KL Magazine January 2020

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 112 JANUARY 2020 PRICELESS

magazine

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welcome

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elcome to the first edition of KL magazine in 2020, and whatever plans you have in store for the new year we’d like to wish all our readers and customers a happy and successful twelve months.

Whatever you have planned (or if you’re looking for ideas) this month’s issue has everything you’re looking for – including magnificent ruins and nature reserves to visit, healthy activities to try, fascinating slices of local history to discover and outstanding food and drinks to enjoy.

We’re already looking forward to next month’s Cocktail Week in King’s Lynn (see page 66) which brings us nicely to the subject of plastic straws and drink stirrers – which will be banned from sale and use in three months’ time, along

with cotton buds with plastic stems.

Environmental concerns really hit home when you see the effects on your doorstep, and this month’s magazine features Erna Gotyar - a woman from King’s Lynn who’s dedicated herself to local beach cleans, litter pick-ups and setting up water refill stations in and around the town. You can read more about her inspirational work on page 52.

Talking about the local environment, it may be time to see the Fens in a different light. A relentlessly flat and often overlooked part of the country, it was recently described by The Guardian as being “weirder than any other landscape, full of crooked telegraph poles, lumpy lanes and wonky houses.”

But it has a unique charm and beauty of its own with centuries of history and its own claims to fame – including the lowest piece of land in Britain.

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It’s also the passion of local artist Fred Ingrams, who’s spent over ten years committing the Fens to canvas in a way that will surprise you with its riot of colours and its sense of excitement and movement. You can take an entirely new view of the Fens on page 110.

Please don’t forget to make supporting our local advertisers and businesses one of your new year’s resolutions – and make sure it’s one of the resolutions you keep!

Enjoy the magazine and we’ll see you again next month. And don’t forget that if you can’t wait for February’s magazine you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @klmagazine

Eric Secker EDITOR KL magazine

Seals at Blakeney by Ian Ward

meet the team

MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn

WRITER

EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHIC DESIGN

DISTRIBUTION

Eric Secker

Stephanie Lewis Lisa Barrett Amy Phillips

Ian Ward

Pete Tonroe

ADMINISTRATOR Sophie Allen

ADVERTISING Jessica Smith Gemma Smith Eloise Wilson

CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Sylvia Steele

contact

18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk

KL magazine is published monthly by KL Publications Ltd. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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contents

7 8 14 20 26 32 36

DIARY DATES This month’s forthcoming events

42 47 52 58

JANUARY IN THE GARDEN Expert advice with Wendy Warner

A BRIGHT YEAR IN STORE...

2020 in the centre of King’s Lynn A TRANQUIL BEAUTY The story of Walsingham Abbey RUNNING FOR FUN AND FITNESS In step with the Lynnsport Ladybirds AN ICONIC LOCAL BEACON Shining a light on Cromer Lighthouse THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR HEALTH Enjoyable weight loss with Slimming World REVEALING A DARK SECRET...

The natural wonders of Hickling Broad

YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Center A GREENER, CLEANER WORLD The environmental work of Erna Gotyar FASHION Stylish ways to keep warm in winter

IMAGE: ELIZABETH DACK

JANUARY 2020

66 71 72 78 83 84 90 96 104 110 114

SHAKEN AND STIRRED...

Looking forward to Cocktail Week FOOD AND DRINK Recipes and recommendations KING OF THE MUSSELS With Brancaster Bay Shellfish THE NEW GAME IN TOWN Enjoy a natural flavour of the wild FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH Afterfive at Strattons in Swaffham FRESH IDEAS FOR HEALTH Thanks to Norfolk Organic Juicery CHEERS TO THE PAST...On the trail of Lynn’s lost pubs HOME INTERIORS Treat yourself to some cosy ideas THE HISTORY MAKERS Team GB’s gold medal winners FRED INGRAMS A completely new look at the Fens MICHAEL MIDDLETON Coming soon to a year near you

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North & West Norfolk’s own Monopoly set is on sale now!

£2 O N L 9. Y 99

Produced to celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Norfolk Hospice and help support its invaluable work, this official North & West Norfolk limited edition of the world’s favourite board game is now available from the hospice’s charity shops and most of the board’s sponsors – including headline sponsor Twenty9 restaurant in Burnham Market.

YOU CAN ALSO ORDER ONLINE AT: www.norfolkhospice.org.uk/monopoly 06_WhatsOn.indd 1

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LOCAL EVENTS IN JANUARY & FEBRUARY

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE: LA BOHÈME

TITCHWELL RSPB – A NATIONAL TRUST TALK West Norfolk National Trust Association presents a talk on one of our area’s most famous wildlife attractions: Titchwell RSPB. The talk will be given by Lizzie Bruce.

Tickets are £3 for National Trust members, £6 for guests. To book, call 01553 771108

WHEN: Sunday 12th January, 2:30pm WHERE: South Wootton Village Hall, Church

Puccini’s opera of young love in 19th-century Paris is packed with beautiful music, including lyrical arias, celebratory choruses for Act II’s evocation of Christmas Eve in the Latin Quarter and a poignant final scene over which the composer himself wept. Richard Jones’s character-led production perfectly captures La Bohème’s mixture of comedy, romance and tragedy, with striking designs by Stewart Laing. The cast features some of the greatest interpreters of Puccini’s bohemian lovers performing today, as well as former members of The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. Enjoy this stunning opera live at The Light Cinema Wisbech. Book tickets online at wisbech.lightcinemas. co.uk

WHEN: Wednesday 29th January, 7:45pm WHERE: The Light Cinema, Cromwell Road, Wisbech, PE14 0RG

Lane, South Wootton, King’s Lynn, PE30 3LJ

EAST ANGLIAN EX-FORCES BIG BAND CONCERT

BURNS NIGHT AT THE JOLLY BREWERS Bring some cheer to your January by celebrating the life and work of the Scottish poet Robert Burns at a Norfolk country pub serving fresh, locally sourced food. At the return of this extremely popular event you’ll enjoy an authentic Burns Night supper including a delicious 3 course Scottish-inspired menu – with neeps and tatties of course! - plus traditional elements such as piping in the haggis and poetry recitations. Just £25 per person!

For more details and to book call 01366 348134 or visit www. jollybrewerspub.co.uk

WHEN: Saturday 25th January WHERE: The Jolly Brewers, Lynn Rd, Shouldham Thorpe, PE33 0EB

The East Anglian Ex-Forces Big Band will be making their fourth appearance in King’s Lynn to perform in aid of Help 4 Heroes.

Since the band was formed in 2009, they have raised in excess of £33,000 for the charity. The band was formed by Alan Norris and Bob Airzee, both former members of the Regimental Band of the 1st BN The Royal Anglian Regiment. The majority of the band are ex-military musicians, many of whom continue to play professionally. All the band members give their time for free and 100% of the money raised goes to Help 4 Heroes. The concert will include big band favourites from the 1940s to the present day.

For further information please phone Scott Chapman on 07775 608460. Tickets will also be available on the door and are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s/students. There will be refreshments available and there will also a raffle.

WHEN: Saturday 8th February, doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm start

WHERE: King’s Lynn Academy, Queen Mary Rd, King’s Lynn, PE30 4QG

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The Vancouver Quarter is proud to call King’s Lynn its home, and with so much variety around every corner it’s hard not to fall in love with its unique charm...

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Why 2020 looks bright for the Vancouver Quarter...

In 2005, King’s Lynn said hello to a new way of shopping with the redevelopment of the town centre and the arrival of the Vancouver Quarter – and fifteen years later it’s bigger and better than ever

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ovember and December in the Vancouver Quarter in King’s Lynn were the most exciting months of 2019, with the opening of everyone’s new favourite store H&M followed by the launch of the Christmas season with the lights switch-on – and then the arrival of Santa in his Grotto. With so much going on, it’s no wonder

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that the centre enters the New Year in the highest of spirits!

So exactly what does this year have in store for the Vancouver Quarter and its fantastic customers? Well, for starters 2020 sees the centre celebrate its 15th birthday. It seems like it was only yesterday when the town centre was filled

with a mass of diggers and concrete mixers. But in those 15 years the Vancouver Quarter has seen a huge number of changes – most notably the landscape – as well as a change of our name once or twice. No, the Vancouver Quarter isn’t called the Vancouver Centre anymore! Last year was a year of change in the Vancouver Quarter. We have a brand new centre

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ABOVE: Even youngsters can’t resist the excitement of the Vancouver Quarter, which enters the new year with more stores, more special offers, more reasons to visit, and a packed calendar of special events for all the family

manager in Alistair Cox, who brings with him plenty of new and exciting plans for our events; we have new big name stores; and we have a new outdoor image. One thing that hasn’t changed in the Quarter is its brilliant range of offerings from its many stores – in addition to big names such as H&M, TK Maxx, Sainsburys, Costa and New Look. We’re also proud to be the home of successful independent retailers such as Ikon and Gifted.

With four more units soon to unveil as part of the new development, the Vancouver Quarter will be bigger and better over the coming months. There really is a store for everyone in the Vancouver Quarter – the centre offers fashion, food and gifts as well as health food retailers such as Grape Tree and the all-in-one store Wilko.

With amazing travel links and plenty of parking nearby, shoppers really are spoilt for choice.

The Vancouver Quarter will of course, continue to provide its ever-popular and free family events throughout the year. Soon you’ll be able to visit and celebrate those special days with us again – and you won’t have to wait too long.

On Saturday 8th February at 10am, families are invited to come along and make something special for a loved one just in time for Valentine’s Day! During the year we’ll be teaming up again with Discover King’s Lynn to bring you bigger and better events – and we’re currently planning something very special that will be taking place during the summer holidays.

Watch this space for more details.

To mark our 15th anniversary celebrations, the centre

will be launching a new webpage, a mobile app and a special discount scheme amongst plenty of other treats and tips. The finer details are being kept under wraps until launch day, but it can be exclusively revealed that loyalty is a core value of the centre and its team.

Loyal customers will be rewarded with fantastic exclusive offers and treats, and more details and information will be released closer to the time.

The Vancouver Quarter is proud to call King’s Lynn its home, and with so much variety around every corner it’s hard not to fall in love with its unique charm. As the Vancouver Quarter moves from strength to strength, we know that our 15th year will be our best one to date!

For more information on events and news visit the website at vancouverquarter.com or follow us on our social media pages.

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Home-cooked food • Real ales • WW2 Memorabilia High St, Feltwell, Norfolk IP26 4AF • Tel: 01842 828224

BARRY L HAWKINS Independent Auctioneer and Land Agent

Antiques & Collectables Wednesday 8th January

Bid live online at: www.the-saleroom.com

Downham Market | Auction Rooms

www.barryhawkins.co.uk 01366 387180 The Estate Office, 15 Lynn Road, Downham Market PE38 9NL

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A TRADITIONAL COUNTRY PUB SERVING FRESH, LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD

Join us for

Burns Night Saturday 25th January

Enjoy our authentic Burns Night supper including a delicious 3 course Scottish inspired menu, plus traditional elements such as piping in the haggis and the Ode to the Haggis.

Just £25 per person! Contact us for more details & to book.

01366 348134 | hello@jollybrewerspub.co.uk | www.jollybrewerspub.co.uk

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EVENTS IN JANUARY & FEBRUARY

DEEPDALE CONSERVATION WEEKEND FREEZING IN HEACHAM In their jubilee year, amateur dramatic group The Pocahontas Players present their pantomime Freezing in Heacham, an original production written by Warren Marshall & Tom Whybrow.

Tickets: Stalls £8, children under 8 £6. tiered seating £10, children under 8 £8 To book call: Janice on 01485 570402, Jim on 01485 571267 or Hunstanton Tourist Information Centre on 01485 532610.

WHEN: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January, 7:30pm and Saturday 18th January at 2pm and 7:30pm

WHERE: Heacham Social Club, 13 Station Road, King’s Lynn, PE31 7HG

If you enjoy the great outdoors and like the thought of working in the countryside on the beautiful north Norfolk coast as part of a conservation team for a couple of days, Deepdale Farm are looking for a team of up to 20 volunteers, who’d like to learn some practical conservation skills on an ecofriendly working farm. Bed, breakfast and evening meal is provided free in exchange for two days’ work (9am to 3pm). Work will include activities like thinning woodland, planting hedges, coppicing.

Participants must be over 21. To find out more and book, visit deepdalebackpackers.co.uk

WHEN: Friday 31st January to Sunday 2nd February WHERE: Deepdale Backpackers & Camping, Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale, North Norfolk Coast, PE31 8DD

TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM: DISCOVER YOUR FAMILY HISTORY Interested in researching your family history?

Need some help? Improve your family history research skills with Vic and Val. Novice and experienced genealogists welcome!

•How to start family history research.

•Census, Settlement & Parish Records.

•Ordering Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates.

•Using Local Records Offices, Public Libraries & Family History Societies.

•Searching for wills/military records.

•Dating & “reading” photographs.

•Using Ancestry (free access at True’s Yard), Findmypast, Familysearch & The Genealogist.

•Updates in the field of genealogy.

•Group discussion & assistance. £3 per session - to book contact True’s Yard on 01553 770479 or info@truesyard.co.uk

WHEN: Saturdays 11th January to 4th April & 18th April to 18th July, 10:30am – 12:30pm WHERE: True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum

ROTARY SWIMARATHON – FUNDRAISING EVENT Time to make a splash for charity! Teams of six swimmers are being challenged

by King’s Lynn Priory Rotary Club to swim lengths of the pool in relays for one hour. Money raised will go to the Lavender Hill Mob Theatre Company, Waveney and Norfolk Mind, and 14 other charities that cater for the needs of young people in west Norfolk. It’s open to all ages and abilities and is free to enter (but each swimmer is asked to try to raise at least £25 in sponsorship). To enter a team, or to find out more about the charities, go to www.prioryrotary.org.uk.

Or just come along to watch and enjoy the fun!

WHEN: Saturday 8th February, noon – 8pm WHERE: Alive St James, Blackfriars Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1NN

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The tranquil beauty of Walsingham Abbey It was one of Norfolk’s most important religious sites and was once one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims in the whole of Europe – and today it remains a haven of peace and tranquility

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urrounded by the busier towns of Holt, Wells and Sheringham, there’s a welcome aura of tranquillity as you walk through the streets and lanes of Little Walsingham. At the gateway to the village, the spectacular ruins of the medieval Franciscan friary mark this as a place of some antiquity – and they’re but a short stroll from the splendid grounds of Walsingham Abbey.

Time has marked the history of this little village with a cohesive blending of architectural periods. The timbered Bull public house once formed part of the

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outer precinct of the abbey alongside the Shirehall Museum, tucked away in a corner of the cobbled Common Place – with the 15th century Porter’s Lodge and Gatehouse alongside it and a 16th-century pump house at its centre.

The remains of the abbey built in 1153 stand within tranquil grounds approached through the ancient Shirehall Museum, the former courthouse where during the 18th and 19th

centuries the Quarter Sessions were held and the Petty Sessions until 1974.

Rivalry existed between the two religious houses. When the Augustinians of the priory held a market outside the priory gates in Common Place, King Edward III granted the Franciscan friars the right to hold their own market on Fridays – with each trying to outdo the other to attract merchants to buy from their stalls.

Both monasteries suffered huge acts of

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destruction after the Dissolution Act of 1538 and the priors and canons were pensioned off.

Within the grounds of the abbey are the remains of the Augustinian monastery over which a mansion was constructed in the 17th century. The privately-owned house was remodelled in the early 19th century and a sumptuous landscaped garden added.

It was at this time that it became known as The Abbey.

Adjacent to the abbey grounds is the Shrine of our Lady, a modern chapel on the site of the Holy House discovered during excavations in 1961, which has attracted visitors to the town for centuries. A small wooden plaque now marks the spot where the Holy House once stood.

In medieval times, Walsingham rivalled Canterbury and some of the shrines of Europe as a place of religious pilgrimage, until with the dissolution of the monasteries these ceased until being revived in modern times.

Little remains of the original buildings, but one of the most striking of the retained features is the east window of the priory church – which

gives an impression of the size of the church, at 244ft long. The refectory shows a decorated west window and stairs apparently leading up to the pulpit, whilst the crypt with its roughly concealed fireplace and vaulted ceiling is still visible.

During the summer, Walsingham Abbey again becomes a place of pilgrimage when services are held before a small altar set up under the east window of the priory church or on the site of the Holy House, marked by a small stone cross in the lawns.

Standing almost to its full height is the former west front of the priory with a glimpse through the fine Norman arch of the Well Garden and the healing wells that were moved to this position from the infirmary ruins. Beyond these, the picturesque Pack Horse Bridge (a 19th century interpretation of a medieval bridge) spans the fast-running River Stiffkey, and draws visitors to explore the 18-acre woodland site and parkland beyond.

A Walsingham legend surrounds a small wooden door in the boundary wall opposite the Anglian shrine. Known as Knight’s Gate it relates to a 1314

event when Sir Raaf Boutetout, in the process of fleeing from his enemies, prayed to Our Lady for deliverance – and upon passing through a wicket gate here, discovered sanctuary in the priory grounds.

Pilgrims have travelled the roads to Walsingham for centuries, but when the fields surrounding this historic village are covered in winter’s snow and frost, it’s to the grounds of the abbey, mirroring their virgin whiteness with a magnificent carpet of snowdrops and acolytes, that enthusiasts in their hundreds are drawn.

Notable for covering the acres of garden and woodland, the origin of the snowdrops is obscure, but like bluebells, these tiny flowers heralding the start of spring are recognised as growing in areas of former abbeys.

The snowdrop season is from late January to early March, although traditionally they’re said to come into flower at Candlemas - on February 2nd.

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Insuranceinsights Our monthly look at insurance issues for you and your family with the experts at Adrian Flux...

Modern insurance for your Victorian property Whether you’re renovating, renting or buying a Victorian property, home insurance is vital for everyone to ensure your goods are safely guarded.

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ictorian properties will never go out of fashion, and almost 1 in 3 of every home in the UK is a Victorian build – with high ceilings, ornate fireplaces, double reception rooms, stained glass, sash windows and patterned tiles. The exteriors are often equally impressive, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for 19th century architects and builders.

With the average size of families growing rapidly, the middle classes in particular drove builders to create more housing after requesting larger properties for their extra family members, instead of the more traditional cramped terraces.

Victorian properties on average will receive four or five more offers versus properties of a newer era, causing the resale value for a Victorian home to remain consistently strong.

Nearly one third of houses in the UK were built before the First World War, and the majority of the six million built

during Victoria’s reign are still standing today. You could actually be living in a Victorian property without even knowing it! At Adrian Flux we value these historic builds as part of the fabric of our society, and that’s why we offer bespoke insurance for Victorian homes.

In order for customers to get the best deal possible we tailor insurance policies to fit the individual.

Adrian Flux are one of the leading brokers of specialist home insurance in the UK, and our goal is to ensure you get the best home insurance deal for your Victorian property, of the highest quality and greatest value – whatever your circumstances. Buildings or contents, landlord or homeowner; we can help you find the right house insurance for your situation.

WELCOME TO ADRIAN FLUX INSURANCE, SPECIALISTS IN HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE...

If you’re moving into a Victorian rebuild, it’s worth ensuring you’ve

had the property surveyed with a reinstatement value contained within the report before taking out an insurance policy – as the building could cost more to rebuild than the property is worth should the worst happen, due to the age of the home and the materials needed.

Getting a quote from Adrian Flux is a simple, easy and fast way to find cheap home insurance deals for a variety of different circumstances. You can get a quote today for your insurance, and if you require specialist cover for circumstances that are a little unusual, our home insurance experts are on hand to find great value quotes – where some brokers struggle to even offer a price.

If you want to take the hassle out of finding home insurance and would instead like an easy and fast way to find specialist quotes that won’t break the bank, get a quote today by calling us on 01553 400399.

TEL: 01553 400399 | EMAIL: contact-us@adrianflux.co.uk WEB: www.adrianflux.co.uk

EDQ

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Run into 2020 for fun, fitness and friendship For almost 30 years, a group of local ladies have got together with a trinity of shared ideals – a healthy lifestyle, a lively social life, and a sense of adventure. Welcome to the Lynnsport Ladybirds...

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recent survey found that female runners in the UK now outnumber their male counterparts, so if you’re looking for a non-competitive activity to take up (especially at this time of year) and think running could be for you, there’s a west Norfolk group who’ll welcome you with open arms.

Lynnsport Ladybirds is an all-women running club based at Lynnsport in King’s Lynn, which runs for fun, fitness and friendship.

Founded in 1993 by Beryl Bennington, the club is open to all women over 16, and meets on a Wednesday evening throughout the year. Made up of members of varying fitness levels, a typical evening might see a group doing a gentle run of two or three miles, with another group

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tackling longer and faster runs of up to six miles in length.

New members are always encouraged to do a beginners’ course to assess their levels of fitness and to discover how they feel about joining the group.

That’s exactly what current club leader and chair Sharon Fettes did – joining the club’s second-ever beginners’ course – and she’s been there ever since.

“When Beryl decided to stand down in 2000 I was voted to be the new club leader and chair,” she says, “and I’ve been there ever since – but I’m more than happy to be carrying on for now.”

Sharon says that everyone is friendly and encouraging, and that established members always offer to run with new people. With a current membership of approximately 80 – including

some who dip in and out of meetings depending on personal commitments – the club also has a small walking group for those who want to continue with the exercise and friendship, but who aren’t able to run.

“Our philosophy is that no one has to run alone, and that’s the whole point of it – we’re a friendly supportive club,” says Sharon. “People might not run for a while, but when they come back they’re always welcome.”

In the winter, the club runs on various routes around the town, and tries to use the cycle paths which are lit.

“We encourage everyone to wear a head torch though,” continues Sharon, “because that allows us to use unlit paths and keep off the roads.”

On most weeks an average of 25 people will turn up, and the groups will run for about 45 minutes depending on

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ABOVE: Current members of Lynnsport Ladybirds prepare for another run. Pictured below are the club’s leader and chair Sharon Fettes (left) with UKA qualified running coach Bridget Plowright

the length and speed of the runs. Each group have a ‘run leader’ who ensures everyone keeps up and the pace isn’t too fast – or too slow!

During the summer months, when the evenings are light enough to enjoy the countryside, the club heads out of Lynn and takes advantage of some of the beautiful parts of west Norfolk such as Sandringham, Wolferton, Castle Rising or Leziate.

In addition to the benefits of running and friendship, the cost of belonging to Lynnsport Ladybirds is an incredibly low £2 per year, plus 50p for each weekly run.

“We’ve kept it that low because we want to include as many women as we can and for it not to be a financial burden to anyone,” says Sharon. “Despite that, we do have good funds and are able to give money to local charities. We recently donated £300 to NARS (Norfolk Accident Rescue Service) because they were kind enough to come and give us CPR and general first aid training.”

The club puts on two beginners’ courses per year and has had up to 25 participants take part. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk helps with funding and administration for this, and the club provides coaches – although other members are always on hand to help and encourage the beginners over the six week course.

As well as enjoying the camaraderie of the club, many members also take part in local runs such as the weekly parkrun (held on Saturday mornings in The Walks); the King’s Lynn GEAR (Grand East Anglia Run) 10k; and other

local half marathons. Some members have gone on to do the Great North Run, and a few have even completed the London Marathon.

“It’s always good to have something to aim for, but really it’s all about the running,” says Sharon. “I feel everyone should try running. It doesn’t cost a lot and you don’t need much equipment – just a good pair of shoes, reflective clothing for running at night, and people to run with.”

The idea of a new you for the new year has become something of a cliché, but it contains an element of truth. If the excesses of the festive season have left you feeling it’s time to have a go at a healthy new activity and you’re looking for fun, fitness and friendship, Lynnsport Ladybirds could be the answer.

There’s plenty of information on the group’s website, so please take a look at www.lynnsportladybirds.co.uk

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Happy New Year from all of us at Metric Carpets!

floors designed for life

A new look for the new year...

With the Christmas season behind us, it’s time to look forward and decorate that room that’s in need of a lift! We have a vast range of carpets to suit all budgets, including the luxury of Brintons and Ulster and of course, if you prefer a hard floor, we also have a full range of luxury vinyl tiles from brands such as Amtico and Moduleo. At Metric Carpets, we pride ourselves on spending time with you, from discussing your needs, showing you products and talking you through the process, we’re here to help you choose your perfect floor...

COVERI NG WEST NORFOLK FOR OVER 47 YEARS 36 Norfolk Street, King's Lynn PE30 1AH | Tel: 01553 775203 Email: info@metriccarpets.co.uk | Web: www.metriccarpets.co.uk

Bespoke curtains and blinds for all your soft furnishing needs Handmade curtains • Swags & tails Roller blinds/verticals & venetians Wooden blinds • Roman blinds • Cushions Home measuring & design service Extensive choice of fabrics and wallpapers

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Missing a parent No matter how parents may feel about each other after a separation, children shouldn’t be expected to take sides, as Hayes + Storr explains...

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hen a child loses a parent through death, divorce or separation, the impact is often significant and long-lasting. It’s bad enough for a child whose loss is due to the death of a parent, but what if one parent is actively preventing contact with the other postseparation?

No matter how well-intended a parent might consider this sort of intervention to be, research shows that the consequences of such actions can have the opposite effect – and cause the child unnecessary suffering and long-term damage.

Not involving yourself in your child’s life, or being prevented to see your child by the other parent, can cause feelings of rejection and grief for your child. To make matters worse, the child may feel unable to grieve properly if

they’ve been drawn into conflict.

Where one parent prevents the other from having a normal, positive relationship with a child, it is known in family law proceedings as ‘parental alienation’ or ‘intractable hostility’ and is considered extremely damaging to the child – and is increasingly being recognised as a form of child abuse.

In certain cases where parental alienation is established, the courts will increasingly consider transferring residency of the child to the alienated parent in order to reunify the child with that important missing link in their life – and address the emotional trauma they’ve suffered up to that point.

The courts aim is to ensure that both children and adults are kept safe, and to enable children to maintain good relationships with both parents where it is safe and in the child’s best interests

to do so.

No matter how parents may feel about one another after a separation, the importance of keeping the child’s well-being as the main focus can’t be understated.

It should be remembered that it is the child’s right to have a positive relationship with both parents, and it is both parents’ responsibility to ensure this happens.

If you would like further advice on this (or on any other family matter) please contact Maria on 01328 863231.

For advice on any other legal matter, call 01553 778900 or e-mail us at law@hayes-storr.com.

MARIA ENDALL

Family Solicitor

This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice.

The Old County Court, County Court Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5EJ W: www.hayesandstorr.co.uk | E: law.kingslynn@hayes-storr.com OFFICES AT: KING’S LYNN | HUNSTANTON | FAKENHAM | SWAFFHAM | HOLT | WELLS | SHERINGHAM

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“

Records show that there has been a lighthouse in Cromer since 1669 when Sir John Clayton first put forward proposals for such a building...

“

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An iconic beacon of light on the north Norfolk coast A lighthouse has stood looking out to sea from Cromer for over 350 years, and the present structure is one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks, towering over the popular coastal town…

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ll along the north coast facing into the bracing wind from the Wash, lighthouses add to the picturesque landscape that has become unmistakably Norfolk.

High on Cromer Ridge, adjacent to the Royal Cromer Golf Course, stands the iconic whitewashed Cromer lighthouse and keeper’s cottage that was built in 1833, approximately half a mile from the cliff edge – although

due to landslips along the coast it’s now much closer to the sea.

However, this wasn’t the first lighthouse to have been built here on these cliffs. When the masters and owners of colliery brigs engaged in the coal trades from the north to London called for a lighthouse to enable them to safely navigate the coast of East Anglia, this was one area they thought should be lit.

During the mid-17th century many

proposals were put forward for lighthouses around the coast. Records show that there has been a lighthouse in Cromer since 1669 when Sir John Clayton put forward proposals for such a building. Before this time a light was shown from the top of Cromer Parish Church to act as a guide to passing shipping.

Despite opposition Sir John Clayton, one of the petitioners for the work together with his partner George

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Blake, was given a comprehensive patent and work began on a tower costing £3,000 that was illuminated by a simple wood fire. The cost of maintenance proved to be prohibitive and a situation arose whereby the partners couldn’t afford to keep the fire kindled at the top of the tower.

However, as recorded in 1684 by Captain Grenville Collins’s chart of the Norfolk coast published in his Great Britain’s Coasting Pilot, the unlighted beacon did continue to be marked on sea charts as “a lighthouse, but no fire kept in it.”

In 1719, Nathanial Life, the owner of the Foulness land on which Cromer lighthouse stood, assisted by Edward Bowell, (a younger Brother of Trinity House Brethren) was granted a new patent. This was received in 1719 with dues to shipping set at the rate of one farthing per ton of general cargo and a halfpenny per 25cwt of Newcastle coal. The tower lantern was lit by an enclosed coal fire at this time and maintained by the first keepers of the lighthouse – two young women whose joint income was £1 a week.

Edward Bowell, bailiff of Ipswich in 1723 and 1729, died in 1737 and his gravestone (now long gone), recorded the notation “that he created the light at Foulness.”

The lease was granted on the undertaking that the lighthouse (plus an acre of land) would on its expiry pass into the ownership of Trinity House ownership. When Trinity House – and when it took possession of the lighthouse in 1792, it was improved and the illumination changed from coal fire to oil lamps. Giving a single flashing light from each of five reflectors every minute, some seamen described the rapid and frequent eclipses of light as being like “a will-o-the-wisp.”

Nevertheless, the much-improved lighthouse was still not secure.

Landslips were still very much in evidence, ever encroaching on the cliffs of boulder clay and sand, until it too slipped into the sea in 1866. This eventual collapse of the cliff had long been anticipated however, and Sir John Clayton’s original plans for a new lighthouse were in place long before the loss of the old one, and were brought into operation in 1833.

In 1895 the light was oil-fired, which consumed about 970 gallons of best colza oil every year. It was converted to gas in 1905, and by 1958 electricity was powering the light.

Cromer’s existing lighthouse has an 18m octagonal tower with the old lantern installed in the top storey of the tower, replaced with the current

one taking the light to 84m above sea level. Converted in 1990 to automatic operation, it is presently monitored and controlled by the Planning Centre of Trinity House in Harwich, with the lighthouse keeper’s house converted into two self-contained holiday cottages.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, although an area alongside the structure is accessible for clifftop walks, and with paths zig-zagging down to the beach below it’s a much -loved space for visitors.

Visits to the tower of Cromer Parish Tower – which once provided the light by which ships navigated this coast – once formed part of guided tours of Cromer, but when two falcons decided to take up residence there the tours were suspended. Today, the lighthouse at Cromer is one of the most iconic sights along the whole coastline of north Norfolk - and still provides a vital service.

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Heating that is 20% more efficient Let Bircham Electrical install new modern energy-efficient heaters – the easy way to keep your home cosy

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t’s the time of year when our heating bills are soaring and we’re spending too much time and effort ensuring we return to a welcoming, well-heated home – but all that could easily change.

Replace old inefficient storage heaters with the latest technology in electric space heaters and start enjoying lower heating costs, higher energy efficiency and, possibly best of all, much more convenience.

“A lot of people who are using storage heaters on Economy 7 would get better heating and also save money if they installed new modern heaters,” says Darren Goldsby, General Manager of Bircham Electrical. “The old way of using power overnight and then releasing the heat in the daytime can

mean you often ‘run out’ of heat when you need it and is very difficult to control.

Modern smart heaters can adjust their charging to suit the climate and the daily needs of your home, without you having to do a thing. “To me, the greatest benefit of these type of heaters is how easy they are to control,” says Darren. “Each heater in each room can be programmed individually so you don’t waste heat you don’t need. You can switch your heating on remotely using an app, so if your plans change there’s no coming home to a cold house.”

Bircham Electrical can supply a range of heaters from top quality well-known brands. “We carry heaters from brands like Dimplex, Elnur, Creda, Rointe and Haverland,” explains Darren. “They all offer warranties that can be up to a lifetime and their products are compliant with Lot 20 regulations.”

Lot 20 regulations were introduced in 4 Wymans Way Industrial Estate Fakenham NR21 8NT

January 2018 and ensure that all new heaters meet a standard of energy efficiency.

If you’re not sure whether changing heaters would benefit you, let Bircham Electrical advise you. They can visit you at home and give you a completely free survey to assess your heating needs.

“These heaters are an investment so we want you to be confident you’re buying the right thing for your lifestyle,” says Darren. “We will make honest recommendations and we have competitive prices; as a longestablished local business there’s no hard sell from us. We install products that we are proud to be associated with – in fact we’ve been installing them for quite a few years and we have yet to be called to a faulty one.”

So if you’re feeling the chill this winter, contact Bircham Electrical today.

Tel: 01328 851824 Web: www.bircham-electrical.co.uk E-mail: admin@birchamelectrical.com

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Bringing a touch of true quality to Hunstanton

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With a brand new showroom in Hunstanton, Eastern Frames is now treating west and north Norfolk to some of the very best windows, doors and conservatories in the business...

f you’re planning an extension, a complete new build or renovation and are looking for high quality windows, doors and conservatories, there’s no need to look further than Eastern Frames – who recently opened a new showroom in Hunstanton which provides a perfect showcase for the Eastern Frames product range.

The company’s core portfolio of windows, doors, conservatories and bifolds is available in a choice of materials such as pvc, aluminium, timber and composite – and is expertly fitted across East Anglia (and even further

afield) by four experienced two-man installation teams. Eastern Frames even has its own building team to ensure the bases for extensions and conservatories match the quality of the products themselves. Now approaching its 10th anniversary, the success of Eastern Frames has been built on exceptionally high standards of service and many years’ experience.

“We’ve been working in the industry since we were 16 and the business actually started in my garage!” says director Anthony Boyle, who founded Eastern Frames with his brother and fellow director Darren in 2011. “Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength, we’ve expanded our base of private and commercial customers, we’ve moved into larger premises – and of course, we’ve now opened another centre in Hunstanton.”

Whether on a heritage property, an ultra-modern new home or a retail store, Eastern Frames has a range of

styles and finishes for the perfect look – but they also stand out for another important reason.

“It’s not uncommon for people to query our quotes when they first receive them,” says Business Manager Matt Barton. “Clients are sometimes hesitant because they think there may be hidden extras or that our products are inferior in some way – but neither is true. We’ll quote to exactly the same specification, if not over and above.

We don’t cut corners where quality is concerned – and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how cost-effective we can be.”

To discover just how cost-effective, book an appointment today for a free and no-obligation quotation.

High quality, plenty of choice, a professional service, and outstanding value for money – at Eastern Frames you can have the best of all worlds!

HUNSTANTON 12 King’s Lynn Road, Hunstanton PE36 5HP | T: 01485 522050 WISBECH Unit 3 Grass Gate Lane, Lynn Road, PE14 7AN | T: 01945 586816 W: www.easternframes.com | E: info@easternframes.com

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Enjoy a world of weight loss without dieting...

According to research, Slimming World is the nation’s favourite way to lose weight. There’s never been a more enjoyable or friendlier approach to helping you reach your dream weight – and stay there for life

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f you’re thinking of trying to lose weight, you’re three times more likely to be successful if you do it as part of a group. We talk to Jo Jackson, Slimming World’s Team Developer for King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, to find out more.

Slimming World was founded 50 years ago by Margaret Miles Bramwell after her own bad experiences attempting to lose weight. Today groups meet all across the country and each one has Margaret’s ethos at its heart: that a slimmer’s experience should be a positive journey, supported with a real understanding of what needs to be changed to ensure lifelong

slimming success.

That understanding comes from consultants who have all been on their own journey as Slimming World members – the King’s Lynn & West Norfolk team have lost around 42 stone between them. Their experience ranges from 10 years to brand new this month and they are, at the time of writing, Slimming World’s number one team – out of 600.

way of eating and cooking. It’s based around the principles of what we call ‘Food Optimising’ which essentially means you find yourself eating more food for fewer calories! You make your own decisions around what you eat and fit it to your lifestyle. It’s not about having cast-iron willpower, it’s about making the better choices and learning a healthy way of life that will help you stay slim for life too.

KL magazine: What makes Slimming World different to other diets?

Jo Jackson: I can honestly say it’s not a

KL magazine: What happens at a Slimming World group?

Jo Jackson: New members are

diet: it really is about discovering a new

welcomed while other members of the group are weighing in, and we

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then hold our group IMAGE Therapy session. IMAGE stands for Individual, Motivational and Group Experience – it’s an important part of our journey as a slimmer because we all know losing weight on our own is tough.

Changing the habits of a lifetime takes real effort and without the right support it’s easy to give up on ourselves. We want to make the group a fun experience where we share ideas, recipes, inspiration, make new friends – and have a giggle!

KL magazine: What kind of foods can Slimming World members eat?

Jo Jackson: Members choose most of their daily food intake from what we call ‘Free Foods’ – lean meats, pastas, grains, potatoes, beans, pulses, fruit and vegetables. None of these require any counting of calories, weighing or measuring – you just eat to satisfy your appetite!

You add ‘Healthy Extras’ options which include cheese for calcium, wholemeal bread for fibre, and nuts for healthy oils. Also, our unique ‘syns’ system means you can have chocolate, crisps, alcohol etc. There’s no need to

feel deprived, and definitely no need to feel hungry.

KL magazine: Can anyone safely follow Slimming World’s Food Optimising Plan?

Jo Jackson: Absolutely!

Whatever your dietary or special requirements we can support you in achieving your weight loss dreams. We currently offer a Slimming World on Referral Scheme in West Norfolk through your GP for those people needing support to lose weight to benefit their health, reduce BMI for an operation etc.

We also work closely with the Royal College of Midwives to offer an approved safe-eating plan for our pregnant and breastfeeding mums and we’re the only weight loss organisation approved to offer support to 11-15 year olds too using our Free 2 Go programme.

Jo Jackson - Team developer

Adam’s Story

“

BEFORE

I love the fact that small simple changes can have massive benefits for overall health and weight.

I actually believe the biggest challenge is walking through a dieting group’s door!

I used to say “It’s not my cup of tea sitting in a room and clapping” but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The group is like a family – so supportive and helpful – and the celebration of what’s been achieved or planned to help us be successful each week is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Following food optimising means we can still enjoy family meals – everyone loves them because they taste so much better than the sort of meals we used to cook before. Now that I’ve reached my target and lost 5 stone 8lbs I actually eat more!

As I started losing weight I started running – I’ve now run my first marathon, and saying that I’m thrilled with myself is an understatement.

”

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Jeanette’s Story

“

I hated having my photograph taken and never felt good about myself, and it was looking back at holiday photos that made my mind up to do something about my life choices and weight.

The Food Optimising plan is great, as nothing is off limits as long as you’re aware and take account of your choices. I learnt how to not beat myself up if things didn’t go quite how I planned and not give up – and just have a fresh approach for next time.

Along my journey I’ve lost and gained weight, but with the help and support of my new-found friends in the group I go to, along with my family, I’ve achieved my goal of losing 2 stone and can finally say I feel confident and happy.

I can buy clothes that fit and look good - fitted clothes, not ones that hide me!

My asthma has also improved as I BEFORE now exercise regularly and swim too.

”

After my two stone weight loss!

Join one of our friendly groups near you...

MONDAY

THURSDAY

West Lynn Social Club: 5.30 & 7.30pm Gaywood Church Rooms: 6pm Dersingham Catholic Church: 5.30 & 7.30pm

Gayton Village Hall: 10am Terrington Pavilion: 9am & 11am Snettisham Memorial Hall: 3.30 & 5.30pm Gaywood Community Centre: 5.30 &7.30pm Watlington CP School: 5.30 & 7.30pm Gayton Village Hall: 5.30 & 7.30pm Terrington Pavilion: 5.30 & 7.30pm

TUESDAY

Reffley Community Centre: 9.30am & 11.30am Gaywood Community Centre: 5.30pm & 7.30pm Hunstanton Community Centre: 5.30 & 7.30pm

WEDNESDAY

Hunstanton Town Hall: 9.30am & 11.30am Gaywood Library: 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30pm Kings Lynn Football Club: 6pm

FRIDAY

Snettisham Memorial Hall: 9.30am

SATURDAY

Providence House Kings Lynn: 8.30 & 10.30am

Visit our website for more details: www.slimmingworld.co.uk

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Doctor Lead Clinic King’s Lynn Unit 8, North Lynn Business Village, Bergen Way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King's Lynn PE30 2JG T: 01553 692531 E: cliniccosmetic@aol.co.uk

Peterborough 226 Dogsthorpe Road, DHC Business Centre, Peterborough PE1 3PB T: 01733 310090 E: peterboroughcosmeticclinic@aol.co.uk

www.ukcosmeticclinic.co.uk

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The dark secrets of NWT Hickling Broad It’s one of Norfolk’s most beautiful nature reserves, and it’s the backdrop for one of the county’s most spectacular displays, as David North, Head of People and Wildlife at NWT explains...

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is busy with life. Return in April and May to find the marshland filled with a chorus of warblers, with swift and martin swooping overhead feasting on the abundant insect life. A few months later you’ll see swallowtails flitting over the reeds and a range of wetland flowers brightening the edges of secluded paths.

So why on earth would you visit the reserve in January, when Hickling often seems devoid of life?

As with most wildlife spectacles, it’s a case of knowing where to go and when. A walk along the boardwalks and reserve paths on a January day can be quiet, but it’s also punctuated

by sudden wildlife happenings - a moorhen pattering across the water, a snipe exploding into flight, a kestrel hovering motionless against the wind.

Visit Hickling at sunset, however, and you can enjoy one of its most amazing wildlife spectacles.

Although you park in the nature reserve car park, rather counterintuitively you walk away from the reserve entrance back along the lane you’ve just driven along. After a few hundred metres you turn right along an often-muddy track towards Stubb Mill, after which there’s a viewing area on a raised bank where birders gather to watch and wait. The view from here

IMAGE: © Richard Osbourne

WT Hickling Broad nature reserve hides a dark secret that’s only revealed at twilight, where visitors can experience one of the great congregations of rare birds of prey in England. But more of that later...

You don’t have to visit Hickling at twilight - the wild reedy marshland of the nature reserve is beautiful at any time of year. In winter, Hickling’s silverheaded reeds sway and dance to the music of cold winds, and should you visit during the early morning sunshine almost every silver reed ‘feather’ will jewelled with dewy spider silk.

In spring and summer the reserve

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sweeps across a wild flat panorama of marshland and you can see all the way to the coast.

The distant wind turbines of Winterton are clearly visible, and much closer the evocative and distinctive outline of ruined Brograve drainage mill stands stark and lonely, its ruined sails testament to changing times and vanished ways of life. It doesn’t take much to imagine the dunes of Horsey and Winterton breaching in a winter storm and the tide sweeping across this watery land where nothing seems to stand between you and the distant sea.

While you wait there is every chance of spotting a passing barn owl, sometimes two or even three of them hovering and hunting over the marsh.

This year, a short-eared owl has been a regular too, its browner plumage, longer wings and staring yellow eyes distinguishing it from its paler cousins.

You may not have long to wait for the first stars of this evening to appear.

An hour or so before sunset, the first marsh harriers drift silently on spread wings across the marsh in the middistance – first in ones and twos, but as sunset approaches a dozen may be in the air at once. One evening I was there the count into the roost was 45, but more than 70 of these magnificent birds have sometimes been seen.

Marsh harriers aren’t the only stars, and on most evenings they’ll be joined by one or two of Britain’s most persecuted birds of prey - the hen harrier. The evening I spent watching, the bird of prey list included (in addition to barn and short-eared owls) sparrowhawk, merlin and kestrel as well as both harriers. And then, arriving almost in the dark, those rarest avian stars of the Broads - common cranes.

They trumpet their arrival, flying into the gathering dark with outstretched necks and trailing legs. The cranes make a fabulous grand finale to what must rate as one of Norfolk’s greatest winter wildlife spectacles. Take a torch for the walk back and remember your Wellington boots as some of these puddles are deeper than they look!

Your walk back to the reserve car park might be enlivened by woodcock flying low overhead, and Chinese water deer can often be seen feeding in the fields alongside the track.

NWT Hickling Broad is a reserve for all seasons, its twilight winter magic is hard to beat. Harriers are rare birds still subject to illegal persecution, and they need our protection. Enjoy this winter spectacle, but please add your voice to the protection of our birds of prey by joining NWT and supporting its work in managing local nature reserves.

ABOVE: Common cranes (top) are a common sight at NWT Hickling Broad (picture by Amy Lewis) along with marsh harriers (bottom, picture by Elizabeth Dack). Below are a bearded tit (picture by Nick Appleton) and a barn owl in flight (picture by Danny Green)

NWT Hickling Broad is about 4km south of Stalham off the A149 Stalham to Caister-on-Sea road and is clearly signposted. From Hickling village follow the ‘brown badger’ tourist signs into Stubb Road and on to the nature reserve.

To get to the raptor roost, park in the main car park and then walk back along the track and turn right. There is no parking at the roost. The Visitor Centre is open weekends over winter – please call call 01692 598276. There is a charge for non-members to enter the nature reserve, and dogs are not allowed.

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Enjoy unlimited data in every corner of Norfolk...

Rural Broadband offers a remarkably simple and brilliantly effective way to bring fast broadband into every part of your home or business

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orfolk has long been regarded as a black hole as far as the internet’s concerned, with sluggish speeds and bothersome buffering plaguing rural households across the county – especially along the north Norfolk coast.

Last year, research revealed that 57% of people in East Anglia reported poor internet performance – and if you’re unlucky enough to live in the slowest area in Norfolk you can expect to wait up to 12 hours to download a

Richard Dix

two-hour film on Netflix.

“For many people in Norfolk it’s hard to imagine a world with no buffering, where web pages load instantly and TV shows stream in glorious HD,” says Richard Dix of Heacham-based Rural Broadband. “Happily, we’ve got the technology and the technical expertise to make that a reality – wherever you are!”

The latest good news from Rural Broadband is that the company is now offering unlimited data sim cards for broadband routers – meaning that you can enjoy full (and fast) 4G connection at home and at work.

“It’s especially effective for offices in the middle of nowhere who’ve been struggling in the past,” says Richard, “and for people working in redundant agricultural buildings. As long as you’ve

Our satellite-based internet was poor and we went looking for an alternative. Richard and his team at Rural Broadband understood exactly what we needed to run our business, and got us working within a week. We’re delighted!

- IAN REID, FBR Servicing got power we can bring the internet to you – without any limits on the amount of data you can use!”

For a cost-effective way of bringing your home or office into the 21st century (wherever you are) contact Rural Broadband today using the details below for a free consultation about all your networking needs.

Unit 1, Marea Farm, School Rd, Heacham PE31 7DH Tel: 01485 572253 / 07786 887750 www.ruralbroadband.co.uk KLmagazine January 2020

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A project we’ve been working on

The best building projects need the best builders...

From the smallest kitchen or bathroom re-fit to the biggest extension, RGR Developments offers a truly professional and trustworthy service

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part from your family, your home is probably the most important thing in your life – so it’s essential you choose the right builder before doing any work on it. Get it wrong and the build will cause you all sort of problems, will cost more than you could have imagined and you’ll probably regret it for many years to come.

For over five years, RGR Developments have been successfully transforming homes across Norfolk, offering everything from stunning kitchen and bathroom renovations to complete new builds and extensions – and even landscaping. They’re in no doubt how you can ensure your project lives up to (and exceeds) your greatest expectations.

“Your first priority should be to check the quality of the builder’s work,” says director Ryan Rix. “Ask to visit past projects, ask for references and testimonials from past customers,

and ask about the structural materials they’ll be using. You should never employ a builder unless you have total confidence in them.”

The best builders are completely open and honest and are always more than happy to answer all your questions from the start – and they certainly won’t hesitate in giving you an accurate timeline and a fully-detailed estimate.

That’s only one of the reasons why RGR Develpments have built such a strong local reputation for exceptionally high standards.

“There’s no such thing as a silly question when it comes to choosing a builder,” says Ryan’s fellow director Gary New. “You’re making a huge investment of time and money, and a reputable builder will actually encourage you to ask questions – and they’ll always keep you updated on the project’s progress.”

Working on everything from modern homes to listed

properties, RGR Developments has become renowned for completing projects of all sizes efficiently, on time, and on budget.

From single-storey extensions to complete renovations, and from simple knock-throughs to major re-builds, contact RGR Developments today for a totally professional look and totally honest approach to your project.

And you can stop worrying about finding the right builder – because with RGR Developments you’ve already found them!

8 Mill Road, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen King’s Lynn PE34 3BZ | Tel: 07921 910651 / 07817 941897 | Web: www.rgrdevelopments.co.uk | Email: info@rgrdevelopments.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:14

It’s never too early to plan for summer colour Hot sunny days may seem a long way off at the moment, but as Wendy Warner explains, the start of the year is ideal to start thinking about filling your garden with colour...

W

ith the new year having only just begun, it may seem like an odd time to be thinking about mid- to late-summer colour in the garden, but now (when it’s too cold and wet to get outside) is the perfect time to plan a colourful display for the months ahead. The flowers that grow from bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers are now on sale in the Garden Centre, or by mail order if you’re

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looking for more unusual varieties. If you want specific varieties, it’s well worth buying them now so you don’t miss out – even though you won’t be planting them for a month or two.

There are numerous varieties of Dahlias for sale in this form, and far fewer will be available as potted plants in the summer when they are coming into flower– and it’s much more economical growing them from tubers.

Dahlias are very showy flowers and

there are many different types varying in height and flower shape and size.

Probably the most spectacular are the “dinner plate” varieties which have heads up to 10” (25cm) in diameter on stems over 3ft (90cm) in height.

Decorative dahlias are also reasonably tall but have more heads, which are smaller and ideal as a cut flower, and their vibrant flowers are often bicoloured.

Fimbriata dahlias have fringed

13/12/2019 20:18

“Plan ahead now and you can look forward to enjoying a spectacular display in your garden this summer...” petals, whilst cactus dahlias (as the name suggests) have more spiky petals. Pompom and ball dahlias have smaller, rounded flowers, collerette and anemone flowered dahlias have more single flowers – along with the Bishop dahlias with their dark bronze foliage making the bright flowers appear to stand out even more.

Dahlias also come in a huge array of colours – from the pure white “My Love”, the vibrant two-tone “Tahiti Sunrise” (with fuchsia-pink tips) and the new for this year rose pink “Wizard of Oz” and very dark red “Karma Choc” with its dark bronze foliage.

These dahlias can be grown in beds and borders or in pots. They can be started off earlier in pots if kept frostfree and then planted out at the end of May once there’s less likelihood of frosts. With the milder winters we’ve been getting recently, most people tend to leave their dahlias in the ground – but if you do decide to lift them, they’ll need to be thoroughly dried off and kept frost-free throughout the winter.

Garden gladioli are sword-like, upright flowers ideal for the middle or back of the border, or if you have space you can grow some in a corner of the garden specifically to use as cut flowers. Gladioli too come in a wide range of flower colours from white, through yellow, green and pink to deep purple and red. New this year we have “Triton” which is the nearest to blue you will get in a gladioli, and “Seashore” which is purple with a yellow throat.

I still can’t think about gladioli without picturing Dame Edna Everage!

Larger-flowered begonias can be KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:18

ABOVE: Stunningly beautiful Canna flowers are an ideal way to bring a touch of the exotic and the tropical into your garden

grown from corms and can be given an early start in a shed or heated greenhouse. Most begonias are available in red, white, pink, yellow or orange. Doubles have large upright flower heads, pendula or cascading begonias trail down, and exotics have interesting two-tone or frilly flowers.

Most of these begonias are best grown in pot or containers, and the pendula varieties are ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes or tall planters where they can be allowed to trail.

Most lilies are scented and flower in June, July or August. They can be grown in the ground or in pots.

Skyscraper or tree lilies will grow up to 8ft tall whereas most normal lilies will be up to 3ft tall – with patio pot lilies only growing to about 18” at most.

Cannas will give you a very exotic, tropical look to the late summer garden and are ideally grown in pots so they can be moved into a greenhouse after flowering as they can be tender. As well as the bright flowers, many have equally attractive foliage – Canna “Australia” has red flowers above dark purple leaves and Canna “Rosita” has deep pink flowers above green and red-edged foliage.

One of the plants we’re most often

asked for at the wrong time of the year is nerines. These are the stunning pink flowers that make a wonderful show in September and October. They grow particularly well in this area as the sandy soil gives excellent drainage, and you should plant them in a sheltered, sunny spot where they aren’t competing with other plants. As well as the most common bright pink, they are also available in white, pale pink and red.

Although it’s best to buy your bulbs now, please remember to store them in a frost-free place before planting in the spring.

Plan ahead now and you can look forward to enjoying a spectacular display in your garden this summer!

YOU AND YOUR GARDEN Wendy Warner is the Manager of Thaxters Garden Centre in Dersingham.

You can visit the website at www. thaxters.co.uk or telephone 01485 541514. If you’d like some inspiration for your garden or have a particular issue or variety of plant you’d like Wendy to look at, please contact us at info@klmagazine.co.uk.

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13/12/2019 20:18

HERITAGE T RE E S PE C I A L I S TS LT D tree sur gery • forestry

TRUSTED LOCAL TREE SURGEONS Call for a free no obligation quote on:

01553 617008 www.heritagetreespecialists.co.uk

tree surgery • precision dismantling conifer reduction • stump grinding woodland maintenance

PLUS!

Delicious

produce

grown from your garden

seed potatoes & new season seeds

Great range of wild bird food and feeders Dog Treats, toys and accessories Gift and homeware department Winter clothing

Our seed potatoes are available in a range of varieties and sizes. We also supply a wide range of onion sets, shallots, garlic, carrots, rhubarb crowns and asparagus for you to grow in your garden.

DON’T FORGET

OUR COFFEE SHOP!

summer flowering bulbs

Colourful Dahlias, Lilies, Gladioli, Begonias and Nerines are on sale in pre-packs from mid-January and throughout spring.

49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA Tel: 01485 541514 | Web: thaxters.co.uk | Open: Mon-Sun 8am-6pm

Garden Centre & Coffee Shop

KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:18

Storm damaged trees?

We only fell trees when absolutely necessary, preferring to retain and repair where possible, ensuring they no longer present a hazard.

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01328 851351 46

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KLmagazine January 2020

13/12/2019 20:19

Animalmatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with our Clinical at London Road & Hollies Vets...

Director

Jennifer Sinclair

Smallbites

Enjoy a purrfect trip to the vets...

I

t’s been a year since we launched our Cat Only Clinics on Monday afternoons, and it’s been a great success! Having separate waiting areas for dogs and cats is a real bonus as the dogs don’t get so excitable, and the cats don’t get as nervous. It also means we can designate a set time for our feline patients when dogs won’t be present in the waiting room – which we can clean and disinfect to reduce the amount of strange smells from other species.

Cats can then be in their carrier anywhere in the waiting room, without the risk of coming into contact with a dog. We always recommend that all cats and small animals are brought into the practice in carriers for safety as well as for health reasons – and it’s worth considering covering the carrier to make the space cosier, less frightening, and to reduce the chances of any airborne germs passing between patients.

We’ll still see canine patients (and other small animals) during these

allotted time periods in emergencies, but ask owners to bring their pets to our side entrance to maintain a feline friendly atmosphere.

Bringing any animal to the vets can be a worrying time for owners and pets, and we continue to strive to reduce these worries and anxieties in order to make veterinary visits easier for everyone.

There’s an international accreditation programme which veterinary practices can join in order to prove they’re providing high standards of care and welfare to cats coming into the clinic. It’s run by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), and not only covers requirements for cats coming into the waiting area and consulting rooms, but also has a set list of criteria for patients being hospitalised, as well as surgical expectations.

The programme also requires that staff members handle cats in a cat-

LONDON ROAD Hospital Walk, King’s Lynn • 01553 773168 HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market • 01366 386655

Our veterinary team have undertaken extra training in feline medicine and general care, and all our vets and nurses are trained in best practice handling techniques and approaches with both dogs and cats.

We aim to create a low-stress environment for all our patients, and can tailor our appointments and hospital facilities accordingly.

To make the most of our Cat Only Clinics, you can book online at londonroadvets.co.uk, call us on 01553 773168 or visit us in person on Monday afternoons between 2.30-4.30pm.

For more information on Cat Friendly Practices, as well as useful hints and tips for making low-stress visits to the vets, head to www.catfriendlyclinic.org friendly way without excessive force or scruffing – as well as helping to create a positive experience for cats and their owners. We’re very proud to be an ISFM member and have achieved Cat Friendly Clinic standard at silver level.

As an owner, you can help reduce any stress or anxiety your pet may have when coming into the practice by placing familiar toys and blankets in their carrier (which will have their own scents on) as well as leaving carriers in the house before the point of needing to use them so your cat can become familiar with them. If you know your cat can become fearful or aggressive when coming into the practice, it’s worth informing us in advance so helpful measures can be put in place.

info@londonroadvets.co.uk www.londonroadvets.co.uk

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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13/12/2019 20:19

West Norfolk: Then & Now

THE HIGH STREET THAT ROSE FROM THE ASHES...

The photograph at the top of the page was sent to us by a KL magazine reader following our feature on the two separate Christmas fires at the

end of the High Street in King’s Lynn towards the close of the 19th century.

Taken only a few days after the fire at the Jermyn & Perry store on Boxing Day 1897, it shows members of the Fire Brigade (in the centre of the street) together with various officials – probably from the local authority.

Just visible in the background is a large

crowd of onlookers behind a safety fence. In addition to destroying the store in which it started, the fire also incinerated over a dozen other business premises in the immediate area, some of which can be seen (barely) standing to the left of the picture. The store itself had been rebuilt 13 years earlier after another fire over Christmas.

You can share your old photos of the area with us on social media@klmagazine 48

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13/12/2019 20:20

Wishing you a very happy and a healthy new year...

BMI The Sandringham Hospital continues to offer patients the very best in local healthcare and the highest standards of clinical services

L

ast month’s general election has certainly revealed to us the importance of healthcare and the sustainability of such across the nation and local communities. Healthcare is and continues to be a major focus affecting people from all walks of life and BMI The Sandringham Hospital are privileged to be in a position to offer a wealth of experience, whether this be through surgery as an inpatient or day-case, or attending outpatient or diagnostic services. With their patient and family centered approach they ensure patients receive the care, treatment and respect they deserve.

The Sandringham Hospital plays a vital role in supporting and working with our local NHS Hospitals in assisting with the reduction of waiting times for both initial appointments and surgeries should they be required.

The Sandringham Hospital provides

selected NHS treatments to patients offering a shorter waiting time for elective surgery through the ‘Choose & Book’ service as well as Self-Pay and Private Medical Insurance routes.

Research suggests 94% of people with Private Medical Insurance don’t use their cover for treatment or surgery.

The Sandringham Hospital would like to remind people with insurance to use their cover to receive the treatments they require without experiencing long waiting times.

Set within the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, The Sandringham Hospital offers a wide range of consultant-led specialities to assist you on the path to better healthcare. With spacious consulting rooms, individual en-suite patient bedrooms, two fully-equipped theatres, a day-case ambulatory suite, diagnostic imaging and physiotherapy services, The Sandringham Hospital is there to

“BMI Healthcare is at the forefront of the drive to improve clinical service standards across the independent sector.

We provide the highest standards in all aspects of patient care...”

CHARLES THOMAS, Marketing Officer

care for all of your needs. Over 98% of patients rate the overall quality of care as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ and would recommend it to family and friends.

For more details and information about services and available treatments, please contact 01553 769770 and discover how they can help you and our local community on the path to improved healthcare.

Serious about health.

Passionate about care.

BMI The Sandringham Hospital, Gayton Road, King’s Lynn PE30 4HJ • Tel: 080 8101 0336 Email: info@bmihealthcare.co.uk • Web: www.bmihealthcare.co.uk KLmagazine January 2020

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S

E E

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2 0 2 0

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Call into the new practice to book your appointment. Find us at 44 Market Place.

TAKE CARE OF YOU THIS YEAR Are you concerned about your teeth wearing? Are they chipping or looking smaller? We can help to restore appearance and function.

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we have a range of treatments that could help with these conditions

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KLmagazine January 2020

13/12/2019 20:21

Dr Himani Garg

Dr Ian Jennings

Dr Leena Deol

Victoria Galligan GP Administrator

Superb healthcare when (and where) you want it...

Putting you and your health first, My Family GP offers you and your family a complete range of private medical services

H

ealthcare is always in the news, and people’s biggest concerns usually concern the waiting time for treatment, a lack of communication, the difficulty of making an convenient appointment - and the lack of time allotted for appointments.

The good news is that’s all changing now thanks to the team at My Family GP, a local and fully-independent service run by a passionate team of experienced doctors and healthcare professionals - that puts patients first and is committed to offering continuity of care.

From a lovely setting just outside the centre of King’s Lynn, Drs Leena Deol, Himani Garg and Ian Jennings offer a comprehensive range of private medical services.

Moreover, because My Family GP is fully independent it works with multiple healthcare providers in the area - giving patients access to a wider number of consultants and a number of local options for treatment at some of the most highly-rated private hospitals in the region, including BMI The Sandringham Hospital in King’s Lynn.

It means patients can make informed decisions and receive the care they want – when and where they want it.

My Family GP has already built a reputation for the level of personal care it provides and the professional standards of its doctors, and the service will soon be launching a range of indepth health assessments that can include everything from bloods and ECG tests to CT and

MRI scans - depending on your choice.

It’s just one of the new services My Family GP will be introducing in 2020, so there’s never been a better time to make your initial 30-minute appointment (at your convenience, of course!) and discover just how good your healthcare can be.

Contact My Family GP today using the details below, or see the website for the latest information on the service and its current news.

KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:22

How one local woman is changing the world...

Concerns about the environment are now making global headlines.

In King’s Lynn, Erna Gotyar is inspiring people to see the smallest changes can make all the difference in the world

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13/12/2019 20:22

A

lthough it’s hard to imagine in the depths of winter, the 20 warmest years on record have been in the last 22 years (the top four have been the last four years) and the environment has now risen to the top of the political agenda.

It’s not surprising. By the time you’ve finished reading this feature, another 60,000 pieces of plastic pollution will have found their way into our oceans, with a devastating impact on marine life. Half of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years, and recent studies have found plastic in 100% of turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of seabirds.

With a million plastic bottles being sold around the world every minute of every day, it’s estimated that every mile of the UK’s beaches now contains an average of 5,000 items of plastic pollution - meaning that a 3-mile stretch of one of our local beaches could be home to 15,000 pieces of plastic, including 450 plastic bottles.

In the face of such staggering statistics, you might think it’s virtually impossible for anyone to make a difference on an individual basis - but try telling that to Erna Gotyar.

“You don’t have to be perfect - you just have to begin,” says the woman from King’s Lynn, whose Rooting for Earth project has captured the imagination of local people and changed the way they see the world around them. “You start with your own lifestyle and share your experiences with your friends - and that has a ripple effect that reaches out into the community.”

Erna’s journey started a few years ago, when she volunteered for a beach clean-up day at Hunstanton. Having been brought up to respect nature and appreciate the outdoors, she was shocked to see the scale of the pollution problem at first hand.

“It’s one thing seeing reports about pollution and litter on television and in newspapers, but it’s very different when you see it where you live,” she says.

“That experience made me determined to see what else I could do and what changes I could make in my own life.”

Hearing about a plasticfree July challenge, Erna spent a month consciously avoiding purchasing any plastic - re-using her water bottle, using the same bag for shopping, and even looking for alternatives when her toothpaste and deodorant ran out.

“It was a real eye-opener and it was actually quite fun,” she says, “but I also discovered that the alternatives to plastic such as shampoo bars and re-usable make-up pads - were made of natural materials, so they weren’t just good for the environment. I was also benefitting on a personal level.”

Erna then spent a month keeping all her

non-perishable rubbish to see how much she was producing - and looking at ways to cut that down as well. She organised a beach clean-up at Heacham that collected (among other things) almost 100 cigarette butts, over 50 pieces of plastic, seven dog poo bags and a cheese and onion crisp packet that was 25 years old.

As part of her volunteer work for Keep Britain Tidy (she’s been the area’s Litter Hero Ambassador for over a year), Erna has just started working with the organisation’s Bin the Butt campaign, highlighting the danger of cigarette butts – which contain micro-plastics and poisons.

ABOVE: Turtle Bags are just one of the ways Erna Gotyar (opposite and above right) is helping people cut down on their everyday use of plastic

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13/12/2019 20:22

“My journey so far has enriched my life. It’s a more relaxed way of living and it gives you a different outlook on life...”

Together with the nationwide Refill scheme (she’s officially called the Refill King’s Lynn Champion) Erna has so far encouraged over 30 local cafes, restaurants and businesses to offer free water stations in and around King’s Lynn.

“We do need to act, and we need to act now,” says Erna. “We’ve been talking about plastic bottles for a long time now, so it was really frustrating to read that last year the House of Commons bought 437,840 non-recyclable coffee cups, 90,888 single-use water bottles and 22,788 single use glass bottles.

People are really positive about making changes, and the message is getting through at a local level, but I think it’s going to be a long journey.”

Erna’s Rooting for Earth website contains plenty of inspiration and ideas to help people make ethical and sustainable choices. In addition to detailing forthcoming clean-up events

and regular blog posts on low-impact living, it also contains an online shop for everything from bamboo toothbrushes to stainless steel drinking straws although Erna doesn’t see it as a shop in the traditional sense.

“It’s not simply a collection of eco-friendly products I’ve sourced and am encouraging people to buy,” she says. “I’ve used everything I sell myself, and I want to share that - I want people to understand that you don’t have to buy a plastic bottle of shampoo or a plastic scrubber to clean your dishes!”

Perhaps the greatest challenge Erna faces is to help people understand that by making ethical choices about what they buy and use they’re not actually giving anything up – and their lives won’t be the poorer for it.

“My journey so far has actually enriched my life,” she says. “It’s a more relaxed way of living and it gives you a different outlook on life. You find you appreciate things more, and you’re not constantly obsessing about what to buy next.”

The next ten years will be crucial to the future of the environment, but Erna

Gotyar is a shining example of how making small changes can make a big difference.

Rooting for Earth regularly attends the Farmers’ Market in King’s Lynn, and Erna is currently organising an event in the town for this spring. For the latest news and to discover how you can make a difference, please visit www.rootingforearth.co.uk. For more information on the local Refill scheme, please see twitter @refillkingslynn.

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13/12/2019 20:22

It’s 2020 - and the future of heating is already here In five years’ time, no new home will be built with gas heating – but the 4 Way Group has the cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative

T

he government’s Future Homes Standard is already encouraging architects and builders to look at alternative heating systems – especially since gas heating in new builds will be totally phased out in the next five years.

Relying solely on electricity isn’t the answer, partly because it can be over 300% more expensive to run (compared with gas) and many systems relying on a direct electricity source actually offer less output than input.

Luckily, the ideal solution is close to home thanks to air source heating from the 4 Way Group in King’s Lynn.

“We’ve been designing and installing air source heating systems for well over ten years now,” says director Steve Simpson. “We’ve also been promoting its many benefits – especially when it

comes to energy efficiency – and it’s good to see more and more people are now getting the message.”

The numbers speak for themselves.

An air source heat pump combined with an underfloor heating system (which the 4 Way Group can also help design and install) will result in every 1kW of electricity it uses producing a further 4kW (4.0+ COP) of energy – which means it’s 400% efficient.

“To put that into perspective, electric heaters only operate at around 100% efficiency,” says Steve. “They’ll give you one unit of heat for every unit of electricity they use. Even brand-new oil and gas boilers only function at an efficiency of around 90%.”

There are several reasons why underfloor heating works more efficiently with renewable energy

technology than radiators do. First, heat is extracted from the external ambient air and converted through the heat pump to warm the property – even in the depths of winter there’s still enough heat outside for a heat pump to turn it into energy.

And since underfloor heating covers a greater surface area than radiators, it can run at lower temperatures – at 45oC rather than 70oC. The energy demand is significantly less, and combining the two systems can make your home heating up to 40% cheaper to run.

If you’d like to discover how the 4 Way Group can help your new build project benefit from professional air source heating, contact Steve and his team today for more details and a totally free quotation.

t 01553 767878 w www.4waygroup.co.uk e sales@4waygroup.co.uk Recognised and accredited throughout the industry:

KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:23

KING’S LYNN MOBILITY CENTRE LTD New Cavendish i3 Mobility Scooter Lightweight and foldable, this mobility scooter is the perfect choice for individuals who wish to live an independent lifestyle.

For All Your Mobility Needs

4 & 8 Mph Scooters | Riser Recliner Chairs Electric & Manual Wheelchairs | Adjustable Beds Stair Lifts | Walking Aids | Ramps Bathroom | Toilet Aids

30-38 Blackfriars Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1NN Tel: 01553 768751 | FREE CUSTOMER PARKING

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KLmagazine January 2020

13/12/2019 20:23

“Wendy has grown from a completely new caregiver to a truly inspirational one”

Laura McEwan, Director of Home Instead Senior Care Norfolk

Celebrating an extraordinary caregiver Home Instead Senior Care provide outstanding support for elderly people living at home, and each year they recognise one of their team members as Caregiver of the Year

A

s we live longer, one of our concerns for ourselves and our loved ones is how we can keep living fulfilled and independent lives in our own homes. Home Instead Senior Care can provide personalised care to elderly people that is dignified, reliable and relationship-led. And their approach, recently given the highest possible rating of ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, relies on recruiting the right people: every team member is chosen because of their empathetic and dedicated nature and matched carefully to clients on an individual basis.

To celebrate their hard work and to thank them, annually Home Instead Senior Care Norfolk’s directors Laura and Tom McEwan name one team member as Caregiver of the Year.

The award was founded in honour of Tracey Fox; a much-loved member of

KING’S LYNN 01553 387967

the team who sadly passed away in her early 50s. Just named as 2019’s winner is Wendy Mann.

“It was incredibly hard to choose this year as all the members of our caregiving team are amazing but Wendy just shone through, says Laura.

“Wendy works in our King’s Lynn and surrounding villages area and has worked for us for nearly two years.

In that time Wendy has grown from a completely new caregiver to a truly inspirational one, regularly going above and beyond for her clients and colleagues. We knew that Wendy was right for the role even before she did and she truly is an asset to us, we can’t thank her enough.”

Wendy is a double winner this year after also receiving Home Instead Senior Care’s Heart of Gold Award.

DEREHAM 01362 357974

HOLT 01263 650983

“We received so many positive bits of feedback from Wendy’s clients!” says Laura. “One client commented during their last review with us that ‘she’s like family, I know I can ask her anything and she will help, having Wendy as my caregiver has really changed my views on care and I don’t know what I’d do without her’. Wendy ensures that all of her clients are not just safe, happy and well cared for in their own homes - she really looks after their wellbeing too.”

If you’d like the reassurance that comes from knowing the people you’re letting into your home and your life are of this calibre, contact Home Instead Senior Care today to discuss your bespoke care package.

www.homeinstead.co.uk/westnorfolk

KLmagazine January 2020

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13/12/2019 20:23

Faux Fur Trim Poncho £37.50

Does it feel like it’s been cold and dark forever and you’re tired of bundling up in the same coat?

Then try something different this winter! Keep out the cold and bring in some cheer with some fun and stylish ways to keep warm that you might not have considered

ARTICHOKE Swaffham

Styletip Layer up your outfit with this elegant Poncho, perfect for day or night. Available in three colours silver, black and taupe.

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13/12/2019 20:24

Boots by Caprice

SHEILA TILLER Long Sutton

Cold and damp feet will ruin any day out!

Flat-soled boots are an essential – you choose whether they’re cosy and comfy or buckled and fierce

KLmagazine January 2020

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Outfit

by Marble

ALLEZ CHIC Castle Rising

Ontrend

Add a statement jacket to lift classic pieces out of the ordinary

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KLmagazine January 2020

13/12/2019 20:24

By appointment to Her Majesty e Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn

The Fent Shop

Largest selection of fabrics in West & North Norfolk Dress Fabrics Curtain Fabrics Craft Fabrics Net Curtains Knitting Wool Haberdashery

41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk

Sheila Tiller

EXCLUSIVE LADIES FASHION & SHOES EST. 1978

Sale NOW ON

HUGE REDUCTIONS

On fashions, shoes, handbags and lingerie 13 Market Place, Long Sutton | Tel: 01406 363 433 Closed all day Wednesday | www.sheilatiller.co.uk

Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge

Final day of our

WINTER SALE Saturday 11th January

Further reductions on winter casuals and dresses. We aim for total clearance, everything must go!

108 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge PE12 9SA | Sizes 10-26 Open 9am - 5pm | Closed Wednesday & Sundays www.cindysfashions.co.uk | Tel: 01406 350961

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Holden Technical Tweed Gilet ÂŁ84

by Joules

THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS Stowbridge

Cut from Joules signature tweed, this shooting-style gilet is trimmed in faux suede and lined in a unique-to-Joules printed fabric. Deep front pockets and a back adjuster add function and authenticity to this versatile layer.

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from the hayloft country clothing at bearts of stowbridge TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk

| Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD

Winter Sale

at Artichoke Swaffham starts 10am Monday 6th January Winter & Summer Clearance items - £10 / £19 & £29 rails 50% off selected Jewellery & Accessories 20% off selected current season items

Two Day Clearance Sale at Chequers Studio, Chequers Lane, Ely

(between High St Passage & Market St) £10 /£19 & £29 Rails Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th January from 9.30 to 4pm

Online Sale

visit www.artichokecollection.co.uk for upto 40% off selected items whilst stocks last

41 Market Place, Swaffham 01760 724948 www.artichokecollection.co.uk sales@artichokecollection.co.uk

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Outfit

by Marble

CINDY’S

Sutton Bridge

Throw on a graphic print in a cosy fabric – this monochrome look is sophisticated enough to take you anywhere

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“The amazing results were almost instantaneous and all the pain was gone in only two sessions...”

Helen Joslin, King’s Lynn

“The results were almost instantaneous...”

Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains

A

t Free Your Body Therapy in the centre of King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly continues to use amazing new treatment techniques to free people from a life of aches and pains; people like Helen Joslin of King’s Lynn, for example – whose problems started with an accidental fall during a one-off spot of social ice skating.

“Over the following months I experienced frequent headaches and developed severe pain in my shoulders, back and neck,” she says, “and since my work involves a lot of driving and computer-based work, it gradually got worse and more intense.”

With no obvious injury and after a series of unsuccessful physiotherapy sessions, Helen followed the advice of her mother – who’d recently used Free Your Body Therapy to rescue her from chronic knee pain.

“Although Terry explained all the theory and science behind the treatment, I didn’t really understand

it, but that didn’t matter,” says Helen, “because the amazing results were almost instantaneous – and all the pain was gone in only two sessions!”

Terry Connolly is one of the very few people in the world currently offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment.

Moreover, he combines that with Anatomy in Motion gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems that helps with the repair and rehabilitation of past injuries and the relief of pain. For Helen, the effects were exactly what she had been looking for.

“Helen actually had mobile phone footage of her accident,” he says, “and I could see exactly how she landed and how and where she hit her head. That was really helpful for quickly finding the solution.”

There’s no great secret and no hidden magic to Terry’s treatment – he simply looks at the body and the causes of chronic pain in a

completely different way.

“Helen had suffered a high-velocity impact injury rather like whiplash,” he says. “The muscles around her neck went into protective mode – and the surrounding muscles and nerves were overworking to compensate for that.”

If you’re interested in freeing yourself from a life of chronic aches and pain, contact Terry today and book an appointment with Free Your Body Therapy. Like Helen, you’ll find the results hard to believe.

“I don’t think I’ll be trying any more winter sports!” she says, “although I have been surfing since – without any problems at all!”

Old Dairy Units, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 277520 www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk

Terry Connolly

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Why Cocktail Week 2020 is the perfect mixture...

Now in its third year, Cocktail Week is a colourful and exciting way to discover King’s Lynn – and this year it’s bigger and better than ever

I

f you went back 300 years and used the word ‘cocktail’ most people would think you were referring to a horse with a docked tail rather than a sophisticated alcoholic drink. No one is quite sure how (or why) the term originated, but its first recorded use (not referring to a horse) is found way back in 1798 in the March 20th edition of The Morning Post and Gazetteer, which contained the following recipe: “Mr. Pitt, Two petit vers of l’huile de Venus, ditto one of ‘perfeit amour’, and ditto cock-tail, vulgarly called ginger.”

Five years later on the other side of the Atlantic, a reporter for the American publication The Farmer’s Cabinet (April 28th, 1803) said that they “drank

a glass of cocktail - excellent for the head... Call’d at the Doct’s and found Burnham - he looked very wise and drank another glass of cocktail.”

These were the earliest days of the cocktail, and not everyone was as enthusiastic to try one.

Three years later, Harry Croswell (the editor of a newspaper in New York) described it as “a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, with sugar, water, and bitters” - but he also paid it a backhanded compliment.

Cocktails were great for anyone involved in politics, he said, because “anyone having swallowed a glass of it is ready to swallow anything else.”

Undoubtedly, the cocktail really came of age during the years of Prohibition (1919-1933), when alcohol was technically outlawed in the United States - which led to people using honey, sugar, fruit juices, and any number of weird and wonderful flavourings to make the illegal (and decidedly poor) alcohol of the time more drinkable.

Cocktails have retained something of that rebellious nature ever since, successfully combining various ingredients and wildly different flavours to create drinks that look amazing and taste fantastic.

That’s always worth celebrating, and for the last three years Cocktail Week in King’s Lynn has brought some muchneeded cheer to the generally wet and gloomy month of February.

It also provides the perfect excuse to

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dress up (though that’s optional) and get out of the house to catch up with friends and enjoy some of the best bars and restaurants in King’s Lynn. The return of the event from Discover King’s Lynn takes place from Saturday 22nd February until Sunday 1st March in a range of venues in the town centre – which last year included (among many others) the Gin Saloon, Bank House, Liquor & Loaded, Archers Kitchen, Goldings and Massey & Co. Cocktail Week started in 2018 as a way of boosting trade for the town’s night-time economy as well as providing a muchneeded bright spot in the midst of deepest, darkest, winter. It proved to be a huge success - so much so that the number of participating businesses has grown every year, and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Martini Espresso, Negroni, Margarita - the names alone exude a sense of the glamorous, the chic and something out of the ordinary, and that’s exactly what Cocktail Week brings to King’s Lynn.

It’s an opportunity for the town’s many talented bartenders, bars and

restaurants to showcase a different side of their business and skills - to be creative, to have a bit of fun, and to welcome new customers.

Of course, it’s not just cocktails of the alcoholic variety that will be on offer during Cocktail Week. The increasingly-popular range of nonalcoholic cocktails is equally dazzling and mouthwatering - and even comes with health benefits in terms of fruit and vegetable content!

Alongside the shaking of mixers, the clinking of ice cubes and the pouring of spirits, Cocktail Week will also feature live music from a number of popular local bands, expert demonstrations on how to mix the perfect cocktail, and behind-the-scenes talks from local distillers.

To make Cocktail Week 2020 even more appealing, there’ll be a standard price offer across all the participating venues, with customers given the chance to try cocktails at set discounted prices for one week only. With at least ten venues already signed up to participate, there’s a world of cocktails waiting for you to discover – from the Singapore Sling to the Boston Rum Punch.

For more details and information about Cocktail Week 2020 (what’s on, where and when) and for a full list of participating venues, please visit the Discover King’s Lynn website at www. discoverkingslynn.com and follow our social media feeds (below)

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www.discoverkingslynn.com/ cocktailweek2020 @Discoverkingslynn @discoverkingslynn @disckingslynn

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SHOP

|

DISTILLERY |

TOURS

|

THE KITCHEN

£5

e y th sk ed in hi k d W oo en sh r b sp li u o ng to r t E ny he ny a uc n a ith Vo p o 0 w o 3 sh r £ e ov

ST GEORGE’S DISTILLERY TOURS & TASTING One of Norfolk’’s top visitor attractions ST GEORGE’S TOUR 1 H O U R TO U R Daily from 10am – please check website for tour times £12.50 per adult; £5 under 18’s (booking not required)

WORLD WHISKY TOUR OR DISTILLERS TOUR 2 H O U R S E AC H Held once a month £45

www.englishwhisky.co.uk | 01953 717939 St George’s Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham, Norfolk, NR16 2QW OPEN 7 days a week | Distillery: 9am-5.30pm | Tours: 10am-4pm | The Kitchen: 9am-5pm

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THE

Black Horse Inn CASTLE RISING

WITH NEW OWNERSHIP & NEW CHEF

Every week we enjoy welcoming families to our Sunday roast dinners. ere’s always a great atmosphere and the food is always delicious. Book now and we’ll see you at the weekend!

– Harry Sutton, owner

Lynn Rd, Castle Rising, King's Lynn PE31 6AG m 01553 631333 E /TheBlackHorseInnCastleRising

ORIENTAL PALACE

CHINESE RESTAURANT Peking Szechuan & Cantonese Cuisine

Choose as many dishes as you want from the à la carte menu and they'll be freshly cooked to order - all for one set price!

BOOK NOW FOR

Valentine’s & Mother’s Day at the Heron PLUS! Our private function room is available to hire Call us for more details

Tracey & Stuart welcome you to their newly refurbished pub beautifully set between two rivers • TRADITIONAL HOME-COOKED FOOD • GIN SHELF • AFTERNOON TEAS • B& B • TOURING CARAVAN PARK

DEL IVERY SERV ICE AVA ILAB LE

Call us on: 01553 842255 204 Main Road, West Winch, King’s Lynn, PE33 0NP Open 7 Days a Week - 12noon-2pm & 5pm-10:30pm www.orientalpalacewestwinch.co.uk

01366 384040 | www.theheronstowbridge.com The Heron Stowbridge, The Causeway, Stowbridge PE34 3PP

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te Celebra ht ig Burns N ers

lly Brew at the Jo y 25th Saturda January

Clootie Dumpling Serves: 6-8 YOU WILL NEED A cloth (cloot), though a tea towel or muslin will do

INGREDIENTS 600g plain flour 225g suet 225g brown sugar 1/2 tsp mixed spice 1 tsp baking soda 1 tbs treacle 1 tbs golden syrup 340g raisins 340g currants

1

Combine all of the ingredients together adding water slowly until they all come together.

2 3 4

Damp your cloth and lay it out on a flat surface.

Flour the cloth with plain flour.

Gather the cloth together, tie with string tightly, and leave a bit of room to let it swell with no gaps.

6 7 8 9

Lift the cloth (cloot) with the dumpling in and smack the bottom to flatten.

Fill the water half way up the dumpling but never over the top.

Simmer for 2½ hrs and check the water regularly.

Turn out onto a plate and serve with custard.

5

Get a large pot of boiling water on the stove with a small plate on the bottom.

Recipe by Adam Noble

HEAD CHEF AT THE JOLLY BREWERS Lynn Road, Shouldham Thorpe, PE33 0EB 01366 348134 www.jollybrewerspub.co.uk KLmagazine January 2020

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“

We’re very proud that we produce such a totally natural product. Nothing’s been added to our mussels and nothing’s been taken away from them. You can’t get more natural than that...

“

- Sarah Knight Brancaster Bay Shellfish

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Why Thomas Large is the king of the mussels...

The family of Thomas Large have been farming mussels and shellfish at Brancaster for at least 300 years, so it’s hardly surprising he has such a strong reputation for high quality and amazing flavour

I

n 1235, an Irish sailor called Patrick Walton was supposedly shipwrecked on the French coast near La Rochelle. Desperately hungry, he hung up some nets in the hope of catching some fish, only to find the supporting poles soon became covered with mussels. And from such humble beginnings the cultivation of the delicious mollusc was born – and we’ve been enjoying them ever since.

Actually, we’d already been loving them for hundreds of years before Patrick Walton. Whenever a Roman villa is excavated, archaeologists invariably discover the shells of mussels in addition to many other types of shellfish – which brings us neatly to the village of Brancaster.

Six years ago, Wessex Archaeology undertook a limited excavation of the Roman fort of ‘Branodunum’ and a significant number of the 519 shells they found were mussels. And over

1,700 years after the Romans left, the village that grew up beside the fort is still producing some of the tastiest mussels in the whole country – thanks to the efforts of Thomas Large and Sarah Knight of Brancaster Bay Shellfish.

Although Thomas’ father (with tongue firmly in cheek) once convinced a national journalist that the family had supplied Roman legions, his sister has ‘only’ managed to trace their roots back to at least 1737 – making Thomas a seventh-generation fisherman. And it’s fair to say that if you want to know anything about local mussels, Thomas Large is the man to ask.

The couple work throughout the year in all weathers and at all times of day – and virtually everything is done by hand. If they’re not unloading fresh mussels from the beds off Brancaster Staithe, sorting them as they come out of the riddler (which Thomas built from scratch himself), packing them into the

natural-purification tanks or bagging them up, they’re touring the county in their converted food truck christened The Mussel Pod – where Thomas even takes charge of the cooking.

Being at the hard end of the process can seem like a thankless task, but it’s when Thomas and Sarah are at food festivals and country fairs they get to enjoy the rewards of their labours.

“When we serve mussels from The Mussel Pod, it’s only been about three hours since they left the tanks, so they couldn’t be any fresher,” says Sarah.

“At first people think we’ve bought in frozen mussels, but when they discover Thomas has actually farmed them himself they’re amazed – and they always say they’ve never had mussels that are so soft and tender and tasty.”

In addition to the exceptional taste, Thomas’ mussels are also extraordinarily good for you.

“Mussels have the best nutritional

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ABOVE: Thomas Large of Brancaster Bay Shellfish can trace the family tradition back for at least seven generations – and although he’s seen enromous changes in the food industry since he started as a youngster, his mussels have never been so popular

profile of all shellfish,” he says. “They contain high levels of the long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA, which can improve brain function and reduce inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

They’re a brilliant source of vitamins, they give you a healthy shot of important minerals such as zinc, and they even contain levels of iron and folic acid that rival those found in red meats.”

They’re even good for the environment. As natural biofilters, mussels have

one of the most important jobs in the water, filtering up to 40 litres a day and happily feeding on algae and bacteria.

In fact, many scientists now believe that ‘mussel filtration’ is critical in keeping our rivers, lakes and seas clean and maintaining a balanced marine ecosystem.

Back at Brancaster Staithe, Thomas Large has seen enormous changes to his family tradition since he first started as a youngster.

“People are far more adventurous with their food today and I don’t think mussels have ever been so popular,” he says. “Everyone is much more concerned with natural products and sustainability now – and provenance is everything.”

Every single bag of Thomas’ mussels can be traced directly back to him (don’t be surprised if he tells you the very day he brought them back to shore!) and Brancaster Bay Shellfish works to the very highest and the very latest food standards.

“People care about what they eat now,” says Sarah, “and we’re very proud that we produce such a totally natural product – nothing’s been added to our mussels and nothing’s been taken away from them. You can’t get more natural than that.”

Despite having brought up to a ton of mussels ashore virtually every day for

so many years, the couple haven’t yet tired of enjoying the results of their hard work.

Whereas Sarah prefers hers with lardons, cider and crème fraîche, Thomas likes his mussels Thai-style – cooked in coconut milk, sriracha sauce, ginger, chillies, kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass, with a sprinkling of fresh coriander on top.

“We like to use The Mussel Pod to show people how versatile mussels are, but people love the classic,” says Thomas.“ Our biggest seller by far is moules marinière – which outsells everything else by about 8 to 1.”

On our way back from the harbour, we stopped in a restaurant along the north Norfolk coast road and (naturally) ordered a pot of mussels. We couldn’t resist asking the waitress where they came from, but she didn’t say Norfolk.

She didn’t even say Brancaster.

“We get them from Thomas Large,” she said. “They’re really consistent, really delicious and our customers really love them.” And that’s what I call a recommendation.

You’ll find Thomas and Sarah with The Mussel Pod at regular events around the county during the summer, and you can buy their fresh mussels in 1.5k bags in a shed opposite The Jolly Sailors in Brancaster. You can also follow them on Facebook at BrancasterBayShellfish.

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A luxury kitchen to match your luxury home

1963-2020

Celebrating 56 years of our family business

Because a kitchen is the heart of your home, it deserves just as much thought as the rest of your house. Visit Bexwell Kitchens for a kitchen individually designed around your needs • A family friendly company • Neff specialists for 45 years • Full measuring and CAD design service • All kitchens supplied rigid • 23 displays • Full installation service available

Bexwell Kitchens

Bexwell Aerodrome, Downham Market PE38 9LT Tel: 01366 382064 Open: Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 Email: bexwellkitchens@aol.com

www.bexwellkitchens.co.uk

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Vegetable chilli jackets Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 2 baking potatoes 1 onion, finely chopped 1 pepper, deseeded and diced 1 courgette, diced 1 tsp chilli powder 2 tsp smoked paprika 400g can chopped tomatoes 400g can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed 400g can baked beans 2 tbsp tomato purée Seasoning to taste

1

3

2

4

Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/Gas 6. Prick the potatoes a few times with a fork, sprinkle with salt and place them directly onto the oven shelf.

Bake for 1 hour or until the skin is crisp and the flesh is tender.

Once the potatoes have been cooking for about 30 minutes place a wide non-stick saucepan over a high heat. Add the onion, pepper, courgette and 3 tablespoons of water. Cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium, stir in the chilli powder and paprika and cook for a further 2 minutes, adding a splash more water if needed.

Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, baked beans and tomato purée to the pan, stir well and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.

Slice open the potatoes and spoon over the chilli to serve

Recipe recommended by Jo Jackson

AT SLIMMING WORLD www.slimmingworld.co.uk

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On the local food scene there’s a delicious new game in town...

In the UK we eat 79 kilograms of meat per person per year, and nearly half of that is chicken. There’s an alternative that’s lean, tasty and living wild right on our doorstep – should we be making the most of it?

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ame such as pheasant, partridge and venison is delicious, versatile and some of the best in the world is available right here in Norfolk. So why don’t we eat more of it? Two people working closely together to bring more of it to our plates are David Chandler, wildlife manager at the Barton Estate, and Phil Lance, general manager of The Berney.

The Barton Estate has a range of game including pheasants and muntjac and roe deer, and supplies them to The Berney to be transformed by their talented head chef into wonderful dishes like venison casserole, potted pheasant, and game terrine.

“We run the estate very much as a conservation project, and we look after the whole ecosystem,” explains David.

“There’s a really close relationship between the farm and the game

“I think people should eat more game, definitely.

Apart from the taste, venison is one of the healthiest meats out there, it’s very lean.”

department – we work together to get the best out of the crops, the woodland and hedgerows and the wildlife.”

At the heart of this approach is an innovative environmental project: the Grey Partridge Project. Grey ‘English’ partridges, recognisable by their orange face and chestnut tail, have a Red List conservation status with the RSPB, meaning they need urgent conservation action. The Barton Estate began the project in 2009 with the intention of increasing their numbers of grey

PICTURES: Top: Phil and David outside The Berney. Above: Head chef’s Rob’s delicious potted pheasant and venison casserole

partridges to sustainable levels.

“When I came to the estate it hadn’t been keepered in 18 years, and I was given a completely free hand,” says David. “Within three years we’d got the partridges up to manageable levels, it’s been an incredibly successful project.”

The estate holds shooting days as being able to shoot wild grey partridge is a real draw for enthusiasts of the sport, but the numbers of the birds come first.

“This year we’re not shooting the partridge at all,” says David. “We do a spring count on our pairs and then an autumn count to see how many chicks they’ve produced, and then we plan for a 40% loss during the winter through dispersion or predation. We need to be able to count about 1,000 to shoot some and end up with 200 pairs in the spring – we counted about 500 this autumn, so that hasn’t given us a shooting surplus, but it will give us a good stock for next spring.”

The estate also holds pheasant shoots, with one in December and one in January this season. But whether it’s pheasant or partridge, a priority for the estate is that every bird killed is eaten.

“The local community has access to the game,” says David. “For example, the retired farm hands who live in the village – we’ll drop them a brace of

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LEFT: Fresh game from the Barton Estate is featured on the menu at The Berney, including delicious game birds such as pheasant and partridge.

pheasants. I believe it’s really important to get it back in the food chain.”

The vast majority of the game is supplied to The Berney, and Phil Lance is keen to extol its merits.

“I think one of the reasons people don’t eat game is a lack of understanding of how it gets from farm to fork,” he says. “We explain the conservation project on our website so people can read and understand about it. I think the way the game is managed here is fantastic: the wild aspect is really important. When you see game on our menu you know that it truly is wild; we can assure you of the provenance.”

And what game would the experts choose as their favourite?

“For me it’s wild mallard, I just love it,”

says David. “The taste is really nice - I don’t know how you’d describe it, it’s a darkish meat with just a great flavour.”

Phil would make a classic choice of woodcock or the grey partridge, but he’s also excited about a game burger a supplier has told him about.

“We’re getting a sample and our chef is going to cook it for us to try,” he says.

“It’s a really good example of how the industry is trying to promote game – lots of people are using it in sausages, pies and burgers rather just eating a whole bird. It’s a definite trend, and it’s great to see.”

If you’d like to eat more game, there’s no necessity to shoot it, then dress and pluck it yourself, if that all seems a little daunting. You can pick up an ovenready bird from a local game dealer for a very reasonable price – usually less

than an equivalent organic chicken from a supermarket.

“I think people should eat more game, definitely,” says David. “Apart from the taste, venison is one of the healthiest meats out there, it’s very lean.

All our game birds are wild, but even ones from a reared environment are typically released in June or so, so they have five or six months living in the wild, eating natural food in the fields and hedgerows.

“And game is just as easy as chicken to cook,” he adds. “I’ve been shooting since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and now I take my 11-year-old son with me. We’ll shoot a bird on a Saturday then cook it on a Sunday. A whole pheasant wrapped in bacon, an hour in the oven, job done. If I can do it, anyone can!”

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b

Enjoy a romantic dinner, bed and breakfast A glass of Prosecco on arrival and then come and enjoy 3 courses, choosing from our delightful Valentine’s Day menu.

the berney

Valentines Day

After delicious liqueur coffee go back and have a wonderful night’s sleep in one of our sumptuous rooms.

In the morning, help that hangover with a fabulous full English breakfast in the restaurant.

All this for just £175.00

E

S

O

ED

X LA

RE

TM

A

ER

PH

MAINS

STARTERS

Pan Fried Fillet of Sea Bass*** £16.95

Celeriac Soup with Hazelnut Pesto £5.50 Locally Baked Bread

Brown shrimps, Dashi Butter Sauce, Crushed Potatoes, Capers, Tenderstem Broccoli

Thai Style Mussels £7.50

Swanningtons Breast of Chicken £15.50

Lemon Grass, Coconut Milk, Chilli, Spring Onions, Coriander

Pomme Anna, Wild Mushrooms, Madeira and Truffle Sauce, Roasted Shallots, Buttered kale

Roasted Fig Salad £6.50

Whipped Goats Cheese, Port Roasted Figs, Apple and Walnut Salad, Mixed Leaves

Ham hock and Lentil Terrine £6.50

Duck Breast £16.95

Blackberries, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Roasted Heritage Carrots, Gremolata Dressing

Daube of Beef £16.00

Ham Hock, Puy lentils, Gherkins, Sauce Gribiche, Toasted Brioche, Mixed leaves

Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks, Celeriac & Apple Puree, Green Beans, Truffle Sauce, Crispy Parsnips

Smoked Salmon Paupiette £7.50

Tofu & Roasted Vegetable Brochettes £13.50

Baked Camembert to Share £12.00

Swanningtons Rib of Beef for Two £60.00

Smoked Salmon, Crab, Avocado, Capers, Horseradish Crème Fraiche, Chive oil Rosemary and Garlic Studded Baked Camembert, Warm Focaccia, Cranberry Sauce, Homemade Pickled Vegetables

Ratatouille, Cous-Cous, Red Pepper Hummus, Vine Cherry Tomato Salsa, Walnut Pesto Rib of Beef for Two, Hand Cut Truffle Chips, Bearnaise Sauce, Field Mushrooms, Roast Tomatoes, Mixed Leaves Salad

DESSERTS Chocolate and Pistachio Fondant £6.00

Passionfruit and Yuzu Pannacotta £6.00

Champagne and Raspberry Posset £6.00

Prune and Almond Tart £6.00

Cream, Raspberry Compote, Orange Florentines

Almond Biscotti, Crème Fraiche

Warm Chocolate fondant, Salted Caramel Ice-Cream, Pistachio

Raspberry Sorbet, Shortbread, Rosewater Marshmallows

Call To Book: 01366 347995

E FIR G O

S

Apple and Calvados Crème Brulee £6.00 with Cinnamon Ice-cream

L

The Berney, Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF f l ** Please be aware that game dishes may contain shot *** Please be aware these dishes may contain small bones

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Local, Seasonal Dishes

Monthly Menu & Specials

SORRY WE’RE CLOSED RE-OPEN 5TH FEBRUARY www.wellscrabhouse.co.uk

38-40 Freeman Street, Wells-next-the-Sea A OUR CUSTOMERS WISHING ALL OF AR YE W EALTHY NE VERY HAPPY & H

Eat healthier this New Year with delicious local fish Fresh Brancaster mussels Local oysters & shellfish Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh & smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey

Plus!

Deli counter with quality local cheeses

DONALDSONS A fresh taste of the sea

Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 JANUARY OPENING TIMES: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-3pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm

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Flavour of the month

Strattons changes the food landscape of Norfolk once again...

F

or the last 30 years Strattons has been an integral part of Norfolk’s dining out scene, and the luxury boutique hotel has won countless awards for its unique style and its creative and ethical approach to food.

Recent additions to the hotel’s everexpanding trophy cabinet include awards for the Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Norfolk, the Best Small Hotel in the UK, the Best Afternoon Tea in

Norfolk and the Best Café in Norfolk.

In fact, the incredible success of the hotel’s café deli CoCoes has inspired the transformation of its restaurant which was restyled and rebranded as Afterfive at the end of last year.

“Fine dining will always have a place for special occasions, but we noticed that people were changing their attitudes towards dining out,” says Vanessa Scott, who bought Strattons with her husband Les in 1990. “Many people want to eat in the early evening or enjoy some food with some friends - and they don’t want the formality of ordering a three-course meal.”

Opening as soon as CoCoes closes at 5pm, Afterfive offers lighter and more flexible dishes - although that doesn’t mean the food is any less complex. In fact, it’s as exceptional as always.

The menu changes with the seasons, but you can expect to enjoy choices such as chicken meatballs (served with a delicious lemon and chilli jelly), pancooked mackerel and slow-roasted leg of lamb (the perfect dish to share) - and if it’s available, make sure you don’t miss the incredible monkfish curry.

One of the greatest pleasures of eating at Strattons has always been its commitment to local ingredients and

seasonal produce, and it’s great to see Afterfive continuing that tradition.

“When we first opened the restaurant 30 years ago it just seemed to make sense for us to use local produce because that was how we ate at home,” says Vanessa. “Today it’s hugely important of course, and we’re really very fortunate in having so many amazing growers and producers in Norfolk - some of them right on our doorstep!”

Although the casual atmosphere at Afterfive invites you to pop in and eat whatever you want whenever you want, you will need to book ahead to enjoy Strattons’ famous afternoon teas - with this year’s themes including Jane Austen, Peter Rabbit, the Gruffalo and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Despite the new look, the new name and the new relaxed approach to eating out, one thing hasn’t changed at this wonderful restaurant – and that’s the sheer quality of the food. Packed with flavour, prepared on site and beautifully presented, it’s everything you’d expect Strattons to be – making every visit and every meal a special occasion in itself.

AFTERFIVE AT STRATTONS 4 Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Tel: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.com E-mail: enquiries@strattonshotel.com

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- Josh Wille, founder of The Norfolk Organic Juicery

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“

“

I will never stop promoting the benefits of juicing, but I’ve come to see it as a part of an entire lifestyle change.

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Local organic juices to kickstart your health Ballet dancer turned juice guru and now nutrition coach – it’s a new start this new year for Josh Wille of The Norfolk Organic Juicery

I

f you’re looking for a way to kickstart your health and wellbeing heading into 2020, a juice cleanse might just be the answer you need. A juice cleanse involves consuming nothing but juices made from fruit and vegetables for a short period of time; usually three to five days. Lots of people find that a juice cleanse is a great way to ‘press reset’ and start a new healthier way of eating.

If it sounds like something you might like to try, someone who has the nutritional expertise to give you great advice and support, and the delicious juices that will make the cleanse a pleasure not a chore is Josh Wille, the founder of The Norfolk Organic Juicery.

Josh has been making organic juices in King’s Lynn for a few years now, and the health benefits he’s seen his clients get from those juices have inspired him to become a qualified nutrition coach, and to make the juices part of a wider approach to health.

“I trained as a ballet dancer and then went on to work as a contemporary dancer, so I’ve always been interested in nutrition,” says Josh. “When you’re working at a high physical level, nutrition becomes important for energy, for recovering, and for keeping fit – you can’t afford to get injured so you have to look after yourself.

My interest in juice specifically was sparked by my mother-in-law’s battle

with cancer. She started juicing, and researching its health benefits, two years before she passed away and I’ve kind of continued her research.”

Josh tried juice cleansing for himself and felt the benefits immediately.

“Day one of my first cleanse was a bit of a struggle mentally because it was the first time I’d ever gone without

Josh, founder

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food for a sustained period of time,” he says, “but by day five I just felt better than normal. Mental clarity was the main benefit really: I just felt less ‘weight’, which I think a lot of people feel without being aware of it.”

Josh started to make his own juices, and he’d be the first to say he’s learned a lot since those early days!

“Flavour-wise I wasn’t as good then as I am now, and they weren’t the most pleasant,” says Josh. “I wanted to go as green as possible and use as many vegetables as possible and hardly any fruit. Now I’ve realised that taste and enjoyment are really important too: I still use the same ingredients, but I’ve refined the ratios.”

Today Josh makes and sells a range of delicious juices that he delivers across the UK. “I’ve recently changed the way I sell my juices and they’re only available from my website at norfolkjuicery. com,” he says. “This way I can be sure they’re being consumed within five days of being made to ensure that the nutrients in the juices are still at their best. So if you order a three-week supply of juices we would deliver them to you every three days.”

The Norfolk Organic Juicery is meticulous about every aspect of their production, from sourcing locally-grown produce, to their juicing process.

“We work with a local supplier, Lawson’s Market Garden in Tilney St Lawrence,” says Josh. “Danny the farmer grows the most amazing organic produce, and I get as much as I can from him. It’s great that he’s just down the road, because it means the produce is really fresh: he harvests

it and brings it to me and I juice it the same day!”

Josh makes his juices using the ‘cold-press’ method: the fruit and vegetables are chopped and put into the juicer, and then pressed between two metal plates to extract the juice.

This method doesn’t generate any heat which can kill off nutrients in the juice.

“The juicer I started with was a big investment I had to have imported from California, but it was absolutely worth it,” says Josh. “My dad actually lent me the money to buy it; he saw me spending hours using my old juicer and wanted to help me out. I was so impressed by the benefits of the cold press method that I’ve since upgraded to a newer, state-of-the-art juicer.”

And Josh’s dad was one of the first people to work with Josh and try a juice cleanse.

“He was sceptical but once he tried it he was converted,” says Josh. “He felt great and he looked visibly healthier after just five days.”

Working closely with people in

this way and seeing positive changes is what’s inspired Josh to become a qualified nutrition coach.

“I will never stop promoting the benefits of juicing,” says Josh, “but I’ve come to see it as a part of an entire lifestyle change. I don’t want to see people finish a juice cleanse and then return to their old habits and undo all their progress. I’m passionate about how I can help people improve their health and make those changes stick. I’m a combination of a nutrition scientist and a life coach – and I make great juice!”

If you’d like to talk to Josh about a course of nutrition coaching, contact him on 07794 689142 or email hello@norfolkjuicery.com

PICTURES: All of Josh’s extensive range of juices are produced using his state of the art cold-press juicer (above). The end product!

The Replenish Cleanse is just one of the choices available (right)

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Properly garnished roast hen pheasant Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 2 pheasants (giblets and innards removed but retained for the gravy) 2oz softened butter 8 thin slices of smoked streaky bacon 4 medium-sized potatoes, very thinly sliced on a mandolin

1

Place the pheasants on a trivet over the giblets and innards in a roasting tray. Coat well with the butter and season. Pre heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas6

2

Fill a deep saucepan 1/3 with sunflower oil and heat to 160C. Cook the potatoes in batches to keep the oil hot until lightly golden. Make the bread sauce now.

3

Roast the pheasants for 15 minutes, lay the bacon over and cook for another 20 minutes. Take the bacon off once crisp and take the breasts off the bone, put the carcass back in the tray. Remove the legs and cook them on the trivet for another 20 minutes. Rest the breasts and legs in a warm oven while you make the gravy and cook the sausages.

8 chipolatas bread sauce fried breadcrumbs salt and pepper oil for frying the potatoes 1tbsp redcurrant jelly (optional)

4

Add a glass of red wine to the roasting tray residue.

Reduce this by 2/3, then add a pint of chicken stock or water from the vegetables. Reduce again by half over a high heat, and strain. Add the redcurrant jelly.

5

For the breadcrumbs, blitz 4 slices of crust-removed stale bread in a blender until fine.

Melt 50g (2oz) of salted butter in a heavy frying pan and add the breadcrumbs, turning them frequently. Fry until golden.

6

Serve the pheasant breast sliced with the bacon, sausages, bread sauce and a little of the thigh. Finally, sprinkle over the crumbs and pour over some gravy.

Recipe by Galton Blackiston

MORSTON HALL

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ABOVE: Local pubs such as The Greenland Fishery (opposite and below) were at the very heart of the local community, but many of them have now been lost - with only a few traces of them remaining

Raising a glass to the lost riverside taverns of Lynn

There was a time when the local pub was the centre of local life, politics, commerce and entertainment, but as Dr Paul Richards explains, much of that was lost with the coming of the railways...

T

he new railways may have started robbing Lynn of its river traffic and coastal shipping, but White’s Directory for the town in 1854 confirmed that the Great Ouse was “a forest of masts.” King Street, Queen Street and Nelson Street ran parallel with the river and had extensive warehouses and wharfs behind them, “extending from the Common Staithe or Quay to the Boal and the White Friars, where numerous ships are at anchor.”

The imprint of the 18th century is evident today in the classical facades found in King Street, Queen Street and Nelson Street, and a variety of Georgian and Victorian wine and corn merchants lived in these grand riverside mansions.

Here were also numerous public houses and many overcrowded yards

– all associated with Lynn’s maritime society.

These taverns weren’t simply venues for sailors and port workers to drink and enjoy the company, but they provided lodgings and operated as useful job centres. Publicans were in an ideal position to learn of employment opportunities on ships and the nearby river. Many mariners were recruited (and even paid) in the taverns which also hosted their benefit clubs to help sick or unemployed fellows. Skittles and dominoes were played, and good food and drink encouraged evening sea song sessions.

There’s no doubt that many of Lynn’s public houses were losing custom by the 1890s, and licensing magistrates were clear about the reasons. The major cause was the

decline in the number of sailing ships whose crews used to throng the riverside streets. Such vessels were rapidly being replaced by steamers – which needed far fewer mariners.

Greenland Fishery today

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ABOVE: Surviving buildings that were once home to public houses in King’s Lynn include the former Valiant Sailor on Nelson Street (left) and The Plough (centre) and The Lamb (right), both of which are on the town’s King Street

Moreover, parliamentary legislation had stopped men being paid in public houses.

In 1903, the licensing magistrates identified clusters of public houses in certain streets, with the riverside establishments prominent; there were 18 in King Street and Queen Street, and 19 more in Church Street, Bridge Street and Boal Street. These were the taverns favoured by the mariners of Lynn and other domestic and foreign ports, but they were no longer the busy community centres when publicans “reaped a rich harvest.”

The police and magistrates recommended several riverside taverns for closure as the clientele fell. An Act of Parliament in 1904 allowed local authorities to remove licences and pay compensation when a public house was judged to be redundant. In the five years between 1906-1911 at least 37 licensed premises closed in Lynn – an average rate of over seven a year.

King Street once had more taverns

than any other riverside street – and even Bagge’s brewery until 1929. The street elevation still stands, and it supplied several public houses in the street including The Royal Oak and The Plough, which were next door! The latter hostelry (at 14 Kings Street) has survived for residential and office use since it closed in 1912.

Today‘s 28-32 King Street was once The Lamb Inn, which actually had a microbrewery until it closed in 1910.

Its publican had been Jacob Hinds, who purchased smoked herring from a fishmonger’s in St Ann’s Street – which is now part of True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum.

The Shakespeare Inn in King Street was next door to St George’s Guildhall, and the premises partly remain. At the turn of the 20th century the publican was Arthur Horn, who was also a carpenter. His wife Mary was three years younger at 46, and was undoubtedly involved with running the bar and household. They had four sons and four daughters.

They also had a boarder called Walter Osborne, who managed the stables off the street where up to six horses could be kept. The hostelry closed in 1914.

You won’t find a public house in Queen Street today, but up until 1914 visiting

sailors and local citizens had at least seven to choose from. The Three Crowns had been the favoured retreat of retired master mariners, but had few customers by 1912 and duly shut its doors. The former tavern is now a private house and is remembered by ‘Three Crowns Yard’ which links the street and river.

In his Personal Recollections (1891) J.D. Thew tells us how the public houses in the riverside streets thrived because of Lynn’s teeming maritime population.

He refers to The Duke of Wellington in Nelson Street, where the landlord (1822-45) made “a small fortune.” – it was closed in 1892 and demolished.

Happily The Valiant Sailor Inn in the same street has survived. It was tied to Bagge’s brewery in King Street until 1925, when referred for compensation and closure.

In Bridge Street, the famous Greenland Fishery had Henry Crome as the licensed victualler in 1901, but it had closed by 1921. The Beehive was close nearby, but that had shut its doors in 1913 – it’s now an architect’s office.

It is quite remarkable that in a single generation Lynn’s traditional maritime society – which had been interwoven with riverside taverns – had virtually disappeared. Thankfully, it can partly be rediscovered on historic pub tours as many former public houses are today desirable town houses.

The book Lost King’s Lynn by Dr Paul Richards will be published later this year, and will feature a chapter dealing with Lynn’s lost riverside taverns in greater depth.

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Yo co w o

Enjoy your conservatory all year round

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Your local professional in Conservatory Roof Replacement can help.

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• 40 YEAR WARRANTY provided by Leka Systems • Helps to regulate temperature throughout the year • No aluminium to cause cold bridging (or to condensate or sweat) • Quick installation by craftsmen with years experience

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• 10 years insurance backed guarantee from Homepro • Reduces noise by at least 90% • Velux Windows to retain internal light • Building regs covered by JHAI BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Contact DAVID MAYNARD to find out more - the only registered installer in the area!

01553 602088 | sales@lynnframe.co.uk | www.lynnframe.co.uk

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We can install your TV Aerials & Satellite Systems regardless of your provider

• Mulitroom Systems • Anglia & BBC East available in all areas • Freesat • Repairs & Services

Tel: 01553 674 950 Mobile: 07887 923 115

www.klearvuaerials.com

55 Lynn Road, Terrington St Clement, King’s Lynn PE34 4JU

THROUGHOUT JANUARY

EXPERT KNOWLEDGE • COMPETITIVE PRICES

•

PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION

30 Tower Street, Kings Lynn. PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 774798 Email: sales@cooperandelms.co.uk Website: www.cooperandelms.co.uk

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Lettingbetter Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning landlords and tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director

Damien Simone

Quickfact The Conservatives have committed to introduce Lifetime Rental Deposits to help renters reduce the costs when moving between properties.

A Fresh Start

H

appy New Year and welcome to the first Letting Better article of 2020. There is a lot of negativity in the private rented sector at the moment and some would say rightly so. A significant proportion of those “some” would probably also say that I’m one of the promoters of it when writing this feature every month and arguably that’s true as well.

Since finishing secondary education, I have always worked within lettings and property management and until the most recent changes that have taken place in the last two years, I have found it a challenging but pleasurable career choice. The industry has suffered nothing short of a legislative battering recently with pro-tenant organisations and the tax authorities literally rewriting the law for landlords and agents alike.

In 2016 185 agents closed due to insolvency which was a peak of 16% on the previous records. Since then, a

combination of the specialist solicitors for tenants’ rights and the Tenant Fee Ban Legislation and the new financial burdens on landlords nearly 500 estate and letting agents closed their doors for good last year. That’s almost 10 per week and more than 10 per county, in 1 year! That is quite a cull by most people’s standards and you only have to look at how many agents are no longer operating in our town to see the effect of this first-hand.

Landlords more than ever before should be seeking the advice of qualified agents to ensure their compliance with all of the legislative pitfalls that have been engineered into the process as well as how to handle other challenging aspects such as Housing Standards inspections etc and this is becoming harder when the choice is being narrowed.

That all sounds rather bleak on the surface, but the reality is if you are one of the landlords who gritted your teeth through the turmoil of the change,

Edmonton Estates Ltd, Nelson House, Bergen Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2DE 01553 660615 • www.edmontonestates.co.uk • info@edmontonestates.co.uk

the worst point is nearly behind you.

And if you are debating whether you want to purchase a property for investment or pension then other than the singular cost of the additional stamp duty your anticipated income starting today will be based on the current financial requirements so you can plan accordingly. All that’s left is clarification on whether Section 21s will be dissolved and the loss of this will have little to no bearing on evicting the most problematic tenants.

The state of the private rented sector now really is a matter of perspective and quite honestly, we’ve endured just about the worst that could be thrown at us already, so my attitude is one of positivity.

Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists

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In the middle of winter, there’s nothing quite like coming home to a warm and welcoming atmosphere. On the following pages you’ll find a collection of inspired ideas from local stores that will keep you cosy and add a touch of quality and style to your home...

Fabrics by Clarke & Clarke

SEW & SEW King’s Lynn

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Navy velvet cushion

BAREFOOT LIVING

Burnham Market Galleria rug

Reclaimed wood bed frame

ALDISS

Fakenham

BED TIME BED CENTRE King’s Lynn & Wisbech

Sea salt and oak moss candle & grey striped throw

BAREFOOT LIVING

Burnham Market

Grey sparkle mosaic table lamp

ELSE FURNISHERS Wisbech

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Stove top kettle

ALDISS

Fakenham Check fabrics & Check throw in raspberry

POPPI INTERIORS Swaffham

Chrome bed frame

BED TIME BED CENTRE

King’s Lynn & Wisbech

Fireline fireplace

KR FIREPLACES King’s Lynn 98

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Visit our 35,000ft2 showroom Full of top quality furnishings from the store that puts customer care and service above all else!

JANUARY SALE NOW ON Showroom open 7 days a week: Mon to Fri: 8.30-5 Sat: 9-5 Sun: 10-4

BEDROOM | LIVING ROOM | DINING ROOM | CARPETS | ACCESSORIES Tel: 01945 410226

www.elses.co.uk

Leverington Common, Wisbech PE13 5JN

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January Sale?

No, simply great service and quality products at competitive prices day in, day out…

View our full ranges at our showroom or contact us for more information.

01553 773938 sales@lynncarpetcentre.co.uk lynncarpetcentre.co.uk Bergen Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG

FIREPLACES | STOVE S | GRANI TE WORKTOPS

Poppi INTERIORS

Turn an old chair into your favourite chair Visit the ONLY fireplace showroom in King’s Lynn Full range available of Morris & Co wallpapers and fabrics.

All can be made into beautifully handcrafted upholstery, blinds, curtains and lampshades.

Curtains • All blind types • Upholstery • Lampshades & more

19 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA | 01760 722541 www.poppiinteriors.co.uk

Austin Fields, King’s Lynn, PE30 1PH tel: 01553 772564 | web: www.krfireplaces.co.uk

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New year, new bathroom

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Time for a new bathroom? Let bathco offer you amazing choice – paired with exceptional levels of customer service

f your new year’s resolution is to install a gleaming, luxurious new bathroom for a surprisingly reasonable price, then a visit to a bathco showroom is your first step. Rip out those tired tiles and stained sinks and replace them with your pick from a huge range of stylish products, all backed up by exceptional workmanship and customer service.

Providing this exceptional customer service to both retail and trade customers whatever the scale of the job has been the secret of bathco’s success, and since it was founded in 2002 by Managing Director Stuart Gardner. The firm’s ‘improve and develop’ culture has seen it grow and today it has a showroom and extensive warehouse in King’s Lynn, and two further showrooms in Thetford and Dereham.

“We’re still a family firm and we haven’t forgotten the importance of personalised customer

service,” says General Manager Stuart Marsden. “but we have the expertise and range of products to compete with any national chain. So if you’ve walked into our showroom to choose one new family bathroom, or you’re in the building trade and you need twenty, you’ll get exactly the same exceptional support.”

Every bathco customer can access their free design service; you’ll get expert advice and once you’ve made your initial choices you’ll be able to see a virtual 3D design on a big screen within minutes. If bathco are overseeing the installation of your bathroom, you’ll be assigned a knowledgeable project manager who’ll be on hand throughout, and can make site visits to support you.

And with that quality service goes equally high-quality products: bathco have created their own brands: e:thos, Carino,

Modello and Hydrowall. “Having our own trademarked product ranges makes us special,” says Stuart. “All our customers appreciate the wide choice we offer, and our trade customers especially like being able to visit our warehouse and see the whole range for themselves, and then take stock away the same day.”

Bathco provide comprehensive product warranties (ranging from five years to a lifetime) and a special oneyear guarantee on all workmanship.

Other benefits Bathco offer to trade customers are local next day delivery, free local delivery, and exclusive trade discounts.

Whatever your requirements for a new bathroom – big or small, traditional or modern, one or a dozen – bathco can help. Visit one of their showrooms today and try their outstanding customer service for yourself.

Tel: 0330 1239 334 | Web: www.bathcoeu.com | E-mail: enquiries@bathcoeu.com KING’S LYNN: Hardwick Industrial Estate PE30 4HG | DEREHAM: 35 Yaxham Road NR19 1HD | THETFORD: Unit 1, Station Lane IP24 1ND

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Quality in Craftmanship Since 1995

uPVC, Timber and Aluminium Windows | Doors | Orangeries | Conservatories | Roofline Flat Roofing Garage Doors | Glass Balustrades & Balconies | Aluminium Seamless Gutters

Tel: 01553 829240 www.fenlandwindows.co.uk

Thurlow House, 71 Sutton Road, Walpole Cross Keys, King’s Lynn PE34 4HD

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Brighter new floors for a brighter new year...

There’s no better way of starting the new year than by treating your stone and tiled floors to the professional services of Xtraclean

I

t’s a new year, and the perfect way to welcome in 2020 and brighten up the gloomy winter days is to treat your stone and tiled floors to the amazing cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean.

Though they look fantastic when they’re first laid, hard floors, ceramic tiles and natural stone all have a tendency to attract dust and debris and everyday foot traffic only serves to work it into the floor’s contours and grout lines.

The good news is that all it takes to bring your floors back to their very best and give them an ‘as new’ look (in less than a day!) is a phone call to Xtraclean.

“If your stone or tiled floor has been fitted professionally it deserves an equally expert approach to cleaning,”

says Martin. “For over 25 years we’ve been restoring floors all over Norfolk – and we use the most advanced and powerful cleaning system currently available in the UK.” Xtraclean’s highly skilled, trained and experienced technicians offer a reliable, fully-insured and friendly service (they’ll even move your furniture for you!) and following an initial survey and test of your floor they’ll get to work – breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling.

“Our state-of-the-art turbo ‘clean and capture’ system pressure cleans the floor using its own water supply,” says Martin, “and it even captures all the waste in the process – means you have with no mess and no fuss.”

Moreover, Xtraclean’s service doesn’t use harmful chemicals or invasive procedures such as grinding and resurfacing, which can actually

damage the floor – the results are truly spectacular.

“These aren’t the easiest surfaces in the world to clean,” says Martin, “but our powerful system and professionalgrade products can bring even heavily-soiled floors back to their very best. And we can usually do it all in a single visit!”

And Xtraclean can even help you ‘lock in’ those good looks and keep them for even longer, thanks to a professional range of specialist sealing products.

“To be honest, you have to see the results to really believe them,” says Martin. “Just ask our customers – they can hardly believe it’s the same floor!”

Get your floors back to their best today by contacting Xtraclean using the details below for extra-professional cleaning and an extra-special service.

Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk KLmagazine January 2020

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A famous victory and a golden opportunity Great Britain’s gold medal for women’s hockey at the 2016 Rio Olympics was a memorable moment for millions, but for local writer Sarah Juggins it was also the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream...

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F

“In essence, we were simply the narrators of a fabulous sporting story.”

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IMAGES: © Frank Uijlenbroek/Koen Suyk - WorldSportPics

or hockey fans across the UK, Friday 19th August 2016 was one of those “where were you?” moments. Because that was the day when nine million viewers in Britain and several thousands in Rio de Janeiro cheered themselves hoarse as Great Britain’s women’s hockey team beat the red-hot favourites (Holland) to win our first-ever gold medal in women’s hockey.

It was an incredibly tense match.

King’s Lynn-born head coach Danny Kerry had planned the Olympic campaign meticulously, and everything went according to plan – including the final.

Kerry and his team had expected to spend most of the match defending – which they did with stoic heroism.

They also made their chances count.

The formidable Dutch team inevitably made dozens of chances, but they only scored three goals – whereas Great Britain scored on each of their three meaningful attacks.

The match went to a shoot-out, a nail-biting way to decide a result as a single attacker takes on the goalkeeper in a gladiatorial contest that lasts a mere eight seconds.

Great Britain’s Maddie Hinch was in outstanding form and saved all the Dutch attempts on her goal.

Hollie Webb, in contrast, scored her attempt and in doing so gave her team the lead – and the groundbreaking gold medal.

For myself, along with millions of others, this was ‘the’ moment of the Olympic Games, and as a freelance writer working mainly for international hockey publications I fully expected a book to be written about the victory and its significance for women in sport.

But as time went on it became apparent that no-one was taking up the challenge of committing the incredible story to paper – and since I’d had a lifelong ambition to write a book, it seemed that our Olympic champions had offered me the chance to make that dream come true.

I spoke to a colleague at the International Hockey Federation, Richard Stainthorpe (who by a strange coincidence is also from Norfolk) and we decided to approach the Great Britain team, to see if they’d be happy for us to interview the players and coaches with a view to writing a book that recounted the 2016 Olympic campaign.

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Team GB – both really liked the idea and Richard and I set about pitching the book to publishers.

Looking back, it was all a bit surreal to be honest. We spoke to three publishers, and two of them wanted to work with us. We chose a publishing house called Pitch Publishing and set ourselves a writing schedule that would see us writing 60,000 words in just over two months.

The story itself begins in 2004 when the Great Britain hockey team was at an all-time low. It had failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Athens and the governing body was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Over the next 12 years, both the national governing body and the women’s hockey team slowly dragged themselves back into a position from where they could compete against the world’s top nations. The recovery began with the appointment of Danny Kerry – itself a brave move, as the man from west Norfolk man was a young and relatively untested coach.

But Kerry was more than up for the challenge, and willing to learn, to adapt and to change.

Our book takes the classic approach of rags to riches – but although we have a lot of heroes in the cast, we don’t have too many villains. There are players who are now household names such as Sam Quek and Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh – who became the first same-sex partners to win an Olympic medal as team mates. At the same time we talk about the unsung heroes, in particular the players who’d been part of the 2012 bronze medal winning

LEFT: Under an Orange Sky (also by Sarah Juggins and Richard Stainthorpe) tells the story of the formidable Dutch women’s hockey team at the 2018 Vitality World Cup in London

team that had paved the way for the 2016 win.

In truth, the story wrote itself. It was a work of nonfiction, so we didn’t have to come up with a plot. It had plenty of drama and excitement, so we didn’t have to work too hard at that either. In essence, we were simply the narrators of a fabulous sporting story.

I think the thing that made the book the success it became was the photograph gallery we were given access to. Frank Uiljenbroek and Koen Suyk are two award-winning Dutch photographers, and they were generous enough to give Richard and myself access to all their images – and these incredible shots raised the story to a new level.

Three months after we started work on it, The History Makers was delivered and I was both amazed and delighted with the end product.

However, the story doesn’t quite end there. Richard and myself went on a publicity tour – schools, colleges and hockey clubs were keen for us to speak about the Great Britain victory as well as the writing process. If we were able to take a player or two along then we were welcomed even more warmly.

We then got a call from

Jane Camillin at Pitch Publishing to say we’d been shortlisted for the National Sports Book Awards to be held at Lord’s cricket ground. We were thrilled but also very nervous about the prospect of sharing the room with well-known sports writers and sporting celebrities.

We persuaded two of the team, Georgie Twigg and Hannah MacLeod to come along as well, but we certainly had no hopes of anything other than a mention in dispatches.

Our table was littered with empty wine bottles by the time it came to the announcement of the winners, and I had to double check with Jane before taking a slightly weaving route from our table to the stage to collect the award for Thompson-Reuters Illustrated Sports Book of the Year.

Somehow, we gathered our thoughts enough to make a coherent speech.

The final part of this story took place a few hours later – as we were talking to Jane and her brother Paul, who run Pitch Publishing between them, we mentioned that a Hockey World Cup was taking place in London later that year. Which is how Under an Orange Sky came to be written – the story of the Netherlands’ victory at the 2018 World Cup was mine and Richard’s second collaboration.

And we’re both looking forward to Tokyo 2020. Who knows what literary opportunity this year’s games may offer?

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ABOVE: Olivia Allen (left) who has just begun training for her ACCA qualification with Taylor Hammond (right) who has recently become a fully qualified accountant. Credit: TMS Media

Thinking ahead to safeguard your finances...

Whatever the future holds, you can be sure of one thing – you’ll have to pay taxes. That’s why Stephenson Smart invests in the next generation of accountants and tax specialists...

A

lthough Stephenson Smart has over 100 years of history to call on, the worlds of taxes and business finance change on an almost daily basis – so it’s good to know that the company continues to inspire the next generation of accountants.

At the moment, Stephenson Smart has 28 trainees employed across its six offices, all of whom are studying for an

AAT, ACA or ACCA qualification, with many of them offered opportunities fresh out of school. The King’s Lynn office alone has 14 new starters – in addition to two other employees working towards a payroll degree with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

Many already plan to take further exams to specialise in specific areas, or to become chartered tax advisors.

Taylor Hammond has just completed seven years of intense study, is AAT and ACA qualified, and already holds her own portfolio of clients, while Olivia Allen recently stepped onto the training rungs after turning her back on university life.

“I started a degree in English Literature but realised I wasn’t really enjoying it,” she says. “I’d always had an interest in finance because my father is a financial advisor, and I’d always heard good things about the training at Stephenson Smart. I really love the consistency and it helps me have a better work/life balance.”

Stephenson Smart allows 20% of the trainees’ work time for study, and has a dedicated manager to support each individual’s career journey.

Taylor Hammond began working for Stephenson Smart in 2012 and has already achieved her AAT and ACA. “After studying for so long I miss it in a way, but I’m very proud to have achieved everything I have,” she says.

“I think new trainees benefit from the support of the rest of the team around them – they’re brilliant!”

Stephenson Smart now has the largest contingent of trainees for several years, which bodes well for the future.

“It is really important for us to have an open door policy for all ages,” says partner Claire Melton FCCA TEP. “We’ve developed a really exciting career programme, and one of our managers is specifically tasked with supporting the trainees throughout the various stages. We only pick the best candidates, and we’re extremely lucky to have such talented young people here in Norfolk. All the partners are very confident that Stephenson Smart will build on our traditions of excellent service and are determined to develop a next-generation workforce for the future – for individuals and for business.”

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The art of turning the boring into the beautiful They don’t have mountains or valleys and you won’t find any waterfalls or lakes, but for artist Fred Ingrams the Fens provide the most amazing landscapes in the country. KL magazine talks to him about his work

F

or the past 11 years, local artist Fred Ingrams has been doing the seemingly impossible.

Producing beautiful paintings of a landscape that’s been described as the least-loved in the country.

For Ingrams, the Fens are a constant souce of inspiration, and that point at which the borders of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire merge into one brutally-straight horizon has

enabled him to produce paintings of true beauty. A little abstract and slightly surreal, the astonishing work of Fred Ingrams will have you looking at the Fens in an entirely new way.

KL magazine: Did you always want to be an artist?

Fred Ingrams: To be honest, I can’t remember a time when I wanted to be anything else. Which was pretty

lucky, as I wasn’t actually any good at anything else!

KL magazine: Is it true that you were expelled from the prestigious St Martin’s School of Art for refusing to use oil paints?

Fred Ingrams: Not quite. When I was a student, I had to move from Camberwell to St Martin’s because the former wouldn’t continue to teach me

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“I hope my paintings make people look at the Fens in a new light and see them as truly beautiful – as I do...”

KL magazine: Since your father Richard was a co-founder of Private Eye and the founding editor of The Oldie (both of which are famously irreverent) do you think you may have a naturally rebellious nature?

Fred Ingrams: In a word, yes!

KL magazine: You worked as a graphic designer and art director on The Sunday Times, Tatler, Vogue and House & Garden but gave it all up for the Fens – how on earth did that come about?

Fred Ingrams: It’s a long story, but I was always a graphic designer to

support my family and my painting.

Eventually, I was making more money from painting so I was able to give up design and paint on a full-time basis – and that happened once I started painting the Fens.

KL magazine: What is it about the “least-loved landscape in Britain” that first appealed to you as an artist?

Fred Ingrams: I’ve always loved the paintings of the American artist Richard Diebenkorn, especially his Californian landscapes from the late 1950s/60s.

When I first saw the Fens I realised I’d found the landscape I wanted to paint.

It allowed me to express landscape –

if I wanted to paint in acrylics. Which I did. I was then expelled from St Martin’s for being a “disruptive influence.”

Kl magazine: Many painters will cite artists like Picasso, Raphael and Caravaggio as their influences – but I’ve a feeling your artistic inspirations were far more contemporary.

Fred Ingrams: The streets of Soho in the 1980s were my stomping ground, so my artistic heroes ended up being Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach, Michael Andrews – what’s now known as the London School.

KL magazine: It’s been reported that Francis Bacon bought one of your early paintings – did that actually happen?

Fred Ingrams: It did. Bacon bought one of my nudes in 1987 at a show called The New Contemporaries held at the Birch and Conran Gallery in Soho.

KL magazine: The art world ‘establishment’ generally frowns down on acrylics, and says you shouldn’t be painting in squares or be placing your horizons in the middle of the work – but you’re successfully doing all three of them. Is that being deliberately provocative?

Fred Ingrams: Not at all. It’s just a case of realising the rules you‘re taught don’t apply to everything you paint – and that is especially true when it comes to painting the Fens. Those rules are very rarely taught anymore, because there are no longer any rules in art.

ABOVE: Fred Ingrams at work in his studio at home, making the Fens more beautiful than ever

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much like Diebenkhorn – in the space between realism and abstraction.

KL magazine: Although such a relentlessly flat landscape may seem the easiest thing in the world to paint, there’s obviously a lot more to it than that. How do you work?

Fred Ingrams: You’d be suprised because it really isn’t easy! The writer Edward Storey was really inspired by the Fens, and he once wrote it was impossible to paint. Every time I go out to paint the Fens I try to prove him wrong!

KL magazine: How do you want people to ‘see’ your paintings – is there a particular response you’re hoping to evoke from them?

Fred Ingrams: Rather unfashionably, I want people to find my paintings beautiful. Most contemporary art these days is ugly, angry or trying to ram some political point down your throat. Beauty in art is sneered at by the art world. I hope my paintings make people look at the Fens in a new light and see them as truly beautiful – as I do.

KL magazine: If you could display a single piece of art at home (other than your own of course!) what would it be?

Fred Ingrams: The 1957 painting Seawall by Richard Diebenkorn. I first saw this painting in 1991 at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. It’s always been a inspiration for me and an influence on my work – both for its colour and for its composition. It’s in stark contrast to Paul Nash’s famous painting Sea Wall.

KL magazine: What are you working on at the moment?

Fred Ingrams: I’ve just finished a oneweek residency at Snape Maltings, and I’m now working on a series of paintings of the Flow Country in the far north of Scotland.

KL magazine: Where can we see more of your work?

Fred Ingrams: I’m having a one-man

ABOVE: Just two of the paintings Fred Ingrams has produced of the landscape he fell in love with when he moved out of London - and continues to be inspired by

show in London in September, and I’ll also be featured at various group shows around the country this year. Full details can be found on my website at www. fredingrams.com and you can always follow me on Instagram @fredingrams

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Michael Middleton’s

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W

elcome to 2020, which is a year undoubtedly full of possibilities and potential, but what they are is anyone’s guess at the moment. Apart from being pretty sure that Norwich won’t win the Premiership and that the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Rotterdam, I haven’t got a clue what will be happening over the next 12 months.

To be honest, I have enough trouble worrying about what Mrs Middleton has planned for me over the next 24 hours.

If you’ve been keeping up with the experts’ view of the future, however, we’re in for a very special year indeed.

In that long-ago age known as 1994, the RAND Corporation said that by 2020 we’d be employing apes to carry out menial tasks for us. In his book Scientist Speaks Out, the scientist Glenn T. Seaborg (who was obviously was more interested in physics than catchy book titles) said that during the 21st century, those of us who couldn’t afford to have a robot in the spare cupboard would be relying on live-in apes to do the cleaning and gardening chores for us. In fact, the use of these well-trained animals as family chauffeurs would be helping decrease the number of automobile accidents.

So much for scientists. Apart from yours truly, there were no dumb animals in our house last time I looked (I can’t say the same for the rest of the village) and the idea of having monkeys driving around the A149 from King’s Lynn to Wells will either fill you with a sense of dread or déjà vu depending on

your point of view.

One of my favourite predictions for 2020 was made 60 years ago by the head of the American post office Arthur Summerfield, after an US submarine successfully delivered 3,000 letters using a nuclear missile – although someone kindly rememered to remove the warhead first.

“By 2020, mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to Britain, to India, or Australia by guided missiles,” Arthur enthused. “We’re already standing on the threshold of rocket mail.”

It’s a rather quaint idea, but it’s one that (excuse the pun) never really took off. Today, thanks to the development of e-mail I don’t need a guided missile and a few hours to contact someone on the other side of the world.

Which means that if you do happen see a nuclear missile in the skies above west Norfolk this year, take heed – because it’s unlikely to be delivering an inducement to switch your energy supplier or your latest credit card statement.

In the 1960s, the BBC broadcast a fascinating programme called Britain in the Future, which was rather optimistic about the speed of change but which did have an interesting few things to say about television.

The rather well-spoken narrator said that by 2020 “we can expect the screen to get bigger, but the set to get much slimmer. In fact, it might be possible to make the television set so slim that it could be hung on the wall.”

Less than 50 years later, the global

sale of wall-mounted brackets for flatscreen TVs is almost £3billion.

Apart from the remarkable foresight of the BBC, 2020 isn’t quite the world the experts predicted we’d be living in.

As far as I’m aware (though I’ll be happy to be proved wrong) not all women are over 6ft tall and built like wrestlers (they would be according to Dorothy Roe in 1950); we still have more than one toe on our feet (the other nine would be long gone by now, according to Dr Richard Clement Lucas in 1911); we’re still enjoying tea and coffee (in 1937 Nikola Tesla said they’d have gone out of fashion by now); and we’re not all earning £250,000 without actually doing any work – which a Time magazine predicted in 1966. In their April 1st edition, I fancy.

However, we should probably be raising our hats to a certain Gustave Bischoff, who was once president of the American Meat Packers Association.

Way back in 1913 he predicted that by now our diet would be largely vegetable-based because of a shortage of meat, and that even the wealthiest people in the world would be vegetarians by 2020. Although the prime mover towards a greenbased diet has been environmental impact rather than shortages, his farsightedness is rather impressive..

As anyone who’s watched the news over the last couple of years can tell you, predicting what will happen tomorrow is hard enough – but if I know anything (which Mrs Middleton will dispute) I know that we’re in for a very interesting year indeed.

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