JULY 2020 About Thetford magazine

JULY 2020

YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY MAGAZINE ISSUE

174

CIRCULATION 12,500

IN THIS ISSUE

A VERY DIFFERENT MAYOR MAKING

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THETFORD

CALENDAR COMPETITION FINAL 12

VE DAY CELEBRATIONS PLUS LOTS MORE!!

own!)

Welcome Back... (post lockd

Inside this month...

k, I must confess it felt After having a two month brea puter this month pulling Page 4 - Chris Riches’ Truck Tour com weird to be sat in front of the My content notes page Page 7 - Our Beautiful Thetford together pages for this edition. h of our usual updates Page 9 - No Cold Shoulder had a very different feel with muc resting new content Page 11 - Summer Reading Challenge inte e from groups absent, but som pleased to bring Page 12 & 13 - Leaping Hare very re we’ th in their place. This mon Beautiful Thetford’ booklet Page 15 - Thetford’s New ‘Wild Place’ you the story behind the ‘Our involved with plus, we got Page 17 - Garden & Allotment Club which we were delighted to be hugely successful truck Page 19 - Reptiles & Amphibians his ut to talk to Chris Riches abo Page 20 & 21 - Calendar Competition tour of Thetford. job to do, readers! Inside Page 22 - Thetford Past & Present a e hav you th, mon this Also will make up the 2021 Page 24 & 25 - VE Day 75 Collage you will find the 12 images that g asked to help identify Page 26 & 27 - Meet The New Mayor Thetford Calendar. You’re bein Plus, our centre pages Page 33 - Hot Tips For Dog Owners er. your favourite for the front cov of the great VE Day Page 43 - Hidden Jewels In Thetford e som just this month showcase Page 46 - Runners Lockdown Antics ss Thetford. celebrations that took place acro r ove ther toge ed pull that e Lastly, thank-you to everyon support and reassurance About Thetford the past few months to provide spirit was clear to ity mun magazine is com d’s tfor The . ded where nee id19 impact. proudly printed Cov the en soft ed Tel: 01284 751296 help and see

by KNP Litho www.knplitho.co.uk , hes wis t bes Stay safe and tford magazine Terry Jermy, Editor, About The Front cover image by Neil James Media www.neil-james.co.uk

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E-mail address for all articles, adverts etc: aboutthetfordmagazine@gmail.com Contact us: 075404 63662 Office Address: C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, IP24 3LH Publisher; In And About Thetford Ltd, C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford IP24 3LH Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this magazine, the publishers take no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by its contributors, in any advertisements or for any loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Reproduction of any part of this publication without permission of the publishers is strictly forbidden. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher

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Truck Tour Success In the midst of lockdown, residents were treated to a burst of fun thanks to a local haulage company.

Chris Riches and wife Liana help run Riches Transport – a family haulage business based here in town. Both have lived in Thetford all their lives and even went to the same school together. The family business has grown over the years and now sees many trucks out and about all over East Anglia helping to distribute everything from bikes to lawn mowers, trampolines and people’s internet purchases. Family is hugely important to them and they have been looking after their parents during lockdown which is how the idea for the Truck Routes was formed.

Chris’ parents were shielding and not able to get out for shopping so when they saw some fresh fruit and veg at a farm shop on a work trip, they made up a parcel and were about to transfer it from one of the trucks they had been driving to their car and they had a lightbulb moment- why not take it in the truck, have some music playing and cheer mum up? They did worry neighbours may not be impressed but they couldn’t believe how many people on the same road looked out and waved.

Mum loved it! Both Chris and Liana realised how hard it must be stuck in, possibly alone, with the uncertainty of Coronavirus and wanted to do something to lift people’s spirits. Neither had imagined how much hard work and time would have to go into making that first Thursday night trip round Thetford happen. Chris involved the Police to ensure everyone would be happy with the safety aspect of what was planned, Liana worked on the music playlist, a route was formed and the plan was to end up at the Ambulance Station at 7.45pm ready for the ‘Clap For The NHS’ at 8pm.

The response was overwhelming with everyone asking for more and VE Day seemed the obvious choice. A bigger route was organised with several test trips round to make sure lorries could make certain turns, Facebook was buzzing with excitement, everyone wanted to know when the ‘Georgina Louise’ (the truck the Riches used) would be making an appearance at their VE day celebrations! Using the Georgina Louise (all the trucks at Riches are named after female family members) was special to Chris as it’s the lorry he passed his truck driving licence in, and is the one he now takes to shows.

His children also grew up riding in the lorry so it has great sentimental value and is now 20 years old and in retirement, except for special occasions!

Chris and Liana Riches

Chris said that he hadn’t realised before just how many people had become very isolated during this pandemic and that his trips round Thetford in the truck would be something that he would remember forever. Reading through messages for music requests detailing why certain tracks were special or why the writer was isolating was hard for Chris and his wife as they could see how alone and vulnerable so many people were, However this made them even more determined to help put a smile on peoples’ faces.

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Campaign Inspires Confidence In Thetford’s High Street A campaign has been launched in Thetford and across Breckland’s other market towns to support local businesses to bounce back from coronavirus and give people confidence to shop on the high street.

Breckland Council’s Confidence campaign has seen the installation of hand sanitising stations, social distancing signage and additional outside seating for hospitality businesses to use. In addition, social distancing floor stickers have been put in place alongside branded lamppost columns to remind people to follow the latest guidance to keep themselves and each other safe while going about their shopping.

In some cases, Breckland Council has been reviewing car parking arrangements and created ‘click and collect’ parking spaces to enable businesses to serve customers quickly. The changes have been made in liaison with town councils, local traders and business groups, to ensure local towns continue to be vibrant and safe places to shop, despite the pandemic. The aim is to encourage shoppers to safely return, get cash in traders’ tills, and protect local jobs. The campaign is in addition to other support provided to local businesses.

This includes the distribution of over £5m of national grants to businesses in and around the town, including £1.8m to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. A total of £27m has been shared among businesses across the Breckland district. The council has also created business support packs, so any Thetford business can access, free of charge, an online course in

Covid-19 business safety, social distancing posters for display within the business, and floor stickers to help customers queue safely.

Plus, Breckland’s Environmental Health and Licencing officers will be making regular trips to all market towns to speak to businesses and provide advice on how they can operate safely. Our market towns are the beating heart of our communities and it has been a challenge for everybody, especially our traders, to see them so quiet over the past few months. With the easing of lockdown, we’re helping businesses to not only bounce back from the pandemic but ensure our towns benefit from a positive lasting legacy.

Find out more; www.breckland.gov.uk/coronavirus

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‘Our Beautiful Thetford’ – The Journey There are a few things that many will remember when we think back in years to come about the past few months. Of course the anxiety and concern will feature but there are some happy memories as well. The Chris Riches truck tour, VE Day garden parties and of course the ‘Our Beautiful Thetford’ book by the Photography Group of Thetford U3A. We had just gone into lockdown when the lorry turned up at the About Thetford office to deliver them. I remember lifting the boxes off the lorry and thinking “I really hope we get to deliver these!” and so we did... the response was quite understandably, amazing! We’ve invited co-ordinator David Fossey to tell us about the journey, tinged with some very personal sadness which he has shared with us all.

Thank-you David & Friends - Editor

Three Nun’s Bridges - the front cover image for ‘Our Beautiful Thetford’

And then Coronavirus struck. My younger brother in Welwyn died, followed ten days later by his wife, our printers went out of business, distribution came to a standstill and we were all housebound. We picked up the pieces of course, another opportunity to rise to the challenge in the face of adversity. My brother’s mantra throughout his life was ‘keep smiling’, a much-used expression of hope our father gifted us during the dark days of WWII, and so poignant today. As it turned out there could have been no better time for us to distribute this small gift to the people of Thetford than during lockdown and we wish to express our sincere gratitude to all of you who have written in appreciation. That is reward enough for our endeavours.

“The concept of producing a book of photographs of our great town started way back in December 2018, when a small group of enthusiastic members of the Thetford U3A Photographic Group discussed plans for group activities throughout the coming year.

A long list of all that is good and great about our town emerged as a photographic challenge for the thirty group members throughout 2019; to bring together just 100 photographs to showcase what it is that makes us so proud to be part of the community. The question then remained, how best to share that with all of Thetford’s residents? Quotes for printing a small book were then invited, professional setting secured, and distribution to 11,000 homes confirmed through the services of About Thetford magazine. The final bridge was how to pay for it. We wanted it to be delivered free! After much head-scratching, a grant from Norfolk Community Foundation was secured for nearly half the cost and our four advertisers donated most generously to the cause before our final target was reached, with much needed support from Thetford Town Council, Thetford Lions, Thetford Golf Club and our own U3A.

There is still a bit for us to do before the job is finally put to bed. We would like to frame a few of the pictures for display around town some day and hope to raise sufficient to pay for this through sales of the few copies remaining for that purpose” Keep Smiling. David Fossey Project Leader, Thetford U3A Photographic Group The last few copies of ‘Our Beautiful Thetford’ are available to purchase from Leaping Hare in Thetford Town Centre. Priced at just £2 to help support print costs.

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No Cold Shoulder; Tackling Loneliness & Social Isolation COVID-19 has had an impact on how charities support people, with many changing their approach to fit in with social distancing and shielding advice. A project that combats loneliness and isolation in Norfolk has adapted swiftly in the way it operates.

Operation No Cold Shoulder is run by a partnership of Norfolk charities including Age UK Norfolk, Community Action Norfolk (CAN), Creative Arts East, Future Projects, and West Norfolk Befriending. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and running until March 2021, it offers free support to people in target areas of Norfolk including Thetford.

Jackie Cushing, CAN’s Locality Manager says: “We feel the support on offer is particularly important during the COVID-19 lockdown. Many vulnerable people are having to shield themselves to keep safe and this can have an impact on their emotional wellbeing, leading to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Operation No Cold Shoulder provides support that includes free creative arts wellbeing packs for people aged 18 and over, and free telephone befriending for people aged 60 plus. We can’t engage with people face-to-face as we would in normal circumstances, so we’ve adapted how we provide support. And the message we’re sending out is ‘Are you or someone you know in the community feeling lonely or isolated?’”

Free creative wellbeing arts packs have been developed

by Creative Arts East for people aged 18 and over.

These postal packages contain creative arts activities to try at home, including music-making, crafts, movement activities and more. Age UK Norfolk is also providing telephone befriending for those aged 60 and over; a friendly conversation with a befriending volunteer, once

a week, can make a crucial difference to someone’s sense of wellbeing and inclusion. Community Action Norfolk is also helping some of the grass roots community groups of volunteers that have emerged to help their neighbours during the COVID-19 crisis. “ We have an existing well-established Good Neighbour Scheme network in many communities across Norfolk, and if groups wish to join the network we can provide them with support, advice and training including how to manage volunteers effectively, keep everyone safe and how to promote the work they are doing. We can also help with practical things like getting a mobile phone for the group and insurance” said Jackie.

To enquire about the free creative arts packs call 01953 713390 or email Lea or Sydney at; info@creativeartseast.co.uk To ask about telephone befriending support from Age UK Norfolk Call 01603 785223 or email; befriending@ageuknorfolk.org.uk

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Have Fun With The Silly Squad Digital Summer Reading Challenge Norfolk’s Libraries annual Summer Reading Challenge is set to return and 2020 is all about funny books, happiness and having a laugh.

With the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the impact of social distancing on schools and public libraries, this year’s challenge has launched as a digital activity to keep children reading over the summer and help prevent the summer reading ‘dip’. The theme for this year’s challenge is the ‘Silly Squad’, a team of animal friends who love to go on adventures and get stuck in to all different kinds of funny books. It features bespoke artwork from award-winning children's author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “With school life disrupted and many children missing the company of their friends, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is all the more important. It’s a way of helping parents and carers find fun, family-friendly activities, maintain literacy levels and create a safe space for children to connect with their peers.”

Children aged 4-11 can join the Silly Squad on a new adventure by setting their own personal reading challenge to complete from now until September. The new online platform will help them keep track of their books, reviews and the rewards they unlock along the way. Although children can’t borrow physical books from libraries at the moment, they can choose from thousands of e-books to download free from the library service using the Libby app. For more information, visit the website; www.norfolk.gov.uk/ebooks The Summer Reading Challenge is produced nationally

by The Reading Agency and is being delivered by libraries across the country through virtual services and e-lending platforms. Realising that not everyone has access to digital services, The Reading Agency is working to supply printed Silly Squad materials to libraries able to reach families without digital access.

Norfolk Libraries are providing lots of online activities during lockdown. You can find out what’s on and join in with their Summer Reading Challenge online events at their new Facebook page for children and families; www.facebook.com/ NorfolkLibrariesForFamilies/

Sign up to take part in the Silly Squad Reading Challenge at; www.sillysquad.org.uk where you’ll find book suggestions, tips on keeping reading when schools and libraries are closed, quizzes, games and more.

Library Opening Info See article on Page 28 about the reopening of Norfolk’s Libraries. For further info about Thetford Library reopening, visit their Facebook page; www.facebook.com/ThetfordLibrary Toy Den Advert.qxp_Layout 1 25/06/2020 16:35 Page

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Shop Update

Well, 2020 is a bit different isn’t it? We like to look for the positives but we have definitely struggled with the ‘new normal’ that we have all been getting used to.

Although unable to open our shop, we’ve continued to serve customers, answering calls, internet enquiries and of course selling books, gifts, cards and honey!

A very big thank you to everyone for your support.

We plan to reopen from Monday 6th July, allowing a maximum of two customers in the shop at the same time. Two people sharing the same household, or one adult with children, count as ‘one customer’. A foot operated hand sanitiser will be available for you to use as you enter, before you handle any products, and as you leave if you wish to.

NEW Leap into Thetford films We feature local business, community, historic gems and much more - look out for them on social media or our YouTube channel Leaping Hare. Our first film featured Mike Wabe giving a brief overview of what we do and Rachel Woods from Thetford Open Gardens told us about their virtual event.

The Open Gardens team are still raising money for St Nicholas Hospice, if you are able, please consider donating the price of your programme (£5) with reference TOG20 to Barclays Bank sort code: 20-16-46 account number: 40791679.

We have been busy decorating and updating our signage and we’re really looking forward to seeing you all.

One of our positives was discovering Zoom and having regular virtual meetings with our volunteers. Its been a great way to keep us all connected. The team have come up with some great ideas, one of which is our new Thetford U3A Photo Club who produced the lovely ‘Our Beautiful Thetford’ book that was delivered by About Thetford feature in our second film. We are selling additional copies for a minimum donation of £2, proceeds go to help cover the cost of the project and to fund printing and framing some of the images to place around town.

Have you got something to say or a great story to tell? Get in touch on 07802 701911 and be the subject of our next film.

What’s on in and about Thetford

The lockdown has given us all plenty to think about and many of us have needed to shop local. In such difficult times it’s been heartening to see, let’s hope as lockdown lifts that support for our local business continues.

We’re passionate about our local makers and have always celebrated their work. We’re looking forward to sharing more from our makers over the coming months.

Look out next month for exciting news on Beautiful hand-made soaps from £4.50 our website and our directories.

TOUR: Euston Hall

Tues 25 Aug - Sun 20 Sept Euston Hall has announced that it will be gadens only for August and Sptember.

EVENT: Music Festival

Local honey made right in the centre of Thetford just £5

SPORT: 5K & 10K Runs

Fri 4 - Sun 6 Sept: Sun 1 November: Red Rooster Festival has been Charles Burrell Centre runs postponed until September. have been re-scheduled.

All tickets purchased for May will be valid.

EUSTON HALL TOURS View one of the finest Stuart art collections in the country, as well as the extensive park and gardens, historic watermill, bygones room and Church of St Genevieve.

Visit www.eustonhall.co.uk for further visitor information.

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Three Tours Daily: 10.30am 11.15am 12noon MUSIC: Friction; The Piers Adult: £14 Children: £8 Children under 12: FREE Gardens Only: £8

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WI homemade refreshments available from the Old Kitchen

Open Day profits are donated to local charities via The Suffolk Community Foundation

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Garden Team Continues Fundraising The normal Thetford Open Gardens event may not have been possible this year, but it hasn’t stopped the team; Rachel, Suzanne, Karen and Susie from working hard to ensure that they still raised some much needed funds for St Nicholas Hospice.

The plant sale outside Suzanne’s home and the click and collect style cake sale has raised more than £3.5k!

“We know we can’t match the normal amount we raise, but every penny counts during this difficult time for St Nicholas Hospice,” said Organiser Rachel Woods, “We are enormously grateful to everyone who have donated plants, brought plants, who donated ingredients or ordered cake to support us this year.”

Thetford Open Gardens are also encouraging regular attendees to consider donating the cost of the usual programme, £5 per person, to the Hospice this year.

“We know that you won’t be able to experience the gardens in person. Some of you may have enjoyed the virtual Open Gardens event on the St Nicholas Hospice website, but the Hospice has had so many of its fundraising activities cancelled this year, they need our help more than ever” said Rachel.

Cake maker extraordinaire Suzanne Norman

The Thetford Open Gardens Team are hoping to be able to host some pop-up gardens in the autumn and are looking forward to bringing the event back next year on June 27th. Many of this year’s participants have already signed up along with several new gardens around the town. To donate the cost of your programme to St Nicholas Hospice by BACS, use the following details: St Nicholas Hospice (Suffolk), Barclays Bank Sort Code 20-16-46 Account Number 40791679 Please use reference; TOG20

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Thetford Wild Place For The Community Tucked in behind a tall brick wall in the very middle of the town centre, a secret garden is just waiting to be tamed and opened up to the local community.

The Wild Place, formerly used by Thetford Town Council for growing plants for public areas, was taken over by Bush Adventures UK in 2019, with the intention of turning it into a community space. A small and dedicated team of volunteers worked hard to remove years of rubbish that had been thrown over the wall. They cleared away the plants in readiness for installing shelters for groups to use, and storage facilities. All was going well, with several local groups keen to be a part of this new community venture. However, when lockdown was announced on the 23rd March, all the work stopped.

After over 2 months of neglect, when restrictions were lifted the nettles and brambles had grown to waist height and swamped the entire site. Led by Toni Leese, an even smaller group have been coming together (observing social distancing) once a week to begin again.

Toni says “My son and I have been working at the Wild Place every Wednesday since October. We home educate and he’s learnt so many valuable things like hard work, community, reliability as well as practical safe use of tools and some great bush craft from Chuck and Maria. Outdoor learning is his strength and having the wild space on our doorstep is an invaluable opportunity that we are so thankful for”.

Shay, Carla and Susan at a recent activity session at the ‘Wild Place’

With Government guidelines expected to continue to encourage outdoor learning in the future, the Wild Place hopes to become a hub for the local community to get together and share skills with others.

The Wild Place will be running Volunteer Days throughout the summer to help get the site ready for groups to use later in the year. If you can help in any way, please contact Bush Adventures UK or 07766969493 or @bushadventuresuk on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or email; admin@bushadventuresuk.org

Susan Jones, group leader of Thetford Woodcraft Folk says “The Wild Place is a fantastic outdoor learning space for community groups to use, and we were very much looking forward to using this space after the Easter holidays. Now we’re working with the team to get the space useable hopefully for when we can meet up again in person in September.”

The space is approximately 720m2 and it is hoped to feature a tipi shelter for groups to use, a bell tent to be used for nature therapy sessions, fruit and veg plots, wildlife areas, and a pizza oven utilising an existing structure in the middle of the space. Groups will be able to book the space (either for their sole use or shared with other groups) for sessions, workshops and get togethers, as well as being able to book instructors/ activity leaders to run a range of activities. The hope is to offer exciting packages such as axe throwing and pizza evenings to bring in an income to carry on the venture and ensure that it is accessible for all.

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Thetford Garden And Allotment Club Gardeners are optimists at heart – great at grumbling about the weather and pests but always thinking about the delights to come next season or next year. So now is a good time to plant autumn flowering bulbs; nerines do particularly well in our conditions so every garden should have a corner for that late autumn splash of delicate pink. Then we can be sowing the seeds for biennials such as foxgloves, honesty, forget -me-nots, wallflowers and antirrhinums; wallflowers are particularly tolerant of being lifted and set out in a different location later in the autumn. I find you can get more than one year’s flowers from a plant if you trim the flowering stalk to prevent seeds forming.

encourage the foliage to keep on delivering. Picking sweet peas regularly and deadheading roses stimulate these plants to flower again. The ideal is a daily stroll round the garden with snips or secateurs in hand. If It is the Great British Pea Week from 6th to 12th July so you want to have lavender in the house later in the year, you could celebrate with your own crop – pick the pods watch out for the stems to open and take some young before the sugars in the peas turns to starch and try flower heads to hang in a cool dark place to dry off; eating some raw as you pod them – yum! leave some for the bees to enjoy too – the contented Courgettes need picking while young too. If one fruit buzzing is a real sound of summer. It is a good time gets towards marrow size, the plant stops forming new to check the supports you have put in for tall growing fruits. Even if you have to throw fruits onto the compost plants. Who knows what the weather will throw at us heap, you must check and pick them every other day to next but one day of wild wind can cause a lot of keep up the succession. Keep the ground well watered damage. I don’t have any success with delphiniums to discourage mildew and you could be in a position but hollyhocks grow quite happily and self-seed with to feed the neighbourhood for weeks to come. interesting variations of colour. They can be subject This is a good month to prune plum, apricot, peach to rust and the main method of control is to pick off and cherry trees; there is less risk of silver leaf disease affected leaves as soon as you can to prevent the at this time of year. If you have espalier apple or pear spread. Tomatoes should be making good growth now. trees, they need their summer prune about now also. Unless you have chosen a short, branching type, you Wisteria owners will be ready to give the plant a hair-cut, need to nip out side shoots to remove competition with trimming back those whippy growths to about the flowering stems. Any leaves below the first truss 20cm of the main stem. Magnolias do not require can be taken out to help air circulation. A weekly feed regular pruning but if your tree has grown out of shape, with tomato fertiliser or a mix with high potash will again now is a good time to take action. Coleus can aid the formation and colouring of the fruit. Your lawn Betts 1/8 AD.qxp_Layout 1 09/04/2019 16:38also benefit from an application of a quick-acting give youofaBrandon brighter display than most flowering plants might summer feed. The grass has had a really tough time this but make sure to cut out any flowering shoots to year and may need some help. Check your lawnmower setting to let the grass grow longer if rain is scarce.

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As well as working in your garden or allotment, plan some time just to sit and admire it all. There are some very fine front-garden displays in Thetford and a walk round your own locality will show you plants that do well in your soil and conditions – then you can start planning for next year…

Happy gardening! Sue Pilgrim

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#ChangeIsNow #NoGoingBack #DecideTogether #ExtinctionRebellion On Saturday 30th May at 2pm, Extinction Rebellion Thetford took to social media, asking the Government for a Citizens Assembly to decide our future together during the Covid-19 recovery, a recovery that must prioritise people and planet over profit.

In their Facebook event, the group says, “We are at a turning point in human history. The Government is driving a return to “normal” as quickly as possible. But “normal” is killing us. Our Government has a choice; prioritise profit OR prioritise health. Bailout destructive industries OR bailout people and the planet. Mass extinction OR mass participation. It’s time to trust the people! As part of coronavirus recovery, we demand a binding Citizens Assembly on how to rebuild our economy, our democracy and our future.”

has shown us what’s possible when the political will is there. Everything can change. There can be no going back to the way things were.”

Extinction Rebellion Thetford wants to join forces with local people and businesses, the council and schools to bring change for the benefit of the people living in our beautiful town and on our beautiful planet. Members of Extinction Rebellion Thetford also joined forces with Extinction Rebellion Bury St Edmunds to protest outside West Suffolk House. Protests took place in other areas Hazel of Extinction Rebellion Thetford said: “It is of the country - including Parliament Square in London becoming more and more evident each day that the - they were carefully designed so that people were Government isn’t capable of getting us out of the physically distanced at 3 metres apart, with everyone coronavirus mess, or preparing us for future crises. being asked to wear masks in order to take part and The Forge HP Advert 02.20.qxp_Layout 19/02/2020 12:37 Page 1 They are more concerned with getting us 1back to stand silently for one hour. Attendees adhered to the “normal” as rapidly as possible. And the coronavirus government’s health and safety guidelines.

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A professional and reliable gardening and property maintenance service to meet all domestic and commercial needs at competitive rates • Grass cutting • Hedge cutting / trimming • Weed control • • Fence painting • Seeding and turfing • Clearances • Pruning • • General gardening and grounds maintenance services • For more information, contact: 01842 779867 or 07591436275 E-mail: markfowler@theforgethetford.co.uk Web: www.theforgethetford.co.uk 100% OF OUR PROFITS GO BACK INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 18

Reptiles And Amphibians In Thetford Given its position as an island, Britain has a low diversity of reptiles and amphibians, with 13 native species in comparison to over 200 species found in continental Europe. Of these, eight can be encountered around Thetford and in the Brecks.

The largest species is the Grass Snake, adults of which can grow up to 2 metres in length. Despite their size, they are unobtrusive and will move away at the first sign of disturbance. Grass Snakes can occasionally be encountered basking in the sun along woodland paths, or even in larger garden ponds in search of tadpoles and small fish. They can be identified by the broad yellow band on the head. In contrast, the other snake species likely to be encountered around Thetford, the Adder, is much less active, preferring to wait in ambush for prey (lizards and small mammals). While the Adder is venomous, bites are rare unless the snake is handled or antagonised. If you are lucky enough to find an Adder, it is well worth using binoculars to study the intricate zigzag markings from a safe distance.

The most widely known species of reptile & amphibian is likely to be Common Frog, which can be found in a wide variety of habitats including garden ponds.

Although similar in appearance, the Common Toad can be distinguished from Common Frog by its gait (walking rather than hopping). Toadspawn is laid in strings, usually wrapped around vegetation in slightly deeper water than frogspawn. On hatching, toad tadpoles are jet black and remain so (those of frogs go brown) and they sometimes form huge shoals. Two species of newt occur in the Brecks, the commoner Smooth Newt and rarer Great Crested Newt. Smooth Newt can be found in garden ponds and will hibernate over the winter months underneath wood logs and leaf litter in damp areas.

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The rarer Great Crested Newt has declined significantly throughout Britain in recent years, but is still widespread. At almost twice the size of Smooth Newt, and with a striking crest all along its back, it is an impressive animal to find. Of the two lizard species, Slow-worm is the commonest and largest, with adults growing up to half a metre long. Slow-worms will only rarely bask out in the open, and are most frequently found underneath wood or rocks. They can also be found underneath sheets of metal left in fields. Slow-worms are one of the longest lived of all native reptiles and amphibians in Britain, with some living up to 50 years. Common Lizard, also known as Viviparous Lizard, is widespread and like Slow-worm most frequently found by carefully looking underneath wood logs or rocks.

Good places to look for reptiles and amphibians around Thetford include the Nunnery Lakes, where five species have been recorded. Grass Snakes can occasionally be seen swimming across the channel of the River Ouse or basking in the morning beside the trails.

If you can brave the mosquitoes, the Pingu trail near Great Hockham is another interesting spot to look for reptiles and amphibians.

Stephen McAvoy

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Thetford Calendar Competition

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Here they are! Representatives from Lawsons Estate Agents, About Thetford and Leaping Hare were joined by independent judge Carl Harding-Palmer. A big thank you to them for giving up their time as this year especially as due to the coronavirus pandemic, the judging took place virtually. Also a big thank you to all our entrants that made judging so difficult.

The Final 12 - Choose Your Winner!

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It is now up to About Thetford readers to vote for their favourite image, which will become the front cover. Simply pick your favourite number and send to; info@leapinghare.org or post or drop in to Everything Thetford at Leaping Hare, 20 King Street. You have until 31 July to vote. (On sale from this Sepember).

Feeling inspired? Entry for Thetford Calendar Competition 2022 is now open all year and will run until Monday 31 May 2021, so you have plenty of time to get those cameras out.

Past & Present

Just upstream of Nun’s Bridges the concrete edged bank of the old Council Swimming Baths can still be seen.

Once lined with bathing huts and the proud owner of a diving platform, the baths were a popular feature of Town life, here seen c1925. The baths became redundant in 1972 with the opening of the indoor pool on Croxton Road.

H.Preston/D Osbourne Collection, Ancient House Museum, & K Robinson Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 22

Graduation Of TG Course 5 - 19 Congratulations go to the 19 members of TG 5-19 El Alamein Flight who have graduated at RAF Honington recently. Usually attended by families and friends, the graduation took place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Reviewing Officer, Wing Commander Stephen Turner; Officer Commanding, Training Wing said: “Usually, an occasion like this is marked with a firm handshake and with friends & family present to share the achievements of the graduating Gunners. Today has been a more sombre event, marked with a knowing nod, at range, from the staff who already wear the coveted RAF Regt mudguards. Generating trained manpower to support the UK Armed Forces’ contribution to the COVID-19 response plan, amongst other enduring operational commitments, remains critical to the Service. The Gunners on parade should feel justifiably proud of their achievement, and the contributions they will make in the coming weeks and months in support to the Nation’s priorities. Now, more than ever, their new motto rings true – Per Ardua (through adversity).”

Station Commander Group Captain Matt Radnall said: “I am very pleased to see the latest cohort of RAF Regiment gunners graduating today. Given the current measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, this is necessarily a muted celebration, but still of course acknowledges the tremendous effort each individual has invested to earn the right to wear RAF Regiment mudguards on their shoulders .”

Over the past few weeks, RAF Honington has gone to great lengths to ensure that their directed training activity, deemed essential to the maintenance of RAF operational capability, can be delivered as safely as possible. This approach includes adherence to the

Corporal Broster, winner of the Corporal Bradfield Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the Corporal Instructor who has displayed leadership, motivation and above all else has set an exemplary standard for the recruits to follow.

Government guidelines, including social distancing, wherever possible. These Next Generation gunners will continue to face challenges that like Covid19 are unpredictable and fall outside the traditional model of warcraft. On graduating from this course, over half of the LACs are posted to 1 Sqn RAF Regt at Honington, with the remainder posted to either 34 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Leeming or 51 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Lossiemouth.

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THETFORD VE DAY 75

Produced for About Thetford by Leaping Hare

A Very Different Mayor Making Friday 29th May saw a very different Mayor Making which took place not at a gala evening but as a virtual event on YouTube! Mark Robinson who has been both a Thetford Town and Breckland Councillor took over the reins with his wife Kim by his side and has told us that he feels very humbled and lucky to have had the privilege of Mayor bestowed upon him. It’s not an office that he takes lightly and he says he will strive not to let the town or any of its residents down.

About Thetford’s Billie met with Mark and Kim recently to get to know them better and the first thing she saw was how incredibly close the couple are. Mark told Billie that he was a better man for having Kim by his side. Family is obviously incredibly important to the Robinsons - which when you hear about Mark’s start in life is not surprising. Brought up on a Council Estate in Dagenham, life was a struggle and Mark counts himself very fortunate to have been taken under the wings of two mentors who taught him right from wrong and showed him a better path in life.

Councillor Mark Robinson, Mayor of Thetford 2020/21 Pictured in the King’s House Council Chamber

in and forge a career in. Mark has already been involved in visits to the newly reopened Market and the launch of the Confidence Campaign. He would like to be accessible and approachable to the residents and businesses of the town.

When asked what makes Thetford special to them Kim answered the sheer amount of history and heritage and Mark immediately answered with “the vibrant sense of community and amount of people willing to

Mark makes a point of championing young people now through his ambassadorship at Catch 22 and he will continue that kind of voluntary work in years to come.

Harry and Chloe – the couple’s children are both very Transform the look of your home with proud and supportive of their parents. Mark says his Hardieplank® Cladding family are his reason why and they keep his feet on the ground! Kim and Mark are very excited to be representing Thetford as Mayor and Mayoress and are determined to support the town as it recovers from Covid 19 and Lockdown, the voluntary and retail sectors of the town and its high street as well as its residents.

Both are excited to be positively showcasing Thetford to a wider audience and indeed even a national audience.

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help each other”. He went on to say that he has been overwhelmed with the nominations for the TARA awards that he runs and has been amazed at just how many people have quietly stepped up during lockdown that people wish to thank.

During lockdown the couple have been keeping busy, working from home as well as keeping up to date with council matters and the many voluntary groups Mark is a trustee or ambassador for such as Keystone, TADDS and Catch 22. He has been missing his quizzes at Lord Walsingham Court and playing football twice a week.

Football is a passion he is keen to rekindle as his son has challenged him to keep playing until he is at least 60! To unwind Mark takes on the ironing whilst singing along with his favourite tunes and Kim loves a walk in Priory or the BTO. Mark and Kim have beena couple for nearly 30 years and will be celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary later this year in December. They say that the same things that have made for a strong marriage will help drive the town forward-a lot of laughter a pinch of tolerance, planning for the future with accountability and remembering that “If you don’t tend to your garden it will not grow and flourish”. They have been in Thetford all their married life and wouldn’t think of living anywhere else.

When asked if he felt he had missed out on his Mayor Making, Mark said he didn’t mind at all as although the party is always great it’s the actual work of being Mayor that he knows is important and is looking forward to.

Many wouldn’t know he is fairly shy and he was really very nervous in the lead up to the Mayor Making and the thought of making a speech! Kim and Mark started to laugh when they told Billie that and then described the party they had at home-in the living room with a little disco ball, dancing to Wham’s ‘Club Tropicana’ just the two of them! They have a fair few plans for events to raise funds for their chosen charities and realise that

some may have to be “virtual” for a while to come but they are prepared for that and hope locals will join in.

About Thetford wish Mark and Kim the best of luck in this coming year and is looking forward to covering events that take place and seeing how Mark and Kim help Thetford be seen as the positive and vibrant community that we know it to be. To stay in touch with what the Mayor is doing have a look at; www.facebook.com/ThetfordMayor/ To nominate a person, charity or group for a TARA award please visit; www.taraawards.co.uk

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Norfolk Libraries Prepare To Reopen

SET Ixworth School

As the government gives the green light for libraries to reopen, work is underway in Norfolk to get local libraries open to the public. Some of Norfolk’s libraries are now working to reopen to the public from Monday 6th of July.

It is most definitely business as usual at SET Ixworth School; we may be officially closed to students, except those of keyworker children, but all our schoolwork continues via our online provision.

Norfolk County Council’s Libraries and Health and Safety Teams are working hard to put all of the right measures in place to ensure they can open to the public with minimal risk to staff and visitors. This work, which includes site visits, layout changes and briefing and training for all library staff, will keep any risk to a minimum but will continue over the coming weeks, meaning not all Norfolk libraries will reopen on the 6th of July. Details of locations, services offered and opening dates of the library branches due to open in the coming weeks will be published soon, and Norfolk’s long-term plan is to make sure that all of the county’s libraries reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities & Partnerships, said: “Libraries can play a central role in our communities, and losing these services during lockdown has helped many of us realise just how important they are. We’re determined to reopen our libraries safely and are working flat out to do so, and I’m looking forward to sharing more details with you all next week.”

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Activities include warmly welcoming our September intake of Year 7 students via online groups, to ensure they get a good introduction to our school and be part of a smooth transition up to secondary school which is so important at this time. Our Year 4 & 5 Open Evenings have also transferred online, with many signing up for a live Zoom Q&A session and using our dedicated web page to find out about life at our school. Following on from these are online or phone Drop In Sessions for admissions – please get in touch if you are interested in a place at our school for your child.

Ixworth School is part of the Seckford Foundation which promotes and supports the education and care of the young and the elderly across Suffolk. It was originally founded with a gift from a prominent Elizabethan lawyer, Thomas Seckford.

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Kim and Niki Anderson - two brothers who have lived in Thetford all their lives own the company - something they are very proud of. On meeting with them as Billie did just before Lockdown, you can immediately see their close bond and camaraderie with one often finishing the other’s sentences and lots of friendly ribbing of one another! The Andersons do however take their work incredibly seriously. They were working alongside their Dad from a young age, learning how to “do a job right”.

They both speak very fondly of family and having learnt so many of the skills they use today from their father is something they obviously love. They like to get to know a client and what their hopes are for their garden or driveway and take a pride in being honest with them.

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They have been in the trade for over 15 years now and neither could imagine doing anything else. They say straight off the bat that they are not the cheapest firm around, but that they do believe they offer a great service with attention to detail, a great work ethic and quality design and build. They like to get to know a client and what their hopes are for their garden or driveway but take a pride in being not only honest with what can be achieved but offer innovative alternatives that often work out less expensive in the long run.

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Thetford Cranes for Peace Project Ancient House Museum is pleased to announce the launch of the Thetford Cranes for Peace Project. In conjunction with Thetford Town Council and Leaping Hare, the project has been developed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.- this known as Victory over Japan Day, or VJ Day in the West.

Whilst the Second World War ended in Europe in May 1945, fighting continued in the Far East. The territorial battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, the 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions, were part of the East Anglian Division and were sent to Singapore. With no naval or air support, the Allied army had to surrender to the Japanese and the men spent the next three and a half years as prisoners of war, POWs. For many of the POWs, the time was spent in Thailand constructing a railway, which the Japanese hoped to use for their conquest of India. Punishments were brutal. Conditions were extremely harsh, food scarce, malnutrition was widespread, and many died of disease.

About 2,000 men comprised the three battalions, and around 600 of those died whilst in captivity. On the 6 August 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and three days later another one on Nagasaki, bringing the war to a final close. For VJ Day in 2020 we are thinking about the friendships we have made between Norfolk and Japan, and our hopes for peace. We would like to hear your wishes for peace and use them to make an installation to be displayed after Lockdown ends. We are drawing inspiration from the story of Sadako Sasaki, who was a victim of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima as a two-year-old. In November 1954 she became ill with ‘atomic bomb disease’. There is a Japanese story that if you fold 1,000 origami cranes you get a wish.

She started making cranes from her hospital bed.

She folded over 1,000 and wished for life, but she died on 25 October 1955. Her class mates started the Children’s Peace Movement which resulted in the creation of a monument featuring a crane shaped bell with the words "This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.”

Theresa Mason, of Thetford Town of Sanctuary, says of the project “It gives people a chance to think about their wish for the future, whether it’s on a personal level or globally. A world at peace, free of poverty and prejudice, inclusive and addressing the climate crisis.

Wow, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Leaping Hare praised the project for respectfully remembering the past with such an inspirational message for generations today and in the future. “It also gave our resident origami expert Jake a chance to show off his folding skills!" said Corinne Fulford, Director of Leaping Hare.

We are asking you to write your wish for peace, fold it into a paper crane and send it, or a photograph of it, to Ancient House. Please contact the museum if you would like further information. Our email address is; ancienthouse@norfolk.gov.uk

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Local Artist Launches River Art Based On Lockdown Walks Local artist, Digby Chacksfield, has been using his lockdown walks to create a series of artworks and sketches that records what he has encountered.

Digby has walked along the rivers Thet and Ouse from the British Trust for Ornithology’s nature reserve to Thetford Town Centre, sketching local scenery and animals. Included are a song thrush drawn using chalk pastel and a pheasant drawn in pencil. Watercolour and ink were used to capture scenery from the river and town centre. “Thetford is a special place with a rich mixture of powerful history and natural beauty and I feel privileged to be able to record what I see as artworks” said Digby.

Digby says “For me it is important for us to keep connected to things that inspire calm during this difficult time. Nature is there and is something that everyone can connect with and draw energy from which help manage the stresses we face. The pandemic has provided a chance to appreciate nature”.

These artworks can now be seen as part of a short film All artworks are for sale and for every artwork sold that includes the artwork processes, film and photos Digby will draw a portrait of a Key Worker to support from the walk and artist’s commentary. Digby also those on the frontline dealing with the Covid crisis. You wrote and plays the background music. Digby hopes his can watch the film on his YouTube channel, search for film inspires calm and a unique connection to nature ‘Digby Chacksfield’. Digby launched his artwork during through the artworks he has made and can be Mental Health Awareness Week. For further information, MCP HP Advert 11.18.qxp_Layout 19/11/2018 Page 1 Health Foundation website: something that viewers can enjoy as1 part of their 09:41 visit the Mental wellbeing. www.mentalhealth.org.uk

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Dogs Trust Offers Hot Tips As temperatures are set to soar, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is offering top tips to help owners make sure dogs can stay safe and happy in the sun and keep cool during lockdown.

The charity is advising dog owners how they can keep cool – indoors as well as outdoors - and prevent them from overheating as the days get hotter. The charity advises: Avoid walking or doing activities either indoors or outdoors with your dog at the hottest times of the day, so early morning or later in the evening is often best.

Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog and make sure they have access to fresh water at home at all times. Tarmac can get very hot in the sun – check it with your hand before letting your dog walk on it so they don’t burn their paws. Try the ‘seven-second test’ – if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. If you need to take your dog out in the car, even if travelling a short distance, avoid travelling during the hottest times of the day and never leave your dog in a car on a warm day. Not even with the window open.

Dogs Trust says that having fun with your dog indoors can be just as stimulating as a long walk, but owners still need to be aware that they need to make sure their dogs stay cool indoors too, so choosing the coolest room in the house, staying out of direct sunlight, always having fresh water available and making sure your dog has somewhere cool to relax and sleep. To help owners keep their dogs entertained whilst we are all spending more time at home, Dogs Trust has come up with several fun ways to have fun with a cardboard box and tubes (like those you’d find in a toilet or kitchen roll).

figure of eight around the two items, swapping the reward into your other hand at the centre point. One arm will guide your dog around the item to the left and the other arm will guide your dog around the item to your right. Repeat several times until you’ve got the movement smooth and well-rehearsed!

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Bowling Balls: Create a 10-pin bowling alley with spare kitchen roll tubes. Have a competition and see how many pins you can knock down vs. your dog!

Tunn-els of fun: Cut the sides of a few boxes and line them up to make your very own DIY tunnel. Encourage your dog to go through with the promise of treats or their favourite toy at the end of the tunnel!

We understand dog owners are anxious to ensure their four-legged friends are being well looked after and exercised in these difficult times, while we all stick to the government advice in each of the four nations.

While in England you can now go out to exercise as much as you like, please remember to keep your distance from other dog walkers, keep your dog on a Tel: 01359 259818 lead and think about going out at a time of day when it or visit www.ovenclean.com might a local bit less busy. Of course, some may need to to findbe your specialist use dog walkers, who are prioritising key workers – just be sure to hand your dog over in space large enough to maintain social distancing and to wash all equipment after your pooch returns.

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Digging Deep: Shred or scrunch up newspaper or any paper items and pop them in an empty box. Drop in some treats or toys, and watch your dog dig away!

For more information and advice, visit the website; www.dogstrust.org.uk

Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 33

New Befriending Service In Norfolk A new befriending offer has been launched during Loneliness Awareness Week to link people to services that can help combat isolation and loneliness in Norfolk.

Norfolk County Council, in partnership with the voluntary sector, community groups and local councils in Norfolk, can now offer direct connections to existing befriending services and to the army of volunteers recruited during the pandemic. Local people can ask for support with loneliness and isolation by contacting Norfolk County Council directly on: 0344 800 8020.

By centralising calls for the befriending service, the County Council’s customer service team can rapidly connect the customer to a volunteer co-ordinator, who will then match an appropriate befriender from the network of volunteers across the county. As well as befriending phone calls, the service hopes to provide socially distanced visits too. So far, volunteers across the county have made regular calls to over 260 people.

Ninety-year-old Maurice Oliver has recently joined the befriending service and said: “I try to keep moving with housework and like to use brain-power making models, otherwise you lose it, but I do still often feel lonely and

Volunteer Befriender - Penny Carpenter, ready for the next call

depressed at times. I’ve come to rely on these calls. My befriender’s an angel and is genuinely interested in me, not just talking for the sake of it.”

Ceri Sumner, a spokesperson for the Norfolk Resilience Forum, said: “We already know the devastating effects that loneliness and social isolation can have on people’s mental and physical health, so we are urging people to reach out and not to feel stigmatised – essentially, it’s okay not to feel okay – we are here to help”.

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Breckland Cats Protection Cats are curious creatures, often sticking their noses into random places. But there are many household hazards that can be dangerous to cats, and some of them are fatal. Such things as human medicines like antidepressants, cancer medicines, cold medicines, diet pills and pain killers, especially those containing aspirin.

Never give your cat pills without first talking to your vet as the wrong medicine or too much can kill him/her.

Human foods can also be poisonous including alcohol, caffeine (coffee, and tea) chives, chocolate, garlic, grapes, onions, raisins and yeast dough. Indoor and outdoor plants can be hazardous to your cat’s health including aloe, azalea, chrysanthemum, hyacinths, lilies, marijuana, mistletoe, poinsettia, rhododendron and tulips. Other chemicals that taste good to cats are antifreeze, bleach, detergents, de-icing salts, dog flea and tick medications including pills, collars sprays and shampoos. Fertilizers, herbicides and insect and rodent bait, are also very harmful for your cat. Other common household items can choke or strangle your cat. Some may even block his intestines if he swallows them. These include chicken bones, dental floss, yarn or string, Christmas decorations including lights and tinsel.

If you think that your cat has been poisoned or eaten something poisonous, call your vet immediately. If at all possible, take samples of the vomit, stool and the poison that your cat has taken. It is often the case that cats will show signs right away, but some symptoms can show up more gradually. Signs to watch for include breathing difficulties, confusion, coughing, depression, diarrhoea, drinking and urinating more, dilated pupils, upset stomach, lots of saliva, seizures, shivering, skin irritation, tremors, vomiting and weakness.

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Safety Priority As Hearing Care Centre Re-Opens Services In Thetford As it begins to re-open its services after lockdown local hearing care specialists The Hearing Care Centre have a very clear message to anyone needing support with their hearing “Your safety is our priority”.

The company which offers audiology and earwax removal services from Thetford Healthy Living Centre has 27 centres spread across Suffolk and Norfolk.

Audiologist Karen Finch, founder of the company said “Following the comprehensive COVID-19 joint guidance from the UK's audiology professional bodies, we have examined every single aspect of how we deliver our service to ensure that we can do so safely as we move forward. This has taken weeks of work and preparation but we are now totally confident that we can offer you the support you need in a safe way. It is great to once again be able to offer services in Thetford and we are saying if you have discovered during lockdown you need support with your hearing, please don’t let hearing loss prolong your isolation. We are here for you.”

To book an appointment or to find out more visit; www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk

The Thetford Community Healthy Living Centre where the Hearing Care Centre operates

Support For Adult Carers ‘Art Branches’ are offering free creative online support for any adult carers from Thetford. This is part of the Thetford Shines Brighter fund administered by Norfolk Community Foundation. The workshops offered are one to one and the tasks set by an artist in their field.

Art Branches ethos is to improve health & wellbeing, both physical and mental, through the provision of supported creative projects. No experience of art is necessary, to book and for further information, please contact; artbranches@icloud.com

Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 36

Thetford U3A I hope our members and readers are keeping safe and well. My feeling is that our generation is coping well with the lockdown. It has been rewarding to actually get the long awaited jobs done but I am hopeful that when you read this, some of the restrictions have been lifted.

help. Luckily they love frogs so came down picked him/ her up and deposited it in the pond. She was hoping the frog would turn into a prince but no such luck. Please let me know of other little stories so I can pass them on.

Thank-you to all U3A members who helped produce the ‘Our Beautiful Thetford’ booklet which was so well done. We are looking forward to meeting up at our next monthly meeting whenever that might be. However I have kept September on hold as hoping we can hear Lyn Ready tell us about her travels in India.

We are having committee meetings every month with the aid of Zoom and it was decided as a way to try and keep in contact with everyone we would send out a newsletter. You will have received this by now and I Van and a Man AD REV 06.19.qxp_Layout 1 10/06/2019 Lesley - U3A Correspondent hope you enjoyed reading it. Coffee mornings (virtual) 01842 824074 are taking place again courtesy of Zoom, Anne Fabian is organising this, her husband Julian is continuing to play chess online. I have heard from various people on MOVE ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE how they are coping, one member tells me her and her family are cooking/baking new recipes and asking NATIONWIDE COVERAGE l SINGLE ITEM OR FULL HOUSEHOLD REMOVALS them to score each dish. Gil Roberts told a funny story l STUDENT MOVES/OFFICE/PIANO MOVES when she decided to give her kitchen floor a good wash l SAME DAY SERVICE l SEVEN DAYS/EVENINGS and to hurry up the drying process she opened both l FREE INSTANT QUOTES the back door and front door. Thought she would relax l ONE OR TWO MAN TEAM having a coffee whilst waiting. Imagine her surprise l ALL CLEARANCES UNDERTAKEN when she went to shut the front door and there in her Tel: 01953 488919 or 01362 687222 Simon 2018.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2018 10:01 Page 1 hall sat aLong frog.HP SheAdvert immediately set up barricades to Mobile: 0775 1171606 www.vanandaman.com Email: gary@vanandaman.com keep him/her in one place and rung her grandsons for

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Groups Urge PM To Support ‘Community-Powered’ Covid Recovery Over 100 organisations, including one from Thetford, have called on the Government to do more to support a community-powered economic recovery which they argue would help revive local areas hit by the lockdown.

A new report from Locality, a national network that is dedicated to supporting community organisations, has emphasised the crucial role that local groups have played in meeting community need and supporting people during the Coronavirus crisis. The report argues that community organisations are often quickest to mobilise and are key to delivering emergency support.

It characterises such organisations as the ‘glue’ linking mutual aid groups with private and public sector responses. Locality recommends expanding the Community Ownership Fund to capitalise community organisations by leveraging Dormant Assets and other funding to establish a £1bn investment plan for community assets over the next five years. It also proposes that the Government provide £500m of revenue funding to grow existing community based organisations and establish new mutual aid groups. At the beginning of the coronavirus crisis local groups were provided with more procurement flexibility to encourage collaborative working with suppliers. Locality called for this to be spread across public sector contracting authorities through further Cabinet Office guidance.

Over 100 organisations contributed to the report, with input from community organisation chief executives and council leaders from across England. It includes seven in-depth case-studies with groups in Berwick, Bristol, Coventry, Grimsby, Hackney, Manchester and Thetford.

Emergency food parcels such as these have been delivered to families across Thetford and surrounding villages over the past few months

Danny Whitehouse, the Chief Executive of the Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford. “We’ve formed deeper partnerships with our key local partners: our town, district and county councils, mutual aid volunteer groups, other voluntary sector organisations, our membership network, Locality, and funding partners. As we look to recovery, we hope this, combined with the new wave of community spirit we’ve seen, will equip us to deal with the social and economic challenges that are coming down the track.”

If you may benefit from support provided by Charles Burrell Centre, please telephone 01842 779867.

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Reopening The Salon As I am writing this, we are hoping that when it goes to print for the July issue we will be reopening imminently!

Whilst we have been shut, we have used the time positively to update with online training and upgrade our computer booking systems, combined with expanding our website with online bookings and purchases of both products and gift vouchers.

We are very much looking forward to getting back to work and seeing our clients but know that everything will be very different to how it was before. Our salon has 8 treatments rooms spread out over 2 floors and we have been able to implement them in such a way, so as to keep clients and therapists apart and safe.

All our information is available on our website and we will advise our clients prior to visiting the salon.

We will obviously have to allow longer in between appointments to deep clean the treatment rooms and common areas. We just want to reassure our clients that theirs and our staffs health and safety is paramount, and we may not be able to offer our full range of treatments until we are advised that these are safe to carry out. We will be advised and follow the government guidelines.

Thetford Inner Wheel This really has been a very strange time for us all. We in Thetford Inner Wheel have tried to keep in touch by various means and we all wish to have a slightly more normal time as soon as possible. Our District meetings were also cancelled and our Association Conference due to be held in Belfast.

During the lockdown some of our members made some headbands for nurses at one of the local hospitals. They were gratefully received and prevented sore ears! The picture shows some of them. We also donated £100 to the East Anglian Air Ambulance towards PPE in these difficult times. We hope to meet again in September when new officers will take over.

Marian de Bass, Club Correspondent

It has been wonderful receiving so many well wishes and support from our clients and we are extremely grateful. Looking forward to having more interesting topics to write about in the coming months.

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DELIVERY AREA Every month there are 12,500 copies of the About Thetford magazine printed.

They arrive back from the printers on the last Friday of each month ready for distribution. By the end of that weekend virtually all the magazines are delivered by our dedicated delivery team who undertake the 30 different delivery routes.

We deliver to every house in Thetford, as well as business premises throughout the Town Centre and across the industrial estates. In addition, we deliver to homes in the villages of Croxton and Barnham.

Due to demand, we have established a rural delivery route and leave copies of the magazine at a variety of locations for residents in the villages surrounding Thetford.

JUNE

Magazine Pick-Up Points: 1. East Harling; Post Office, Doctors Surgery, Village Stores, FL Edge & Son Butchers, the Swan Inn 2. Kenninghall - Kenninghall Bistro Market place, Kenninghall, NR16 2AH 3. Banham Village Stores, Kenninghall Road, NR16 2HE Banham Post Office, The Green, NR16 2AA 4. Garboldisham Village Shop & Post Office, The Street, Garboldisham, IP22 2QN 5. Hopton Village Post Office & Stores, Thelnetham Road, IP22 2QY 6. Ixworth Post Office, High Street, IP31 2HH 7. Jackdaw Service Station, IP31 1EL 8. Lotties Emporium, Bardwell Road, Stanton, IP31 2EA 9. Elveden Courtyard, London Rd, Elveden, IP24 3TQ 10. Brandon – magazines delivered to all High Street retailers including Brandon Town Council offices Mark’s Traditional Greengrocers, Market Hill, Hyams Bakery, The Meat Market rn retu 11. Weeting Post Office, George’s Fish Bar – ens ard nG both Hereward Way, Weeting Ope 12. Mundford, Browns Kitchen and Farm Shop, Swaffham Road, IP26 5EH Lynford Hall, IP26 5HW 13. The Dragonfly Visitor &Exhibition Centre, Wayland House, Watton, IP25 6AR 14. Wretham Village Hall, Church Lane, Wretham, Thetford IP24 1RL 15. The English Whisky Company, St Georges Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham, NR16 2QW & Swallow Aquatics There are also additional copies left at the Thetford Town Council offices, Thetford’s Great Information Centre, Rumbles Fish & Chip Shop in Kings Street, Ancient House Museum in White Hart Street, Thetford Library, Riversdale Centre in Tanner Street & Thetford Garden Centre.

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Visit: www.aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

Contact Karen on 07540 463662 or email aboutthetfordmagazine@gmail.com Don’t forget! We are also on Twitter via @About_Thetford, have a Facebook page and are on Instagram. All pages are updated on a regular basis with the latest news and information and highlights from the monthly magazine.

Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 42

Hidden Jewels In Thetford Almost 4 months into the pandemic and I must have walked/cycled/ran every route out of and through Thetford that there is!

I, like a lot of you, made the most of the outdoor exercise when the weather permitted and not only did it save my sanity, it also opened my eyes to the lovely river walks, miles of green land and acres of forestry that we have here on our doorstep!

If you’re a runner or cyclist, you’ll know about ‘Strava’. If you’re not - Strava is a live tracker which tracks where you go, how fast you’re going and if wearing a smart watch can calculate your heart rate as well. (technology is amazing!) I’ve only ever used Strava whenever I’ve gone out for a run, anything from park run to local events. Since lockdown, I’ve been using Strava through my smartwatch (Samsung Active to pair with my Samsung s10 plus) to record the excursions I’ve found myself going on! One day, myself and Katrina my partner, found ourselves 8 hours in having done a lengthy 19 miles and it was all recorded so when we got home, we could see where we had been and more importantly, where we got lost! Part of the fun, however, was the getting lost bit! We found new tracks and scenery that I never knew existed, some now are a usual route for me to run along. One in particular that I’m using often now, is the river walk from the Abbey Farm bridge (as if you’re facing towards Brandon) to Santon Downham. It is between 6 and 7 miles and it is just wonderful. The river that you walk alongside is slow flowing, but the waters are clear, you can see the fish swimming about and on a sunny day, the trees offer great coverage for shade! When walking from the bridge, the path will take you all the way towards the Scout camp where you cross the river and can directly get to High Lodge and Santon Downham.

I’d really recommend taking a sandwich and a bottle of water if you’re heading that way though! I hope you’ve all managed to get out in the fresh air and stumble across a hidden jewell that you didn’t know about and that you’re all keeping well!!

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07:54 Pag

Feltwell Golf Course Our course is now open and we are still able to offer some tee slots to visitors at £15 for 9 holes. We have successfully introduced a booking system for Tee-Times for both members and visitors or you can simply call the club on 01842 827644 or Jo Bates on 07855 821116 before 3pm to book your slot. If you haven’t yet joined the club or need to pay your subs then you will need to contact the office before you can book. We also encourage players to pay by card or electronically as we are not able to accept cash under the current circumstances. Lessons with Jo are also available on a 1:1 basis or small groups of 5, so if you would like to improve your game or iron out some ‘quirks’ in your swing call Jo on 07855 821116 to find out more anytime until 3pm.

50th Anniversary Open Day Sadly, we had to cancel our usual Open Day this year, originally arranged for 25th May, however, as restrictions are relaxing we now feel it will be possible to hold a celebration Open Weekend at the end of August, over the Bank Holiday weekend in some form.

It will take a different format so that we can spread the attendance over the 3 days safely, thereby still being able to maintain safe social distancing for our visitors, members and staff. Over the three days we hope to be able to hold Texas Scrambles for members and for families, Putting Competitions for all ages, Obstacle Pitching Competitions, Pro tips from Jo on the Practice Area, as well as play the course for as little as £5. There will be a BarBQ running all day, courtesy of Robert’s as well as other treats still to be arranged. Entry is FREE, so you can come and go as you please.

Second Club Members Already a member of a golf club but live locally to Feltwell? Why not take advantage of our 2nd Club

Membership? You can come up to play most times during the day, just book your tee time beforehand; take part in all Social Golfing Events held by the Club as well as join in with the Friendly Fixtures with other clubs.

Robert’s At Feltwell Golf Club Though the Clubhouse remains closed, Robert is still offering his ‘Home Delivery Service’ of meals together with some canned or bottled drinks. We know this is a life line for some locals who cannot get out at all during this time, our thanks to Robert and Steve for rising to the challenge. Check on our or Robert’s Facebook Page for the ‘Menu of the Day’ - to order your meal phone 07376 182419.

Hopefully this report finds you all safe and well and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible up at Feltwell Golf Club now we are able to play golf again.

Take care and stay safe.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and be sure to keep up to date with what’s going on here at Feltwell Golf Club. Remember you are never too young or too old to start playing golf and we look forward to seeing you!

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Thetford Parkrun In March due to the coronavirus, we sadly had to close the weekly parkrun event. What do runners do when they have no parkrun, all their races cancelled and only have one activity of exercise a day?

We are an incredibly supportive group and have been really busy with lots of virtual events and raising money for different charities. With the closure of all major races we were aware many charities will be losing so much revenue and would need support.

In April Tony Friend arranged a virtual event to raise money for one of the Thetford Covid-19 groups for vulnerable people. Participants paid a small fee and were asked to complete 19k during April. Over £400 was raised. During May participants were asked to run or walk a 10k each week and over £500 was raised and shared between Miniature Donkey’s for Wellbeing and Thetford and District Dementia Group.

Sarah Dunsden was due to take part in the Great North Run later this year and was going to be raising money for Bowel Cancer. Even though the event was postponed this did not deter Sarah from putting on her own virtual challenge and raising much needed funds.

Melanie Sturman arranged a virtual run to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. 200 people took part and £1300 was raised for the Royal British Legion. Nicky Ginger was also meant to be completing Race To The Stones, which had also been cancelled and participants are currently taking part in a virtual event to raise money for Nicky’s chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society. For more information of our virtual runs please follow Thetford Runners and Walkers on Facebook.

Martin Godfrey - taking part in the VE Day virtual run

She decided to arrange a fundraiser to try and raise some much needed funds for them. Expecting only 100 - 200 people to enter, she was surprised and pleased to see over 800 people willing to walk, run or cycle on 20th or 21st June and over £5,500 has been raised.

You can add to this total by visiting the Just Giving page and making a donation; www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Melanie-Floyd2

We do not know when parkrun is expected to reopen but we are encouraging people to run in small groups of no more than 6 and following social distancing advice.

Members of parkrun can now register their own 5k and have their time shared on the parkrun page. For more visit the Parkrun website, where you can Mel also sadREV to seeAdvert the impact on Banham1Zoo and information, Thewas Mulberry 2.qxp_Layout 29/06/2020 08:34 Page also register to join1parkrun in the future; Africa Alive caused by Covid-19 and lockdown. www.parkrun.org.uk

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Contact us today for your free no obligation market appraisal.

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