ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 75 DECEMBER 2016 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE Blakeney Point 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 Nicola Back CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Alison Childerhouse Chris Ivory Matthew Keeley-Smith Alex Marsh Charlotte Niemiec Richard Parr Paul Richards
contact 18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk KL magazine is published monthly by KL Publications Ltd. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.
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sk Google what Christmas is all about and you’ll get around 340 million results in less than a second. It’s hardly surprising, as the festive season means different things to different people. One thing we can probably all agree on is that Christmas is a time for celebrating, but what exactly is it that we’re celebrating? There’s a clue in the story of the nativity at Luke 2:10, when an angel visits the shepherds of Bethlehem, telling them “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” It’s a personal message (‘you’), it's a positive one (‘good news’ and ‘great joy’) and it’s one that’s universal (‘for all the people’) – which means it doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you’ve been or where you’re headed, the good news of Christmas is for everyone. This month, Canon Chris Ivory of King’s Lynn Minster has given us his own ideas on the Christmas message (page 16), and you’ll find his ‘liberating’ thoughts very timely and illuminating as we come together to celebrate over the coming weeks. Thinking a bit deeper and digging below the surface is central to the work of artist Tim Simmons, whose work is featured on page 102. On the face of it, he’s a talented photographer and film maker who produces stunning artwork of the natural environment – but Tim’s work encourages those of who (literally) don’t see the wood for the trees to consider the real magic of the world around us. Finally, as the year draws to a close we’d like to thank everyone who’s helped us put KL magazine together over the last 12 months; our contributers, our writers and all our local advertisers – please remember to support them! And you, of course, for reading it. Wherever you are and however you plan to celebrate, have a very Happy Christmas – and we’ll see you again next year. KL MAGAZINE
KLmagazine December 2016
Contents
DECEMBER 2016
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6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
76 MASSEY & CO RETURNS TO LYNN An old bank and a new cocktail lounge
8-10 CHRISTMAS AT HOLKHAM A spectacular season of festive celebrations
78-93 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
14 KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE A preview of shows to enjoy over Christmas
88 RESTAURANT REVIEW KL magazine visits the King’s Arms in Swaffham
16-18 THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS Liberating thoughts from Canon Chris Ivory
92-93 THE 12 BEERS OF CHRISTMAS... Discover a dozen tastes of seasonal cheer
24-26 100 YEARS OF RAF MARHAM Celebrating a century of service
54-56 THE LAST MAHARAJA Remembering the amazing life of Duleep Singh
28-30 MEMORIES OF MERCHANTS... Exploring the memorials of St Nicholas Chapel
98-100 A COMIC TOUR DE FORCE Alex Marsh reflects on his latest book
46-48 A SLOWER PACE OF LIFE The work of the Retired Greyhound Trust
102-104 THE ART OF SCIENCE Going beyond the image with Tim Simmons
50 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas
106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON The strange return of FR Buckley...
57 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
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62-64 LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER... Supporting women when they need it most 66-73 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
Happy Chriastdmerass to all our re ers! and advertis 5
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KLmagazine December 2016
December
Saturday 3rd SIMPLY SING CHOIR PRESENTS ‘CHRISTMAS COME EARLY’ King's Lynn Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn Simply Sing Community Choir present an evening of Christmas music and seasonal cheer, in support of The Big C, Norfolk's Cancer Charity. Join them for an evening which will kick off the Christmas season and celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Big C, and the wonderful work they have done and continue to do for the people of Norfolk. A fantastic night of music is promised. Tickets £5 for adults, £3.50 for under 16s, with all funds raised donated to The Big C. Refreshments provided. See wwwsimplysingcommunitychoir.com, or email simplysing@outlook.com for further details.
Saturday 17th
WALKING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: MINCE PIE WALK Leaving at 10am from Catesby Court, Wells-Next-The-Sea NR23 1AR Walking Home For Christmas is Walking With The Wounded’s campaign to support homeless and other vulnerable veterans by helping them to reintegrate into society and lead an independent life through employment. Many veterans have walked in far worse environments than we can imagine. Be inspired by their determination and take part in Walking Home For Christmas. Plan your own walk anywhere, anytime in December or ‘do the Mince Pie Walk’ Wells to Blakeney with optional Stiffkey stopping point. Return to Wells by Coastal Hopper bus. Mince Pies and Mulled wine will be served! To take part in WHFC please register at walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/support-the-walk/wwtwevents/ walking-home-for-christmas/. It costs just £10 to register. Any queries please contact Kate C at kate@wwtw.org.uk. KLmagazine December 2016
Sunday 4th
CREATIVE MAKERS: FESTIVE FAIR Village Hall, Castle Acre, PE32 2XB (11am-4pm) Creative makers is made up of an eclectic mix of local artists and craftspeople that make unique handmade gifts that you won’t find on the high street. Pay them a visit at their first festive fair of the year and find some beautiful, unique Christmas gifts! There are handmade gifts as well as restored furniture and vintage clothing and homewares. There will also be a cafe selling a range of delicious homemade bakes and refreshments along with live music to add a little festive cheer! Dogs and all the family are welcome and entry is free. All the wonderful sellers are small local businesses so come show your support and shop local. You won't be disappointed! For more information find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/creativemakersfairs.
Saturday 17th HANDEL’S MESSIAH: A PERFORMANCE BY KING’S LYNN FESTIVAL CHORUS WITH THE MERIDIAN SINFONIA St Nicholas’ Chapel, St Ann's Street, King's Lynn (7:30pm) St Nicholas’ Chapel will once again resound with the thundering chords of Handel's well-loved oratorio Messiah, performed by our area’s talented choir, the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus. The great Soprano Emma Kirkby who sang with the Choir during their performance of Monteverdi's Vespers will be returning once again. She is joined by 3 other eminent soloists - Peter Davoren, Tenor, Martha McLorinan, Alto and David Shipley, Bass. The wonderful Meridian Sinfonia will provide the orchestral accompaniment and the concert will be conducted by the talented music director, Tom Appleton. Tickets are available from the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange and can be booked by calling 01553 764864. Tickets cost £25 (£12.50 for under 18s). For more information about the choir or the event please visit the website www.kingslynnfestivalchorus.co.uk.
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Alexandra Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ KLmagazine December 2016
December
16th - 31st December
WESTACRE THEATRE COMPANY: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Westacre Theatre, River Road, Westacre PE32 1UD A lively new ensemble version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol adapted for the studio by Andy Naylor. It’s sure to be an action packed treat for all the family this Christmas! Dates of showings are 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 30 of December at 7pm and 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31 of December at 3pm. Tickets are £16 for 7pm showings, and £12 for 3pm showings (£4 off all tickets for under 21s). For more information and to book tickets visit the website www.westacretheatre.com or call 01760 755800.
14th December - 10th January
THE ART OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY NWT Cley Marshes, Coast Road, Cley next the Sea NR25 7SA (10:00 - 17:00) Interested in photography? Love nature? Paul Richards is a retired countryside manager who has recently moved to Norfolk. He is passionate about our countryside and its native wildlife. His desire to photograph all the elements of nature and landscape is illustrated in this stunning exhibition. Capturing the simple image in an artistic way is a key element of his work. The exhibition is free and for more information please visit the website www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on.
Coming soon...
Tuesday 17th January TALK: MARY-ANN OCHOTA - HIDDEN HISTORIES: A SPOTTER'S GUIDE TO THE BRITISH LANDSCAPE St. George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn PE30 1HA (7:30pm) Join TV presenter and archaeology writer Mary-Ann Ochota on a journey through Britain’s historic landscape. What clues should you look for to puzzle out the origins of a village, or the age of a hedgerow? What are the secrets hidden in tumuli, chambered tombs and churchyards? A must for all landscape detectives! Tickets are £11, RGS-IBG members and under 18s £9. The talk is presented by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in association with King's Lynn Festival. For more information and to book tickets visit the website www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk or call the box office on 01553 764864.
KLmagazine December 2016
Sunday 15th January NORFOLK WEDDING FESTIVAL King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place (11am) With the best exhibitors from West and North Norfolk, Norfolk Wedding Festivals aim to bring a fun, relaxed atmosphere to the iconic Corn Exchange with live entertainment, fashion and much much more. From cakes, hairdos to honeymoons and dresses to DJs, brides-to-be will be able to look over the latest trends. Visitors will be able to organise a personal and unique day which will remain a joyful memory forever, while confirming the huge commitment they are making to the person they love. Entry is free. To find out more visit their page: facebook.com/NorfolkWeddingFestivals. 13
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PICTURES: HOLKHAM HALL / IAN WATTS (this page)
What’s On
ABOVE: The magnificent setting of Holkham Hall looks even more magical at this time of year and over the next few weeks will be hosting a feast of festive entertainment – together with some very special visitors (opposite)
Holkham Hall: making Christmas extra special Take a glorious setting, add a touch of festive decoration, invite some musical and theatrical talents and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a Christmas to remember. Welcome to Holkham Hall...
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olkham Hall is one of the region’s true architectural jewels, remaining virtually untouched since its completion in 1764. Today, this perfect example of Palladianism is at the heart of a thriving private estate of some 25,000 acres and is still the family home of the Earls of Leicester of Holkham. It’s always a pleasure to visit, and this year has seen a host of new things to discover – including a greatly enlarged and re-modelled Courtyard Cafe, a relocated and expanded gift shop, and
KLmagazine December 2016
the fascinating Field to Fork interactive exhibition – but Holkham is at its most magical and enchanting at Christmas when the doors open on a feast of seasonal celebrations. From candlelight tours to classical music and from cheeky elves to live drama, Holkham Hall at Christmas has something for the whole family to enjoy in the run up to the big day. There’s no better way to discover Holkham Hall than by touring the magnificent state rooms adorned with opulent Christmas decorations and lit by beautiful flickering candlelight. The
hall’s early evening Candlelight Tours are hosted by knowledgeable guides who’ll help you learn about how the decorations were created and share some of the intriguing stories of Holkham’s history and its past and present residents. Music is an essential part of our Christmas celebrations, and Holkham will be hosting a special seasonal performance by the Navarra String Quartet – which is now judged one of the foremost string quartets of its generation and needs little in the way of introduction to local audiences, 9
What’s On
Based in Gloucester, Rain or Shine is a professional theatre company specialising in outdoor summer tours of castles, stately homes and gardens throughout the UK and has produced hugely successful comedy productions of works by everyone from Shakespeare to Sheridan, and from Wilde to Vanbrugh. Of course, there’s someone without whom it simply wouldn’t be Christmas, and Holkham Hall will be offering several opportunities to enjoy a special audience with Father Christmas as he stops off during his busy schedule. It’s a chance to meet Father (and Mother) Christmas in the hall’s Saloon where they’ll regale visitors with tales of wonder and magic while an all-singing, all-dancing band of cheeky elves will provide some musical interludes. There’ll be presents for younger visitors, while older members of the family will be able to enjoy a glass of prosecco. Christmas is always a very special time of year, but if you’re looking for some seasonal treats in a truly glorious setting, a visit to Holkham Hall should be top of your festive list.
CHRISTMAS AT HOLKHAM HALL For dates, timings, ticket prices and more information on all the above Christmas events at Holkham Hall, please visit the website at www.holkham.co.uk. The ticket office can be contacted on 01328 713111, but note that the Candlelight Tours and An Audience with Father Christmas can only be booked online.
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KLmagazine December 2016
PICTURES: HOLKHAM HALL / IAN WATTS (centre)
having performed several times at the North Norfolk Music Festival. Coached by some of the leading chamber musicians of today and having delighted audiences from China to the USA, the Navarra String Quartet now even presents its own festival at the beautiful church of Weesp, just outside Amsterdam – and will be making a special appearance this month in the magnificent setting of Holkham’s Marble Hall, presenting a programme of wonderful music by Haydn, Brahms and Beethoven. Completing Holkham Hall’s musical treats this Christmas is Diva Opera, Britain’s foremost chamber opera company who’ll be presenting their new show The Twelve Days of Christmas. It follows the fortunes of three gentlemen in the days leading to Christmas. All are suitors of the same young lady and each believes he’ll make the ideal husband, resolving to win her heart though the increasing quality of the Christmas gifts they present her with. Directed by Wayne Morris and starring Richard Suart, David Stephenson, Ashley Catling, Catriona Clark and Tereza Gevorgyan, this wonderful production includes a feast of popular arias, songs and carols – and concludes with a surprising and heartwarming finale. Meanwhile, the stunning Lady Elizabeth Wing is Holkham Hall’s new dedicated event and wedding reception venue, and will be hosting an evening of theatrical Christmas entertainment in the shape of the Rain or Shine Theatre Company’s presentation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Interestingly this famous tale has some local connections, having almost certainly been inspired by writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stay further along the Norfolk coast at Cromer and his learning of the legend of Black Shuck.
this
CHRISTMAS
IT’s ALL
GOING
queensgate-shopping.co.uk
What’s On
West Norfolk’s biggest and best family pantomime! King’s Lynn Corn Exchange presents... Cinderella - tickets selling fast!
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ing’s Lynn Corn Exchange’s magical pantomime this year is the timeless tale of laughter, magic and true love, Cinderella. Spend a fairy tale Christmas with the best-loved pantomime of them all brought to you by the team behind last year’s critically acclaimed Robin Hood. It’s the Corn Exchange’s seventh pantomime and every year it gets bigger and better! This brand new adventure has all the ingredients for a classic pantomime, with live music, stunning sets, sensational costumes, slick choreography and spectacular music. Running from Friday 9 – Saturday 31 December with 40 shows in total it really is the ‘must see’ show this Christmas. If you haven’t got tickets to be part of the magic yet there’s still time, but hurry as some performances are already sold out!
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MEET THE CAST! MATT LAPINSKAS As Prince Charming Sure to be a big hit with the ladies, Matt Lapinskas leads the fabulous cast in the role of Prince Charming. He is best known for playing Anthony Moon in EastEnders, a role which he went straight into after graduating from the Italia Conti Theatre of Dramatic Arts. Matt has also starred as the Pharaoh in the No1 hit tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You might also recognise him from the ITV hit series Dancing on Ice.
KLmagazine December 2016
IAN MARR
BOOK TICKETS!
(BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!)
As Ugly Sister Marjorie Hardup
Join us for this magical adventure running from Friday 9th - Saturday 31st December. Various show times, see our website for full details. Tickets priced from just £14 are available from the Box Office on: 01553 764864 or online at kingslynncornexchange.co.uk Concessions, family tickets and group discounts are all available.
Returning by ever popular demand for his seventh incredible year as Director, and this year playing Ugly Sister Marjorie Hardup, is Ian Marr. Ian is a firm audience favourite having been with the Corn Exchange since the first pantomime back in 2010, incredibly he also directs the panto so is a very busy man! One of the highlights of any panto at the Corn Exchange is seeing Ian’s more and more outrageous array of sensational outfits.
STEVEN KYNMAN As Ugly Sister Floribunda Hardup
The New Corn Exchange brochure is out now!
Joining Ian is Steven Kynman (CBeebies’ Robert The Robot) who returns to the Corn Exchange for a second year, but this time in a very different role. After playing Will Scarlett last year, he will now partner Ian as the second Ugly Sister – Floribunda Hardup in what promises to be a hilarious new double act. Steven is possibly best known as Robert the Robot in the Bafta award winning CBeebies’ series Justin's House. He is also the voice of Fireman Sam and Naughty Norman, a number of Diesels and Steamies on Thomas The Tank Engine and Bud'D, Eddie and Ray on QPootle 5. He can also be heard on a number of Radio 4 comedies, but mostly as Henry, in The Castle.
Some of the highlights include Peter Pan on Ice featuring the world renowned Russian Ice Stars and the world’s most successful Rock & Roll musical – The Buddy Holly Story. Pick up a copy from the Corn Exchange or browse a copy on our website.
SCOTT CRIPPS As Buttons To add to the general comic mayhem, the popular Scott Cripps returns from the West End after 3 years to once again play Buttons. Kids will love the hilarious interaction with the loveable Buttons throughout the show and of course the chance to sing a song with him at the end of the show.
Corn Exchange Gift Vouchers A great idea for Christmas! Why not grab some of our Corn Exchange Gift Vouchers and give someone you love the perfect night out? Available in any denomination and redeemable against any show. Simply the perfec gift!
MELISSA FLEMING as Cinderella Melissa Fleming has just finished filming Doctors for the BBC and is looking forward to playing the star role of Cinderella in pantomime this Christmas.
ALSO STARRING...
@klcornexchange
Malcom Ward as Baron Hardup Oliver Tester as Dandini Helen Watson as The Fairy Godmother KLFM’s Posh Charles as The Broker’s Man Plus two teams of talented local dancers who auditioned for Jordan Productions back in September.
@klcornexchange Alive Corn Exchange
Sponsored by J & K Glass and Glazing Ltd, in association with KLFM 96.7.
KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Life
ABOVE: For Canon Chris Ivory of King’s Lynn Minster, the true meaning of Christmas doesn’t lie in straw-filled mangers, stables full of animals and exotic gift-bearing kings. It lies, as he explains, in the gift of freedom.
The liberating message of the ‘real’ Christmas... As friends and family come together to celebrate the festive season, Canon Chris Ivory explains why it’s worth reminding ourselves of exactly what it is we’re celebrating – and why.
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very year I’m asked for my views on the ‘meaning’ of Christmas and it’s always interesting to reflect on the festival and what it means – not just to myself, but to the people asking me. Essentially, the message of Christmas is one of liberation through the birth of a helpless baby. I have to admit that I find Christmas difficult, because most of what goes on misses the point entirely – and even most of the story we repeat year after year bears little resemblance to what’s in the Bible. For instance, I can’t find any mention of a stable in my Bible’s account of the nativity and only two
KLmagazine December 2016
kings make an appearance – Herod and Jesus. Can we start from somewhere else? Babylon is an important symbol of the experience of slavery, especially for people for whom slavery is part of their history. It’s not just about a time of physical enslavement in history – it represents a culture based on the belief that some people are superior to others. The origin of this lies in the 70 years of enslavement of the Jewish people in Babylon around 500 years before the birth of Christ. That experience – what led up to it and the hope of liberation from it – is what the Old Testament
prophets wrote about. Among them was Isaiah, and St Luke’s Gospel used his writings to explain what the birth of Jesus was about: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them the light has shined. A child is born... of his government and of peace there will be no end... with justice and righteousness.” That child was laid in an animal’s food trough because there was no lodging – as likely in the open air as in a stable. Later on when Jesus began his work, he took up another bit of Isaiah as his manifesto:
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Local Life
ABOVE: Our traditional view of the birth of Jesus dates from the 13th century and has little to do with Biblical accuracy – or with the essential message of Christmas, which is one of liberation and freedom.
“The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor... proclaim release to captives... sight for the blind... liberation for the oppressed.” St Matthew’s version of the birth of Jesus uses a different part of Jewish history to explain the same truth. A thousand years before the Jews were enslaved in Babylon, they were enslaved in Egypt from where Moses led them on a long and difficult journey to freedom in the promised land. As a baby, Moses had escaped mass slaughter of the county’s baby boys, just as Jesus did. Jesus’ sojourn in Egypt was about escaping from the massacre, but for St Matthew, the important symbolism is the prophecy “out of Egypt I have called my son.” Jesus will take up the task represented by the liberation of the Jews from slavery. Jesus was brought up in Nazareth; his mother was called Mary and her husband was Joseph. It seems pretty clear he was born in Bethlehem, although ‘why’ is a bit ambiguous. Beyond that, the stories of Jesus’ birth are a bit hazy, but what it means is quite clear – liberation. The story of the humanity of the Son of God begins with a powerless baby and ends with a powerless man nailed to a cross – the point of crucifixion is to make the victim completely powerless. The last defence under brutal attack is
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to curl up; crucifixion is being nailed stretched out, defenceless. Not a promising story for a liberator! The history of human conflict is endless, one side and then another coming to power and conquerors claiming to be liberators. Some may have been, but for real freedom, something much deeper is needed. Freedom from guilt, freedom from fear, freedom from selfishness, freedom from pleasures that quickly become traps; for freedoms such as these we need to look beyond what we can do for ourselves to find it in what we can’t do for ourselves. Christmas is about Almighty God showing that his power lies only in his love. Love so strong that not even the worst that human beings can do will destroy it. Love shown in a helpless baby born to reveal the vision of a world of peace and justice for all people; a world of love for our neighbours – even those we don’t like. It is a vision of life where each person can find true freedom and joy in the freedom and joy of every other person. None can be free if all aren’t free and that can’t be achieved by conquest – only by setting one another free. We can’t do that on our own; the message of Christmas is that it is God’s gift. The traditional crib scene of the stable with the animals and Jesus in the straw-filled manger originates with St
Francis (c1181-1226). The oldest part of King’s Lynn Minster is 100 years older than that. It’s not appropriate to turn a Christmas message into an appeal for the Minster’s current restoration and development project, but perhaps donations could be a thanksgiving for the message of freedom, peace and justice shown in the birth of Jesus. It’s a message that has been told here since long before the way we wrap up the story in our own day was invented. Much more important, may we all find peace and joy this Christmas – and may the message of freedom, peace and justice bear fruit in the coming year for all people. For more information and details of Christmas services at King’s Lynn Minster, please see the website at www.stmargaretskingslynn.org.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
The Magic of
Christmas
N E W T H E M E S. G R E AT G IF TS AMA ZIN G L IGHT S
WINTER WONDERLAND Open daily 8am-6pm
COFFEE SHOP Offering cakes, lunches and Sunday roasts from 9am-4:30pm
SANTA’S GROTTO
CHR IST MA S TRE ES Our premium grade, real trees are now available!
Open on Weekends 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th Dec 10:30-12:15 & 13:00-15:30
Garden Centre & Coffee Shop www.thaxters.co.uk | 01485 541514 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514
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Time to discover the best bears in Europe... Just in time for Christmas, one of the region’s premier shopping destinations has got a lot more to see, a lot more to discover and a lot more to enjoy – for all members of the family!
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ust three miles south of King’s Lynn you’ll find one of the area’s premier shopping destinations – one that can boast almost 100,000 subscribers to its regular newsletters and one that encourages people to charter flights all the way from California and drive from northern Italy just to pay a visit. It is, of course, Beers of Europe, which enjoys the undisputed claim of being the country’s biggest beer shop, with over 2,000 beers, some 2,000 spirits and liqueurs, and hundreds of wines, ports and sherries carefully sourced from around 75 different countries. It’s been a genuine labour of love for Derek Clark and his family, who’ve seen their business grow out of all recognition
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over last 15 years. “We’ve always been very passionate about what we do and we’ve always enjoyed sharing that passion with the people who visit us,” says Derek. “There’s always a marvellous atmosphere here – we’re a family-run business with an extended family of customers from around the world!” The growing popularity of ‘craft’ beers and locallyproduced drinks over the last few years means there’s always something new to discover at Beers of Europe (Derek estimates he’s now contacted by new brewers on a daily basis) but
the most exciting new arrivals to the Setchey site are a different type of bear entirely. Beers of Europe is now embarking on a major programme of expansion and development, inspired by the lifelong passion of Derek and his wife Carol for antiques and collectables. The first result is The Steiff Shop. It’s an enchanting showcase of some 500 different bears and animals (it’s almost the entire Steiff range) in addition to some very special limited editions such as the 2ft tall Paddington Bear – one of only 500 in the whole world. Steiff actually created the world’s first stuffed bears with moveable arms and legs in
KLmagazine December 2016
1902 – and they’ve been highly prized by collectors ever since. In fact, the ten most expensive teddies ever sold at auction were all Steiff bears. From traditional ‘growlers’ to lions and tigers, from the Best for Baby range to special Christmas bears and snowmen, The Steiff Shop is a delight for adults and children alike – but thanks to Derek’s love of sourcing the finer things in life, these lovely animals aren’t alone. The Steiff Shop also features the French-based Baghera range of retro-style metal pedal cars, which bring the world of classic motors and race cars to a new generation. With adjustable pedals and seats, these prestigious playthings adapt to children’s growing patterns and their changing adventures – although it can’t be denied they make superb collectors items in their own right! They’re joined by a fabulous selection of wooden toys from Brio, which was founded in Sweden back in 1884 and has built a worldwide reputation for timeless design and high quality, combining heritage and innovation. And completing the picture (in a literal sense!) is a massive range of jigsaws from the
German-based Ravensburger, Europe’s leading manufacturer of puzzles, games and activity products. But this feast of quality collectables from around the continent isn’t the end of Derek’s plans, however. By next Spring, he’ll be opening The Warehouse alongside Beers of Europe. With around 100 dealers in a mammoth space of some 15,000 square feet it’s shaping up to be the biggest antiques centre in East Anglia, featuring everything from furniture to jewellery, from artwork to clothing and from books to toys. And as for the famous emporium of fine beers and drinks that started it all, Beers of Europe will soon be graced by a stylish new bar and restaurant area for tasting sessions and ‘meet the brewer’ events with (naturally enough) the biggest range of beers in the country. “I think the success of Beers of Europe has been largely due to our enthusiasm and our sheer love for what we do,” says Derek. “Our staff and our customers are all like-minded people with a genuine passion for finelycrafted quality, whatever their tastes – whether that’s for teddy bears, pedal cars or exceptional beers!" Just in time for Christmas, one of the area’s premier shopping destinations now has a lot more to see, a lot more to discover and a lot more to enjoy!
Beers of Europe Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE33 0BE Tel: 01553 812000 Web: www.beersofeurope.co.uk E-mail: sales@beersofeurope.co.uk
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PICTURES: MOD/MASSON (this page) / RAF MARHAM (opposite)
Local Life
ABOVE: A Tornado at RAF Marham with its specially painted tail fin celebrating the station’s centenary. In July (opposite) Station Commander Group Captain Rich Davies joined guests for a special flypast of the soon-to-arrive Lightning aircraft
At the forefront of defence for 100 years... From its beginnings in the summer of 1916, RAF Marham has become one of the largest and busiest stations in the country. Alison Childerhouse looks back at a busy year of celebrations.
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arham aerodrome was first opened in 1916 as a training establishment and military night landing ground, units of the home defence patrols based there flying combat interception patrols in pursuit of Zeppelin raiders from Germany. Flying at night in 1916 with basic navigation and landing aids was very dangerous, and searchlights and beacons were used to guide aircrews safely back to the home base. Fast forward 100 years and although the aircraft and technology has changed beyond recognition, the base is still very much at the forefront of defence – with the Tornado GR4
KLmagazine December 2016
aircraft currently deployed in the fight against Daesh, flying missions over Iraq and Syria. In fact, Tornados from RAF Marham have been involved in almost continuous operations in the Middle East for just over quarter of that century. To commemorate the centenary year RAF Marham’s Station Commander, Group Captain Rich Davies challenged the station to come up with 100 events for its 100th year. The challenge was embraced with enthusiasm; not only by the service personnel, but also by the civilian staff, contractors, industrial partners and members of the local community. Celebrations started with the
unveiling of a specially designed centenary logo displayed on the Tornado Gate Guardian. Local dignitaries and invited guests joined station personnel and the Station Commander for the unveiling ceremony as the start of the centenary year was launched. One of the biggest events of the year was RAF Marham’s participation in the Royal Norfolk Show in June. RAF Marham had stands in the Military, Discovery and Heritage Zones showcasing the depth and breadth of roles across the base. Personnel from the station led the closing sunset ceremony with members of the emergency services and support
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Local Life
organisations, veteran’s organisations, air cadets and colleagues from RAF Lakenheath and Swanton Morley joining them in the main arena to close the show. The Air Cadets from 42F King’s Lynn unit have also been involved in the centenary celebrations. Following their extremely successful ‘Spitfire Trail’ in 2015 they decided to put on a ‘Tornado Trail’ around the centre of King’s Lynn. Securing funding from local businesses and organisations, the cadets mounted painted Tornado models in various locations around the town and produced a map for visitors to follow. Not only was this a fantastic opportunity for people to discover more about the Tornado itself but it also showcased King’s Lynn, taking people to areas they may not have previously visited. Another relationship was cemented this year with the affiliation of the 60163 Tornado steam train with RAF Marham. The train was originally named after the RAF Tornado aircraft on active service during the first Gulf War, with the nameplates presented to The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in 1995 bearing the crests of the then RAF Cottesmore. The crest was replaced in 1997 by that of RAF Leeming (which was then an RAF Tornado station). It was therefore a fitting tribute that the nameplates were changed to RAF Marham, the home of the Tornado, in their centenary year. There have been many charity events taking place throughout the year,
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raising money for a number of very worthwhile charities. One of the most memorable saw young Engineering Officer Si Phillips run 100 miles in 24 hours in May to raise money for Macmillan Cancer and the Royal Air Force Association. Setting off from the Station Headquarters, he ran around the perimeter track no less than 16 times, finishing the challenge in just under 24 hours. More recently, a team made up of service personnel and their wives (including the Station Commander’s wife!) together with employees of the station’s industrial partner BAE saw months of hard training rewarded when they reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in late October – raising
For more details and information on the work of RAF Marham, please see the website at www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham
PICTURES: RAF MARHAM
ABOVE: Engineering Officer Si Phillips completing his 100-mile run in under 24 hours as part of RAF Marham’s centenary celebrations. Below is a view of the future, with the Lightning F35B flying over RAF Marham – the aircraft will arrive at the station in 2018.
money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Meanwhile, to commemorate the different types of aircraft that have flown from RAF Marham over the years, a special tail fin was designed for the Tornado GR4. The stunning design has silhouettes of many of the aircraft along with the RAF Marham station crest and was painted by SERCO, another of RAF Marham’s industrial partners. It’s not all about the past, however. On July 1st, RAF Marham had a glimpse into its future as the Lightning F-35B aircraft flew over its future home base during its first visit to the UK to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo – the centenary-painted Tornado joining the Lightning aircraft for the historic flypast. The Lightning is due to arrive at RAF Marham in 2018 and infrastructure works are currently underway to prepare for its arrival. Central to the centenary year celebrations is the RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre, which displays photos, artefacts and personal stories from the past 100 years of the station. Located just outside the main gates, the Heritage Centre is open to the general public on the last Saturday of every month and is well worth a visit. The 100th centenary event actually took place in September, and other events have since added to the final total. As the centenary year of RAF Marham draws to a close and we look back over the events and achievements of 2016, one thing is plainly evident – that although it may have gone through a multitude of changes it’s the people that make RAF Marham the truly great station that it is, has been, and always will be.
KLmagazine December 2016
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KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Life
ABOVE: Four of the children of Thomas Greene and his wife – the couple’s four sons and five daughters are below the memorial, which may have been designed by the London-based Thomas Cartwright the elder (1617-1702), who was one of the masons of Sir Christopher Wren.
Memories of the lost merchants of Lynn... St Nicholas in King’s Lynn is the largest parochial chapel in England, and it’s home to a series of important memorials telling the story of the town’s mercantile past, as Paul Richards explains
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ince the reopening of the magnificent St Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn in September 2015 following essential repairs and new heating (largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund), annual visitor numbers have doubled to over 22,000. An events programme combined with more regular daily access have brought new life to St Nicholas, whose custodian is the Churches Conservation Trust. A small group representing the Friends of St Nicholas have been working on trails around the chapel to help visitors
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appreciate its treasures and significance, and these will be ready for the public by April 2017. My own trail in St. Nicholas concerns the several remarkable wall memorials or mural monuments belonging to the town’s merchant families who loom large in its history. The mural monuments in the chapel are exceptional cultural artefacts, almost all commemorating Lynn’s merchant rulers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Following the Henrican Reformation of the 1530s-40s, Puritans stripped St Nicholas of its religious
images and icons, to be replaced over time by these impressive wall memorials. In 1537 Bishop’s Lynn became King’s Lynn and they seem to declare loudly that the town had passed from ecclesiastical to secular control. These monuments announce the wealth and status of Lynn’s merchant families and tell of the high importance to society of the family itself. The burial places or ledger stones belonging to the families represented on the chapel’s wall memorials can be found nearby, although some have been partially covered by Victorian
KLmagazine December 2016
pews. In fact, St Nicholas can be counted amongst those Anglican places of worship in England with the largest number of ledger stones. Turning to the specific mural memorials to be found in the chapel, we find the Clarck family monument on the east wall of the south aisle of the chancel. It’s principally for Matthew Clarck (1564-1623). His effigy is at the top kneeling in prayer with his second wife Triphosa, with whom he had four sons. Matthew commissioned it shortly after the death of his father Richard (1535-1602), and it’s possibly the work of Alexander Hills of Holborn in London. The 15th century merchant property in St Nicholas Street (today’s Tudor Rose Hotel) was owned by the Clarcks, and when Matthew died in 1623 it was inherited by his son-in-law Thomas Snelling, who had married Matthew’s daughter Margaret. Thomas Snelling and his wife Margaret can also be found on the east wall of the chancel, kneeling and facing each other across a prayer desk. Their daughter and three sons are shown below with the youngest boy in a cradle. Here, verses extol Snelling’s virtues, of which the principal were “Pity, Justice, Bounty and Good to all.” The memorial is possibly by Francis Grigs of London who sometimes worked in East Anglia. As for Snelling himself, he was probably born in Thetford where his father was twice mayor. He migrated to Norwich and later London to become a freeman and member of the Skinners’ Company. Thomas came to Lynn from London and was soon amongst its merchant rulers – a rise facilitated by
KLmagazine December 2016
ABOVE: The life-sized models of Thomas Greene and his wife Susannah Barker on the couple’s memorial in St. Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn. Below is a detail from the Clarck family memorial, showing some time-honoured grafitti towards the bottom
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Local Life
ABOVE: The memorial of Thomas Snelling and the merchant’s portrait (right) which hangs in the King’s Lynn Town Hall. Below is the intricate Clarck family monument, commissioned around 1602.
his marriage in the chapel in 1611 to the daughter of alderman Matthew Clarck! His portrait hangs in the Town Hall with the richly-dressed Thomas holding his “day booke”, or accounts roll, with his merchant mark prominent. Thomas was elected to the Common Council in 1611 and an alderman by 1617, before being made mayor in 1622. He and his wife Margaret lived in Clifton House in Queen Street where they were responsible for the wall paintings in the Tudor tower. From its top Snelling and his friends could watch their ships departing from and arriving in the Wash port – Thomas was a major overseas trader specialising in the export of hides to the Baltic, particularly sheep, cat and rabbit skins. On the south wall of the chancel is the life-sized classical monument to Thomas Greene and his wife, Susannah Barker, with their four sons and five daughters. It is possibly by Thomas Cartwright the elder (1617-1702) of London
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who was one of Wren’s masons. A daughter of Thomas and Susannah Greene, Alice, married Samuel Browne of Boston at St Margaret’s in 1665. Their great-grandson was the Samuel Browne remembered by his daughters on the neighbouring exquisite classical memorial. This mural monument is to Samuel Browne (1729-1784) and his wife Hester Case (1739-1768), erected by their two daughters Pleasance and Hester, who employed a Lynn sculptor. A brother died in his infancy and the Browne dynasty ended with Samuel’s death in 1784. Their house in Nelson Street had been the headquarters of a commercial empire which embraced property in other towns in East Anglia. From 1762, Samuel (who had been a merchant, banker, landlord and shipowner) was in a business partnership with the Everards – whose family home is today’s Hanse House. The Brownes succeeded the Turners as Georgian Lynn’s dominant
merchant family in terms of wealth and status, and a mural monument to brothers John and Charles Turner erected in 1715 is located on the north wall of the chancel. Charles built a classical mansion on the Tuesday Market Place in 1703, no doubt designed by Henry Bell. It was destroyed by fire in 1768 and replaced by a grand house now accommodating a firm of solicitors. John owned another fine house in King Street facing the Merchants’ Exchange, featuring extensive cellars and a lookout tower on Purfleet Quay. They’d also commissioned Henry Bell to design two of the most architecturally sophisticated buildings in England; the Merchants’ Exchange or Custom House (1685) and the Market Cross (1711) demolished in 1831. St Nicholas is the largest parochial chapel in England and a delight to visit and explore, offering us a fascinating glimpse into the families at the centre of the golden mercantile age of King’s Lynn.
KLmagazine December 2016
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KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Life
ABOVE: The wreck of the ST Sheraton on the beach at Old Hunstanton is all that remains of a ship that started life as a commercial vessel and saw active service during two world wars before it fell victim to the natural elements
The rusting legacy of a proud tradition... The picturesque wreck of an old ship on the beach at Old Hunstanton hides a fascinating tale of maritime trade and naval warfare. Chris Weston traces the story of the ST Sheraton.
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orfolk’s coastal position means there are numerous wrecks scattered over a wide area of its waters, but few of them ever see the light of day. An exception is the fascinating relic that lays on the beach at St Edmund’s Point in Old Hunstanton, just below the former lighthouse and chapel ruins. Now resembling little more than a large ribcage and partly filled with brick rubble and concrete, this was once the ST Sheraton, a vessel with a varied and very interesting history. Built in 1907 by Cook, Welton &
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Gemmell Ltd of Beverley, near Hull, the steam trawler Sheraton made regular fishing trips from Grimsby (her home port) but during her seagoing life she seems to have only visited two counties! Measuring approximately 130ft long by 23ft wide, the Sheraton had a 12ft draught and was constructed of steel. She had single screw propulsion and accompanying machinery supplied by Messrs Amos & Smith of Hull. Even by 1907, steam trawlers were nothing new (the first having been built in 1878) and in the same year the Sheraton was built, moves were afoot
that would change her life. In that year, Rear Admiral and MP Lord Charles Beresford strongly recommended that steam trawlers be used as minesweepers in the event of war “to free up regular warships for other and more appropriate duties.” So when the First World War broke out in 1914, some 800 trawlers from Hull and Grimsby were quickly requisitioned for minesweeping and anti-submarine duties. The Sheraton became a Boom Patrol Vessel and continued that work for some considerable time, occasionally undertaking trawling work as well.
KLmagazine December 2016
ABOVE: The wreck of the Sheraton as it appeared shortly after the ship was washed ashore at Old Hunstanton in April 1947. The wreck was the source of endless fascination for local schoolchildren, but being abandoned to the elements for almost 70 years have left little more today than a large section of hull (far left)
By the outbreak of the Second World War, the Sheraton was still based in Grimsby and during January 1942 was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to serve in the Nore Command, a major Royal Naval unit that had been established during the 17th century in Kent. Apart from the Medway, Chatham and Sheerness dockland areas, the unit’s operational area included some 222,000 square miles of the North Sea. When requisitioned by the Royal Navy, the Sheraton was fitted with a 6pounder gun towards her bows before being registered as an Armed Patrol Vessel and serving off the east coast of England. It seems she not only resembled a torpedo boat in appearance, but her bows were also adjustable to avoid detection at night! Although the Nore Command continued until the onset of the Cold War at the start of the 1960s, the Sheraton’s active service came to an end at the end of the Second World War in 1945, when she was stripped of all valuable components and painted a bright and distinguishable daffodil yellow. It was an intentional makeover, as the next phase of her life unfolded as a target ship for the RAF. Remaining in Lincolnshire, the Sheraton was anchored off Brest Sand in the Wash, where she remained in relative peace until the night of Wednesday 23rd April 1947, when severe gales caused her to
KLmagazine December 2016
break away from her moorings. She then drifted across the Wash and settled on the beach at Old Hunstanton. “Anchors were being laid last night in preparation for an attempt to refloat the 130ft RAF target vessel Sheraton which went aground below Hunstanton cliffs in the early hours of yesterday,” reported the following day’s newspaper. “Provided that the wind drops, this attempt will be made on today’s 24ft tide. Should this prove impracticable, the attempt will have to be delayed until the next big tides between May 2nd and 5th. “The vessel, formerly the trawler Sheraton, was an RAF target ship, which broke away from her anchorage. There was no-one on board at the time. After being notified of the ship’s position the harbourmaster from King’s Lynn and an Air Ministry official went to Hunstanton yesterday to arrange for refloating. Previously, they had been out from King’s Lynn in a tug boat, looking for the vessel.” Attempts to refloat the Sheraton were unsuccessful, however, and she hasn’t moved since that night. A firm of scrap merchants from King’s Lynn reputedly ‘bought’ the wreck and began stripping her down before time and tide took over. Today, all that remains is a large section of hull, a poignant reminder of a ship with a long and illustrious life. The shipyard where the story of the
Sheraton started no longer exists. Closing in 1963, it was taken over by CD Holmes & Co before they sold it to the Drypool Group with yards in Selby and Hull. During 1975 however, they called in the receivers, and though it was bought by the optimistically-named Phoenix Shipbuilders the following year the shipyard was eventually closed – with over 180 redundancies. Contributory causes were blamed on the 1973 oil crisis, the collapse of the Hull-based fishing industry, and the rising levels of unemployment in the area. As the outdoor elements and rust gradually take their toll on the Sheraton’s remaining structure, the wreck will undoubtedly disappear completely one day. The last time I visited the wreck, I couldn’t help noticing that the once-proud ship had its final crew – in the form of a large number of barnacles!
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KLmagazine December 2016
MARK HOPPE
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Meet the friendly face of local business insurance Get the professional team at Swinton Commercial on your side... he insurance needs of the commercial world can be a highly complex field – and the requirements of factories and motor dealers are very different to those of shops and property owners. At Swinton Commercial, we’ve always believed there’s only one way to ensure your premises and staff, stock and liabilities, equipment and vehicles are cost-effectively protected – and that’s by going the extra mile in getting to know you and your business. That’s why our experienced team of commercial account executives – Fiona Gutteridge, Dean Stannard and Mark Hoppe – will work with you to find the protection you need, without compromising on price! “As external account executives, we like to visit our commercial customers personally, as we believe that’s the best way to understand how an individual business operates and the insurance risks it could face,” says Fiona. “And while we understand that this isn’t always possible, we aim to meet our
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KLmagazine December 2016
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KLmagazine December 2016
those wishing to save for a first home, with savings of up to £12,000 attracting a 25% bonus from the Government (capped at a maximum of £3,000). Various rules apply. The new Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), which came into effect in April 2016, allows basic rate taxpayers to earn up to £1,000 each year in tax-free savings income, while higher rate taxpayers can receive up to £500 before paying tax on their savings income.
Tax-efficient plans for the whole family As the year draws to a close, Chris Goad BSc ACA of Stephenson Smart explains how proper tax planning can help you build a secure financial future for yourself and your family... MAKE FULL USE OF YOUR PERSONAL ALLOWANCES... The basic personal allowance for 2016/17 is set at £11,000. Children also have their own personal allowance, so income up to £11,000 escapes tax this year as long as it does not originate from parental gifts. If your spouse or partner has little or no income, consider transferring some of your income (or income-producing assets) to them, making full use of their personal allowance. Please speak to us before taking such action, however, as you’ll need to take into account the legislation governing ‘income shifting’. Certain married couples and civil partners may also be able to use the Transferable Tax Allowance. This allows couples to transfer 10% of their personal allowance to their spouse, where neither pays tax at the higher or additional rate. PRESERVE YOUR ENTITLEMENT TO CHILD BENEFIT... If you have adjusted net income of £50,000 or over and you or your partner receive Child Benefit, you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The income tax charge applies at a rate of 1% of the full Child Benefit award for each £100 of income between £50,000 and £60,000. The charge on taxpayers with income above £60,000 will be equal to the amount of Child Benefit paid.
KLmagazine December 2016
However, it may be possible to reduce or even eliminate the charge by equalising (or reducing) income between you and your partner – by increasing contributions to a registered pension scheme or by swapping your cash salary for tax-free benefits such as childcare vouchers under a salary sacrifice arrangement. TAX-EFFICIENT SAVINGS OPTIONS... The sooner you begin saving for your children’s future, the better. Although interest rates have been relatively low recently, ISAs can still be a valuable part of the savings portfolio. Up to £15,240 can be invested in an ISA for 2016/17 in any combination of cash or stocks and shares. Junior ISAs are available to all UK-resident children under the age of 18 and allow contributions up to a maximum of £4,080 (2016/17). Meanwhile, the Help to Buy ISA provides a tax-free savings option for
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KLmagazine December 2016
Local Life
ABOVE: A poignant page from the last volume of Hilda Zigomala’s remarkable journals. For almost 30 years, she created a visually stunning and intensely personal record of her life in Norfolk at the turn of the 20th century.
Personal records of a quite remarkable life... In the summer of 1889, a young newlywed from Norfolk started keeping a dairy of her family life. Today, her incredible 15-volume work is a treasure of social history, as Richard Parr discovers...
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he fascinating colourful life and times of a Norfolk-born woman at the turn of the 20th century were chronicled in an amazing collection of lavishly illustrated journals that tell of life a few weeks after she became a bride. From that joyful summer wedding day in the village of Rougham in 1889, Hilda Zigomala (right) used one of her wedding gifts, a diary, to record her everyday life following her marriage to Major John Pandia Zigomola, who was known as Jack. It was a task that gave her much pleasure, and she later described it as a
KLmagazine December 2016
“labour of love.” For almost 30 years after her wedding, using a combination of writings, pencil drawings and watercolours, collected memorabilia and photographs, Hilda detailed her wonderful life spent travelling the world with her husband, attending balls with royalty and carefree country days spent hunting, fishing and socialising with friends. But tragedy was to strike in this almost idyllic existence, leaving Hilda forever living in the shadows of grief. After completing 15 journals filled with recollections of “days filled with sunshine,” (as she described them), her
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Local Life
world was turned upside down with the death of her beloved only child, John, who was killed in Russia aged just 21 shortly after the end of the First World War. “Even now I can hardly even think of those black hours of acute agony,” she wrote after John’s death. “How one lives through them God only knows – the utter blackness and hopelessness of despair.” All but one of Hilda’s journals (which is missing from the collection) can now be viewed at the Norfolk Record Office in Norwich after they were donated by someone unconnected to the family. The owner had treasured them for many years but wanted them secured in a place with public access for the people of Norfolk to read and enjoy them. Hilda was one of the daughters of Charles and Augusta (nee Keppel) of Rougham Hall. She was a talented artist whose paintings captured many happy stays in the place of her birth, and she set the tone for her journals with her very first entry. “Having been given this book as a wedding gift for the express purpose of keeping a kind of illustrated journaI I now sit down to write for the first time since my wedding,” she wrote. “I have now been married exactly a fortnight and we are here at Monte Carlo, having first spent a few days in London and a week in Paris on our way.” Hilda’s was a life full of art, literature, music and sport as the newlyweds attended plays, operas, horse racing and numerous balls. But their more ordinary family life is also recorded – including John’s birth in June 1889. “At quarter past five on Saturday afternoon, the 11th June, baby was
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born,” she wrote. “I shall never forget that day or the extraordinary feelings and sense of relief when it was all over and they brought me the young gentleman to see.” As the years passed, John naturally features strongly in the journals, including the time when he fell off his pony at the age of seven and broke his arm. Hilda ends her final journal with an emotive three-page ‘envoi’ – a form more commonly used in poetry. “These 15 volumes of ‘my book’ contain a more or less detailed account of our life,” she wrote, “from the time I married as little more than a girl in 1889 till the time everything in this life ended for me when our boy was killed in Russia on August 24, 1919.” She says that at first her books were begun “for the fun of things” but gradually, over the years, they became
a “labour of love.” She said she put hours of her life into creating the journals. “As our boy grew up, it became a saying between us; he must never do anything that he wouldn’t wish me to put into the book,” she wrote. “He took such a pride and interest in them all. God knows he nobly lived up to this ideal.” Hilda, whose father served a period as a deputy lieutenant of Norfolk, said her life had been a “very happy one” with nothing to (as she put it) “ruffle the waters.” Even when both her husband and son were injured in the war (her son several times in France) her “soul slept on soundly” as they were both returned to her alive. After John volunteered for the ‘Russian Expedition’ (part of the allied intervention following the October Revolution) and news of his death came, she vowed to live what she described as a “more noble life.” “And so, though all the sunshine has gone out of my life,” she wrote, “I jog along in the shadows seeing things I was never able to see in the brilliant sunshine, cheerfully and contentedly waiting for the blessed day to come when I shall join him [John].” However, that day wasn’t to come for another 26 years, when Hilda died in June 1946, 13 years after her husband. Before her retirement in the role of principal archivist of the Norfolk Record Office, Susan Maddock reflected on this fascinating set of journals and unique part of social history. “If there’s anyone whom we have yet failed to persuade that archives are not dull, dry or dusty, but full of human interest,” she said, “these journals alone would do the trick.”
KLmagazine December 2016
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Willow Farm Units, Main Road, Saddlebow, King’ Lynn PE34 3AR Tel: 01553 617805 / 07899 906284
www.tjejoinery.com KLmagazine December 2016
EILEANORA NI-CHARTHAIG Consultant Solicitor
A specialist approach to all your property issues... Moving in the right direction with the legal expertise of Fraser Dawbarns
F
or over 170 years, Fraser Dawbarns has served generations of local people and businesses with a friendly, high-quality legal service – and with over 100 staff in offices in King’s Lynn, Wisbech, Downham Market and March, the company is now one of the largest law firms in the area. Having those resources has enabled Fraser Dawbarns to build and develop a team of solicitors with widely different specialisms, providing a personal, approachable service that’s relevant to the specific needs of their clients. One of those solicitors is Eileanora Ni-Charthaig, a highly experienced solicitor specialising in commercial and residential property with a particular emphasis on development work. Although a relative newcomer to Fraser Dawbarns, Eileanora has almost 23 years post-qualification experience and is well known in the region for her customer-focused approach to property matters – from complex commercial work to large-scale development
KLmagazine December 2016
projects and residential sales. Whether she’s liaising with sellers or buyers, lenders or architects, Eileanora has a clear goal in mind at all times. “My paramount focus is always on the needs of the client,” she says. “The legal complexities involved with property can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, and it’s my job to find straightforward solutions in the very best interests of the client.” From planning problems to right of way issues, from retail leases and deeds to making sense of restrictive covenants, Eileanora is a great believer in working closely with her clients, advising and guiding them towards the best legal solutions for them as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. She also has a professional aversion to the “can’t” word, and believes a solution can often be found by thinking outside the box. Having a specialist such as Eileanora on your side means that your propertyrelated plans can be handled more efficiently and more effectively, making
a real difference to costs and to the eventual outcome. And that’s what makes Fraser Dawbarns such a refreshingly different law firm. Whether you’re buying or selling or making plans for property development, you can contact Eileanora direct on 07484 504565 or by e-mailing her at eileanora@fraserdawbarns.com.
FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com
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KLmagazine December 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 The MET Office are predicting extreme cold and heavy snow for December 2016.
A Christmas Market in Lettings I t’s a common belief that the property market becomes dormant during the month of December. Whilst activity linked to house sales is notably reduced during this time it is in fact one of the busiest periods for the rental market. For over a decade now there has been a recurring two stage trend in lettings during the festive season but it is one that a lot of landlords seem unfamiliar with. This month we are explaining what happens and why.
IT STARTS BIG. From the start of November onwards is one of the key times when large family homes are in the highest demand. The last weekend before 25th December is viewed as the ultimate deadline by most families who are keen to be settled in their next home in time for Christmas. At Edmonton Estates we always have a significant surge in interest for larger 3,4 and 5 bedroom properties at this
time of year and this is typically a catalyst point for rents to increase in this sector as demand exceeds supply.
THEN FINISHES SMALL. Christmas is a time for families to unite and spend quality time with each other. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always produce harmonious results and statistically it is the time of the year that produces the formation of the most “new households” following separations. The butterfly effect of this is that the market demand for property type changes dramatically in the space of just a few days to favour the smaller 1 and 2 bedroom properties as former couples sadly part ways. When letting your property, accurate knowledge of the local market is crucial and the assumption that “no one is looking at this time of year” is almost certain to mean you are missing opportunities to let your property. Because the fact is that the most serious people are looking.
IN THE MEANTIME. We have reached the time of year when empty properties are at their most vulnerable to the effects of the harsh winter weather. The main risk is from frozen pipes and loft header tanks resulting in flooding when they thaw. All of the empty properties within our care that have not had their heating and hot water systems decommissioned will be visited on a bi-weekly basis and a visit log kept should this be required by the building’s insurer. If you’re a landlord who would like any advice or assistance regarding winter care for your rental property, including details of local contractors for both emergency call outs and routine system decommissioning, please contact our office on 01553 660615 and we will be pleased to help. Have a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
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 December 2016
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KLmagazine December 2016
Local Life
ABOVE: Volunteers at the King’s Lynn branch of the Retired Greyhounds Trust take some of their charges for a walk. The charity now rehomes around 4,500 greyhounds a year, lovable dogs such as Cory (opposite) who have a long life ahead of them once their racing careers come to an end.
Time to put your feet up – all four of them! Almost 8,000 greyhounds are retired every year, and they all need loving homes. Charlotte Niemiec speaks to the Retired Greyhound Trust and discovers why these dogs make ideal pets…
I
magine; you cross the line at the end of your final race, applause sounding across the stadium. You chomp down on your tasty treat, and then what? Your racing days are over and you’re leaving all you’ve ever known behind. With little time to enjoy puppyhood before their working life begins, the future is an uncertain one for greyhounds. But thanks to the work of the Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT), many can look forward to a life of love and luxury in retirement.
KLmagazine December 2016
A national charity founded in 1975, the Retired Greyhound Trust has grown from rehoming a few hundred dogs at its inception to today’s annual figure of around 4,500, through a network of 60 branches led by volunteers across the country. The branch in King’s Lynn was set up seven years ago and now has 10 volunteers, run by Debbie and Clare. The nearest racing tracks are at Mildenhall or Peterborough, but, Clare says, the dogs come from a selection of trainers and “we try to rotate it fairly so they all have a chance to join our
numbers.” Greyhound racing has been a popular sport since the early twentieth century and is regulated by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). As the dogs aren’t kept at the tracks, they spend much of their life in kennels and most are retired between three and five years of age. As such, they’re still young dogs with a relatively long life ahead of them. Although they’re fast and incredible athletes, they are “renowned couch potatoes,” at home, says Katherine
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Local Life
MacDonald, a volunteer at the King’s Lynn branch. “Greyhounds make great pets for all kinds of individuals and families,” she says. “They’re low-maintenance, gentle and laid-back dogs that don’t need lots of exercise. The majority are perfectly happy with two 20-minute walks a day and will happily spend the rest of their time dozing quietly next to you, often on their backs, with all four legs in the air!” A placid breed not prone to barking, affectionate and often sensitive animals, greyhounds have proved popular therapeutic dogs, and are often used to provide companionship to people in nursing homes or with disabilities. “Because their coats are short and smooth, greyhounds don’t get too dirty and generally require little grooming,” says Katherine. “They lack the oils in their coats that create that ‘doggy’ smell and many people who suffer from
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pet allergies find that greyhounds don’t cause the same allergic reactions that other breeds can.” The greyhound is one of the oldest dog breeds in history. Their origins have been traced back over 4,000 years to early cave drawings and they’re the only breed mentioned in the Bible. They were the preferred dog of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt, of the kings of Ancient Greece and of the landed gentry and nobles in England. “By giving a greyhound a home,” says Katherine, “you’re taking on a true thoroughbred and a breed that has been ‘man’s best friend’ for thousands of years.” Intelligent and powerfully-built dogs, with long legs, a deep chest and a slim build, greyhounds are affectionate with their owners and live well with other dogs. Because of their adaptability to new environments, Katherine says the homing policies of the Retired Greyhound Trust are flexible.
“Our volunteers work hard to match the right greyhound with the right family,” she says. “Even if you work, have children, can’t walk very far or have other pets, we consider all circumstances and look at situations individually.” Clare is keen to encourage more people to volunteer with the Trust. Opportunities range from dog walking, fundraising, helping with events to promote the breed, donating toys and treats, assisting with home checks, fostering hounds or vet runs. “We’re always looking for dog lovers who would like to lend a hand,” she says. “Volunteering with us is such a rewarding experience and you’ll get plenty of canine cuddles in return!” She believes greyhounds make ideal pets. “They are adorable, loving and loyal, and they require little exercise so they can easily adjust to a busy lifestyle,” she says. “They’re clean, easy to look after and deserve a forever sofa or chair more than most dogs, as they’ve been kennelled mostly. They deserve love, care and canine luxuries.” All greyhounds are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before they join their new home and the charity provides a collar, lead and muzzle to start owners off on the right paw. Katherine says the Retired Greyhound Trust will continue to strive for a day when all racing greyhounds retire to loving homes and are treated with compassion and kindness. “Without us,” she says, “thousands of greyhounds would face very uncertain futures at the end of their racing career.” For more information on the Retired Greyhound Trust, call Clare at the King’s Lynn branch on 07495 823366 or visit kingslynn.retiredgreyhounds.org.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
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tel: 01485 542384 web: www.supreme-carpets.com KLmagazine December 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 C
hristmas is well known to be a period of over indulgence – and it’s not just us, our pets get in on the act too! Leftover cold meats, the odd roast potato – it all adds up for our pets! If you find that your pet has had a slight excess of food over Christmas, feel free to book in for one of our free weight clinics, Simonne our nurse who runs them is there to help next year if you need her. One of our most memorable patients this year, Jimmy the Labrador, came in to us after a spot of gluttony – he had swallowed his entire lead, clip and all! After a dose of medication he wasn’t as pleased to see it come back up again, with no ill effects thank goodness.
Time to paws for thought
I
love Christmas! This is one of my favourite times of the year, it’s a time to reflect on the year that’s gone by and to give thought to the coming year. This year it has once again been a pleasure to take care of the pets of west Norfolk. I have the privilege of sharing in so many happy moments, whether it be the birth of a litter of puppies or the resolving of a particularly annoying ear infection in a cat! The successful outcome of each case always brings a smile to my face. My thoughts at this time of year also turn to those beloved pets who I have been able to help give a peaceful and dignified end, undeniably the saddest and hardest aspect of our profession but one which is so important. Christmas is a time of year when I try to spend as much time as I can with my friends and family. Being at home a little more over the festive period also means I get to spend more time with
my beloved Border Terriers! Although clearly not content with having my company for the whole year both dogs get ridiculously over excited when our grown-up children come home for the Christmas holidays! Maybe it is true that animals can pick up on their owner’s emotions… As we all know Christmas is a time for giving and thinking of others, and my colleagues certainly adhere to this feeling. This year, as she has done for a number of years now, one of our nurses Jo, has organised a collection for the charity Operation Christmas Child. We all take an empty shoe box and fill it with toys, school supplies, clothing items and sweets – it’s something so easy to do which can have a big impact on a child’s life. The boxes are donated to children in need across the world, it makes me incredibly proud of our team and reinforces my belief that they are the
most caring group of people I know. I’d like to wish you and your pets a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – I do hope we don’t need to see you over the festive period!
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 KLmagazine December 2016
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One of the biggest displays of real Christmas Trees in West Norfolk!
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KLmagazine December 2016
Discover the benefits a natural hedgerow can bring to your garden!
Save money by planning your new hedge now! Planting now for a greener future with Heritage Tree Specialists...
T
he depths of winter may seem like an odd time to be planting hedges, but it’s actually the best time of the year to think about the natural way to protect your property’s boundary, shielding your garden and attracting wildlife to it. “Because the plants are dormant over the next few months, planting them now is actually better for them,” says Dan Ashton of Heritage Tree Specialists in King’s Lynn. “Moreover, as bare-root trees are only available over the winter, planting a hedgerow now is much cheaper than at any other time of the year when you’ll have to rely on expensive container-grown plants.” Dan and his fully-trained and highlyexperienced team has over 25 years’ experience in professional tree care, and sources native specimens such as hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn and field maple to create beautiful natural mixed hedgerows – or single-species hedges (such as yew or hornbeam) for a more formal look. “There are plenty of advantages a hedgerow has over a fence,” says Dan.
KLmagazine December 2016
“They’re more cost-effective, they have a longer lifespan, they’re not governed by a 6ft limit, and they provide excellent cover and food for the wildlife in your garden.” And in addition to providing an effective windbreak (especially for coastal properties), the spines and thorns of a natural hedge can be a better deterrent against unwanted human visitors than an easily-climbable fence. Heritage Tree Specialists will visit your home and select the right trees for the property – based on local soil
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conditions, the ultimate size of the hedges, their location, their colours, and the future role you expect them to play in the garden. They can help you maintain them – and even breathe new life into old hedges. “Native hedgrows are largely resistant to the pests that affect conifer hedges such as Leylandii,” says Dan, “and there are plenty of poorly-maintained and neglected hedges out there. With a little care and some professional attention we can rejuvenate them back into an attractive and manageable state.” To start your home’s greener future now, contact Heritage Tree Specialists today for more details and information, free written quotations and a professional service you can trust.
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History
ABOVE: Escorted by British troops, Maharaja Duleep Singh enters his palace in Lahore, India in 1846 after the First Anglo-Sikh War. Just three years later the last ruler of the Sikh Empire was deposed at the age of ten and exiled to England, making a new life for himself in Norfolk.
From exiled Maharaja to Norfolk aristocrat... Just how did the ruler of one of the most powerful empires in India become a country gentleman in 19th century Norfolk? Charlotte Niemiec looks at the amazing story of Duleep Singh
T
oday, the Ancient House Museum in Thetford is one of the best examples of early Tudor houses remaining in East Anglia, home to a large collection of artefacts telling the highly distinctive history of Thetford and the Brecks. But the building may not have survived at all were it not for its links with one of the most powerful kingdoms on the Indian sub-continent: the Sikh Empire. Ruled by its founder, Maharajah Ranjit Singh, the kingdom was reformed into one that was hugely wealthy and
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prosperous, home to the 105-carat Koh-i-noor diamond now in the hands of the British Royal Family. But when Ranjit Singh died in 1839, his kingdom soon fell into disorder. His son Duleep Singh, at only ďŹ ve years old, became heir to the throne while the Anglo-Sikh war raged around him. For a time, his mother ruled as regent, but Duleep was torn from her by the British East India Company and transported to the other side of the country. There, he was placed in the hands of a British couple and the young, impressionable boy started learning about Christianity
and the Bible. At 15, he was exiled to England, where he entered Victorian high society. He became a favourite of Queen Victoria, holidaying with the family at Osborne House and sitting by her side at banquets. While society expected him to be the exotic Indian prince in public (a role he played up to) in private he was the quintessential English aristocratic, learning to shoot and spending his teenage years moving in high circles. Actually, it was his love of shooting that spurred Duleep to buy the Elveden
KLmagazine December 2016
ABOVE: An early engraving of the young Maharajah before his exile to England, and the imposing statue of Duleep Singh that stands on Butten Island in Thetford.
Estate on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. With his government pension, he remodelled the exterior of the house in Italian fashion but transformed the interior into an Indian palace. “He installed beautiful Indian cornices and graced the building with lovely marble arches,” says local historian Peter Bance, the acknowledged authority on the Singh family who’s written two books on the subject and maintained a website on the family for over a decade. “The interior is still intact today, but it hasn’t been maintained – the house hasn’t been lived in since it was used as a US airbase during the Second World War.” Peter says that while Duleep was resident, however, the ‘palace’ was more like a zoo. “He loved falconry and introduced the practice to the estate,” he says. “He brought people over from France to rear birds, keeping them in an exotic aviary – and he even had a kangaroo!” The estate had around 22,000 acres, which the exiled Maharaja turned into a game preserve, hosting popular shooting parties and inviting the rich and famous. During his time at Elveden, he also restored the local church, cottages and school. Today, the land remains a large private hunting estate in the hands of the Guinness family and has been a popular filming location, used in films such as Eyes Wide Shut, Stardust and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. After 13 years of separation, Duleep
KLmagazine December 2016
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PICTURE: PETER BANCE
History
PICTURES: Duleep Singh pictured at Elveden at the turn of the 20th century (left). His daughter Sophia (above, right) was born at Elveden Hall in 1876 and also made her mark on British life, becoming a prominent suffragette and a passionate advocate of women’s rights.
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grave lies in the churchyard of St Andrew and St. Patrick in Elveden. Born to be a grand Maharajah of India but denied his birthright, Duleep Singh is an important figure, not only to the British Sikh population, but for the lasting impact his life and heirs made in Norfolk. His deeply religious son Prince Frederick (1868-1926) spent much of his life restoring churches and buildings in Thetford and gifting them to the people. One of those was the Ancient House Museum, to which he donated his collection of antiques and over 200 portraits. A magnificent bronze statue of Duleep Singh by sculptor Denise Dutton was unveiled in 1999 by Prince Charles, standing as a lasting reminder of the town’s fascinating links with the powerful but ultimately crushed Sikh Empire. For more information on the life and lasting legacy of Duleep Singh, please see www.duleepsingh.com
ABOVE: George Richmond’s portrait of Duleep’s mother Maharani Jind Kaur. The pair were finally reunited in 1861 and the couple lived at Elveden (below) until her death two years later.
PICTURE: PETER BANCE
was finally reunited with his mother in 1861. The British Government, which had hitherto prevented their meeting, finally relented, believing her too frail and blind to pose a significant threat. She was allowed to return with him to Elveden, where she taught her son about his Sikh roots and where they lived together for two years until her death. Duleep kept up his studies after his mother’s death, which came at a time when his relationship with the British government began to sour. Although he’d been promised a pension of £40-50,000 a year on his exile to England, the most he ever received was £20,000 a year – which he argued wasn’t enough. Coupled with an ancestry he couldn’t ignore, this falling out propelled Duleep towards Sikhism. He determined to return to India and be re-baptised into the faith. Planning a lavish ceremony upon his return to India, he wrote to Queen Victoria to tell her he was leaving England and duly set sail for ‘home’ in 1886. Halfway there, however, he was arrested and held under house arrest in Aden – and it was here that, far away from both his homeland and adopted country, he was re-baptised in a small ceremony. Prevented from continuing on his journey, he travelled instead to Europe and finally died in Paris in 1893 aged 56. Despite his wish for his body to be returned to India, it was brought back to Norfolk and his recently-restored
KLmagazine December 2016
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West Norfolk: Then and Now
1912
2016
GREETINGS FROM NORFOLK STREET Times change, and tastes obviously change with them! Whereas people (especially children) used to congregate outside Watson’s Sweet Shop in King’s Lynn’s Norfolk Street (on the left), they seem to prefer something a bit spicier these days. Many thanks to David Scott of Hunstanton for sending us the
original image, which seems to have been a postcard. The date of 1912 has been handwritten on the reverse – so if you can date the picture more accurately, please let us know! You can enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s history on the website at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk or by visiting the Norfolk Heritage Centre at
the Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich (or your local studies library). We’ll be taking another look back in time at the local area next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 58
KLmagazine December 2016
CE, SUPERB PERFORMAN , TY RI SUPERB SECU S! OK LO SUPERB GOOD
Keep heat in and keep crime out with ECOnomy Windows! Transform your home with some of the best windows on the market today – from the most respected company in the area... hen it comes to new and replacement windows, people generally put three things at the top of their wish lists – great longlasting looks, high performance and reliable levels of security. That’s why there’s no better way to look forward to starting the new year than with the industry-leading quality and first-class customer service of ECOnomy Windows. For almost 30 years, ECOnomy Windows has been leading the field in high quality window and conservatory solutions for your home. To date, more than 20,000 local installations have experienced a genuine commitment to customer care, a reputation for
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exceptionally high standards of workmanship, and a continuous policy of introducing innovative and exciting new products. Only a few months ago, ECOnomy Windows introduced the most advanced windows on the market today, an A++ triple-glazed product that reaches new levels of heat-saving and noise reduction together with a fabulous range of style and colour options to suit any property. They also offer increased peace of mind. ECOnomy Windows products are BSI rated for security, featuring sash locks and shoot bolts fitted as standard with the option of laminated glass for even more security.
Of course, saving money is always a good way to start the new year too – and while the windows themselves can save you money on heating costs year after year, ECOnomy Windows can also help your budget now by requiring no deposit – you only pay on installation. No pressure sales techniques, no worries, and a professional approach to every individual project – order now and you can be enjoying your new windows in January, making sure all your winter memories are happy ones. Contact ECOnomy Windows today for more details and information on how you can keep the heat in, keep unwanted visitors out, and save money for many years to come.
CONSERVATORY SHOW PARK OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK! Elm High Road, Wisbech, Cambs PE14 0DG Tel: 01945 588988 / 01553 777088 Web: www.economy-windows.co.uk E-mail: mail@economy-windows.co.uk
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COOPER & ELMS
audio, visual and domestic appliances 30 Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 774798 Web: www.cooperandelms.co.uk KLmagazine December 2016
The future of heating today: with the very best in service How 4 Way Refrigeration is leading the way for sustainable, energyefficient and cost-effective homes – with all the service you need!
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f you’re looking for a more efficient and cost-effective way to provide all your home’s heating and hot water needs (all year round) you’ll discover that air source heating from 4 Way Refrigeration isn’t just a brilliant new technology – it’s also a very versatile one. The units themselves can be sited in a garage, on a wall, on a flat roof – in fact anywhere within 30m of your property. The cylinders (available in three different sizes) can be placed to suit the layout of the property and your needs, and as the system is emission-free and requires no flue the boilers can go wherever suits you best – under the stairs, in a utility room, even in the loft. Moreover, you’ll have the reassurance of having the system designed and
4 WAY
installed by a local team with years of experience, a wealth of expert knowledge and industry-leading accreditations. All air source heating systems from 4 Way Refrigeration are installed by Daikin-trained engineers and come complete with a 3-year parts warranty and a 1-year workmanship warranty. And in addition to pre-winter services, 4 Way Refrigeration also offers scheduled maintenance visits to keep the system running at optimum performance. “I always give people a full runthrough of the system and detailed instructions on how to make the most of it,” says Steve Simpson of 4 Way Refrigeration. “And we’re always available if anyone has any questions or queries. In fact, you could say you’ve got all our
Refrigeration Ltd Electrical Ltd Energy Ltd
experience and knowledge on tap!” Contact 4 Way Refrigeration now to discover more about air source heating. From your building plans and drawings, they’ll design a system that gives you the very best of the latest technology and gives you a home that’s both costeffective and energy-efficient!
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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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KLmagazine December 2016
PICTURES: LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER
Health
ABOVE: Look Good Feel Better was formed in the UK over 20 years ago to help women combat the visible side-effects of their cancer treatment. Last year alone, the charity supported over 15,500 women and teenagers through a range of workshops, masterclasses and selfhelp materials
Look good, feel better and face the future... At a time when around 165,000 women in the UK are newly diagnosed with cancer every year, Clare Bee discovers a charity dedicated to improving their self-esteem and confidence.
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e’re all aware of the big national charities who provide support and raise funds for those who are living with cancer. But there’s one less well known charity which provides specific practical support for women who are struggling to cope with the side effects of their cancer treatment. Look Good Feel Better – which aims to do exactly as its name implies – is the only worldwide cancer charity which provides support, friendship and practical advice to women with cancer. The charity is dedicated to improving the self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing of women undergoing
KLmagazine December 2016
treatment for any sort of cancer, and the aim is to help women improve their self-image and appearance through free skin and makeup workshops. The first UK workshop was held over 20 years ago, with the West Norfolk group starting out in 2007. At the time, Amanda Moore had gone back to college to train in holistic therapies, having worked in the makeup department at the local branch of Boots, and heard about the need for beauticians to volunteer for this new charity. “Look Good Feel Better were looking for volunteers,” says Amanda. “I had nursed my sister-in-law who had sadly died in 2006, and I felt I could offer
something to help these women feel good about themselves.” Amanda duly signed up as a volunteer, and took over the role of regional coordinator in January 2012. Once a month, she organises local workshops where women can come together to relax and have a bit of fun and ‘me’ time with other women who are going through the same experiences. Trained beauty volunteers share their tips and techniques for minimising the effects that treatment can have on skin and hair, which can also lead to eyebrow and eyelash loss. But it’s much more than that – the women who attend these workshops forge lasting friendships and come
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Health
away with renewed strength to get on with their lives. For the first six years, the workshops were held at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, but then moved to the Knights Hill Hotel. The management there have been very supportive and provide a room for free, even agreeing to keep the stock of cosmetics there at no cost. The makeup is donated by many well known makeup houses and brands and held by Proctor and Gamble, who employ two people to coordinate the products and pack the bags before sending them out to all the groups. There are many others working behind the scenes to support these women. After their diagnosis, each woman is given a leaflet outlining how Look Good Feel Better can help her. The initial contact is made through the hospital booking line, where the team will book the women in and send them an invitation to attend the next available session. Volunteers from the hospital also set up the room and meet and greet the group as they arrive and help to make everyone feel included and special. The makeup bags include everything a woman would need for skincare, from foundation and blusher to eye shadow, eyebrow pencils and lipstick. Everyone enjoys a 12-step programme of beauty care and the bags are theirs to take away with them. “Look Good Feel Better is all about doing everything for these women”, says Amanda, “and we all have the satisfaction of knowing we’ve helped someone feel better after they’ve felt so
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wretched.” Working hand in hand with this national charity is a local group, the King’s Lynn Breast Cancer Support Group. They’ve been going for 21 years, and meet once a week for support, exercise and information, often in the form of a talk from an outside group. This is a self-supporting group, run by six volunteers, who’ve been specially trained by Breast Cancer Care to listen, support and advise their members. “You are never on your own here,” says Diane Snelgrove, current chair of the group. “You’ve always got someone to talk to who has been through the same as you.” The group is open to any woman, from those who are living with cancer now to those who are cancer survivors from many years ago. They still come to help support the newer members and, in doing so, continue to share and learn from their unique experiences. Each meeting includes exercises run by Debbie Overland, who’s been teaching groups in the King’s Lynn area for over 30 years. She starts with half an hour of standing exercises for all those who are able to join in, and after a short break, includes a seated section for those who find it hard to stand and exercise. Most meetings end with the inevitable (and very necessary) coffee and cake! “All the exercises are geared towards everybody,” explains Debbie, “so they can all join in and not feel left out if they are going through treatment, and finding some things difficult to do. There’s a great atmosphere and it’s always fun. If women are going through
It’s amazing to witness a Look Good Feel Better workshop and see first-hand the good this program does and the impact it has on women with cancer. I want to spread the word about this program so more women can be helped and more of my colleagues will be inspired to lend their time and talents to Look Good Feel Better... LANA HOROCHOWSKI Acclaimed Hollywood make-up artist chemotherapy or other treatments, it can all be very frightening. We want women to come in and have a smile and a laugh, which makes them feel better. It’s sometimes hard to come into a group, but we create a warm and friendly environment where women come together to do what they can.” Going through diagnosis and treatment for cancer can be a frightening and isolating experience, but in West Norfolk there are groups who are there to support and care for those women. The important thing is that no one is left to deal with this on their own. “It is so important to make friends at a time like this,” says Debbie. “Going through such a big thing together with others who know how you feel can make all the difference.”
For more details and information on the Look Good Feel Better workshops at the Knights Hill Hotel & Spa in King’s Lynn please call 01553 613126 or visit www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
ABACUS MARQUEES
Look younger this Christmas!
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Get ready for the party season with Derma Vida Come and see our very own expert in anti-ageing treatments, Dr Leena Deol. Using Juvéderm Filler we can help to get rid of wrinkle lines, facial folds & thinning lip lines.
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Also available; wrinkle relaxing injections for crows feet and other wrinkles
Derma Vida
Call us to book a consultation on 01553 696886
CREATING BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Gayton Road Health and Surgical Centre, King’s Lynn
www.dermavida.co.uk | info@dermavida.co.uk
Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals. Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories. Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements. Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:
01328 701331
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Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn PE32 2YA
Tel: 01406 364600
Live In Car e Specialists NEW TS PATIEN E! M O C L WE
A complete range of professional dental services including: • Cosmetic dentistry • Orthodontics • Dental implants • Sedation • General dental care • Facial treatments Contact us for a no-obligation chat to discuss your needs info@thespiredental.co.uk www.thespiredental.co.uk 7 Market Street, Long Sutton, Spalding PE12 9DD
KLmagazine December 2016
Dedicated to caring for those you care about We specialise in live in care and we also offer a complete range of domiciliary care services which are tailor made to meet every client’s needs. • Local Care Workers with quick response • Minimum of 1 hour visits • Care workers given training on Person Centred Care • We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission
To arrange an initial meeting to discuss the care and needs of you and your family, please call us on:
01553 631694
|
07479 977177
info@bluebellservices.uk www.bluebellsupportservices.co.uk 1st Floor Suite, Old School House, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG
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fashion Here’s your chance to feel festive and look fabulous with this season’s choice of glittering eveningwear styles. From sparkling metallics and sequins to elegant laces and bold leathers you’ll certainly be ready to turn heads this Christmas with plenty of inspiration from our favourite local boutiques...
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Plunge Sparkle Dress by River Island (£50) QUEENSGATE SHOPPING CENTRE | Peterborough 01733 311666 KLmagazine December 2016
Fake Fur Jacket and Lace Trim Knit Dress by Lauren Vidal SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 KLmagazine December 2016
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Fashion
Navy Fur Poncho EVERYTHING OUTDOOR Holkham - 01328 712120 | Sandringham - 01485 298082 | Wroxham - 01603 777105 68
KLmagazine December 2016
01366 388151 | www.bearts.co.uk Station road, stowbridge, king’s lynn, PE34 3PD christmas opening times: monday - friday: 8am - 5:30pm, saturday 8am - 4pm
Fashion
Dress by White Stuff (£55.00) GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 70
KLmagazine December 2016
Everything Outdoor Perfect for Christmas gifts
Gilet (in 4 colours) £29.99
Wax Jacket £129
Ladies Tweed Blazer Jacket (£159)
Wisteria Waterproof Boots £149
Check branch for availability HOLKHAM - The Reading Rooms, Holkham Village (opposite Adnams) NR23 1RG | Tel: 01328 712120 SANDRINGHAM - Sandringham Visitor Centre, Sandringham Estate PE35 6EH | Tel: 01485 298082 WROXHAM - Wroxham Barns, Tunstead Road, Open Hoveton NR12 8QU | Tel: 01603 777105 daily
www.everythingoutdoor.co.uk
Lings Country Goods for all your country pursuits
Wide range of top brand country clothing • BARBOUR • DUBARRY • MUSTO • SCHÖFFEL • LE CHAMEAU • WRENDALE TOGGI • HUCKLECOTE • DEERHUNTER • SEELAND • PAMPEANO Also stocking guns, ammunition & shooting accessories
Morton ATV
all terrain and utility terrain vehicles Heath Farm, Great Massingham PE32 2HJ www.lingscountrygoods.co.uk www.mortonatv.com | Tel: 01485 520828
KLmagazine December 2016
Look fantastic this festive season with stunning party wear at...
Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge
S i ze s 1 0 - 2 6 | O pe n in g ti m es 9a m - 5p m C l os ed We d n e sd a ys & S un d a y s T el : 01 40 6 35 09 6 1
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1 0 8 B r i d g e R oa d , S ut t o n B r i d g e P E 1 2 9 SA 71
Fashion
Top by Frank Lyman CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 72
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A whole world of famous brands...
...in one local store hatever your personal style, if you’re looking for high quality clothing there’s no need to travel miles or visit countless out-of-town stores when you can find a world of famous-name fashions all under one roof in the centre of King’s Lynn. Now recognised as one of the finest independent mens and womenswear businesses in the whole country, Goddards’ customer-focused approach to style has seen it attract some of the most distinctive brands in the world. “If you’re looking to build your winter wardrobe or looking for a very stylish Christmas present, you’ll find everything you need at Goddards,” says Manager Gary Tillott. “I always like to think we’re here for people who like experimenting
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with fashion trends and enjoying them but don’t want to be dictated by them.” From classic lines and formal good looks to the sharpest contemporary styling and the best in traditional countrywear, Goddards features a huge range of the latest collections from major national and international brands –
together with a wide range of fantastic accessories and gift ideas from watches to footwear and from handbags to wallets. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s a great opportunity to discover why shopping at Goddards is such a pleasure – with its large free car park, friendly and helpful staff, spacious dressing rooms, and a newly-refurbished layout. And if you need to take the weight off your feet or take a break from trying on all those new clothes, Goddards’ fabulous new espresso bar offers you the perfect chance to relax and enjoy great coffee and some very tempting treats. Welcome to Goddards - and a world of famous-name style on your doorstep.
GODDARDS INDEPENDENT OUTFITTERS
Menswear | Ladies Fashions | Formal Hire Wellesley Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1QD Telephone: 01553 772382 Website: www.goddardsonline.co.uk
Giving local heritage a taste of sophistication The stylish new Massey & Co bar and lounge in the Duke’s Head Hotel may be the latest name in local food and drink, but it’s one steeped in tradition and the social life of King’s Lynn...
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or years, the name Massey & Co has probably only been familiar to historians of British provincial banking in the 19th century, but that’s all set to change with the opening last month of a fabulous new bar and lounge in one of the most recognisable landmarks in King’s Lynn. Dominating the eastern side of the town’s Tuesday Market Place, the Duke’s Head Hotel has been at the centre of life in King’s Lynn for over 300 years. It started life back in 1683 when Sir John Turner (MP, future mayor and a prominent merchant specializing in the growing port trade) demolished the Gryffen, the old coaching inn that originally stood on the site. He engaged
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the distinguished local architect Henry Bell to design a new building more suited to the growing commercial importance of King’s Lynn, getting him to work on a new Custom House for the town at the same time. The Duke’s Head Hotel was completed in 1689, four years after Bell’s Custom House (described as “one of the most perfect buildings ever built”) opened for business. The two were central to the thriving mercantile life of King’s Lynn, and the first official listing of a bank at the Duke’s Head Hotel occurs in 1808 with ‘Gales & Co’ occupying part of the hotel’s ground floor. By the following year the bank had become Gales, Dixon & Massey thanks to the arrival of Benjamin and
KLmagazine December 2016
Mary Massey. The couple had been married in 1804 (both were from Norfolk) and for Mary to have reached the standing of partner in a provincial bank would have been quite an achievement at the turn of the 19th century – in their 2010 history of women partners in British banks, researchers Margaret Davies and Nesta Selwyn could only find 71 in the whole country between 1752-1906. As for Benjamin Massey, he was an accomplished silversmith and goldsmith, trading in the financial centre of Leadenhall Street in London at the start of the London to Norwich road. Fittingly, the address he worked from is now a Lloyds bank, and sits in front of the famous Gherkin building. Massey had learned his trade as an apprentice with gentleman jeweller Daniel Boulter in Great Yarmouth, a man who opened a collection of ‘natural and artificial curiosities’ as the Museum Boulterianum in 1778. It was the first museum in Norfolk (and one of the earliest in the country), and when author Daniel Defoe toured East Anglia in 1795 he said “there is nothing more worthy of notice than Boulter’s museum in the Yarmouth Market Place.” Benjamin’s bank survived as Massey & Co until 1812 when he embarked on a partnership with King’s Lynn solicitor Lewis Jarvis – and Massey & Jarvis continued successfully until his death in 1854, after which it became Jarvis & Jarvis for a few decades. Although the bank that Benjamin Massey established failed with the death of Lewis Jarvis in 1888, the banking tradition at the Duke’s Head Hotel continued over the years, with businesses such as the London & Provincial Bank and Barclays occupying the site until well into the 20th century. Now, however, Massey & Co is coming home with the opening of a new bar and lounge that brings a touch of elegance and sophistication to part of the heritage of King’s Lynn. “It’s cool and it’s edgy, it’s steeped in tradition, and we’re all very excited about it,” says General Manager Darryl Holdnall, whose team has worked tirelessly over the last few months to bring Massey & Co to life. “We’ve got a new management team, we’ve got an
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enthusiastic new crew dedicated to the bar and lounge, and we’re taking the Duke’s Head Hotel in a very stylish new direction.” Taking a generous helping of Georgian charm and a glittering touch of art deco style, Massey & Co fully exploits the heritage architecture of the building, from the intricately-tiled floor to the traditional wroughtiron fittings. The space is graced by framed antique coinage and antique photographs chronicling the bar’s previous incarnations, while the ‘old money’ touches on the menus are a fascinating talking point. During the day (until 6pm), Massey & Co is the perfect place for relaxing with friends, taking a break from shopping or meeting business colleagues with outstanding coffee from Suffolk-based Paddy & Scott’s (currently one of the UK’s fastest growing coffee brands) and fresh treats from the family-run Smiths the Bakers, who’ve been making bread and cakes in King’s Lynn for over 40 years and have held a Royal Warrant since 1990. “We'll be offering contemporary lounge food at its best,” says Darryl. “We want Massey & Co to be a tempting showcase of seasonal produce and local artisans, a place where you can enjoy great food and drink in a luxuriously comfortable setting.” At night, the new bar and lounge really comes into its own, with a cocktail menu designed by award-
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winning mixologist Benjamin Purslow, a range of craft and limited-release beers (several hailing from the nearby 2 Rivers Brewery in Denver), a carefully sourced selection of fine wines, locally produced gin and vodka, and a host of sparkling delights from Prosecco to Dom Perignon and Bollinger (available by the glass). “We've got some amazing new twists on everyone’s favourite classic cocktails,” says Darryl, “and we’re already looking at creating our own signature Massey & Co beer. It’s a fantastic space, and it’s going to bring a real touch of class to evenings in King's Lynn.” Over the coming months, Massey & Co will be hosting cocktail masterclasses, holding jazz nights and live music evenings, and the bar and lounge can also be hired privately, offering the perfect setting for your special events and celebrations. Amazing food, incredible drinks and a fantastic atmosphere – it’s been well over a century since the name Massey & Co played a part in the daily life of King’s Lynn, but its return has been well worth the wait!
Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1JS T: 01553 774996 W: www.masseyandcobar.com E: reservations@masseyandcobar.com @MasseyandCoBar masseyandcobarandlounge KLmagazine December 2016
CHRIS
T M A S AT
WI NT ER WA R M I N G B ed d i n g S ets
E TI V F ES r at i o n s o D e c Gi f t s &
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ind all you need this festive season at Charmed Interiors from stunning gifts for everyone on your list to beautiful Christmas decor for the home. It’s also the perfect time to spoil yourself, so why not take advantage of the tea and cakes in our cafÊ. The Hythe, Bridge Road, Downham Market PE38 0AE www.charmed-interiors.co.uk | 01366 384126 | 9 - 5 Mon to Sat | Free Parking
Recently refurbished, delightful inn on the North Norfolk coast
strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and café deli
boutique luxurious classic contemporary heart of norfolk award winning restaurant afternoon tea cocoes café deli self catering Luxury without sacrifice to the environment ash close swaffham norfolk pe37 7nh 01760 723845 enquiries@strattonshotel.com www.strattonshotel.com
11 stylish bedrooms | irresistible food contemporary dining room 01485 512229 | www.chequersinnthornham.com info@chequersinnthornham.com High Street, Thornham, Norfolk PE36 6LY
THAI ROYALE KIN G’S LYN N Traditional Thai Restaurant & Takeaway Gluten-free & vegetarian dishes available Free delivery within 3 miles (minimum order £15) 10% discount on collected orders
Reservations & takeaway orders: 01553 760299 Open: Tue to Sun 5pm-10pm
77 LYNN ROAD, GAYWOOD, KING’S LYNN PE30 4PR 80
KLmagazine December 2016
Food & Drink
Pheasant cooked two ways with Lentilles Vertes and a Cider & Red Current Jelly Sauce Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 1 pheasant 100g chicken liver 50g streaky bacon 50g apple, peeled and grated 50g onion, finely diced 50g fresh breadcrumbs caul fat (available at the butchers) 250ml chicken stock 150ml dry cider 2tsp red current jelly ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp white pepper ¼ tsp ground mace ¼ tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried sage zest of one lemon knob of butter olive oil 75g cooked lentilles vertes (puy lentils)
METHOD 1 Remove the pheasant’s breasts and bone out the thighs and legs, keeping the bones to flavour the sauce. 2 To make the sauce, place the bones on a roasting tray and place into a pre-heated oven at 200°c. Roast for 25 minutes. Place a pan on a medium to high heat adding 200ml of the chicken stock, along with the cider and the roasted bones. Reduce by half. 3 Once reduced, sieve all the liquid off, discarding the bones, place the liquid back onto the heat, add the red current jelly. When the jelly has dissolved and bubbling away finish off by adding a knob of butter. Whisk in to get a rich, glossy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. 4 To make the pheasant meatballs, add the thigh and leg meat along with the chicken livers and bacon. Using a food processer on its pulse setting blend until you have a similar texture to minced meat.
apple, zest of lemon and all the herbs and spices. Mix thoroughly. Roll the mixture into 100g meatballs and wrap in the caul fat (you will end up with more meatballs than you need, but they are great cold or they freeze well uncooked). Place a couple of balls into a roasting dish and add the remaining chicken stock. Place in a preheated oven at 190°c for 25-30 minutes until cooked through and have a deep brown colour. 6 Season the breasts on both side with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan on a high heat, add a little olive oil and cook the breasts for 4 minutes on each side. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 2 minutes in a warm place. 7 Place the cooked lentils in a pan along with a couple of dessertspoons of the sauce. Gently warm through. 8 To plate up, spoon half the lentils onto each plate, top with the cooked breast, placing the meatballs alongside. Garnish with vegetables of your choice and finish off by spooning over the rest of the sauce.
5 To this mixture add the breadcrumbs, onion,
Recipe by Bowers Butchers 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn PE30 4PR Tel: 01553 773845 Web: www.bowersbutchers.com
D Y ITE ILIT ! M B I L ILA NOW A AV OOK B
FESTIVE FRIDAY
£25
Christmas Party Nights 3 course dinner & disco 16 December 9 December SOLD OUT Rooms from only £69 B&B
Christmas Menu 1 Nov-18 Dec, 12-9pm All group sizes welcome
Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6HH t: 01485 533486 e: mail@caleyhallhotel.co.uk www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk
FESTIVE
MENUS Your Christmas starts here! Festive Menu PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES!
2 courses for £10.49 3 courses £13.49 STARTERS Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup, Prawn Cocktail, Breaded mushrooms, Coarse Pork Pâté MAINS The Ultimate Festive Roast, Roast Turkey, Broccoli & Mushroom Wellington, Festive Beer Battered Fish and Chips, Festive Burger Desserts Christmas Pudding, Salted Caramel Profiteroles, Christmas Brownie, Ice Cream Sundae with After Eight® (Served daily from 12pm, excluding Christmas & Boxing Day)
Book now!
Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk
Tel: 01553 772221 82
KLmagazine December 2016
Food & Drink
Crawfish Pork with black pepper and garlic Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 300g pork fillet 3 cloves of garlic 1 tbsp of black pepper corns ½ tbsp of coriander seeds 2 stems of coriander roots 2 tbsp of fish sauce 2 tbsp of oyster sauce 2 tbsp of light soy sauce 1 tsp of sugar 15ml of Brandy 3 tbsp of sliced onions 2 tbsp of freshly chopped coriander 2 tbsp of finely chopped spring onions 1 tbsp of chopped sweet pepper
METHOD 1 Grill the pork fillet for around 3-5 minutes, keep turning it over (it should be done medium). Rest for 5 minutes then cut pork into thin slices.
5 Add some liquid (about 100ml) we just use warm water but vegetable stock can be used if it is not too strong. 6 Add the black pepper, garlic paste and the sliced pork, then stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
2 Grind the black pepper corns, garlic cloves, coriander seeds and coriander roots together (best done using a mortar and pestle), until they have turned to a paste.
7 Turn off the heat then fold in fresh coriander and chopped spring onions.
3 In a hot frying pan, add a little vegetable oil and then the sliced onions.
8 Garnish with finely diced sweet peppers and serve on a bed of jasmine rice.
4 Once the onions have started to show colour add brandy and then follow with all the sauces and sugar.
Recipe by The Crawfish Inn Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ Tel: 01328 878313 Web:www.crawfishinn.com KLmagazine December 2016
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T I LE S • KI TCH E NS • BATHROOMS • FUR NITUR E • GI FTS • DESIGN SE RV I CE
N at u ra l st o n e im p o rt er s, wh o le sa le rs & re ta il er s
Visit our new look discount tile warehouse Showcasing excellent quality tiles at cut prices!
Opened back in 2007, our discount tile warehouse has always been the perfect opportunity for customers seeking a bargain. Packed full of stock from our impressive range of over 17,000 tiles it was time for a much needed facelift! The large warehouse has recently been refurnished and now houses 29 stunning bathroom displays, showcasing porcelain tiles as low as £6.95m².
Tile Shop TheFitton Oake
Tile range includes: Porcelain, Wood effect, Limestone, Travertine and Slate
Fitton Road, Wiggenhall St Germans, King’s Lynn PE34 3AX Tel: 01553 617540 | Web: www.fittonoaketiles.co.uk | Email: edd@fittonoake.co.uk
Food & Drink
Book your own chef and amaze your guests! Your chance to enjoy all the pleasures of a wonderful dinner party – with none of the worries and none of the washing up!
E
veryone knows the most (and least!) enjoyable parts of hosting a dinner party. The best is, of course, enjoying the company of your guests, serving them with great and lovinglyprepared food. What’s not so enjoyable is all the hassle and the stress involved; from finding the right ingredients to struggling though complex recipes – not to mention all the washing up at the end of the evening! However, there’s now a fabulous way for you and your guests to enjoy a gourmet meal without any of the worries or stress – by having a talented and experienced chef visit your home and do all the hard work for you! La Belle Assiette (literally ‘the beautiful plate’) was founded by Stephen Leguillon and Giorgio Riccò in Paris four years ago, and now has over 700 chefs working in six countries, planning and creating everything from romantic meals for two to sophisticated
KLmagazine December 2016
multi-course menus for large parties. The idea is a remarkably simple one – you choose the date and time, you select the level of service, and then pick the meal itself from a choice of over 4,000 mouthwatering and expertlycrafted menus. After booking, you can then contact the chef to personalise your evening – customising the menu to take account of dietary requirements and discussing your kitchen facilities and equipment. On the day of the event itself, your chef arrives approximately two hours before the start of service, bringing all the ingredients and any special equipment needed to cook the meal in your kitchen. The chef will then serve each course to you and your guests, explaining the dish and its creation. All chefs are thoroughly evaluated and tested by La Belle Assiette to ensure their skills are up to scratch before they work with clients, and at a
local level the passionate and professional James Howe is the culinary talent working around west Norfolk. James has worked in Michelin and AA rosette kitchens, creating his own style of British food with a distinct French influence. Coming from a seaside town, he loves using local ingredients and delicacies, incorporating them into his work whenever he can. As a private chef, he can give your guests a unique and bespoke dining experience tailored to your own tastes, needs and preferences. From only £39 per head, this is the perfect way to host and enjoy a firstclass dinner party your guests will love – and best of all, James will ensure your kitchen is left clean and tidy when he leaves, so you don’t even have to worry about the washing up. Bon appetit! If you’d like to learn more about La Belle Assiette and how easy it is to turn your next dinner party into a special occasion to remember, please visit www.labelleassiette.co.uk/private-chef
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Now stockists of Yare Valley Oils As seen at North Norfolk Food Festival, at Holkham Hall
ORDER N OW F O R CHRISTMAS To avoid disappointment! seaf
oodwe
ek.co.uk
Deanna, Steven & staff would like to wish all of their customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Frozen local lobsters available Fresh Brancaster mussels Local oysters & shellfish Jumbo raw prawns Fresh and smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey
Plus! Deli counter with quality local cheeses
BO OK NOW
DONALDSONS Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241
OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm XMAS OPENING: Tue, Wed: 7am-4pm, Thur, Fr: 7am-5pm, Sat: 7am-1pm
2 Course Lunch for £17 11 Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 5DQ www.marketbistro.co.uk | 01553 771483 Open: Lunch Wed -Sat 12-2pm & Supper Tues -Sat 6-9pm
We create the rooms you will LOVE to live in! Fully fitted kitchens from just
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www.kingsoakkitchens.co.uk KING’S LYNN 48 Bergen Way (next to Citroen), North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG Tel: 01553 762749 HUNSTANTON 2-4 Northgate Precinct (opp. Natwest, High St) Hunstanton PE36 6EA Tel: 01485 534965
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KLmagazine December 2016
F
Food & Drink
Brancaster Mussels with Cider, Leeks and Bacon Serves: 2 (as main) 4 (as starter) INGREDIENTS 1kg mussels a small knob of butter 1-2 tsp rapeseed olive or sunflower oil 1 large or 2 medium leeks finely sliced 100g unsmoked streaky bacon or pancetta chopped 1 tsp thyme leaves 1 bay leaf 250ml medium/sweet cider 1 tsp wholegrain mustard 2-3 tbsp double cream sea salt and freshly ground black pepper parsley (optional)
KLmagazine December 2016
METHOD 1 Clean the mussels, remove wire-like beards that are attached to the shells. Discard any open mussels if they don’t close when tapped. 2 Place large saucepan over a medium heat, and add butter and oil. When the butter is foaming, add the bacon or pancetta. Cook for 4-5 minutes. 3 Stir in the leek, thyme and bay leaf then cook for 2-3 minutes until the leek softens a little.
4 Turn the heat up high and pour in the cider and bring to the boil. Then stir in mustard, and tip in the mussels and put the lid on the pan. Steam the mussels for 2-3 minutes giving the pan a good shake once or twice. 5 When mussels have opened (discard any firmly closed) stir in the cream. Season with the salt and pepper serve in deep bowls, scatter parsley over (optional) and accompany with fresh crusty bread
Recipe by Donaldsons Austin Fields, King's Lynn PE30 1PH Tel: 01553 772241
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ORIENTAL PALACE
CHINESE RESTAURANT rd Winning Inn Swaffham’s Double Awa Wishing you a very
Meffy Christmas
Peking Szechuan & Cantonese Cuisine
Choose as many dishes as you want from the à la carte menu and they'll be freshly cooked to order - all for one set price! Want more? Just order more!
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0176 723 2 0 44 to b o
21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk K I T C H E N S • B AT H R O O M S • T I L E S
ok
TOM ERS MER RY CHR ISTM AS TO ALL OUR CUS Call us on: 01553 842255 | Delivery available 204 Main Road, West Winch, King’s Lynn, PE33 0NP Open 7 Days a Week - 12noon-2pm & 5pm-10:30pm www.orientalpalacewestwinch.co.uk BEDROOMS • PLUMBING SUPPLIES
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Address 28-31a North End, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1PE | Tel 01945 476797 | Fax 01945 463495 | Web www.quaycentre.co.uk
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KLmagazine December 2016
Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A KL magazine reader discovers a taste of the King’s Arms Coaching Inn at Swaffham...
I
always love discovering a ‘hidden treasure’ on an afternoon out and that’s exactly what I did on a visit to Swaffham recently. The King’s Arms Coaching Inn caught my eye as we drove into town on a Saturday afternoon, and knowing it’s never too long before my husband’s ready to enjoy a pint and read the paper, I always keep my eyes peeled for a suitable venue for us to enjoy. It was a cold day, and I was delighted to walk into the warmth of the main bar, and even more so at the smell of freshlycooked gingerbread! The King’s Arms Coaching Inn was much more than I’d expected, and as my husband ordered his beer and settled in front of the open log burner, owner Claire Evans invited me to take a look around. It’s a beautiful, warm and welcoming Grade II listed building, and there’s a lot more to discover than you might imagine. There’s a pop-up shop in a room to the right of the bar, full of little gifts and ornaments. There’s a fine dining restaurant in the converted stables, and a stylish cocktail bar in the courtyard – it seemed the ideal place for our evening meal, so we booked a table for later in the day. When we returned, the combination of Claire’s “welcome back”, the subtle music and the friendly, relaxed atmosphere
KLmagazine December 2016
reassured me I’d made the right choice. It wasn’t surprising to learn that at the Norfolk Hero Food & Drink Awards last year, the King’s Arms won the award for Best New Food or Drink Venue. From a menu consisting five starters and nine mains, my husband ordered a classic Caesar salad to start followed by the ribeye steak, whilst I ordered the pig cheeks followed by a cheese, mushroom and pepper quiche. Although the Caesar salad was a safe bet and hard to get wrong, the chunkiness of the ingredients made it all the more enjoyable, along with the runny yolk of the egg. Not knowing quite what to expect, my pig cheeks were somewhat filling but were a superb choice. Mouth-meltingly fantastic, the dish reminded me of the texture of lamb shank that falls off the bone, with the parsnip puree and crackling adding a satisfying variation of texture. The ribeye steak was accompanied by a choice of peppercorn, Diane or Binham Blue cheese sauce (he chose the peppercorn) which was a very nice touch as often it can be the sauce which puts you off from choosing a dish. With roast tomatoes, mushrooms, Adnams beerbattered onion rings and the triple-cooked chips, my husband said it was all you could want from a steak. He’d also requested it
medium-rare, and it was perfectly cooked. My cheese, wild mushroom and pepper quiche was more than I could eat after the pig cheeks, but it was extremely tasty and served with a garden salad and buttered new potatoes. It was ‘wetter’ than what I’d expect from a quiche, but the beautiful flavour of the cheese meant it was still very enjoyable. I always leave room for a dessert, so choosing the vanilla panna cotta was natural as I was already quite full and this was the lightest of the dishes. The pretty array of berries made for a very attractive plate and the delicate addition of a brandy snap was just what I needed to round off the meal . I think my husband made an error when he passed on a third course! Our whole bill totalled roughly £57 and that included a glass of wine for myself and a pint for my husband. The service was relaxed, but we never felt neglected in any way. If anything, it was like we were eating at a friend’s house – just with more people and a more extensive bar! We’ll definitely be going back to the King’s Arms Coaching Inn – if not for an evening of cocktails, then simply to watch the chef cook our food in the open theatre-style kitchen of the restaurant.
FOOD
10
SERVICE
9
VALUE
9
KING’S ARMS COACHING INN 21 Market Street, Swaffham PE37 7LA Telephone: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk
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VAN PELT QUALITY FAMILY BUTCHERS - EST 1935 -
New Years AT THE
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EW YEAR’S EVE PAR TY FO THE N R EVERYONE!
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108 Norfolk St, King's Lynn PE30 1AQ Tel: 01553 773536 | Email: anthony.barton@ymail.com
Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF
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01553 775668
Main Tel: 01553 775 668 Ë Ample Parking 4AQ Ro ad , C 34 lenchwarton, King’s Lynn PE Main Rd, Clenchwarton, King’s Lynn PE34 4AQ | Ample Parking 90
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at Fair Green
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Hill Road, Fair Green, Middleton, PE32 1RW | Tel: 01553 840518
www.thegatemiddleton.co.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
Food & Drink
Oak smoked Gressingham duck breast with scallop, dehydrated coral, potato croquette and fig Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 1 duck breast 1 tbsp oak smoking chips 2 tbsp salted butter 4 scallops 2 portions mashed potato 1 egg 1 tbsp plain flour 100g breadcrumbs 1 fig 2 sprigs thyme 4 leaves cavolo nero 2 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped 100ml white wine 100ml double cream salt to season rapeseed oil ½ lemon
METHOD 1 Remove the roe from the scallops. Place on a lined baking sheet, lightly salt and then dry out in a cool oven of 90°c for 2 hours. Blend in a food processor to form a powder. Don’t forget to remove and discard the intestinal tract from the scallop. 2 Cover the carrots with water in a saucepan and cook until tender. Blend in a food processor adding a little of the water at a time until a smooth puree is formed, season with salt. 3 Smoke the duck in a stove top smoker for 15 minutes on each side. Pan fry in cool pan with a little rapeseed oil, this will render down the fat. As the pan gets hotter add a knob of butter and baste the duck with the foaming butter. Season with salt and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes until the skin is golden. Add the fig and the thyme and finish in a hot oven of 180°c for about 8 minutes. Rest then cut into six slices length ways. 4 De glaze the pan with the white wine and reduce by half. Then add the cream and reduce until a sauce is formed.
KLmagazine December 2016
5 Shape the mash into two cylinder shapes then egg wash and breadcrumb. Deep fry in hot oil until golden then finish in a hot oven of 180°c for 5 minutes. Cut in half. 6 Season the scallops with the dehydrated coral and lemon juice and sear in a hot pan with a little rapeseed oil. After about 30 seconds, add a knob of butter, cook for a further 30 seconds until crisp and golden. Remove the pan from the heat and then flip over the scallops so the residual heat finishes cooking them, only for about a minute. 7 To plate, smear the carrot puree in the centre, then place two pieces of boiled Cavolo Nero on either end, with a croquette half on each. Place three slices of duck on top of the puree, and then place half a fig and the scallops. Drizzle over the sauce and enjoy.
Recipe by Trevor Clark Head Chef at The Rathskeller South Quay, King's Lynn PE30 5GN Tel: 01553 775678 Web: www.therathskeller.co.uk 91
NAME: Samichlaus BREWERY: Eggenberg Brewery ORIGIN: Austria STYLE: Doppelbock ABV: 14% PRICE: £5.29
If you’re not happy with premium lagers with no substance, consider indulging in a bottle of Samichlaus. To call this simply ‘a lager’ doesn’t justify the full-bodied Austrian Doppelbock. It’s only bottled once a year on December 6th (having been aged for 10 months prior) and although this dark tempting beer weighs in at 14% ABV, it keeps the alcohol well hidden beneath strong malt tones which include caramel and sugar. It can be paired beautifully with robust dishes, desserts and chocolate, or can be aged for years to come to allow the flavours to mature in the bottle.
With Christmas fast approaching and the nights getting colder, now may possibly be the best time of year to invest in a bottle of N’ice Chouffe. This Christmassy-themed Belgian strong ale can be used as a great present or to keep you warm during the chilly winter evenings. Well balanced between dark malts and hops, the beer has a spicy edge to it courtesy of thyme and Curaçao. A Belgian strong such as N’ice Chouffe is best served in a ‘tulip’ glass and pairs well with richer meats, cheeses and – of course – your Christmas dinner. NAME: N’Ice Chouffe BREWERY: Brasserie d’Achouffe ORIGIN: Belgium STYLE: Belgian Strong ABV: 10% PRICE: £3.67
Time to discover the 12 beers of Christmas... If you’re looking to match a drink to your festive food, you’ll find beer can actually be a lot more versatile than wine. Matthew Keeley-Smith of Beers of Europe picks a dozen very special tastes to enjoy over Christmas NAME: Lindemans Kriek BREWERY: Brouwerij Lindemans ORIGIN: Belgium STYLE: Fruit/Lambic beer ABV: 3.5% PRICE: £1.69
For a lighter and sweeter beverage, this is a fine example of a Belgian fruit beer, which carefully blends exquisite fruit flavours into a refreshing ale. Lindemans Kriek pours a dark red in colour and has both a strong cherry aroma and taste, along with a pleasant sour note from the yeast used – from the Pajottenland region, a signature of Lambic beer. A fruit beer is great on its own, but works perfectly with dishes of rich character (such as pork) and should be served in a flute or tall glass. 92
Widely considered to be one of the best beers in the world, St Bernardus ABT 12 is brewed by Belgian monks in the village of Watou on the Belgian/French border. It’s a dark and luxurious beer that showcases dark fruits, malts and alcohol in the aroma and taste. It also demonstrates a perfect balance between malt, bitterness and sweetness. An old recipe from the brewery’s days brewing under license for the very rare Westvleteren, this carries high quality ingredients, production values and reputation. If you’re looking for a showstopper, this is the beer for you. NAME: St Bernardus Abt 12 BREWERY: St Bernardus Brouwerij ORIGIN: Belgium STYLE: Quadruple/Abbey ABV: 10% PRICE: £3.39
KLmagazine December 2016
Food & Drink
A Gueuze is a Belgian ale that’s fermented with wild bacteria and yeast, which creates a sour edge to the beer as well as giving the beer a wonderful unpredictability in each and every batch. The dry taste is closer to that of Champagne than that of beer, and this Gueuze is the result of balancing old and young lambic beers, creating a uniquely-blended craft that’s taken a whole year to age to bottling. Mort Subite Gueuze is amber in colour, with refreshing sweet and sour notes and a delightful soft carbonation. NAME: Mort Subite Gueuze BREWERY: Alken-Maes-Heineken ORIGIN: Belgium STYLE: Belgian Sour ABV: 4.5% PRICE: £1.79
When beer and chocolate come together, it’s normally in the style of a stout. However, there are arguably no boundaries in brewing – as demonstrated when Hog’s Back Brewery met Montezuma chocolate makers to produce possibly the world’s first chocolate lager. The beverage appears straw in colour rather than the dark shades we’d normally associate with a chocolate beer. It has an aroma of vanilla and chocolate and these flavours are evident on the palate with a crisp and refreshing finish. This is one of the more unusual beers in our collection, but it’s one of the most popular too. NAME: Montezuma’s Chocolate Lager BREWERY: Hogs Back ORIGIN: Surrey, UK STYLE: Lager ABV: 4.5% PRICE: £1.99
KLmagazine December 2016
NAME: Schlenkerla Rauchbier BREWERY: Brauerei Heller ORIGIN: Germany STYLE: Smoked Beer ABV: 5.1% PRICE: £2.79
Few countries can boast as much influence on the world of beers as Germany, and while the country has too many great examples to count, Schlenkerla Rauchbier is a good example of a unique style brought to your doorstep. Rauchbier (or ‘smoked beer’) gets its intense characteristics from drying barley over an open flame so it absorbs the smoked flavour before being used to make the beer. This is a dark, bottom-fermented beer that pairs well with barbecued meats, cheeses or just as a nightcap. This is definitely a must-try to represent the style, and German beers in general.
NAME: : J W Lees Harvest Ale BREWERY: J W Lees ORIGIN: Manchester, UK STYLE: Barley Wine ABV: 11.5% PRICE: £3.19
The term ‘Barley Wine’ can be a confusing one, leading many people to think that (as the name would suggest) it’s a true wine. However, the wine part of the name refers solely to the strength of the style, which tends to be around the 8%-12% mark. The dark beer is made in open copper fermentation vessels with a high gravity, in keeping with the style. This is a 2013 vintage, and ages wonderfully in the bottle to develop and age flavours. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a hearty meal served in a tulip glass.
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Food & Drink NAME: Moon Gazer Winter Porter BREWERY: Norfolk Brewhouse ORIGIN: Norfolk, UK STYLE: Porter ABV: 4.5% PRICE: £2.89
Norfolk Brewhouse (based at Hindringham) is a hidden gem amongst UK breweries, and their Christmas special Moon Gazer Winter Porter is a great indication of just why that is. Their dedication to providing great beers is unrivalled nationally. Using the chalkfiltered water from the brewery’s own well, as well as five different types of malt (including the local favourite Maris Otter) these high quality ingredients ensure a top quality porter. Notes of citrus and smoke bring the beer a Christmas edge, and if you’re looking for a local beer of world class quality, look no further.
Traditionally brewed in the small All Saints Brewery, organically-grown barley and wheat undertakes two separate fermentations using different yeast strains before being aged. It’s then moved to the famous Tadcaster Brewery where the beer is then blended with pure strawberry fruit to create a unique beer with a full strawberry flavour. The strawberry adds to the colour of the beer, as well as offering a soft and subtle flavour resulting in a sophisticated beverage that makes for easy drinking. Best served in a flute glass and can be paired with lighter dishes such as salads or fish. NAME: Strawberry Fruit Beer BREWERY: Samuel Smiths ORIGIN: Yorkshire/UK STYLE: Fruit beer ABV: 5.1% PRICE: £2.49
NAME: Organic Chocolate Stout BREWERY: Samuel Smiths ORIGIN: Yorkshire, UK STYLE: Stout ABV: 5% PRICE: £2.89
Samuel Smiths is one of the best breweries the UK has to offer, and possibly their most highly rated beer is this Organic Chocolate Stout. Brewed with water from the brewery’s original well (sunk over 250 years ago) this is a taste of what the British brewing scene is all about. It contains good ingredients such as the roasted malt and organic cocoa, great passion for producing outstanding beers and shows a perfect ingenuity in marrying a luxury creamy stout with tempting chocolate. Ideally, this should be served in a pint glass at 11°C to satisfy those dark evenings.
NAME: Anchor Old Foghorn BREWERY: Anchor Brewing Company ORIGIN: USA STYLE: Barley Wine ABV: 8.8% PRICE: £4.19
This is the beer that took the barley wine style to the USA. The Anchor Brewing Company is based in San Francisco, and is one of the most accomplished breweries in the United States. Their barley wine was first brewed in 1975 and combines caramel malts with Cascade hops to ensure a hardhitting revival of an old style. It’s then aged in cellars until it reaches the ultimate balance of sweet malt, bitter hops and a fruity taste. The sheer depth this beer has makes it an ideal beer to sip after dinner. Serve with rich dishes in a tulip glass.
All the beers featured on these pages (together with several thousand more!) are available from Beers of Europe at Garage Lane, Setchey just outside King’s Lynn. For more details and information, call 01553 812000 or visit www.beersofeurope.co.uk
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KLmagazine December 2016
MERRY XMAS
TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
BRING NEW LIFE TO YOUR HOME WITH... WE SUPPLY A QUALITY RANGE OF
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The Fent Shop By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn
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Natural, painted & reclaimed pine furniture We can make to any size or specification and paint any colour to suit your style and budget... • Waxed • Hand / spray painted • Distressed • We can also re-paint your own home/garden furniture
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Christmas fabrics, ribb
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mings available!
41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP
T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk KLmagazine December 2016
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Thanks for a truly faultless service: for your care and , attention, for your hardworking , courteous and meticulous staff and for making our floors look every bit as good as the day they were first laid!
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With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, XtraClean can give your floors a new lease of life hey may look fantastic, but keeping slate, limestone and natural stone floors in beautiful condition takes a professional touch and an expert approach, especially if they’re a few years old. “In many ways, stone floors are their own worst enemy, and over time traditional cleaning methods and chemicals become largely ineffective,” says XtraClean’s Martin King. “Thankfully, our revolutionary floor cleaning system can bring even heavily-soiled stone floors, tiles and even the grout between them back to life. All in a single visit too!” Martin founded XtraClean in 1993, and the Swaffham-based company
T
offers a professional and friendly service that covers the whole county with a team of highly-skilled, highlytrained and highly-knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking their very best. Following an initial survey and the testing of a sample area, Martin and his team will get to work on your floors (whether indoors or outside) and they’ll even move the furniture for you! Breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling, XtraClean’s state-of-the-art turbocleaning capture system then thoroughly pressure cleans the floor, capturing waste in the process. The results are truly spectacular, and the system avoids the need for invasive procedures such as
grinding and resurfacing. “We use the most advanced technology currently available and the most professional products on the market,” says Martin. “The results really do speak for themselves, and our customers are left with floors that don’t just look amazing – they’re safer and healthier too.” Once restored to their former glory, XtraClean can even professionally seal your floors to protect the good looks for longer, and highly-honed stone floors can be re-polished and buffed if required. Contact Martin and his local-based team today for an extra-professional service and give your floors the as-new look they really deserve!
Xtraclean Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Arts
ABOVE: The sights and sounds of rural France provide the bucolic setting for the latest book by Norfolk-based writer Alex Marsh (opposite)
Alex Marsh and his latest comic tour de force... They say that a good idea is a good idea forever. Just as well for writer Alex Marsh, whose latest book has just been published – almost ten years since he first pitched the idea to a literary agent
I
t’s always a pleasure introducing Alex Marsh. Today he’s a writer based in north Norfolk, but at one time he hit the music scene bigtime, supporting the Sultans of Ping at the Pink Toothbrush club in Rayleigh, Essex. He was a teenage columnist for ZX Spectrum Adventurer magazine, and he’s produced recruitment material for MI5. He’s written advertising material for some of Britain’s best-selling board games, and achieved worldwide fame with his online blog Private Secret Diary. His first book Sex and Bowls and
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Rock and Roll (2010) was a highlyacclaimed celebration of English rural life, and his eclectic love of music has now provided the inspiration for his latest work, The Resurrection of Frédéric Debreu. It’s a warm-hearted, funny, boozy, heartbreaking novel and one that’s received glowing reviews from all corners, including awardwinning American actress, comedian and stalwart of HBO’s Last Week Tonight Jill Twiss. “I love Alex’s writing,” she says. “It makes me laugh, it makes me think, and it makes me wish I lived in England.”
And so, in Alex’s own words, here’s how it all came about... It’s May 2007. I’m glancing nervously around an ultra-hip restaurant in London’s Camden Town, having been invited to lunch by a literary agent. She’s asked if I have any ideas for projects, and over the halibut (probably served on a piece of wood, perhaps with some chips in a tiny watering can) I sketch out my story about a loveable old boy who, spurning the prospect of a respectable retirement, heads off to France to discover the joys of the local
KLmagazine December 2016
chanson and drink too much red wine. That was May 2007, and the book was eventually published this summer, which gives you some idea of the urgency of the publishing business. In the far future, as humankind makes its first forays into deep space, communication will be a major challenge. Even at light-speed, messages between a spacecraft and mission control might take six months to arrive; a chat with home will be a disorientating process. Fortunately, NASA will have recruited and retrained literary agents and publishing executives as astronauts, and they will be cheerfully used to this sort of thing. Now you can see why Norfolk is often talked about as an ideal environment for writers: it’s little to do with the inspirational big skies or the region’s strong literary traditions. It’s merely that the slower pace of life makes us feel quite at home. The question most asked of an author is “where do you get your ideas from?” Of course, we all take our inspiration from different things, but ‘our own environment’ must be high on most writers’ lists. Living in North Norfolk, I was perhaps destined to write about bucolic, unhurried village life. The Resurrection of Frédéric Debreu is set in a rural market town, the centre of an out-of-the-way region where the modern world doesn’t greatly intrude. KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Arts
You know that thing many felt about David Bowie? I felt it when Jake Thackray died. I won’t overplay this: it wasn’t the utter loss and grief of the uber-fan. More an unexpected wash of upset, startlingly so, given that I was fairly convinced I wasn’t the sort of person to be affected by the passing of a total stranger whose songs I happened to like. – Alex Marsh It’s a place of fine local produce and long countryside rambles; a setting in which Ted (the loveable old boy in question) can happily spend whole afternoons warming a seat in a bar, chewing over nothing in particular with the locals. Obviously things go horribly awry for Ted and his long-suffering wife Daisy (this is literature, after all) but that idea of ‘slow living’ never loses its pull. Inspiration number two for me was the soundtrack that was playing in my head. The laid-back café-style guitar and double-bass coupled with the warm and rich baritone of a Georges Brassens or Jacques Brel. The book’s fictional singing legend Frédéric Debreu developed from here, with additional input from my love of Yorkshire’s Jake Thackray, a name from the past enjoying a massive and well-deserved critical renaissance in the present. A glorious consequence of all this has been that people have actually started to write music to accompany the book! This has included some genuine chanson that arrived unexpectedly in my inbox one morning, a dispatch to Norfolk from an unknown musician in northern France. Google ‘La Veuve Vengeresse’ if you’re interested; the singer is uncannily how I envisaged the fictitious Monsieur Debreu. With a few 100
exceptions, authors rarely become rich, but it’s little things like this that help to make it all worthwhile. And third on my inspiration list is the people around me. Before my friends and neighbours start looking at themselves nervously, I should stress that it’s very rare for an author to transport personalities wholesale onto the pages of a book. But an area like North Norfolk, with many visitors and tourists, is perfect for people-watching, and it’s surprising how many ideas one can get from simply being around our fellow human beings. Having said that, there’s a bit of my own father in Ted. And another character stems from an uncle of mine who used to live the other side of Spalding in Lincolnshire, and who simply couldn’t help but drop famous names whenever he could, blatantly and gratuitously. "That reminds me of the time when I worked with Lionel Bart," he’s interject. "And Lionel said..." As I write, a film production company has requested a synopsis of my new book. I have dutifully sent one across to them, directly to their offices in (you guessed it) London’s Camden Town. In nine years' time, therefore, I hope to be able to write a follow-up article for KL magazine, detailing any small progress
that may have been made. Nothing happens very quickly in publishing, after all. The Resurrection of Frédéric Debreu (RedDoor Publishing, £7.99) by Alex Marsh is available now from all good bookshops – and may be coming to a screen near you in the near(ish) future. More information on Alex and his work can be found on his popular online blog at www.privatesecretdiary.com
KLmagazine December 2016
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Local Arts
ABOVE: The work of Norfolk-based artist Tim Simmons displayed above the streets of Los Angeles in a collaborative project with the urban renewal platform The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. This juxtaposition of the natural and man-made environment is a typical example of the way Tim’s work encourages us to think about the world around us
The science behind the art of Tim Simmons The world is full of stunning landscapes, but the natural forces that make them possible are just as awe-inspiring. KL magazine talks to a local artist who’s going (literally) behind the scenes...
W
hen it opened earlier this year directly opposite the town’s iconic Custom House, the GroundWork gallery in King’s Lynn promised to explore the relationship between art and the environment, and that’s a theme at the very centre of its second exhibition. Out of the Wood (which runs until December 17th) features the work of 10 artists – some from as far away as India – whose art celebrates woods, forests, trees and timber
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through a collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, jewellery, tableware and books. The exhibition is introduced by a piece of petrified oak that’s around 140 million years old, a testament to the durability of material and its deep and ancient history – against which our lives can appear fragile and transitory. Norfolk-based artist Tim Simmons is one of the artists featured in Out of the Wood, and while he may not hail from the Jurassic period, he does share those concerns, using art to explore the
wider world and our relationship with it. On the eve of the exhibition, he spoke to KL magazine about his work and his fascination with the earth that provides its inspiration. KL magazine: How did your artistic life start? Tim Simmons: For many years I had an international career in commercial photography, and although I managed to create my own style it was always a very ‘commercial’ environment. Even though I had some creative input into
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the work, clients still wanted (naturally) a specific result at the end of the day. I actually came to the art world quite late. Around the time my mother died I was in my late 40s, and decided I wanted to wind down my full-on professional life and get on with things that were more pertinent to me, things that I really cared about. So I started experimenting with the lighting of landscapes. KL magazine: What was the hardest part of making that transition from commercial to artistic work? Tim Simmons: Probably discovering that I was dyslexic! I’d decided to apply for an MA at the Norwich University of the Arts, and it was while I was writing my critical evaluations that it was brought to my attention. Happily I had some great encouragement and support, and I completed the course last year. KL magazine: Why landscapes? Tim Simmons: I’m drawn to landscapes because they are places we can escape to; places where we can get a different perspective on our lives. My intention with my work is to evoke an atmosphere which draws the viewer into the image. There, they can explore a deeper connection to the natural world, and the feelings this may evoke. KL magazine: So it’s not just about creating a nice scene? Tim Simmons: There’s a lot more to it than that. I spend a lot of time researching areas and places so I can be sure of some snow or some interesting rock formations, and then it’s a case of scheduling the best way to photograph them. A single image can take a day to produce, and sometimes you haven’t got what you wanted at the end of the day I take a lot of time looking at the minutiae, the detail. Some people do very big landscapes with huge skies, but for me it’s all about the details, the elements that encourage people to look deeper, to engage with the landscape.
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PICTURES: TIM SIMMONS
KL magazine: How did all the science get into your work? Tim Simmons: I was trying to think of different ways I could get people to think about the landscape and not just admire the photographs. Today, I think we have a little collective amnesia about the land. In ancient times we knew the land. We hunted and gathered and we lived in the land. Now we’re very isolated from it and don’t often get the chance – or care to – think much about it. Yet it’s
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PICTURES: TIM SIMMONS
Local Arts
ABOVE: A scene from Tim Simmons’ film project 42.97° which takes its name from the latitude at which the speed of the earth’s rotation is equal to the speed of sound (760mph). The film explores what happens to our experience of sound at this location
hugely important to our lives. I thought I’d try experimenting with things I was interested in and that the process might engage people. Possibly! KL magazine: How do you put all that into a work of art? Tim Simmons: If you take my project 42.97o as an example, it started when I was talking to a scientist in America about the rotation of the earth. He pointed out that at the equator the earth is rotating faster than the speed of sound, which had never occurred to me. It means that at some point between the equator and the pole we’re rotating at 760mph, which is the speed of sound. That fascinated me. I calculated the relevant latitude – 42.97o – and wondered what would happen if sound went against the direction of the earth’s travel. Would there be no sound at all? If sound went with the direction of travel, would it be speeded-up and high-pitched? I drove to the Pyrennes and made a film (which can still be seen on my website) about someone crossing this line. It was a way of thinking about the concept a little deeper and a little differently. KL magazine: Does that mean your work carries an environmental message? Tim Simmons: I don’t want to preach and as an artist I can’t force my opinions on people, but I do think there are many things in a consumer-driven
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society that simply aren’t necessary. There are things that are a lot more meaningful and a lot more important. I think a lot of the world’s current practices aren’t sustainable, but all I can do is produce work that’s about me and the things I’m interested in. If someone sees my work and is encouraged to explore the ideas further, that’s wonderful – but my projects aren’t sermons. I’m not saying ‘save the world’ – I’m saying ‘think about the world.’ KL magazine: What are you working on at the moment? Tim Simmons: I’d really like to have a solo show at some point in the future, possibly centering around rotation (excuse the pun!) and I have a number of projects lined up for that. I’d like to have a multimedia show with a combination of photographs, projections, and sound. One of the projects is Six Months, which is concerned with the stars we can’t see during the daytime because of sunlight hitting the atmosphere. It will involve two photographs taken at exactly the same place exactly six months apart – one at midnight and one at midday. It’s a way of getting us to think about the atmosphere, which is hugely important to the earth. KL magazine: Do you find any other artists’ work interesting? Tim Simmons: Listing names is very difficult, but there are individual pieces of work that really move me,
particularly Sun Tunnels by the late Nancy Holt. In the mid 1970s, she bought a piece of land in Utah and constructed an X-shape of four massive concrete tunnels that each reacts to the sun differently, as they’re precisely aligned to the sunrise, sunset, and the summer and winter solstices. That’s a phenomenal piece of work to me, and it really brings us down to earth – pointing out our relative insignificance in the grander scheme of things. Maybe my own work does that in some small way!
A selection of Tim’s work is currently showing in the OUT OF THE WOOD exhibition at the GroundWork gallery in King’s Lynn (opposite the Custom House) which runs until 17th December. For more details, see www.groundworkgallery.com For more information and a closer look at Tim’s various projects, see www.timsimmons.co.uk
KLmagazine December 2016
The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
I
often compare these monthly ramblings of mine to the dropping of a pebble into a pond. Not in the sense they immediately sink without a trace, but because they sometimes send ripples out in the most surprising of directions. A couple of months ago, you’ll hopefully remember that I managed to unearth some fascinating details about the early life of Frederick Buckley, who’d come to our attention as the mysterious one-time owner of the allegedly-haunted Exorcist’s House in King’s Lynn. He was, it turned out, an Americanbased screenwriter and actor in the early days of cinema and a voluminous and very popular contributor to the world of pulp fiction. Reading the piece while she was waiting for her dentist, a lady in King’s Lynn thought that one of her oldest friends might be very interested in it – with good reason, as her friend (who now lives in Birmingham) was none other than Buckley’s youngest daughter. I’ve since been in touch with her and she’s helped me fill in some of the ‘lost years’ in her father’s fascinating life between his American adventures and his last days in King’s Lynn. That doesn’t mean the mysteries surrounding Frederick Buckley have lessened any, however. Following the suicide of his first wife in 1931 (“in a manner more melodramatic than any play in which she appeared” reported the Milwaukee Journal) it seems Buckley returned to England to care for his parents, but in 1940 went back to America and joined (as you do) the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces as a 106
war correspondent. His daughter still has photographs of her father in the uniforms of both the US army and US navy (together with a host of other ID cards) which she can’t help feeling lends some credence to her father’s regular claims of having been a spy – and more on this later. Back in England after the war, Buckley soon met a woman who’d also spent the war years in the USA. The couple duly honeymooned in Paris before marrying (yes, in that order) in New York City in 1950. The couple’s daughter arrived a year later, but if there’s one thing Buckley had never done it was stand still. By the end of the 1950s, his work for the BBC was drying up, the marriage failed, and he left for King’s Lynn – finding a new home in the Exorcist’s House. His daughter can remember visiting him there with her mother (although they actually stayed in a hotel) and recalls it resembling an old historic house, full of bare wood and bits of ironwork. Shortly after this, Buckley began a relationship with an old friend from America and they spent some time in Spain, living in a tiny and little-known fishing village surrounded by orange groves. It was called Torremolinos. Now, remember Buckley’s hints of being a spy? Well, while sorting through her late mother’s possessions, his daughter found a tiny notebook that contained notes from her father’s time in Spain, and together with the address of a cafe in Tangier (Morocco) was the name of an embassy official with links to the famous Burgess/MacLean/Philby spy ring. The story of Frederick Buckley is a story that seems to have taken on a life of its own, and the man who now lives
in the historic house Buckley owned in America has been researching his life for a couple of years now. That will be a book worth reading. One of Buckley’s few film appearances was in the little-known silent movie called The Undercurrent (1919), which was billed as “a powerful drama with a theme as engrossing as the mystery of life itself” – and that’s a fair description of his own life. As for those stories of Buckley being a wizard and obsessed with black magic, his daughter believes it may have simply been a little journalistic myth-making on her father’s part. Given his incredibly colourful life with its tantalising hints of an even bigger story (he once met Rudolph Valentino and ‘appeared’ in The Archers, playing one of the firemen who put Grace Archer out in 1955) I don’t think anything about the man would surprise me now.
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