle to find the will, enthusiasm, energy or reason to go out. A letter or phone call may have been received and the confidence can’t be found to deal with it or you just simply don’t know how.
Older persons meet on Thursday from 11am to 1pm the focus is on breaking isolation and wellbeing, it’s a place to make friends, a safe place to be seen, heard and talk about challenges such as bereavement and family. The team at Meetup are always around to lend a hand whether it’s signposting to any support that is needed or helping out with any correspondence that is of worry to someone either explaining what needs to be done or calling someone on your behalf.
After being separated for so long from friends during Covid, no longer wanting to go home to the company of a screen, wanting to hang out with friends after school but nowhere to go. Needing a bit of respite from a chaotic, noisy house or a bit of time for yourself after helping to care for younger siblings or doing chores.
After school from 3.30 - 5pm school years 5 & 6 can hang out at the Youth Club where there is space in the hall to run around and kick a ball about or spend time in the quiet zone where there are hand drums and art materials on hand.
For pre-teens or tweens there are a multitude of things to be faced. Friendships are extremely important, peer pressure increases and with the need to fit in confidence and esteem can be low. The physical is important and physical changes result in hyper awareness of body image potentially affecting healthy relationships with food, other potential dangers are County Lines. Wanting to be independent or family circumstances can sometimes leave these young people with nowhere to go and no one to talk to about how they are feeling. There is a dedicated time and space for school years 7 - 11 to drop in every Thursday from 5.30pm - 7pm.
For all the young people Meetup is a safe and non judgemental space that offers an alternative from the streets as a place to hang out, run around and take part in organised art activities.
Discussions are also encouraged around identity, including gender and sexuality within the safe and non judgemental space.
Underpinning and at the heart of all the work of Meetup, is the Nurtured Heart Approach. This approach was developed by Howard Glasser, providing strategies for strengthening family
relationships, reflecting on the energy of interactions and recognising personal qualities of greatness and providing clarity about rules and consequences.
When faced with challenges instead of looking at what is wrong it focuses on what is right, the skills and qualities a person has and how they can be used to create nurturing habits to enable big changes and by promoting ‘inner wealth’ become more confident and resilient.
In between groups, the Meetup team really enjoy having people drop in for a brew and a chat the busier the centre is the better, alternatively they are on hand to signpost people to any support they may need or to help out with any phone calls to social services or explain how to deal with any correspondence you may be unsure of.
In addition to the weekly groups a face to face counselling service is offered for adults (18+) who are needing additional support to deal with a mental health condition, a difficult life event, difficult emotions or other issues, such as sexual identity. If you feel that you would benefit from this service please contact Mike at Meetup for information and availability.
Although finances are tight, Meetup still has ambitions for the future to create a music zone in the raised area of the hall, to start a special educational needs group and maybe to start having trips again. Recently there was an opportunity to take families to Grimes Graves when it reopened where everyone had a lovely day out.
The future of Meetup does work both ways and due to low attendance they have had to drop some of the groups, so please if a group is important to you please show your support by attending and recommending it to others who might benefit. Alternatively if there is anything you feel is missing that the centre could look
‘Working tirelessly for many years to gain the trust of the community.’
Photograph ‘Hannah and Sofi’ by Martin Angus
at offering please pop in for a brew, have a chat and let the team know your thoughts and ideas.
Over the years the Meetup team bump into people on the estate who used to come to the youth groups and they are pleased to hear about marriages, passed driving tests and the person who was the first one in the family to go to university. They would love to hear how others are doing now and are welcome to drop in for a catchup, the kettle is always on.
This is the difference 3 days can make.
More information about the groups and stories from those whose lives have changed through Meetup can be found here:
https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/services/youthsupport-activities/meet-up/
‘Mike’ Photography by Martin Angus
Photography
‘Kingfisher’ by Stephanie Downes
Nunnery Lakes Reserve
One of our Regular Walks
Written by Stephanie Downes
As we approach Autumn and cooler days are on the way it’s time to share another walk that I regularly take my little dogs Albert and Fergus on.
I’ve chosen the Nunnery Lakes Reserve as I am often surprised to find out that not everyone is aware of this beautiful location.The lakes were created by old gravel workings and are on British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) land with permissive paths to follow. This route is roughly 1.5 miles long.
The Route:
The walk begins at Nun’s Bridges where there is a small free parking area, cross the green footbridge and turn right, following the riverside footpath away from town. Pass through the gate and continue
straight alongside the river, the footpath here can be a little uneven and extra care should be taken as my puppy Fergus recently found out but that’s a story for another day and he soon dried off! On this stretch of the river I also saw my first ever Crayfish walking along the riverbed.
At the end of this path you will approach a bridge and there is another gate to go through before heading left towards Arlington Way, after a short distance you will need to turn right, going through the next gate and joining the track to the lakes.
Walk along the track until you reach a fork, here you can keep right to complete the circular route around the peaceful lakes. There are some information panels situated near the lakes informing you of the
varied wildlife you might spot, there is also a viewing platform to climb and I was lucky enough to spot a Muntjac and her fawn. To continue the walk follow the footbridge across the lakes, stopping to admire the view.
The paths on the opposite side of the lakes can get quite wet and muddy in adverse weather so welly boots are a must if it’s been raining. On arrival back at the fork, keep right to leave the lakes behind and return back to the car park.
Please see next page for a map of the route, enjoy.
Instagram @STEPH.NINE
Photography
by Stephanie Downes
Map
by Stephanie Downes
‘Mum and Daughter’ Photography by Martin Angus
My Life in Thetford
A Short Story followed by Two Poems
Written by Nancy Foulger (nee Young)
Editors Foreword
The magazine received a lovely email from Carol Holder, she had written two poems, one inspired by our lovely town, and the other by the recent Mela Festival. Following our interaction Carol’s mother became inspired to write about her life and memories about growing up in Thetford. The idea for this was initially sparked by Craig’s story in last months magazine, about the Thetford Co-op Society, where Carol’s great-great-great grandfather worked and was mentioned in the story.
Imoved to Thetford from Fincham, Norfolk aged 9 years old, with my Mum (Gertrude) and two brothers Ron and Reg. We lived at Raymond Street.
This was during World War 2. We used to go up Castle Park to play and met US soldiers, when we would say “Have you got any gum chum?” and they would give us gum and chocolate bars freely.
I left Norwich Road School at 14 years old, my first
job was at the Coffee Mill, The Ibex, where my Mum worked, I earned £1 3s 6d weekly, working long hours. They ground coffee from sacks of beans and we put this in tins and packed it ready for sale.
My next job was working at Thetford Railway Station bookstall and doing a paper round of the villages near Thetford, Rushford, Brettenham, etc. I biked miles on the round in all weathers, my paper panniers’ which had been full of papers, were replaced with vegetables and fruit from very kind customers out of their gardens. In the winter they even gave me hot dinners!
The day after Princess Elizabeth married Phillip, all the customers on my paper round pleaded with me to go to their house first, so it meant they would receive their papers straightaway, as they wanted to see the Royal wedding in print!
I then worked at Miss Browns china shop in King Street. I worked at St Barnabus workhouse (this changed to a hospital during the time I worked there).
‘Nancy’ Photography by Martin Angus
Tramps used to have to sign in when they came and they were allowed to stay one night but they had to work in the gardens, and were given breakfast before they had to leave.
Despite local people being so terrified to go there, the place was clean and spotless, patients were well looked after and the people worked in the laundry, gardens or kitchen while it was a workhouse. Everything food wise was good and the gardens were kept beautiful, that I observed.
When I was a teenager Paul Greenough produced a show at the Oddfellows Hall and I was a singer and dancer along with local people.
Both my brothers went into the Royal Navy.
Ben Culey opened a Milk Bar and the Anglian restaurant next door (where the Leaping Hare is now). We used to go to the Cinema 3 nights a week and I went to dances at the Guildhall and Oddfellows Hall.
Savages, a departmental store in Thetford, sold lino, clothes, groceries, etc. My friend Diana and I used to take our babies/children to Castle park daily, though we had no money to go to town.
We had a lovely doctor, Dr Oliver, who visited homes whenever you telephoned and needed him.
We had Mr Bagshaw, the dentist, who lived where Thomas Paine Hotel is now. Lovely man.
When we moved to Queensway in 1955, we were fortunate enough to have, in Bury Road nearby, a Coop, Maureen’s florist, Barrett’s Bakery, fish and chip shop, Post Office. How times have changed in that street!!
‘Young Nancy’ Photography supplied by Nancy
Nancy, second from the left, photograph courtesy of Nancy
There was also Ellis’s grocery shop further up between houses, a married couple who local people knew to be “real characters”, they sold everything.
In Bury Road, there was also Symons Dairy with cows residing there, everyday the cows were taken from there to walk all along the main Bury Road up to the Barnham Common. It was such a familiar sight!
Gray’s Fair were here during the WW2 and local people have fond memories of it.
I also worked at the Canning factory, sack factory, the Co-op in Bury Road, there was also a larger Coop store in Guildhall Street which sold everything, furniture included.
My Mum worked at Goymour’s grocery shop, the first self service shop in Thetford, where people got their own shopping, instead of being served.
I’ve lived here for 82 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else. I will soon be 92 years old in a few weeks!!
My dear brother Ron was a part time firefighter, he worked for BP in Thetford but also other locations in different parts of the UK, where he moved with his wife Pamela. They always came back at Christmases and special occasions. When Pam passed away, Ron still came back for holidays with me and loved Thetford.
Sadly, he passed away last year aged 94 years old. I am sure many Thetfordians will remember him. Rest in Peace dear Ron.
Thank you for letting me share my memories of Thetford with all your readers!
Nancy x
‘Carol’ Photography by Martin Angus
THETFORD
I was born in Magdalen Street at number 20A
It was the happiest thing for me, born a Thetfordian that day
Thetford’s in my blood and in my very bones
Just forget hearing several people with their negative moan and groan
Love Castle Hill, Spring Walks and the playground at Hillary Road
Hold such special memories that are truly made of gold, We moved to Queensway when I was 6 weeks old
Dad played football for Thetford Town, worked at the railway each day
Even took a second job so they could pay their way
Mum at the Canning factory, St Barnabus, the Coffee Mill
Dr Oliver visited the house, tenderly cared, no prescription for a pill
Alison’s the sweet shop, Savages the store
Every time we went there, a bell tinkled at the door
Going away for holidays, when we did return
Seeing the Thetford sign that I did yearn
Smiling, oh so happy back where I belong
Yes I’m a proud Thetfordian, my roots are so, so strong!
By Carol Holder
Carol has always loved poetry and writing her own since a child but she joined the Thetford U3A 2 years ago and belongs to their Poetry group, which meets once a month.
It’s a lovely group and has inspired and encouraged her to keep writing poetry and sharing it with the loveliest friends there.
The U3A takes the skills and gifts of mostly retired people to share, love and laugh with. Really recommend it!
‘Nancy, Jo Bance and Carol, enjoying the Mela Festival’
Duleep Singh
Your legacy to Thetford town
Due to the generosity of you and Prince Frederick
Gifting the museum and relics past
For many generations to last Elveden Hall you rebuilt and made For all its elegance you paid Graves of Duleep, wife Bambi and son Are visited from mourners world wide Making so many emotional, sadly cried
Thank you for letting us celebrate with you
Each year visitors far and near too Sikhs, Punjabi, Thetfordians come
A spectacular festival has begun Dancing, swords ritual, motorbikes many And all that does not cost you a penny
Most of all is the friendliness shown
By Punjabi people to local grown
No matter what faith to you and to me
It’s just how community life should be
Thanks to Duleep and Prince Frederick too For bringing us together, we love you!
By Carol Holder
Ticks Love Autumn Weather
Breckland Cats Protection
Written by Rita Thompson
Ticks love the autumn weather! However, unlike fleas – which largely cause skin irritations in cats and their owners, ticks can also carry a range of serious infectious diseases. Ticks can be found in long grasses and wooded areas, especially where there is wildlife such as deer and hedgehogs. Here they wait for an animal or a human to brush past them so that they can jump on and feed. They attach using mouthparts and will feed on blood from their host for several days before dropping off.
Ticks can cause problems in two ways.
Local tissue reactions: firstly they can sometimes cause redness and swelling at the attachment site. Disease transmission: ticks can spread diseases which pose serious health risks to both pets and humans. The major ones are:
Lyme disease, also called borreliosis, is spread by ticks; affected pets (and also humans) can develop swollen joints and stiffness. They can also develop a fever, anorexia and lethargy.
In some cases the disease causes life-threatening kidney disease.
Babesiosis (caused by Babesia canis) is an emerging tick-bourne disease, destroying red blood cells and causing acute signs of anaemia in affected dogs. Erlichiosis also attacks red blood cells and can be fatal.
Current evidence suggests that tick-bourne diseases
take many hours after tick attachment to be transmitted. Using a produce that rapidly kills or repels ticks will help to reduce the risk of these diseases. No tick product is 100% effective however, so cats should be checked for ticks regularly and any found, removed with a special tick remover. Never pull a tick out, as the body will detach and the head will stay in the skin and cause a nasty reaction. Your vet can advise you on keeping your cat safe from tick-bourne diseases.
Parasites are still a big issue! Ticks and harvest mites both enjoy the cooler moist conditions of autumn and while fleas are in decline outside, they are quite happy to live in our centrally heated homes! Keep up with your regular protection and do check with your vet that it covers all the right beasties!
While we are on the subject of beasties.
There are so many flea products on the market nowadays and the choice can be overwhelming. They are available in supermarkets, pet shops and on line as well as from your vet.
Although it is tempting to buy something cheaper and avoid a trip to the vet, the trouble with using a flea treatment which has not been prescribed by your vet is that very often they simply don’t work.
The reason for this is that some products available off the shelf without a prescription have not undergone any tests to check for their effectiveness or safety. Unfortunately many of the cheaper options do not contain any ingredients proved to prevent or treat fleas. Others may not contain the necessary ingredients in sufficient quantities. This makes them a complete waste of your time and money, and leaves your cat unprotected.
Getting what you need from your vet will also mean that your cat is given the most appropriate treatment for their personal circumstances. Your vet will take into account your cat’s health, weight and lifestyle and will offer you something in a format that your cat will prefer. For example, for the cats who hate tablets or spot-on treatments, there is an injectable flea treatment that is quick and simple to give and will last for several months.
The choice is, or course, yours but spending a little more for a vet recommended treatment can give you peace of mind. Remember too that preventing infestations is more cost-effective than treating them later. And if your cat has fleas, only 5 per cent are on your cat – the rest are in your home!
And finally, firework night is fast approaching which can mean nights of worrying for our pets. Loud bangs and flashes cause anxiety, and, even in some seemingly relaxed pets, yawning, panting, restlessness and hiding may all be signs your pet is suffering from anxiety.
Preparation is the key! Coping with fireworks takes planning and preparation before and during the event. Many pets will benefit from calming supplements such as plug-in diffusers. In severe cases, anxiety relieving sedative medicines can be used to reduce a pet’s fear and response and help them to be calm and settled. On the night, keep cats inside to help prevent them getting injured or lost.
Closing the curtains and playing calming music or keeping the television switched on may also be helpful.
For advice or help with the cost of neutering, please call us on 01842 810018.
‘ewe’
‘What
looking at?’ Photography by Martin Angus
Sheep
On a Hill
Written by Andy Eden
If you have walked past the Castle Mound in Thetford recently, you may have noticed some changes and new residents. Three ‘Norfolk Horn’ rams and eleven ewes have been moved in by Thetford Town Council, making this their new home.
In keeping with such a historic monument, the sheep are an old breed, now considered to be ‘Category 1, Critical’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Also known as ‘Blackface Norfolk Horned’ or ‘Old Norfolk Horned’, the sheep dwindled to just one flock in 1919. Due to the efforts of one man, J D Sayer, the numbers have increased since then, although they are still by no means a mainstream breed. The Norfolk Horn traditionally grazed the sandy heathland of Breckland and is very able to survive on poor forage so Castle Mound must
seem like a treat to them.
So why bring in sheep rather than mow or strim the ground? Well, apart from the obvious aesthetic and environmental benefits of livestock rather than petrol driven machinery, the sheep are very selective in what they eat. They nibble, as opposed to cattle who pull out vegetation by twisting their tongues round the grass and pulling. Making use of their smaller, more dexterous mouths, the sheep can select any broad-leaf plants such as dock, nettle or ragwort which allows many wildflower species to survive and flourish by creating a uniformly short area of grass.
Having the ground grazed rather than mown also comes with other benefits such as fertilization
and reseeding. Thetford is the home of many rare plants and flowers such as Tower Mustard, Creeping Marshwort and Purple-Stem Cat’stail and so anything that will help to preserve and improve the environment for them is to be welcomed. The Castle Mound, which is recognised as an ancient scheduled monument, is also an important area for a wide range of flora and fauna and part of Thetford’s ecological sustainability.
Having sheep back on the mound is also historically significant as it was grazed for many years after the castle stopped being used as a fortification. It is also very possible that even when in use, the mound would have been home to sheep in order to keep its slopes in a neat and manageable state while providing meat for the garrison.
The initiative to bring grazing into Thetford is largely due to the hard work of Nick Thompson, the Town Team Manager. In the past cattle and sheep have been brought in to graze Barnham Cross Common and Ford Meadow. Barnham Cross is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and considered as one of the best examples of Breckland grass heaths, while Ford Meadow, between Nun’s bridges and the River Thet, is set aside as a wildflower meadow.
Red Pole Cattle have been used to graze these sites. They too, are a local East Anglia breed known for their docile nature and considered to be one of the traditional Suffolk breeds along with Suffolk sheep and the Suffolk Punch. In time other livestock may be introduced on to the Castle Park in addition to the Norfolk Horn sheep.
Keeping any animals in an area which is accessible to the public obviously comes with its own set of
challenges and problems. The animal’s safety and wellbeing is obviously of paramount importance along with the safety of the public using that location. Selecting docile breeds goes a long way to achieving that. In return, anyone using these spaces should be mindful of the presence of the animals and follow a few common sense rules. Dogs should always be kept on a lead and any fouling should be cleared up as should any litter or other waste. All gates should be closed after use and it (almost) goes without saying that the animals should not be approached or disturbed.
Thetford Town Council have erected signs to explain about the grazing and to ask for compliance with these and other rules. The sheep themselves are looked after, and their wellbeing is regularly checked by their owner supported by veterinary services if required. The Castle Mound as well as the other sites are monitored by The Council, the local Dog Warden and Norfolk Rural Crimes Offices to make sure the rules and regulations are being adhered to for everyone’s safety, not least the animals themselves.
So, if you are going to be near the Castle Mount, why not pop by and see the sheep. While they may well (and probably should) ignore your presence, you will be watching history being recreated to provide an ecologically sustainable solution to maintaining our important outside spaces.
If you spot anything wrong or have any concerns, please report any issues to Thetford Town Council on 01842 754 247 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm) or 07458 012 823 (out of hours) the team can also be contacted via: mail@thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk
‘Victoria Witheridge’ Photography by Martin Angus
The Bell
Victoria Witheridge
Written by Liam Chatton
I’ve stayed in hotels many times in my life. I’ve always been vaguely aware that they are like swans, floating serenely on the water but under the scenes the working parts are paddling like mad. In my experience the concierge and/or the night porter are the font of all local knowledge.
Victoria’s story
I finally caught up with Victoria Witheridge, the general manager of the Bell Hotel since 2019, to find out more about her experiences of running the place.
Victoria was born in Windsor in [1967?] and spent much of her time as a young adult in London. She first entered the hospitality profession at the age of 18 as a hotel receptionist. In almost four decades she has worked in hotels, pubs, spa retreats, and golf resorts. She did say she’s left hospitality to try work in other industries but has always been drawn back to
hospitality, as if some kind of vocational bungee rope was permanently attached.
As we sat and spoke, due to a staff shortage at the hotel, there were times when Victoria needed to attend the reception desk or other parts of the hotel. While people were checking in, Victoria recited the breakfast and dinner schedule to the first one and then humorously asked the subsequent guests in the queue if they’d been paying attention to it. This use of humour had an element of homeliness to it, a sense of warmth and welcome. “You can relax here with us, we’re all friends.” was the message I took.
On another occasion a guest with an American sounding accent didn’t have a UK power adapter for his phone. Victoria pulled out a box from under the counter and proceeded to rummage in it, finally presenting to him a UK plug USB charger. “Just leave it in the room and we’ll get it when you’re finished
with it.” she told him. Again this was another example of humility, of saying to the guest “we all make mistakes” or “we can’t think of everything”, while not being patronising at all. It was homely and most of all it was natural.
I don’t know how much of the box rummaging for the adapter was razzamatazz, or how much was genuinely keeping a supply of these things to cater for guests. Nonetheless I found it a lovely touch. It said “Don’t you worry love, we can accommodate you.” Humanity at the heart of hospitality.
Victoria certainly has enough experience in hospitality to make guests feel like they’re at home, as well as maintaining the level of professionalism to keep those feet paddling beneath the water.
“There are occasions when I have left the profession, when I decided I did not want to work the hours, but it’s something you’re pulled to or not pulled to.” Victoria said when explaining her attempts to leave the hospitality industry. I mentioned the old concierge type, the person who has an intimate knowledge of the locale, and how the general manager role is like that.
“Well I think you have to, working for Greene King especially, it’s not a traditional hotel as such. Greene King is a pub company. It’s a different structure. Yes there’s a general manager and assistant managers underneath but there’s not always a receptionist on duty so we all have to do our thing. Knowing about the local area, the interests, the local attractions, that’s important.”
The Bell’s story
The Bell Inn stands on the corner of King Street and Bridge Street, its whitewashed walls and aged timber
supports standing out against the Georgian brick frontages that surround it. Bridge street gives way to Whitehart Street where another whitewashed timber framed building stands, The Ancient House Museum, perhaps together they form a kindred of venerable wisdom within the relatively youthful Georgian styles around them. The Bell has certainly experienced a lot going on both within and without its walls, many of its witnessed secrets now lost to history, it nevertheless has plenty of stories about it.
Originally built as a religious institution in the 1490s, The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it no doubt played its part in the town’s religious importance during the Mediaeval period. Long before marriage guidance counselling was a profession, serial spouse severer, King Henry VIII, decided that Papal influence in England was unsovereign and resolved to create a schism within the Roman Catholic church by declaring himself head of his own church, the Church of England. Among other things, such as demanding the defacing of all iconography, outlawing Catholicism, and launching the careers of countless divorce lawyers, the tubby Tudor oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries. Around 1540 of the Common Era the institution was sold as an Inn and became The Bell.
Almost 500 years later the inn still stands although nowadays as a hotel. How much of the original building stands is a matter of dispute. There are certainly features that date back to the 16th century, oak beams studded with rusting nails in the block along King Street. Once known as Bell Corner, the timber frames at the intersection of Bridge and King Street served as the town’s official notice board. The town’s own Tudor Twitter account.
At the back of this, where the beer garden is now situated, was the coach yard. Here the stables, long
since gone, were where weary travellers could rest their rides between Norwich and London, kind of like an olden days version of EV charging points. As was common at the time, the inn had its own brewery, situated in the same courtyard.
Stories of ghosts, hosts and guests
As this is October and the stores are filled with the capitalist manifestations of spookiness, of course there are going to be a few ghost stories.
Victoria told me “We’ve had quite a lot of ghost hunters here. I can’t lie, I haven’t seen much. I’m not a total cynic of things. I think you have to have an open mind. The only thing I’ve ever seen is just a light moving rapidly one night when there’d been some ghost hunters in. I know people who’ve worked here a long time who feel that when that happens they sort of disturb the spirits.
“There’s one of the rooms, which I believe is considered the most haunted bedroom, there’s a big wooden chandelier that sometimes spins on its own. There are other members of staff who work here who have seen orbs and a cat, and someone in the cellar, but... I can’t say I have.”
Betty’s story
I asked Victoria about any recurring incidents.
“So there’s an old… landlady I suppose, who they say haunts it. Betty Radcliffe. Betty. It’s always Betty that people talk about. She allegedly haunts room 29. But it’s room 30 where people feel more. And when I saw the light it moved to the next door room.
“Between the rooms [29 and 30], when it’s been done up sometime, there’s a void. There’s an area
between the two rooms. Strange electrical things go on regularly. Televisions coming on, kettles coming on through the night. A lot of people say they do feel something up there.”
Victoria handed me a printout, nine A4 sides, with collated information and stories of the hotel that they give out to visitors. I’m not going to retell these stories here, as tempting as it is for a hack and a fraud such as I am, but anyone wishing to learn more I am sure the hotel will gladly oblige.
There are stories of sightings, of experiences that guests and members of staff have witnessed. Monks in the cellar, a young teenage girl being sighted in windows looking out, apparitions of cats and dogs, a tall man wearing a top hat is also mentioned.
Victoria continued about Betty: “Ghost hunters who have come here have said that Betty was thrown to her death in the gallery by a discarded lover. But, someone has told me that she was literally friends with the King at the time. And when she died it was an enormous event. People were out waving flags. I don’t know as I haven’t got the exact details but there may have been some scandal about Betty.”
One of the dates given when Betty died is around 1750. At this time George II was king of Great Britain (1727 - 1760). However, the website Norfolk Public Houses website (https://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/ norfolkt/thetford/thetbeh.htm) lists the licensees of the Bell and Betty Radcliffe is listed from 1775, when George III was on the throne. The next listing is Alexander Radcliffe from 1785, who died in 1792.
Captain Mainwaring’s story
Victoria was eager to point out that the hotel does have another, more recent legacy.
“I know it’s the October edition and ghosts are interesting but you can’t really overlook the ties to Dad’s Army that the hotel has. The number of people who want to know where Captain Mainwaring, Arthur Lowe stayed. They want [to stay in] those rooms and they really want a lot of information. It amazes me not only the amount of people who grew up watching the show but my son who’s 28 also watches the show. It amazes me how it’s almost like a pilgrimage for some people.”
Indeed the Dad’s Army museum continues to be an attraction to visitors to the town. The cast members would stay in the Bell so it stands to reason they’d want to stay in the rooms that the actors occupied. I wonder if Clive Dunn sought permission to panic if Betty manifested in his chamber.
Victoria’s story continued
Victoria has sadly left her role at The Bell. After five years of greeting guests, of welcoming people to Thetford, her company, Greene King, has offered her a new opportunity in Kent.
“I did go and have a look and it’s a different opportunity. I’ve been here a while now and there’s a big part of me that doesn’t want to move but I’m 57 and how many opportunities to turn a business around will there be?”
Victoria isn’t leaving without Thetford in her heart, however.
“I’ve run hotels. I’ve had my own pub. I’ve been the manager of pubs. I’ve managed hotels for other companies and independent hotels. Some places, they become a part of you. You become passionate and very connected. Other places it is just a job. The Bell was never just a job for me, it is very much part of
who I am and a part of my life. I have a passion for it. I care about it.
“I’ve run lovely businesses with golf courses and spas and I don’t feel that about them. Yet the Bell, I feel passionately about it. I can’t tell you why I feel that here and not other places. Whether it’s the people, the people I don’t know but I know that although I’m going to go to Kent I will return to Thetford. This is the place I will retire, I expect. I like the people, I like the area. I like the position where it is accessible to other places.
“I was here in lockdown [COVID-19]. The first lockdown there weren’t so many people about. I’d sit in one of the balcony rooms. The wildlife you’d see, kingfishers, muntjacs walking across the road across the bridge. You could walk by the river and see otters. How many towns in this country can you walk through and see an otter swimming through the town?
“The lockdown made me appreciate what there is around Thetford, the nature, the places you can walk. We put some bird feeders up and the variety of birds that came was unbelievable. My partner is a bird watcher and I sent him a photograph of some exotic birds that I thought must have escaped and he said “no they’re common”, they were goldfinches. They were beautiful. I just thought ‘how is nature so beautiful and you don’t notice it and you go through your life like that?’”
I thanked Victoria for her time and wished her well on her new venture to which she replied “I will be back. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll become the new Betty.”
Photography by Martin Angus
Photograph
‘A Piece of the Jigsaw’ by Martin Angus
MIND
The REST of the Puzzle
Written by Xanthe Cross
Iam not in a good place. Every morning I wake up, if I’ve slept at all, with a stone in my chest; dense, heavy, grey. Reaching up from the stone a granite fist, with angled knuckles like in the old communist posters, grips the back of my throat. I carry them with me into my day and if I forget for a moment the fist tightens, reminding me of its controlling presence. I reach up to loosen the tight collar around my neck to discover a loosefitting T-shirt, with nothing pressing on my throat and I remember that it’s on the inside.
On a good day that’s it and I can function, going about my business, pretending that everything is ok. I’m flat behind the mask. My smile is false.
“How are you?”
“Fine thanks.”
But I’m not, not really.
Sometimes I pause after their question, searching for a truth, trying to work out what it might be safe to say, but they don’t wait for my reply, moving on to the weather or their weekend plans.
Other days the anxiety is paralysing, my mind in overdrive yet crippling me to inactivity. Heartpounding dizziness accompanies me despite the deep breaths and calm music they advise.
Worst of all is the dragon. It sleeps mostly, wrapping its spiky, scaled body around the dull stone, guarding it, warning off any attempts to remove it. It wakes without warning fierce and
angry beyond reason, shooting searing words of criticism at anyone in the vicinity; my partner, other drivers, shop workers, GP receptionists. I can’t control it, but I can’t explain that they are not my words, not my eyes firing sharp daggers at their reasonable endeavours. I become that beast. I am unintentionally cruel.
Unbidden they appear, the scenarios involving myself or people that I love. They play out in my head in grim detail. A car crash resulting in injury, tangled metal and ambulances. I catch myself at it and tell myself to stop, which I mostly manage, until the next time.
I resent things that should be a pleasure. As her only nearby relative it falls to me to visit my elderly aunt, but I have nothing left to give. I’m empty. Years of putting others first have left me depleted and joyless.
Be mindful they say, notice the beauty around you. I try, and I see things that should elicit wonder but I simply can’t feel it.
I’d heard about the cafe in town, REST, set up by MIND. I hadn’t even considered that it might be there for me. It must be for people with real problems; depression, grief and suchlike. Not someone just a bit stressed, or a bit sad. Life’s not so bad, I’m coping really. But a small voice deep inside nudged me and I dragged myself out of bed, found a clean top and walked along the river then up the turning towards the opticians. I walked past the cafe and the door was open. I kept on walking, not admitting even to myself that I wanted to go in. What if someone sees me? What if the staff talk to me and it all comes out and I cry?
I pretended that I needed to do some shopping
and went into the chemist then browsed in the charity shop. The sun warmed me as I walked slowly past REST again. There were some people inside having a drink and I noticed an unfinished puzzle on the coffee table. I used to love doing puzzles as a child. I thought about this as I carried on, then sat by the river watching the ripples and the geese, listening to the punters at the Kiosk chatting and laughing. That was what did it, I couldn’t remember what it felt like to laugh. My heart was beating hard as I walked up Riverside Walk retracing my steps. These heartbeats were different, not fuelled by anxiety but by hope and the tiniest hint of excitement. I took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.
The lady behind the cafe counter smiled at me as I bought a coffee. There were scones on the counter but my throat was so tight I wasn’t sure that I would be able to swallow anything other than liquid. There were a few people sitting together at the table so I sat in a comfy chair by the puzzle, looking out onto the street. The friends at the table were talking and having a drink, just like in an ordinary cafe. The windows were shaded so, apart from the open door, I wouldn’t be seen. A kind-looking young man, another helper with a blue lanyard also smiled but I looked away, too nervous to engage.
An elderly man walked by outside and his dog stopped to drink from the bowl of water at the door. The cafe lady called out a greeting from behind me and he raised a hand and smiled. Our eyes met briefly and he smiled at me too. I smiled back and it felt strange, as if my face muscles weren’t used to moving in that way. He walked on with his small, white-furred companion trotting beside him. So many smiles
made me feel like I was visible. It was unusual to be seen and valued even in this small way. I began to realise what I had been hiding from.
On the wall was a notice board with posters of the activities and groups they run; ‘Wellbeing Walk’, ‘Tea, Toast and Talk’, ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. Maybe one day I’ll join a Wellbeing Walk, when I’m feeling a bit more sociable.
The lady came out from behind the counter and asked if she could sit with me. She sat in the chair sideways on from me. I found that I didn’t feel under pressure, or that I might be grilled. I wouldn’t have to make eye contact if I didn’t want to. She told me her name and simply started chatting in her kind voice. I can’t remember exactly what she said now but something in her manner made it safe for me to talk. Despite my fears I didn’t cry but I felt that, even if I had, it would have been ok. More than anything she was patient and when I paused to search for the right words, she waited. When I talked a little about how I was feeling she didn’t then tell me what to do. She listened, and a couple of times she explained what had been useful for her or others she had met who had experienced the same kinds of feelings.
While we were talking a woman came in with her shopping and asked the other helper about the cafe. I overheard her interpretation; “Oh it’s for people with a touch of the mentals”. I looked at my new friend quizzically and she gently shook her head and smiled again. She explained to me more about the cafe and about MIND. They are there for anyone who might need a listening ear. You don’t need a referral, you can just drop in. If you don’t want to talk, that’s ok, you can simply sit. She told me about the Wellbeing Service and
gave me a telephone number that I can call for support if I can’t make it to the cafe. She told me about a lady who had come after her dog died. Grieving, she had found it useful to talk about it. The staff are trained to deal with all sorts of situations and if things are serious they have links to crisis services. Before I left I had arranged to come back for a series of one-toone sessions in their private room. Then I would be free to open up and talk about everything I was feeling.
Before I drained my cup I found a couple of puzzle pieces and slotted them into place, playing my small part in a larger endeavour. As I did so I felt like something in me was beginning to fit back into place too. As I left, my stone felt smaller and lighter, and the fist had loosened its grip just a little.
The Fog
The leaden fog clings and constricts
Obscuring and deforming the outstretched hands
Muffling, to sinister menaces
The gently calling voices.
It seeps vile and indestructible
Enveloping the withering, desolate form, Invading every twisted dream And yearning introspection.
It smothers the last glowing coals, Extinguishing the fires of hope, Splintering the wooden bridges
Reaching to reality.
It seduces and manipulates each utterance
Searing through the core of others, near yet remote. Attempts to resolve are shattered, And scattered as ash to fuel the grey uncertainty.
By Xanthe Cross
Anniversary
Another ring of loss laid down
Enclosing the core of loneliness deeper within.
A new circumference, mathematics of beauty and grief.
In cross-section, an expanding target.
The arrow of sorrow whittled from my branches
Tipped with poisoned anguish
Pierces the heart of me.
My pain is encircled by bark
A thickening facade of functioning.
Fingertips explore its ripples frozen at the moment your skin paled to wax.
Deepening crevices cut deeper into my encasement
This boundary expanding at an unfathomable Lento.
Fear of another’s inevitable passing
Fuels the flame of my future, felled existence.
Tears fall as velvet blossom
Some petals pure, veined white
Others damp-edged brown
A tainted, rotting prologue.
Rain soaked, they are subsumed
Feeding the roots spreading imperceptibly through the dark silence
Searching, reaching out to connect
Building a network of unspoken understanding
Within the world’s moist crust
Mirroring the budding branches tipped with Spring’s hope.
By Xanthe Cross
Photograph ‘An Arial View’ by Simon Gillings/BTO
BTO
The British Trust for Ornithology
Written by Viola Ross-Smith
If you go down to the Nuns’ Bridges today, how about instead of heading to the town centre, or making your way down to Bury, you instead turn up the nearby tree-lined drive? You’ll discover a site of fascinating human heritage and natural history – the headquarters of the British Trust for Ornithology.
The British Trust for Ornithology, or BTO as it is more fondly known, is somewhat of a wellkept secret here in Thetford. It doesn’t help that its name doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue – how many people know what ‘ornithology’ actually means? And also, the BTO’s remit isn’t perhaps as obvious as that of some related organisations. So, let me explain.
BTO is a leading national conservation charity, focusing on the science of birds (the ornithology part). It employs approximately 100 people here in Thetford, many of them Ph.D. level scientists, to figure out what exactly is going on with
birds (and other wildlife) in this country. Which species’ populations are going up and down, and where and why? And what, if anything, could or should we be doing about these changes? These scientists couldn’t do their work without a huge army of volunteers – the citizen scientists – going out and collecting data on the birds they observe and sending BTO their records.
BTO runs a number of globally-respected wildlife monitoring schemes. The best known of these is perhaps the British and Irish Ringing Scheme. Here, highly trained volunteers fit wild birds with individually numbered leg rings before releasing them to go about their daily lives. These rings are lightweight – roughly equivalent to a human wearing a wristwatch – and people who see or otherwise find the birds wearing them can report the ring numbers back to BTO and receive the bird’s life history in return.
Approximately 1 million birds are ringed through
Photograph
‘A Local Egret’ by Martin Angus
this scheme each year, and over time (the scheme began back in 1909) the information gathered has generated key insights into how long birds live, where they move to, and which stages of their life are the pinch points. For example, if lots of ringed birds that were ringed as nestlings are found dead soon after fledging, it might suggest that their parents were struggling to find sufficient food for them at the crucial early stages of their life. We can then use this information to make recommendations to conservation practitioners and government decision makers.
You’ll notice that I said ‘recommendations’. This is also something that sets us apart from the organisation we are most often confused with (but do often work closely with, just to further muddle matters), the RSPB. Unlike RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and many other excellent conservation organisations working hard for a better world, BTO is non-campaigning. This gives us a unique position of power, in that we are trusted by decision makers to present them with robust and objective evidence to help them formulate policies and solutions. Indeed, data gathered by BTO volunteers and analysed by our scientists contributes to various official statistics. So, when you come across a news story with a government spokesperson talking about bird populations – perhaps the decline in Skylarks or the increase in Ring-necked Parakeets for example – the data that person will be quoting will most likely to have come from BTO.
As well as harnessing the efforts of citizen scientists and generating trusted government statistics, BTO generates a lot of fundamentally important applied scientific outputs in its own
right. You might have heard of our famous project tracking Cuckoos to and from their African wintering grounds – a favourite of many a TV show over the years. When we began this work in 2011, we simply didn’t know where Cuckoos went in the winter – there had been a single ring recovery from central Africa in 1930. However, we did know that their numbers were declining at an alarming rate, and we suspected that finding out more about where these birds went and when might help us to address and reverse this. In a pioneering move, BTO scientists began fitting satellite tags to Cuckoos, and you can visit our website (www. bto.org/cuckoos) to follow the progress of tagged birds each year as they make their perilous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert. We now know that British Cuckoos winter in the Congo rainforest and further south into Angola. We know they leave much earlier than we thought (for some of them, summer is over at the very start of June, as that’s when they depart for Africa), and we can see that their survival depends on things like forest fires and drought in far-flung locations. Excitingly, we have also exported our expertise - BTO scientists have now helped tag Cuckoos breeding as far away as China and Mongolia. Amazingly, these birds also migrate to Africa, in a trip that makes the journeys ‘our’ Cuckoos take look positively short and sweet.
Other BTO science has shed light on matters as diverse as how plastic soffits might affect House Martins (this is another declining species, whose mud nests are more likely to fall off plastic soffits, but you can help them out by installing artificial nest cups), how birds of prey and seabirds are affected by wind turbines, and how Greater Spotted Eagles migrating through
Ukraine are being affected by the current devastating war there (the fighting is not good for birds either). Importantly, our long-term datasets going back decades (our Heronries Census began in 1928, and is the longest running breeding bird survey in the world) allow us to also project the future, and estimate how bird populations might fare under different climate change scenarios (it looks like bad times ahead for sea-birds, for example, but egrets might be alright).
In these last paragraphs, I have name dropped the three key elements that keep BTO going –birds, science and people. These are the words in our strap-line. When it comes to people, BTO is an excellent place to work, and we do a great job at motivating our skilled and invaluable volunteers. However, one group of people we haven’t always engaged with as well as we could are you – the people of Thetford! We have been in the town since the early 1990s, when the site of the Nunnery of St George was bequeathed to us. However, a lot of people think it’s not open to the public, when this is not the case! We have our beautiful Nunnery Lakes nature reserve, with free visitor trails and information boards – a perfect place for a lovely walk and even a picnic when the weather’s nice. But we also have the Nunnery grounds and the building itself, which you can request to visit by contacting info@bto. org or phoning 01842 750050.
The Nunnery of St George was founded by Uvius, the first abbot of Bury St. Edmunds, during the reign of King Cnut (c. 990-1035). It became a Benedictine convent after about 1160, and remained a place for nuns until it was dissolved in 1537. After this time, the buildings were converted into a house.
Photograph by Neil Calbrade/BTO
Photograph by Neil Rob Read/BTO
If you visit the Nunnery today, you can still see ruins in the grounds. However, if you manage a tour of the building, you can see mediaeval stonework and even graffiti. The BTO’s site today is informally divided into the ‘chapel’, where the more ancient stonework has been incorporated into a marvellous, light and airy modern workspace, and the ‘house’, where people still lived until the 20th century. This is also now a lovely place to work. You can also arrange to visit the BTO’s library (library@ bto.org) where you can browse the latest ornithological titles and consult scientific papers and bird reports.
Over the years, BTO has done various outreach events to the Thetford community, including bird ringing demonstrations, bird and bat walks, and various talks. In 2024, we’ve been lucky enough to secure funding to hold a more ambitious programme of activities to suit people from different walks of life. Over recent months, BTO has hosted Bush Adventures, who have used the Nunnery as a base for introducing young people from a range of backgrounds to birds, wildlife and the great outdoors. We’ve also hosted Sound and Ground for popular sessions of forest bathing and birdsong sound baths, and we have joined events at the Charles Burrell Centre, including their open day and community meals. We hope this will make BTO more approachable. We are a bunch of bird nerds, but we want to welcome more people to get involved, no matter what their skill level.
With that in mind, BTO runs a range of excellent bird identification training courses, both in person and online, so do get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about birds but are not sure where to start (training@bto.org).
We also have a variety of surveys that you can join, if you’d like to contribute to monitoring wildlife. Some of them, like our weekly Garden BirdWatch scheme, can be done from the comfort of your home, and others like BirdTrack, simply involve you entering your wildlife records (including mammals, insects and some plants – it’s not just birds!) into a user-friendly app when you’re out for a walk. Other surveys, like ringing and also more structured schemes such as the Breeding Bird Survey and the Sea-bird Monitoring Programme, require greater levels of expertise, but that’s nothing you can’t learn from our training courses and other resources, including our ever popular online ID videos. So, if all this has whetted your appetite to find out more, drop us a line or pop in and say hi the next time you’re in the vicinity. We’d love to welcome you into the BTO family.
Photograph by Mike Toms/BTO
Thetford Priory
The Tale of Three Stephens
Written by Dave Griffiths
As Roger Bigod, a lowly French knight, trotted along a north Normandy road on his trusty (although likely second hand) steed in late summer 1066, he could hardly have imagined that 40 years on he be a wealthy man in possession of 310 lordships across East Anglia. If there is such a thing as a ‘good war’ he certainly had one. He settled in Thetford and, being a pious chap, made a vow of pilgrimage to the Holy Land. However, it was a commitment he was unable to fulfil and so was allowed instead to apply the money that the trip would have cost to establishing a Cluny priory in the town.
The site chosen was the abandoned Cathedral Church of the East Anglian Bishops, located in the grounds of the modern-day Grammar school. New wooden buildings attached to the existing church structure to provide living accommodation for the
monks. In 1104 the prior of Lewes sent 12 monks along with a fellow called Malgod to serve as prior. After 2 years, Malgod was recalled and replaced by Stephen, the sub prior of Lewes. Seeing immediately the site was too small to meet his expansion aspirations, Stephen prevailed upon Roger and King Henry I, who often held court in Thetford, to provide a spacious site on the other side of the river. This is the site where you can see the remains of the priory today.
Roger, Stephen helped lay the first foundation stones, but Roger didn’t live to see the priory in its full glory, dying only 8 days later. But he must have been a man content with his lot achieving so much from such humble beginnings. The initial build was completed and the new priory established on St Martin’s Day, 11th November 1114, but building continued for another 50 years as the priory was extended.
The priory flourished through the 12th century, partly due to a series of mysterious happenings that brought both notoriety and wealth to the place. Firstly, an artisan of Thetford, suffering from an incurable complaint, dreamt three times that the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him that if he would regain his health, he must persuade the prior to build a Lady Chapel on the church. Well he recovered and did persuade the prior who, being a prudent fellow, planned construction of a wooden chapel. But the artisan repeatedly insisted that the Virgin should be honoured with a stone structure. The Prior was caught between Godly duty and financial prudence, but luckily for him fate intervened.
Searching for modest adornments for the new chapel, he discovered a wooden image of the Virgin Mary amongst items brought from the original priory site. Thinking it would be a perfect for the new chapel, he handed it over to a painter to be beautified. The painter discovered the statue was hollow and housed a variety of precious relics, their identity engraved on wrappers of lead. The robe of our Lord, of the girdle of our Lady, of our Lord’s sepulchre, of the rock of Calvary, of our Lady’s sepulchre etc. A letter was also found, addressed to the second prior Stephen, by the minister who had sent these relics from the church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. The placement of the statue in pride of place in the new Lady Chapel seemed to trigger a series of miraculous events. Recovery of speech to the speechless and of life to two dead children. Notoriety brought pilgrims; pilgrims brought money. Consequently the chapel was rendered evermore grand! Whether all these events were godly interventions or a cunning terrestrial financial planning we’ll never know. Either way the Priory’s fortunes went from strength to strength.
But after over a century of prosperity the Priory’s fortunes were set to take a downturn. Another Stephen, a Frenchman from Savoy, had heard
the stories of the priory and made pilgrimage to see it first-hand. He stayed and in time became its prior. He soon stamped his own style on the running of the place. His operational diversification comprised turning much of the priory into a house of debauchery, carousing night and day with his brother Bernard, a knight, and Guiscard, who was described as a ‘clericus monstruous’. The community and resident monks must have been outraged but the practices were to continue for many years. In 1248 however it all ended rather badly.
“Goodnight Bernard, help Guiscard home would you, not sure he will make it alone…. farewell!”. Back along the corridor I hear the giggling of the female entertainment. “Come on ladies, I haven’t got all night, and keep the noise down, this is a respectable establishment remember”. “Ooh get him, all high and mighty, see you on Saturday my lord” the girls reply curtsying one at a time as they leave”. I firmly shut and bolt the door behind them chuckling to myself then step back, wobbling rather unsteadily. As I turn, I jump back against the door with a “Good lord, where the hell did you come from!”. A hooded monk stands motionless in front of me, the rasp of his breath the only noise I can hear. As I regain my wits I stand as straight as I’m able “Explain yourself, what are you doing skulking around the house of God at this hour?”. After a long pause the monk pulls down his hood and dripping with contempt says “You speak of my presence at this hour, my behaviour! What of yours, you agent of the devil”. Shocked by his effrontery I square up to him “Brother Stephen, how dare you speak to your prior with such words! Leave, back to your room. I will decide how to deal with your disgraceful behaviour in the morning!”. The monk tenses his muscles, his eyes fill with anger, fixing unwaveringly on mine, right hand fumbling in the right sleeve of his cassock. After a long pause, and starting slowly, measured, but building to rage he says “My behaviour! My words in the house of God…. You insult
God, fornicating in his holy place, I do God’s work and rid the world of you!”. He seems to grow in stature in front of me and raises his arm with his hand clenched in a fist around the handle of a knife. I look up helpless as he plunges it down into my chest. I feel a dull ache spread in my chest. He stabs 2 or three more times as I fall first to my knees then the floor. He stoops over me, looking down, face utterly calm as my vision blurs slowly to nothingness.
Prior Stephen died instantly. The monk Stephen De Charun returned to his room where he was later found kneeling, calm, praying, bloodied knife lying beside him. He was taken off to and imprisoned at Norwich Gaol where he later died. A new, carefully selected prior was appointed, and the priory returned to its proper role in the community. The whole incident must have been shocking, front page of the 13th century national tabloid press, if it had existed. A prior murdered on holy ground, who would have thought! Soon after, reports started emerging of chanting in empty rooms in the priory and of sightings of hooded monks that faded away as soon as approached. Often these sightings were accompanied by reports of a sudden chill in the air. They have continued for nearly 9 centuries to right up to modern day.
Perhaps the most famous sighting was by Christian Jensen-Romer and some friends in 1987. A fuller account is given here Thetford Priory – Mysterious Britain & Ireland or on his blog site, but my own embellished interpretation is given here. It’s 8.30pm on a warm August evening and I’m in the back of a car with 4 other friends driving through Thetford on our way home. “Hey Dave, we’re gonna have to pull over, I can’t hold on any longer!”. “Oh, come on Marcus, we’ll be home in 30 minutes, just hold it”. “We stop or you’re gonna have a big cleaning bill!”. “Oh, for Christ’s sake, ok but we’re not looking for a toilet, a bush’ll have to do”. Dave pulls into a culde-sac, stops and we all pile out. Walking between a
gap in the houses we find ourselves at the entrance of ancient ruins of what looks like a church. It is like stepping into a different world. “Hey, is it just me or has it turned really cold” I say to no one in particular. Marcus dashes towards a bush at the end of the site and we all follow, answering the call of nature, laughing and joking. Dave turns back around and stops talking mid-sentence. I turn as well to see him peering into the gathering gloom. Following his line of sight, I see what he’s spotted. I hold my breath overwhelmed with sudden fear. Atop a staircase in the ruin is a figure covered in what looks like a bedsheet, standing stock still, seemingly staring at us. Darren regains his wits first “Hey come on lads let’s get him” and he charges off toward the building and we all follow. He hurdles a collapsed exterior wall then jumps for the second step of the staircase but flies straight through where it appears to be and falls heavily to the ground. The rest of us bundle over him ending up in a heap of arms of legs. We sit up dazed and look around; there’s no sign of staircase, of a first floor, or of the figure. “What the hell happened” I shout. “No idea but I don’t want to be here!” shouts Darren. We scarper back to the car, not daring to look back.
During the pandemic, a group of schoolgirls visited the site. One after another the reported feint chanting and saw images of hooded monks. So distressed were they that the police were called. Nothing concrete was found but the police did report a strange drop in temperature around the positions of the sightings.
But fear not fair and goodly people of Thetford. Yes, there have been 100s of sightings of chanting hooded monks, over many centuries, by different and unconnected people, in the same location, with many identical features. But I’m sure there are logical explanations, they’re just coincidences. Nothing for you to worry about, really, don’t give it a second thought, just browse the priory ruins without a care……
