KL Magazine March 2016

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 66 MARCH 2016 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE

Narborough Hall by Ian Ward

meet the team...

MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Murray MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward

SALES AND PROMOTION Daniel Thomas

contact

18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk www.klmagazine.co.uk KL 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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bove is just a small part of the sumptuous interiors of Felbrigg Hall, and if you’re finding your own spring cleaning slightly daunting, spare a thought to the National Trust team that looks after this 17th-century country house. They’ve recently overseen the installation of a new £30,000 carpet in the hall’s library.

Years in the planning and months in the making, it’s a beautiful replacement for the 19th century original, and gives the room a fabulous new look, as Richard Parr discovered on a recent visit to the property. You can read more about it on page 22 of this month’s magazine. With the brighter days and warmer weather, our thoughts are turning to the great outdoors, and even our natural environment is getting its fair share of care and attention at the moment – from the work of the Norfolk Rivers Trust on the county’s unique rivers to its newly-designated Marine Conservation Zone, which is quite literally swimming with underwater treasures.

Thanks to Paul Richards and Alison Gifford, you can enjoy some of the lesser-known chapters in the area’s history this month – and if you’d like to get up close and personal with our local heritage, you’ll find the forthcoming opening of Stories of Lynn particularly interesting (see page 16 for more details). And for a touch of the unusual, don’t miss reading about Peter Chown (page 36) and Dave Goodchild (page 104). While the former has enjoyed a lifetime of inventing amazing things, the latter has successfully built a working replica of a unique ancient mechanism. Incredible people with incredible stories!

We hope you enjoy the magazine.

KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine March 2016

Contents

MARCH 2016

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104

6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events

68-70 NORTONS’ DAIRY A natural taste of Norfolk’s finest

8-10 BURNHAM MARKET HORSE TRIALS A preview of next month’s event

72-80 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations

14 CORN EXCHANGE Forthcoming shows you won’t want to miss

78 RESTAURANT REVIEW A reader visits Biltons at Tottenhill

16-18 STORIES OF LYNN...

An exciting new chapter in the town’s story

84-86 SANDRINGHAM IN RUINS...

A hidden part of the Royal estate’s story

22-23 FELBRIGG HALL A stately approach to spring cleaning

90-92 REMEMBERING THE GREAT GALE Paul Richards on Lynn’s annus horribilus

28-30 WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL An all-round education that inspires

97 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas

36-38 NOW THERE’S A GOOD IDEA...

A profile of local inventor Peter Chown

98-100 A MARINE WONDERLAND Norfolk’s new Marine Conservation Zone

42 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

104-106 A CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE Dave Goodchild recreates an ancient wonder

44-46 MAYOR’S DESIGN AWARDS The restoration of 90 London Road

108 SAMARITANS Help and support in the workplace

54-56 NORFOLK RIVERS TRUST Helping preserve Norfolk’s unique rivers

110-112 NORFOLK CREATIVE ARTS The county’s newest art school opens

58-67 FASHION The latest looks from our local boutiques

122 MICHAEL MIDDLETON There’s always something to be scared of...

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MARCH Mon 29 Feb – Sat 5 Mar TOAST Matthew Kelly stars in gritty comic drama £8 - £25

Sun 20 Mar KEN DODD Legendary stand-up £7 - £23

Sun 27 March IRELAND’S CALL Irish music and dance £7 - £23.50

Tues 8 – Sat 12 Mar Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY Dazzling dance adaptation £8 - £39

Mon 21 – Wed 23 Mar ENGLISH TOURING OPERA Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride £8 - £36

Mon 28 March BEAR BEHAVING BADLY CBBC hit show on stage. 5+ £7 - £14

Mon 14 – Sat 19 Mar KING CHARLES III Robert Powell stars in unstoppably entertaining play £8 - £29

Thur 24 – Sat 26 Mar TAP FACTORY Breathtaking, dynamic world champion dancers £7 - £23.50

Tues 29 Mar – Sat 2 Apr HAIRSPRAY Claire Sweeney stars in smash hit musical comedy £8 - £45

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Book online:Twww.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk H E AT R E ST R E E T, N O RW I C H N R 2 1 R L S N E T T I S H A M PA R K Deer D eer Safari Safari Park Park & Farming Farming Attraction Attraction

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H C CELEBRATING ELEBRATING OUR OUR 3 30 0TTH ANNIVERSARY AN A NNIV VERSARY

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KLmagazine March 2016

March

40 YEARS AGO: On March 26th 1976, Queen Elizabeth II sent the first Royal e-mail, from the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment.

Wisbech Grammar School Events

Friday 4th CHARITY FASHION SHOW Russell Hall, Wisbech Grammar School, 47 North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JX (7pm) Wisbech Grammar School Sixth Form pupil Maddie Booth is organising a fashion show to raise money for Unicef. The evening of fashion and entertainment will include a catwalk featuring outfits from the school’s textiles department and surrounding local designer shops. In addition, there will be a live choir, raffle, dance act and auction. Ticket prices are £5 for adults and £3 for under 16’s and are available for purchase from Wisbech Grammar School Reception or on the door (subject to availability). There will be food and a bar available. If you cannot make the event but wish to donate, you can do so online at www.justgiving.com/Maddie-Booth.

Daily until Saturday 12th

CHANGING VISTA: OIL PAINTINGS BY LORRAINE BEWICK Greyfriars Art Space, 43 St James Street, Kings Lynn PE30 5BZ (10am-5pm) Norfolk based Painter Lorraine Bewick will be exhibiting her second solo show at Greyfriar's Art Space King’s Lynn. Lorraine's work is inspired by the Norfolk coastline and the constant changes both natural and those brought about by human intervention. Using aerial viewpoints of the coastline has given her the opportunity to play with pattern and shapes made by tidal flow and erosion. Lorraine strives to capture that notion of constant change. Visit her website www.lorrainebewickart.co.uk for more information.

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th Saturday 19th EASTER EGG HUNT Wisbech Grammar School, 47 North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JX (10am-12pm) Join us for a fun-packed Easter egg hunt at Magdalene House, the Preparatory School for Wisbech Grammar School.

The Easter egg-stravanganza is free of charge and includes a chocolate prize for all participants. All families are welcome.

If you would like to join us, please call the Admissions Team on 01945 586750 or email Admissions@WisbechGrammar.com.

No bookings after Thursday 17th March.

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HOLIDAY HOME OWNERSHIP WEEKEND Searles Leisure Resort, Hunstanton, PE36 5BB (10am-4pm) Why not come and visit the award winning, 5 star Leisure Resort & Country Park to explore the easy options for holiday home ownership. If a holiday home is something you’ve been considering, then the open weekend is a fantastic opportunity to take a stroll around the selection of stunning show lodges. If a new lodge in our Country Park is not what you are looking for, then Searles has something to suit everyone at its leisure resort with pre-owned caravans from only £9,995 and pre-owned lodges from only £69,995.

Searles is a family resort with indoor and outdoor pools, gymnasium, hair & beauty, golf, bowls, fishing, tennis, not to mention the fantastic daytime activities and evening shows. For more information, e-mail holidayhome@searles.co.uk, call 01485 536026 or visit the websites www.searlesnorfolklodges.co.uk and www.searles.co.uk.

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March

Saturday 12th GLEBE HOUSE SCHOOL SKILLS & OPEN DAY Cromer Road, Hunstanton PE36 6HW (10am-1pm) Glebe House School, Hunstanton is opening its doors to children to enjoy up to two sessions at its first Skills Day. A range of sports activities, dance, drama, music and art will be on offer, alongside science experiments, robot workshops and woodland school sessions. Parents are invited to tour the school and find out more about two new scholarships being launched to support children with academic, sports, music and art ability. Call 01485 532809 to register your child’s place at the Skills Day.

Wed 30th March – Sun 3rd April SPRING EXHIBITION: COAST II Thornham Village Hall (A149 Coast Road between Thornham and Holme) PE36 6LX (Open daily 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm) The West Norfolk Artists Association invite you to join them at Thornham for their second Spring Exhibition at this exciting venue.

True to form, they will excite visitors with the versatility of their work, both contemporary and traditional, from paintings and photographs to textiles and sculptures – some with a twist! An unmissable event, displaying a delightful selection of local works of art. Admission is free. For further information contact chairman John Walker on 01485 520590 or visit the website www.westnorfolkartists.org.

Coming soon...

Fri 25th March - Sun 10th April

GIANT DUCK TRAIL Welney Wetland Centre, Hundred Foot Bank, Welney, Wisbech PE14 9TN (Daily 9:30am-5pm) Have fun searching for giant ducks this Easter! Look out around the site for GIANT ducks, collect all the clues to win a Freddo frog and a badge. Have a go at Easter crafts inside the centre if the weather turns cold, or explore the pond dipping stations when the sun comes out. Follow trails and search the footpaths for insects with your explorer backpack. All included in admission price. For more information visit the website www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/welney/ or call the centre on 01353 860711.

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Friday 15th April

POSITIVE AUTISM AWARENESS CONFERENCE The Dukes Head Hotel, Tuesday Market Place (9am-4:30pm) Excellent speakers and a fantastic cause bring together the West Norfolk branch of The National Autistic Society for a positive awareness conference. Speakers include Rosie Barnes - author of ‘Understanding Stanley’, Lynda Niles OT Associates, Anna Kennedy OBE, Holly Dunham and Michelle Gorrod - communication and therapy practitioners, Dr Melanie Bruce (clinical psychologist) and Sharon Jeffries (Autism and learning disabilities lead for Lincolnshire).

There will also be exhibitors and trade stands. Tickets are £15 for professionals, £10 for the public, £5 for members of NAS West Norfolk and £5 for disabled (carer is free). For more information and to book your place visit the website westnorfolknas.yapsody.com.

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PICTURES: JULIE WALKER/MEM

What’s On

ABOVE: Austin O’Connor, who represented Ireland at last year’s European Championships and Andrew Nicholson (opposite), who has represented New Zealand at six Olympic Games, seven World Games and has won no less than five Burghley Horse Trials titles

The world’s finest come to Burnham Market...

Next month, Burnham Market’s Sussex Farm will again provide a stunning setting for a field of elite athletes and their horses.

Hilary Manners previews three days of thrilling competition.

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he clock is ticking down to this year’s Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials, which take place during the school Easter holidays on 1st-3rd April, the weekend after Easter itself.

Many of the best Event Riders in the world will be descending on Sussex Farm, situated just inland from the North Norfolk coast, for a weekend of top class sport.

Competition for the headline CIC3* is likely to be even fiercer than usual this year, as Burnham Market is the first leg

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of an exciting new series, the Shearwater Insurance Tri-Star Grand Slam. Any rider who can win three of the five CIC3* classes in the series (which will run at five different horse trials across the country this season) will pocket an eye-watering £50,000.

Oliver Townend, top British Eventing points winner for the past two seasons, has posted four victories in the big class at Burnham Market since 2012 and, unsurprisingly, has already confirmed that he’ll be bringing his top team of horses in search of an early advantage.

Riders won’t just have their eye on a

foot in the door for that £50,000 bonus, however; Burnham Market has long been a key prep run for horses heading to the famous Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire a month later, or indeed the Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials in America a week earlier, two of the six CCI4* events held around the world each year.

“Burnham Market is the first event of the season that I really aim to be competitive at,” says Oliver Townend.

“It’s a perfect final fitness run for Badminton and Kentucky. It also has a great atmosphere. You get a really good

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PICTURES: JULIE WALKER/MEM

What’s On

ABOVE: Pippa Funnell (the only rider to ever win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing) has been on two medal-winning Olympic teams, represented Great Britain at two World Games and five European Championships (winning in 1999), taking team silver at last year’s Blair Castle Europeans. Pictured below is Oliver Townend, who has won Burghley and Badminton, represented Great Britain at two World Games and four European Championships, and has been the top British Eventing points winner for the last two years.

Norfolk crowd there who are very supportive of the riders, so it’s an event I always look forward to.”

He’s not alone. Top competitors such as William Fox-Pitt, Pippa Funnell, Mary King and Zara Phillips regularly travel the length and breadth of the country to run their horses at Burnham Market, making it a perfect place to enjoy a bit of autograph hunting. At the time of writing, entries have yet to open, but it’s safe to say that Oliver will have to work hard to claim the top prize yet again.

The weekend isn’t all about horses though. Children will be kept entertained by Cyril the Squirrel, popular clowns Razz & Auntie Pearl, a bouncy castle and bungee trampolines.

Numerous food outlets will keep the wolf from the door, while for those who enjoy a bit of retail therapy there’ll be a raft of trade stands, with exhibitor bookings growing daily.

Walking with the Wounded, Musketeer Event Management’s Official Charity for 2016, will also be at the event, happy to talk to people about the invaluable work they do in raising funds for the re-training of wounded members of the military and then supporting them in finding new civilian careers.

Regular visitors to the Horse Trials will

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have noticed a change in its name.

Musketeer Event Management are delighted to welcome a new title sponsor in the shape of fledgling Norfolk estate agency Barefoot Estates.

Barefoot Estates is a new venture for the team at Barefoot Retreats, North Norfolk’s luxury holiday cottage business. The boutique estate agency evolved out of regular requests to find properties for clients who had experienced the high standard of care and attention to detail synonymous with a Barefoot Retreats holiday.

“We’re really excited to be the title sponsor of Burnham Market International,” says Director and CoOwner Emma Tagg. “We believe this is the perfect opportunity to promote Barefoot Estates.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Helen Millin, also an Owner and Director of the new business.

“Burnham Market is a stone’s throw from our Thornham base,” she says, “so we’re really looking forward to meeting future clients over the three days.”

Musketeer Event Management, which has organised Burnham Market Horse Trials since its inception in 1999, is looking forward to welcoming both spectators and many of the world’s top event riders – a large number of which

will have their eye on a ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

So, put the dates in your diary – it’s a perfect way to entertain the family for a day or three. The Box Office is now open, and for more information and to book advance tickets (from £8 for an adult and £3 for a child) please visit www.musketeer.co.uk.

Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April 2016 Sussex Farm, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8AG

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What’s On

A musical March at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange!

A great selection of shows which make for the perfect night out...

THE DIRE STRAITS EXPERIENCE Thursday 3rd March | 7.30pm Featuring former Dire Straits members Chris White (saxophone) and Chris Whitten (drums) complimenting a brilliant band for an amazing show!

Re-creating the hits including Sultans of Swing, Brothers In Arms, Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life, Romeo And Juliet and So Far Away.

THE DRIFTERS Saturday 5th March 7.30pm The only official lineup in the world. This high energy show features many of the greatest hits including Under The Boardwalk, Saturday Night At The Movies, Up On The Roof, Kissin In The Back Row along with newer songs that

have evolved through the first new recordings in over 30 years.

A guaranteed musical extravaganza with a world-class band, production and some very smooth moves.

MEAT LOAF GREATEST HITS TOUR Thursday 10th March | 7.30pm Steve Steinman returns with his epic adventure delivering the best of the best from Meat Loaf’s incredible catalogue of albums. With incredible stage set, superb band and Steve Steinman’s unique sense of humour and stage presence, the show will include all the greatest hits including Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth, Anything For Love, Dead Ringer For Love and Bat Out of Hell.

THE THREE DEGREES Wednesday 30th March | 7.30pm The Three Degrees formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the group has remained a trio with two original members since Sheila Ferguson left. Known for their soulful voices, beautiful gowns and fabulous stage shows the concert will feature classic hits When Will I See You Again, Dirty Ol' Man and Take Good Care Of Yourself.

MORE MARCH SHOWS! ED BYRNE (16+) Wednesday 2nd March | 8pm

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY Monday 7th March | 7.30pm

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC Wednesday 9th March | 7.30pm

THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Saturday 12th March | 7.30pm

COMEDY CLUB (18+) Wednesday 23 March | Doors 7.45pm / Comedy 8.45pm

THAT’LL BE THE DAY Friday 25th March | 7.30pm

Tickets for all shows are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornexchange

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@klcornexchange

Alive Corn Exchange

KLmagazine March 2016

The West End comes to West Norfolk!

Visit the Corn Exchange this March as they host a week of the UK's longest running musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

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aving gained sensational reviews and standing ovations at every performance since its inception almost 35 years ago, Bill Kenwright’s ‘amazing’, ‘superb’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘brilliant’ production of this sparkling family musical has now sold an estimated 20 million tickets. This vibrant and exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed wall to wall with hits including Jacob & Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do. X Factor winner Joe McElderry gets set to put on the dazzling coat of many colours as he steps into the title role.

Joe was just 18 when he won the sixth series of The X Factor beating off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon. He then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climb and his debut album Wide Awake

went straight in at number 3 on the UK Album Chart. He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making. Joseph marks Joe’s first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who's, Tommy in 2012.

Britain’s Got Talent’s runner up Lucy Kay will play the Narrator.

Lucy scored her first number one album in 2014, after her stunning debut album Fantasia shot straight to the top of the Classical Album Chart. The singer, originally from Leicestershire, shot to fame and captured the country’s hearts on Britain’s Got Talent. Following her success on the show, Lucy also recorded the song Flower of Scotland with the band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Royal Navy and was also a special guest on Andrea Bocelli’s 2014 tour.

Joseph will also feature around 50 local children in the choir after auditions took place in January at Studio 19 in King’s Lynn.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Starring Joe McEld erry as Joseph & Lucy K ay as The Narrator

Tuesday 15th – Saturday 19th March Tuesday 7.30pm | Wednesday 2pm (last few tickets) & 7.30pm Thursday 2pm (last few tickets) & 7.30pm | Friday 5pm & 8pm Saturday 2pm, 5pm & 8pm Call the Box Office on: 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

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Local Life

ABOVE: A lucky youngster gets an early hands-on taste of the new Stories of Lynn exhibition, which opens later this month

An exciting new chapter in the story of King’s Lynn This month, Stories of Lynn will open in the revitalised Town Hall of King’s Lynn, featuring a fascinating interactive exhibition and one of the country’s most important document archives...

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or almost 600 years, the Town Hall and Trinity Guildhall of King’s Lynn have been a commanding presence in the centre of the town, and played a significant role in its history. This Easter, however, the buildings will start writing their very own chapter in the story of King’s Lynn with the completion of a multi-million pound project and the opening of Stories of Lynn.

Combining a fascinating exhibition, a collection of beautiful and rare artefacts and an extensive and nationally16

important archive, Stories of Lynn will be a unique attraction and research facility not just for King’s Lynn – but for the whole region. The Town Hall has been extensively redeveloped to allow visitors to discover the true stories of the seafarers, explorers, merchants, mayors, magistrates and miscreants who shaped the town and gave it its special character.

In medieval times, Lynn was a port of international importance and one of the largest towns in England. The town’s thriving economy and active political life have left a legacy of

amazing artefacts and an extensive archive, and Stories of Lynn brings these objects and documents to life in a stunning interactive and multi-media exhibition.

It begins in the newly-revealed and magnificently-vaulted undercroft of the 15th-century Trinity Guildhall as exhibits demonstrate how Lynn’s extraordinary history still shapes the life of the town today. While a timeline of objects immerses visitors into the history of Lynn, an exciting game teaches them about the Hanseatic League, the group of powerful trading towns and cities KLmagazine March 2016

ABOVE: This view of the Guildhall by local artist David Hodgson (1798–1864) is part of the King’s Lynn Town Hall collection and shows the now-vanished ‘Shambles’ to the left of the picture.

around the Baltic and North seas whose imprint on the town is visible to this day.

Lynn’s rich history as a borough is demonstrated as its most celebrated mayors come to life on the walls, sharing their stories with visitors. Children can dress up in mayoral robes, and examine place settings of meals that Lynn’s mayors would have enjoyed through different eras of history – it’s a novel way of making the exhibition a fun and rewarding experience.

Next, visitors will tour the Treasury, a dark and dramatic space specially designed to display King’s Lynn’s historic artefacts.

Taking centre stage is the famous King John Cup, a 14th-century drinking vessel, lavishly decorated in gilt and enamel.

This very rare example of a

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secular medieval cup and is accompanied by the King John sword and silver maces – magnificent regalia that’s still used today in the making of King’s Lynn’s mayor.

The exhibition continues to the Old Gaol House (built in 1784 for the sum of £400) where visitors can discover the building’s history as King’s Lynn’s magistrates court and gaol.

The carefully-restored gaol cells feature interactive exhibits that explore the lives (and deaths) of the town’s most notorious citizens.

Everyone will be intrigued by the story of one of Lynn’s residents; a schoolteacher and respected academic who was convicted of murder. Visitors can see his skull, and learn about the old-fashioned theory of phrenology – a ‘pseudoscience’ that linked bumps on a person’s head to certain aspects of their personality and character. On a lighter note, younger visitors can dress up as gaolers and prisoners, and examine a ducking-stool and leg irons at close (but not too close!) quarters.

There’s a lot more to Stories of Lynn than bringing history to life, however.

The project has also involved the creation of a dedicated learning resource room for visiting school groups, along with a changing exhibition space for in-house displays and learning and community work.

A new extension has been added to the rear of the Old Gaol House, housing a lift and stairs providing easy access to the historic first floor of the building – which contains the 15thcentury Stone Hall and the splendid Georgian Assembly Room and Card Room, which visitors can explore on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Stories of Lynn will also house the King’s Lynn Borough Archive, which is one of the country’s finest borough archives. It contains documents dating back to the 13th century, including King John’s royal charter of 1204 and continuing all the way to the 20th century records. The documents help to tell the story of King’s Lynn as recorded in the registers of freemen, accounts, minutes of the town’s governing bodies, court records, and many other sources.

Pride of place in the archive is taken by the Red Register, which dates from 1307 and is the oldest complete paper

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Local Life

ABOVE: The distinctive facade of King’s Lynn’s town hall and Trinity Guildhall have been a commanding presence in the town centre for almost 600 years

archival book in England.

A brand new and environmentallycontrolled document storage area has been created with the help of the Norfolk Record Office, and it sits alongside an archive resources room, equipped with a study area and computers. Visitors will be able (by appointment) to use the resources room with the assistance of an expert archivist to view these wonderful documents, while digitised versions of the documents will be accessible on the computers during (and even outside) the archive’s normal opening hours. The Norfolk Record Office, in collaboration with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, will provide staffing to the archive (which will open this spring), along with thousands of digitized images from key documents in the collection (right).

A programme of education opportunities – including ‘Ask the Experts’ sessions, themed masterclasses and an outreach programme – will be developed

by Stories of Lynn’s Learning and Engagement Officer, supported

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by the archivist.

Made possible by a grant of £1,850,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £800,000 from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, and investments from other funders, Stories of Lynn has revitalised the town hall complex, which will act as a fascinating gateway to the town’s other heritage sites including the Red Mount Chapel, neighbouring King’s Lynn Minster, Greyfriars Tower, True’s Yard, St. Nicholas’ Chapel and Lynn Museum.

King’s Lynn has a long and proud history, and thanks to this incredible project it’s clear the story isn’t over by a long way.

STORIES OF LYNN will be open seven days a week, from 10am-4.30pm, with last admissions at 4pm. Tickets will be £5 for adults and £3.50 for concessions and children. A family ticket (two adults and two children) will be £13.50. School groups will be charged £4 a pupil for a half day, or £5 a pupil for a full day.

An app that provides a fun, interactive accompanying guide to Stories of Lynn will be launched in the summer.

The app will be downloadable to all smartphones and tablets, free of charge.

KING’S LYNN ARCHIVE will be open Tuesday to Friday, from 12.30pm4.30pm, with last admissions at 4pm, and on the first Saturday in the month (excluding public holidays) from 10am-2pm, with last admissions at 1.30pm. There is no charge to visit the archive which will open this spring.

KLmagazine March 2016

West W est Nor Norfolk No folk Glass ss s A family bu business usiness sin us since 1967

OPEN PEN EN N D DA DAY AY Y 10am 1 0am am m – 12pm pm Saturday Saturd Saturda aturd daay 16 April A ill Visit V isit our Hereford Hereforrdd Way Way showroom showr wrroom to enter en Here Hereford eford Way, Way W ay, Har Hardwick dwick Nar Narrows, arrro ows, King’ Lyyn nn, Norfolk PE30 4JD 4 King’ss Lynn, www .we estn norfolkglass.co olkg kg o.u uk www.westnorfolkglass.co.uk

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KLmagazine March 2016

Successfully starting your own business...

Coming up with a business idea isn’t a static process and involves a lot of trial and error. Chris Goad BSc ACA of Stephenson Smart suggests how to begin the creative process f you’re thinking of starting a business, you first need to come up with a realistic idea you can turn into a product or service. It may sound like a daunting task, but the obvious place to start is with what you know.

Write down five things you’re particularly good at or enjoy – and five things you’re not so good at or dislike.

Now do the same with things that would make your life easier or happier – both at work and at home.

Try not to overthink it, and once you’ve finished look for patterns and links between what you’ve written – is there a need for a business doing one of the things you like or are good at?

This may not work for you (at least not at first) and I wouldn’t expect it to immediately give you the perfect business idea. It’s about starting a

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OUR BRANCHES

process whereby you begin to think about things in your personal and work life in a different way.

Inspiration can be found in the most unassuming of places. Keep your eyes peeled for the latest business news and trends – the world is moving at an ever increasing pace and as things change new opportunities are always arising.

Business can go in cycles, so don’t overlook tried and tested ideas either.

Today’s world may be very high-tech and digital, but the rise of interest in home-baking, vintage clothing and gardening is continuing, and concerns about energy efficiencies and recycling have given rise to a genuine revival of traditional services and trades.

Don’t try to be everything for everyone – the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach rarely works, and though

KING’S LYNN 01553 774104

GREAT YARMOUTH 01493 382500

WISBECH 01945 463383

FAKENHAM 01328 863318

DOWNHAM MARKET 01366 384121

MARCH 01354 653026

KLmagazine March 2016

we’ve all heard Henry Ford’s famous remark about the Model T it’s not actually true – his famous car was available in several colours other than black.

You don’t have to invent the next ‘big thing’ to be in business, and only a tiny fraction of new businesses develop a genuinely fresh idea or invention.

Most new businesses hone and develop existing well-established ideas, tailored to their locality and built on their own skillsets and passions. Apple didn’t invent the digital music player, smart phone or tablet – they took ideas that already existed, did them better, and added their own twist.

Talk to people you know – family, friends and work colleagues. The more people you talk to, the better you can refine your idea. Don’t worry about people stealing your concept; it’s not likely and you only have to discuss the general idea with them.

It’s not easy to come up with that initial idea to start a business, let alone develop it into a workable solution, but it’s important to always have confidence in yourself and the things you’re good at. Of course, determining what you want to do is only the first step – there’ll still be a lot of work ahead of you, but there are plenty of organisations out there that can help guide you through the process of starting your own business.

Stephenson Smart are specialist business start-up advisors and have been supporting local businesses for over 100 years.

Tax tips...

If you trade through a limited company you’ll no doubt have heard about the new rules on the taxation of dividends which take effect from 6th April. In cases where you have control over the amount of dividends you take, it may well be worth you drawing an additional lump sum dividend before the changes take effect. However, there may be other issues to consider such as loss of personal allowances or child benefit, so please contact us for individual advice tailored to your particular circumstances.

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KLmagazine March 2016

Local Life

ABOVE: The library at Felbrigg Hall now has a spectacular new carpet replacing its 19th century original, while the Hall’s drawing room now boasts some beautifully-restored curtains (opposite)

Felbrigg Hall’s stunning new look for Spring...

For most of us, replacing a carpet or cleaning our curtains is a relatively straightforward affair. For a Grade I listed property in Norfolk it’s another matter entirely, as Richard Parr discovers...

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s Spring approaches, many of us start to think about freshening up our homes and we consider just how we’re going to make our living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms look gleaming and sparkling. We may even think about replacing that rather tired carpet that’s covered the lounge floor for years or giving a new look to our windows with a smart new pair of curtains.

In a modest domestic house it’s a challenge that can fairly easily be faced and achieved, but imagine if you’re the custodian of one of East Anglia’s country houses, dating back to the mid-17th century.

KLmagazine March 2016

That’s the challenge recently faced at the National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall near Cromer, where a new multi-coloured carpet has been laid in the fine Gothicstyle library and curtains and pelmets restored at the three large windows in the Drawing Room. But at Felbrigg, an impressive Grade I listed Jacobean country house, these are no ordinary carpet and curtains.

The new £30,000 carpet replacing the original has been years in the planning and months in the making. It will have to withstand being walked on by thousands of pairs of feet – the Hall attracted an amazing 115,000 visitors last year.

The carpet has been created by The

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Local Life

Living Looms Project, a not-for-profit scheme based in Stourbridge that aims to preserve the country’s weaving heritage. Their late 19th century looms are believed to be the last of their kind in the world – and are thought to be the only ones capable of making such a replica.

Using traditional methods and the recently revived looms, they’ve not only produced a new carpet, but kept alive the skills required to make it in the process.

Following detailed analysis of the original library carpet at Felbrigg (which dates from around 1830) it was found to contain 34 different colours in a three-feet floral design – making it a rare surviving example of a printed tapestry carpet. The new carpet gives visitors a much better idea of the stately home’s former grandeur.

The original carpet’s pattern was traced and the colours carefully matched before being expertly woven in strips and sewn into one 80m2 piece.

Louise Green, House and Collections Manager at Felbrigg, said the order for the new carpet had been placed in 2012 following a long period of discussion.

“It took eight people to carry the new carpet up the Hall’s stairs and two days to lay it in the library, but the wait and the trouble was worth it,” she says. “It looks amazing. I was slightly concerned it would be really vibrant in the room, but it looks natural already.”

David Luckham from The Living

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Looms Project, said that looms saved from the scrapheap had been used, and two retired weavers had been brought back from retirement in Spain for six months to help in the process.

Despite the heavy foot traffic it’s likely to experience, the 100% worsted wool carpet should “last forever” he says.

It’s a spectacualr way to soak up the atmosphere of Felbrigg’s outstanding library, which was created by William Windham II between 1752 and 1755.

It contains approximately 5,000 books, while the ‘collection’ contains nearer 10,000 – including a copy of Dr Johnson’s famous dictionary and a book dating back to 1509.

Meanwhile, in Felbrigg Hall’s Drawing Room, around £40,000 has been spent to repair and restore three sets of heavy red damask curtains and pelmets for three large windows.

The work has been carried out by textile conservator Melanie Leach, from Aylsham in Norfolk.

Over the year, the silk drapes had become damaged and faded by the light. This specialist conservation work was mainly to the pelmets with more minor adjustments to the curtains. It was a one-off conservation project – and the curtains were taken down for cleaning and adjusted to make them all the same length.

While the curtain fabric was repaired, the small decorative wooden baubles hanging from the pelmets were also replaced with new ones – which had to be carved by hand and then wound

with silk thread. This part of the work was carried out by Clare Hedges, who discovered that the wood in the original baubles had been munched away by beetles!

It has been stressed that while restoration of the curtains was a oneoff project, conservation of the Felbrigg collection, which includes fabrics, furniture and paintings, is an on-going process.

The splendidly restored pelmets and repaired curtains now hang proudly in the Drawing Room. Known originally as the Great Parlour, this was the main reception room and dining room throughout the late 17th century It was panelled in oak and hung with pictures.

Re-modelled in 1751, the original ceiling dating back to 1687. The plasterwork, depicting the feasting of game birds, fruit and flowers, reflects the room’s original purpose.

The newly conserved pelmets and their matching curtains date back to the early 19th century, a time when the walls were also hung with the damask that remains to this day.

FELBRIGG HALL is open from Saturdays to Wednesdays until 30th October (and open seven days a week during local school holidays). Visiting hours are 11am-5pm (last entries at 4.30pm). For further information call 01263 837444 or visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg

KLmagazine March 2016

Behind all great carpets, you’ll find great underlay!

It may be out of sight, but underlay should never be out of mind

W

e spend a considerable amount of time choosing the perfect carpet for our homes, but pay very little (if any) attention to what’s underneath it – which is surprising as there’s a lot more to underlay than meets the eye.

“It’s amazing how many people take underlay for granted and tend to see it as an unnecessary extra,” says Alistair Allen of Metric Carpets in King’s Lynn.

“The simple fact is that no matter how much time and how much you spend on your carpet, you can spoil it with a poor choice of underlay.”

And if anyone knows about the importance of underlay it’s Alistair. He’s been fitting carpets for over 30 years now, and his family-run business (itself founded over 40 years ago) prides itself on a level of help and advice that’s as high as the quality of the carpets and flooring it offers.

“In choosing the right underlay for KLmagazine March 2016

your carpet you have to consider where it’s going and what the room is used for,” says Alistair. “Some underlay has been specially developed for stairs and areas with a lot of traffic, and some is designed to maintain a softer, more luxurious feel.”

At Metric Carpets you’ll find a wide selection of underlay suited for every room and for every carpet – including Ball & Young’s award-winning Cloud 9 collection, which is available in 12 different varieties and is guaranteed for the life of the initial carpet installation.

Indeed, that’s one of the secrets of good underlay – it’s actually a very sound investment.

“A good quality underlay will last for 15-20 years and can be used for two or three carpets,” says Alistair. “There’s often no need to replace it every time you replace your carpet – we’re still fitting carpets on underlay we first installed 15 years ago and it still works

perfectly well.”

Of course, one of the main functions of underlay is the retention of heat and warmth, but even if you have underfloor heating Metric Carpets has a range of underlays specifically produced to allow heat through from underneath – while still offering the benefits of protection and soundproofing.

“By helping you choose your underlay wisely, we can help you get more enjoyment and more life from your new carpet,” says Alistair. “When it comes to underlay, it may be out of your sight, but it should never be out of your mind!”

36 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AH Tel: 01553 775203 Web: www.metriccarpets.co.uk E-mail: info@metriccarpets.co.uk

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KLmagazine March 2016

The local experts for all your plumbing needs Enjoy a complete range of professional services from Premier Plumbing... s a 3rd generation plumber, you’d think that James Barwick has seen it all, but the founder of King’s Lynn based Premier Plumbing is still surprised how many people don’t have their oil boilers maintained and serviced regularly.

“A poorly-maintained boiler can cause you all sorts of problems,” he says. “It will become increasingly inefficient, unreliable and unsafe – until it finally breaks down. And don’t forget that an inefficient boiler will also mean you’re paying more for your fuel than you really need to.”

Boiler servicing and maintainence is just one of the services offered by Premier Plumbing, a family-run business that offers a professional approach to all types of plumbing work from leaking and burst pipes to complete bathroom design and installations.

“We pride ourselves on truly excellent customer service,” says James, “and feel we stand out from the crowd through

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KLmagazine March 2016

an outstanding, hassle-free customer journey from start to finish.”

That commitment to quality, reliability and (literally) premier service has seen Premier Plumbing already become Saniflo’s approved service and breakdown engineers for the whole region, and the company is also accredited by OFTEC – which means you can trust in a 6-year workmanship warranty on all heating installations, oil tanks and boiler servicing.

“We have a huge amount of experience and product knowledge, and we always leave your home as clean and tidy as we found it,” says James. “We never finish a job until the customer is completely satisfied – that’s why we’re called Premier Plumbing!”

To cover all your regular and emergency plumbing needs, Premier Plumbing is now introducing comprehensive Service Plans for both Saniflo installations and oil boilers. From as little as £10 a month, they include

annual servicing, parts replacement, and priority breakdown cover – giving you total peace of mind.

For all your plumbing needs and for more details on the Service Plan options available, contact Premier 100263 Plumbing today!

information

Premier Plumbing 76 Suffield Way, King’s Lynn PE30 3DL Telephone: 01553 379889 / 07545 547330 Website: www.premierplumbing.biz E-mail: premierplumbingkl@yahoo.co.uk

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Providing an all-round education that inspires...

From prep school to 6th form, pupils undertake a remarkable journey through Wisbech Grammar School, enjoying an all-round education that inspires and unlocks each child’s natural abilities

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nstead of promoting the positive atmosphere of Wisbech Grammar School himself, Headmaster Chris Staley prefers to point to some typical feedback he’s received from parents looking for a school.

“On visiting for the first time,” they write, “our immediate impression was of a school where pupils showed a real sense of purpose and where they were clearly enjoying their lessons and activities.”

It’s an impression that runs throughout the school, from Magdalene House, its preparatory school, to its dedicated 6th form centre, and it reflects a commitment to education that

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enables all pupils to enjoy and benefit from a remarkable academic journey.

“Wisbech Grammar School was founded in 1379, which makes us one of the oldest schools in the country,” says Chris. “We have a very long and varied heritage, but that has never stopped us looking to the future. Today, we offer a welcoming and friendly environment in which pupils of all ages and all abilities can realise their true potential – and lead inspiring and rewarding lives in the 21st century.”

That commitment to nurturing and enthusing pupils is introduced at the earliest ages as children enter Magdalene House Preparatory School in

its reception class.

“As children embark on their academic life, we foster positive attitudes to learning,” says the prep school’s Director of Academic Studies Tina Crawley. “It’s crucial that children learn how to solve problems and discover what kind of learner they are.”

Using the National Curriculum as a basis (but taking a more rigorous approach), the prep school offers formal teaching in subjects such as English and Maths and combines them with stimulating activities, songs and games to provide a solid foundation for a child’s future academic life.

“Children will always learn best when

KLmagazine March 2016

“We offer a welcoming and friendly environment in which pupils of all ages and all abilities can realise their true potential – and lead inspiring and rewarding lives in the 21st century...”

Chris Staley, Headmaster Wisbech Grammar School

KLmagazine March 2016

PICTURES: WISBECHGRAMMARSCHOOL

they’re motivated and interested, and that’s what we’re continually trying to bring out and develop,” says Reception Class Teacher Emma Oram. “Lots of learning is conducted outside to bring education to life, and the school’s environment is very nurturing. Unless children feel safe and secure, they will not learn and they will not perform to the best of their ability.”

Being on the same site as the senior school enables children at this early stage to benefit from the teaching resources and facilities available there, which has a genuine impact on their academic performance.

“That link between prep and senior is so important,” says Sarah Fox, Head of Lower School Science. “It allows children to gain expertise and experience in handling equipment, and as I’m teaching them throughout their time at the school I know where their education is going – there’s a definite pathway to future learning.”

During the school’s Open Science Days on Saturdays, parents accompany their children into the science labs and work together on practical science projects.

“Parents are amazed at the confidence they see in their children,” says Sarah, “and both of them find it a wonderful bonding experience.”

The beneficial crossover between prep and senior school is also a clear factor in Wisbech Grammar School’s strong tradition in mathematics – it’s one of the few schools that offers Further Maths as a subject and regularly achieves high numbers of A and A* grades. The school is fortunate in having a team of highly qualified and experienced mathematicians (including two former Heads of Maths) and while they guide older pupils with their Oxford and Cambridge appplication papers, they also treat younger children to ‘Maths Trails’ in the school’s glorious 34acre grounds.

“One of the school’s main strengths is that all the teaching staff in the maths department are maths graduates, enabling the school to continually challenge but constantly support too,” says Head of Maths Geoff Howes. “We run regular one-to-one sessions for pupils at all levels.”

Of course, there’s much more to life

at Wisbech Grammar School than complex equations, and the same approach applies equally to the sports fields – where Director of Sport Phil Webb oversees an all-inclusive programme that gives every pupil the opportunity to engage in sports.

“Of course it’s important to be competitive, but we don’t exclude pupils and we don’t believe in only having one ‘A’ team,” he says. “Sport is a terrific way of building life and social skills – especially when pupils meet opposition from other schools – and it really should be available to all sportspeople of all abilities.”

Wisbech Grammar School has specialist PE teachers, a physiotherapist, staff academically trained in coaching and is now launching an Elite Sports

Performance Education Programme to enable particularly gifted individuals to progress as far as possible.

“Our pupils have already enjoyed considerable success at county and national level,” says Phil. “By including specialist coaching and teaching young sportspeople about food, nutrition and conditioning, the new programme will give pupils the opportunity to become the best in their field – whether that’s on the cricket pitch or on the basketball court.”

As pupils progress through the latter stages of their journey at Wisbech Grammar School, they find a fully supportive environment characterised by close teacher-pupil relationships that enables the teachers to unlock each child’s individual abilities and guides

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PICTURES: WISBECHGRAMMARSCHOOL

them successfully down their chosen path.

“One of the things we want to do is extend beyond the traditional limits of education,” says Deputy Head (Academic) Mike Forrest. “We don’t believe in ‘teaching to the exam’ – we want to go beyond that, deepening a pupil’s understanding of a subject and enhancing their learning. That’s what young people really need to become successful in later life.”

The school offers 17 subjects at GCSE and 22 at A-level, and helps pupils enjoy a broad and balanced education that also makes the most of their individual strengths.

“We’re just as proud as our pupils of their academic achievements,” says Mike. “Over the last two years we’ve achieved a 100% A-level pass rate, and all pupils wishing to go on to university have been able to do so – most of them to their first choice.”

Indeed, helping a seamless transition from school to university is Wisbech Grammar School’s Hazel Centre, a 6th form facility that offers pupils their own

common room and outside space in which they can relax, study and socialise. It’s still very much part of the wider school, but the vertical tutoring system provides peer-to-peer support with tutors academically mentoring pupils, preparing them for their applications for further education and university life.

The journey through Wisbech Grammar School is a remarkably rewarding one, and one that continues to deliver what Headmaster Chris Staley calls “an all-round education that inspires” for all pupils of all abilities.

Its standing as one of the leading

“We don’t believe in ‘teaching to the exam’ – we want to go beyond that, deepening a pupil’s understanding of a subject and enhancing their learning. That’s what young people really need to become successful in later life...”

Mike Forrest, Deputy Head (Academic) Wisbech Grammar School

coeducational independent schools in the country has been achieved by successfully combining academic traditions with the latest in contemporary learning, and that’s an approach that looks set to continue.

“We’ll soon be transforming the school’s old dining room into a new library and digital resource centre,” says Chris. “It’s right at the centre of the school and is a perfect symbol of our ethos – holding on to the best parts of our heritage but at the same time embracing all the opportunities the future holds.”

WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL 47 North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1JX t: 01945 586750 w: www.wisbechgrammar.com FORTHCOMING OPEN EVENTS Wednesday 16th March | 6pm-8pm 6th Form Open Evening for 2016 and 2017 entries Saturday 19th March | 10am-12noon Magdalene House Preparatory School Easter Egg Hunt for all families interested in 2016 prep school entry Saturday 23rd April Year 5 Open Day and Open Morning for Magdalene House Preparatory School To register or for more information, contact the Admissions Team on 01945 586750 or send an e-mail to admissions@WisbechGrammar.com

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KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

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Swaffham Carpet & Bedding Centre Ltd Unnatural Flooring

Family-run business offering a fantastic range of products, free estimates and professional advice and installation.

CARPETS • BEDDING • FLOORING • ACCESSORIES

5 Mangate Street, Swaffham, PE37 7QN | Tel: 01760 721107 | Web: www.swaffhamcarpetsltd.co.uk 32

KLmagazine March 2016

Zeltech Solutions are one of the area’s top electrical testing specialists...

Who also undertake all types of electrical installation work!

INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • AGRICULTURAL • DOMESTIC Zeltech Solutions do all things electrical and one of their most popular services other than testing, is the conversion of florescent lights to LED (light emitting diodes).

By keeping the existing fitting, removing all of the controls and lamps and replacing with LED tubes, it gives you a low cost energy efficient light source without the cost of a whole new fitting.

Zeltech Solutions can easily convert your current fittings to LED, so not only will you have a light that is very low maintenance with no fiddly changing of tubes or starters but it will also save you money. Especially if you have large areas of lighting like offices, schools or factories.

Zeltech Solutions were recently asked to install emergency lighting in a large Agricultural mill. They installed maintained LED bulkheads that are totally self-contained and being LED are low maintenance i.e. there are no lamps to change as the units last on average between 20,000 and 30,000 hours depending on the make,

requiring just the regular duration tests.

While Zeltech Solutions were fitting these, they were coming across defective florescent lights that on further investigation were found that some of the ballasts had over heated and melted into the fitting. Not only stopping the light from working but also creating a potential fire hazard, so these were also converted to LED. Recently a customer with a large antiques emporium called Zeltech Solutions to look at some high level lighting that wasn't working. They suggested converting the existing fittings to LED fittings. Not only did the customer find a vast improvement in the light quality, but the costs were kept to a minimum because the original fittings were converted.

Another customer booked Zeltech Solutions for a periodic test on a rental property and to find a better solution to the halogen downlighter’s installed throughout. The tenants were constantly having to change the lamps

at considerable cost and the old down lighters also had no fire protection.

Zeltech Solutions suggested fitting LED downlighter’s. Not only has this eliminated the lamps constantly blowing, but the new units are highly efficient, long lasting and are now compliant with the latest regulations.

Some other popular services offered are bespoke maintenance packages an extremely popular choice as you can spread the cost over an agreed period of time. Zeltech Solutions can also supply fully qualified engineers as a labour only service, this can help with large projects or cover sickness and holiday’s or provide emergency call out cover.

Zeltech Solutions really do go the extra mile to deliver the highest possible service to their customers, regardless of the size of job. From an extra socket, to a full install or a large testing programme. Call Zeltech Solutions today for a competitive, professional and reliable service.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 14 Station Street, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7LH Telephone: 01760 724244 Website: www.zeltechsolutions.com E-mail: enquiries@zeltechsolutions.com

KLmagazine March 2016 K

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KLmagazine March 2016

BEFORE...

...AFTER!

A fresh look for your floors – all thanks to Xtraclean!

The extra-professional way to keep your stone floors looking great

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s Spring arrives and we all start looking to give our homes a brighter, fresher look, it’s important not to overlook your floors. They’ll have taken more than their usual share of punishment over the winter – leaving your beautiful slate, limestone and natural stone floors looking less than their best.

You may well find it takes more than a mop to bring your floors back to life, and that’s when you’ll need the professional services of Swaffham-based Xtraclean.

“Traditional cleaning methods and chemicals become increasingly ineffective as deposits gradually and inevitably build up on your floors,” says Xtraclean’s Martin King. “Thanks to our revolutionary floor cleaning system, we can restore heavily-soiled stone floors, tiles and grout to ‘asnew’ brilliance – and we can do it in a single visit too!”

KLmagazine March 2016

For over 20 years, Xtraclean has been offering a professional, friendly and fully-insured service that covers the whole county with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking their very best.

Following an initial survey and testing of your floors, Martin and his team will get to work (they’ll even move the furniture for you!) by breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. Xtraclean’s amazing turbo-cleaning capture system then thoroughly pressure cleans the floor – capturing all waste in the process. The results are spectacular, and are achieved without invasive procedures such as grinding and resurfacing.

“Once the floor has been cleaned we professionally seal it for added

protection and to help retain its good looks for longer,” says Martin. ”We can even re-polish and buff highly-honed stone floors if required!”

Martin and his team also have a wealth of experience in cleaning everything from outdoor terraces to paths and patios, meaning all your floors – indoors and out – can have a bright and fresh new look for Spring.

“We use the most advanced technology and the most professional products on the market today,” says Martin, “and the results really do speak for themselves.”

For an extra professional and extra reliable service, contact Martin and his locally-based team today!

information

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

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KLmagazine March 2016

Local Life

ABOVE: Just a few of the inventions from the remarkable mind of Peter Chown (opposite), who’s currently working on an innovative rail system that he’s hoping will make high-speed travel a cost-effective reality

The man who’s never short of a good idea...

Over the last 40 years, Peter Chown has invented over 80 amazing devices and systems that many of us use on a daily basis.

KL magazine talks to him about his never-ending stream of ideas.

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lthough his products are used nearly every day in nearly every home, he isn’t a household name. In fact, chances are that you’ve never heard of Peter Chown. But there’s no doubt you owe the full-time inventor, who lives just outside King’s Lynn, a considerable debt of thanks.

From black box flight recorders to sponge scourers and non-spill bottle tops, Peter’s been coming up with amazing ideas for over 40 years now, and has something in the region of 86 inventions to his name to date – and he’s still thinking of new and better ways of getting things done.

“Invention is a compulsion,” he says.

KLmagazine March 2016

“I see a problem and I can’t rest until I’ve found a way around it. I can find myself doodling plans and designs at 3am or I’ll do some weeding in the garden to get some inspiration.”

Peter’s the first to admit that he wasn’t a born inventor, however.

“I grew up near Axminster in Devon,” he says, “and when I was 15 my mother told me she didn’t want me working in a carpet factory for the rest of my life.

In fact, she told me I’d be joining the RAF the following week!”

Although he claims not to have been very bright at the time and lacked any qualifications, the RAF clearly spotted something in the young man and soon put him to work on special engineering

projects. It was at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire at the start of the 1960s that Peter started work on the ‘black box’ in-flight recording system that was then cutting-edge technology and is now used by airlines around the world.

But Peter’s never been one to rest on his laurels – and indeed, that was only the start of the story.

On leaving the RAF and moving to Norfolk with his wife Margaret, Peter developed a revolutionary new seed processing equipment that took the world from Japan to the United States by storm and is still being used to this day. From that point, the inventions came thick and fast – often inspired by chance events in the couple’s daily

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Local Life

ABOVE: Peter Chown at work on his Highly Sustainable Rail Technology project – just one of the lastest ideas from the inventor who’s spent over 40 years coming up with amazing new ways of doing things.

lives.

“We were baby sitting our young grandsons when my wife noticed this terrible smell, and realised it was the boys’ trainers!” he remembers. “She said there must be something I could invent to tackle the problem, so I started to think about it and designed my solution quite quickly.”

Peter’s Ezee-Feet device – which uses an ingenious valve system that releases deodorant into the shoes while you walk – was swiftly followed by a kitchen saviour we’re all still grateful for.

“It was about 1988 and I was having trouble cleaning a roasting tin with a wire wool scourer,” he says. “It wouldn’t hold the washing-up liquid, it kept falling apart, and it kept scratching the pan. I thought there must be a better way of cleaning pans than this!”

There was indeed. With the help of some old plastic, some creative thinking, and the help of a fellow inventor from Holland, Peter invented the sponge scourer we’re so familiar with today (below). Although he initially produced and marketed the scourer himself, demand became so great that he eventually sold the idea to a major international manufacturing company.

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Similarly, when Peter saw a bike fall from a car rack and nearly cause an accident on the M4, it wasn’t just a frightening experience – it was the inspiration for his invention of the rearmounted cycle carrier that’s now sold around the world.

From the firedoors on the QEII to plug-in air fresheners and the world’s first self-disinfecting toothbrush, Peter’s incredible (and seemingly never-ending inventions) saw him featured on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World show three times (a record for the popular science programme) and once led to film crews arriving on his doorstop from around the world.

It’s hardly surprising to learn that Peter – who has six more patents pending at the moment – still has plenty of good ideas up his sleeve.

He’s currently working on a project called Highly Sustainable Rail Technology, an idea that uses enclosed rails to make high-speed rail journeys a reality.

“I noticed that 99.9% of people who travel by rail don’t actually look out of the window,” he says. “They just want to get from A to B as quickly as possbile. The Americans are very excited about my idea and it’s also raised considerable interest at home – Henry Bellingham MP is fully behind the project and I’m very excited about it.”

He’s also recently taken up painting (on the advice of his wife), and a copy of his recent portrait of

the Queen is now in the National Portrait Gallery.

He’s also found time to produce a range of charity mugs and artwork, and last year spent six months co-writing his first novel with wis wife. Entitled ‘Timeline Dark Matters’ it manages to weave a fascinating and gripping story into the heady subjects of particle physics and paralell worlds, and a print version should be available in the next few months.

“We’re very pleased with it,” he says, “and it would make a great TV series!”

Peter’s keen to point out that if there is a secret to inventing, it’s not with the idea itself – but what you do with it.

“It’s amazing how many people I talk to about an invention say they thought of the same idea a year ago,” he says.

“The important thing is to get the patent for the idea. That’s why the inventor of the telephone is Alexander Graham Bell and not Antonio Meucci – because Bell got the patent first!”

And if you think that everything worth inventing has already been done, Peter’s got some good news for you.

“Climate change is a very serious issue, and it really will change the world as we know it,” he says. “From an inventor’s point of view, that means we’re now looking at a new world that’s full of new challenges and new opportunities – one that’s crying out for new ideas and new ways of doing things.”

And if there’s anyone who’ll never be short of a good idea, it’s Peter Chown.

KLmagazine March 2016

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This credit offer is only available through Subaru Finance. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to Subaru Finance. We can introduce you to Subaru Finance and a limited number of other lenders to provide funding. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Finance is available to UK residents aged 18 years and over, subject to status. Available at participating dealers only. For further details please contact your nearest Subaru dealership. Prices correct at time of going to publication. Subaru Finance is a trading style of International Motors Finance Limited, registered office at Charterhall House, Charterhall Drive, Chester, Cheshire, CH88 3AN. †Every vehicle marketed by Subaru (UK) Ltd, excluding WRX STI, is covered by a 5 Year/100,000 mile (whichever comes sooner) Limited Warranty which comprises of a standard 3 Year/60,000 mile (whichever is sooner) Manufacturer’s Warranty (bumper to bumper, excluding clutch driven plate) and an Extended Warranty (applies to powertrain only) provided by the importer. OTR price includes VAT, delivery, number plates, 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee. Vehicle shown is the Subaru Outback 2.5i SE Premium Lineartronic, OTR price of £31,495 with Crystal White Pearl special paint finish, free of charge on all Outback models. EyeSight® and X-Mode are only available in Subaru Outback Lineartronic models.

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KLmagazine March 2016

Enjoy a breath of fresh air with the help of K Brown Why regular servicing of your car’s air conditioning system is so important for a safer, healthier and more comfortable drive...

I

t’s that time of year when we start turning on our car’s air conditioners, and as long as it’s working we generally assume it’s ok – although that may be far from the truth.

“A car’s air conditioning system is highly complex and delicate, and by the time you notice anything’s wrong it may be too late to do anything about it,” says Keith Brown of K Brown Auto Repairs in King’s Lynn and Hunstanton. ”A lot of the problems can be avoided by using the system at least once a week all year round. Mine is on permanently – it not only clears the screen rapidly but it also keeps all the components functioning correctly.”

Your car’s air conditioning should be checked every two years, and it’s surprising how few people actually realise this – resulting in less effective performance, unpleasant odours and KLmagazine March 2016

(ultimately) the failure of the system.

K Brown’s comprehensive 5-stage air conditioning service checks for leaks and gas levels, ensures the system is sealed and free from damp, contains the correct level of refrigerant, replaces any oil if required and puts the whole system through a dynamic test.

It won’t only mean you can enjoy a more comfortable drive over the summer (and save you the trouble caused by the system’s eventual breakdown) it can actually be beneficial to your health.

“If you do notice a nasty smell when you turn on your air conditioning, it’s almost certainly due to fungal bacteria lurking in the system’s pollen filters and air ducts,” says Keith. “They can be harmful to you if they’re allowed to build up, but we can easily rectify the problem with a neutralising spray.”

If you think it’s time your car’s air conditioning needed some attention, contact K Brown Auto Repairs for a family-friendly, relaxing and refreshingly honest approach to car servicing.

It’s like a breath of fresh air!

information

K Brown Auto Repairs Simon Scotland Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4JF tel: 01553 763763 web: www.kbrownautoskingslynn.co.uk

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West Norfolk: Then and Now

1950s

2016

A PLAINER BAXTER’S PLAIN? They say that nothing stands in the way of progress, and certainly Billing’s hairdressers and Whisky-A-Go-Go couldn’t stop the development of Baxter’s Plain in King’s Lynn. Thanks to Geoff Saunders of Middleton for sending the picture – which he thinks

dates to the 1950s. Perhaps another reader can more accurately date the photograph?

For more images of how things used to be in King’s Lynn and the local area, contact Picture Norfolk – at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum,

Millennium Plain, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AW. We’ll be bringing you another nostalgic look at West Norfolk next month.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 42

KLmagazine March 2016

JIm SETCHELL

CHRIS ASHLEy

ALAN oAkES

GEoff HowSoN

Meeting the staff behind the service at EConomy Windows he figures speak for themselves. For almost 30 years, EConomy Windows has remained front runner in providing high quality and beautiful solutions for your home – from some of the most advanced windows on the market today to the very latest in contemporary conservatory design. To date, more than 20,000 local installations have experienced a genuine commitment to customer service, a reputation for very high standards of workmanship, and a continuous policy of introducing innovative and exciting new products.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on our standing as a professional, credible local company and our dedication to customer care,” says EConomy Windows’ Jim McClure. “That’s why we’ve never taken a deposit and why we’re always prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that our

T

customers enjoy the complete EConomy Windows experience.”

It also helps when you have a longserving team who share your customer focused approach to business. Sales Manager Jim Stechell, for example, who’s been with EConomy Windows for 17 years now and still deals with customers he first met almost two decades ago.

“I came to EConomy Windows from a national window company after I became disenchanted by their ‘hard-sell’ tactics,” he says. “I never thought that was in the best interests of the customer, whereas EConomy Windows always has their best interests at heart.”

Chris Ashley first joined the company as a fitter 20 years ago, before training as a surveyor and rising to his present position of Installations Manager.

“From my very first day, during my

induction at EConomy Windows it was very apparent that nothing was too much trouble for the customer,” he says. “That ethos still remains today, but in a much stronger format.”

Then there are Alan Oakes and Geoff Howson, two of the fully PAYE employed installation teams, who’ve been with EConomy Windows for 19 and 17 years respectively. Their high quality work, attention to detail and care they take with every home they visit has resulted in 1,000s of glowing testimonials from satisfied customers from across the region. Whether you’re looking for a new front door, a range of replacement windows or a stunning new conservatory, Economy Windows offers one of the most professional and reliable services in the business – with a wealth of experience to back it up.

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KLmagazine March 2016

PICTURE: JULIA RAFFERTY

Local Life

ABOVE: The newly-restored kitchen of 90 London Road in King’s Lynn (opposite), part of a restoration project by the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust that won a Highly Commended award at last year’s Mayor’s Design Awards

An award-winning approach to restoration Six years ago, the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust took on the conservation and restoration of a 19th century property in the town’s centre. Sylvia Steele learns more about the award-winning project...

S

ometimes it pays to step out of the car and look at the history around us, as I found when I parked up, walked along London Road and came across a terrace of elegant town houses set behind black wrought iron railings and gates.

Now fronting the busy thoroughfare where parking restrictions exist, when they were built in the early 19th century they would have known only the steady flow of horse-drawn carriages along London Road bringing visitors through the central arch of the South Gates in to King’s Lynn from the south.

The house is in harmony with its neighbours now, but five years ago

KLmagazine March 2016

No.90 London Road painted a very different picture. The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust’s newly-applied blue plaque on its façade conveys the story of the property’s history.

The house had stood empty for many years, progressively losing its elegant Georgian structure to decay. In an area where the town’s heritage was being increasingly restored, it was a decaying blot on the designs that King’s Lynn Borough Council had for revitalising the town. In 2010, the decision was made that 90 London Road shouldn’t be allowed to deteriorate further.

The adjoining properties in the terrace were already looking true to their period, which rather enforced the desired lines of attack for dealing with this once prestigious Georgian home.

In deciding the action needed to bring the property into a habitable condition once more, the Borough Council accepted the proposal put forward by the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust and so began four years of painstaking conservation work.

As Chairman of the Trust, Nick Balaam has witnessed the transformation of the house from start to finish, and stresses how keen they were to preserve as many of the original

45

PICTURES: JULIA RAFFERTY

Local Life

ABOVE: Four years of painstaking conservation work have resulted in a beautifully-restored property in the centre of King’s Lynn that retains many important 19th century features – such as the original staircase (left)

features as possible – such as the elegant staircase and ornate plasterwork. It was work that required careful and sympathetic handling or much of the 19th century structure could be lost.

At some point during its lifetime the house had been divided into multiple occupancy units and allowed to sink into a sorry state of disrepair and decay.

To a casual observer it would have looked an impossible task – but it’s work the Trust has engaged in successfully for nearly 60 years.

Founded by the late Lady Joan Evershed in 1958, The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust has been responsible for rescuing many of the town’s historic buildings that, as we walk through the town, we take for granted. Some properties successfully brought back to life have been bequeathed to them by former residents whose desire had always been to see the town’s history preserved. Others have been the subject of heritage grants.

The Trust has always felt that King’s Lynn could be saved from becoming just another modern town by the historic value of its buildings. Its heritage is important – a sentiment shared by the Queen Mother, who became its first patron and remained so for 44 years.

The property at 90 London Road offered a unique opportunity to bring back to its former glory an historic building of some prominence in the town.

London Road is frequently busy with

46

fast moving traffic, which could deter some buyers from owning a property where parking restrictions exist.

However, when the terrace was built it was with the foresight of adding a carriage shelter accessed from the rear; a guaranteed garage space for 21st century owners now.

The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust takes the view that the properties they reconstruct should allow people to live in the twenty-first century whilst enjoying the building’s history. Whilst the façade of 90 London Road is, therefore, of an elegant three-storey Georgian home true to its period, it benefits from a sympathetically refurbished interior offering modern living space.

It is a Grade II listed building with the spacious, high-ceilinged living rooms expected in a property of this period, with sash windows, ornate coving and deep skirting to the drawing room, dining room and four bedrooms that make it look so imposing.

Yielding to 21st century living, the kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom and bathroom have all received easy-care, functional units.

The secluded walled rear garden leads to a garage with mezzanine floor for storage; once the shelter for the family’s carriage.

To encourage good building practice in the town and celebrate its architectural legacy, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk initiated the Mayor’s Design Awards in 1998. In the ensuing 18 years

the Awards have grown from strength to strength, focussing on building technique, good design, workmanship and the preservation of historic buildings that would otherwise be lost.

The Awards have shown that careful planning has led to a town greatly enhanced by its carefullyreconstructed buildings. Last year, some 30 schemes were shortlisted for the Awards under a number of different categories.

The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust was elated to receive a Highly Commended award in the ‘Listed Building Scheme’ for the work in restoring 90 London Road to its former Georgian elegance.

The Trust’s charter is that its resources be used to acquire properties of architectural and historic merit and, through careful conservation, make them fit the modern purpose without compromising the original design and character.

This they have continued to do and it is satisfying to history lovers that their work has again proved to be ‘Highly Commended.’

Entries for this year’s Mayor’s Design Awards are now being judged, and the winners will be announced at a special award ceremony next month.

KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

Treat your building project to the benefits of air source S

pring is the time when most new build properties start getting off the ground, so it’s also the ideal time to choose air source heating to help ensure the property performs as good as it looks.

The high quality air source heating solutions available from King’s Lynn based 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd represent a major step forward in energy-efficient climate control, utilising free heat from the environment rather than generating it solely from traditional fuel sources.

The benefits of air source heating for householders are clear; low running and maintenance costs, low noise levels, reduced energy consumption and a reliable year-round performance.

However, air source heating from 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd is also becoming the choice of local builders.

4 WAY

“The system doesn’t need a gas supply, and there’s no requirement for flues, ventilation or extensive ground works,” says 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd’s Steve Simpson. “It’s a really costeffective and comparatively simple installation for all local building projects – from large developments to single property self-builds.”

The popularity of air source heating has never been greater; 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd has 23 installations in progress around Norfolk at the moment, and Steve is no stranger to its many advantages – as he enjoys the benefits of the system in his own home.

He also has good news for builders unfamiliar with what’s still seen as ‘new’ technology.

“All we need are the architect’s plans,” he says. “From those we can

Refrigeration Ltd Electrical Ltd Energy Ltd

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Indeed, 4 Way Refrigeration can design, install and manage all relevant aspects of the project – including the plumbing, lighting, electricals, and even (if required) solar panels and underfloor heating. What’s more, Steve and his highly experienced team will even ensure all the necessary certification is completed and signed off – giving you even less to worry about.

For a high-quality, professional service from a local company with a proven track record of working successfully with local builders, contact 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd today for more details. And discover what a difference air source heating can make to you and your new property.

Unit 25, Bergen Way North Lynn Industrial Estate King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2JG t: 01553 767878 w: www.4wayref.co.uk e: sales@4wayref.co.uk

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Caring for your environment KLmagazine March 2016

Letting Better 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

Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists

QUI CK FAC TS Landlords failing to comply with the new Right To Rent laws introduced on 1st February 2016 face a fine of up to £3,000.

That’s Not My Tenant!

K

ing’s Lynn was the subject of a landmark legal case on 27th January this year when West Norfolk Borough Council used its powers under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 to prosecute the tenant of a housing association property for subletting. The property in question, owned by Circle Housing Wherry Association was not only sublet but the tenant also made a significant profit from this activity by charging his sub-tenant nearly twice the rent he was paying to Circle.

Due to the shortage of rental properties in our local area and the recent Right to Rent legal reforms subletting is becoming an ever increasing problem. Housing Associations are large organisations with significantly more resources to tackle this problem than the vast majority of private landlords.

At Edmonton Estates the importance of referencing any prospective tenant cannot be overstated as this offers a good insight into their conduct when

previously renting. However, unless you are very fortunate this is unlikely to highlight subletting. We utilise an independent specialist referencing company that provides us with a list of undisclosed addresses for an applicant – the more linked addresses the more concerned we become as to the validity of the applicant’s intentions.

Inspections are the most accurate way of identifying whether the original tenants are still in residence and also if extra occupants have arrived without your prior knowledge. Unfortunately this is also the point that you will establish there is a problem as although your new or extra tenants may have been uninvited, if your property is their sole or principal residence in the UK then their right to reside there will need to be challenged at Court if they will not vacate voluntarily.

In all instances we attempt to resolve subletting by direct negotiation between all parties usually with a view to converting the unauthorised occupants into legally permitted

tenants subject to satisfactory referencing and Right to Rent documentation. Where this is not possible and the occupants will not vacate the property willingly Court papers are filed which for landlords who choose our higher level Rent & Legal Protection Policy is free of charge and doesn’t even require you to attend Court.

Landlords who prefer to manage their own properties are the main group targeted by people who sublet for profit. In the past 6 months we have had 3 separate landlords contact us for advice regarding unauthorised subtenants. In all instances the rent had been paid regularly and no maintenance issues were reported, instead concerns were usually raised by neighbours.

If you would like to discuss this subject further please contact our office on 01553 660615 for more details and advice.

Edmonton Estates Ltd, St Ann’s House, 18 St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT 01553 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk

KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

PICTURE: CHRIS PRINCE

Local Life

ABOVE: The banded demoiselle is just one of the hundreds of valuable species of animals and plants supported by Norfolk’s unique rivers – and helped by the work of the Norfolk Rivers Trust

Helping to safeguard the future of our rivers For the last five years, the Norfolk Rivers Trust has been carefully conserving and restoring the county’s unique rivers and wetland habitats. Richard Parr discovers more about their work...

I

t may not be widely known, but some of the rivers of central Norfolk are quite unique in the country because of their underlying bedrock: chalk. The permeable rock acts as a sponge, absorbing rainfall, filtering the water and releasing it through springs and fissures.

It means that some of Norfolk’s rivers have a constant supply of clean, mineral-rich water and aren’t naturally prone to the floods and droughts associated with less permeable bedrocks and steeper river valleys.

According to Jonah Tosney, Senior Project Manager for the Norfolk Rivers Trust, the chalk which feeds Norfolk’s rivers stretches across Eastern England and Normandy, but isn’t found anywhere else – making our local rivers unique.

KLmagazine March 2016

“The constant flow of clear, mineralrich water provides an ideal environment for the growth of aquatic plants such as water crowfoot, starwort, fool’s watercress and water parsnip,” he says.

The steady flows also provide continually wet river margins – which harbour water mint, hemp agrimony and marsh marigold. Jonah goes on to explain that amongst these plants, a huge variety of molluscs and crustaceans thrive, building shells and skeletons from the dissolved calcium.

Largest of these is the white clawed crayfish, which is native to Britain but now seriously endangered by the arrival of the American signal crayfish.

Chalk streams are also noted for their rich insect life, and many species of mayfly, caddis-fly, dragonfly and damselfly spend their early life stages

feeding in the richly productive waters.

“Perhaps the most beautiful of these are the banded demoiselle damselflies,” says Jonah, “which can be seen dancing over the water in midsummer.”

These jewelled predators feed on many of the less glamorous inhabitants of the river which also emerge from the water in summer, including many species of fly and midge.

In turn, the abundance and diversity of insect life helps sustain the communities of fish that inhabit the river. Most of these species, the trout, eels, lamprey and sticklebacks probably colonised the rivers from the sea following the Ice Age. They’ve since been joined by other fish, including the bullhead and stone-loach.

“Each of these species has slightly different habitat requirements in terms of fast and slow water, clean gravels or

53

PICTURE: NORFOLK RIVERS TRUST

Local Life

54

was created and (crucially) ‘wet shoulders’ along the edges of the river, on which were planted a variety of native plants. These native species, including marsh marigold, purple loosestrife, fleabane, frog-bit and lesser pond sedge have since flourished and in turn created a happy environment for native insects, including butterflies and bees as well as mammals and birds.

Despite centuries of modifications, the upper Babingley remains one of the finest stretches of chalk river in Norfolk Working between 2013 and 2015, the Norfolk Rivers Trust team has addressed a number of problems in three kilometres of the upper river between Flitcham and West Newton.

The removal of five small weirs that were obstructing the migration and movements of fish species and the modification of a further three means that fish can move much more easily through the upper river.

Stiffkey Fen is considered one of Norfolk’s key sites for wading birds, particularly avocets. Working in partnership with the Buxton Conservation Trust, Natural England and former RSPB expert Norman Sills, the Norfolk Rivers Trust has restored a 12-hectare SSSl area of fen, reed-bed and open water. This work should reduce the need to pump water into the Fen and greatly improve water quality and habitat diversity.

Mr Tosney explained that it’s part of the Norfolk Rivers Trust’s mission to involve community stakeholders and they help set up objectives and keep the Trust informed about current issues of concern.

A recent project to restore a section of the River Burn in North Norfolk by

fixing a number of small faggotts into the channel to vary the water flow was completed early last year and now the water has an improved flow.

The Norfolk Rivers Trust was grateful for the help given by the Creake Abbey Trust in making that happen and it’s hoped that more projects will be launched in the future.

The Norfolk Rivers Trust, the King’s Lynn Internal Drainage Board and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council have recently teamed up to improve a rather abandoned area – the work aimed at recreating a wildlife haven in part of the Walks recreation park. The Seven Sisters Drain, which runs behind the King’s Lynn Football Club ground had long been abandoned, becoming a silted, overgrown dumping ground, filled with everything from crisp packets to sofas.

Working together, these three organisations have now dug out the silt to create a new winding channel.

They’re currently working with local volunteers and the College of West Anglia to plant the area with native marsh plants to re-create the precious wildlife haven.

PICTURE: MATT COLE

silt beds,” says Jonah, “each of which are met in a naturally diverse chalk stream.”

The rivers are also home to a variety of birds and mammals. The water-vole, which has approached extinction in much of the rest of England, still thrives in Norfolk, probably partly due to the many miles of suitable habitat, but also due to the lesser numbers of American mink. The mink may be kept at bay in Norfolk by the otters which are now once again present across the country.

The aquatic plant life and marshy river edges also provide excellent feeding areas for moorhen, teal and the secretive woodcock and snipe, all of which are reliant on the continuous flow of clean water in and around the river.

Over the centuries, Norfolk’s rivers have made way for agriculture, being straightened and dredged, drained and embanked. Fallen trees, an important source of shelter and food, have been removed and in other places trees have been planted to purposely drain springs and wetlands.

“Reversing these processes is difficult but effective,” says Jonah, “and it can be achieved in places without loss of agricultural productivity.”

In other places on the Nar and Babingley, Wensum, Glaven, Stiffkey and Burn hidden stretches of these magical and unique habitats remain.

In early 2014, working with the Environment Agency, the late Dr Nigel Holmes and a team of local volunteers, created several hundred metres of river bank habitat next to the car park at Heacham Lavender Mill.

By gently pushing the river banks around, a more natural channel shape

For more information on the work of the Norfolk Rivers Trust, visit their website at www.norfolkriverstrust.org

KLmagazine March 2016

Fa m il y ru n c o m p a ny w it h o ve r 3 8 ye a rs o f e x p e ri e n c e

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KLmagazine March 2016

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Supreme Carpets Ltd SHOWROOM OPEN: Monday to Friday 11am - 5pm, Sat 10am - 2pm

Foresters Hall, 49 Manor Road, Dersingham, King's Lynn PE31 6LH

tel: 01485 542384 web: www.supreme-carpets.com KLmagazine March 2016

“Bespoke Pine n Oak have done a truly marvellous job – they did everything we wanted and we’re absolutely over the moon with the results...”

– TONY KIRKLAND West Winch

Opening the doors to a whole world of possibilities Bespoke Pine n Oak in King’s Lynn can create and handcraft the furniture you’ve been looking for – in any style and for any room!

W

hen Tony Kirkland of West Winch used Bespoke Pine n Oak for his uniquely-designed bedroom units, he was impressed by the company’s attention to detail, high standards of craftsmanship and commitment to bringing his ideas to life. So impressed, in fact, that he wondered if they could help him solve a problem he’d been struggling with for some time.

To complement his new bedroom units, Tony had been looking to replace his existing wardrobe doors – but without much success.

“I looked at plastic covered and vinylwrapped doors, but they weren’t realistic enough,” he says. “I really wanted them made from oak like the bedroom furniture, but surprisingly I couldn’t find

anyone willing to fit oak doors onto existing frames.”

True to their promise (if you can draw it, they can make it!) Bespoke Pine n Oak jumped at the challenge – designing, hand-crafting and fitting a collection of six wardrobe doors, two of them mirrored. Built and finished to match the bedroom units, they’ve completed the room’s striking contemporary look perfectly.

“Bespoke Pine n Oak have done a truly marvellous job,” says Tony. “I know our requirements were very specific, but they did everything we wanted (and more!) and we’re absolutely over the moon with the results.”

The combination of Kevin Berry’s long experience in the timber trade and the traditional craftsmanship of his fellow

director Carl Ingram means Bespoke Pine n Oak can make high quality furniture of any size in any style to fit any room – and the on-site workshop in the centre of King’s Lynn is an added benefit.

“It was wonderful being able to pop in and see the work in progress,” says Tony.

“It's very difficult to find that (or that level of true craftsmanship) locally, and we’d have no hesitation about using Bespoke Pine n Oak in the future.”

If you’re looking for top quality, individually made and solid timber furniture of any description, look no further than Bespoke Pine n Oak – if you can draw it, they can make it.

information

Bespoke Pine n Oak Ltd 28 Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 766532 E-mail: info@bespokepinenoakltd.com

www.bespokepinenoakltd.com

Bespoke Pine n Oak: if you can draw it – we can make it!

KLmagazine March 2016

57

fashion Fashion

As the new Spring collections start arriving at our local boutiques, it appears the fashion houses’ colours of the year for 2016 are Rose Quartz and Serenity – and shades of these enchanting baby blues and pinks can help you make the most of the warmer weather and brighter days ahead...

58

Top by Choise Dk (£55) ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 KLmagazine March 2016

The Wildflower shirt by Dubarry (ÂŁ69) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 KLmagazine March 2016

59

Fashion

Dress by Smashed Lemon (£59) EVERYTHING OUTDOOR Holkham – 01328 712120 | Sandringham – 01485 298082 60

KLmagazine March 2016

Everything Outdoor

NOT ALL ABOUT THE OUTDOOR! Visit us in store to see our new range of beautiful fashion brands

Distinctive clothing from one of Norfolk’s most distinctive locations • Men’s & Women’s Country clothing • Excellent brands • Waterproofs • Accessories • Gifts for lovers of the Great Outdoors Open Daily

HOLKHAM - The Reading Rooms, Holkham Village (opposite Adnams) NR23 1RG | Tel: 01328 712120 SANDRINGHAM - Sandringham Visitor Centre, Sandringham Estate PE35 6EH | Tel: 01485 298082

www.everythingoutdoor.co.uk

KLmagazine March 2016

61

Fashion

Outfit by Zeila (ÂŁ525) OLIVIAS OF SHERINGHAM LTD | Sheringham 01263 823149 62

Soft Blue Jacket and Trousers by Le Bek CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 KLmagazine March 2016

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Unit 1, 40 Alexandra Road Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ Tel: 01945 585488

www.wisbechfurnishings.co.uk KLmagazine March 2016

of Sutton Bridge

C indy ’ s , 1 0 8 B ri dg e Ro a d, S ut t o n B ri dg e t: 01406 350961 (closed Wednesdays)

ww w.cind ysfash ions .co.uk

63

Fashion

Jacket by Anna Lascata CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM COUNTRY | Creake Abbey 01328 738983 64

KLmagazine March 2016

at bearts of stowbridge

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TEL: 01366 388151 | Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD WEB: www.bearts.co.uk

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Unit 2 Beveridge Way, Hardwick Narrows, King’s Lynn, PE30 4NB OPEN: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm

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KLmagazine March 2016

Country & Shooting Clothing, Accessories and Gifts for all.

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65

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66

Dereham

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KLmagazine March 2016

ETNIA

MICHA

ADINI

ETNIA

“The secret of Allez Chic is that we offer fashion to suit all ages and all occasions, from bright new younger looks to more classic and mature tastes...”

What a stylish difference a year makes!

CHERYL DAUBNEY

Allez Chic celebrates a year at Castle Rising with a range of new fashions, exclusive brands, and the arrival of the Spring Collections... year’s a long time in the fashion world, but the last 12 months has raced by for Cheryl Daubney, who moved her Allez Chic boutique to Castle Rising at the end of last February.

“It’s hard to believe we’re about to celebrate our first anniversary,” she says.

“It’s been a great year for us, we’ve met so many new customers and old friends, and it’s been the perfect location for us to showcase our fashions.”

With a lovely tearoom and beauticians close to hand and a hair salon recently opening next door, Cheryl’s seen her little part of Castle Rising become something of a destination, with more and more people discovering the style of Allez Chic.

A

“The secret of Allez Chic is that we offer fashion to suit all ages and all occasions,” says Cheryl, “from bright new younger looks to more classic and mature tastes – and our new Spring collections have something to appeal to everyone.”

Those collections include an exclusive range by Spanish brand Etnia and a new selection from Adini, one of the most successful British boutique names in the UK. They’ll be joined by the distinctive Danish styling of Micha (which you won’t find anywhere else in Norfolk) and Mudd and Water, the London-based fashion house that specialises in clothing that’s ethical, organic & sustainable.

Outside the boutique itself, Cheryl’s also continued with her popular charity fashion shows, usually hosting two every season, and the next will be taking place in East Rudham on Thursday 21st April in aid of The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House.

“It’s always nice to be able to put something back into the community,” she says, “and let’s face it – clothes always look fabulous on live models!”

Cheryl’s also ensured Allez Chic continues the traditions of the building itself, which was once home to the West Norfolk Art School – one wall of the boutique is dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists in a regularlychanging gallery of creative talent.

For a fresh look at local style, it’s time to discover Allez Chic!

Allez Chic

information

The Old School, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE31 6AG Tel: 01553 631915 Web: www.allezchic.co.uk

KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

PICTURES: NORTONS DAIRY

Food & Drink

ABOVE: The addition of apricots adds a fabulously tangy flavour to the delicious St. Swithins soft cheese produced by the family-run Nortons Dairy, a locally-produced cheese that won two gold medals at its debut at the British Cheese Awards.

An award-winning and natural taste of Norfolk Retaining a proud farming tradition and meeting the needs of today’s consumers is always a challenge. Clare Bee discovers how Nortons’ Dairy took a local family business in a new direction

E

veryone loves the idea of fresh, local food, produced by small family-run farms, where the animals and people live in rural harmony.

But in our modern times, where brand giants rule the shelves, it’s becoming harder to find local produce on our doorstep.

Regardless, many local farms still thrive. One such place is Nortons’ Dairy, situated in the heart of Norfolk. Still a family-run farm, Nortons’ Dairy prides itself on producing fresh milk, butter, cream and cheese from their very own dairy herd.

The farm had been run as a

KLmagazine March 2016

traditional family dairy farm since 1946, and when other farms began to expand and evolve in the second half of the 20th century, the Norton family decided to buck the trend and stay true to their traditional roots, maintaining the structure and pattern of farming as they’d always known it.

With good farming practice, hard work and by focussing on what they were best at, they felt they were doing the right thing at the right time.

However, by the mid 2000s, it became evident that the milk price wasn’t reflecting the effort necessary to produce their good quality product.

The family realised that the farm

couldn’t be sustained in the traditional way without changing.

One member of the family, Emily Norton, who, in her own words was “born in wellie boots” was feeling the need for a new direction.

Although she had originally trained in law, Emily decided to go back to her roots, and seize the opportunity to bring about a change in practice at the farm. She began to put together a business plan which would lead to a new way forward for Nortons’ Dairy.

The family began to see the potential of selling their milk directly to the public and maximising on its quality.

They quickly became specialists in

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PICTURES: NORTONS DAIRY

Food & Drink

pasteurising their own milk and selling it straight from the farm, and this soon lead to butter and cream production; however, they soon reached a point where they simply couldn’t keep up with the demand.

By 2011, Emily could see that they needed to add another unique product, and so she embarked on a cheesemaking course. She began to play around with recipe ideas at home, as she strongly felt they needed to find one which reflected the character of the area and the quality of their milk.

After much experimentation, she hit on a recipe which seemed to fit the bill.

She began to sell it at local markets, and on a whim decided to enter it into the British Cheese Awards in 2012. To her amazement and delight, it won no less than two gold medals!

And so production of a new Norfolk cheese began. Named St Swithin’s Soft Cheese, it’s similar to a Boursin, mild and creamy, and very versatile. It makes amazing cheesecake, but is equally good with traditional biscuits or baked, especially with scones.

Spurred on by the early success of the cheese, Emily began to look around at local produce to enhance the flavour. One obvious idea was lavender, grown locally by Norfolk Lavender at Heacham in West Norfolk. Some fruits also go well with the cheese, particularly apricots and strawberries, adding a sweetness to the already soft and gentle texture.

Since then, this family business has

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gone from strength to strength. Since 1946, when Jack Norton bought the original farm and surrounding land, it’s been a proud and full family-run business to this day, and continues with several generations working together.

It’s still a working farm, made up of 70 cows who are all descendants of the original handful of Holstein Friesians.

They’re now sired by Brown Swiss males, which produces good robust animals, whose milk is high in butterfat and excellent for cheese making.

The cows’ wellbeing is high on the agenda, with the milking system being robotic and voluntary, whereby the cows come in to be milked when they want to. They’re not restricted and they quickly learn to adapt their behaviour to be milked as frequently as necessary, depending on their own milk production.

No business can afford to stand still, and to that end Nortons’ Dairy is now experimenting with yogurt making.

Cheese fat naturally makes good yogurt and they are currently working towards its production over the next six months.

The family is keen to manage their future, and by reflecting the personalities of the people who work there and the principles they’ve always aspired to, they plan to build on their success for future generations.

For more information and details on Nortons’ Dairy and their mouthwateringly natural products, please visit www.nortonsdairy.co.uk

HONEY BAKED FIGS WITH ST SWITHINS SOFT CHEESE Serves 4 4 large fresh figs 50g St Swithins Soft 2 tbsp honey Sprigs of fresh mint Carefully cut the figs in quarters down to about two thirds of their height and spread them open gently. In the centre of each, scoop in two generous teaspoons of cheese. Place the figs in a shallow baking dish and drizzle them with honey. Bake in a hot oven 200oC for about 8-10 minutes, until the figs soften and are running with juice. To serve, drizzle over more honey and sprinkle mint leaves on top, and serve with cold vanilla icecream on the side.

KLmagazine March 2016

strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and cafĂŠ deli

boutique luxurious classic contemporary heart of norfolk award winning restaurant afternoon tea cocoes cafĂŠ deli self catering Luxury without sacrifice to the environment ash close swaffham norfolk pe37 7nh 01760 723845 enquiries@strattonshotel.com www.strattonshotel.com

KLmagazine March 2016

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Food & Drink

or a f t c e f r e P in g r e h t a g large nd a s d n e i of fr h is family t Easter!

Slow cooked shoulder of Lamb Serves: 8-10

INGREDIENTS 2.5-3kg shoulder of lamb on the bone 1 pint of water 200ml of red wine 2 whole bulbs of garlic 2 large sprigs of rosemary 150g unsalted butter, softened 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground coriander 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 2 sticks of celery, peeled and chopped 1 large sprig of thyme Salt and pepper 1 dessert spoon of corn flour dissolved in a little water

METHOD 1 Remove your shoulder of lamb from the fridge a few hours before cooking to make sure it is at room temperature when you start.

Pre-heat your oven to its maximum setting.

2 In a large roasting tin scatter the onions, carrots, celery, thyme and one of the bulbs of garlic sliced in half (no need to peel or separate individual cloves. Pour in the water.

3 Take two cloves from the remaining bulb of garlic and some of the rosemary and finely chop before adding to the butter along with the spices & salt and pepper to make into a paste.

4 With a thin sharp knife, make even incisions all over the skin of the lamb, about 2 inches apart. Peel and slice the remaining cloves of

garlic. Stuff each of the incisions with some garlic and rosemary. When all the incisions are filled, rub the butter paste all over the skin, making sure you get in all the nooks and crannies. Cover with foil and place on the middle shelf of the oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 160°c/gas mark 3 and cook for 3 hours. Remove foil and cook for a further 30 minutes.

5 Meanwhile, place the roasting tin with all the vegetables and cooking juices on the hob on a medium heat. (You may need to add a little water to top up the juices) Add the wine and stir to mix together all the tasty pieces from the bottom of the roasting tin. After a couple of minutes drain through a fine sieve into a saucepan; return to the heat. Stir in the dissolved corn flour to thicken the gravy; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe by Bowers Butchers 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn PE30 4PR Tel: 01553 773845 Web: www.bowersbutchers.com 72

KLmagazine March 2016

The

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Find us on Facebook!

01553 811326 | www.theangelpub.webs.com | 41 School Road, Watlington, King’s Lynn, PE33 0HA KLmagazine March 2016

73

Food & Drink

Rhubarb crumble cake with custard cream INGREDIENTS for the cake 325g butter 325g caster sugar 6 eggs 325g self raising flour 1 tsp vanilla extract for the crumble 200g plain flour 100g caster sugar 100g softened butter for the rhubarb fillling 500g rhubarb 200g caster sugar 2 tbl rhubarb jam (optional) for the custard filling 400ml milk 50g caster sugar 25g corn flour 2 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla extract double cream (optional)

METHOD 1 It is best to make the custard filling first so it has ample chilling time. Start with creaming the egg yolks and sugar together. Make a paste of the corn flour and approx. 50-100ml of the milk. Then combine the egg mixture and the paste until smooth.

2 Bring the milk to the boil and pour into the egg mix stirring all the time. Make sure the saucepan is free of any milk residue and then pour the milk and egg back into the saucepan and heat, stirring until the custard thickens. Then put into a bowl to cool.

If the custard is lumpy don't despair, beat in a mixer until the lumps disappear. You can also add a dash of double cream to suit your taste.

3 For the crumble topping, sift the flour and sugar together in a bowl. Add the softened butter to the sugar and flour and rub with your fingers until it resembles damp sand.

4 For the cake, preheat your oven to 160°c (fan oven). Combine the sugar and butter in a mixer

until pale and fluffy. Beat the eggs and add to the sugar and butter in a steady stream mixing all the time.

5 Sift the flour into a bowl and then fold into the mix. Lightly grease and line two 9"/ 23cm cake tins and spoon half the cake mixture into each. Take the crumble and sprinkle on top of one cake. Place in the oven and cook for 30 mins. The crumble topped side may need extra cooking time approx. 5-10 mins. Allow the cake to cool completely before filling.

6 For the rhubarb filling, chop the rhubarb into small chunks and place in a saucepan. Then add the sugar and cook over a medium heat for about 5 mins, until the rhubarb is soft but still keeping its shape. Set aside to cool.

7 When all elements are cool take one side of the cake and spread with the custard. Add the rhubarb jam (if using) and the braised fruit. Place the crumble cake on top and finish with chocolate eggs for that perfect Easter feeling.

Recipe by The Folly Tearoom 4 Hopper’s Yard, Bull Street, Holt NR25 6LN Tel: 01263 713569 Web: www.follytearoom.co.uk 74

KLmagazine March 2016

SAVOUR THE DAY at th

Whatever the occasion sion the Folly Tearoom Tearoom and Garden will make it a memorable experience, full of vintage charm and magical delights, whether for Breakfast, Lunch or all day ay Afternoon Tea. Tea. A treat not to be missed on any visit to Holt.

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KLmagazine March 2016

Chur Church ch Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF Subject to availability. availability. TTerms er ms & conditions apply apply..

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Food & Drink

Lamb 3 ways Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 25-30 minutes Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 2 eggs 750g new potatoes Few leaves of radicchio 500g baby carrots pea shoots (for garnish) 200g breadcrumbs 200g flour 2 8oz rump of lamb halved 1 four-bone rack of lamb (french trimmed) 8oz liver 400ml stock FOR THE PURﾃ右 25g butter 2 shallots (finely chopped) 600g frozen peas 125ml veg stock small bunch fresh mint

METHOD 1 Boil the new potatoes until just soft, then drain and leave to cool slightly. Put them into pan with oil and salt and place in a pre-heated oven at 200ﾂｰc to roast.

2 Sweat the diced shallots until soft, add the peas and stock and increase the heat.

When the peas are cooked (5 mins) add the mint and cook for another 5 mins. Spoon the mixture into a blender and blitz until smooth, and season to taste.

3 Blanch the baby carrots by putting in a pan of boiling salted water. Cool under cold water (reheat by sautﾃｩing in butter).

Now cut the rumps of lamb in half and cut the racks into four by running a knife down the side of the bones. You should now have four rumps and four cutlets.

sides. Place on to the potatoes to finish cooking. Rare: 7 mins, Medium: 9 mins, Well done: 11 mins.

5 Dip each cutlet in flour, then the beaten eggs, and then in the breadcrumbs. Heat a pan and add oil and a knob of butter. Add the cutlets until golden on one side then turn over to finish. Add the trimmed liver to cook as you like, remove from the pan and keep warm.

6 Deglaze the pan with the stock and reduce. Take the pea puree and swipe two spoonfuls over each plate. Place three or four potatoes onto the middle of the plates.

Place the lamb rump, cutlet and liver on the potatoes. Add 3/4 carrots, some torn radicchio and pea shoots to garnish.

Lastly, spoon on the reduced stock.

4 Heat a frying pan and add a splash of oil.

Season the lamb rumps and sear on all

Recipe by Palmers Ale House & Kitchen 46 Market Place, Long Sutton PE12 9JF Tel: 01406 365554 Web: www.palmerslongsutton.co.uk 76

KLmagazine March 2016

CARVERY Monday-Fr iday 12no on-2pm JUST £6.95 OR 2 for £12.99!

Join us for a delicious carvery lunch during the week. Choose from either Beef or Turkey, accompanied by of all the trimmings!

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Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk Find us: 108 Norfolk St, King's Lynn PE30 1AQ Tel: 01553 773536 | Email: anthony.barton@ymail.com KLmagazine March 2016

Tel: 01553 772221 77

Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

A wonderful taste of perfectly seasonal food Annalisa Graziano reviews Bilton’s in Tottenhill

O

n arrival at Biltons (located just outside King’s Lynn in Tottenhill) the early signs were very good – the car park was full and on entering the bar area we were greeted by a beautiful log fire, lots of happy people and the sound of contented eaters in the restaurant.

The bar was very well stocked, and we were served the perfect gin and tonic by a very friendly host.

There’s a genuinely inviting atmosphere here, emphasised by the eclectic but stylish décor – a mix of old tables and chairs in varying shapes and sizes creating the perfect centrepoint for the dining area.

78

The menu showed a true commitment to simple, uncomplicated dishes using local and seasonal produce with six main course options to choose from and four options each for starters and desserts.

My starter was local mussels in a cream and garlic sauce, while the rest of my family enjoyed the asparagus in a light batter and the local prawns with bread and butter.

The mussels came in a large white bowl with a chunk of crusty bread on the side and were submerged in a luscious creamy juice laced with a fresh salty seafood and garlic taste. You won’t be surprised to hear that I devoured the lot – and even asked for

more bread so as not to waste the delicious juice! I found it to be a quite delightful winter dish.

The other starters looked and smelt wonderful, as they must have tasted equally as good as they were comprehensively polished off too.

For my main course I enjoyed a 23oz T-bone steak with all the trimmings – it came with hand-cooked chips, a large Portobello mushroom and a grilled tomato. The outside of the steak had a seared appearance with an almost sticky, slightly crisp crust from the searing. The steak was cooked to perfection and cut well, with the perfect pink you’d expect to see from requesting it medium.

KLmagazine March 2016

The chips were crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, and the only criticism I could make is that I don’t think the plate really needed the Portobello mushroom. I found it rather tasteless and as such it tended to detract from the other, fuller flavours.

Nevertheless, the dish was a triumph of which I thoroughly approve.

The rib-eye steak with chunky chips and grilled tomato was very much enjoyed by my husband, although he did have the same reservations about the accompanying mushroom.

The rest of my family loved their dishes – a chicken Thai green curry with fragrant rice, which was spicy but with just the right amount of piquancy; the fabulous Biltons Burger, which was thick and juicy with melted Monterey Jack cheese, crispy bacon and chunky chips; and the sea bream, which was was moist and flaked perfectly, complementing the fresh vegetables and lentils on which it sat.

There was a pick of extremely tempting desserts, but given the

generous portions we’d just enjoyed none of us found we had room for them. It was a shame as they sounded delightful – a homemade salted caramel and chocolate praline tart, a homemade lemon roulade, and a very well-balanced cheese board.

For those of you who can stretch to a three-course meal, the price ranges from £26 to £38 per head.

Bilton’s may not have the largest menu in the world (which is never a great idea anyway) but it was clear that every plate was cooked with quality ingredients and the same devotion to detail as the plate next to it.

It was a level of attention that extended to the staff, who were cheery, responsive and helpful throughout our meal.

With its eclectic decor, welcoming atmosphere and excellent food, I’d highly recommend a visit to Bilton’s. It’s now our favourite local restaurant – and given that we appear not to be alone in this assessment, I’d advise you book in advance.

With its eclectic decor, welcoming atmosphere and excellent food, I’d highly recommend a visit to Bilton’s. It’s now our favourite local restaurant...

FOOD

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SERVICE

8

VALUE

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ATMOSPHERE

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BILTONS Lynn Road, Tottenhill, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE33 0RL T: 01553 81220 W: www.biltons-eating-house.co.uk

KLmagazine March 2016

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Food & Drink

Preparation: 5 minutes Cooking: 50 minutes Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 4 Mackerel Fillets A couple of handfuls of fingerling potatoes, about 8-10oz, scrubbed and chopped in 1/2" chunks A few small shallots, peeled and quartered A couple of bay leaves Some green leaves for the plate - Spinach, Arugula or their ilk Half a lemon WINE MATCH Light and low-acid wines work well with this recipe. Think Viognier, dry Muscadet or perhaps a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

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Roasted Mackerel with Potatoes and Shallots METHOD 1 Heat the oven up to 190째c while you prepare the potatoes and shallots.

2 Put the potatoes and shallots in a large oven-proof dish and toss with a slug or two of olive oil, a good pinch of salt and a healthy grind of pepper. Tuck in the bay leaves, then pop the dish into the oven and give the potatoes a stir every ten minutes or so until they're nice and brown. This will take about 35-45 minutes.

3 Douse the fish with a little oil and salt, then place them atop the vegetables, skin side up. Turn the heat up to 200째c and roast for about 8-10 minutes.

4 Serve the fish on a nice warm plate with some simple green leaves. Squeeze some lemon over the fish and the salad leaves and add a drip or two of olive oil and some seasoning.

KLmagazine March 2016

A

beautiful 16th Century coaching inn set in the heart of Norfolk’s rural Castle Acre, a village rich in historical beauty.

Delicious homemade thin crust Pizzas baked to order daily in our fabulous new Pizza Oven!

• 4 Star rated inn by AA and 5 star rated food • Family friendly pub with a wonderful beer garden • Fabulous accommodation including delicious breakfasts • Folk music nights - last Sunday of every month, quiz nights every other Monday & much more!

To bo ok a t able or a ro om plea se c al l: 01760 755398

www .ostrichcastleacr e.c om S t ocks G r een, Castle A cr e, King’ s Lynn PE32 2AE

Have you r stea k co oke d just how you like it at you r t able wit h ou r f lambé stea ks!

O u r à la ca rte menu offers a deliciou s s ele ctio n of aut hentic Italia n cuisi ne a s well a s Engli sh dis hes

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Due to the recent fire at our shop premises we are currently closed. We hope to be up and running very soon however.

If you’d like to contact us for any more information please feel free to call us on

01553 772241 Tel: 01945 880099 | www.lacapanna.biz S cho ol Ro a d, Ter rington St Joh n, Wisb e ch PE 14 7 S E O p en: We d - Sat 12 - 2pm & 6:30 - 9:3 0 Su n: 12:0 0 - 2:3 0

KLmagazine March 2016

DONALDSONS A fresh taste of the sea

Austin Fields, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1PH

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The venue for your

Special Occasion

Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, corporate event or just a get together, speak to our banqueting team about your special event.

Spring flower collection Whether it’s a mother’s day or an easter gift, a funeral tribute or wedding flowers, all our personalised and handmade creations are made with pride and care and are delivered personally by us.

Alternatively if you need your flowers to go further we can send them via Interflora.

Flower Corner

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King’s Lynn

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T: 01553 675566 E: conference@knightshill.co.uk Please visit our website at www.abacushotels.co.uk

01553 774544| Norfolk St, King’s Lynn PE30 1AG 01366 384414 | 23 Bridge St, Downham Market PE38 9DW

ABACUS MARQUEES your special event is our special event...

locally sourced award winning food and sunday lunches

AA Rosette Restaurant

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Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories.

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Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 2YA

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www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk old hunstanton road, old hunstanton norfolk pe36 6hh tel 01485 533486

KLmagazine March 2016

Very special cars for very special occasions...

Whether you’re walking down the aisle or have a date with the board of directors, Station Taxis will get you there – on time and in style! ince Keith Jarvis founded Station Taxis over 15 years ago, it’s grown to become one of the area’s most popular choices for reliable, trustworthy and professional transport – wherever you’re going or wherever you’re coming back from.

The whole operation now involves a number of different trading names (such as Kings Cars and Abbey Cars), no less than 11 different contact numbers, and some 120 courteous and friendly drivers.

From offices in King’s Lynn and Hunstanton, the company offers a complete and competitively-priced taxi and private hire service that covers the whole county – and country.

S

KLmagazine March 2016

That service has now reached an exciting new level thanks to the recent arrival of two stunning Mercedes-Benz C250S saloons. Combining the heights of comfort and luxury with distinguished good looks, they’re the perfect solution for special occasions when you need to arrive in style – whether that’s at the boardroom, the airport, or the altar.

“Choosing the right wedding car is really important,” says Keith. “It will take a daughter on her last journey with her father as a single person and her first as a married woman with her husband.

Together with our highly professional drivers, these two new cars will help everyone enjoy a wedding day to remember.”

And that includes the guests and other members of the wedding parties too, thanks to Station Taxis’ stylish and wellappointed

8-seater minibuses.

The new cars are also perfect for executive work, whether that’s airport runs (and pick-ups) or journeys to highlevel meetings and events.

“For someone attending a high-status occasion, arriving in a car that matches their standing or the importance of the event can make all the difference,” says Keith’s fellow director Anthony Bailey.

“These new additions to our fleet means that we can offer people a more luxurious journey with the level of service that’s made us everyone’s first choice.”

For more details of Station Taxis’ executive car and wedding services, please contact them using the details below and get ready to arrive in style – and on time!

Station Taxis

information

18, Hamburg Way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2ND Tel: 01553 777788 / 01553 776499 Web: www.stationtaxiskingslynn.co.uk E-mail: station.taxis@aol.co.uk

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KLmagazine March 2016

History

ABOVE: Queen Victoria at Wolferton Station on her only visit to Sandringham House in December 1871 when the Prince of Wales’ life was in serious danger from cholera. Below is a rare image of Charles Spencer Cowper, who inherited the estate in 1846 the same year this sketch was drawn by Alfred, Count D’Orsay

A hidden part of the story of Sandringham...

Sandringham hasn’t always been an architectural wonder or a Royal estate. Alison Gifford looks back to a time when the estate was unkempt, unloved, and hardly fit for a king – or queen.

A

lthough the frequent presence of the Royal Family at Sandringham and other houses in West Norfolk seems perfectly natural to us now, the choice of Sandringham as the home of the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) and his new wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, was in fact quite extraordinary.

On visiting what was then a modest hunting lodge for the first time in 1863, Princess Alexandra’s Lady of the Bedchamber Lady Maccesfield wrote somewhat disparagingly of

KLmagazine March 2016

Sandringham.

“Here are numerous coverts but no fine woods,” she wrote, “large unenclosed turnip fields with an occasional haystack to break the line of the horizon. It would be difficult to find a more ugly or desolate looking place, and there is no neighbourhood or any other countervailing advantage. The wind blows in from the Wash, and the spring is said to be unendurable in this part of Norfolk. As there was all England to choose from, I do wish they had a finer house in a more cheerful location.”

A neighbour, Lord Suffield, saw the

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History

ABOVE: A contemporary image of “the Hunting Box of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales” from the Illustrated London News, and (below) the 1803 portrait of Emily Lamb by Sir Thomas Lawrence

estate as “windswept, barren sandy moorland” and the cottages on the estate were “ramshackle houses where rats frisked about.” The roads were little better, “sinking down in the middle and high on either side, broken gates and miles of forgotten fencing,” the land “utterly exhausted and appearing to have been neither

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manured or weeded for years.”

How had this parlous state of affairs come about? It’s a fascinating story.

In 1846, at the age of 30, Charles Spencer Cowper had been left both the Sandringham and Beachamwell estates – both regarded as models of good management – by John Motteaux, an eccentric wealthy bachelor best remembered in King’s Lynn for giving £1,000 towards the new church of St John in the Walks.

As he had no children, Motteaux left his estates to the youngest son of his great friend Lord Cowper of Penshangar in Hertfordshire – whose wife was Emily Lamb, sister-inlaw to Caroline Lamb, who coined the phrase “mad, bad and dangerous to know” about Byron, her adulterous lover.

Marital fidelity was never high on the list for these aristocratic Whigs, and Emily Cowper’s five children (after she gave her husband his heir) had different fathers.

“Palmerston may have been the father of some of her children and another is said to be the child of Pozzo di Borgo, a Corcisan friend of Napoleon’s,” writes Jasper Ridley in

his biography of the great British politician Lord Palmerston – but Prince Ischitella was also named in gossip of the time.

Two years after Lord Cowper died, Emily married Lord Palmerston and supported him as the premier society hostess during his subsequent years as Prime Minister.

Charles Spencer Cowper had been born in 1816 and, probably quite naturally, was a great favourite of Palmerston’s. Charles became his private secretary in 1834 before a spell as the Charge-d’Affaires in Florence. He was then transferred to Stockholm in 1841 before moving to Paris.

“My son Spencer has taken a house, no 9 Rue de Lille,” wrote his mother.

Here Charles could usually be found at the gaming table, and was in such debt that the letter telling him of his great good fortune in inheriting the estates of Sandringham and Beachamwell lay unopened for 10 days because it looked like a demand for money.

True to character, Charles lost no time in selling the Beachamwell estate to rent a grand house in London and help fund an increasingly extravagant lifestyle.

“He lives very handsomely,” wrote Lady Holland. “The cellars are abundantly stored with the best of wines, choice and excellent. He wants only a suitable wife to make him perfectly happy.”

In keeping with his lavish tastes,

KLmagazine March 2016

ABOVE: Sandringham House as we know it today, and as it looked in 1863 (below) – with Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and his wife Alexandra photographed a year after the estate was bought by the couple.

Charles kept Sandringham as his country estate, but his care of the tenants and land was negligible at best.

John Dyker Thew – the owner of the Lynn Advertiser – described Charles Cowper thus in his 1891 ‘Personnel Recollection of a Lynn Sexagenarian’: “Mr Cowper appeared a very blasé sort of man for whom life had exhausted all its charms,” he wrote. “He had seen it all and there was nothing in it.”

Cowper nevertheless held all the offices expected of his class, becoming Deputy-Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Norfolk. Lady Holland would have been pleased that Cowper did eventually marry, but he hardly chose a ‘suitable’ wife.

Her name was Harriet Gardiner, and she’d first been married at 15 to Count Alfred D’Orsay, a renowned dandy “with floods of auburn hair” who was the lover of Lady Blessington – and possibly also of Lord Blessington, who was Harriet’s father by his first wife!

Society was not fooled by this sham marriage. Harriet fled to Paris and supported herself by writing romantic novels – for a decade she was the mistress of the Duke d’Orleans, until he was killed in a carriage accident.

Charles Cowper must have kept in touch with her since the D’Orsay days, and a month later, aged 40, she married him. She may even have been happy after the birth of a daughter, but an outbreak of cholera in Dieppe killed the little girl.

The couple returned to Norfolk and Harriet restored the church at Sandringham in her memory and also opened up an orphan school But by now Cowper was in serious

KLmagazine March 2016

financial trouble. Bored by Sandringham and with a wife turned pious, he must have been delighted when Lord Palmerston dexterously negotiated the sale of the West Norfolk estate to the Prince of Wales in 1862.

The sum paid from the coffers of the Duchy of Cornwall was a quite phenomenal £220,000. Despite the story of the estate being a wedding gift to her son, Queen Victoria had no interest in the business, her grief at the loss of Prince Albert combined with a deep dislike of her eldest son – who she blamed for her “darling’s” death.

Before leaving Sandringham, Lady Harriet left some rather poignant thoughts.

“The large sum obtained and the high station of the purchaser were great inducements,” she wrote. “We have

every reason to hope that the circumstances of the tenantry will be much improved, but I shall regret the Orphan Home, the Church and the kind, good, grateful people.”

The Cowpers moved to Paris, where Harriet died in 1869 and Charles (not suprisingly) wandered around Europe gambling until he died in Rome in 1879, aged 63.

In a somewhat short obituary, The Times described him (with a touch of irony) as a man “well known for his social charm and conversational talents.”

It was the end of a fascinating chapter in the story of Sandringham, but the start of a new one – which would see the run-down estate become one of the grandest in the country.

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Kings Lynn Audi Hamburg Way, Kings Lynn PE30 2ND | 0844 776 0541 | kingslynn-audi.co.uk

March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

Driving and the Law: your questions answered Solicitor Alison Muir of MCP looks at penalty points and disqualifications Motoring law often dominates the headlines and we regularly receive a variety of enquiries relating to various driving offences. Here is just a small selection, together with our guidance and advice.

Q

I already have 9 penalty points on my licence and have just received a further summons for speeding. Is there anything I can do to avoid being banned from driving?

Under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act (1988) drivers who accumulate 12 or more penalty points within any 3-year period are liable to a mandatory disqualification from driving for a minimum period of 6 months. This is more commonly known as “totting up”. The Court

A

ALISON MUIR is a Solicitor, Higher Court Advocate and Managing Partner of the King’s Lynn office of Metcalfe Copeman and Pettefar LLP (MCP).

As well as heading one of the largest Criminal Defence Teams in the region, which is considered among the top three for Criminal Law in East Anglia by the Legal 500, she also oversees private prosecution work for government departments and local Authorities.

does have discretion to reduce the period of disqualification (or not to disqualify at all) but only if exceptional hardship exists. There is no set guidance on what may be deemed ‘exceptional’ and it’s for the Court to make a decision based on the facts of each case.

Although a driver may inevitably suffer hardship if they were to be disqualified, the likelihood of loss of employment might of itself be deemed insufficient.

Q

I have already been to Court and successfully argued that I would suffer exceptional hardship, so have avoided a disqualification from driving. If I am summonsed for a further driving offence could I still use an exceptional hardship argument?

This very much depends what was advanced as your argument on the last occasion in Court and when that hearing took place. Drivers may not put forward the same circumstances which have been used either for not disqualifying or for reducing

A

the length of the totting up disqualification within 3 years of the conviction. It may be necessary to obtain a ‘memorandum of conviction’ from the Court to help clarify the position.

Q

My son has just passed his driving test and was told that if he gets 6 or more points on his licence he will have his licence revoked. Can this be avoided?

For the period of 2 years from when he became qualified, your son will be on his probationary driving period and will be subject to the Road Traffic Act (New Drivers) Act (1995). This means that if he acquires 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of qualifying, his licence will be revoked by the Secretary of State. However, these provisions do not take effect if the driver is disqualified for the offence itself. For example, a short ban from driving for a speeding offence (rather than penalty points) would avoid a revocation.

A

For more information on motoring offences or any other criminal law matter, please contact Alison Muir by calling 01553 778102 or e-mailing alison.muir@mcp-law.co.uk

28/32 King Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1HQ T: 01553 778100 F: 01553 766807 W: www.mcp-law.co.uk E: info@mcp-law.co.uk

Information correct at the time of print. The article above contains guidance only and should not be construed as legal advice. Specific advice to your particular circumstances should always be sought.

KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

History

ABOVE: St Margaret’s Church in King’s Lynn from the south as it looked about 1700. It clearly shows the church’s spire and lantern – which were never rebuilt (see opposite) after a tremendous storm ravaged the town in 1741.

Lynn’s annus horribilis: the Great Gale of 1741 It’s an ill wind that blows no good, and it was an ill wind indeed that tore through King’s Lynn in the 18th century. Paul Richards looks at an event that changed the face of the town forever.

I

n June 1741, an educated traveller arrived in King’s Lynn and thought it “a tolerable good town” with a “very fine spacious” market place encompassed by “very decent buildings.” The people were “pretty rich”, most being “chiefly wine and corn merchants.” Their wealth was generated by coastal and international trade, which allowed them to rebuild their mansions in the classical style – as can be seen on a walk through today’s riverside streets.

Lynn’s prosperity from the 1680s into the 1730s is highlighted by the erection of fine civic buildings. The Merchants’ Exchange (1685) and Market Cross (1711) placed the town in the national mainstream of fashionable classical architecture. Henry Bell was also

KLmagazine March 2016

commissioned by John and Charles Turner to build the Duke’s Head (1686) for domestic and foreign merchants “resorting” to the Exchange (the Old Custom House/Tourist Information Centre).

With approximately 10,000 inhabitants in 1741, Lynn retained its position in England’s premier urban league in which ports like Newcastle and Hull were likewise prominent. Its grandest building was the church of St Margaret’s – which reflected the town’s mercantile wealth and piety in the Middle Ages. It was described as “a very large, stately and magnificent pile” by the historian Benjamin Mackerell in 1737. The town’s Corporation – based at the Trinity Guildhall – was dominated

by Lynn’s merchant rulers who were

intimately involved in the management of the parish church and appointed its clergy. England couldn’t expect God’s favour unless the established Church promoted the virtue and faith of the nation! Nor could the hierarchical social system be upheld without regard to the roles played out by monarchy, Parliament and Church. For the Mayor and Corporation, their regular attendance at St Margaret’s was essential for the performance of borough rituals and the church was the only venue big enough for a large number of the inhabitants to meet and worship God. Everything was going well. But then came the disaster which many townspeople would have interpreted as a demonstration of God’s displeasure with them.

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History

ABOVE: This c1700 drawing of St Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn by Henry Bell shows the original spire that fell in 1741 – unlike the one at St. Margaret’s, this one was rebuilt (right)

At midday on 8th September 1741 King’s Lynn was devastated by a violent storm which damaged or destroyed buildings as well as shipping. At the Corporation meeting the following day it was minuted as follows: “That the hurricane yesterday blew down the Spire and Body of St Margaret and also the Spire of St Nicholas Chapel and very much damaged the Body of the Chapel. That the Shipping as well as the Small Craft were greatly damaged thereby. That several persons have received insupportable losses in their houses.”

No more dramatic evidence of this natural disaster was the appearance of St Margaret’s Church – so battered by the Great Gale that “it laid in ruins”. The tall medieval spire on the south-west tower had fallen and crushed most of the nave in the process.

Martin Foulkes of Hillington Hall near Lynn made a dramatic report to the Royal Society in London, telliong of how the leaden spire of St Margaret’s “fell its whole length upon the body and made a deep hole in the pavement and forced the corpses out of their graves and made universal havoc throughout that most spacious church.”

And two months later William Stukely wrote that the spire of St Nicholas Chapel had fallen into the churchyard and “made itself a great grave of an isosceles triangle form.”

The Great Gale had taken a very heavy toll on the town, which looked like a disaster zone. The day after the storm, the Mayor and his companions took a coach and four to nearby Houghton Hall to ask the assistance of the town’s famous MP, Sir Robert Walpole (right). His rapid political rise in the 1720s to become Britain’s first

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prime minister and his policies favourable to trade won the admiration of Lynn’s merchant rulers. So too did Houghton Hall itself, which had been built in the 1720s.

Walpole appreciated the enormity of the task facing the town, as well as the importance of the Established Church as a pillar of English society, and determined to “take care” of the church. Sir Robert gave £1,000 towards the rebuilding of St Margaret’s and within a year had persuaded the King to follow his example. Yet even that wasn’t enough!

An Act of Parliament (1742) was necessary to raise another £3,500 on the rates to refund interest payments on annuities up to £350. Advertisements were placed in East Anglian and London newspapers to encourage citizens to loan the Corporation enough money to reconstruct the church. Funds were also raised on the sale of the stone, lead and timber not required for the rebuilding (amounting to £650), while a relatively modest £745 was raised from voluntary subscriptions

from parishioners. The Corporation duly commissioned Matthew Brettingham to plan the rebuilding of St Margaret’s – a genuine talent who was then collaborating with Kent on the construction of Holkham Hall.

But then, in 1744, the money ran out!

Happily, the project was restarted in 1745 with the sale of more annuities and of pews in the soon-to-be-finished new nave.

“I will fly to Lynn with the Speed of a Lover to carry on the work of the Church as fast as possible,” wrote Brettingham (who was in London) in a letter to the Mayor.

The most expensive and biggest building project undertaken by the Corporation in the 18th century was finally finished in 1747. St Margaret’s may have been smaller than before, but the allocation of pews in the new nave reflected the town’s social hierarchy as always, with the Mayor and Corporation assigned elevated positions facing the congregation.

Neither the spire nor the central lantern of the 15th century were ever replaced, despite the protests of ship masters that they were important sea marks for ships entering the Wash. Lynn harbour had also worsened because of silting and storm damage to increase the concerns of local merchants.

Sadly, the interior of the new Georgian nave of the 1740s, including its plaster ceiling and woodwork, was all stripped out by Gilbert Scott in the 1870s. Today King’s Lynn Minster is, nevertheless, the principal gateway or starting point from which to understand Lynn’s origins and the town’s exceptional and arrestingly historic environment. It is indeed an ill wind that blows no good.

KLmagazine March 2016

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KLmagazine March 2016

Superb quality, superb value, superb lawns!

Enjoy your best-ever lawn thanks to Doubleday!

As our attention turns to the garden, Doubleday has all the help, advice and high quality products you need for the perfect lawn... ith the approach of Spring and with John Deere celebrating its 50th anniversary in the UK, it’s the ideal time to get the expert team of Doubleday on your side and give your garden the treatment it deserves.

“John Deere is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of tractors and agricultural machinery,” says Roy Pickett of Doubleday, who’ve been official local dealers for John Deere for over 30 years. “They have a great reputation for product quality and performance – and they’ve always applied their technical knowledge and innovative design to products for residential customers.”

It means Doubleday can help you achieve simply stunning lawns – whatever size your garden, and whatever effect you’re looking for.

Take the R54RKB walk-behind petrol mower, for example. Enjoying a facelift

W

KLmagazine March 2016

for 2016, the mower offers variable speed control, a unique ‘bag full’ indicator, and a specially-designed rear roller for mowing raised borders and creating that classic striped finish.

For larger gardens and bigger jobs, Doubleday can also help you choose the lawn tractor that’s best suited to your requirements. With a series of updates for this year, they offer a premium combination of high power and ease of use (some models even include cruise control!) and through the use of a wide range of optional equipment can handle the toughest of gardening chores.

For all the help and advice you need, Doubleday’s back-up and support services are second to none, and the parts and maintenance teams are totally committed to serving the needs of both the home gardener and the agricultural customer.

“I think that’s key to the whole Doubleday experience,” says Roy. “Because we’ve always been a familyrun business, we’ve always been a very family-friendly business too. It’s about lifestyles rather than machines. We’ve always concentrated on the personal touch and we’ve always offered a truly local and truly individual service.”

Doubleday has been part of the landscape for generations – and that experience can help ensure your lawn has never looked better!

DOUBLEDAY PART OF THE LANDSCAPE FOR GENERATIONS

information Doubleday King’s Lynn, Lynn Road, St Germans, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3EU Tel: 01553 617666 Web: www.doubledaygroup.co.uk

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5 Station Road, Heacham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 7HG 01485 571789 | arcoworkshop@posmail.co.uk | www.arcotoolhire.co.uk KLmagazine March 2016

Pets

AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...

SMALL BITES D

on’t forget that we’re still offering our popular, free rescue pet check-ups. If you’ve given a lucky pet a second chance to shine then bring them along to meet us and have a free health check, and free flea and worm treatment. Here at London Road and The Hollies we have many rescue pets of our own and love hearing your rescue pet’s stories.

Cats vs Dogs... he recent BBC documentary ‘Cats v Dogs’ brought up the age old argument of which of our most popular pets is the ‘best’. I know just from speaking to my colleagues that this is one argument which will never be solved! There will always be dedicated dog lovers and feline fanatics who will never be swayed! There are also many people like myself who love the characteristics and charms of both of these fabulous pets and are hardpressed to choose one over the other.

The welcome you get from your dog when you walk through the front door makes you feel loved, missed and valued all at once. Dogs have been domesticated for much longer than cats and have adapted their behaviours more to live alongside us. Our dogs are excellent at reading our facial expressions and body language and seem to always know when we need a

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big lick across the face. They also force us out of our couch potato ways - I can’t think of many better things to do than go for a long walk to blow away the cobwebs with my dogs by my side.

My cats continually fascinate me and make me laugh in equal measure. It always feels like an honour when a cat comes to sit on your lap or sleep on your feet at night, after all they can often be so aloof and independent. We all know how intelligent and loving dogs are but I find that cats can be just as smart at reading us and getting their own way! Cats have learnt to communicate with us, they hardly ever meow to each other, only to us. I know my cats will look at their empty food bowl and then meow beseechingly up at me!

Regardless of whether you are a cat person, dog person or all round animal lover our pets make us happier and

healthier. They are our companions, friends, shoulders to cry on, play mates, exercise partners, entertainers and biggest fans and our lives certainly wouldn’t be the same without them! I look forward to getting home to both my cats and dogs and hope to hear your stories to try and convince me of the merits of one over the other, it’s a debate I’ll never tire of!

London Road Vets

@LondonRoadVets

www.makeyourpetsmile.co.uk

LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn telephone: 01553 773168 e-mail: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market telephone: 01366 386655 e-mail: info@holliesvetclinic.co.uk

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PICTURES: PAUL NAYLOR / MARINEPHOTO.COM

Local Life

ABOVE: A Dahlia anemone in the newly-designated Marine Conservation Zone off the coast of North Norfolk. The zone features what is currently thought to be one of the largest chalk reefs in Europe (opposite)

Beneath the marshes lies Norfolk’s latest gem A successful campaign by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust has now given the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds the national recognition they deserve. Sylvia Steele discovers more about this natural wonder.

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ile upon mile of marshland meets the sea along the coast of North Norfolk; every species of seabird nests in the reeds and marsh grass or wades contentedly in the pools, whilst vast numbers of wildfowl and waders, bittern and marsh harrier migrate and winter here. But beneath and beyond the marshes you’ll find Norfolk’s latest natural gem.

A mere stone’s throw from the shoreline, around 20m below the sea’s surface lies what’s currently thought to be one of the largest chalk reefs in Europe.

The unique Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds

KLmagazine March 2016

are home to a stunning diversity of marine life and made news last year by becoming a designated Marine Conservation Zone. To date, 23 such zones deemed to be of national importance have been created around the country in the second phase of the Government’s remit of the Marine and Coastal Access Act. The Marine Conservation Zones provide protected sea areas designated for habitats of national importance.

Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds, often dubbed as the Great Barrier Reef of Norfolk, is the first in our region.

Plans for the first marine reserves, securing protection for the rarely-seen species that frequent our shore were,

however, first formulated back in the 1970s and – as seen from the recent creation of the Marine Conservation Zones – are receiving ongoing Government support with a total of 50 areas designated since 2013.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has always aimed to ensure the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds enjoy the national recognition and protection they deserve. Back in 2012 they collected around 10,000 signatures written on silver ‘fish’ scales as part of a 250,000name petition that was presented at Westminster.

This latest government acknowledgment of the Trust’s efforts has naturally created a tourist trail

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PICTURES: PAUL NAYLOR / MARINEPHOTO.COM

Local Life

ABOVE: A Lobster exploring part of the Marine Conservation Zone off the coast at Sheringham – the zone is one of only 23 around the country and stretches from Cley to Trimingham.

encouraging snorkelling enthusiasts to share in the experience of viewing this amazing source of wildlife. The submerged landscapes of the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds are an oasis of colour and beauty that, unfortunately, only divers will ever see at first hand.

“In some areas it looks like a moonscape with miles of smooth white chalk polished and cleaned by the rocks and sand,” says Rob Spray of Seasearch in East Anglia. “It’s like finding a natural Stonehenge under the water.”

He describes what they discovered as “deep chasms and towering arches of rocks. A band of chalk providing nooks, crannies and crevasses that give shelter to crabs, lobsters and fish in a reef stretching along the coast from Cley to Trimingham” – a distance of some 20 miles.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust feels the two things most likely to damage the seabed are trawling for shellfish and dredging. The area does, however, support, a small-scale crab and lobster fishery vital to the local character and economy of the area.

The list of Marine Conservation Zones was drawn up by sea users, scientists and conservationists and the Wildlife Trust welcomes this, the achievement of another important milestone to secure better protected seas.

In fact, Norfolk Wildlife Trust was the

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very first Trust to be established. Its history goes back to 1926 when four hundred acres of marshland at Cley were purchased by Dr. Sydney Long, a Norwich physician and enthusiastic field-naturalist, to be held in perpetuity as a bird-breeding sanctuary. It’s a region of diverse wildlife habitats and home to species from the common to the incredibly rare.

Dr. Long set about establishing an organisation capable of managing the land for the wildlife and the Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust was born.

But the work to protect wildlife goes back even further. When naturalist Charles Rothschild decided to safeguard the wildlife habitat of moors, fens, and meadows (all under attack from modernisation) he enlisted the support of like-minded enthusiasts.

From a radical idea to preserve and protect the UK’s wild places grew a movement that expanded into a network of Trusts acquiring new nature reserves. This was the beginning of the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves.

One of the Trust’s most ambitious projects was to manage habitats on a landscape scale bridging the gap between people and wildlife.

Legislation for nature followed, establishing National Parks, Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest – many of which are still cared

for by the Wildlife Trust today. This led on to havens being formed where people could become ‘hands-on’ involved in the learning and enjoyment of nature.

Inspirational work has been achieved on land and, as presented in their recent update, Simon King OBE, President of the Wildlife Trust, states that “we are now in the most crucial period in history for the UK’s marine life. An opportunity exists to support the sea around our coasts and ensure it remains a source of joy and wonder.”

KLmagazine March 2016

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JOBS FOR THE GARDEN in March

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P &T

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Early planting of onion sets & shallots will lengthen the growing season resulting in larger individual bulbs. Garlic & rhubarb can also be planted now As new shoots of perennials emerge get ready to protect them from slugs & snails with copper rings, slug pellets or organic slug bait Dig plenty of organic farmyard manure into your soil ready for planting vegetables Top-dress pots & containers of established shrubs & perennials with fresh compost & slow release fertiliser.

Remember to use ericaceous compost & feed for acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons & camellias

Visit Thaxters for everything you’ll need for your garden...

and don’t forget to visit our coffee shop for a relaxing slice of cake or scone!

Garden Centre & Coffee Shop 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514

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KLmagazine March 2016

Feathers, fins and a lot more besides...

Discover why a visit to Feathers and Fins in King’s Lynn is so enjoyable for you and your family – and why it’s even better for your animals! hen Brian and Debbie Mott first purchased the former home of Norfolk Aquatics just outside King’s Lynn, they initially saw it only as a suitable home for their ever-growing collection of turtles.

But the enterprising couple – who built Natures Grub into one of the country’s biggest suppliers of natural animal foods – soon realised the location had a lot more potential, and opened Feathers & Fins on the site last August.

As you might imagine, it offers an amazing choice of high quality, highly nutritious food for everything from chickens and lizards to badgers and hedgehogs – including no less than 14 different bird food mixes and the largest range of fish food in the area.

And while most of it comes from Brian and Debbie’s Natures Grub range, you'll also find foods by other ethical suppliers – and if you can’t find what

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KLmagazine March 2016

you’re looking for (or your animals have particularly special dietary requirements) they can even produce a food specially mixed and prepared for you.

But there’s a lot more to Feathers and Fins than food, however. You’ll also find a vast range of bird feeders, nest boxes and feeding stations, and a comprehensive selection of pond accessories, pumps, filters and aquarium equipment.

And as it’s Spring, there’s no better time to discover the biggest choice of pond plants in the area – with 100s of different varieties including some 20 different water lilies.

Thanks to a fascinating collection of resident animals, Feathers and Fins is also becoming a real family destination.

The family of snapping turtles is always popular, and while adults may be drawn to the rescued Japanese squirrel and ‘Fluffy’ (a 4½ foot long Bosc monitor lizard), children delight in feeding the

ducks and chickens.

Indeed, at Feathers and Fins you can even buy a selection of pond fish, chickens and ducks (which are born on site) and the knowledgeable and friendly staff are always full of expert help and advice on caring for them.

Offering free local delivery on orders over £15 and open from 9.30-4.30 seven days a week from April 1st (the store is currently open five days a week) Feathers and Fins has everything you and your animals need.

You’ll be glad you discovered it – and so will your feathered and finned friends!

information

Feathers and Fins 121a Main Road, Clenchwarton, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE34 4BG Tel: 01553 780263 Web: www.feathersandfins.net E-mail: feathersandfinsuk@gmail.com

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PICTURES: DAVID GOODCHILD

Local Life

ABOVE: One of David Goodchild’s incredible orreries, which he handcrafts in wood and finishes in painstaking detail. He’s now in the process of completing the first working replica of the mysterious 2000-year-old Antikythera mechanism (opposite)

The clockwork universe of David Goodchild For over 100 years, an ancient relic has fascinated researchers and scientists. Now, a local man has built the first complete and fully workable replica of this archaic wonder – in wood and by hand...

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n April 1900, a team of Greek sponge divers found themselves stranded by a severe storm near the tiny island of Antikythera.

Deciding on a little impromptu sponge diving while they waited for the storm to pass, they discovered the wreck of an ancient ship, containing a number of bronze and marble statues, unique glassware, jewellery, coins, and assorted artefacts.

While museum staff in Athens busied themselves with the more spectacular finds, an unremarkable lump of corroded bronze and wood (right) went unnoticed for two years – until an archaeologist discovered that one of the pieces of rock had a gear wheel embedded in it.

Since then, the device (known as the Antikythera Mechanism) has fascinated and baffled researchers for over 100

KLmagazine March 2016

years. Thought to have featured at least 30 gears when complete, the mechanism was originally designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses as well as charting the cycles of the ancient Olympic Games.

Pre-dating the earliest clock by some 1,500 years, widely acknowledged as the first known analog computer, and described by one eminent scientist as being more important than the Mona Lisa, the mechanism features a level of complexity and workmanship that wouldn’t appear again for five centuries.

For years,

researchers have published papers on its possible reconstruction and methods of operation, and 3D computer models have been developed to simulate working replicas, but no one has managed to actually build a fully complete, fully workable version.

Until now that is.

David Goodchild first encountered the Antikythera Mechanism when he was 12, coming across it in a book by Arthur C Clarke that dealt with a number of the world’s unsolved mysteries – but it would be a long time before he considered attempting to reconstruct the ancient wonder.

After spells as a land surveyor, a lifeguard and a

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PICTURES: DAVID GOODCHILD

Local Life

ABOVE: The orreries of David Goodchild are breathtaking in their complexity (a 9-planet version generally requiring over 100 separate parts) and staggering in their detail – the 12 ‘segments’ of the Earth’s surface (above right) were individually cut and applied by hand

computer programmer, David embarked on a 12-year career as an armourer in the RAF, a job he describes as basically fitting and removing anything likely to go bang.

“I’ve always loved building things,” he says. “It all started with plastic kits and model airplanes, and towards the end of my time in the RAF I was designing and building complex wooden toys and automata. It started to dawn on me that people liked what I was doing – and that I seemed to be pretty good at it!”

Leaving the service to spend more time with his family, David joined FotoStop in Downham Market, where he now specialises in commercial printing and digital work such as photo restoration.

“At that point we were only doing very basic photographic printing,” he says. “It was a far cry from the vast range of photographic, printing and framing services we offer today.”

In his spare time David continued to build his toys and automata, but although he loved the experimentation and mechanical design he found the figure carving involved somewhat time-consuming and frustrating.

“The eureka moment came when I saw a television programme featuring an orrery,” he says. “They’re essentially a complex mechanical representation of the solar system, and I thought I could probably build one entirely out of wood – including the gearing, something I don’t think had ever been done before.”

David’s first orrery was completed in June 2007 and featured six planets. He took a video of it working and posted it on You Tube to see if anyone would be interested in seeing it.

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They certainly were. Over 100,000 people have viewed the video to date, and David’s since built over 15 orreries that have found homes everywhere from the visitor centre at Jodrell Bank to the desk of a professor at Harvard University in the United States.

Possibly more amazing than the mechanisms themselves – which take around two months to complete and feature over 100 parts – is the fact that David painstakingly cuts and finishes every individual piece by hand.

“It’s an incredibly detailed process,” he says. “I’ve tried laser-cutting the components, but while it’s quicker it also takes away a lot of the skill and the interest – and that’s always been the most appealing part for me.”

David now felt he had enough experience to tackle his long-held dream of rebuilding the Antikythera Mechanism.

“I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I’d built the grandfather of virtually every clockwork machine ever built,” he says.

Over the years, a handful of replicas had been made, but David’s is almost certainly the first in the world to take into account the latest research for the mechanism that drives the ‘pointers’ for the planets – which is missing from the original and the part most open to speculation and conjecture.

“The version I’ve produced has been modelled on a computer but never actually built, so it’s nice to be first with something,” he says. “Despite the fact that the machine includes over 200 separate parts, the solution I’ve gone for is relatively simple – and it works quite beautifully.”

After two years of research and parttime building, David has completed a fully-working prototype to ensure the complex gearing is correct, and is currently working on Version II – which will take into account everything he’s learned along the way and will be fully and totally complete in only a few month’s time.

So exactly what do you do next after you’ve successfully and singlehandedly recreated an ancient wonder that’s fascinated scientists for generations?

“It would be nice to explore the commercial possibilities of the mechanism, but for me the most fascinating part of the project has been in helping bring a 2,500-yearold machine back to life,” says David.

“It will be fascinating to see what happens once it’s complete. It’s an infinite universe, of course, and the possibilities are endless!”

To see films of David’s orreries in action and the various stages of his reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism, visit YouTube and search for ‘Dave Goodchild Orrery.’

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PICTURES: SAMARITANS / ROSE ATKINSON

Help when the workplace isn’t working so well...

How King’s Lynn Samaritans can help local businesses and organisations improve the emotional health of their people...

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he cost of stress to the workplace is quite staggering. It has been estimated that some 10 million days are lost to stress every year, costing the economy over £6 billion, and the phenomena of ‘presenteeism’ (employees coming to work tired, disengaged, unmotivated and too stressed to work effectively) has also increased significantly over the last few years.

The human and emotional cost of the problem, is of course, incalculable – but ways of addressing the issues (for both employers and employees) are easier and closer than you may think.

“Samaritans have been listening to and supporting vulnerable people of all ages and in all walks of life for over 60 years now,” says Keith King, Branch

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Director of King’s Lynn Samaritans.

“Recently, Samaritans have been taking all that experience and expertise into the workplace to promote the subject of emotional awareness and how that can benefit an organisation and its people.”

Emotional health is part of our overall health and centres on the way we think and feel. It relates to our sense of wellbeing and our ability to cope with life events, and good emotional health allows us to respect our own emotions as well as those of others.

Even though we may not be aware of it, we all constantly use our emotional and social skills. Every day we interact with people at home and in our community and have new experiences, developing thoughts and feelings about

the world around us. Emotional health education isn’t just about helping people who may be at risk of emotional health problems, but for every person who is part of a company or organisation – from the directors to the support staff, from the salespeople to the receptionists.

“It’s really very simple, but it can make a world of difference,” says Keith.

“All we do is visit local businesses and organisations and speak to them for as little as half an hour. It doesn’t have to disrupt the working day, we don’t advocate changing any systems or practices, and there’s no charge attached to it at all.”

By visiting your business or organisation, Samaritans can help raise the awareness of emotional health and

KLmagazine March 2016

“There are in this world, in every country, people who seem to be ‘ordinary’ but who turn out to be extraordinary. They give their total attention. They completely forget themselves. They listen and listen and listen, without interrupting. They have no message. They do not preach.

They have nothing to sell.

We call them Samaritans...”

Dr Chad Varah, CH CBE Founder, Samaritans

the importance of recognising when you (and the people around you) need help. They can help all staff members develop positive coping strategies and communication skills, reducing stigma and breaking down the barriers around talking about emotional health. They’ll also encourage the development of supportive and help-seeking behaviour.

“Employees don’t only see that the company they work for values them and is concerned about their welfare,” says Keith. “They become more understanding of each other, and they become more efficient as they learn how to listen – and how to talk.”

And as King’s Lynn is particularly fortunate in having its own Samaritans branch (one of 201 across the UK) you’ll be working with a long-established organisation that understands the local community and its issues.

“A person’s level of emotional resilience can affect teams, colleagues, other individuals and their own wellbeing,” says Keith. “Although as Samaritans we’re primarily here for people when they need someone to talk to or to listen, by reaching out to the business world in this way we can help increase productivity and

KLmagazine March 2016

performance in the workplace.”

Of course, the idea of ‘something for nothing’ is very rare in the commercial world, so it’s tempting to ask what Samaritans gain from this initiative.

“Throughout our history it’s been crucial for us to promote awareness of Samaritans and the service we offer, and visiting the workplace plays an important part in raising that awareness,” says Keith. “Of course, if it encourages someone to volunteer for us or inspires companies to help us in other ways, that’s an added bonus for us.”

Companies interested in learning more about the Samaritans in the workplace or organising a taster session for their own workforce should contact Keith at King’s Lynn Samaritans on 01553 761616.

Nationally, Samaritans runs courses for businesses and organisation based on 60 years’ experience of listening.

You can find out more online at www.samaritans.org/training. Teaching resources for schools called DEAL (Developing Emotional Awareness and Listening) are also available for teachers to use for free from the website at www.samaritans.org/DEAL.

If you’d like to explore the possibility of volunteering with King’s Lynn Samaritans in any capacity, please get in touch by sending an e-mail to volunteering@ kingslynnsamaritans.org.uk

information 26 Queen Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1HT National Line: 116 123 (this is free to call) Tel: 01553 761616 (local call charges apply) Web: www.samaritans.org

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King’s Lynn Samaritans/Charity Number 268748

Of course, it’s also important to remember that Samaritans are available every hour of every day for people in need of individual support. It’s perfectly okay to say that you’re not having a good time, that you are stressed out, or that you’re scared, alone, or tired.

Samaritans are free to call on 116 123 – and in accordance with their policy of strict confidentiality, the number won’t ever appear on your phone bill.

Stress in the workplace can be terribly damaging – for the individual concerned, for their company and for its customers – but thanks to the work of Samaritans and its volunteers, help and support is always only a phone call away.

Local Arts

ABOVE: Hans Rahn and Sean Bishop outside Norfolk Creative Arts, the couple’s fabulous new art school in Grimston

A masterclass of ideas and a world of inspiration Take a Grade II listed school building and the visionary ideas of two talented men and you’ve got Norfolk Creative Arts – a new art school dedicated to the future of the county’s creativity...

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he future of local art and the development of Norfolk’s homegrown talent looks to be in very safe hands thanks to the recent opening of a new creative art school based in a Grade II listed former junior school in the West Norfolk village of Grimston.

Norfolk Creative Arts is the brainchild of Hans Rahn and Sean Bishop, who met in Brighton some eleven years ago and discovered they shared fond childhood memories of Norfolk and an enduring love for the county.

After studying art and design and the performing arts, Hans took up an acting career in London, but the competition

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and scarcity of work saw him move into different areas.

“Roles as a jobbing actor are few and far between,” he says, “so I moved into areas such as catering and property renovation and then decided to study upholstery for four years.”

Sean, meanwhile, had travelled to London from Nordelph near Downham Market, following a catering career and ending up working in the charity sector.

“I’ve always thought it’s important to put something back into the community,” he says, “and when I met Hans it really was the ideal partnership.

While Hans is very creative, I’m very business-minded, and our ideas came

together quite naturally.”

The couple were looking at ways to move back to Norfolk in 2009, wanting to be able to combine all their varied experiences in the worlds of events, arts and interiors.

“Our dream was to create a creative environment surrounded by like minded people,” says Hans. “A sort of community hub, where people could be enthused, develop their creativity, and discover new techniques.”

The turning point came in March 2013, when the couple came across the latest issue of Village Link, the monthly news magazine for Grimston, Pott Row, Congham and Roydon.

KLmagazine March 2016

ABOVE: Norfolk Creative Arts is a beautifully designed and inspiring teaching facility for artists of all ages and abilities, and the building still retains echoes (bottom left) of its former life as a village junior school

It contained an article about the possible future uses of Church Hill School in Grimston, which had closed in August 2011 – at which time was one of the smallest junior schools in Norfolk with only 16 pupils. The attractive carrstone building beside the church of St.Botolph had been built in 1830, was Grade II listed, and was under the care of the Grimston School Trust – who hoped that the building, which is a much loved part of the village community, could find a new use, fit for purpose in this twenty-first century.

“We realised it was absolutely ideal for an art school,” says Hans. “The Trust were very enthusiastic with the idea, so we started work on a business plan and started making the long journey through planning.”

Of course, a school is nothing without teachers, so the couple started talking to a number of local artists.

“Two local art schools had closed in recent years, so we spoke to artists who’d taught there and ones we already knew,” says Sean. “We’d

KLmagazine March 2016

attended the Society for All Artists’ exhibition in Islington for a number of years and got to know several wellknown artists through that, so we approached them as well.”

They started decorating the building at the end of last year, and it was like stepping back in time.

“Even though it had been closed for nearly five years, it looked as though

classes had just finished,” says Hans.

“There were children’s names on the wall and even some lessons still written on the blackboards!”

True to the couple’s dream of becoming part of the community and preserving local heritage, Hans and Sean employed a local craftsman to build the tables for the breakout room and and used the worktops from a school’s science lab in the kitchen.

The school’s main classroom was transformed into a stunning central studio – spacious, perfectly lit and ideal for inspiring creative work.

“Even though the main studio is so big, we don’t really want classes of more than 14 people,” says Hans. “It’s important that everyone has their own working space and can spend more time with the tutor.”

Norfolk Creative Arts opened at the beginning of February, with the first class being taken by popular pastel and animal portrait artist Tod Evans.

“It was a rather fitting way to start, as Tod wanted to break people’s fear of a

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Local Arts plain piece of paper,” says Hans. “It was wonderful seeing so many people coming together and sharing ideas and seeing how our vision for the school had been realised.”

Norfolk Creative Arts offers an astonishing variety of classes for artists of all ages and of all abilities. They cover everything from oils and acrylics to pencils and pastels, and encompass every kind of subject – from animals and portraits to landscapes, still life and abstract art.

The series of weekly classes (taken by artists such as Tod Evans, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Carter and Mike Tuddenham) are complemented by over 40 weekend classes looking at more specialist techniques and subjects.

They’ll be hosted by such famous names as Isobel Bartholomew, Kevin Scully, John Tookey and Fraser Scarfe.

But the really exciting thing about Norfolk Creative Arts is that this is just the beginning.

“The real beauty of the school is that it’s so versatile,” says Sean. “We’re already looking at creating a gallery space and holding a pop-up cinema, and we’re hoping to expand our classes to cover artistic disciplines such as photography and upholstery.”

Both Hans and Sean are determined that Norfolk Creative Arts plays a genuine role in the community and are currently running a survey to ask what people – whether artists or villagers or both! – want from the school. The survey can be completed online and offers people the chance to win a 1-day place on a future course at the school.

“Everyone’s been so enthusiastic and have really bought into our vision,” says Hans. “We always wanted to create a place that would nurture, support and develop creativity, that would be a part of village life, and would encourage people from far afield to discover the wonders of Norfolk.”

Thanks to Hans and Sean, the future of local art looks very promising indeed.

ABOVE: Popular artists soon to be taking classes at Norfolk Creative Arts include (from the top) Rebecca Lloyd, Vic Bearcroft and Isobel Batholomew

A small selection of forthcoming classes...

March 19th-20th ISOBEL BARTHOLOMEW Improving watercolour techniques for flower painters April 1st-3rd KEVIN SCULLY A 3-day course on the key aspects of still life May 21st-22nd VIC BEARCROFT A 2-day pastel masterclass in drawing big cats July 23rd-24th JOHN TOOKEY (image right) A 2-day course on taking risks and having fun with pastels October 14th-15th FRASER SCARFE Learn to add atmosphere and drama to your landscapes This is just a tiny sampling of the weekly and weekend classes available at Norfolk Creative Arts. For a full listing, please see the website at www.norfolkcreativearts.co.uk

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NORFOLK CREATIVE ARTS Church Hill School, 71 Gayton Road Grimston, Norfolk PE32 1BG t: 01485 240420 w: www.norfolkcreativearts.co.uk

KLmagazine March 2016

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00

The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

T

he relaxing atmosphere and restrained conversation of a dinner party recently attended by Mrs Middleton and myself in Hunstanton was shattered in no uncertain terms when a rather large spider suddenly decided to run across the dining table.

Although the offending arachnid escaped unscathed, its appearance resulted in three spilled drinks, two broken glasses, a forkful of chicken madras on the carpet, and a few tears by one of the guests.

Once order had been restored, the tabletalk turned to the subject of phobias, and we discovered that one of our fellow diners was something of an authority on the subject, having spent some time in the past treating a number of people suffering from various fears and anxieties.

It seems that arachnophobia is by far the most common phobia – although ‘most common’ is something of a misnomer as it only affects about 20% of the population. It’s also a bit of a mystery as to why the creatures should fill sufferers with such dread.

Our well-qualified friend said that it may be an evolutionary response, as studies with crickets (I kid you not) have demonstrated that a fear of spiders can actually develop before birth. But then, she said, if you visit far-flung communities in which spiders are included in traditional foods (no thanks) you won’t find any arachnophobes – so it may be due to cultural influences.

There’s no telling what people can develop an aversion to – and we’re not just talking about something as simple as fear. It can affect them physically and socially and can have a genuine impact

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on their daily lives. More than 500 phobias have been recognised and recorded to date, and some of them are downright baffling.

Take xanthophobia, for example. It’s the fear of the colour yellow, and sufferers will go to great lengths to avoid everything from daffodils to trade directories. At its most aggressive, people will even avoid the sun – and even the y-word will set them on edge.

Some phobias have only appeared quite recently. Nomophobia (which no one had heard of six years ago) isn’t a fear of a Japanese restaurant in Barcelona or a Michigan-based pop group. Look around and you’ll see it everywhere. It’s the fear of being without mobile phone coverage, and can be brought on by the fear of losing signal, running out of battery power or even losing sight of a mobile phone.

Similarly, you may think the rise of pogonophobia is another recent development, but the fear of beards has actually been around since the 1850s.

It’s hard to imagine being actually frightened of beards, but they certainly weren’t thought of very highly at Disney, which had a ban on employees wearing beards for the best part of 60 years (a ban which was only lifted in 2012).

Surprisingly common is kinemortophobia, which is the fear of zombies. Even more surprising is the fact the number of sufferers – who are afraid of being attacked by the creatures and being turned into one – is actually increasing. Serious researchers claim that the increasing numbers are a

sign of the social and economic breakdown of our society, as the phobia’s popularity seems to increase during times of economic or social strife.

I must confess that being attacked by zombies isn’t something I’ve been unduly worried about while wandering about north Norfolk any time in the recent past – but maybe that’s more indicative of the county’s social cohesion than the imminent rise of the undead.

The good news (according to our expert fellow diner) is that simple phobias can be successfully treated through gradual exposure to the object, animal, place or situation that causes fear and anxiety. It’s known as desensitisation or self-exposure therapy, but kinemortophobes may have to wait a while before they can live a life without fear of zombification.

Of course, none of this would have even occurred to me had I been a deipnophobe. Which is, naturally, someone with an irrational fear of dinner parties.

KLmagazine March 2016

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