KL Magazine July 2017

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 82 JULY 2017 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE King’s Lynn by Ian Ward

meet the team MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward PROMOTION Nicola Back ADVERTISING Jessica Smith CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Alison Gifford Stephanie Lewis Richard Parr Sylvia Steele Sally Turff Wendy Warner

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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T

hanks to the Norwich University of the Arts, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the city’s standing as England’s first UNESCO City of Literature and its nine theatres, Norfolk’s capital has a reasonable claim to be the cultural centre of the whole county. But this month most of its residents will be casting a rather envious eye in our direction as King’s Lynn puts in a stong claim to the title. By the time you’re reading this, Festival Too will already be taking place, and one of Europe’s largest nonticketed and free festivals promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

It’s difficult to pick a single highlight from the three weekends of live music, fun and entertainment, but we’re particularly looking forward to suddenly be seeing (get it?!) the 2006 Brit Award winner KT Tunstall in the Tuesday Market Place on Saturday 8th July.

One of the most impressive sights of Festival Too is one that few people fully see – or appreciate. Try to take a look at the Tuesday Market Place on the morning of Sunday July 16th and you’ll find it very hard to believe it had played host to around 15,000 people only a few hours earlier. The clean-up operation by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is a headline act in itself.

Actually, if you are up and about that Sunday morning you’ll find another reason to celebrate – for that’s the start of the 67th King’s Lynn Festival. From then until July 29th some of the town’s most beautiful buildings will host over 30 separate events featuring a glittering array of genuinely world-class talent from the worlds of music, song and film.

At a time when the strength and cohesiveness of our communities is being increasingly called into question, July is a fantastic opportunity for King’s Lynn to show the rest of the country what can happen when people work together – donating their time and resources for free, selflessly enriching the lives of others, and helping improve the cultural and social life of their home town. Have a great, enjoyable and festival-filled month – and please try to find some time to read the magazine!

KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine July 2017

Contents

JULY 2017

70

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100

44 28 KLmagazine July 2017

6-12 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events

52-54 ENGLISH IRIS COMPANY Over 50 years of passion for one flower

8-10 FESTIVAL TOO The return of the region’s favourite free event

57 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas

14 ALIVE CORN EXCHANGE Fabulous shows and fun-filled activites

60-69 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques

16-18 LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT King’s Lynn returns to the 1940s

70-72 A BEAUTIFUL INSPIRATION The incredible story of Jordan Bone

20 THE BIG INTERVIEW With RAF Marcham’s Richard Davies

74-87 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations

22-24 HELP OUR PLAYGROUND One girl’s dream and a village project

80 RESTUARANT REVIEW Time to rediscover the Duke’s Head Hotel

28-30 PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE The work of King’s Lynn Preservation Society

82-84 BLACK PUDDING, GOLD STAR Enjoy a taste of the Fruit Pig Company

36-38 CARING FOR PEOPLE AND PROPERTY A profile of local company T.M. Browne Ltd

90-92 ST MARGARET OF ANTIOCH The life of the mother of King’s Lynn

41 GROWING YOUR BUSINESS Help and advice from Stephenson Smart

94-96 KING’S LYNN FESTIVAL A world-class line-up of classical talents

44-46 JULY IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner

100-102 A LOOK INSIDE LUCY’S BOOK Alison Gifford on a remarkable local treasure

50 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON A bit too close to call...

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For the quintessentially quizzical Take time to reflect within the unique vintage atmosphere of the Folly Tearoom and magical garden to savour ‘Tealightful’ treats served from breakfast through to early evening bites; all homemade with a large measure of love and magic; ‘Curiosi-teas’ in vintage china or a glass of something special. What to choose? Now that’s the most mouthwatering puzzle to solve.

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enjoy the vintage splendour

KLmagazine July 2017

July Saturday 8th

SEA FUN DAY St Nicholas Chapel & True’s Yard Museum, King’s Lynn (11am-5pm) Shiver me timbers! You’re in for a treat as True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum and St Nicholas Chapel team up for a day of fun, meeting some giant pirates, enjoying children’s activities, pirate games, face painting, music, living history – and the opportunity to find out more about smugglers in King’s Lynn with free guided history walks. Food, stalls and lots more! There’ll also be a competition, so if you fancy yourself a Great British Baker or have an eye for photography why not get involved and you could win a prize! You won’t need to save up your pieces of eight either! Simply come along and celebrate the heritage of the North End (above). For further details contact True’s Yard on 01553 770479 or by email at either vetheridge@thecct.org.uk or info@truesyard.co.uk.

50 YEARS AGO On July 1st 1967, BBC2 became the very first TV channel in Europe to start broadcasting regularly in colour, starting with that year’s Wimbledon tennis championship

Sunday 23rd

TITCHWELL MANOR SUMMER FETE Titchwell Manor Hotel, Titchwell, PE31 8BB (12pm-5pm) The Titchwell Manor Summer Fete and food festival returns by popular demand! This unique family event, held in the grounds of the award-winning boutique hotel and restaurant on the stunning north Norfolk coast, promises something for everyone – especially food-lovers! Face-painting, a bouncy castle, and a sandcastle competition will keep the children happy, and they’ll be fed well from the Kids’ Buffet with its healthy pick-and-mix temptations.

Enjoy lively cookery demonstrations – and buy a plate of the food that’s been cooked before your eyes too – or take on the challenge of a hotdog-eating contest. Eric will host demonstrations from chefs such as Richard Golding from Market Bistro, King’s Lynn, Fran Hartshorne from the White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, and Dale Smith, head chef at the Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham, among others. The Fete is free to enter, but visitors are asked to give a donation to this year’s chosen charity, Norfolk Hospice Tapping House.

22nd July to Saturday 5th August

Wells next the Sea, by Maxine Byron.

(Winner of 2016 Visitors Choice)

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th SUSANNA BY GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL St Mary’s Church, South Creake, Norfolk NR21 9LX (7:15pm) The Yorke Trust resumes its annual summer opera course this month with an exciting production of Handel’s rarely-performed Susanna, which is based on a story in the 13th chapter of the Book of Daniel and was written around the same time as his popular oratorio The Messiah. Jennifer Hamilton’s comes to South Creake with a chorus of singers drawn from Norfolk choirs and choral societies and most of her original Dublin cast. There are still opportunities for singers to join the production – and men are particularly wanted. Jennifer is running stagecraft classes for those interested, and helpers behind the scenes are also welcome. Tickets are £10 and are available from info@yorketrust.org or call 01328 823502.

KLmagazine July 2017

WEST NORFOLK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION: SUMMER FESTIVAL EXHIBITION St. Nicholas Chapel, Kings Lynn PE30 1NH (Open daily 10:30am-4pm) The members of the WNAA look forward to welcoming visitors back to St. Nicholas Chapel for their 16th Summer Festival Exhibition. This beautiful setting inspires over 100 works of art, from paintings to sculptures, from textiles to mosaics and from photography to surprise installations! Make this a ”must see” occasion during the festival, and vote for your favourite. If you like what you see, and you are creative, you can always join them! Admission is free and there is plenty of parking nearby.

For further information contact chairman John Walker on 01485 520590 or visit the website www.westnorfolkartists.org.

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KLmagazine July 2017

Coming soon...

July 20th, 22nd and 29th THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI St George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn Thursday 20th July (7:30pm) Silent films were always meant to be screened with a live musical accompaniment, and this is a rare opportunity to see the first horror film ever made with a spellbinding contemporary score by Minima.

Minima’s score was a huge success for a week at the Edinburgh Fringe and was also performed at Glastonbury in 2015. Tickets for this King’s Lynn Festival event are £15 (adults) and £7.50 (under 18s).

BALLETBOYZ – YOUNG MEN St George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn Saturday 22nd July (12noon) Michael Nunn’s extraordinary feature-length dance film has no dialogue, but that doesn’t mean it’s shallow – it actually manages to explore the experiences of a group of young men brought together by the indiscriminate brutality of war as they struggle to maintain their humanity in an unending cycle of combat and death.

Based on the hugely successful stage production of the same name that premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2015, it’s brilliantly realised by Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt – who set up their own company in 2001 and have already won an International Emmy, a Rose d’Or and Golden Prague. Part of the King’s Lynn Festival, the film is being screened in partnership with the King’s Lynn Community Cinema Club.

DEAN SPANLEY St George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn Saturday 29th July (12noon) You’ll be forgiven for thinking Toa Fraser’s enchanting film looks familiar; locations include Holkham Hall, Peckover House, Norwich Cathedral and Elveden Hall in Suffolk. Five years before his death in 2013, the incomparable Peter O’Toole added yet another offbeat role to his long resume with this mystical comedy-drama – described by its producers as a surreal period comedic tale of canine reincarnation exploring the relationships between father and son and master and dog.

Tickets to the above two films are £5, although only £4 to members of the King’s Lynn Community Cinema Club. Tickets for all three films are available from the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. For more details on the King’s Lynn festival, please see the website at www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk and for information on the King’s Lynn Community Cinema Club, visit www.klccc.uk.

KLmagazine July 2017

Sunday 13th August

WATER FESTIVAL AND DRAGON BOAT RACE Hythe Bridge, Great Ouse Relief Channel, Downham Market (10am-5pm) It’s been going for 10 years, and it’s always a day packed with fun and excitement. Downham Market’s Water Festival is a brilliant family day out that attracts over 4,000 people and includes dragon boat races on the water and plenty of land-based entertainment and stalls on-land. At Hythe Bridge, Great Ouse Relief Channel, Downham Market. For more details and information on the event, please visit www.downhammarkettowncouncil.org.uk

Sunday August 27th

FOOTLOOSE ROCKS! Hanse House, South Quay, King’s Lynn PE30 5GN (4pm-6pm) Hail, hail, rock and roll! This is a fabulous workshop that invites you to learn to jive 1950s style. Beginners and those out of practice are all welcome – just make sure you don’t step on anyone’s blue suede shoes. The workshop takes place in the Blue Room at Hanse House, one of the oldest and heritage-rich buildings in King’s Lynn. This is the first workshop, after which it will be held on the last Sunday of every month. Entrance is £5, and for further information please contact Colin or Andee on 07739 237486.

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KT Tunstall Saturday 8th July

What’s On

ABOVE: This month, over 50,000 people will flock to the centre of King’s Lynn for three weekends of top class music, fun and entertainment

The centre of King’s Lynn gets ready to rock For three weekends in July, the centre of King’s Lynn will be treated to one of the largest non-ticketed free festivals in Europe.

Festival Chairman Alan Taylor talks about the event and its future

T

he most remarkable thing about this year’s Festival Too isn’t that it’s now been going for more than 30 years. It isn’t that the organising committee have managed to attract such headline acts as KT Tunstall and Busted to the Tuesday Market Place stage. It isn’t that for three weekends this month the heart of West Norfolk will be treated to some of the best street entertainment in the country – or that it will see the debut of a relaxing Sunday afternoon of jazz in King’s Staithe Square.

No, the most remarkable thing about Festival Too 2017 is that it’s still a free,

KLmagazine July 2017

non-ticketed event – meaning that around 50,000 people will be enjoying one of the largest free festivals in Europe.

For Festival Too Chairman Alan Taylor, the event marks the end of a year’s hard work for the members of the organising committee.

“I’m happy to say that once again Festival Too is going to be bigger and better than the year before,” he says.

“The best of our local bands will be smashing it live, BBC Introducing will be back to see us, and in addition to all the headline acts we’ve got some amazing chart-topping talent such as Space, The Real Thing and Musical Youth. I just

hope the sun remembers to shine on us!”

Festival Too is a genuine family event, with something appealing to everyone and all ages, but three weekends of free entertainment do come at a price. It’s always been a ‘free’ festival, but ‘free’ is a relative term – and the cost of organising and staging this year’s Festival Too has exceeded £85,000.

“Every single penny of that cost has to be raised by various events, sponsorship by local businesses, and donations from the public,” says Alan. “It’s important to stress that every single penny we raise goes directly back into the Festival – and that’s crucial for us to make the event

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What’s On

Busted Saturday 15th July PICTURES: Headlining the final evening of this year’s Festival Too, the Essex-based band Busted (right) have had four No.1 singles, won two Brit Awards and won Record of the Year in 2004. Attracting such big-name acts to King’s Lynn is only possible through donations, the support of local businesses and the organising committee’s fundraising efforts, such as its annual Festival Ball – which this year was held at The Red Barn in South Runcton on June 10th (inset)

better every year and attract bigger names to the stage.”

In addition to a golf day, fashion show and 1970s/80s disco over the last few months, the organising committee’s annual Festival Ball (held last month at The Red Barn at South Runcton) is a vital fundraising effort, helping raise several £1,000s for the event.

It puts the event’s famous bucket collection into perspective.

“Every year we ask people who attend Festival Too’s free concerts to put £1 into the buckets that are all over the town,” says Alan.

“That small donation is absolutely vital for the future of the event. Last year 14,000 people watched Gabrielle perform, but the bucket donations only came to £2,600.

If the remaining 80% of the audience had donated £1 we could afford to attract headline acts for every evening of the Festival.”

Local businesses can also help ensure the future of Festival Too; and not only through cash donations. Such a largescale event requires stewards and

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security, staging, lighting and technical costs, and all these services have to be paid for.

“We have a great deal of support from the Corn Exchange, the Dukes Head Hotel, Nandos and Weatherspoons, and we’re tremendously grateful for their assistance,” says Alan. “Festival Too genuinely benefits the town in a number of ways, and the help of more local businesses is essential to keep this working.”

Festival Too’s largest sponsors – and one of its most important supporters – is the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, without whom he admits the event almost certainly couldn’t take place.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the Borough Council’s continued support of Festival Too,” he says. “From the use of its public spaces to the phenomenal clean-up operation that starts virtually as soon as the last act leaves the stage, they always play a major role in the event’s success.”

Alan’s final message before all the fun and excitement starts is a timely one.

Festival Too has always been a very safe

and family-friendly event, and that will inevitably be on the minds of everyone attending this year’s festival in light of recent events around the country.

“Following last year’s festival we already had a plan in place with the authorities for introducing bag searches on all entry points on to the Tuesday Market Place and installing body metal detectors to increase the safety of the crowd,” he says. “The Festival Too committee sends out their deepest sympathies to the cities of Manchester and London and all those affected by recent tragic events. It’s important to remember how both cities responded – by coming together and showing there’s more that unites us than divides us.

Festival Too is a great way for us to show what a strong, vibrant and caring community we are.”

Full details of this year’s Festival Too, including acts, street entertainment and timings can be found on the website at www.festivaltoo.co.uk.

For local businesses interested in helping support the future of Festival Too by way of donations or services should contact Alan Taylor at alan@yourlocalpaper.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2017

Sponsored by

JULY What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated

The Floyd Effect

Sat 1st

Art Exhibition

Elizabeth Fitzgerald Carter Works of art inspired by rivers and the sea

15th-20th July 11am-6pm Preview: 14th July 6:30 - 8:30pm The Drivers Club, Tottenhill Retail Park (A10 Tottenhill) PE33 0SR

Make the 300 step journey up the first windmill in the world open for the public to climb, take a look at world record breaking electric transport, and enjoy some amazing plant-based food at the café.

Plus, we’ve got some fantastic activities for children throughout the school holidays, as well as our open mic nights on the first Friday of every month.

Back by popular demand. Probably the most entertaining groups to come out of the 60’s and 70’s!

Wed 5th

Puccini’s tragic love story between a young poet and a seamstress, broadcast live to cinemas from ancient Greek theatre in Taormina, Sicily.

La Boheme: Live from Taormina

Fri 7th Sun 9th

Wed 12th

Sat 15th Sun 16th

Drama Festival of One Act Plays HDFA

The annual Drama Festival of One Act Plays brought to you by the Hunstanton District Festival of Arts

The Mary Duff Concert

As time goes by Mary Duff’s career seems to go from strength to strength, as the salutation and success continue to roll in for the genuinely charismatic and warm Irish singer.

If It’s Laughter You’re After • 2:30pm

Join Olly Day, master of magic and mirth and Nigel ‘boy’ Syer, Norfolk’s funniest accordionist, for a great afternoon's entertainment.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

Using huge projection photos and original film footage, this 50th Anniversary Celebration also features a full live band performing all their hits!

Peter Pan: Encore Broadcast from the National Theatre • 1pm

A recorded performance of JM Barrie’s much-loved tale.

Angels In America: Millennium Approaches Part 1

Thurs Live Broadcast from the National Theatre • 7pm America in the mid-1980s. In the midst of the AIDS crisis and conservative 20th Reagan administration. 15+

Kids’ films from 2pm daily during school holidays

greenbritaincentre.co.uk | 01760 726 100 Turbine Way, Swaffham, Norfolk, PE37 7HT GreenBritainCentre @greenbritcentre

KLmagazine July 2017

The Barron Knights

Sun 2nd

Thurs 13th & 20th

Experience wind power from the top of a modern windmill

Having toured since 2007, The Floyd Effect has become renowned for the remarkable accuracy with which it performs the iconic music of Pink Floyd.

Sat 22nd Sun 23rd

Giovanni Pernice: Il Ballo e Vita (Dance Is Life)

An elegant and beautiful tale starring Giovanni Pernice & Luba Mushtuk.

VIP tickets available which includes time with Giovanni after the show, a signed print & photo opportunities!

Magic – A Kind Of Queen

Widely regarded as the finest tribute to Queen in a show featuring all their greatest hits including 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'A Kind of Magic', 'Under Pressure', 'We Are The Champions' and many more.

Thurs Angels In America: Perestroika Part 2 Broadcast from the National Theatre • 7pm 27th Live Part 2 of the award-wining play. 15+

For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:

www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

or call the Box Office: 01485

532252

The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH 11

What’s On

Serving up a fun-filled summer!

There’s something to enjoy for all the family with Alive Leisure ALIVE GAMES Sunday 30th July | 11am-3pm Join us on the Tuesday Market Place for a fun filled day of FREE sporting activities for all the family! Reach dizzy heights with our climbing wall, and bring out the Andy Murray in you with our mini tennis. Football season may be over, but you’ll ll be Alive and Kicking, with our fantastic football sessions with King’s Lynn Community Football. Meet Bumble, listen to music and much more – and be a winner by taking part in four or more activities to receive an Alive Games Medal! Everything is completely free and suitable for 5yrs and above.

Team Live delivers four of the most popular classes from their fitness timetable; Body Pump, Step, Body Attack and Body Combat. Get your tickets for A.L Team Live at your local Alive Leisure Centre or call 01553 818001.

PAY & PLAY TENNIS Seven days a week | See below for times With Alive Leisure’s Pay and Play scheme, you can enjoy your own little bit of Wimbledon whenever you fancy it. We provide fun and friendly coaching, so whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your skills, it’s just the thing for you! Courts are available to book online, or call us on 01553 818001. The courts are open 8am 10pm Monday-Friday, 8am-9pm Saturday and Sunday, and 8am-5pm on Bank Holidays at a cost of £6.50 an hour.

SUMMER AT THE CORN EXCHANGE! A.L. TEAM LIVE Sunday 30th July Be a part of something special with A.L Team Live, a unique fitness event at Alive Corn Exchange that will take your class experience to a new level. A.L

There’s so much going on!

Applications are open for our pantomime dance auditions. We’re looking for talented dancers aged 8-18 to this year’s cast for Jack and the Beanstalk. Full details on how to apply can be found on our website here: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/… /child…/jack-the-beanstalk/ Book now

to buy your tickets at the Early Bird price of £18 – but be quick, as the special price ends on 10th July.

RAPUNZEL: THE MUSICAL Thurday 14th to Sunday 17th September Based on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale and featuring brand new toetapping songs, this musical is ideal for the whole family. A Gordon Craig Theatre Production with music and lyrics by Dennis, Lomax and Williams this is a wonderful opportunity to let your hair down (literally!) with a host of lively characters from Prince Freddie to Viktor the crow. Tickets start at £15.25 and can be booked online at www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/ whats-on/childrens/rapunzel-themusical

For a full list of what’s on at Alive Corn Exchange, visit our website at www.kingslynn cornexchange.co.uk/ whats-on

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

KLmagazine July 2017

@klcornexchange

Alive Corn Exchange

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What’s On

ABOVE: Classic cars, vintage clothing, ration books and tea dances – it’s all in a day’s life in 1940s King’s Lynn on July 23rd

Life on the Home Front in 1940s King’s Lynn...

To coin a phrase, it was the worst of times and it was the best of times. Stephanie Lewis previews a popular free event that transports King’s Lynn back to the days of World War Two

O

n Sunday 23rd July, one of King’s Lynn’s most popular events returns to take the town back to how life was being lived in the 1940s.

Forties Lynn: Life on the Homefront is a free family event that explores what life was like in wartime for those who stayed at home. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk invites you to come along and enjoy a day packed with forties-based fun and educational activities.

“If you want to know how King’s Lynn kept calm and carried on during WWII, do

KLmagazine July 2017

come and join us for this free family day out,” says Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, Borough Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage and Health.” Forties Lynn is becoming one of the highlights of our summer programme of events, and it really has something for everyone.”

That means tea dances, fish and chips and ice creams to show how Lynn’s residents kept their spirits up during those worrying days, while tours of the underground air raid shelters in the Tuesday Market Place remind us of the

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What’s On

danger everyone faced, even at home.

“We’d love it if visitors came to the event dressed in classic 40s style,” says Elizabeth.” Last year we saw some fantastic outfits, and it really does add to the atmosphere.”

Activities will take place from 10am until 4pm on the Tuesday Market Place, in Lynn Museum and in King’s Lynn Town Hall. The town’s magnificent open Tuesday Market Place will be the setting for many of the activities planned for the day.

A display of vintage vehicles will transport you back to the 1940s, and will include the ever-popular Corporal Jones’ butcher’s van from Dad’s Army.

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Petrol rationing was introduced just three weeks after the outbreak of war, so the humble bicycle came into its own – and a display of vintage bicycles will let you compare how these 1940s models measure up to today’s technology!

The Royal Norfolk Regiment’s re-enactment group will set up camp, recreating the sights and sounds of life under canvas for serving soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Eddie Seales Big Band will be performing live in the market place; this exciting 18-piece orchestra of talented musicians will play wellloved songs from the 1940s. There’ll also be performances by Timescape, whose recordings of songs, sirens and stirring speeches really create a wartime atmosphere.

Refreshments haven’t been forgotten, either, so if you’re feeling peckish enjoy a (non-rationed!) treat of fish and chips or a cold beverage from the Little Bubbles Co mobile bar.

Meanwhile, underneath the Tuesday Market Place, one of Lynn’s least-seen attractions is open for the day. Take a tour around the air raid shelters, and you’ll be able to imagine what it was like to be one of up to 300 of Lynn’s residents who took shelter as bombs dropped from the skies. The tours will be given by local charity Bridge for Heroes, and while admission is free, a donation would be much appreciated.

Happily, King’s Lynn escaped the terrible bombardment that some of Britain’s towns and cities suffered, but it was hit by about 100 bombs, and one of the worst incidents was a direct hit on the Eagle Hotel in Norfolk Street in June 1942.

To learn more about the wartime bombing of Lynn, you can check out the Lynn Bomb Map, which is part of the King’s Lynn Borough Archives. This amazing 2m-high map from the 40s shows the location of every bomb that fell on Lynn; the map is stored in the recently-renovated archives housed in King’s Lynn Town Hall, and can be viewed by appointment – which can be done by sending an e-mail to norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk King’s Lynn Town Hall will be hosting a range of activities, including a tea dance (with tea and cakes, of course) in the beautiful Stone Hall. If you don’t know how to foxtrot, don’t worry; dance lessons will prepare you for the main event.

Wartime spirit meant that Lynn’s residents still wanted to look their best, so Flamingo Amy will be on hand to provide 40s-themed makeovers. And whether you have a makeover or come dressed in your own 40s finery, don’t

forget to visit the photo booth for a memento of the day.

There will also be fun children’s activities in the garden and education room; youngsters can pick up a ration card which can be redeemed for a ration of sweets at Lynn Museum.

They’ll no doubt be surprised to learn just how scarce sweets were for children in the 1940s!

Admission to the museum will be free during Forties Lynn, so don’t miss their fascinating displays about life on the home front. The museum is also the place to meet costumed characters – enactors dressed in British and American army uniforms, and people in 1940s civilian styles will be strolling about the town centre. Anyone who feels their morale flagging should look out for Prime Minister Winston Churchill – he’s sure to supply some inspiring words!.

To find out more about the event, visit west.norfolk.gov.uk/fortieslynn – keep calm and don’t miss it!

KLmagazine July 2017

Say hello to the new SEAT Ibiza The all-new Ibiza launches this month at Du Morgan in King’s Lynn ake a date in your diary this month for July 22nd-23rd, as that’s the weekend Du Morgan unveils SEAT’s stunning all-new Ibiza in King’s Lynn. And there’s plenty to get excited about. The car has already won the RedDot Design Award, and is full of eye-catching features; from full LED headlights, keyless entry and integrated navigation systems to the rear view camera and 8� media centre.

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It’s also full of great ideas from SEAT – including adaptive cruise control, front assist monitoring system, and tiredness recognition technology.

And to ensure your motoring is as safe as it is enjoyable, the all-new Ibiza has been given a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. “It’s a fabulous vehicle, and I’m really looking forward to our launch weekend,� says Martin, who went to Spain last month to see the new car in its home country. “The mix of

SEAT’s great design and engineering with Du Morgan’s high standards of customer care make for the perfect combination.�

Although the starting price of only ÂŁ13,130 is almost as attractive as the Ibiza itself, Du Morgan’s launch weekend will be packed with special oers – including ÂŁ1,500 o and a further ÂŁ500 o if you take a test drive ďŹ rst! Come and say hello (or hola) to the all-new SEAT Ibiza at Du Morgan and take your motoring to the next level.

All-new Ibiza launching in July 2017.

Contact us now for more information and to book a test drive.

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KLmagazine July 2017

19

Marham is one of the largest and busiest stations in the RAF, operating four squadrons of Tornado GR4s in the attack and reconnaissance roles. RAF Marcham is also home to a number of other key units such as the Tornado Depth & Forward Support Wing, No.3 (RAF) Force Protection Wing, the Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing, the Tornado Maintenance School, the Tactical Armament Squadron, the Tornado Engineering Development & Investigation Teams and 2620 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment. And in command of the whole station is Richard Davies...

KL MAGAZINE: Could you tell us a little about your background?

GP CAPT RICHARD DAVIES: I was born in Scotland with a Welsh ancestry – which obviously makes me a natural Welsh Rugby supporter! – but I was brought up and educated in the northeast of England in the village of Ponteland. When I was 13 I decided that flying fast jets at low level was all I ever wanted to do, and I joined the RAF five years later when I turned 18. I’ve now served for 27 years, flying the Tornado all across the world both on exercise and operations. I’m married to Kate and have two sons, Oliver and Archie.

KL: What does your role of Station Commander entail on a day-to-day basis?

RD: I can probably best summarise my role as being a mix of mayor, judge, teacher, parent, cheerleader and CEO for an organization comprising almost 10,000 people – which is akin to a small Norfolk town! It is my primary responsibility (and role of RAF Marham) to deliver air power over the skies of Iraq and Syria.

Gp Capt Richard Davies Station Commander, RAF Marham 20

KL: What are the Station’s plans for the next five years?

RD: It’s an exciting time for us. RAF Marham will be undertaking its largest transformation since the early 1980s, as we prepare for the arrival of the RAF’s latest combat capability, the Lightning in 2018 – and the following year we’ll be drawing to a close 37 years of Tornado operations from the Station.

KL: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

KLmagazine July 2017

PICTURES: RAF MARHAM / © CROWN COPYRIGHT 2017

The Big Interview

RD: Waking up every morning and not knowing what to expect – and then being amazed by the excellence that’s delivered without exception by the extraordinary people I work with and for.

KL: What do you consider to have been your greatest achievement?

RD: Clearly I’d be in a lot of trouble if I didn’t say it was marrying Kate! Other than that, it may sound obvious, but my I think my greatest achievement has been given the honour of commanding RAF Marham.

KL: What have you learned from your work?

RD: That people are our most important resource. And you need to continually invest in them if you want to be the best at what you do.

KL: What do you like best about Norfolk?

RD: The friends we’ve made and the incredibly supportive and friendly people that make up this county. I also love the amazing north Norfolk coast and all the great pubs and restaurants spread across the county.

KL: In your free time,

KLmagazine July 2017

how do you like to relax?

RD: What free time?! Seriously though, I enjoy walking with my golden retriever, I play golf (albeit badly) and I enjoy anything sporting with my two sons.

Kate is also an amazing source of relaxation for me – she keeps me grounded and has always been my best friend.

KL: Who’s your biggest inspiration?

RD: I’ve met many inspirational people over the years, but there is one person who has inspired my career, although sadly we never met. That was my grandfather, who passed away long before I was born. Incredibly, we share the same birthday, and he married my grandmother the same day I married Kate – although we didn’t realize this until the day of our wedding when my father let me know! Even more remarkably I flew operationally on the same squadron (Number 31 Squadron) he did during the Second World War! And many people say we look identical in uniform!

RD: The Quiet Game by Greg Lies, a really enjoyable read that was utterly consuming. For boys-own stuff, I really enjoyed reading First Light by Geoffrey Wellum on our last holiday. The main problem I have is not sitting still enough to read!

KL: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people...

RD: I’m scared of heights – put me on top of a tall building and wherever I’ll be standing it will be nowhere near the edge.

You can keep up to date with the latest news and developments at RAF Marham by visiting the station’s website at www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham

KL: What’s the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

RD: Believe in yourself.

KL: What was the last book you read?

21

Local Life

ABOVE: The official opening of the new playground on the corner of Sea Lane in Old Hunstanton last month, three years after 16-year-old Jade Sandy– who was only 13 at the time – first came up with the idea of brightening up the old play equipment.

Jade puts a smile on the face of Old ‘Fun’stanton When 13-year-old Jade Sandy decided her local playground needed some tender loving care, she little imagined her idea would result in an inspiring three-year community-led project

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hree years ago, 13-year-old Jade Sandy had a bright idea; to breathe new life into a popular playground on the corner of Sea Lane in her home village of Old Hunstanton. But whereas many teenagers would have replaced the thought with another bright idea by the time they got home, Jade made it her mission – and after a two-year campaign that raised £42,000 she saw her dream officially opened by Vice Lord Lieutenant Lady Romney on May 29th.

Playgrounds have long been a hub of community life and a focal point for

KLmagazine July 2017

children and parents of all ages. Yet in many villages along the North Norfolk coast investment in new and interesting equipment has been hampered in recent years. Combining Jade’s inspiration with a range of fundraising events, donations from local businesses, friends of the project and villagers, the Parish Council committee worked hard to raise awareness and cash have totally reinvigorated the park.

“Three years ago I approached the local parish council to ask whether it might be possible to update the play area,” says Jade. “It had a double swing, baby slide and a rusty seesaw, but these

badly needed replacing with new and interesting, fun equipment.”

The parish council supported Jade’s idea in principle, but although the borough council said that no funding was available they were happy for the project to proceed and it swiftly became a community-led initiative.

A group of Old Hunstanton residents formed a committee and started a Help Our Playground (HOP) appeal, organising fundraising concerts, 100 Club, cake sales and more. They also worked with two local schools to discover what pieces of play equipment the village’s children most wanted.

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Local Life

PICTURES: Children enjoying the new playground at its official opening by Vice Lord Lieutenant Lady Romney (left) last month – the project was started by 13-year-old Jade Sandy (below right) and saw a large section of the community work together on a successful two-year fundraising campaign.

The support Jade’s idea received was amazing – from David Reeve giving a talk on amusing police stories to Glebe House School organising a bucket collection at a car boot sale. Even the Hunstanton Concert Band donated proceeds from their Christmas Concert.

Fittingly, the band performed at the official opening ceremony last month where Lady Romney was joined by the special guest appearance of Peppa Pig – scores of local children and other community members flocked to the playground’s first party.

“Thanks to Jade’s initial idea, this has been a fantastic venture that’s brought so many groups in the community together,” the organising committee said. “It’s been supported by local business and we’ve worked with various charities. It’s wonderful to see it all come together and it’s a great example of how a community can pull together and make things happen.”

As for Jade herself, the 16-year old was happy to let the younger children run, jump, climb and swing their was around the new playground, and said she was delighted with how the project had turned out.

“I think it will be great for children who live in the village and nearby, plus the many holidaymakers who enjoy the local coastline every year,” she says.

“They now have somewhere safe, inspiring and enjoyable to play.”

This lovely corner of Old Hunstaton is now full of smiles and laughter – thanks to the bright idea of one young girl and a generous helping of true community spirit.

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KLmagazine July 2017

KLmagazine July 2017

25

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Grandparents are very special But what are their legal rights? hen it comes to legal rights in relation to children, the allimportant words are ‘parental responsibility’ – or PR as it’s more simply referred to. In most cases this means only people with PR can make an application in relation to a child – and that applies to the birth parents as named on the birth certificate, step-parents if applied for after marriage, or guardians.

You’ll notice that an important group who could be considered to have ‘parental responsibility’ (the clue is in their name) are missing from that list – grandparents. Sadly, grandparents do not have any automatic rights with regards to their grandchildren.

However, family courts often recognise the vital role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives – and whilst their rights are limited, they can apply to the

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court for permission (leave) to apply for a Child Arrangement Order. The court will then take the following matters into consideration; l The applicant’s connection with the child(ren) in question l The nature of the application itself l Whether the application could be harmful to the child(ren)’s wellbeing in any way. This may include whether the court feels a grandparent’s continued contact with the child(ren) might have a negative impact on the rest of the family

grandparents and parents prior to court proceedings, although in a limited number of situations mediation can be made exempt.

If mediation fails, grandparents can then apply for permission (leave) of the court to consider a Child Arrangement Order, and this permission is normally given at the first hearing. At this hearing, the court will set down directions at the same time. Any safeguarding concerns will also be raised by a CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services) child welfare officer at the initial hearing.

The court will have already provided notice of the application to all those with parental responsibility. There may be objections to the application, so it’s important that grandparents obtain good quality legal advice – and obtain it early.

If the grandparents’ son or daughter (the person with parental responsibility for the child) is estranged from the family, the court will expect that parent to reunite with the child and make the application on behalf of the grandparent(s) in the first instance – with the aim of reintroducing them back into the child’s life gradually. The grandparent should not be the one making the initial attempt – unless they are left with absolutely no alternative.

Hayes + Storr has helped many grandparents reunite with their grandchildren and we offer a reduced rate to discuss all options, which includes clear advice in writing after the meeting.

If you would like any further advice or information on this matter, please call me on 01328 863231 or send an e-mail to rob.colwell@hayes-storr.com. For legal advice on any other matter call 01553 778900 or email law@hayes-storr.com.

This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead.

However no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice.

Although the court will only refuse an application in extreme circumstances, it’s almost always best to see it as a last resort. The effective use of an amicable solicitor’s letter and mediation can prevent family differences escalating, enabling all parties to move forward and act in the best interests of the grandchild(ren). In fact, attending mediation is a legal requirement for both

ROBERT COLWELL Associate Hayes + Storr

Hayes + Storr Solicitors The Old County Court, County Court Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5EJ Web: www.hayesandstorr.co.uk E-mail: law.kingslynn@hayes-storr.com Offices at: King’s Lynn | Hunstanton | Fakenham | Swaffham | Holt | Wells | Sheringham

KLmagazine July 2017

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PICTURES: IAN WARD (contemporary) / GEORGE PLUNKETT (archive)

Local Life

ABOVE: The beautifully restored Hampton Court in King’s Lynn and (inset) a view of the southeast corner of the courtyard in 1959 when the restoration work started. The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust has worked similar wonders on a number of the town’s other heritage jewels, such as Thoresby College (opposite).

Six decades of caring for the heritage of Lynn King’s Lynn has a wealth of fabulous historic buildings, and there’s a reason they still look so impressive. Clare Bee takes a look back at the restoration work of the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust...

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he King’s Lynn Preservation Trust will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year. In the past six decades, the Trust has been instrumental in rescuing buildings of architectural and historic interest in and around King’s Lynn for today and for the future.

King’s Lynn is fortunate to have such a rich heritage of well preserved historic buildings. For a fairly small town, the variety and importance of these buildings cannot be overlooked and through them we can read the history of King’s Lynn KLmagazine July 2017

through the years.

The Trust was founded in 1958 by Lady Joan Evershed as an Industrial and Provident Society. It has four core aims: to acquire and restore buildings of architectural and historical significance in King’s Lynn; to manage Thoresby College and other restored buildings for posterity; to maintain close contact with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk about the future of buildings with acknowledged architectural merit or heritage interest; and to offer advice and opinions to the

council on matters of heritage interest.

The first project to be undertaken by the Trust was the preservation of Hampton Court, a quadrangular building on Nelson Street that dates back to the 14th century. Mrs E A Lane, who’d acquired the building in the 1950s and had already restored the street and warehouse wings into dwellings, generously donated the north and south wings to the Preservation Trust in 1958, who then went on to complete its restoration.

Mrs Lane later donated the east and 29

Local Life

ABOVE: The Grade II* listed Greenland Fishery building in King’s Lynn today, and (inset) how it looked back in 1935 – 23 years before the founding of the trust which restored it.

west wings to the Trust, thus ensuring the building was properly restored before being sold – the capital being reinvested into other restoration schemes.

Thoresby College is another of the earliest buildings to be restored by the Trust and is now the home of the Trust’s office. Built at the beginning of the 1500s by merchant and three-times Mayor Thomas Thoresby, the original aim was to provide accommodation for 13 priests employed as chantry chaplains by the Trinity Guild of Lynn.

Built around an open quadrangle, it’s one of the most complete examples of medieval Lynn. It was acquired by the Trust in 1963, when it was bought by Lady Ruth Fermoy and her daughter Mrs Shand-Kydd, who subsequently donated it to the Preservation Trust for restoration with the express request the building would be used for the benefit of the whole community.

Projects over the years have included buildings of virtually every size, style and importance. From the Grade II* listed Greenland Fishery (thought to be one of the last timber framed buildings erected in King’s Lynn) to the terrace of six small Priory Cottages, every building gives a

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glimpse into the history and heritage of King’s Lynn. The Priory Cottages and St Margaret’s Church are the only remaining parts of the town’s important Benedictine Priory and for work on these, the Trust received a Heritage conservation award. Several other projects have received national and also international awards.

With its important standing in the maritime history of England, King’s Lynn has many merchant buildings alongside the River Great Ouse. Clifton House is one fine example, which was built over several centuries – from the 14th century’s vaulted undercroft to the impressive five-storey watchtower built towards the end of the 16th century.

Following restoration by the Trust, the house was sold and is now a private family home.This and many other architectural and historical gems are open to the public during King’s Lynn’s Annual Heritage Day, held every year in September. As many of the properties are now in private hands, this is a unique opportunity to wander through King’s Lynn’s local history and discover how the town used to be.

Nick Balaam is Chairman of King’s Lynn Preservation Trust, and is keen local

people should take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about their town and its heritage.

“Our major achievement of the last 60 years is to have raised people’s awareness of the historic environment of King’s Lynn,” he says. “We’ve rescued a number of landmark buildings such as Hampton Court, Thoresby College and Clifton House. 60 years on we’re entering a period of economic uncertainty which is going to place new demands on the core of historic King’s Lynn. The Preservation Trust has a key role in helping the town meet those challenges.”

The Trust is an independent body that doesn’t receive any funds from local or national government. It has been fortunate to have been given some important buildings in the past, but now has to fund its activities through income from the properties it has retained.

In addition, some restored buildings are sold to create a revolving fund which enables the restoration of future projects. The value of the Trust’s contribution to the restoration of the town’s fine historic buildings can’t be overstated. Many buildings which would otherwise have fallen into disrepair have been painstakingly and sympathetically restored to their former glory. Each building reflects the history of King’s Lynn over several centuries and our knowledge and understanding of our place is enhanced by the care and time the Trust has given to each project.

Our buildings are the literal building blocks on which we move forward into the future and we must treasure them and protect them for generations to come – but also take the time to enjoy them for what they are.

In the words of William Henry Davies’ 1911 poem Leisure – “What is this life, if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?”

KLmagazine July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

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 It is not true that tenants don’t have to maintain gardens if the landlord doesn’t supply the tools to do this with.

The Outside Approach

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t looks like summer has arrived and for as long as it lasts most of us will be spending as much time outside as we reasonably can. Whilst sitting in a friend’s garden I felt inspired to focus on this, often overlooked, area of rental properties and provide some insights into its significance in lettings.

Gardens can be one of the most contentious issues between landlords and tenants. This is because they are the most outwardly visible part of a rented property, open for all to see and often the first to be neglected by tenants when they are otherwise committed. And let’s be fair, unlike general housework you can’t do it late in the evening after work or when it’s raining. The opportunity to care for a garden is greatly dictated by the weather and the weather in the UK is highly unpredictable.

All of that said when it comes to rental properties, outside space is one of the biggest price determining factors after location. Private gardens along with off-road parking can command what seems like a disproportionate

premium in rental return when compared to other houses on the same street that have only one or neither.

As a landlord, you need to appreciate the motivations in the market to achieve the best returns from this trend, so here are a few points to help you understand these trends.

The number one reason that we are presented with as to why tenants want a garden is not directly for themselves but for their children. The benefit of a private self-contained play area for the youngest members of the family is the main attraction. For landlords’ this is brilliant because it is so simple to provide. No award-winning borders or ornamental blossoming trees required, just some tough lawn, a patio and a small shed (to store the lawn mower) and you have achieved what 90% of the market is seeking in a garden. If you really want to tick all the boxes then a secondary bark chipped area to one side to stand the inevitable trampoline on (so that it doesn’t kill the grass) would be the best possible combination.

Family sized properties with gravel or hardscaped gardens are notoriously difficult to let as they are not child friendly. This in turn often negatively impacts on the monthly rental value.

There is a place for well-crafted low or no maintenance gardens in the sector of the market that has homes aimed at busy professionals. Here gardens are treated almost as an extension of the main living space being used for entertaining and relaxation. Tenants in this category typically want usable space that requires minimal effort to prepare and lawns and high maintenance planting should be avoided.

Along with the internal aspects of your rental property at Edmonton Estates we can also give you practical advice on how best to present your individual property’s external space and advise on the best level of the market to aim for. If you would like to benefit from our knowledge or expertise please contact us on 01553 660615.

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 July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

Why summer is the best time for air source heating Discover how improved energy efficiencies can benefit your project... t may seem strange to be talking about heating in the middle of summer, but with the majority of building projects being undertaken over the next few months, it’s the ideal time to be thinking of air source heating systems from 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd. By far the best way of making the most of the technology and maximising both its performance and its energy efficiencies is to call on the expertise and experience of 4 Way Regrigeration Ltd as soon as possible.

By working from your architectural plans and drawings, 4 Way Regrigeration Ltd can custom design and install an air source heating system that’s perfectly suited to your grand design – and ensures you always enjoy the right temperature, the right amount of hot water and the right size of fuel bills!

In fact, summer is when air source heating really comes into its own.

“Because there’s a higher ambient temperature outside over the summer

I

KLmagazine July 2017

months the system doesn’t have to work as hard to extract the heat calories from it,” says Director Steve Simpson of 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd. “And because it’s not spending resources on heating your home, it’s even more efficient at heating your hot water.”

Combine that with the latest solar and PV technology (also available from the 4 Way Group) and the average 10 hours daylight a day we get over the summer can have a huge impact on your energy efficiencies and savings.

And the low carbon footprint and

autonomy from traditional fuel sources can really help your building project reach a higher star rating in the The Code for Sustainable Homes.

“When choosing which heating system to opt for in a building project,” says Steve, ”SAP ratings, costs, high quality products and professional standards are all important – and our air source heating more than meets those needs.”

If you’d like to discover more about air source heating and the benefits it could bring to your project, contact 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd today.

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Local Life

ABOVE: The Commodore is one of Oulton Broad’s most iconic pubs and this fabulous extension was part of a major refurbishment programme recently carried out by TM Browne for the pub’s owners, Enterprise Inns.

T.M. Browne Ltd: caring for people and for property Some 30 years ago, Tim Browne and his wife started a small plumbing and building company. Today, it’s one of the biggest and most respected names in the business – and it’s still family-run

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t’s a remarkable story; the story of how a single husband and wife team grew into a limited company employing some 50 people and with an annual turnover exceeding £8 million.

Construction and building maintenance company T.M. Browne celebrated its 30th anniversary two years ago, and at the heart of the business are the traditional values of first-class workmanship, pride in a project well done, the value of training and apprenticeships, and

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a passion for meeting (and exceeding) customer expectations.

But if the team are proud of anything it’s their local roots and their true family-oriented outlook.

The company was founded in 1985

by Timothy Michael Browne (who came from Tilney St Lawrence) and his wife Julie, who’d been born in Terrington St Clement. Today, Tim concentrates mainly on

the company’s own development sites, while the younger generation oversees the rest of the business – the couple’s son Darren joined as an apprentice in 2001 and became Managing Director two years ago, while his sister Becky joined the company in 1999 and currently works as Contracts Administrator.

Their mother Julie also continues to play a role in T.M. Browne – in addition to being one of its directors she also heads up the Accounts Department.

“One of our main strengths has

KLmagazine July 2017

ABOVE: Currently nearing completion, this development on St Edmundsbury Road in King’s Lynn is a perfect example of T.M.Browne’s commitment to high standards of design, construction and finish.

always been that we’re a very close knit and family-based team,” says Darren.

“We’ve always shared the same core values of what T.M. Browne should be offering our clients.”

Today, the company works on everything from new builds to renovations, from repairs and maintenance to re-roofing and windows, and from single extensions to multi-property developments.

What’s more, the extensive in-house resources of T.M. Browne mean that very few areas of a build need to be outsourced – it’s quite unique, for example, for a ‘building’ company to have its very own plumbing and electrical department.

One of the more specialised fields in which the company has built an enviable reputation is the field of restoring and renovating public houses – especially ones damaged by fire. Take 2008 for example. T.M. Browne was in the process of handing over the restored Old Anchor Inn in

KLmagazine July 2017

Fearing to the on-site surveyors when the company was called because The Sugar Hut was on fire – and no sooner had work started on that project that The Chequers Inn in Bressingham virtually burned to the ground.

The fact T.M. Browne was able to accommodate all these projects and finish them to such high standards speaks volumes for their resources, their high standards of work and their experience in the field.

The company has also enjoyed a long and successful association with social housing, dating back to 1986. Today, the company works with a number of housing associations across East Anglia, doing everything from aids and adaptions (ensuring properties comply with The Disability Discrimination Act) to maintenance and gas and electrical installations – the company currently does around 50% of the rewiring work for local housing associations.

TM Browne also has an enviable record of commercial work, with a

large portfolio of offices, industrial sites and housing developments. The company’s services to the commercial sector – which include surveying, contracts management and project management.

Whatever the project, the company's main aims have always been to build quality solutions, to build with the environment in mind and to build safely. Above all, T.M. Browne builds trust and long term relationships by creating added value to on-going property requirements.

But its' not all about groundworks, structural repairs and conversions.

T.M. Browne offers a complete fixtures and fittings solution from start to finish, covering everything from wall and floor tiles to tables and chairs. The company works closely with a range of suppliers to create a look, an atmosphere and an environment that's perfectly suited to either your home or your business.

This all-in-one service even extends to windows and doors; T.M. Browne can install FENSA-approved vertical sliding sash, tilt and turn or standard casement windows - and have a comprehensive range of composite GRP, PVC-U and solid oak doors for people looking for a grand entrance.

When it comes to interiors, T.M. Browne has a highly-skilled team of tradesman that can transform any indoor or outdoor space. From carpenters and bricklayers to plasters and painters, the company has the expertise to complete any project with a high level of attention to detail.

The services of T.M. Browne even

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Local Life

ABOVE: Tim and Julie Browne (right) who founded T.M. Browne back in 1985 with their children; Darren, who joined the company as an apprentice in 2001 and is currently its Managing Director and Becky, who joined the company in 1999 and today works as Contracts Administrator.

extend beyond the properties themselves, with a wide range of external works. The company has a considerable amount of expertise in the supply and installation of fencing, creating security-enhancing and greatlooking property and garden fences from close board fencing and wooden palisade fences to post and rail fencing.

T.M. Browne are also recognised experts in the installation and maintenance of all gate systems, including automated gates, on both a domestic and commercial scale.

Even drives and car parks can benefit from the T.M. Browne approach; the company can provide everything from the groundworks and civil engineering requirements to the surfacing and completion of the project.

“Whether it’s dealing with architects, re-working internal layouts, installing heating systems or even doing the final fixtures and furnishings,” says Darren, “we can play a part in every stage of any building project.”

The scale of the business Tim Browne started with his handmade trailer is truly

enormous. TM Browne now works everywhere from King’s Lynn to Great Yarmouth and from Norwich to Cambridge – and even further afield.

They now operate over 60 vehicles, and on a typical month will cover 100,000 miles, completing around 1,000 separate jobs.

“I always tried to do things right,” Tim Browne said once. “And I always wanted to be the best at what I did.”

He’ll be glad to know that more than 30 years after he started the company, TM Browne is still doing things right.

And they’re still the best at what they do.

ABOVE: The Chequers Inn at Bressingham was virtually destroyed by fire in 2008.

Thanks to TM Browne’s superb exterior and interior (below) restoration – which included the discovery of a medieval skeleton and some American guns from WWII – the pub reopened less than two years later.

Unit 3, The Mill, Market Lane, Terrington St Clement King’s Lynn PE34 4HR Tel: 01553 828050 Email: admin@tmbrowneltd.co.uk Web: www.tmbrowne-ltd.co.uk

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KLmagazine July 2017

Your local Independent Insurance Broker Offering a personal face-to-face service and free no-obligation quotes on services such as...

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KLmagazine July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

It‘s essential you have the energy to maintain your business’s values and have the flexibility to seize new opportunities CHRIS GOAD ACA Partner, Stephenson Smart

SYSTEMS AND IT...

Having the right IT systems in place is essential – otherwise an increase in orders can quickly become a major headache. As a business owner, you’ll also find it much harder to keep track of how the business is doing than you did in the early stages. As the business grows, you will increasingly rely on good data and management information systems.

Take your business to new heights safely...

There’s plenty of help and advice available for start-ups, but for businesses entering a ‘scale-up’ phase of rapid growth, success can bring a whole new set of challenges... f you have ambitions for your business to achieve scale, there are a number of key areas that raise unique challenges, and which may require different approaches to the strategies that worked in your start-up phase.

I

HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE...

In the early days, each member that joins your small tight-knit team is heavily scrutinised – because their impact on the whole business is so great. But as you grow, the dynamics of recruitment change and it’s easier for people less well-suited to your company culture to slip through the hiring net.

Increasingly you’ll require specialists and middle-managers, and you’ll need to plan ahead, thinking across the business to achieve the right balance. For example, hiring a team of expert salespeople may be a good idea – but it will only cause problems if you haven’t got the warehouse equally well-staffed and managed.

Having a long-term plan and investing in a proper recruitment process are crucial to help you find the right people, and avoid ‘knee-jerk’ hiring to fix shortterm issues in problem areas.

KLmagazine July 2017

FINANCE AND CASHFLOW...

When it comes to funding, the level and sources available to you are likely to be very different to the ones you used to start the business. Whether you choose to raise funds by taking on debt (and the associated pressures of meeting repayment demands) or releasing equity (thereby possibly relinquishing full control), this is a complex matter that will require some careful thought and some professional advice.

Scaling up can also be very cashconsuming, and as you deal with bigger customers, more suppliers and greater volumes you could be handling very different credit limits and cashflow challenges – meaning the business models you used in the start-up phase no longer apply.

OUR BRANCHES

SALES AND MARKETING...

As you scale upwards you may find that your focus has to move away from straightforward sales and order-taking and towards indirect marketing and promotional activities, geared towards educating your customers and building your brand.

VISION AND LEADERSHIP...

In a scale-up phase you may need to delegate a great deal of the day-to-day running of the business, and this can be a difficult step to take. As well as the inevitable additional time pressures, it‘s essential you have the energy to maintain your business’s values and culture, and have the flexibility to seize new opportunities.

If you would like to talk about any aspect of growing your business or tax saving opportunities, please contact us at Stephenson Smart for a free consultation.

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41

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Caring for your environment KLmagazine July 2017

OVER 25 YEARS OF FIRST CLASS MOTOR SERVICING

10 reasons to treat your car to K Brown Auto Repairs...

How to keep you, your car and your family safely on the road or over 20 years, people have been bringing their cars to K Brown Auto Repairs time after time – but there’s no great secret why that’s the case. If you’re looking for a good reason to treat your car to K Brown Auto Repairs, here’s ten of them. People have been coming to us, returning to us and recommending us for years because:

F

Our prices represent great value, we have exceptional standards of workmanship, and we’re completely honest, reliable, dedicated and trustworthy.

We keep customers fully informed while their car is with us, explaining any work that’s required now, that’s due soon or recommended for later – and we offer free checks during the year of any impending work.

We always give customers clear and precise quotes so they have the time

1

2 3

KLmagazine July 2017

to decide what work is carried out.

We’ll always help customers budget the required work and advise them on the priority areas of work.

All the work we carry out and every job we do to your car is only done if necessary – and we never exaggerate problems in order to gain work.

We always take time and care to ensure cars are repaired to a very high standard with a number of quality checks in place.

Our receptions at King’s Lynn and Hunstanton are always warm, clean, and welcoming – and full of knowledgeable, attentive staff.

You’ll always find a technician available who’ll be happy to explain any technical details in helpful, simple terminology.

We take care to fulfil your needs and expectations – recommendations and loyalty from our customers has

4 5

been key to our success.

We have the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment and are justifiably proud of our ability to rectify the most difficult faults first time.

10

And if you need any more reasons, just give us a call!

6 7

8 9

information

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

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Gardening

ABOVE: Bees can bring a host of benefits to your garden if you choose the right flowers and varieties such as verbena (below) - even creating a haven for hedgehogs (opposite) doesn’t mean you have to live with an untidy and unkempt garden.

Enjoy garden wildlife without the wild looks...

Attracting animals, insects and birds to your garden doesn’t mean letting it run to ruin and selling your lawnmower. Wendy Warner of Thaxters explains how to create a beautiful habitat for wildlife

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or those of you who’ve been glued to the television watching the delights and dramas of Springwatch, you may be interested to know your own gardens can be a potential haven for wildlife; providing food, shelter and breeding sites for a range of animals, birds and insects. By including some native plants into our gardens, especially those already found in the locality, it’s possible to encourage wildlife dependent on these plants.

Your garden will have contrasting habitats, attracting different wildlife. A pond can create a breeding place for frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies, as well as a drinking and bathing area for

KLmagazine July 2017

birds and wildlife. Remember to always include a small slope so that amphibians can easily enter and leave the water.

Even the most basic grass lawn will create a place for birds such as blackbirds, green woodpeckers or starlings to happily search for ants, earthworms and grubs. If you have an area that can be left unmown, many grass seeds are larval food for meadow butterflies such as skippers, meadow browns and gatekeepers – and this will also create coverage for small mammals. If you have an area large enough to grow

wildflowers better still, as you can encourage a multitude of bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects into your garden. Try ‘Nature’s Haven’ Easy Wildflower mix, which will cover 6m2 of ground containing varieties such as ox-eye daisy, cornflower, corn poppy and corn marigold, mixed with a granular compost for easy germination. This can be sown from March to May with the first flowers appearing within 8-12 weeks, but as we’re now in July you can plant in the autumn (August to October) for an earlier and even better show next spring.

45

Gardening Actually, we would all benefit from encouraging more bees, butterflies and other insects into our gardens. Numbers of many species are diminishing due to diseases and loss of habitat, but by choosing plants which attract them and changing a few of your garden habits, we can hopefully help to boost those.

Do your bit and take part in the Big Butterfly Count (July 14th to August 6th) – you can find more details at www.bigbutterflycount.org. Last year the timing of this was just as the buddleias were in full flower at Thaxters and looked a picture adorned with Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies.

Bees will bring many benefits to your garden in that they’ll make it more productive, especially if you grow vegetables and fruit trees as they’ll pollinate them. Encouraging bees also attracts hoverflies and other beneficial insects into the garden, helping to control pests and protect your garden plants. Butterflies also play an essential role in the garden, contributing to a healthy environment by transporting pollen from plant to plant.

Butterflies are attracted to nectar-rich plants, so the greater variety of large, brightly-coloured flowers you grow, the more butterflies you should have visit.

They love heavily-scented flowers that are in full sunlight, but they do require shrubs and climbers to shelter in at the edges of the garden. Try to provide a variety of flowers that are available to the butterflies from spring right through to autumn.

For both bees and butterflies the native, old fashioned and traditional varieties are the best because many modern varieties tend to be so hybridised they have less (if any) nectar – or have double flowers, which tend to be more difficult for the insects to reach the nectar. By carefully choosing the right varieties, flower borders can be a good source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other flower visitors. Useful garden flowers include, buddleias, lavenders, verbenas, foxgloves, hollyhocks, scabious, sunflowers, sedums and asters; and natives include wild marjoram, knapweed, yellow rattle and cowslips.

Many of these are available as seeds in the Sarah Raven Brilliant for Bees and Butterflies range. Look out as well for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Perfect for Pollinators logo (right).

A personal favourite for me is Cerinthe (honeywort) with its metallic silvery foliage and purple bell-like flowers. It’s loved by butterflies and bees, and I was lucky enough to

46

ABOVE: Butterflies are suckers (literally) for wildflowers, and they love plants such as buddleia and milkweed. And don’t neglect your bird-friendly hedges either!

keep it going throughout the winter – and on sunny days in January and February the bees would find a supply of nectar on this along with my hellebores.

There are also bee and pollinator friendly bulbs for sale in late summer for flowering next spring which will provide early nectar sources.

After flowering, try to leave seed heads on plants where possible (learn to love that natural look!) as that will encourage seed-feeding birds.

Those particularly favoured are sunflowers, members of the thistle family such as echinops and cardoons, rudbeckias, echinaceas, asters, lavender, evening primrose and verbena bonariensis. You’ll notice a theme here – many of these flowers are the same ones the bees and butterflies like when in full flower!

Hedges around your garden will provide natural nesting sites for birds, which will in turn prey on harmful insects like caterpillars that can cause damage to your plants.

Even better if you can include some shrubs in the hedge that have berries or hips in the autumn and winter – such as dog rose, Pyracantha (firethorn), blackthorn and holly.

Put up a purpose-built bug box or make a pile of dead wood, hollow stems, pine cones and twigs – this will provide a snug home for overwintering insects such as lacewings and ladybirds.

Look after these insects and they’ll reward you by devouring your aphids in the spring! And don’t forget our hedgehogs either; leave a pile of dry leaves under a hedge or invest in a hedgehog house and they’ll pay you back by eating unwanted slugs.

If you thought ‘wildlife gardening’ meant you had to put up with a garden full of weeds and nettles, and grass that was never cut, I hope I’ve convinced you that it isn’t necessary to go to that extreme – although that may well be the excuse your neighbour is using!

For more inspiration and examples of plants to attract wildlife to your garden, please look in our Plants for a Purpose: Wildlife section at Thaxters.

Wendy Warner is Manager of Thaxters Garden Centre at 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham PE31 6NA. Visit the website at www.thaxters.co.uk or telephone 01485 541514

KLmagazine July 2017

KLmagazine June 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

HOMEhints

in association with FRIMSTONE LTD

The many benefits of green concrete...

Why Frimstone’s recycled aggregates are good news for construction – and the planet t first glance, the extraction of aggregates from a quarry wouldn’t appear to be particularly friendly to the environment – but at FRIMSTONE, minimising the lasting impact of such an operation is a major priority.

At the company’s recycling centres, waste materials from construction projects, demolition work and even disused airfields are carefully crushed and screened to produce a range of high quality recycled aggregates that fulfil the requirements of the WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) protocol.

The ‘new’ aggregates range from MOT Type 1 and Crushed Concrete Type 1 to screened topsoil and Tarmac Planings.

Initially, the idea of ‘recycled’ concrete seems a bit disconcerting. We tend to

A

think of concrete as being extremely sturdy and reliable; features which could be compromised by recycling, but the truth is very different. Studies have shown that despite having been produced from scrap and waste material, recycled concrete and aggregates are actually just as structurally reliable and safe for use as their naturally harvested equivalents.

They’re also equally versatile, and can be used for virtually all construction and building applications, landscaping projects and home improvement jobs – from patios to driveways.

HEAD OFFICE Ashcraft Farm, Main Road, Crimplesham Norfolk PE33 9EB Tel: 01366 388900 Web: www.frimstone.co.uk

In producing these materials, FRIMSTONE thoroughly screens the ‘raw’ waste to remove any steel, metal or other debris that could compromise the integrity of the finished product and then crushes them down to the sizes meeting specific needs of particular applications.

Because recycled aggregates are less expensive to produce, they enable contractors and homeowners to lay down a firm base more cost-effectively, freeing up more of that valuable budget to spend on the more decorative surfacing materials.

But the best news of all is that recycled concrete and aggregates are a ‘green’ construction material. The process of extracting stone and then crushing it down to size requires the use of natural resources and mechanical processing.

When FRIMSTONE recycles unwanted and waste materials, we’re giving new life to the aggregate in a way that involves very little processing and leaves natural materials untouched – and it means less space is taken up by non-biodegradable concrete in landfills. It’s not surprising then, to find that FRIMSTONE is one of the leading producers of recycled aggregates in East Anglia.

Of course, before you even start ordering your recycled aggregates, visit the FRIMSTONE website, where a handy and easy-to-use calculator (below) will ensure you order exactly the right amount of material for the job at hand – saving you a lot of time, trouble and money.

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KLmagazine June 2017

49

West Norfolk: Then and Now

1935

2017

SIGNS OF THE TIMES...

The top picture of the lovely timberframed building on Chapel Street in King’s Lynn was sent to us by KL magazine reader Sue Atkinson. Today it’s The Lattice House, of course, but in 1935 it was home (according to the sign above the door) to chimney sweep

W. Howlett. The signs in the background are advertising Player’s ‘Digger’ pipe tobacco at 8d an ounce, and the shop window below it is promoting Everything for Holiday Wear at Catleughs.

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.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 50

KLmagazine July 2017

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Enjoy your caravan safely with the help of Greentrees Discover how three hours of your time can help you enjoy years of safe and confident caravanning with Greentree’s 1-2-1 towing course! s you might expect from what’s almost certainly the best caravan and motorhome centre in the entire country, there’s a lot more to Greentrees than over 100 new and used vehicles on one site from the top manufacturers in the UK – and every accessory you could wish for.

For some time, Greentrees CaravanStore has offered hugely popular one- and two-day courses on caravan towing, courses which have helped hundreds of men and women become safer, more confident, more skillful caravanners.

“The courses were always very well attended, but it’s sometimes difficult for people to set aside an entire day or two in their busy lives,” says Managing

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Director Neil Greentree, who’s widely recognised as one of the leading caravan experts in the UK. “That’s why we started offering 1-2-1 towing instruction at a time to suit anyone. They cover everything the one-day course covers in an intensive three-hour session – the time being saved as there’s only one student doing the practical aspects instead of a group.”

In addition to classroom-based talks on law, loading and towing checks, the course – hosted by Neil himself (pictured above, bottom left) – offers practical instruction on everything from tactical manoeuvres to hazard perception awareness and reversing.

“The course is designed for people who want to take away the guesswork involved in towing, loading, and driving a caravan,” he says. “The skills you’ll develop will make you the best driver around you – and help you tow much more confidently. I’m now hoping to develop a course for people interested in passing the UK Towing Test.”

To book your place on one of Neil’s 1-2-1 course, simply call Greentrees CaravanStore on 01362 696434. They’re available seven days a week for 12 months of the year and are only £149 – so there’s really no reason not to become an advanced and safe caravan tower!

Adventure House, Hurn Road, Dereham Business Park, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1WD t: 01362 696434 e: sales@greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk w: www.greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2017

51

Local Life

ABOVE: The beautiful iris, appropriately named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow – the English Iris Company in North Walsham is run

by Simon Dodsworth (opposite), carrying on the work of his father, whose passion for irises lasted for over 50 years.

Two generations of a blooming passion They’re among the best-known and loved flowers in the plant world, and have been cultivated since the days of ancient Egypt.

Clare Bee talks to gardener Simon Dodsworth about the iris...

I

n ancient Greek mythology, Iris was known as the goddess of the rainbow, and was depicted as a beautiful young maiden with wings on her shoulders. So what could be more appropriate than to name this most delightful flower after her multi-coloured form of transport?

Irises are indeed grown in many rainbow colours and are resilient, easy to grow and adaptable. They’ve long been grown in British gardens, and one of the first people of note to begin the

KLmagazine July 2017

process of hybridising them was Arthur Bliss in 1902. The British Iris Society was subsequently formed in 1922, with one of the founding members being John Rikatson Dykes, who was also a founder of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society).

He instituted the Dykes medal – the Oscar of the iris world and the premier annual award of iris hybridising.

Over the following few decades, other growers began to develop an interest in tall bearded irises, and one such man was Bryan Dodsworth, a keen gardener

and grower from Nottinghamshire.

Upon visiting Kew Gardens and seeing the spectacular specimens grown there, he started to develop an interest and passion which lasted over 50 years.

Bryan’s passion lead eventually to the formation of the English Iris Company

by Bryan’s son Simon in 2013 and it’s now based in North Walsham. Following his father’s death in 2009, Simon decided to take up the baton and continue growing the beautiful flowers his father had had such a passion for. He

53

Local Life

ABOVE: The ‘bearded’ iris is one of the most popular varieties of the flower. Below is Simon’s father Bryan, who won the Oscar of the iris world an unprecedented 12 times

collaborated with Barry Emmerson, former President of the British Iris Society – who was mentored for over 20 years by Bryan – and together they’ve worked to promote and champion interest in tall bearded irises.

Although not a plantsman by trade, Simon was determined that all the work his father had put into developing and breeding new strains of iris would not disappear after his death.

“My father was besotted with the iris,” says Simon, “and he was a real stickler for perfection. The irises had to be just right, they had to have just the right form and just the right structure.”

To Bryan, form and structure was everything. He worked tirelessly to produce perfect branching, where the two branches below the flower (or crown) at the top are evenly spaced along the stem. This was a hallmark of Bryan’s work, and one absent from many modern commerical introductions.

Over more than 45 years, Bryan

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produced something like 50,000 seedlings, but he only registered 50 varieties. He was more concerned with structure than colour, and his aim was always to get the shape of the flower as close to perfection as possible. For him colour was secondary in importance, and so he produced irises mostly in the same colour (self), with the addition of another colour (bi-tone) or a combination of one colour with another coloured stitching round the edge (plicata).

Over his lifetime Bryan became the most celebrated and successful iris hybridiser in the UK, winning the Dykes medal a total of 12 times; in its 90-year history no one before or since has won more than four.

Simon is keen to encourage anyone with an interest in gardening to have a go at growing irises. They can survive in a range of different areas in a garden; some love the sun, others would rather grow in shady areas, yet others love to have their roots in water.

“They’re very easy to grow,” says Simon. “They’re hugely tolerant of extremes of heat and extremes of cold.

They’re very hardy, and are basically very difficult to kill.”

They have more appeal than aesthetics, however.

“Irises have a quite amazing perfume,” says Simon. “You notice it particularly in the evening when it’s warm – there’s lemon, passion fruit, and even one with a chocolatey smell!”

Simon’s aim is always to give his irises a higher profile. He was featured on Gardeners’ World in July 2016, and was pleased to be able to present the feature himself. He is very keen to get his irises to Chelsea, but decided to apply instead to the Chatsworth Flower Show. This is the newest addition to the RHS’s show calendar and was held for the first time in June this year in the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

Having applied last year, Simon was delighted when he was successful in being invited to attend the very first show – appearing there with a very well received and innovative display.

Although maybe not as fanatical as his father about irises, Simon is proud to maintain the legacy of his father, and continue with his breeding programme.

“My father is looking over my shoulder most of the time,” he smiles. “He’s observing whether I’m looking after his irises appropriately and whether they’re getting the attention they deserve. I feel very privileged to have taken this legacy on and we have an extraordinary collection now.”

It’s fitting then that The English Iris Company does indeed hold the status of National Collection of Tall Bearded Irises, as approved by Plant Heritage.

This was awarded in June 2015, and Simon’s extremely pleased his father’s achievements as a hybridiser are recorded for posterity in the award.

“My father was still hybridising actively into his 80s and producing fabulous things,” he says. “At a time when many people are looking backwards in their lives, he was always looking forwards and he always had something to look forward to. That’s what’s really good about gardeners – and something I’ve learned from him”.

It’s a lesson we could probably all learn from. For more details and information about Simon and his father’s beautiful legacy, please see the website at www.englishiriscompany.com Simon sells irises online and is happy to give talks on the flower. He can be contacted on 07789 670299.

KLmagazine July 2017

Inspiring and distinctive outdoor furniture and accessories

Exciting and unique new products now available

Visit our showroom Open 7 days a week 10am - 4pm Norfolk Leisure, Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn PE33 0AX Tel: 01553 811717 | Email: sales@norfolkleisure.co.uk | Web: www.norfolkleisure.com

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KLmagazine July 2017

Pets Pe

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

The end of an era and the start of a new one! hey say it shouldn’t happen to a vet, but if I’ve learned anything from my career in practice it’s that at some point it almost inevitably will – and I’m afraid that this is one of those times.

Next year we’ll be celebrating two huge milestones in the history of the practice. Firstly, London Road Veterinary Centre will be 75 years old, having been started way back in 1933 by the original Mr Swann. Meanwhile, over in Downham Market, The Hollies will be celebrating their silver anniversary, having been opened by myself 25 years ago in 1993.

Between the two practices we’ve recorded 100 years – that’s a whole waiting room of how thehistory practice used century!

– of veterinary in West to look before it was extended and Norfolk. modernised, many of our clients I’m so proud to have been part don’t of this recognise as the history for itover 35 same years, building! but the time A couple of years had the has now come forago me when to takewe a break old front renovated and general a new from the porch frontline of everyday doorwayand put let in we get clients practice my would more youthful and

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dynamic team of long-serving colleagues take our journey forward.

Practice Manager Melonie Bunting has been at London Road for 30 years now, and during that time she’s taken huge responsibility and a great deal of pressure from me – and she’s ended up running the business!

Sara Hickling has been at London Road for 23 years, and she’ll be leading the veterinary team at King’s Lynn and Downham Market, continuing to follow the values of customer care and firstclass treatment for our patients that we’ve provided throughout my time here.

Stacy Brook has been our head nurse for over 12 years and she’ll continue organising the care of our patients and from the all past 75clients years we assisting our with the would lovethey to see it! We’re decisions make for their pets. looking forward celebrating thisnot Now, don’t gettome wrong – I’m milestone anniversary with of ouras simply walking away. I’ll be all working patients and clients, we are proud to usual over the summer, taking a short have been a fantastic break, and part thenof I’llsuch be back to help in community so long. the autumn.for I’ll still be involved with the

practice long-term, and I have a sneaky feeling I’m going to miss you all a lot. I might well reappear in the future, but for now I’m ready for a rest and some really good time with my family.

For the time being I just want to thank everyone who made me so welcome in the first place back in 1982.

I want to thank you all for your support and loyalty over the last 35 years, and I’m proud that some of you are my best friends.

I hope you feel you can support my team of very capable friends as they continue to sustain the values we’ve set over the years, as they continue to improve the quality of everything we offer.

And as we have done for the last 100 years, we’ll always look forward to help your pets stay healthy and well – they’ll be in very safe hands!

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 July 2017

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JOBS FOR THE GARDEN

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE with Added Protection for 2017

in July

Keep feeding bedding plants, hanging baskets and containers weekly with a high potash fertiliser such as ‘Phostrogen’ Dead-head all flowering plants as soon as flowers fade to stop them setting seed and to promote more flowers

Train leading shoots on cucumbers up a cane, the longer the main shoot grows, the bigger the crop. Keep well-watered and feed twice weekly Protect ripening fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and currants from birds by covering with crop protection netting.

Make a frame using canes or tree stakes Plant late-flowering perennials ie. Echinacea, rudbeckia and sedum in gaps in the borders so the garden doesn’t look dull when summer bedding fades Start thinking about the varieties of spring flowering bulbs you require, ready to buy when they are on sale next month - we will have a lovely selection!

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

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

Phostrogen All Purpose Plant Food 50% Extra Free (1.2kg) only £4.99

X300 & X500 Series now have 4 year warranty for built-in peace of mind

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Remove faded blooms on repeat-flowering varieties of roses to encourage further flowers in late summer

MOAT ROAD NURSERY A family‐run, independent garden centre Our nurseries offer a wide selection of plants, shrubs and trees

There’s still time to get your borders and baskets looking nice for Summer!

• Hanging baskets & Basket plants • Bedding • Fruit bushes• Strawberry & vegetable plants • Fresh Flowers - If you need them for any occasion, we can help!

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

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Moat Rd, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn PE34 4PN Tel: 01553 828723 | Open: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 KLmagazine July 2017

A new generation of varifocals...

Thanks to Essilor, it’s easy to see the difference at Hunstanton Eyecare

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ife and business are constantly changing and the optical world is no exception. The French company Essilor is world’s largest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses, and in 1959 they created the world’s first progressive (varifocal) lens – which corrects presbyopia and allows clear vision in the wearer’s near, intermediate and far vision.

It’s easy for me to remember the date as that was the year I was born! During my early career it was quite something to be dispensing one of these new-fangled varifocals, but these days they’re often the first choice to combine different prescriptions into one “all-day-wear” lens.

Research and development is an important and continuous process for ophthalmic lens manufacturers. They spend a lot of time and money analysing the requirements of our busy daily lives and aim to produce lenses that match our exacting (and changing) visual demands. In

today’s world we use any number of digital devices every day, from computers and iPads to smartphones and MP3 players.

Most of the currently available varifocals have good distance vision zones, but the near and intermediate areas suffer from side distortions – forcing the wearer to turn their head constantly for good vision at close range.

Essilor’s new Varilux X series lens has concentrated on the vision zone of our day-to-day working environment; the area from reading at say 40cm and extending to arms-length at approximately 70cm.

It’s a true revolution in lens design, seamlessly capturing every detail within arm’s reach, as

well as extending into great distance vision. At Hunstanton EyeCare we believe it offers the best visual performance at close range than any other lens on the market today.

It’s important to remember that there are many manufacturers and designs of varifocal lenses, and they vary widely in performance. If you couldn’t tolerate them in the past, then I’d strongly recommend you come and try Essilor’s amazing new Varilux X series at Hunstanton EyeCare.

Trust us, the difference is very clear – literally!

ANNETTE BALL FBDO (Hons) LVA Dispensing Optician and Low Vision Practitioner

44 Church Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5HD

PART OF EYECARE NORFOLK, TRADING AS HUNSTANTON EYECARE AND CROMER EYECARE KLmagazine July 2017

Web: www.hunstantoneyecare.co.uk Tel: 01485 532326 E-mail: info@eyecarenorfolk.co.uk Open: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, 2-5pm | Saturdays 8am-1pm fb.me/www.hunstantoneyecare.co.uk 59

fashion It may have seemed like summer has taken a long, long time to get here, but now at last we can start making a well-dressed impression on our glorious local beaches - with a wealth of colour, a feast of light fabrics and a helping of classic styling from our favourite local boutiques.

Happy holidays!

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Sienna Print Clara Top by Adini ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 KLmagazine July 2017

Fashion

Spotty Trousers by Robell CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 KLmagazine July 2017

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Fashion

Ballincollig Shirt in Gold Multi by Dubarry (£79) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 62

KLmagazine July 2017

S UMMER

Sale STARTS WEDNESDAY 19th JULY

Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge

End of Season Sale

Starts Thursday 6th July 9am-6pm

at 10am

www.allezchic.co.uk t: 01553 631915 Open: Mon to Sat 10am-4.30pm The Old School, Castle Rising, King's Lynn PE31 6AG

Starts Thursday 20th July Large reductions on casual wear from Betty Barclay, Marble, LEBEK & Klein.

Wedding Outfits many 1/2 price & less.

Cabotine & Zeila Styles reduced for total Clearance!

108 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge

Goddards, Wellesley Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1QD T 01553 772382 W www.goddardsonline.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2017

01406 350961 | www.cindysfashions.co.uk Follow us on Facebook Closed Wednesday, sizes 10-26

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Fashion

Milena Maxi Skirt (£49.95) & Mix it Around Jersey Tee (£17.50) by White Stuff GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 64

KLmagazine July 2017

there’s always something new at

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

Lings Country Goods for all your country pursuits

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Wide range of top brand country clothing • BARBOUR • DUBARRY • PAMPEANO • SCHÖFFEL • LE CHAMEAU • TOGGI • MUSTO • HUCKLECOTE • SEELAND • WRENDALE 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 July 2017

Starts Thursday 6th July Massive reductions on fashion, shoes & lingerie

Fashions: 13 Market Place, Long Sutton | Tel: 01406 363 433 Shoes: 7 Market Place, Long Sutton | Tel: 01406 364 128 www.sheilatiller.co.uk

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Fashion

Surrey Shirt in Duck Egg by Schöffel (£59.95) LINGS COUNTRY GOODS | Great Massingham 01485 520828 66

KLmagazine July 2017

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we’ve expanded!

• Porcelain veneers and crowns available

Contact us to find out more Tel: 01553 631094 Address: East Barn, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG

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www.castlerisingdentist.co.uk 67

Fashion

Top by Monari SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 68

KLmagazine July 2017

Showcasing the perfect blend of art and jewellery Tim Clayton Jewellery opens a new upstairs exhibition space and gallery to help support the area’s talented artists and craftspeople im Clayton Jewellery was established in 1975 after Tim returned to King’s Lynn having graduated from the prestigious Central School of Art in London. The business has been at Chapel Street since 1987, and Tim has grown a strong local reputation for combining the highest standards of jewellery making with unique and creative design work.

It’s appropriate then, that following a recent refurbishment to the store, Tim Clayton Jewellery has now opened a dedicated exhibition space on its first floor. Although the gallery will be used throughout the year, its debut show falls in the same month that Tim ordinarily holds an exhibition as part of the King’s Lynn Festival. For a month from July 14th, the new exhibition space will feature a combination of painting and woodturning reflecting the local area and its heritage; work produced by the creative father-and-daughter team of Richard and Emily Chapman.

As an artist, Emily has a true affinity with the sea and all aspects of coastal life,

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KLmagazine July 2017

and has links to the sea on both sides of her family. Her Danish maternal ancestors were shipwrecked on the north Norfolk coast many generations ago, and an ancestor on her paternal side was a brave skipper of Wells’ lifeboat crew who sadly perished at sea.

Having grown up and then studied in coastal East Anglia, the subject matter for her paintings seemed to be a naturalborn choice. Emily’s paintings are vibrant, lively and expressive, reflecting the fun and joyful feeling that only a day at the coast can bring.

Meanwhile, Emily’s father is craftsman Richard Chapman, who has nurtured a passion for woodturning ever since he was first inspired by his woodwork teacher at school. He began woodturning on a full-time basis over 20 years ago, and since then he’s gone from strength to strength, turning nature into art with a range of beautifully turned and finished pieces.

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover Emily and Richard’s fabulous creations, and while you visit, don’t miss

the chance to view the impressive (and equally artistic) selection of jewellery, giftware and accessories in the store.

Whether your choice of media is wood, oils, silver or gold, there’s something to catch every eye at Tim Clayton Jewellery.

The Emily and Richard Chapman exhibition runs at 21-23 Chapel Street in King’s Lynn from Friday 14th July to Friday August 11th during the shop’s opening hours of 9am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

information

Tim Clayton Jewellery 21-23 Chapel Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EG Tel: 01553 772329 Web: www.timclaytonjewellery.com

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Local Life

ABOVE: Jordan Bone of King’s Lynn in front of Helen Mirren at the launch of L’Oreal Paris UK’s All Worth It initiative in February, together with other inspirational figures such as Amena Khan, Cheryl, Katie Piper, Jada Sezer – and Chez Rust (second from left), who’s also from King’s Lynn.

Jordan Bone and her beautifully inspiring story 12 years ago, the life of 15 year old Jordan Bone was devastated in a car accident. Her response? An incredible journey of self belief that’s an inspiration to millions of people around the world

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n a word, Jordan Bone is amazing. Her video My Beautiful Struggle has been watched 17 million times on Facebook, and it’s been seen by 5 million people on YouTube. Her first book completely sold out the day it was published. In February she joined inspirational people such as Helen Mirren, Cheryl and Katie Piper to help launch L’Oreal Paris UK’s All Worth It initiative in association with The Prince’s Trust. More than 200,000 people subscribe to her online video

KLmagazine July 2017

channel and she has 130,000 followers on Instagram. And she’s still only 27 years old.

But all of that pales in significance when you consider the most amazing thing about Jordan.

Since May 2005, when she was only 15, Jordan has been paralysed from the chest down following a devastating car accident; with no use of her hands and having to face the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

“I did become depressed a couple of

years after my accident because I realised my life wasn’t going to be the way I’d intended it to be,” she says at her home in King's Lynn. “I eventually came across some guided meditation videos on YouTube – and they changed my perception of the world and how I thought about myself.”

Jordan soon started making her own ‘positive thinking’ videos, and then decided to combine them with her lifelong love of make-up.

“I’d re-learned how to do my make-

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Local Life

Like contouring and highlighting teaches us, where there is darkness there is always light, and that’s the same with life. No matter what hardship you’re going through know that even in the darkest times there will be a light shining brighter...

up while I was in hospital, so I thought it might make an interesting video,” she says. “And suddenly people started complimenting me on my make-up and asking about it. I don’t know why – it was terrible!”

As more and more people watched her videos, Jordan noticed people were making a number of similar comments about them. What’s wrong with your hands? they asked. Why are you holding the brush so strangely?

Jordan then made an extraordinarily honest video explaining her limited mobility and how she’d managed to overcome it; a video which became an online sensation and has now been viewed over 20 million times.

Since then, Jordan has raised money for Spinal Research, spoken at schools and colleges, and taken part in TV campaigns raising awareness for road safety and spinal injuries. She’s worked with everyone from Urban Decay to Liz Earle, and in February this year joined a host of international celebrities to launch L’Oreal Paris UK’s All Worth It campaign, a three-year project in association with The Prince’s Trust that will offer confidence training to 10,000 young adults around the UK – transforming self doubt into self worth.

As you’ve probably gathered by now, Jordan isn’t about to let a setback – no matter how serious – get in her way.

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When her webcam stopped working, she simply turned to another of her loves; writing.

Her recently-published book My Beautiful Struggle tells Jordan's incredible story of how she overcame immense challenges, rebuilding her sense of self and empowerment and positively inspiring millions around the world.

It sold out within hours.

“At first it was hard looking back at my early life,” says Jordan, a former journalism student at the College of West Anglia. “There were things I’d forgotten about and I had to dig really deep and live through those times again. It wasn’t very nice to think about how I was, but it was amazing to think about how far I’ve come since then.”

Naturally, she’s a passionate advocate of the value of such self-analysis.

“Some people understandably don’t want to talk about things like that,” says Jordan, “but going through the dark times is one of the best thing I’ve done.

It proves that no matter what happens, people who feel trapped in bad situations can get out of them. There’s always a way.”

And as for the way forward, Jordan simply flashes her beautiful smile.

“I’d just like to reach more people,” she says. “I have a really nice relationship with my followers, and you

never know what could happen. I’d like to have my own make-up line one day.

You should always aim high. We may have a disability but we’re still human and we can still be successful.”

For more details and information about Jordan and links to her inspirational videos, please visit her website at www.jordansbeautifullife.com

KLmagazine July 2017

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

Largest selection of fabrics in West & North Norfolk

Dress Fabrics Curtain Fabrics Craft Fabrics Net Curtains Knitting Wool Haberdashery

41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP

T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk KLmagazine July 2017

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S

Garden Brasserie and Bar

rd Winning Inn Swaffham’s Double Awa Call to Book 01760 723 244

We are a lovely 17th century Coaching Inn serving local, seasonal and fresh food in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Pub Menu Cocktail Bar

Sunday lunch | Afternoon teas | Dining for non-residents | Private gatherings

Knights Hill Hotel & Spa South Wootton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ T: 01553 675566 E: reception@knightshill.co.uk

www.knightshill.co.uk

Open Friday & Saturday evenings from 6pm We have a lovely courtyard beer garden

Open for Lunch & Evening meals Gourmet Burger Wednesday Tapas Thursday Fish & Fizz Friday

21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk

THE

F E AT H E R S COME OUT INTO THE COUNTRY... on the outskirts of the Royal Sandringham Estate

strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and café deli

Relax and unwind with fine food and drink in a cosy country pub in the Stable Tap Regular live musifcor Details - Phone

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

Bar • Pub • Restaurant • Gardens Accommodation • Function Room 71 Manor Rd, Dersingham PE31 6LN Tel: 01485 540768 | www.feathersdersingham.com

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KLmagazine July 2017

Food & Drink

Chocolate Nemesis “ Chocolate nemesis is a steamed flourless chocolate cake, and despite its name is incredibly easy to make. At Turner's restaurant I serve it with salted caramel sauce, coffee shard, a macaroon and a very refreshing peppermint tea sorbet.

“

Serves: 6 INGREDIENTS 340g dark chocolate 225g salted butter 5 eggs 210g caster sugar 100ml water

METHOD 1 Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a bowl with the butter over a pan of simmering water.

4 Combine the chocolate mixture, the egg mixture and the sugar syrup together, then pour into a lined 8”x8” baking tin.

5 Place the baking tin with the nemesis into a larger baking tray and fill with water two thirds of the way up.

2 Whisk together the eggs and half the sugar until pale and fluffy.

3 Combine the remaining sugar with the water and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.

6 Bake at 160°c for 30 minutes. The cake should have a slight rise, with a firm but cracked top and slightly wobbly underneath.

Recipe by Trevor Clark Head Chef at Duke’s Head Hotel 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 1JS Tel: 01553 774996 Web: www.dukesheadhotel.com KLmagazine June 2017

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Food & Drink

Pan Roasted Chicken Breast & Broad Beans with shallots, smoked bacon, braised baby gem and a sherry jus Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 4 large chicken breasts skin on seasoning 2 Large knobs of butter 2 baby gem lettuce outer leaves removed and quartered 1 cup of chicken stock 4 rashers of smoked streaky bacon finely diced 2 shallots finely diced 4 large handfuls of de-shelled broad beans 1 lemon Small handful of finely chopped chives ½ cup of Pedro Ximenez sherry

METHOD For the chicken Place the chicken skin side down into a hot frying pan leave for four minutes until the skin is crisp. Flip the chicken over so it’s skin side up and place a knob of butter on the skin, season and put into a 180°c oven for 12 minutes.

For the baby gem Put the baby gem onto a smoking hot griddle pan, cook for 1 minute on each of the cut sides, after lay the baby gem into a deep tray and cover with chicken stock.

Cover the tray with tin foil and put into a 180°c oven for 12 minutes.

For the broad beans Fry the bacon in a heavy based frying pan until golden and crispy, add the diced shallots and cook for a further 2 minutes or until the shallots are cooked through. Put a large knob of butter into the pan and add the broad beans along with the juice of half a lemon. Cook for another two minutes and finish with finely diced chive.

To assemble In a small pan combine the chicken stock from the little gem pan with the sherry and reduce until a thick sticky jus. Place 2 baby gem quarters in the middle of each plate, cover with a tablespoon of broad beans and sit the chicken on top. Finish with the sherry jus. Enjoy!

Recipe by Daniel Freear Head Chef at Strattons Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Tel: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.co.uk 76

KLmagazine June 2017

Food & Drink

If no ble nd muddle t er – strawber he shake wiries & t h i ce

Strawberry Frozen Daiquiri INGREDIENTS 35ml Bacardi superior rum 25ml lime juice 12ml sugar syrup 4 fresh strawberries (hulled)

METHOD 1 Blend the strawberries in blender.

2 Add all of the ingredients with 5 ice cubes.

3 Blitz for 4 seconds.

4 Pour into a Margarita glass and garnish with a split strawberry.

Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Street, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk 78

KLmagazine July 2017

A fantastic setting for every special occasion...

Welcome to the Plume of Feathers in South Creake; superb food, great atmosphere and a wonderful function room that’s free to hire hen Paul Vials gave The Plume of Feathers in South Creake a modern makeover two years ago, he put one thing at the top of his list – to retain as much of the beautiful pub’s olde worlde charm as possible. The building itself is over 300 years and it’s full of character; from the exposed beams to the open fireplace and the cosy bar.

The food is fabulous, the welcome is always warm and friendly, and the real ales are the perfect way to unwind after a day in one of Norfolk’s prettiest villages. But one of the pub’s most amazing features is mostly hidden from view. Tucked away behind the pub itself is a stunning barn which Paul has carefully converted into a hugely atmospheric multi-function space.

Its high ceilings, massive beams and exposed stone walls make for a suitably grand and traditional setting – but it’s also a very comfortable and relaxing one, especially when the weather'’s good enough to open up the doors onto the

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KLmagazine July 2017

pub’s rear courtyard.

Paul often uses the space for overspill diners in the pub, but it’s also hosted live sports events and a hugely successful Burns Night earlier this year – and villagers have just held a craft fair there.

It’s perfect for business meetings and local clubs, can hold up to 40 diners for special occasions and private parties, and could easily hold a wedding reception and buffet for around 90 people.

But before you start thinking of hiring it for your next big event, the barn has another big surprise up its sleeve.

“The first question people always ask me is how much it costs to hire the barn for the day or night,” says Paul. “And then they think I’m joking when I say there isn’t a charge. If people are coming here to enjoy themselves and spend money on food and drink I don’t see why they should be charged just to use the space.”

The Plume of Feathers is a wonderful village pub in a wonderful setting, serving

great food and drinks – and if you’ve got anything to celebrate it’s also got the ideal place to party!

If you’d like to give your next special occasion an equally special venue, contact Paul on 01328 823863 to discuss your seating and dining requirements – and book the best barn in Norfolk!

information

The Plume of Feathers 1 Fakenham Road, South Creake, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 9PB Tel: 01328 823863 Web: www.plumeoffeathersnorfolk.com

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Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

The Duke’s Head Hotel, King’s Lynn veryone knows the Duke's Head Hotel. Its been overlooking the Tuesday Market Place in King's Lynn for over 300 years, and its refreshingly familiar facade is instantly recognisable to residents and visitors to the town. Indeed, I probably walk past it a dozen times a week.

I've eaten there several times in the past and have always been reasonably satisfied but my visit last month convinced me that none of us really know the Duke's Head Hotel at all.

What prompted my sudden return to the hotel was the enthusiastic praise I kept hearing from friends and work colleagues.

It's under new management now, they said. It's got a new cocktail bar and lounge, they said. It's got a new chef - and he's brilliant, they said.

Given that, I took my wife to the hotel for an evening in June - no special occasion or anniversary; we simply wanted to see for ourselves what all the

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fuss what about.

It didn't take long for us to find out.

In the hands of Surya Hotels, one of the UK's leading niche hotel groups, the Duke's Head Hotel has gone through something of a transformation since we last visited. To be honest, it's never looked better, and there's a genuinely fresh and energetic atmosphere about the place.

The cocktail bar and lounge we'd heard about (it's named Massey & Co for the bank that used to occupy the space) is a lovely space for some pre- or post-dinner drinks, so we made a beeline for the bar.

There we were swiftly befriended by the award-winning mixologist Ritchie Suffling, whose approach to cocktails is rather like a chef's - he

loves using seasonal ingredients and combining them cleverly to provide a glass of exciting tastes.

My wife had Ritchie's Brazilian Berry, which was a delightful mix of Cachaça and rich berry fruits (it was a bit too sweet for me) while I had the Elder and Wiser(ish). I must admit it was the name that attracted me, but it was a lovely glass of apple, elderflower and lime matched perfectly with bourbon.

Appetites suitably whetted we made our way to the restaurant and were lucky enough to be introduced to Head chef Trevor Clark, who was genuinely interested in our favourites flavours and what we expected from our food.

It seems that Trevor trained with the Royal Navy and earned a first-class reputation at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club for the complexity and ambition of his dishes - and he's one of the friendliest chefs I've ever met.

Trevor headed off to the kitchen and our waiting staff (who were supremely professional throughout our evening) showed us to our table.

Shortly afterwards, and for only the third time since we moved to Norfolk 12 years ago, we were treated to an amusebouche, that single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre that are designed offer a glimpse into the chef’s approach to the art of cuisine.

The French word is literally ‘mouth amuser’ but within a mouthful we both agreed that ‘mouth-impresser’ would be a more accurate name. They were delightful.

You don’t need 45 minutes to read Trevor’s

KLmagazine July 2017

menus, which is always the sign of a confident chef, and we soon agreed on our choices.

To start, my wife ordered the crispy soft-boiled egg (with a perfectly runny centre), which was served with asparagus, wild mushrooms and a superb hollandaise. It looked every bit as good as it tasted, but my starter went one further in being an edible work of art.

I’d decided to start with the salmon cured in Norfolk Gin, which was accompanied by Cromer crab, cucumber, beetroot and avocado. I must confess to being slightly taken about when the salmon arrived, and the first word that came to mind was ‘sushi.’

I’d never had salmon prepared like this before, and after one mouthful I was doubting I’d ever actually had salmon before. It was absolutely beautiful; both incredibly delicate and wonderfully tasty. It was without question the best piece of fish I’ve ever been served in a restaurant.

After that, our main courses had rather a lot to live up to – but happily they didn’t disappoint. I’d ordered the lamb rump,

which was served with a gorgeous salsa verde, some very clever cauliflower textures, toasted pistachio and cauliflower cous cous. The meat was perfect, but the biggest surprise was the cous cous. I’m not its greatest fan, and the thought of combining it with cauliflower (not my favourite vegetable) struck me as slightly odd. It shows how much I know about combining textures and tastes – and why Trevor’s in the kitchen. It was brilliant.

My wife was equally full of praise for her main course. She’d ordered the corn-fed chicken, accompanied by a chicken and potato terrine and celeriac. It looked lovely, and she enjoyed it so much she was rather reluctant to let me try any of it – but I did sample the leek and prune stuffing, which was fantastic. I had a spoonful of the white wine and thyme jus the chicken was resting on and agreed with her that it was exceptionally well done.

Although we don’t order desserts ordinarily (neither of us have a particularly sweet tooth) Trevor’s food had impressed us so much that we couldn’t leave without enjoying a third course.

My wife ordered the delightfully-named Chocolate Nemesis; a cocoa-packed brownie serviced with salt caramel, an absolutely wonderful mint sorbet, a coffee

macaroon, and some decorative shards of coffee. She enjoyed it so much she said that every calorie was worth it!

I’m a huge fan of rhubarb, so my choice was an obvious one – chunks of the fruit accompanied by a refreshingly sharp lemon polenta cake, and a mouthwatering champagne sabayon.

We were both pleased to see Trevor come to our table at the end of the meal and ask if we’d enjoyed it, as it gave us the opportunity to thank him in person for one of the best meals we’ve ever been served in King’s Lynn.

The Duke’s Head Hotel is a very grand and impressive building – and it’s so good to see that it now has a restaurant (and cocktail bar and lounge!) that fits its status.

Simply amazing.

FOOD

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THE DUKE’S HEAD HOTEL 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1JS Tel: 01553 774996 Web: www.dukesheadhotel.com KLmagazine July 2017

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Food & Drink

Bite Size Rib Eye INGREDIENTS 10 ounce 28 day matured rib eye 1/2 tbsp of cornflour 1 tsp of black pepper 1 tsp of olive oil For the Sauce 1 fresh chilli (chopped) 4 clove of garlic (chopped) 1 tbs of black pepper 1 tbsp of cornflour 4 ounces of water 1/2 tsp of salt 1/2 tsp of sugar 1/2 tsp of dark soya sauce 2 pieces of button mushroom KLmagazine July 2017

METHOD 1 Cut the rib eye into cube sizes, and marinate with black pepper and cornflour.

2 Heat up the oil in a wok. When it is hot place the beef into the wok, then immediately put some cold oil into the wok to bring the temperature down.

3 Stir fry the beef for no more then 40 seconds (if cooked for too long the juice in the beef will evaporate).

4 For the sauce, mix all of the ingredients together.

Recipe by David Lau Head Chef at Silk Road II Lavender Hill, Lynn Road, Heacham PE31 7JE Tel: 01485 572268 83

Food & Drink

ABOVE: The Fruit Pig Company’s Matt Cockin and Grant Harper with the BBC broadcaster and writer Tim Hayward (centre), who’s been voted Food Journalist of the Year three times and is a passionate advocate of using fresh blood in food

A local black pudding with a golden reputation It’s in the earliest-known recipe book but lovers of black pudding rarely enjoy the delicacy the way it’s supposed to be. But that’s all changing now, thanks to The Fruit Pig Company in Wisbech...

KLmagazine July 2017

And the secret is literally in the blood.

“Something like 98% of black pudding on the market is made from imported dried blood powder rather than fresh blood,” says Matt Cockin, who founded The Fruit Pig Company around seven years ago. “There’s nothing wrong with that, and most people couldn’t tell them apart visually – the difference is all in the taste.”

It’s a taste that’s starting to go far beyond Wisbech. The Fruit Pig Company’s fresh-blood black pudding is now served in Michelin-starred restaurants such as Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Tim Hart’s

PICTURES: FRUIT PIG COMPANY / SUPPLIED

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lack pudding has something of a mixed reputation, but it’s one that was given a massive boost recently through being hailed as a ‘superfood’ – due largely to its generous helping of zinc and iron, its almost total lack of carbohydrates and its healthy content of protein, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Generally considered a food originating from somewhere ‘up north’ it may come as a surprise to learn that one of the very best black puddings in the whole country is being produced by a two-man team in Wisbech.

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Hambleton Hall in Rutland, and Tom Aitkens’ Tom’s Kitchen in London.

Jamie Oliver is just one high-profile fan, and on the 40th floor of the Heron Building in London, The Duck & Waffle’s highly-regarded Chef Director Daniel Doherty says it’s the best black pudding he’s ever tasted. The Fruit Pig Company’s black pudding also forms part of The Hawksmoor’s full English breakfast, one of the two best breakfasts in the capital; the other being at The Wolseley in Mayfair.

Thanks to the power of the internet, it’s being enjoyed by diners at the 5-star Mandarin Oriental, Ritz and Carlton hotels in Hong Kong – and it may even soon start making an appearance in Chinese supermarkets. And it’s still the work of a two-man team.

“All we’re doing is making black pudding the way it’s supposed to be,” says Matt. “It just so happens that almost everybody else doesn’t.”

The Fruit Pig story started when Matt finished a 20-year career in the Royal Air Force and purchased a smallholding in Emneth. He bought some chickens, a piglet and a horse (for his daughter) and used some of his resettlement money from the RAF to take a Meat Processing NVQ with Waltham Forest College.

“I’ve always liked the idea of producing food for which you’re able to know the whole provenance,” says Matt. “For a few years I was selling sausages to The George at Stamford and supplying loins of pork to Eric Snaith at Titchwell Manor, and I was producing a black pudding using dried blood like

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everyone else.”

That was soon to change however, as Matt advertised for a helping hand and came across the infectiously enthusiastic and energetic Grant Harper, who lived a mile or so from Matt’s home. The pair quickly established a successful working relationship, but they felt something was missing from the products.

“Everyone can claim to make a great sausage and it’s not hard to make a decent black pudding,” says Matt. “But we felt we needed to do something different, something unique. We were a handmade artisan company, so we thought we should be doing everything as authentically as possible.”

Matt did his research, sourced some fresh blood from his regular abattoir, and set about producing a black pudding in the way it was always supposed to be.

“It’s a bit like roasting your own coffee beans instead of grabbing a jar of instant,” says Matt. “Or a chef making their own mayonnaise. It takes more time and effort, but if you truly believe in what you’re doing, you owe it to yourself to do it right.”

Matt and Grant took their fresh-blood black pudding to London for taste tests and started selling it at local farmers’ markets, but while the feedback was encouraging, it wasn’t explosive.

“We tasted a few other black puddings and we weren’t too impressed,” says Matt. “We decided to go to town on ours, making it more complex by adding a few extra ingredients, some added visual appeal

and a little tweaking of the recipe – and it really started to take off.”

Despite all the success and accolades The Fruit Pig Company is still a twoman affair, with Matt and Grant capable of producing up to 500 fresh-blood black puddings every day. They’re also very hands-on, their week starting with a 5am trip to the abattoir to collect the blood. It’s a dedication to the product that’s resulted in the pair recently qualifying as slaughtermen.

“We’re profiting from the blood of the animals, so we felt we had a responsibility to become fully involved in the process,” says Matt. “It seemed almost disrespectful not to, and it means we can produce our food with total conviction and integrity.”

In addition to their fresh-blood black pudding, Matt and Grant also produce a mouthwatering selection of specialist charcuterie such as Morçilla (a Spanish version of black pudding), mutton and cheek bacon, a delicious white pudding with cumin and oregano – and they’re currently looking at producing a local version of the rice- and pork-based Louisiana boudin.

But for the time being, the star of the show is undoubtedly the pair’s freshblood black pudding – and despite its success in London and Hong Kong, they’re most proud of the local recognition they’re earning.

“We’re finding that a lot of restaurants are starting to put our name on their menus,” says Matt. “That’s lovely, and it really means a lot to us. It means we’re worth something, and that people share our belief in the quality of our produce.”

For more information on The Fruit Pig Company and details of local stockists, visit www.fruitpigcompany.com, email enquiries@fruitpigcompany.com or telephone 0845 548 0046

KLmagazine July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

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Stone floors are a considerable investment, but they tend to lose their good looks over time – and eventually your beautiful slate, limestone or natural stone floor will need a lot more than a mop and some elbow grease to bring them back their best. That’s when you’ll need the professional services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean.

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For more than 20 years, XtraClean has been offering a professional, friendly and fully-insured service that covers the whole of Norfolk (and even beyond) with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking as bright as the weather outside.

Following an initial survey and test, Martin and his team will get to work (even moving the furniture for you!) breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. Then, XtraClean’s amazing turbo-cleaning capture system thoroughly pressure cleans the floor, capturing all the waste in the process. The results are spectacular, and are achieved without

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“Once the floor’s been cleaned we’ll professionally seal it for added protection which will help retain its looks for longer,” says Martin. ”We can even re-polish and buff highly-honed stone floors if required!”

XtraClean also has a wealth of experience in cleaning everything from outdoor terraces to paths and patios – meaning all your floors can have a fresh look for the summer.

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

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KLmagazine July 2017

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History

ABOVE: The church built in the name of St Margaret of Antioch in 1101 in the centre of King’s Lynn. Today, the saint’s dragon-killing story is reflected throughout the town, including the crest of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (inset)

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the virgin saints.

This is now the town’s Minster, but St Margaret can still be found there, complete with cross and dragon; east, north and west in the stained glass windows. Perhaps the finest representation is the great west window where, in the bottom right hand corner, she holds a model of the church and shares a dragon with St George. She is there again in the round east window, distinguished by her dragon, flanking Christ with St Mary Magdalen on the other side.

But my particular favourite is the north window where, wrought in fine, high Victorian style, with what is described as

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‘a very vanquished-looking dragon’ and the arms of Lynn, she gazes directly out from the centre with Herbert de Losinga and St Felix on either side.

The church was dedicated to St Margaret because back in 1101, at the request of the townspeople of Lynn, a church was commissioned by the Bishop of Norwich, Herbert de Losinga “in honour of St Margaret of Antioch, St Mary Magdalene and all the virgin saints.” There are no records to say quite why he chose St Margaret for Lynn, other than the desire of the Lynnetts – or possibly his own inclination to follow fashion. Suffice it to say her emblem of a dragon’s head with a cross protruding

KLmagazine July 2017

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enerally pictured with a cross, conveniently in hand for dealing with a dragon (the Devil in disguise), Margaret of Antioch became a cult throughout Europe and the Middle East from around the fourth century. In fact, so popular was she there are no less than six churches in her honour in each of forty English counties.

Even Parliament’s own church, where so many MPs are married, is dedicated to her.

In Norfolk, 50 churches bear her name. One of these, of course, is in King’s Lynn – where for good measure she’s joined by St Mary Magdalen and all

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Why are three dragon heads, crucifixes impaling their mouths, found all over King’s Lynn? Sally Turff of King’s Lynn Town Guides explains the town’s links to St Margaret of Antioch...

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King’s Lynn and its love for a Syrian saint

ABOVE: One of the three stained glass representations of St Margaret in King’s Lynn Minster – note the model of the church in her hands. At right is a 1559 painting of the saint by Titian

from its mouth was the town’s emblem then, much as it is today.

Legends generally agree that if she lived anywhere it was in Antioch – which was located near Antakya in Turkey. Some say she was the daughter of a pagan priest and converted to Christianity, a forbidden faith according to the then law of the Roman Empire.

Arrested, imprisoned and eventually put to death, at her execution she was said to have preached so powerfully that many of those watching became Christians themselves, moved by her words, her bravery and her faith.

She is generally pictured with a cross and usually with a dragon. Stories differ.

In one she was actually swallowed but the cross lodged in the dragon’s throat forcing it to spit her out. In another version of her story, Olybrius, Governor

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ABOVE: St Margaret’s dragons can be seen all over King’s Lynn, such as the Town Hall (left) and she even made an appearance at last month’s Hanse Festival in the town (above)

A step-by-step way to explore the heritage of King’s Lynn...

A BUSY MONTH! July is a very busy month for the King’s Lynn Town Guides. In addition to the regular Tuesday, Friday and Saturday walks there are a number of one-off events over the next few weeks. These are just a few of the highlights: MONdAY EVENiNG wAlkS 10th July (7pm) Gaywood Walk with Doreen Leventhall Meet at the old gate to KES Academy 17th July (7pm) Betjeman Walk with Richard Morley Meet at St Nicholas Chapel FESTiVAl wAlkS In association with King’s Lynn Festival Wednesday 19th July (2pm) The Darker Side of Lynn with Edith Reeves Meet at St Nicholas Chapel Thursday 20th July (2pm) King’s Lynn: War and Peace with Doreen Leventhall Meet at King’s Lynn Library Thursday 27th July (2pm) Walpole’s Lynn 1702-42 with Dr Paul Richards Meet outside Stories of Lynn For information on all walks and to book tickets contact The Tourist Information Centre at the Custom House 01553 763044 The King’s Lynn Town Guides give their services voluntarily. All the money raised from the walks goes directly to conservation projects in the town.

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of the Roman Diocese of the East, asked to marry her but decreed she had to renounce Christianity first. Upon her refusal she was tortured, during which various miraculous incidents occurred.

One of these involved being swallowed

by Satan in the shape of a dragon, from which she escaped alive when the cross she carried irritated its innards.

Another legend has Olybrius trying to make her his concubine, or possibly his wife. When neither cajolery nor threat of punishment succeeded he had her brought before him and threatened death unless she renounced the Christianity. On her refusal an attempt was made to burn her, but the flames left her unharmed. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but at her prayers her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured. Finally Olybrius ordered her beheading.

One of the 14 ‘Holy Helpers’ and one of the saints who spoke to Joan of Arc, St Margaret is also the patron saint of childbirth, pregnant women, dying people, kidney disease, peasants, exiles and the falsely accused.

Anne Mortimer, Countess of March, commissioned a Life of St. Margaret sometime between 1415 and 1426; during the period of her own life when she was concerned with childbearing and therefore most likely to require Margaret’s intercession. A Benedictine monk at Bury St Edmunds was given the task and composed a poem running to 540 lines. He completes his work as follows: This blissed mayde, this virgyn glorious; Of alle hir enemyes she was victorious, Til at the laste, in vertu complet goode, For Cristes sake she shad hir chaste

bloode.

From the 12th to the 20th century St Margaret was among the list of saints to be commemorated wherever the Roman Rite was celebrated, but in 1969 was removed from the list because of the ‘entirely fabulous’ character of the stories told of her.

Fittingly enough, St Margaret of Antioch is celebrated as a saint this month – on July 17th by the EasternRite Orthodox Church and on the 20th in the Western Rite Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.

wHErE TO diScOVE r ST. MArGArET iN kiNG’S lYNN TOdAY ...

– St Margaret can be found in the stained glass in King’s Lynn Minster – The legend of St Ma rgaret and the dragon is portrayed in the symbol of the dragon’s head pie rced by a cross.

This has been used in the King’s Lynn town crest and town seal continuously since the 13th century – You can also see the dragon’s head outside the Minster – in the tide clock on the south tow er and in the evening projections on the the north tower – The dragon’s head symbol is also widely used across the borough on local authority property ; for instance, look out for it on the green bollards on the South Quay an d council vehicles

KLmagazine July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

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KLmagazine July 2017

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And he should know, as Alistair’s been supplying and fitting carpets all over west Norfolk from his King’s Lynn store for over 30 years now.

“Some of the best carpets in the world have virtually no depth at all,” he says. “Take Persian carpets, for example. They’re not thick at all, but they’re supremely comfortable and they’ll last forever.

Rather than think about how deep the pile is, you need to think about how you expect the carpet to perform.”

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KLmagazine July 2017

suitable for a heavy traffic area such as a staircase, as it would rapidly flatten.

“Many people today are avoiding carpets altogether in hallways and kitchens,” says Alistair. “That’s why we have a fantastic collection of luxury vinyl tiles and real wood flooring, and even some sisal carpets – which will easily cope with 20 years of hard labour!”

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Local Arts

ABOVE: The 67th King’s Lynn Festival, which takes place this month, includes such diverse treats as the Argentinian music and dance act Tangomotion (above); cellist Raphael Walfisch (far left), one of the most recorded classical artists in the world; popular singer and broadcaster Clare Teal (left below); and a special screening (with the soundtrack performed live) of the 1920 film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, which is regarded as the first ever horror film

Treating King’s Lynn to a genuine feast of culture The 67th King’s Lynn Festival opens on July 16th, bringing a world-class programme of events to the town from every artistic discipline from music to film. KL magazine previews the event...

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ombine a wealth of worldclass artistic talent, two weeks in July, some of the area’s most beautiful buildings and a programme of over 30 separate events and you’ll have the 67th King’s Lynn Festival.

The event’s prestige and repute continues to grow every year, and the 2017 Festival is set to be catapulted onto the national stage once again when the BBC Concert Orchestra appears at the Corn Exchange for an edition of Friday Night is Music Night with a ‘heroes and villains’ theme featuring music from TV, film, theatre

KLmagazine July 2017

and the classics.

It follows a recording of the popular Radio 2 programme two years ago, which gave King’s Lynn and its arts festival a huge national profile, with dozens of mentions on the radio over several weeks.

This summer’s wide-ranging programme features classical music, jazz, folk, films, speakers, walks and exhibitions – and while it’s virtually impossible to pick highlights from such a star-studded line-up, ‘must see’ performances include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Clare Teal with her Hollywood

Orchestra; Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band; pianist Freddy Kempf; poet Roger McGough; the European Union Chamber Orchestra; and a folk and dance spectacular with The Demon Barbers.

“The aim of the King’s Lynn Festival is to enrich the life of West Norfolk, making it a real cultural heritage destination,” says artistic director Ambrose Miller. “The quality and breadth of the programme puts the festival on a level with the most prestigious festivals in Britain.”

The Festival opens on July 16th with stirring music performed by The

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PICTURE: NEDA NAVAE E

Local Arts

ABOVE: The European Union Chamber Orchestra, British pianist Freddy Kempf (right), and British violist Timothy Ridout (below)

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from the Highlands, Scottish fiddle music doesn’t get any more exciting than it does in the hands of Blazin’ Fiddles, who are making a welcome return to the Festival after their sell-out visit four years ago.

Meanwhile, The Demon Barbers will be presenting a high energy folk music and dance spectacular that features clog, sword, hip hop and break dancing – something that has to be seen to be believed. Lovers of the dancefloor will also be enchanted by Tangomotion, a breathtaking music and dance journey into the heart of Argentina, with world-class dancers and live music by Tango Siempre.

Clare Teal is one of the UK's most celebrated and much loved singers (and signed the biggest ever recording contract by a British jazz singer in 2004) and she’s sure to get a warm welcome when she returns with her 17piece Hollywood Orchestra conducted by internationally-acclaimed trumpeter Guy Barker.

A fascinating blend of music and literature will be presented by poet Roger McGough, who’ll be teaming up with LiTTLe MACHiNe to perform an innovative new show involving vintage, classic and surprising poems set to music.

Of course, the great appeal of the Festival is that it always offers more cultural treats than music and dance.

Medieval monarchy expert Dr Marc Morris will be giving a talk entitled Bad King John? and Elizabth White (producer of the BBC’s incredible Planet Earth II) will be focusing on islands at a Royal Geographical Society event.

The silent 1920 film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, is regarded as the first horror film, but it’s rarely seen – and the prospect of watching it accompanied by a contemporary score performed live by Minima is a mouthwatering prospect for any fan of the cinema. It’s just one of three film events being staged during the Festival in conjunction with King’s Lynn Community Cinema Cub. This year, the Ruth Fermoy Memorial Concert will feature the internationallyrenowned Wihan Quartet, and before launching the popular series of five morning coffee concerts in Lynn Town Hall the Alke Quartet (with clarinetist Matthew Scott) will be performing at West Acre Theatre.

Always a hugely popular event, demand for tickets for King’s Lynn Festival events is equally high, and early advance booking is recommended. The Festival box office is at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on 01553 764864. For full details of all the Festival and fringe events, please visit the official website at www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk, and for information about becoming a Patron or Friend of the event, please call the Festival Office on 01553 767557.

PICTURE: KAUPO KIKKAS

Brighouse and Rastrick Band from Yorkshire, who are regarded by many as the best brass band in Britain.

It’s a fittingly impressive start to the Festival, which will come to a close on July 29th with a concert by renowned cellist Raphael Wallfisch with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – a concert conducted by Martin Yates and featuring Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor, Mendelssohn’s overture Midsummer Night’s Dream and Beethoven’s Eroica symphony.

The European Union Chamber Orchestra will present the early music day concert in the magnificent setting of King’s Lynn Minster. It will be the orchestra’s last of three UK tour dates in a new collaboration with recorder virtuoso Piers Adams, a member of Red Priest –and their programme has been described as “an exciting night of redhot baroque.”

The orchestra will also help King’s Lynn Festival Chorus celebrate its 40th anniversary at St Nicholas’ Chapel on July 19th. The chorus will be marking the occasion with a performance of Mozart’s Great Mass in C, the work which featured in its first concert at the very same venue in 1977. BBC Young Musician brass winner in 2016, Ben Goldscheider, will be the soloist in Mozart’s horn concerto.

Another concert also benefitting from the chapel’s superb acoustics will be 4 Girls 4 Harps, a quartet highly acclaimed for its dynamic performances, which take the audience on a musical journey round the world.

Although King’s Lynn is a long way

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KLmagazine July 2017

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Local Life

ABOVE: Lucy Burlingham’s sketch of the Red Mount in King’s Lynn appears towards the end of her remarkable book of memories and pictures and was produced in 1842, the year of the book’s final entries.

A unique glimpse into the life of a young lady Exactly 180 years ago, 16-year-old Lucy Burlingham started her notebook of memories – a notebook which has survived to this day. Alison Gifford takes a look at the life of a young Victorian girl.

O

n the fourth day of the seventh month 1821 (no pagan names such as Wednesday or July were used) Lucy Burlingham was born into one of the prosperous Quaker families of King’s Lynn. The baby was presented to the Society of Friends’ monthly meeting whose members were bankers, surgeons, silversmiths, watchmakers, druggists, farmers and furriers, together with their wives and families. They were well to do, finely but plainly dressed and highly respected in the local community.

And there one might have left little Lucy, a footnote among the members

102

of this talented family – but for a small book (right) tucked away in the Lynn Museum collection. It is just 7 x 4½ inches with red and pink card binding and gold tooling, enclosing 80 pages that were once blank.

The exquisitely handwritten contents cover the few years from 1837 (when Lucy was 16, so the book was possibly given to her as a birthday present) until 1842 and consists of poems and homilies written for her by Quaker friends and family and illustrated with lovely drawings, little water colours and extraordinarily intricate paper cutouts.

The Burlinghams of Lynn had a remarkable network of relations who

KLmagazine July 2017

ABOVE: Lucy Burlingham’s exquisite handwriting appears throughout her book and is almost as attractive as the illustrations it contains, such as this charming scene (left) of a bride crossing a precarious bridge and the intricate design below. Amazingly, the design was not created by pen or ink – it is, in fact, a single piece cut (presumably by hand) from a sheet of red paper.

were in the forefront of the British business world of the time; for instance, her aunt and namesake Lucy Burlingham was married to Edmund Darby of the Ironbridge family. Using Lucy’s book we can see how her family visited Quaker friends and relations and attended meetings in Worcester, Manchester and Neath in Wales.

John Burlingham had married Elizabeth Catlin of King’s Lynn in 1819 before a ”public Assembly of people called Quakers.” The witnesses were John Burlingham senior, a rich glover from Worcester; Thomas Gale, a banker from Runcton Holme and partner in the Lynn-based bank Massey’s & Co; and uncle John Catlin, a Norwich timber merchant.

In Worcester, Quaker John Burlingham senior (1753-1828) was a prominent citizen and innovative master glover. He helped invent a ‘slitting mill’ which could cut out ten pairs of gloves in a single operation, and he made gloves for King George III and his family. John junior moved to King’s Lynn when he married, and the KLmagazine July 2017

young couple started life at 4 Tuesday Market Place next to the Duke’s Head which had within it at that time Massey’s Bank, owned by the Quaker Benjamin Massey.

Elizabeth Catlin came from a family of silversmiths and watch and clock makers. Her father Daniel Catlin, Elizabeth herself and her brother Daniel, an important and well documented clockmaker, carried on this trade. John Burlingham joined them, but evidence shows he was more retailer than clockmaker as the movement of the clocks with his name were actually made by John Thwaites.

There must have been steady visiting between the Burlinghams in King’s

Lynn and Worcester, and we can see that Lucy started her book with a visit to her relations in Worcester.

The very first page is a decorated nameplate that reads ‘Lucy Burlingham – 1837 – Lynn Regis’ followed by a poem written in Worcester, and on the next page is a lovely drawing of Ludlow which has ‘LW’ at the bottom. This could well be the work of Quaker Edward Leader Williams of Worcester, a gifted amateur artist and friend of John Constable’s. The dates are correct and the circumstantial evidence is compelling.

Lucy’s next entries were made in Manchester, and include a beautiful flower painting by Eliza (Elizabeth) Everleigh, the daughter of Joseph and Tabitha Everleigh

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Local Life

ABOVE: Lucy Burlingham’s book contains beautifully executed sketches of places she visited and carefully copied quotes from her favourite poems (below). Although she kept the notebook for a mere five years and died when she was only 27, the young woman’s book somehow survived and is now a local treasure in possession of King’s Lynn Museum (accession number KILLM 1980.2)

who owned a cotton and silk mill in the area. The shrub she draws is Boronia serrulata, first described in 1798 and a fashionable new plant from Australia.

Eliza’s’s father was Manchester’s leading field botanist and Lucy’s brother Daniel Catlin Burlingham was also a serious botanist, with part of his fern collection still kept at Kew. The next little picture in Lucy’s book says very faintly ‘Bridge River Bala’ which is in South Wales. I think the Burlingham family were visiting Quaker Isaac Redwood, who had a tanning business making very fine coloured leather – which may have been used in the Worcester glove business.

Another bridge in Glamorganshire is beautifully drawn later in the book, and in between are flowers, birds and countryside scenes of working people and their cottages. There are also delightful little sketches of fantasy; a bride jumping across a stream escaping from a wicked husband

104

perhaps, and picturesque ruins covered in ivy.

But undoubtedly the highlight of the book for KL magazine readers must be the wonderfully proficient drawing of the Red Mount in the Walks, which was sketched in 1842. Rendered in pencil and measuring a mere 5 x 3 inches it is a truly fine work of art.

Almost at the end of the book is a delicate little poem copied into it by Lucy’s mother Elizabeth Burlingham, from the work of Norwich novelist, poet, radical, philanthropist and Quaker Amelia Opie: There’s not a leaf within the bough There’s not a bird upon the tree There’s not a dewdrop on the flower But bears the impress, Lord, of thee.

There are very few entries and no more drawings after this, and on June 6th 1841 Lucy ended her book with the poem The Distant Ship

by English poet Felicia Dorothea Hemans, probably best remembered for writing the classic opening line ‘The boy stood on the burning deck...’ and

who had died in 1835. The very last lines in this lovely little book (pictured below), which contains mementoes of friends and family, home and places visited on every page read as follows: Bright are the floating clouds above, The glittering seas below; But we are bound by cords of love To kindred weal and woe.

Therefore, amidst this wide array Of glorious things and fair, My soul is on that bark’s lone way, For human hearts are there.

Almost exactly 13 years later, Lucy Burlingham died. She was just 27 years old at the time. But her wonderful book has given her a unique form of immortality rarely found among her contemporaries and peers.

KLmagazine July 2017

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The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

W

ell that’s another election done with. Although I always vote, I’m not that fond of the big day, as Mrs Middleton has always insisted on being the very first person in the village to cast their ballot. Which means we have to get up at an ungodly hour, get ready, walk almost a mile to the village hall and stand at the doors waiting for them to open.

I have explained on any number of occasions that the timing of her vote won’t affect the result, but she’s always been afraid of forgetting about it during the course of her busy day – in which case it could make all the difference.

Coming from a woman whose memory is so good she can still remember the day I bought the wrong type of fabric conditioner six years ago I find that highly unlikely, but I do agree with her on the last point.

Sometimes a single vote can make all the difference.

Take the General Election of 1886, for example. The contest for the seat of Ashton-under-Lyne (it’s just south of Oldham) ended in a complete tie. Some 6,098 votes were cast in total and each candidate received exactly 3,049. No coin tossing or short straw drawing in those days; under the law of the land at the time, the returning officer was given a casting vote, and he chose John Edmund Wentworth Addison, who stayed in Parliament for the next ten years before becoming a county court judge in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

I’ve no idea who the returning officer was, but I’m pretty sure he was immediately removed from the Christmas card list of the unfortunate Liberal candidate who ‘lost.’

Close calls aren’t just a thing of the 106

past either. In the General Election of 1997 (the year we had to sprint the last hundred yards to the village hall because one of our neighbours was looking to be first at the doors) Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten won the seat for Winchester from the Conservatives by a mere two votes. That was out of a total of 62,054 – which means his winning margin was a teeny weeny 0.003%.

The defeated Conservative Gerry Malone was a bit grumpy about the result and challenged it on the basis that it had been affected by a decision to only count ballot papers which had been properly stamped.

The challenge resulted in a sudden by-election, but no one likes a poor loser, and Malone duly lost again – this time by an eye-watering 21,556 votes.

One of my favourite election stories also comes from the 1997 election.

Down in Torbay, Conservative MP Rupert Allason went for a meal in a local restaurant shortly before polling day and for some reason left without leaving a tip. Not surprisingly perhaps, 14 people (the disgruntled restaurant staff and their close family members) decided to switch their allegiance to other candidates, and a few days later Allason lost. By 12 votes no less. I’m not sure how he feels about tipping now, but here’s a good one for him – don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Literally.

Mrs Middleton’s eccentricities aside, elections are always a bit odd. You’ve probably never heard of Ronnie Carroll, but he stood as an Independent Eurovisionary for Hampstead and Kilburn back in 2015.

Ronnie had pretty good Euro credentials, being the only person to have represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest for two years

running. He performed Ring-a-Ding Girl in 1962 and came fourth, and followed that with Say Wonderful Things the following year – and he came fourth again.

Anyway, in the General Election on 7th May 2015 he won 113 votes – despite the fact he’d actually passed away a month before polling day at the age of 80. The late Ronnie Carroll finished sixth out of seven candidates.

Now, I’ve never been a betting man (if there were 20 horses in a race I’d be guaranteed to pick the one donkey) but putting money on election results is becoming increasingly popular. Last November, William Hill exceeded a £4 million turnover during the American Presidential election. Remember how close the Trump-Clinton contest became in the end? How much would you have been prepared to put on the result?

Someone in London put £200,000 on a Trump victory through the online betting site Spreadex, while William Hill took a £183,200 bet from a woman in Durham on Hillary winning. The words ‘more’, ‘money’, ‘than’ and ‘sense’ immediately spring to mind.

Another election in the next couple of years? I wouldn’t bet on it.

KLmagazine July 2017

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