KL Magazine August 2016

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 71 AUGUST 2016 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE Scolt Head Island (between Brancaster and Wells-next-theSea) by Ian Ward

meet the team MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Murray MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward SALES AND PROMOTION Daniel Thomas CONTRIBUTORS Lindsey Bavin Clare Bee Richard Parr Paul Richards Sylvia Steele

contact 18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk KL magazine is published monthly by KL Publications Ltd. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs.

While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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t’s summer, it’s Snettisham, and we’re sailing. Could there be a better way to enjoy the summer? If you’d like to discover what all the excitement at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club is all about at the moment, turn to page 22 of this month’s magazine. You may not have ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Horatio Nelson (who learned to sail in Norfolk as a child) but one of England’s greatest heros does make an appearance in this month’s magazine, thanks to the remarkable tea-blending expertise of Mark Richmond. If that sounds intriguing, see page 74 for a uniquely new taste of Norfolk.

If you’d rather not take to the water, there’s still plenty to keep you occupied over the next few weeks. You can get up close and personal with the natural environment at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve (page 46), enjoy the gentle and quintessentially English game of croquet (page 80), or take a trip back in time with a visit to the lovingly-restored Wolferton Station (page 16) –which once welcomed everyone from the Royal Family to the crowned heads of Europe and even (reportedly) the mad Russian monk Rasputin.

A few months ago we took a look back at the work of the King’s Lynn Arts Centre, which closed at the beginning of the year, leaving a considerable hole in the cultural life of the town. Things are changing now, however, thanks to Dr. Veronica Sekules, whose GroundWork Gallery opened in the town centre (directly opposite the Custom House) last month and already has people talking with its focus on the role of art in the environment.

Enjoy the magazine, enjoy the summer, and we’ll see you again next month.

KL MAGAZINE

KLmagazine August 2016

Contents

AUGUST 2016

88

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30 46 KLmagazine August 2016

94

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

62-73 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations

8-10 HANSEATIC SKI A review of this year’s exciting event

70 RESTAURANT REVIEW The Crawfish Inn at Thursford

14 ANYONE FOR TENNIS? Inspirational holiday fun with Alive Leisure

74-76 NATIONAL HERO, NATIONAL DRINK Enjoying a taste of Norfolk & Nelson Tea

16-18 NORFOLK’S ROYAL STATION The story and the saving of Wolferton Station

80-82 A VERY ENGLISH GAME...

A profile of Hunstanton Croquet Club

22-26 SETTING SAIL FOR THE FUTURE...

Enjoying life at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

88-90 LYNN’S HORRIBLE HISTORY Lindsey Bavin on the past’s darker corners...

30-32 TRUE’S YARD SILVER JUBILEE Safeguarding the local museum’s future

92 BOOK REVIEWS Recommendations for reading this summer

36 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

94-96 PAINTING THE PAST...

The work of local artist Malcolm Brown

38-40 UNCOVERING BRITAIN’S POMPEII A look at the latest finds at Must Farm

98 SAMARITANS A new home for the vital local service

45 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas

100-102 GROUNDWORK GALLERY King’s Lynn has a new home for the arts

46-48 A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Engaging children with nature at Pensthorpe

104 SUBSCRIPTIONS Ensure you never miss an issue of KL magazine

54-59 FASHION The latest looks from our local boutiques

106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON On your marks for a rather different Olympics

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Traditional Traditional C Country ountry F Fair air E Established stablished 1 1981 981 - w www.fenlandfairs.com ww.fenlandfairs.com

Sat Sat 2 27th, 7th, Sun Sun 28th 28th & Monday Monday 29th 29th August August Archery Archery

BASC BASC C Cookery ookery

Ring R ing Displays Displays

BASC Dog Events Lurcher S how - TTerrier errier S how Lurcher Show Show Sunday & Monday

British British D Driving riving S Scurry curry

F Fun un F Fair air

Clay Clay Shooting Shooting

H Heavy eavy H Horse or se S Show how - Monday RING DISPLAYS: ISPLAYS: R ING D Falconry - Gun Dog Demonstrations Bee Keeping - Bygones and much more For further information and event listings: www.fenlandfairs.com www.fenlandfairs.com

((qualifier qualifier ffor or C Countyman’s ountyman’s W Weekly eekly o on nS Sunday) unday)

• Ferret Show • Rural Craft Marquee • Children’s Rides • Full Catering & Bars

GATES G ATES OPEN OPEN 8:30am 8:30am to to 5:30pm 5:30pm Admission Adults £12.50 under 13 FREE REE A dmission A dults £ 12.50 | Children Children u nder 1 3F Address: Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy 0AF Address: Quy Quy H all, S tow-Cum-Quy CB25 CB25 0 AF

80s

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FEATURING MARK KING…

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LESSONS IN LOVE, LEAVING ME NOW, SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, RUNNING IN THE FAMILY

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KLmagazine August 2016

August g t

S Saturday aturday 20th 20th - Sunday Sunday 28th 28th

A ACTIVE CTIVE FA FAKENHAM AKENHAM Fakenham Town Centre Fakenham is getting active this month and everyone’s welcome to join in! For the fourth year running Active Fakenham will be coordinating a week of activities and have-a-go sessions run by local clubs, organisations and businesses. The week will begin with a launch in the market place with stalls, inflatables, smoothie bikes, activities and more and end with the fantastic Fakenham 50 cycle rides, this year ranging from 15 to 100 miles. Everyone is welcome to join in exploring the countryside by pedal power and at the community centre for food, fun and music. Why not get a small group together and raise money for a charity or your club? All of the activities are either free or are available at a reduced price. Details can be found on the Active Fakenham website activefakenham.org.uk, on Facebook and Twitter, or you can email Richard at richard@activefakenham.org.uk for more information.

25 YEARS AGO: On August 6th 1991, the first ever website (info.cern.ch) went live. The web’s inventor, Tim Berners-Lee, also postedi a link to download the first web browser, and the World Wide Web was. opened up to new users on 23rd August.

Friday Friday 19th 19th to to Sunday Sunday 21st 2 1 st THE THE ANGEL ANGEL CASK CASK ALE ALE & CIDER CIDER F FESTIVAL ESTIVAL The Angel, 41 School Road, Watlington, King’s Lynn PE33 0HA (Starts 4pm Friday afternoon) Join the locals at The Angel to enjoy some fine locally-sourced cask ales, ciders and wines. Admission is completely free, there’s live music, hot food throughout the day and evening, and lots of fun activities for the whole family! For all you music lovers there will be an excellent live performance by local rock back Jinx’d on the Saturday evening. For further details and information, please contact The Angel on 01553 811326.

S Sat at 27th, 27th, Sun Sun 28th 28th & Mon Mon 29th 29th

S Sat at 27th, 27th, Sun Sun 28th 28th & Mon Mon 29th 29th SHOULDHAM S HOULDHAM F FLOWER LOWER FESTIVAL FESTIVAL All Saints Church, Shouldham, King’s Lynn (10am-5pm) The beautiful three-day Shouldham flower festival is back again for another year gracing the village’s quaint All Saints Church on the hill over the bank holiday weekend. If you love flowers make sure to go and view the many spectacular arrangements put together on display by some very talented local flower arrangers. There will also be a grand raffle, refreshments, stalls and bric-a-brac. The event is free to attend and is also wheelchair accessible.

KLmagazine August 2016

FENLAND FENLAND C COUNTRY OUNTRY F FAIR AIR Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy, CB25 0AF (8:30am-5:30pm) The Fenland Country fair is back again and still going strong after 36 years! With a keen emphasis on tradition the fair is set to showcase an excellent variety of products and activities such as clay shooting, gun dog demonstrations, bee keeping, archery, ring displays, birds of prey, vintage cars and tractors, arts and crafts, heavy horses, cookery demonstrations, full catering and bar, agricultural and horticultural products, farm produce, and flowers etc. The rural craft tent includes around 30 stands and continues to feature new and exciting products every year, along with the food marquee offering a delicious selection of home grown produce and some of the biggest pies you ever seen! Tickets are £12.50 for adults and children under 13 go free! For more information about the event visit the website www.fenlandfairs.com.

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To book tickets call: 01945 588808 or go online:

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Alexandra Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ 12

S Saturday aturday 13th 13th August August

GREAT GREAT B BIRCHAM IRCHAM F FRENCH RENCH FA FAIR AIR St Mar y the Virgin Church, Great Bircham PE31 6XS (11am-4pm) Enjoy a great day for the whole family at Great Bircham’s 6th annual French Fair! Once again, the people of Great Bircham will be transforming their church and its surroundings into a bustling French Market! For the hungry and thirsty, there will be French bread and cheese and other appetising food from the café including their renowned French onion soup. Taste coffee and enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea in the British Embassy. There’s also plenty of fun for children with art activities, a treasure hunt, face-painting and a card competition for the Queen’s 90th Birthday! Everyone can enjoy the paintings in “Montmatre”, the wide-ranging bookstall on the “left bank”, brocantes, patisserie, jewellery, plants and much more. Plus, HM the Queen and HRH the Prince of Wales have graciously contributed by donating celebratory hampers as prizes for the popular French Fair Raffle! All proceeds will be used towards much needed repairs to the church but admission is free.

KLmagazine August 2016

August August AuguA sut gust

S Saturday aturday 27th 27th ""A AC CELEBRATION ELEBRATION O OF FT THE HE 8 80s" 0s" OPEN O PEN AIR AIR C CONCERT ONCERT AT AT H HOLKHAM OLKHAM H HALL ALL Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB Bank holiday weekend concerts have proved to be a huge success at Holkham Hall, with the spectacular 18th century grand Palladian mansion as a backdrop. Past concerts have featured Status Quo and Jools Holland and this year the promoters Live Promotions Events Limited, are presenting an 80s celebration with 80s acts that have enjoyed worldwide success.

Top of the bill are the English pop, rock and jazz funk band Level 42, featuring the legendary bass player Mark King. To date the band and its lead singer and bassist Mark King have released 14 studio albums, 7 live albums, an EP and 6 compilation albums.

The band is a multi-million selling 80s success story and they have sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide, as well as enjoying top ten singles including ‘Lessons In Love’, ‘Something About You’, ‘Leaving Me Know’, ‘Running in the Family’ and ‘Hot Water’.

Joining Level 42 will be ‘Go West’, formed in 1982 by Peter Cox and Richard Drunnie.

Go West enjoyed phenomenal popularity in the late 80s and early 90s and are best known for their international top ten hits ‘We Close Our Eyes’ and ‘Call Me’. In 1987 they released ‘Dancing on the Couch’ which made the UK top 20. In 1990 Go West scored a UK top ten hit with the track ‘King Of Wishful Thinking’ from the film ‘Pretty Woman’, followed in 1992 by the ‘Indian Summer’ album which included ‘Faithful’.

Joining the impressive line-up of 80s hit making stars are the legendary Scottish rockers ‘Big Country’. Big Country’s first KLmagazine August 2016

single was ‘Harvest Home’. Their next single ‘Fields of Fire (400 miles)’ was a UK top ten hit and was rapidly followed by the album ‘The Crossing,’ which also enjoyed top 20 chart success in the USA. Other hits include ‘Chance’, ‘Wonderland’ and ‘Look Away’.

Their unique use of guitar-driven sounds are combined with the spirit of bag pipes, fiddles and other traditional Scottish instruments.

Also joining the all-star hit making line up are the legendary ‘Heatwave’, who enjoyed chart success from 1975 through to the mid1980s. Hits include, ‘Too Hot To Handle’, ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Always and Forever’.

Jaki Graham is a three times Grammy nominated British singer and songwriter.

Following her hit version of ‘Could It Be I’m Falling In Love’ with David Grant, Jaki Graham scored further top 20 hits, including ‘Round and Round’, ‘Breaking Away’ and ‘Set Me Free’.

Completing the all-star line-up is ‘Nathan Moore’ from Brother Beyond who enjoyed a number 2 hit here in the UK with ‘The Harder I Try’. The song had a distinct Motown feel, as did their next hit ‘He Ain’t No Competition’.

With the 80s Celebration at Holkham, concert goers will be hard pushed to keep off their feet, with the party atmosphere that these hit-making chart success acts will be producing. The 80s Celebration is the one event not to be missed this summer and will make the perfect “must go” concert over August bank holiday.

Tickets are £39.50 and are available online from: livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk, and kingslynncornexchange.co.uk or in person at Holkham Ticket Office.

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KLmagazine August 2016

PICTURES: IAN WARD

What’s On

ABOVE: A competitor braves the challenges of a typical English summer as the Hanseatic Ski Race returns to King’s Lynn in front of the town’s iconic Marriott’s Warehouse (opposite)

A historic setting for some high speed thrills On a distinctly inclement weekend last month, the Hanseatic Ski Race returned to the riverfront in King’s Lynn – but even the weather couldn’t spoil the spectacle, as Clare Bee discovers...

O

ver a beautiful sunny weekend in August last year, the first Hanseatic Water Ski Races were held on the River Great Ouse in the centre of King’s Lynn, launching a tradition that’s likely to become one of the highlights of the area’s summer calendar for years to come.

The event proved so popular with racers, the public and sponsors alike that plans immediately began to stage a second race meeting in 2016, which took place over the weekend of July 9th-10th and drew big crowds to see this fantastic and exciting spectator sport.

KLmagazine August 2016

The inaugural event was the joint brainchild of two members of the Hunstanton Ski Club, Jason Russell and Tom Lumley, but although it may have been new to many of the spectators, the sport actually has a longestablished pedigree. Ski racing has been happening in Hunstanton since before the first World Championships some 37 years ago. The resort was also proud to host the 2005 World Championships. The venue offers some of the best facilities for skiers – but with races often taking place up to a mile out to sea it’s not always easy for spectators to see what’s happening.

The idea started formulating to bring the racing to the people and to race on

rivers where the public could experience the speed and thrill of the races and the expertise of the skiers up close. Many of the skiers actually train on the river in King’s Lynn, so the idea of bringing racing to the town’s riverside seemed a natural progression.

Jason and Tom began to organise the event, and with colleague Andrew Hornigold (who runs Marriott’s Warehouse on the quayside) set about planning the racing. With Marriott’s Warehouse being so well located, it was the ideal base for the event and all the organisers needed was to get the Borough Council on board to put their ideas into action.

“The council couldn’t do enough for 9

What’s On

us,” says Jason. “In fact, they welcomed us with open arms! The Hanseatic League was set up in the 13th century to provide trading and safe passage for goods to be transported between ports in North Europe, including King’s Lynn, and we’re proud to be racing in some of the very same places those early ships sailed from.”

The event was staged in the historic maritime quarter of King’s Lynn. The waterfront is an ideal place from which to watch the races, but it also has the advantage of having several restaurants and bars in the immediate vicinity, and is only minutes away from the centre of the town.

As luck would have it, the timing of this year’s race couldn’t have been better planned, as it was also the final weekend of the town’s free music event, Festival Too. The dates had originally been chosen around the tides, but the organisers (and indeed the Borough Council) were delighted to discover that the dates coincided with Festival Too. Charlotte Wright, Marketing Manager for the Town Hall and the Borough Council, says the Council is justly proud to be associated with the Ski Races. The fact the event coincided with Festival Too was the icing on the cake for the town’s summer programme of events.

“Nowhere in the world has this calibre of entertainment,” she says. “As towns go, we’re one of the very best at putting on events, with one for free at least every weekend.”

As well as the support from the Council, the committee are grateful for the backing of all their sponsors and also for the support and endorsement from the British Water Ski Federation.

The Hanseatic Ski Races are free for the public to come and watch, and are also free for the racers to enter.

This year, skiers came from far and wide, including competitors from as far afield as Australia, such was the feedback following the success of the initial event.

After the inaugural event in 2015, the team were delighted to be shortlisted for the Mayor’s Business Awards in the category of Community Event of the Year, and all their hard work was rewarded at the awards ceremony in April when they were announced as the winners.

It meant the organisers were even more keen to provide the public with another spectacular event in 2016.

The format was kept very much the same, with races for juniors, ladies and seniors and the fast-paced Formulas 1,

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2 and 3 – the high-octane races that reach speeds of up to 100mph. And new for this year was the fun ski race for the under 8s, with youngsters braving the choppy waters on ski boards.

Although the British weather didn’t quite come up with the same conditions as last year, once again the organisers were delighted with the support from local people, particularly on Sunday July 10th. The event is now being talked about worldwide in the Water Ski world and is even set to rival the Diamond Race, the most gruelling water ski race held on the narrow canals near Antwerp in Belgium.

After two full days of fast, exciting racing the winners were presented with their awards by the Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Councillor

David Whitby.

The Hanseatic Ski race is now firmly embedded in the calendar of West Norfolk. It has brought fun, entertainment and excitement to the centre of King’s Lynn and for all who came to marvel at this high speed, competitive sport.

KLmagazine August 2016

AUGUST BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Sun 7 Aug ABBA MANIA Popular tribute show with all the hits £7 - £20.50

Tues 9 Aug THE JOE RINGER BAND 28-piece big band with showcase of Michael Bublé hits £7 - £18 Sat 27 Aug OPEN DAY See behind the scenes, stand centre stage. Lots of activities, talks and demonstrations. Free, and ideal for families.

Sun 28 Aug KILLER QUEEN Recreation of the high energy, powerful phenomenon that was Queen, live. £7 - £23.50

High School Prom Queen

Wed 3 - Sat 6 Aug HIGH SCHOOL PROM QUEEN 200 youth theatre performers in hilarious new musical comedy £7 - £12

Wed 31 August - Thur 1 Sept PEPPA PIG'S SURPRISE Brand new stage show from pre-school children's favourite. £7 - £16

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL

FREE

DRINKS

PACKAGE!

ROMANTIC RHINE CRUISE TO SWITZERLAND A scenic journey on board Olympia 9 days from £989.00, 19 May 2017

Experience the best of this mighty river on our ‘Blue Riband’ voyage. Olympia heads from the classic Middle Rhine, through the fabled Gorge and south to the Swiss city of Basel, before turning north and cruising – via yet more wonderful ports of call – to Cologne, historic Rhineland capital.

HIGHLIGHTS & INCLUSIONS • Embark in historic Andernach • Two cruises through the romantic Rhine Gorge, passing the legendary Lorelei • Guided tour of Speyer • Calls at Strasbourg, Mannheim, Mainz & overnight in Basel

This holiday is booked by

Rest, relax and discover more on a river cruise To find out more or to book this fantastic holiday give us a call on: 01553 772910

Find us at: 23 Nursery Lane, South Wootton, King’s Lynn PE30 3NG

www.westnorfolktravel.co.uk wntravel@btconnect.com

• On-board entertainment and English commentary • Escorted by a friendly, experienced cruise manager • Eight nights’ full board accommodation on board Olympia • Coach travel from King’s Lynn and Channel crossings

West Norfolk Travel

These holidays are organised & operated by Newmarket Promotions Ltd. ABTA V787X. Subject to availability.

Single supplements apply. Offer may be withdrawn anytime.

KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine July 2016

What’s On

KLmagazine July 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

Local Life

ABOVE: Wolferton Station today – nearly 50 years after it closed, it has been lovingly restored and maintained by Richard Brown, who came for a visit in 2000 and ended up buying it.

The renaissance of Norfolk’s Royal Station When Richard Brown visited Wolferton Station 16 years ago, he had little idea it would one day become his home – and a lovingly restored piece of local heritage – as Clare Bee discovers

I

t seems more than a coincidence that 1862 saw two events happen in West Norfolk which were to become interlinked for over a century. In February of that year, the Sandringham Estate was purchased

by Queen Victoria for use as a private residence for the future King Edward VII, then the young Prince of Wales.

Later in the year, on October 3rd, a single railway track was opened to run the 15 miles from King’s Lynn to the new station in Hunstanton.

The line was operated by The Great Eastern Railway Company and was used by royal trains for just over 100 years before finally closing on May 3rd,

KLmagazine August 2016

1969. But in those 100 years, it had probably been the most famous rural station in the land, with Kings and Queens, Emperors and Empresses, and many of the high society of the day disembarking there.

When the Prince of Wales married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863, he brought her to live at Sandringham House. They were so happy there, with their children growing up in the country, that increasingly visitors had to come to them.

The comings and goings to Wolferton Station became such that it was soon evident that its amenities weren’t sufficient, and in the 1870s

alterations began, which included the provision of a handsome suite of royal waiting rooms.

The station’s greatest glory days were undoubtedly during the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 until his death in 1910. The great and the powerful would walk along the oak-panelled hall to be greeted by military bands and staff in scarlet uniforms, and then whisked off to Sandringham House for lavish parties, balls and shooting expeditions.

The poet Sir John Betjeman was a lifelong railway enthusiast, and also a frequent visitor to Norfolk. In 1962, exactly one hundred years after the King’s Lynn to Hunstanton line was

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ARCHIVE PICTURES FROM THE RICHARD BROWN COLLECTION

Local Life

ABOVE: Thanks to the work of Richard Brown, the heritage of Wolferton Station has been safely preserved for the future. Today, the station is a beautiful reminder of the times when it welcomed the arrival of Queen Alexandra and the King of Greece in 1910 (top) and when the platform was decorated for the arrival of Royal visitors in Christmas 1953 (bottom)

opened, Sir John travelled on the branch line on his way to visit Hunstanton School, then one of the most celebrated Modernist buildings of the mid 20th century.

Today Wolferton Station is a quiet reminder of bygone days, lovingly restored and cared for by just one man.

Strangely enough, though, Richard Brown (a Yorkshire man by birth but one who’s wholeheartedly adopted Norfolk as his home) didn’t mean to buy it. As a railway enthusiast, he came to see the station in 2000, but somehow ended up owning it!

Although (unlike his father and brothers) he’d never worked on the railways himself, Richard has always been interested in anything and everything to do with trains and railways. Interestingly, one of his daughters is carrying on the family tradition, and is currently a Station Manager at St Pancras station in London.

At the time of his initial visit, Richard was a businessman in his native Yorkshire, but had always had a hankering to live in an old railway station. Whilst on holiday in Norfolk he heard on the radio that Wolferton Station was for sale, and he decided to take a look.

The rest, you could say, is history, and Richard has worked tremendously hard in the years since then to improve and maintain the station. After completing

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the purchase early in 2001, he could see that a lot of work was needed to bring it back to being a place that people would want to come and visit.

“It really had lost its way,” says Richard. “No attention had been paid to its railway heritage, and it’s this heritage that I’m passionate about. I’m determined to keep its history going and I get great pleasure from running it – I feel I’m doing my best to make this place feel part of our history.”

Richard has now made his permanent home in Norfolk. He’s justifiably proud that he came along in the nick of time, as he feels that the people with all the knowledge about railways are slowly going.

He maintains the gardens and grounds quite beautifully and is meticulous about blending it all in with its surroundings. Wolferton Station is a true architectural gem, and is based round an arch dating from the late 15th century.

Sir John Betjeman described it, in his inimitable style, as “different from all other stations.”

Richard, however, is more modest, and says that “the secret is in its simplicity.”

He loves nothing more than chatting to visitors and hearing their stories about the railways. Although the royal connection has made Wolferton particularly well known and documented, to Richard it is his home,

which he’s happy to share with others.

His enthusiasm is evident, and his knowledge is such that when King’s Lynn station was recently refurbished, he was asked to act as a consultant on the project. He’s proud to say that everything he suggested was taken on board.

The very last royal train stopped at Wolferton in 1966, and the line continued to survive despite the notorious Beeching cuts that decimated the country’s railway network. At one time, 20 trains a day passed through the station, but it was the eventual lack of use that finally lead to its closure in 1969.

Visitors can now wander along the platform, where the Royal family (and other celebrities and notables from across Europe) once stepped from their train to spend time in their Norfolk holiday homes. The track, the crossing gate and the signal box are all accessible, and Richard is on hand to listen and tell stories about those bygone railway days.

“I could never have believed it could develop into what it is now,” he muses.

“I’m really proud of it, and I rarely even want to leave the village. Aren’t I lucky?”

For more information on the history of Wolferton Station and a fascinating gallery of old photographs and images, please visit the website at www.wolfertonroyalstation.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2016

Local history, brought vividly to life

Visit King’s Lynn’s stunning new attraction, Stories of Lynn, this summer holiday.

Discover stories of the seafarers, explorers, merchants, mayors, magistrates, and miscreants who have shaped King’s Lynn, one of England’s most important medieval port towns, over more than 800 years of history.

Tour the old gaol cells, try on mayor’s robes, see the magnificent King John cup, and more!

Open: Daily Tel: 01553 774297 For more information visit www.kingslynntownhall.com/storiesoflynn

KLmagazine August 2016

2010-3-1

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Start your next adventure at the CaravanStore

Huge 3-acre site 100s of new & used caravans and motorhomes

01362 696434

Biggest shop Largest accessory shop in East Anglia (+ shop online!)

Great service The only multi award-winning dealer in Norfolk*

greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk

Visit us: Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1WD (off the A47 next to Tesco) * Practical Caravan Owner Satisfaction Awards 2013–2014.

Your local independent Insurance Broker “I like to think we’re the friendly face of insurance in West Norfolk. We provide all of our clients with a personal service and offer free no-obligation quotes and cost-effective policies.”

Sarah Dean Office Manager

Offering services such as: • Personal Insurance • Professional Indemnity • Commercial Vehicle & Fleet Insurance • Charity Insurance • Business Insurance • Commercial & Residential Property • Farm Insurance & much more

Tel: 01553 770112 E: enquiries@ibainsurance.co.uk W: www.ibainsurance.co.uk Find us: 111 High Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1DA Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority no. 311163

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KLmagazine August 2016

AN INSURANCE POLICY...

Hopefully, you wouldn’t think of going on holiday without an appropriate travel insurance policy. In a similar way, you can help protect your business through regular analysis and effective forward planning.

Taking the time now to analyse the performance of your business and implement strategies for the future will help your business to thrive.

Making the most of the sun, sea and sand!

Summer is the perfect time to relax, but there’s no reason why your business has to go on holiday as well. Stephenson Smart has plenty of ideas for making the holiday season work for you! hether the summer represents a busy time for your business, or alternatively offers a chance to reflect and make plans for the future, Stephenson Smart offers some useful tips on how your business can make the best use of the holiday period – and help to make this year your most successful yet.

W

GOING ABROAD...

Could international trading be the next step for your business? Recent referendum results aside, the new VAT Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) makes the provision of digital services throughout Europe a much more streamlined process from a tax point of view.

A wider scope means a wider potential customer base. However, as with most aspects of business, proper research is necessary before you start jet-setting – we can help you make the most of the opportunity that MOSS offers.

BUCKETS AND SPADES...

Is now the time to think about renovating your business premises?

With a number of employees on holiday it could well be the ideal moment to make those vital changes

KLmagazine August 2016

without disturbing the workforce. Don’t forget that claiming relief on the cost of refurbishment can be a very effective way of loweriing your tax bill.

GOING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK...

Smaller businesses often have the potential to adapt more readily to their customers’ needs. If you have additional time on your hands over the summer, consider conducting customer surveys and market research – and remember that this may be the time for that vital product launch to boost your Summer figures.

Cross-selling existing products could also improve slow sales figures without the need for extensive innovation. Also this is the ideal time to consider what other demographics your services could appeal to.

OUR BRANCHES

KEEPING IN TOUCH...

Modern technology and the growing trend towards achieving a work-life balance mean businesses with an established flexible working policy are increasingly likely to attract the best talent.

Even when you’re out of the office it doesn’t mean you have to be out of the loop. Laptops, tablets and mobile devices could be your key to effective management and an effective team, wherever you are in the world. Just remember to switch off now and again!

HOLIDAY JOBS...

If you’re facing a gap in the workforce, hiring a student or intern during the summer period may allow you to tackle essential projects or those which may not otherwise have been priorities.

It will be valuable experience for them, and could be a source of fresh innovative thinking for you. The best young talent will be eager to make a headway into the business world, with possible and long-lasting future benefits for your team.

Whether you’re just starting out in business or an established company looking to maximise profits and reduce your tax, Stephenson Smart’s expertise, excellent friendly service and regional knowledge offers the perfect solution.

Over 100 years of successful practice can’t be wrong –happy holidays!

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KLmagazine August 2016

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: The home of Snettisham Beach Sailing Club has recently been extensively upgraded, opening a new chapter in the story of a club that was formed almost 80 years ago

Setting sail for a bright future at Snettisham...

A local sailing club is riding the crest of a wave following the completion of a major redevelopment project. Richard Parr meets Guy Playford, Vice-Commodore of Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

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here can be nothing quite as exciting, exhilarating and challenging than taking part in competitive sailing – whether it’s out on the sea or on inland lakes – and a longestablished West Norfolk sailing club is now riding on the crest of a wave after completing a major redevelopment project.

And it was a case of third time lucky for the Snettisham Beach Sailing Club when it applied for a £75,000 Sport England grant for a scheme to upgrade it facilities at its Snettisham-based beach clubhouse and training centre.

KLmagazine August 2016

Now everything looks literally shipshape at the club, with the addition of a smart new conservatory, extensive outdoor decking and a training centre classroom.

Club Vice-Commodore Guy Playford, who’s been associated with the club since he was a 12-year-old boy, has worked, with others, on the grant application.

“It was a long journey because our first two applications were turned down,” he says. “We were absolutely delighted to be awarded a £75,000 grant at the third attempt. Altogether the scheme cost around £95,000 –

with the club putting in £20,00 of its own funds.”

All the hard work is already paying off with the club buzzing with activity towards the end of the week and at weekends – where people can enjoy a late afternoon drink sitting on the decking watching the sun set over the sea.

Guy is a great enthusiast for the club he knows so well and the facilities it offers – not only experienced sailors but also novices learning the craft.

“My involvement with the club, which was first formed in 1939, goes back to when I was a youngster, and 45 years

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Local Life

24

PICTURES: IAN WARD

later I’m still involved with it,” he says.

“It’s a wonderful club with superb facilities and a really family friendly atmosphere.”

Guy – who combines being the club’s Vice-Commodore with his work running his company Supreme Carpets in Dersingham – considers the club his second home, and he jokingly says that everyone knows where to find him.

“Everyone at the club has to pull their weight,” he says. “Club rules state that sailing members have to do duties (two per sailing member) and without members carrying out their respective duties, it would be impossible to run the current programme.”

Because of its fabulous location on the beach, the site of Snettisham Beach Sailing Club is in a flood risk area, and considerable damage was caused a couple of years ago when the tidal surge struck the West and North Norfolk coastline. Happily, the club works closely with the Environment Agency and as part of its recent improvements has upgraded its flood defence features. Guy says that in addition, the club is situated within an Site of Special Scientific Interest and works closely with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club has probably never looked better. The new facilities includes a smart new conservatory that doubles as a classroom for the Royal Yachting Association Sailing Training Centre.

People can enjoy watching the sailing on the sea from the extensive new decking area – and the facilities can now be used for longer during the year following the installation of a new central heating system.

Both the men’s and women’s changing facilities have been upgraded with the installation of new shower cubicles, new flooring and lighting – giving a much brighter and contemporary look.

Guy explains that the club was formed in 1939 with the primary object of promoting the sport of sailing. The club offers dinghy racing on the sea and there’s also an inland lake for junior sailing.

During the sailing season – which runs from Easter to October – the club holds open meetings including 2000 Millennium Series, Topper ITCA Travellers, the Lionel Wilkinson Memorial Trophy, and the Snettisham Open Handicap Regatta.

The club is proud of the fact that its racing is both friendly and competitive and that national champions are included among its membership.

The club offers members and non-

KLmagazine August 2016

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Local Life

26

shapes and sizes. And, of course, almost everyone enjoys the bar.

So whether you’re just starting out and looking for a club that will encourage your enjoyment of sailing or you’re a seasoned dinghy racer in need of good racing, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in a very friendly, welcoming and supportive environment.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the various types of membership can contact the Membership Secretary at memsec@snetbeach.co.uk. For all general inquiries, visit the clubhouse on Snettisham beach during opening times or call the clubhouse on 01485 540639. For training opportunities, contact the Chief Dinghy and Power Instructor Jane Leet on c_instructor@snetbeach.co.uk or by telephone on 01485 779027.

PICTURES: IAN WARD

members a full sailing programme consisting of racing, social and training.

It’s an accredited RYA Training Centre and is an OnBoard and Sailability Club.

The club offers a wide range of sailing and powerboat courses for members and non-members through the RYA training centre.

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club has developed to become a thriving and popular Club with a 500 membership. It offers racing every weekend from March through to October, and there’s a full programme of training for both members and non-members throughout the summer. More than 600 people were involved with racing with the Club last season.

The club is affiliated to the RYA, which promotes and protects safe, successful and rewarding British boating in all its forms – and provides valuable support for the club’s activities, not only on the sea but also with legal advice, training support and race management training.

“We’ve been really fortunate to have had the RYA’s Regional Development Office Robbie Bel as a club member from his junior days,” says Guy. “His support has been invaluable in the development and success of the club.”

Snettisham Beach Sailing Club attracts a variety of sailing types – from the highly-experienced to complete novices and people who simply like pottering about on boats of various

KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

27

“Sixth form isn’t the only route to university”

STEPHEN HERNANDEZ

Went to sixth form, but realised it wasn’t his best option Came to the College of West Anglia Studying nursing & paramedic academy Planning to go to university

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KLmagazine August 2016

KING’S LYNN - WISBECH - CAMBRIDGE

Meet the friendly face of local law...

A conversation with Fraser Dawbarns’ newlyappointed Senior Partner Deborah Allen What’s your background with Fraser Dawbarns?

DEBORAH ALLEN: Having decided to study Law at University because I didn’t have the Latin to study history (which was my first choice!) I had to find a firm willing to offer me a training contract, which was then known as Articles.

Dawbarn, Barr and Knowles (as the firm was then known) offered me a place in their Wisbech office and so my career in Law began.

Within six months of qualifying I was sent to what was then a very small fledgling office in King’s Lynn. I started practising in all areas of the Law until I began specialising in Family Law about 25 years ago, becoming Head of a growing department and eventually, in KLmagazine August 2016

May of this year, Senior Partner of the firm.

What is the role of the Senior Partner?

DEBORAH ALLEN: Fraser Dawbarns has offices in King’s Lynn, Wisbech, March and Downham Market and we have over 100 staff. My role as Senior Partner is to ensure that each of our offices is seen as the leading firm, locally, and indeed throughout Fenland, east Cambridgeshire and northwest Norfolk. I also need to make myself available to offer support and guidance to all of our staff.

How has Fraser Dawbarns changed since you joined the firm?

DEBORAH ALLEN: Fraser Dawbarns has a history of over 170 years, but my experience obviously doesn’t cover

those early years!

The firm I joined was called Dawbarn, Barr and Knowles and that became Dawbarns, before merging with Pearsons in King’s Lynn, taking over Walton Jeffrey & Armitage in Downham Market and becoming known as Dawbarns Pearson.

In 2008, we merged with Frasers of Wisbech, which was another wellestablished Wisbech firm formerly Fraser Woodgate & Beale, to become the Fraser Dawbarns we are today.

I’ve therefore seen the firm grow substantially from a well-respected local firm to a highly-specialised and leading firm of Solicitors in East Anglia.

For you personally, what have been the most important changes in law since you began your career?

DEBORAH ALLEN: As a Family Lawyer, the single thing that’s caused me the most concern has been the loss of Legal Aid. It’s resulted in many people being unable to access help and advice at times when they desperately need it, most particularly in relation to issues involving children.

It may not seem an ‘important’ change in law, but its effects have been (and still are) both fundamental and far-reaching.

What do you hope to achieve during your time as Senior Partner?

DEBORAH ALLEN: I’m hoping to see the firm grow in its expertise, particularly in the areas of Agricultural Law and Court of Protection work. I’m also looking forward to promoting the careers of our many newly-qualified Lawyers and training more people to follow in my footsteps.

If possible, how would you describe Fraser Dawbarns in less than 15 words?

DEBORAH ALLEN: An expanding firm giving professional and specialised advice with friendly local offices and staff.

FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com

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KLmagazine August 2016

Local Life

ABOVE: True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum in the centre of King’s Lynn celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year, and is in the midst of a major fundraising appeal to help improve its facilities and services for the benefit of the community it serves

Working to safeguard the future of True’s Yard As one of the area’s most popular community museums celebrates 25 years of success, True’s Yard Trust Chairman Paul Richards charts the continuing progress of its Silver Jubilee Appeal...

A

s many people will be aware, True’s Yard is a unique heritage site and museum which tells the fascinating story of the fisherfolk of the Old North End of King’s Lynn – but it does so much more too!

Back in the January issue of this magazine I wrote about the museum’s special community character and the challenges facing the charitable trust responsible for it. The focus was on our Silver Jubilee year in 2016 and our plans to raise £100,000 to safeguard the future of True’s Yard. Eight months on, I thought it would be good to take a look at what’s happened since then and

KLmagazine August 2016

how the future looks now.

The Chinese Cultural display and buffet lunch at the Town Hall on 31st January was much enjoyed by the many guests whose support got the Appeal Fund off to a flying start. The event was kindly hosted by the Mayor, whose chosen charity received a donation. The museum is grateful to the West Norfolk Chinese Association for making this major event possible.

From February to April True’s Yard staged a photographic exhibition on Royal visits to King’s Lynn over the last 100 years. This attracted new visitors to the museum and more appreciation of its rich collections of photographs and

artefacts.

We’re also currently holding (until the end of August) another photographic exhibition coinciding with the Battle of the Somme centenary, titled ‘Those Who Served’ which features strong and atmospheric images of the men from King’s Lynn and the North End who answered the call to arms in 1914.

Work is rapidly progressing on the upgrading of the Pat Midgley Research Centre, a two-year project springing from a £57,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Public access to the PMRC and its collections will be improved and new audiences encouraged to join classes in local and

31

ABOVE: This image from the current Those Who Served exhibition at True’s Yard shows Willie Pearman and his friends who took part in the First World War. Willie lived in Whitening Yard in King’s Lynn and served in Royal Norfolks. He went missing on 8th October 1918, shortly before the war ended. Below is a picture taken at the 3rd Pat Midgley Memorial Lecture held at St. Nicholas Chapel in King’s Lynn back in March.

family history. The centre is named after Pat Midgley (1932-2013) who was the founder of True’s Yard and loved research and learning for all.

On 31st March the third Pat Midgley Memorial Lecture was held at the magnificent St Nicholas Chapel and attracted 250 people. Ruaraidh and Susan Adams-Cairns gave an impressive dramatized talk on the Battle of the Somme. The exceptional setting helped to make this a tremendously moving experience. The Museum’s Vice-Presidents secured sponsorship and provided refreshments and nearly £3,000 was raised for the Appeal Fund.

In addition to fundraising events and applications for grants to various local and national trusts, the Appeal Committee has now organised six reception evenings at the Museum. A short talk and tour with refreshments are designed to convince our guests that True’s Yard merits some support.

It is a true community museum with its roots in the community which it serves in a variety of ways. The Appeal Committee consists mainly of local business people whose expertise and sponsorship of these important evenings deserve recognition and the Museum’s sincere thanks.

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Of particular importance has been the museum’s work with primary schools and offering IT and other facilities to adult learners. The replacement of our old computers and the refurbishment of the IT room are necessary if the museum is to attract more students.

Another key project is a book on the history of King’s Lynn and England for schoolchildren, to promote interest in the story of the town and the nation,

and hopefully appealing to all age groups! And of course, not forgetting our historic fishing smack which is located in the Yard and is in urgent need of repair.

Talks, tours, suppers, garden parties and raffles have also strengthened the role of True’s Yard as a community museum as well as generating enjoyment and donations to the Appeal Fund.

The North End Ladies of the VIP Club and The Friends of True’s Yard are both playing their part in fundraising. In April the museum staged a concert with the West Norfolk Youth Orchestra at the Methodist Chapel on London Road – and the audience was treated to music specially composed for us called (appropriately enough!) ‘True’s Yard’.

Next month, on Friday September 2nd there’s a North End Evening at the museum with folk ballads and sea songs as well as refreshments. Please contact True’s Yard if you wish to come.

True’s Yard would like to thank all its friends and supporters whose assistance is steadily driving this Silver Jubilee Appeal towards its goal. The trustees owe a great deal to them and the regular band of volunteers whose daily commitment to the Museum is exceptional.

We firmly believe that True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum has a bright future.

It is dedicated to its heritage and community missions to make a difference to our town and our county.

But we still have about £30,000 more to raise – so we’ve got a busy and demanding five months ahead!

If you’d like more information on the appeal and details of how you can help us reach our target, please contact me by writing to True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum, North Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1QW, by calling us on 01553 770479 or by sending an e-mail to info@truesyard.co.uk.

PICTURE: KEVIN ELFLEET

PICTURE: TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM

Local Life

KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

33

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KLmagazine August 2016

Air source isn’t just a modern and fully controllable heating system. It’s fully sustainable, it’s cleaner and it’s cheaper to run.

It really is the way of the future...

– RICHARD KNIGHT Director Richard Knight Homes Ltd www.rkhomes.co.uk

The choice of local builders Why air source heating from 4 Way Refrigeration is the way of the future for sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective homes...

T

he benefits of air source heating from 4 Way Refrigeration for homeowners are now well understood – ranging from low running costs to fully-controllable yearround heating – but it’s also becoming the preferred solution for local builders across the region.

“Air source heating needs no gas or oil supply, no flues and no ventilation,” says 4 Way Refrigeration’s Steve Simpson. “It doesn’t need extensive ground works either, which makes it a cost-effective installation for all building projects – from small self-build single homes to larger multi-property developments.”

At West Walton, Richard Knight is currently completing a prestigious development of detached 4- and 5bedroom detached properties, all of which feature air source heating systems by 4 Way Refrigeration that provide

4 WAY

underfloor heating downstairs, radiators on the upper floors and a constant supply of hot water. For the Director of Richard Knight Homes Ltd (whose father actually built the estate adjoining the new development over 15 years ago), it was an easy choice to make.

“We always take a lot of pride in the end product, and we like to think we’re building homes rather than houses,” says Richard. “Air source heating is a unique selling point, and there’s no premium on the price of the properties.

It’s ideal for reaching the levels of the building codes required for sustainable homes, and it also saves the homeowner around two thirds the cost of running an oil-fired system.”

For local builders, it also helps when you have an experienced and professional local company to rely on.

“We’ve worked with 4 Way

Refrigeration Ltd Electrical Ltd Energy Ltd

Refrigeration for over 10 years now, and Steve and his team consistently offer a really high-quality service,” says Richard.

“Steve always visits the site personally to plan the installations and always takes time to demonstrate the system to the new homeowners. When you’re dealing with several different contractors onsite it’s vital they’re reliable – and 4 Way are second to none when it comes to working to a schedule.”

If you’re currently planning or working on a new building project, contact 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd now and discover the benefits of air source heating.

“Air source isn’t just a modern and fully controllable heating system,” says Richard. “It’s fully sustainable, it’s cleaner and it’s cheaper to run. It really is the way of the future – and I’d have no hesitation recommending 4 Way to help you make the most of it.”

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KLmagazine August 2016

35

West Norfolk: Then and Now

1967

2016

CHANGES IN CHAPEL STREET...

Thanks to Bob Booth again this month for his photograph of Chapel Street in King’s Lynn, which was taken in 1967 looking towards the junction with St Ann’s Street and Austin Street.

He fondly remembers visiting Wheatley’s store (a grocers) when he was younger and that the pink-fronted

store next to it was Florense’s, which sold baby linen. The building to the far left was the home of Eastern Counties Utilities Ltd, which sold motoring accessories.

You can enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s history on the website at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk or by visiting the Norfolk Heritage Centre at

the Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich (or your local studies library).

We’ll be taking another look back in time at the local area next month.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 36

KLmagazine August 2016

BEFORE

Above is a composite image made from two photographs showing Ms Bourn’s home before ECOnomy Windows replaced the small original French doors in the kitchen and lounge with a stunning double run of bi-fold doors (right), opening up the rooms and bringing the outside in.

AF TER

A better and brighter outlook with ECOnomy Windows... here’s no time like summer for enjoying our homes, and for Ms Bourn of Norwich there’s never been a summer quite like this one, thanks to the high quality products and firstclass customer service of ECOnomy Windows.

“The property is only eight years old,” she says, “but we’ve always wanted to open up the view at the back. There were some small French doors to the rear of the property, but they were really too small and didn’t let an awful lot of light in.”

Ms Bourn contacted ECOnomy Windows on the recommendation of friends in Cambridge (showing just how far the company’s reputation has spread over the last 25 years!) and was immediately impressed by their friendly

T

and customer-focused approach.

“We knew bi-fold doors weren’t a particularly cheap option,” she says, “but we were pleasantly surprised at just how competitive ECOnomy Windows were, especially when compared to the larger companies we’d already contacted. They didn’t ask us for a deposit or any stage payments, and there was no pressure from start to finish – they were mostly concerned with doing the very best job they could for us.”

Following several design consultations and a professional survey, ECOnomy Windows replaced the property’s existing French doors with a double row of large Ecotherm PVC-U bi-fold doors (one of them no less than 4.5m wide), creating a stunning L-shaped wall of energyefficient glass.

“The result is truly amazing,” says Ms Bourn. “The quality is fantastic and it’s made such a big difference to our lives.

The doors let so much more light in, and they’ve really opened up our living space.

We really couldn’t be more pleased with the result.”

If you’re looking to brighten up your outlook this summer, contact ECOnomy Windows now to see just how easy it is to make your dreams come true – with unparalleled style, unrivalled quality and outstanding value for money.

“I don’t think we would have had the confidence to let any other company undertake the work,” says Ms Bourn.

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KLmagazine August 2016

PICTURES: CAMBRIDGE ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT / DAVE WEBB

Local Life

ABOVE: A composite image (created from 20 separate photographs) showing Bronze Age footprints on the outside of the palisade.

The interior to the right has all the wood debris. Meanwhile (opposite) work starts on the painstaking excavation of the recently-discovered Bronze Age Wheel – a find of national importance.

Why the Fens are home to Britain’s Pompeii...

In the summer of 1999, some decaying timbers were discovered in a quarry pit at Must Farm in Cambridgeshire – the beginning of one of the most important Bronze Age discoveries in Europe

T

hink of great archaeological sites and you think of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi in China and Machu Picchu in Peru. You wouldn’t immediately think of a clay quarry in Cambridgeshire, but over the last few years a series of incredible discoveries have led to the site at Must Farm – close to Whittlesey – being enthusiastically described as Britain’s Pompeii.

The quarry is run by building products supplier Forterra, and sits astride a prehistoric watercourse inside the Flag Fen basin. The site has produced large

KLmagazine August 2016

quantities of Bronze Age metalwork and the famous discovery of eight pristinely-preserved log boats in 2011.

The site continues to astound.

Archaeologists have now discovered the largest and most complete Bronze Age wheel, the earliest example of its kind, in Britain. Thought to date from 1100-800 BC, this ancient wooden wheel is one metre in diameter and is so well preserved it still contains its hub. The find is unprecedented in terms of size and completeness (although an incomplete and smaller Bronze Age wheel was found nearby in the 1990s) and poses challenges to our

understanding of the Late Bronze Age in terms of the technology available 3,000 years ago.

“This remarkable but fragile wooden wheel is the earliest complete example ever found in Britain,” says Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England. “The existence of this wheel expands our understanding of Late Bronze Age technology and the level of sophistication of the lives of people living on the edge of the Fens 3,000 years ago.”

This find is the latest in a series of discoveries at the Must Farm site which is providing an extraordinary insight into

39

PICTURES: CAMBRIDGE ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT / DAVE WEBB

Local Life

ABOVE: Wood specialist Mike Bamforth examining the base of a Bronze Age wooden bucket at Must Farm. Some of the most fascinating discoveries at the site have been the pots, fragments of textiles and other material recovered from the timber dwellings (below). After analysis it was found there was still food in some of the pots!

domestic life 3,000 years ago. It has already revealed circular wooden houses believed to be the best– preserved Bronze Age dwellings ever found in Britain, and the large wheel was unearthed just a few metres away from the largest round house on the site. Other exciting finds include a wooden platter, a small wooden box and rare small bowls and jars with food remains inside, as well as exceptional textiles and Bronze Age tools. The houses collapsed into a river, after a catastrophic fire, which preserved their contents in amazing detail.

Even the quarry owners are excited about the continuing discoveries at the site.

“This is an incredible project which we're delighted to be part of,” says Brian Chapman, Head of Land and Mineral Resources at Forterra. “We understand that the recent discovery of the wheel is of national importance. We’re committed to helping uncover the remaining secrets of this unique site at Must Farm and we’re looking forward to working with our partners over the coming months.”

For the team of archaeologists working at Must Farm, the site continues to be full of wonders.

“Among the wealth of other fabulous artefacts and the new structural remains of round houses 40

built over this river channel, this site continues to amaze and astonish us with its insight into prehistoric life,” says Kasia Gdaniec, Senior Archaeologist for Cambridgeshire County Council. “The wooden wheel is believed to be the most complete example yet found from this period, and it really does pose a challenge to our understanding of both Late Bronze Age technological skill and, together with the eight boats recovered

from the same river in 2011, transportation.”

Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage) and Forterra are funding a major £1.1 million project to excavate 1,100 square metres of the Must Farm quarry site, and the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Division of Archaeology, University of Cambridge is currently over halfway through the excavation – which is taking place because of concerns about the location and future preservation of the site.

The remains cannot be preserved indefinitely in situ and need to be recorded and analysed to help our understanding of this unique Bronze Age site.

After the excavation is finished, the team will take the finds for further analysis and conservation. Eventually, they will be displayed at Peterborough Museum, Flag Fen and at other local venues. The end of the four-year project will see a major publication about Must Farm and an online resource detailing the finds.

For more information and details on the site and details of past and current discoveries, please see the website at www.mustfarm.com KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

HOMEhints

in association with FRIMSTONE LTD

Q

We recently moved into a new home and are having real problems with our gravel drive. It’s seems difficult to drive out of it and the gravel keeps spreading out onto the road (this picture was taken after we’d cleaned it up once again!) What’s going wrong?

A

As your car is having trouble getting out of the drive, it certainly sounds as though the gravel has been laid too deep.

It may well be that the drive was ‘dressed’ shortly before you bought the home (to make it look more attractive) and whoever did the work ordered too much gravel.

As a rough guide, FRIMSTONE generally recommends a depth of 2-3ins (5-7cm) so it will be easy to check if that’s the issue.

The best solution would be to remove the excess gravel off re-use it for improving drainage or in the garden, where it can have any number of practical or decorative uses. You can place it around plantings and rose bushes, or use it decoratively, such as between paving slabs or to enhance a water feature.

Finally, you may want to check whether the ‘spreading’ of your drive is actually being deposited from gravel caught in your car tyres. If that’s the case then the gravel is probably too small. FRIMSTONE usually advises using 14-20mm gravel for driveways, and though you can use 40mm it doesn’t hold together too well – which is part of your problem.

If you do need any further help or advice on this, please contact your nearest FRIMSTONE centre and they’ll be more than willing to help.

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We’re about to start some building work and would like to use recycled aggregates if possible. Are they simply an ecofriendly option or do they have any specific advantages ?

A

We actually have considerable experience with recycled aggregates and have been producing them for almost 20 years. In fact, FRIMSTONE was recently judged one of the top five companies in the UK for recycling aggregates. They do have an obvious benefit to the environment, and they can actually be cheaper as all the raw materials they contain are sourced locally.

As far as quality goes, FRIMSTONE‘s recycled aggregates offer comparable levels of finish and performance, but they do tend to be slightly softer – which can make them easier to work with.

They’re also slightly lighter, which means the same volume can actually go further – offering you another potential cost saving. If you do want to use recycled material in your building work, please contact your nearest FRIMSTONE and they’ll give you all the help and advice you need.

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

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I’m planning to create a barbecue area in my garden, roughly 4m x 5m in size. Will slabs laid on a bed of sand be okay for the base?

A

For an area such as this, you really need a solid foundation that should be around 10-20mm deep, and sand won’t be stable enough.

You could use concrete for the foundation, but that may be a little extreme – it’s comparatively expensive and may actually be too hard for a surface that people will be walking on.

Choose Type 1 or a graded recycled material from FRIMSTONE and you’ll find it compacts very well and provides a solid surface with a nice underfoot ‘feel’ once you’ve added a thin layer of sand and your slabs. For the area you specify, you’ll be looking at around 5 tons of aggregate – but think before you place your order. If you plan the area slightly larger or have any other job in the planning that can use the aggregate you’ll actually find ordering 7 tons is a cheaper option. You won’t need that much sand for your project, so don’t forget that at FRIMSTONE our various high quality sands are available in handy 25kg bags that will fit in your car, and all our centres will happily help you choose the right sand for the right purpose. g to create a Whether you’re lookin ilding a base for bu or r rde bo tive decora STONE is IM FR d, a new garden she ert help and exp e som for re he always r questions to you ail advice. Please e-m and we’ll .uk .co ne sto frim enquiries@ . ion ect dir point you in the right

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KLmagazine August 2016

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Pets

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

ITES SMALL BIT I

f you are out and about exploring the countryside this summer don’t forget that your pets will need adequate parasite protection. Fleas and ticks in particular can be common at this time of year so make sure you are up to date with an effective preventative product to nip any problems in the bud.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you are heading out with your dogs make sure that they are microchipped and your contact details are up to date just in case you become separated from each other.

Out and about with your dog this summer H

ere in Norfolk we’re surrounded by beautiful countryside and are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing somewhere to walk our dogs. Within easy reach of us we have shaded woods, miles of wide, sandy beaches, the open expanse of the Fens and the heaths and forests of the Brecks. Norfolk is without doubt one of the most dog friendly counties in the UK, with many pubs and cafes happy to welcome our four legged friends. Did you know that the popular coasthopper bus which travels the north Norfolk coast is happy to take dogs along for the journey and they are also welcome on the seal boats which go out to Blakeney Point. All the more reason to head up to the coast for a day out!

At this time of year I enjoy getting home to my dogs on a balmy summers evening and taking them out for a gentle stroll around the lanes near our house. It’s important to remember

during these hot months that the most sensible time to walk our dogs is during the cooler parts of the day - mornings and evenings. If you are going out and about do make sure to take a bottle of water and a bowl with you and keep your dog’s activity levels to a minimum during hot spells. It also goes without saying that you should never leave your dog in a car; leaving a window open, parking in the shade or leaving a bowl of water is not enough. A dog left in a car on a warm day can suffer heat stress and ultimately fatal heatstroke within 10 minutes. It’s also worth thinking about how hot the pavement or tarmac you are walking on is, occasionally I’ll see dogs that have been out for a walk on a hot day and burnt the pads of their feet on a particularly hot road. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for you to leave the back of your hand on for 5 seconds then it’s too hot for a dog’s paws!

With a bit of fore-thought and planning, and with some lovely summer weather (hopefully!) on its way, why not get out and about and explore our lovely county, and take your dogs along with you!

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KLmagazine August 2016

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44

KLmagazine August 2016

PICTURES: PENSTHORPE NATURAL PARK

Local Life

ABOVE: Over the past few years, Pensthorpe Natural Park has introduced a number of innovative ways for children to engage with the natural world – from meeting resident owls to taking part in fun and educational stamp trails (opposite)

Take a walk on the wild side at Pensthorpe Voted Norfolk’s best large attraction for the last two years, Pensthorpe Natural Park near Fakenham is encouraging families and children to enjoy re-connecting with the environment...

T

he research is endless when it comes to highlighting the positive impact nature and the great outdoors has on our health, wellbeing and overall happiness. With alarming statistics at almost every corner we turn, we’re all aware that children living in today’s world are becoming increasingly detached from nature – giving rise to a condition known as ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’.

While parents naturally like to protect their children from danger, the irreversible consequence of this

KLmagazine August 2016

disconnection can have a worrying effect on children’s freedom and overall wellbeing.

Over the past decade, the team at Pensthorpe Natural Park just outside Fakenham has been dedicated to improving their family offering and doing their bit to reverse the trend and encourage all generations to play their part in protecting the environment for the future.

The park’s giant outside classroom has several interactive learning initiatives such as stamp trails and bug walks and in 2013 Pensthorpe launched

WildRootz – adventure play, nature’s way. This fantastic outdoor adventure play area has been designed to motivate children to take risks, push boundaries and challenge their confidence. And the opening of Hootz House indoor play last July 2015 ensured an epic indoor adventure and a great family day out whatever the weather.

The unusual combination of play in the naturalistic setting of a stunning Nature Reserve takes families back to a time when carefree days were spent in the great outdoors – fostering a

47

genuine link and love of the natural world. This summer sees the opening of a new WildRootz Adventure Trail as well as family friendly nature-inspired activities taking place every week of the holidays to inspire children to forage a love, appreciation and respect for nature and enjoy the great outdoors.

Running until September 4th, children can discover underwater wildlife with a guided pond-dipping session, put their construction skills to the test with den building in WildRootz, take part in meet-and-greets with a resident owl and hedgehog, and learn fascinating facts about bug hotels with the ‘summer fun’ activities.

Armed with passports, the new WildRootz Adventure Trail aims to encourage families to explore more of the Park. Younger visitors can journey with ‘Hootz’ the owl and his wildlife friends – all have their own wildlife stories to tell!

With 200 acres of woodland walks, nature trails and the beautiful River Wensum running through the heart of the Park, adventurous families can take a tranquil stroll along the River’s edge and go exploring.

48

Combining areas of wetland, woodland, gardens, wildflower meadows and wildlife-friendly farmland, the 700-acre Natural Park provides a haven for some of the UK’s rarest and most endangered wildlife.

Pensthorpe was established in 1988 after the extraction of over two million tonnes of aggregate, and attracts families, walkers, gardeners, bird spotters, shoppers and diners from across the country. Records dating back to the Domesday Book show that Pensthorpe was actually once larger than its neighbour Fakenham!

For owner Deb Jordan – who bought the park with her husband Bill 12 years ago – that commitment to children has always been part of their plans for Pensthorpe.

“In addition to the farm, the conservation, the birds and the nature reserve, we’ve always focused on how the park would be for young children,” she says. “We want to get them outside as much as possible, keep them healthy, keep them fit and keep them busy. In that sense, it’s not only our focus now, but the preoccupation that brought us here in the first place.”

PICTURE: DARREN WILLIAMS

PICTURES: PENSTHORPE NATURAL PARK

Local Life

PENSTHORPE NATURAL PARK Fakenham Road, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0LN Tel: 01328 851465 E-mail: info@pensthorpe.com Facebook: /Pensthorpe Twitter: @Pensthorpe Situated one mile outside of Fakenham, Pensthorpe Natural Park is open all year round (apart from December 24th-26th) and you can now explore for longer with the extended summer opening hours of 9.30am–6pm until September 4th.

The Courtyard Café serves quality locally sourced and home-cooked food, and the Gift Shop is brimming full of unique and stylish gifts and homewares. There is ample free parking, and admission to the Courtyard Café and Gift Shop is free.

For more information, please visit the website at www.pensthorpe.com

KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

How to work legally on your protected trees...

The specialist Tree Preservation Order services of Heritage Tree Specialists

W

e’re all aware of the value of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).

They safeguard trees or areas of trees with special cultural, historical or social significance; but they still need regular maintenance – for aesthetic reasons, for safety reasons, and for the future health of the tree itself.

“In many instances, these are often the trees that are most in real need of some care and attention because they usually haven’t received any attention for years,” says Dan Ashton of King’s Lynn based Heritage Tree Specialists. “People think that a Tree Preservation Order makes a tree untouchable, but that’s simply not the case.”

You can’t simply get on with it, however. It’s illegal to cut down, top, or thin out a protected tree without permission, and the maximum fine for deliberately destroying one is currently £20,000 – and you’ll be required to replace the tree as well.

If your property does include trees with TPOs or you live in a conservation area (in which trees are automatically covered by the same

KLmagazine August 2016

restrictions and protections) Dan and his highly-trained and highly-experienced team can help you give them the attention they need – professionally, safely, effectively and legally.

“Mostly it’s a matter of simply reducing or thinning out the crown to let in more light or sympathetically pruning it for the sake of neighbouring buildings or structures,” says Dan. “It’s very much like working on a listed building, and all the work is done with the best interests of the tree at heart, ensuring it has a healthy – and a fully-protected – future.”

Visiting the site, Dan and his team will undertake a thorough survey, balancing

your needs and requirements with what’s likely to be acceptable within the provisions of the TPO – and will detail their recommendations to you before submitting an application for the work to the local council’s Tree Officer. It’s a process that’s completely free of charge if you then employ Heritage Tree Specialists to undertake the work.

“We have a lot of experience in working on protected trees in the area, and we have a successful track record of working with local authorities,” says Dan. “We have a very good understanding of what’s likely to be acceptable and what’s likely to be refused – which can save you a great deal of time and trouble.”

If you’d like to keep your protected trees in top condition (and keep within the law!) contact Dan and the team at Heritage Tree Specialists today.

information

Heritage Tree Specialists Willow Farm Industrial Units, Lynn Road, Saddlebow, King’s Lynn PE34 3AR Tel: 01553 617008 Web: www.heritagetreespecialists.co.uk E-mail: info@heritagetreespecialists.co.uk

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Bespoke Pine n Oak and a masterclass in quality A former blacksmiths, a unique restoration project and a stunning handcrafted kitchen by King’s Lynn based Bespoke Pine n Oak...

W

hen Kevin Andrews and Marianne Brown found the ideal site for the perfect family home just outside King’s Lynn, they found it in a barn that had been home to four generations of Magdalen blacksmiths.

Indeed, when the couple first viewed the property it was still a working blacksmiths.

“In those early days it was very hard to imagine it as a home,” says Kevin. “It was so dirty and black it was difficult to see the walls, it was packed with industrial equipment, and you had to climb a ladder to get upstairs! But we loved the way it felt and we knew it had a great deal of potential.”

The couple purchased the property around three years ago and embarked on what they realised would be a long52

term project to lovingly and carefully transform it into a home.

From the start, the couple had plenty of ideas for the property and already had a vision for the kitchen.

“We’d earmarked a central area for the kitchen and were always going to retain the original partition wall as a main feature as it had some fascinating variations in brick size,” says Kevin.

“However, to make the most of the space, we wanted something bespoke and unique, with Cathedral flagstone floors completing the oak and granite source material. The property was unique and the kitchen had to reflect that. It had to be something very special.”

Armed with some admittedly loose designs and sketches, the couple started looking for suitable kitchen

suppliers and made a fortuitous visit to King’s Lynn one Saturday afternoon, finding themselves outside the store and workshop of Bespoke Pine n Oak in the town’s Tower Street.

“Throughout the conversion we were determined to use local companies and we liked what we saw in the window, so we walked in and introduced ourselves,” says Kevin.

Bespoke Pine n Oak has been established for over 20 years (operating from the very same shop) and combines the long timber trade experience of Kevin Berry with the remarkable craftsmanship of his fellow director Carl Ingram.

It was exactly the combination Kevin and Marianne were looking for.

“They were clearly knowledgeable about working with the materials we KLmagazine August 2016

“Bespoke Pine n Oak are the very best people to work with. Every member of the team is extremely polite, extremely professional and extremely talented...”

KEVIN ANDREWS Magdalen, Norfolk

were interested in and they were genuinely enthusiastic about our project,” says Kevin Andrews. “I think what impressed us more than anything else was that Bespoke Pine n Oak were interested in creating a unique kitchen that would work for us and the building itself – rather than forcing more standard shapes and sizes on us.”

Working from Kevin and Marianne’s initial sketches and drafts, Bespoke Pine n Oak visited the site several times over the following months, creating outline schematics, designing individual units for equally individual spaces, and suggesting ideas for a number of innovative features.

“We did challenge them by changing the layout a number of times,” says Kevin. “We didn’t make life easy for them, but they always rose to the occasion and the whole process was a very positive collaboration. The result is a fantastic bespoke kitchen that does justice to their skills and is the perfect solution for the barn.”

That commitment to handcrafting unique furniture for unique spaces is at the very heart of Bespoke Pine and Oak. “People should never settle for second best when it comes to their homes,” says Director Kevin Berry.

“Fortunately, Carl has an amazing talent for taking the vaguest of ideas and turning them into beautiful and

functional pieces of furniture. The possibilities really are only limited by your imagination.”

Indeed, this is craftsmanship of the highest order. Everything – from a single bookshelf to a complete kitchen – is carefully crafted by hand in Bespoke Pine n Oak’s own workshops using traditional cabinet-making and carpentry skills.

They still use elements such as dovetail joints, mortice and tenon frames, and lap joints – and though they mostly work in solid pine and oak, there are several other choices available to customers looking for something exceptional.

“The effort Bespoke Pine n Oak put into the detailing of the kitchen was extraordinary," says Kevin Andrews.

“They double checked all the measurements, and they even had a ‘dry run’ with the empty carcasses to ensure the design translated into the real world successfully.”

Now installed, Kevin and Marianne’s kitchen – with its beautifully waxed finish and contrasting painted drawer fronts – is largely complete apart from some final finishing touches and the couple are already looking forward to enjoying it when they finally move into the property next year.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the work they’ve done,” says Kevin. “If

you’re creating something and need to have complete trust in the workmanship and standards of the tradesmen willing to collaborate on your project, then Bespoke Pine n Oak are the very best people to work with.

Every member of the team is extremely polite, extremely professional and extremely talented.”

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

information

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

www.bespokepinenoakltd.com

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

KLmagazine August 2016

53

fashion Fashion

Countout ry Wand ear about in Being the countryside in summer means you have to be prepared for the vagaries of the British weather – but thanks to the latest looks from our local boutiques, one thing you don’t have to compromise on is style!

Navy print dress by Adini ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 54

KLmagazine August 2016

Galway Country Boots in Brown by Dubarry (£299) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 KLmagazine August 2016

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Fashion

Tweed Blazer Jacket by Bariloche EVERYTHING OUTDOOR Holkham - 01328 712120 | Sandringham - 01485 298082 | Wroxham - 01603 777105 56

KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

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Fashion

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KLmagazine August 2016

BABY GOODS, TOYS, NURSERY FURNITURE & CLOTHING

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Skin health for Summer..

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Offering while-you-wait repairs for cracked or broken dentures – usually within the hour.

If something’s getting in the way of your smile, contact James Asman at Hunstanton Dental Laboratory for a friendly, professional, and confidenceboosting local service in a relaxing and friendly environment.

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w www.adult-warehouse.net ww.adult-warehouse.net | TTel: el: 0 01553 1553 7 776242 76242

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KLmagazine August 2016

“

Just by looking at the body differently, you can make what at first seems impossible actually happen...

”

TERRY CONNOLLY Free Your Body Therapy

“I’m in a lot less pain and I feel mentally brighter...”

Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains hurt me to try something different.”

Different indeed. Terry is currently one of the very few people in the entire world offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment, combining that with AiM (Anatomy in Motion) gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems, helping with the repair and rehabilitation of injuries and the relief of pain. For Alan, the results were remarkable.

“I can’t explain what he does, but I do know that it works,” he says. “I felt better on my very first visit and that’s improved every time I’ve seen Terry.

I’m in a lot less pain, I feel mentally brighter and I’m even walking without my sticks. We call him the Magic Man!” I can’t explain what he It’s not magic, however. For Terry, does, but I do know that it’s simply a case of looking at the it works. I felt better on body in a completely different way. my very first visit and “Alan’s situation was a combination that’s improved every of various symptoms adding up,” says time I’ve seen Terry...

Terry, who also found some problems ALAN KEW King’s Lynn stemming from an ankle injury Alan

t Free Your Body Therapy in King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly continues to use a range of new treatment techniques to finally free people from a life of chronic aches and pains – techniques that are taking more and more people by surprise.

People like Alan Kew of King’s Lynn, for example. The retired farmer had been experiencing significant lower back pain for some seven years, the legacy of a physical working life, two back operations and two hip replacements.

“By the time I first saw Terry I was having to use two sticks to help me get about,” says Alan, “and I’d even had to give up woodturning, which was a hobby I’d taken up when I retired. My friends read about Terry and I decided it couldn’t

A

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KLmagazine August 2016

”

had forgotten about for 40 years. “From the scar tissue from his operations to his years spent in a tractor and even his habit of carrying his wallet in his back pocket, which affected his gait. It’s complex, but it’s still a case of re-training the muscles and reminding the body of how it’s supposed to work.”

Happily, Alan has now even been able to return to his woodturning – and gave his first completed piece to Terry by way of thanks!

If you’re interested in finally freeing yourself from a life of chronic aches and pain, contact Terry at Free Your Body Therapy in King’s Lynn today and book an appointment for an initial assessment and consultation.

information

The Fitness Studios Old Dairy Units, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn Tel: 01553 277520 Web: www.fitnesskingslynn.co.uk www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk

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J&D PAPWORTH FARMS BUTCH E R S & G RA Z I E R S Home produced beef, pork and lamb from our Norfolk Farms. BBQ meats, bespoke burgers and sausages are also available.

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Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6HH t: 01485 533486 e: mail@caleyhallhotel.co.uk www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk

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www.thecoachpub.com 01485 540391 www.thecoachpub.com | 0 1485 5 40391 77 Dersingham, PE31 6LN 7 7 Manor Manor Road, Road, D ersingham, King’s King’s Lynn Lynn P E31 6 LN

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KLmagazine August 2016

It’s 400 years old and it’s never looked better!

Writing a new chapter in the story of The King’s Arms in Swaffham... t dates back to 1608 and there’s an enduring rumour that Horatio Nelson used to ‘meet’ Emma Hamilton here – but far from being stuck in the past, the sights of the King’s Arms in the centre of Swaffham are firmly set on the future.

Indeed, over the last couple of years the Grade II listed building has undergone a remarkable transformation that’s turned it into one of the most stylish and friendly pubs in the area and one that’s already won the highest accolade at the Norfolk Hero Food & Drink Awards – in addition to being voted Best New Food or Drink Venue for 2015.

It’s all thanks to Claire Evans and her partner Graeme Taylor – with Claire providing the artistic inspiration and vision and Graeme expertly crafting those ideas into reality.

“We’ve retained as many old features as we could but we didn’t want the King’s Arms to have an ‘olde worlde’ atmosphere,” says Claire. “We wanted it to be modern and contemporary and we wanted it to be full of personality.”

I

KLmagazine August 2016

It’s a wish that Claire and Graeme have achieved with quite stunning results. In opening up and revitalising the bar area they’ve uncovered some original beams, and they’ve found a new use for 19th century horse feeders as herb gardens supplying the restaurant’s kitchen with freshly-grown ingredients.

In the Copper Horse, they’ve created a fabulous new cocktail bar and restaurant in the former stable block that combines a newly-revealed cobbled floor with modern styling and old saddle hooks with a modern theatre-style open kitchen.

They’ve even breathed new life into an old Georgian ballroom, creating a spacious function room with its very own bar for special occasions and memorable wedding receptions.

Thanks to highly experienced Head Chef Dave Edgar, the King’s Arms has also given a new twist to food – with tapas night on Thursdays, gourmet burger night on Wednesdays, sharing boards and afternoon teas and relaxed fine dining – none of it pretentious but all of it seasonal and beautifully presented – and some of

the best selling cocktails are ones Claire and Graeme have made themselves, such as the Prosecco-based Pretty in Pink.

“Although we wanted to create something different and something unique to us, we also wanted the King’s Arms to appeal to everyone who appreciates good food in a great location,” says Claire. “Since we opened the reception has been fantastic and we’re really looking forward to treating people to everything the King’s Arms now has to offer!”

information

The King’s Arms 21 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7LA Telephone: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk E-mail: info@kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk

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Pretty in Pink Cocktail INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS Prosecco – to top up glass 12ml Elderflower cordial 15ml raspberry Vodka Raspberries METHOD M ETHOD 1 Chill a glass with ice, then remove before adding the drink.

2 Muddle the raspberries and add them to the flute.

3 Layer the Vodka and Elderflower cordial into the flute.

4 Then top with Prosecco. Add a straw – wide enough for pips!

Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Street, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk 64

KLmagazine August 2016

A TRADITIONAL PUB WITH TRADITIONAL FOOD • Outside catering for weddings, business functions, etc • Function room • Childrens play area • Food served daily (excluding Monday lunch)

GREAT G R E AT DEALS DEALS O ON NO OUR UR F FOOD OOD SENIOR S E N I O R CITIZENS C I T I Z E N S LUNCHES LU N C H E S Carvery on Thursdays only £9.50 Rest of the week only £9 CURRY C U R RY NIGHT NIGHT Thursday nights only £8.50 & includes a drink STEAK S T E A K NIGHT NIGHT Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays

PIE P I E NIGHT NIGHT Monday nights only £8.50 & includes a drink LUNCHTIME LU N C H T I M E SPECIAL S PE C I A L On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Soup, sandwich or a wrap only £6 and includes a drink

FFind ind us us on on Facebook!

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0 01553 1 5 5 3 811326 811326 | w www.theangelpub.webs.com w w. t h e a n g e l p u b . w e b s . c o m | 41 4 1 School S c h o o l Road, R o a d , Watlington, Wa t l i n g t o n , King’s K i n g ’s Lynn, Ly n n , PE33 P E 3 3 0HA 0HA KLmagazine August 2016

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Food & Drink

Lemon drizzle loaves METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 170°c.

lemon zest into a bowl and add just enough cold water to make an opaque runny icing.

2 Place the butter and 150g caster sugar into a mixing bowl and beat until pale and creamy. Beat the eggs in one at a time.

5 For the lemon syrup, place the juice of 1 lemon, 100ml of water and 100g caster sugar into a saucepan and boil for 2 minutes.

Then use a pastry brush to soak the lemon loaves with the syrup.

Makes: 9 mini loaves INGREDIENTS 150g butter softened 250g caster sugar 150g self raising flour sifted 2 eggs 100g icing sugar zest of 1 lemon 100ml of water

3 Mix the flour and half of the lemon zest and beat again until smooth. Then place into mini loaf tins and bake for 15 minutes until cooked.

6 Once the cakes are cooled, dip them into the icing mixture and allow to set.

4 Place the icing sugar and the other ½

Recipe by Jules Hetherton Head Chef, Strattons Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Tel: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.co.uk 66

KLmagazine August 2016

aywood Pop by our shop in G needs ! ting decora For all of your cake

strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and café deli

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

• Celebration Celebration cak cakes es made to o order rder • Cake Cake decorating decorating llessons essons a available vailable • Sugarcraft Sugarcraft supplier supplier •F Free obligation consultations ree no obli gation co nsultations

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1E River River Lane, Gaywood, Gaywood, King’ King’ss L Lynn ynn PE30 4HD Web: Web: www.motherkrustyscakes.co.uk www.motherkrustyscakes.co.uk T Tel: el: 01553 762583

FFOR OR STUNNING STUNNING KITCHENS KITCHENS AND AND BEDROOMS BEDROOMS

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53 3-2016 196 53

KLmagazine August 2016

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Open Open Mon-Sat Mon-Sat 9-5 9-5 Sun Sun 2-4 2-4 67

Norfolk Lobster Cocktail INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS 2 x 1lb lobsters 1 iceberg lettuce 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered ½ cucumber, thinly sliced 100ml mayonnaise 50ml tomato ketchup 1 lemon 4 Pinches of Paprika For the battered claw: ¼ pint of Woodforde’s beer (pick one you want to use) ¼ pint of soda water 1 tsp Tumeric 100g self raising flour salt & pepper to taste 68

Serves: 4 ETHOD M METHOD 1 Make Marie-rose sauce by mixing the mayonnaise and ketchup with the juice of ½ the lemon in a bowl.

2 Mix the tomatoes, cucumber and iceberg lettuce together and place into four bowls.

3 Divide the Lobster between the four dishes and top with the Marie-Rose sauce, a lemon wedge and 1 pinch of the Paprika.

4 For the battered claw, place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and add the soda water and beer until you have the consistency of double cream.

5 Cover the meat from the Lobster claw in the batter and fry in hot oil until golden brown.

Recipe by The Ship Hotel Main Road, Brancaster, King’s Lyynn PE31 8AP Tel: 01485 210333 Web: www.shiphotelnorfolk.co.uk KLmagazine August 2016

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Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm

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KLmagazine August 2016

1 1 S a t u r d a y M a r ke t P l a c e , K i n g ' s Ly n n P E 3 0 5 D Q w w w. m a r k e t b i s t r o . c o . u k | 0 1 5 5 3 7 7 1 4 8 3 Open: Lunch Wed - Sat 12-2pm & Supper Tues - Sat 6-9pm

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Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

A KL magazine reader enjoys a taste of Thailand at The Crawfish Inn in Thursford...

I

don’t think anyone would disagree that North Norfolk and our beautiful coastline boasts some of the finest restaurants in the area, but when it comes to one of my favourite cuisines – Thai – they seem to be few and far between.

When I saw an advertisement in KL magazine for the Crawfish Inn at Thursford (a location I’d always associated with Christmas rather than oriental food!) I simply had to pay it a visit.

It’s a lovely location, and the setting is distinctly traditional (the inn was built in 1833) but the atmosphere is very modern and extremely friendly. As soon as we arrived we were greeted personally by the owner Obe – who seated us at the bar, served our drinks, and introduced us to our waitress for the evening. It was a lovely and very welcoming personal touch, which got our evening off to a great start.

We were particularly impressed by the extensive menu, which featured over 70 dishes. I was pleased to see that in addition to including all the Thai classics you'd expect – curries, noodles, and rice dishes – there was a very innovative selection of authentic Thai and more exotic dishes.

If that wasn’t mouthwatering enough, Obe told us that he carefully sources many of the

70

native ingredients direct from Thailand, so after an exciting perusal of the menu we chose to order a selection of three main dishes and place them in the middle of the table to share.

The dishes we chose were Neau Gra ta Ron, beautifully tender strips of stirfried beef with baby corn, mange tout, onions, and mushrooms in a light sesame oil with a Thai whiskey sauce; Goong pad med me-moung, stir-fried King Prawns marinated in a light soy sauce with onions, mushrooms, peppers and cashew nuts with a touch of chilli; and Pla muk tod grateam, a wonderful dish of squid coated with ground black pepper, coriander and garlic and stir-fried in oyster sauce. We accompanied these with side orders of egg-fried rice and pad Thai noodles.

The food sounded delicious, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The beef (served on a sizzling dish) was

amazingly tender and packed with flavour, the large King Prawns were incredible, the vegetables were fresh and delightfully crisp, and though squid isn't to everyone’s taste it was a wonderful dish.

For someone used to Thai cuisine (and used to being disappointed) it was so refreshing to be treated to authentic, perfectly cooked and seasoned food.

The portions were very generous, and our waitress was fantastic throughout our meal.

Our bill totalled £49.50, which included two large glasses of wine from a surprisingly comprehensive wine list, which we thought was extremely good value.

The Crawfish Inn does offer a takeaway service, but it would be a shame to miss out on the great setting, the cosy atmosphere and the exceptionally friendly staff.

We will definitely be going again, and hopefully we'll take some friends so we can order a bigger selection of these amazing dishes to share and taste!

FOOD

8

SERVICE

9

VALUE

8

The Crawfish Inn Holt Road, Thursford, Norfolk NR21 0BJ Telephone: 01328 878313 Web: www.crawfishinn.com

KLmagazine August 2016

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after a fter a an ne exciting xciting r refurbishment efurbishment High Norfolk orfolk P PE36 E 36 6 6LY LY H igh Street, Street, Thornham, Thornham, N 01485 0 1485 5512229 12229 | www.chequersinnthornham.com www.chequersinnthornham.com iinfo@chequersinnthornham.com nfo@chequersinnthornham.com

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KING’S LYNN 48 Bergen Way (next to Citroen) North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG Tel: 01553 762749

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Great Great fitted furniture furniture made locally for for you

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Food & Drink

Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 4 portions atlanic salmon 700g new potatoes 500g fine green beans 500g tender stem broccoli 10 red bell peppers 2 avocados half a bunch of basil 10g samphire 600ml olive oil 1 red onion 2 cloves of garlic 2 lemons 20g micro basil 20g red amaranth 20 micro parsley 1 block of unsalted butter 200ml double cream 200ml veg stock 8 sprigs of thyme METHOD 1 For the puree, dice 6 red peppers, the red onions and garlic and sweat down in a pan with oil and butter without colour until soft. Add 3 sprigs of thyme, the cream and veg stock and cook until reduced and there is no liquid left in the pan.

Then transfer to a small pot and using a hand blender blend until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve and then season will salt to taste.

Pan seared salmon 2 Slowly heat the oil in a pan and place the basil leaves into the oil (be careful not to heat the oil over 60°c otherwise basil will burn and go bitter).

Cook for 8-10 mins, then scoop out the basil leaves and transfer to a food processor to blitz for one min. Slowly pour the oil into the food processor until it has combined with the basil, then using a double muslin cloth or fine sieve pass the oil through. You should be left with a dark green clear oil.

3 Boil a pot of water and add half the block of butter and the rest of the thyme sprigs, then boil the new potatoes until soft.

4 In a separate pan of salted boiling water cook the green vegatables for 2-3 mins until soft (but still have a bite) then drain them into ice water as this will stop them cooking and retain colour.

5 Hold the peppers over a gas ring flame until the skins go black and charcoal, then place in a bowl and cling film tight so the steam will separate the skin from the peppers. Peel off the skins and cut into 1 inch squares.

6 Blanch the samphire in water and refresh 3 times

(this will take away the saltiness out of them).

Peel the avocados and remove the stone, cut into 1cm cubes and season with salt and lemon juice.

7 To serve, warm the pepper puree in a pan (don’t boil), heat a non-stick fry pan till smoking hot then add oil and place the salmon skin side down pressing down with 2 fingers so the skin is pressed against the pan and cook for 6-8 mins. Then turn over for a further 3-4 mins leaving it slightly pink in the middle.

8 While the salmon is cooking, heat a pan and sauté off the new potatoes until golden brown and then add the peppers for a further 3 mins, then add the beans and tender stem finishing with salt, pepper and butter. Then take a big table spoon of purée and place at the top of the plate, and swipe your spoon across the plate length ways to resemble a tear drop. Place the veg at the end of the tear drop.

9 Finish the salmon with a squeeze of lemon juice and then place skin side up, placing the diced avocado and samphire around the salmon. Mix the micro herbs together and place on top of the salmon and finish with your basil oil.

Recipe by Palmers Ale House & Kitchen 46 Market Place, Long Sutton PE12 9JF Tel: 01406 365554 Web: www.palmerslongsutton.co.uk 72

KLmagazine August 2016

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

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

Contact us for more details

Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk

Tel: 01553 772221 KLmagazine August 2016

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KLmagazine August 2016

Food & Drink

ABOVE: Just a few of Mark Richmond’s beautiful and distinctive custom tea blends – after more than 25 years in the tea industry, Mark’s delicious creations are inspired by Norfolk and its most famous son

Brewing up a refreshing new taste of Norfolk...

For hundreds of years, it’s been the nation’s favourite drink, but now one man is giving tea a delicious local twist. Sylvia Steele meets expert tea-taster Mark Richmond of Norfolk & Nelson Tea

R

efreshing, relaxing and comforting are just some of the merits ascribed to the nation’s favourite beverage.

First imported to Britain in the 17th century, tea became a genuine craze when Charles II’s wife Queen Catherine of Braganza pronounced herself a devotee – and the feeling of well-being it promotes has never subsided.

It’s a sentiment that tea-blender Mark Richmond readily subscribed to when he embarked on his enterprise to bring quality teas to Norfolk. His lofty challenge, he says, “is to achieve perfection – and to achieve it consistently.”

KLmagazine August 2016

Mark first became interested in the tea industry when he was 19. After drinking cup after cup of mediocre tea in high street cafes, he embarked on a temporary Christmas contract on the Fortnum & Mason tea counter and discovered high quality tea for the first time. He continued this experience during his college years, working in the prestigious tea department of Harrods.

Gradually, the idea of working in the tea industry became a goal.

“I was lucky enough to secure a position at Whittard of Chelsea, the famous international tea and coffee retailer,” he remembers. “When a tiny advertisement in the Daily Telegraph for a trainee tea taster and buyer caught

my eye, it seemed to come along at just the right time – and I moved to Yorkshire (of course!) to train in commercial tea tasting.”

Professional tea tasting is a skill acquired through years of practice during which time, according to Mark, “the taster slurps his way through countless cups of tea – ranging from the ordinary watery brews to the sublime cups that transport you to a different level. It requires a kind of encyclopaedic knowledge that enables the taster to identify and also intensify the subtle nuances of a particular tea.”

Mark explains that in order to prepare teas for tasting, the dry leaves are laid out in containers on a tasting bench.

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Food & Drink

ABOVE: The perfect blend – expertly created teas and the beautiful coast of North Norfolk. For Mark Richmond of Nelson & Norfolk Tea, it’s more than a drink – it’s a complete social experience.

Boiling water is poured on them and the brewing is carefully timed for 5-6 minutes.

The brewed tea is then poured into tasting bowls. The taster samples the tea much as a wine taster does, rolling the liquid around his mouth to assess the flavour. Account is also taken of the appearance of the dry leaf, the infused leaf and the colour and quality of the liquid. As in wine tasting, perfume plays a significant part although the aroma is more subtle.

“Tea tasting is now on a par with wine and coffee tasting,” says Mark. “Most trainees today would need to have a good degree and speak one or two foreign languages before being considered. I was fortunate in that when I started, it was based more on displaying to an interviewer a desire to succeed in the industry. It takes at least five years to train and is a continuous learning process.”

A buyer will select and blend small quantities of different teas using meticulous formulae to achieve consistency of taste and appearance.

This is an extremely skilled process.

Years in the business has shown Mark that it’s possible to tell a specific country of origin even when the tea is blended – and teas from the same garden can vary from one harvest to the next. A blended tea should be a marriage of flavours and taste.

It’s a level of expertise that Mark’s now bringing to a local level to improve

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the county’s tea pedigree. After 25 years in the business, memories of childhood holidays at his grandparents’ home in Holt fired Mark’s ambition to bring unique hand-blended teas to Norfolk – and he created The Nelson & Norfolk Tea Company in a unit in North Walsham.

“With Nelson & Norfolk Tea, I’ve created original teas and blended teas that appeal to the UK market sourced from the very best tea gardens and tea merchants in the country,” he says.

“They include teas from around the globe, including some herbal and even caffeine-free infusions. For instance, my Norfolk Earl Grey is a carefullybalanced blend of China, Indian and Ceylon teas.”

It’s currently estimated there are 1,500 different varieties of tea from some 36 growing countries around the world, and having visited plantations in Africa recently, Mark’s now looking forward to visiting Ceylon and India in the next year or so.

His Nelson and Norfolk Tea Company takes him to numerous food festivals, the Royal Norfolk Show and other country shows and events where he markets his teas as well as accessories to make brewing leaf tea enjoyable and easy.

“It’s a good way to get brand awareness by meeting and selling to new customers as well as enlarging my retail sales market,” he says. “After years in London, this really feels like where I

should be.”

According to Mark, even the afternoon brew beloved by so many should be treated with a degree of passion. Some tea houses provide their customer with a gadget like a mini eggtimer, to display when the tea is brewed sufficiently and is at its best and ready to drink.

“We’re a tea-loving nation with many fans seeing tea as revitalising as well as about the moment,” says Mark. “It’s all about enjoying it and visiting people – tea is more than a drink. It’s the whole social experience.”

So, having achieved his initial goal of bringing his tea-tasting (and blending) skills to Norfolk, what comes next?

“We’ve got some truly fabulous teas,” he says. “Now I’d like to find somewhere where Nelson & Norfolk Tea can serve a unique blend of tea – perhaps with a great slice of cake!”

There’s clearly more to this art than sipping endless cups of tea, and for Mark it’s an endlessly rewarding profession.

“I love my job,” he laughs. “Tea tasting is ongoing throughout your working life and I’m so fortunate to work at something I enjoy – drinking tea all day long! I guess you could say I’m just a bit of a tea geek!”

For more details of Mark and his teas, and information on how you can enjoy them yourself, please visit the website at www.nelsonandnorfolktea.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2016

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Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals.

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

Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements.

Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:

01328 701331

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

KLmagazine August 2016

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

Please visit our website www.abacushotels.co.uk 77

FLOOR & WALL TILES • NATURAL STONE • KITCHENS & BATHROOMS • FURNITURE

Possibly the largest stone & tile showroom in the UK!

• Large showroom displaying over 17,000 floor and wall tiles and over 50,000m² of natural stone in stock • Natural stone importers, wholesalers and retailers buying direct from quarries all over the world

• Tile ranges include - Porcelain, Wood effect, Limestone, Travertine, Split Face, Sandstone, Marble, Slate

Tile Shop TheFitton Oake

• Internal & external stone • Bespoke products available • On site measure & design service available

Fitton Road, Wiggenhall St Germans, King’s Lynn PE34 3AX | T: 01553 617540 | W: www.fittonoaketiles.co.uk

ROLL END

TOP END

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

Are you ready to SPRING into Summer?

Is it time to freshen up your home with bold and bright colours?

A huge collection of top value & high quality carpets Plus! Vinyls, laminates and hardwood floorings FREE fitting on all patterned book ranges FREE estimates | Full professional fitting service Home selection available | Uplifting and removal service 100s of remnants and rugs | Solid wood flooring Vinyls and laminates | High quality collections

Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 762878 Web: www.economyflooringkl.co.uk 78

Largest selection of fabrics in West & North Norfolk, with all stock on display

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 August 2016

BEFORE...

...AFTER “Thanks for a truly faultless service: for your care and attention, for your hardworking, courteous and meticulous staff, and for making our floors look every bit as good as the day they were first laid!”

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With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, XtraClean can give your floors a new lease of life hey may look fantastic, but keeping slate, limestone and natural stone floors in beautiful condition takes a professional touch and an expert approach, especially if they’re a few years old.

“In many ways, stone floors are their own worst enemy, and over time traditional cleaning methods and chemicals become largely ineffective,” says XtraClean’s Martin King.

“Thankfully, our revolutionary floor cleaning system can bring even heavily-soiled stone floors, tiles and even the grout between them back to life. All in a single visit too!”

Martin founded XtraClean in 1993, and the Swaffham-based company

T

offers a professional and friendly service that covers the whole county with a team of highly-skilled, highlytrained and highly-knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking their very best.

Following an initial survey and the testing of a sample area, Martin and his team will get to work on your floors (whether indoors or outside) and they’ll even move the furniture for you!

Breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling, XtraClean’s state-of-the-art turbocleaning capture system then thoroughly pressure cleans the floor, capturing waste in the process. The results are truly spectacular, and the system avoids the need for invasive procedures such as

grinding and resurfacing.

“We use the most advanced technology currently available and the most professional products on the market,” says Martin. “The results really do speak for themselves, and our customers are left with floors that don’t just look amazing – they’re safer and healthier too.”

Once restored to their former glory, XtraClean can even professionally seal your floors to protect the good looks for longer, and highly-honed stone floors can be re-polished and buffed if required.

Contact Martin and his local-based team today for an extra-professional service and give your floors the as-new look they really deserve!

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

KLmagazine August 2016

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PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: Hunstanton Croquet Club is the largest croquet club in East Anglia, and has grown enormously since 1911, when it was formed with one lawn and a small group of local ladies

Hunstanton and the tradition of croquet...

Founded on the emerging spirit of female emancipation in 1911, Hunstanton Croquet Club has survived and grown through Zeppelin raids, fires and two world wars, as Sylvia Steele discovers

O

n a warm Sunday afternoon in summer, when Hunstanton’s beach may be crowded and the coast road busy, step beyond the iron gates of the recreation ground and all you may hear is the gentle thwack of a croquet mallet hitting a ball – for close-by is the Hunstanton Croquet Club. The sport has actually been played here for over 100 years, since 1911 when a group of ladies decided to learn a game that provided women with their first opportunity to participate in outdoors sport on equal terms with men.

Croquet was introduced to this country from Ireland in the 1850s – its

KLmagazine August 2016

first headquarters being at Wimbledon – and there are now more than 160 clubs throughout the country.

Hunstanton is the largest Club in East Anglia.

The ladies of Hunstanton formed their club on 6th April 1911 in a wooden Edwardian clubhouse, and held a General Meeting five days later to formalise the Club, registering it with the National Croquet Association and setting the subscriptions at a guinea a year. The following month an American tournament was held with an entrance fee of one shilling.

These ladies certainly knew what they were doing, for the Club went from strength to strength, with two

tournaments being held each year, even throughout the First World War – it was actually the only club to do so.

It’s been said that only the noise of a Zeppelin overhead stopped play on one Sunday afternoon, and the ladies were aghast at their game being disrupted.

Between the wars the Hunstanton Club attracted many more members and by 1926 members had outgrown their clubhouse, necessitating essential work. Water was laid on and gents and ladies cloakrooms and a kitchen installed.

This happy state of affairs wasn’t to continue, however, and by the end of the Second World War, having lost many members to the war service,

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Local Life

ABOVE: Members of Hunstanton Croquet Club today. Despite the misconception that the sport is viciously competitive, the club is extremely friendly and always offers new members a warm welcome.

Hunstanton Croquet Club had reached a critical situation with only five lady members remaining.

The outbreak of war had dented popularity of the sport everywhere and it didn’t achieve resurgence until the 1960s with the injection of younger players and the rise in skilled women players emerging in the sport.

From its inauspicious beginnings with one lawn and a few lady players, Hunstanton Croquet Club now has five lawns with a season that runs from April to October – allowing time through the winter months for necessary maintenance.

The familiar sound of mallet against ball is, however, one that Club members feared they might never hear again when at 3am on Friday 24th September, 2000 fire swept through the Edwardian structure and the much -loved clubhouse was lost along with a pricesless store of historical records, photographs and equipment.

Such was the spirit of the club’s members, however, that play resumed the following day – using refurbished hoops and burned and borrowed balls.

But the question on everyone’s lips was whether the Club could continue in the long term. The response was immediate, with donations from Friends of Hunstanton as well as from clubs across the country; to which was added a generous grant from Norfolk County Council and insurance towards the building of a new clubhouse.

Construction began on 23rd April

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2001 and the new clubhouse was completed four months later – the day before the Hunstanton Tournament, a popular day for families when beach huts are rented for the young ones on the beach whilst the adults battle it out on the lawns.

During the 1920s the sport’s international trophy The MacRobertson Shield was launched, with test matches between countries worldwide – and in 1986 the Hunstanton Club was selected to host the match between New Zealand and Great Britain, who won.

Since then the croquet lawns of Hunstanton have been in constant demand for major events in the croquet calendar. Players regard them as being second to none, and the Club is proud of the revenue the matches have brought into the town.

In August 2013, the Great Britain team competed against the United States for the Solomon Trophy, a trophy presented to the sport in 1985 by John Solomon, one of Britain’s finest croquet players. Due to the sporting rivalry between Great Britain and the United States, the Solomon Trophy is regarded, in many ways, as being on a par with the Ryder Cup in golf and the Davis Cup in tennis.

As with all sports, however, popularity dwindles from time to time as fashion dictates and has to be revitalised.

Hunstanton Croquet Club is always keen to improve its membership, in particular among younger players – and in 2011 hosted the Under 21 World

Championship. Greatly encouraged by the success of this, a series of ‘Come and Try’ days as well as tutoring classes and social events was added to the club’s calendar.

Croquet is a sport in which the young, the not-so-young, male and female players can all compete on equal terms – and it can be as competitive or relaxed as the players dictate. The image of elderly ladies on country house lawns has long departed; today’s club players wear predominately white with a t-shirt bearing the club’s logo of a croquet hoop with the crown of St. Edmund, standing in the sea with the sun setting behind it.

“It’s a very social game you can take up at any age,” one new member of Hunstanton Croquet Club said when asked what she got out of the game. “It focuses the mind, but it’s not physically demanding.”

Croquet has survived two wars and the fetishes of fashion, and it strikes a balance between a range of physical, tactical and psychological skills. With a heritage stretching back to the start of the 20th century and a friendly forward-looking outlook, Hunstanton Croquet Club offers you the perfect way to enjoy the summer – and meet some new friends!

If you’re interested in learning more about croquet and would like to try it yourself, please visit the website at www.hunstantoncroquetclub.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2016

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SJP

SOLICITORS

Staveley Johnson & Procter Formerly Hawkins of Hunstanton and Beloe & Staveley

We are a local firm of solicitors and our professional lawyers can offer you specialist legal advice and make sure your needs are met. We are experienced in; Conveyancing, family, residential and commercial lease, debt recovery, litigation, wills and probate, and personal injury, contract and professional negligence and dispute matters.

We can often offer fixed fees so you know where you stand on costs and an introductory 1/2 hour free of charge.

Contact us Staveley, Johnson & Procter Solicitors Waverley House, 37 Greevegate, Hunstanton, PE36 6AB Telephone: 01485 532662 Fax: 01485 534802 DX: 95250 Hunstanton info@sjpsolicitors.co.uk Solicitors acting in the North Norfolk area, including King’s Lynn and Norwich

www.sjpsolicitors.co.uk 84

KLmagazine August 2016

Letting Better Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning Landlords and Tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director D Damien amien Simone Simone

Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists

S TS AC T FAC K F CK UIC QUI Q According A ccording tto o tthe he E English nglish H ousing S urvey, p rivate Housing Survey, private renting h as been been g rowing b y renting has growing by 1 7,500 h ouseholds p er 17,500 households per m onth o na verage o ver tthe he month on average over past 10 10 y ears. past years.

Why You Should Choose an ARLA Regulated Agent W

hen you work in lettings one question that you are asked as much socially as professionally is always “is the rental market still good?”

With the exception of a dip in 2009 following the first recession which saw a mass of rent to buy mortgages being used temporarily flooding the market for a while, the rental market is very strong. But it is also very different from how it was 2 years ago and completely unrecognisable from 10 years ago.

Birthdays tend to make you reminisce and since I’ve had one in the last couple of weeks I have been considering a lot of the changes that have taken place lately and how landlords have been affected.

Legislation relating to tenants’ deposits, serving notices, maintenance and tax on rental properties has been arriving in abundance and some of it is not as well publicised as you would

expect. To give one example; are you aware that if you have let a property on an assured short-hold tenancy after 1st October 2015 without providing your tenant with a copy of the DCLG How To Rent Guide that you have committed a crime and will not be able to regain possession of your property under Section 21 without taking remedial measures?

On a more positive note greater recognition is now being given to letting agents who are qualified, regulated and most importantly insured. When I first started Edmonton Estates back in 2012 even during its brief infancy as a home business I ensured that it was independently registered and regulated by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Apart from the strict codes of practice relating to customer service and client accounting one of the main requirements of ARLA is that

all of the individual members have to undertake a minimum number of hours of continued professional development each year to ensure that we are keeping up to date with the latest changes in legislation relating to residential lettings.

As a company Edmonton Estates is very committed to upholding these principals through sharing our knowledge and experience with clients.

We try not to simply tell you what we are doing but also why so that you can make an informed decision on how you would like your property looked after.

Although in the same well known location we have recently expanded our offices and staff to better meet the expectations of our clients both existing and new. If you would like to discuss your rental property with a local independent ARLA agent please call us on 01553 660615 to arrange a free consultation.

E Edmonton dmonton E Estates states L Ltd, td, S Stt A Ann’s nn’s H House, ouse, 118 8 St St Ann’s Ann’s Street, Street, K King’s ing’s Ly Lynn, ynn, N Norfolk orfolk P PE30 E30 11LT LT info@edmontonestates.co.uk 0 01553 1553 660615 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk

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What is a Conservatory?

ANSWER: A room having glass roofing and walls, typically attached to a house on only one side, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom.

A Supreme conservatory is a space for you to work and play, with room to relax and grow.

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PRESTIGIOUS TEXTILES Famous names, local expertise Professional fitting teams Blinds, wallpapers and accessories Expert in-store curtain service

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www.wisbechfurnishings.co.uk 86

KLmagazine August 2016

The Audi A5 Cabriolet S line Special Edition Plus.

From £389 per month on Solutions Personal Contract Plan.* Duration

3 years

35 monthly payments of

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Official fuel consumption figures for the Audi A5 Cabriolet S line Special Edition Plus 2.0 TDI 190PS manual in mpg (l/100km): Urban 45.6 (6.2), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8), Combined 53.3 (5.3). CO2 emissions: 138g/km. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained under standardised EU test conditions (Directive 93/116/EEC). This allows a direct comparison between different manufacturer models but may not represent the actual fuel consumption achieved in ‘real world’ driving conditions. Optional wheels may affect emissions and fuel consumption figures. Image shown for illustration purposes only. More information is available on the Audi website at www.audi.co.uk and at www.dft.gov.uk/vca *At the end of the agreement there are three options: i) own the vehicle: pay the optional final payment; ii) return the vehicle: subject to fair wear and tear, charges may apply; or iii) replace: part exchange the vehicle.

Available on Solutions Personal Contract Plan. 18s and over. Subject to availability. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Offer available when ordered by 30 September 2016 from participating Centres. Offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Accurate at time of publication [July 2016].

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KLmagazine July 2016

History

ABOVE: Imports of European skeletons weren’t the only gruesome cargo arriving in King’s Lynn in centuries past. Tons of dead whale added to the generally unpleasant atmosphere of the town, as in this sketch of a typical street scene in 1937 (opposite).

The darker side of the story of King’s Lynn From skeletons to sewage and from noxious smells to flying horse dung, Lindsey Bavin of True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum takes a look at the gloriously gruesome parts of Lynn’s history...

I

f you stood in King’s Lynn several hundred years ago, one of the first things you’d notice would be the smell. In common with most contemporary ports, it was a rather smelly town for a variety of reasons – the air full of the smell of dung, melting fat, boiling bones, decomposing skeletons and a river filled with fish guts and sewage.

Welcome to Blubberhouse Creek.

The name coined for the area of King’s Lynn concerned with whaling comes from the blubber that was melted down into whale oil. The lamps that lit up the KLmagazine August 2016

church of St. Margarets (now Lynn Minster) used whale oil up until 1839.

The whale carcasses were brought back to the town, their bones used for corsets or ground down into bone meal. The jawbone in particular was prized as it could be used to reinforce the hulls of boats. The flesh would be boiled off the bones in vast bubbling pots, adding to the horrific stench that filled the area.

Whaling was a short-lived but very profitable industry in King’s Lynn during the 18th and early 19th centuries. If you were willing to risk life and limb you

could make a lot of money in a single trip.

An Act of Parliament in 1771 meant you didn’t have to pay duty on your catch if you were hunting for a whale, and one trip could repay the cost of the boat specially built for the journey. The boat in question would cost around £6,000 (around £822,000 today) and included a “40 shilling a ton” bounty.

The Greenland Company was established in the 18th Century and one of Lynn’s iconic Jacobian buildings changed its name in 1796 to The Greenland Fishery. Vessels which sailed 89

History

ABOVE: The people of King’s Lynn have always been resourceful in the face of adversity. It’s said that a man avoided the ‘press gang’ by hiding in a tomb at St. Nicholas Chapel (above) while the Northenders (below) devised a remarkable antidote to unsanitary conditions – wearing a live mouse around their necks.

out of King’s Lynn included The Experiment, The Bedford, The Archangel, The Fountain and The Eclipse. Another draw to prospective whalers was immunity to the Press Gangs who roamed the dark streets of King’s Lynn and waited outside pubs for unwary revellers to be literally ‘pressed’ into service of the Royal Navy.

They were so prevalent one King’s Lynn man supposedly hid in a tomb in St Nicholas’ graveyard to escape the press gangs – and his wife would bring him food each night dressed as a ghost.

Speaking of graveyards, a lesserknown fact about King’s Lynn concerns one of the more unusual cargoes transported through this mighty port.

When merchants and traders went out to sea they would occasionally return with a very different catch – human skeletons. This was a grim trade

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indeed, that eventually produced an excellent fertiliser made principally of, as its name of bone meal would suggest, ground bones.

Places like northern Germany and the Netherlands faced a genuine problem when it came to the dead.

With the countries laying below sea level, trying to bury anyone in the ground presented a constant challenge.

When the water level rose suddenly, sometimes so the coffins would follow suit – which was as unsanitary as it was disturbing to witness.

The wealthy could afford crypts above ground, and this was common practice in many European countries.

However, the poor couldn’t afford such luxuries. One solution to deal with the excess of inconvenient skeletons was to turn them into bone meal – but as grinding up their own countrymen was

understandably abhorrent, the authorities outsourced the problem.

Both animal and human bones made their way to King’s Lynn and made the short journey upriver to Narborough’s Bone Mill (built between 1838-1840) where they were boiled up and ground down.

The locals’ view was rather laconic – “a ton of German bone dust saves the importation of ten tons of German corn.” Ghastly yes, but it would seem there was profit in it.

It was also common for unwanted gravestones to be used as ballast, which is surprising given how superstitious sailors traditionally were.

While the river witnessed the passage of ghoulish cargo, the streets of King’s Lynn were little better. If you look around the doorways of the fine Georgian and Victorian buildings standing today you’ll often notice a strange metal ‘stirrup’ in the doorway.

These are bootscrapers, their purpose being to scrape the muck of the street off people’s footwear before entering the home – and there was plenty of muck. As the favoured mode of transportation was horse, the streets were often filled with dung. And due to the constant movement of hooves and wheels it usually didn’t remain on the road, but rather became a horrifying projectile.

It wasn’t just the ground you had to watch out for but the skies above. The task of emptying the chamber pot was often given to the eldest child and there were cases of rather slothful children not wishing to hike all the way down to the fleet and hurling the nasty contents out of the nearest window.

That said, those slothful children were (in a rather odd way) helping the community – because the fleet was where the fisherfolk obtained their drinking water. It was also their rubbish tip, where the guts and bones would be thrown as well as their own waste.

Hardly surprising the town was often rife with typhoid and cholera.

But the resourceful Northenders had their own curious manner of dealing with disease. One of the superstitions of the North End of King’s Lynn was that if you took a live mouse, tied it in a bag and hung it around your neck, it would act as a decoy for disease.

If the mouse died then it had served its purpose well and would be replaced with a fresh one.

You’ll often hear people say how much they’d like to go back in time to visit the King’s Lynn of centuries past – but few of them realise just what an assault on the senses that would be.

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Books

Our pick of the summer reads It doesn’t matter whether you’re headed for Hunstanton or Hawaii, your holiday offers the perfect chance to relax with a great book

S

ummer is something of a strange time in the book world — with most publishing houses waiting to publish their big-name ‘marquee’ books in the autumn, coinciding with the return to school and looking towards Christmas with a schedule of weighty novels and contenders for the end-of-year literary awards.

It’s a particularly odd situation as summer is the real season of pleasure reading, when most of us have a longawaited amount of free time to make a dent in our reading lists and take a new discovery on holiday, devouring it over beachside drinks and freshly-shucked oysters.

Holidays are precious enough as it is, and when you are given a priceless

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opportunity to relax with a book, you can’t afford to pack away something lacklustre and dull.

Luckily, publishers know this as well, and that’s why they roll out a handful of their most thrilling titles in the hotter months, providing readers with a few genuine gems to fill those long vacation hours. This is the season for action, adventure, romance and fantasy (the ideal ingredients of all great holidays!) but it’s also a time for some stellar novels and non-fiction – sparkling pearls of serious literature to cut through all the humidity.

If you’ve already planned your holiday and got your wardrobe all sorted but you haven’t decided on your reading matter, here’s a small selection of this summer’s most promising titles.

THE PAST Tessa Hadley In her sixth book, Tessa Hadley brings together a complex, intertwined cast to examine the fallout from a single, three-week family reunion. A trio of sisters and their brother gather at a tumbledown Devon rectory that’s served as the family’s bolt-hole for several generations. Now beyond repair, the bittersweet sense of endings forces a series of familial revelations that tangibly drags the past into the present. Hugely enjoyable, keenly intelligent and gently humourous, this is a brilliantly-written and clever study of families and their enduring capacity for splintering.

KLmagazine August 2016

SKYFARING: A JOURNEY WITH A PILOT Mark Vanhoenacker A very timely real for those brave enough to endure the perils of the pound, several hours of dubious in-flight entertainment, and slightly dubious food. Written by a 747 pilot and admitted ‘flight romantic’, Skyfaring avoids the usual fate of aviation books – which tend to be aimed squarely at the control tower enthusiasts.

A wondeful look at the wonders of flight, Vanhoenacker’s book bridges the gap between hard (but utterly absorbing) fact and a genuinely fine ear for language, eloquently presenting what is ultimately a meditation on a rather extraordinary but invisible pursuit. In-flight entertainment has never been so entertaining.

LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE Jessica Knoll The ideal novel for when you finally step off the airplane has to be Jessica Knoll’s searingly confident debut thriller. TifAni FaNelli is a successful woman from New York living a seemingly pitch-perfect existence.

Consenting to a documentary, however, unpicks the seams of her challenging past, laying bare a world of almost absolute deception. A combination of ‘Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Gone Girl’ this is a highly original thriller that takes what we think we know, and then twists it. Several times.

VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH: THE ACCIDENTAL PIRATES Claire Fayers Sure to keep children quiet is Claire Fayers’ wildly adventurous tale that sidesteps the usual clichés of books for younger readers. Brine Seaborne is a 12-year-old girl with an unknown past. Found alone in a rowboat as a child, with a shard of the rare starshell needed for spellcasting, she’s spent every day since then housekeeping for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice.

But then she finds herself in the path of a legendary pirate ship. If she’s lucky, she may find out who her parents are. If not, she may be eaten by sea monsters. A brilliant adventure.

WOLF HOLLOW Lauren Wolk When something is compared to Harper Lee’s magisterial To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt, especially if it’s a debut novel. Lauren Wolk has, however, written a superficially simple tale of small-town allegiances and betrayal that masks a complex picture of moral uncertainty and the sliding nature of right and wrong. Although aimed at the ‘young adult’ market, Wolf Hollow is powerful, poignant and lyrical. It’s full of suspense, and it’s beautifully written. It’s an unforgettable story.

THE GRADUATE Charles Webb Summer is a great time for reading all those classics you’ve never got round to enjoying. The Graduate is one of those books that seems destined to lie in the shadow of the film it spawned, which is a shame.

The book deserves rather more, being a clear-eyed social document that was more about the transition of the 1950s to the 60s than the Nixon-tinged fantasy of the film.

Webb’s most recent book (almost ten years ago) was a sequel, but it’s best avoided. The Graduate is a magnificent novel.

KLmagazine August 2016

SOMME: INTO THE BREACH Hugh Sebag-Montefiore In the year that commemorates the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, noted military historian Hugh Sebag-Montefiore shows that by focusing on stories of the front line, acts of heroism and moments of terror and triumph we can counter, and even change, familiar narratives. Rescuing from history the many forgotten heroes whose bravery has been long overlooked, and giving voice to their bereaved relatives at home, Sebag-Montefiore reveals the Somme campaign in all its glory – as well as its misery. Although there’s a little too much ‘armchair general’ in parts, this is a marvellous account of the Somme that shows there are many meaningful ways to define a battle when seen through the eyes of those who actually lived it.

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PICTURES: MALCOLM BROWN

Local Arts

ABOVE: Former detective Malcolm Brown at work in his North Wootton studio, where he gives the Norfolk we know and love a nostalgic twist, producing paintings with a degree of familiarity and a helping of rustic charm (opposite)

A new view on the landscapes of the past Although they appear to date from the 19th century, the paintings of local artist Malcolm Brown are modern creations, the captivating work of a former detective with no formal art training

A

rt normally falls into two categories – contemporary pieces that are very much of (or even ahead of) their time, and time-honoured works that are as much about history as they are about visual appeal.

It’s unusual to find contemporary art filled with a sense of nostalgia, but that’s exactly how to describe the work of Malcolm Brown, who started painting seriously while serving as a detective with Norfolk Constabulary and whose work soon attracted widespread attention thanks to its focus

KLmagazine August 2016

on a peaceful bygone age, with rustic overtones.

Inspired by the rural landscapes of Norfolk and Suffolk, fond childhood memories, and the work of the Norwich School of Artists (the first provincial art movement in Britain), Malcom’s work is based on East Anglia as it was – and how many would like it to be remembered.

His landscapes reflect a beauty that only hints at the hardships endured by those who earned a living from the land. The implements of their toil – a farm cart, a wherry and magnificent

shire horses – are depicted, but the overriding impression is one of tranquility and warmth.

“To coin a phrase, I believe in yesterday,” he says. “Its colours and mood, its honesty and grace, although I also draw plenty of inspiration from certain music, drawings and photographs of ‘old’ Norfolk, and particularly from the accounts of some characters of the past.”

Malcolm usually takes an existing location and places it back in time by removing modern roads, telephone poles and other paraphernalia,

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PICTURES: MALCOLM BROWN

Local Arts

ABOVE: Malcolm’s atmospheric re-creation of the beautiful landscape at Cley Mill. Below is featured Malcolm and his wife Margaret with the Mayor and Mayoress of King’s Lynn, David and Linda Whitby, at the opening of Malcom’s recent exhibition at the town’s Hanse House Gallery.

replacing them with items more reflective of the countryside a century ago. The results are arresting and evocative, showing the familiar in a new – and gentler – light.

Born in Scotland, Malcolm moved to Norfolk at an early age and was brought up among the Broadlands and farmlands of East Anglia. As he received no formal art training, his method of painting is somewhat unusual for a modern artist.

He works from drawings and photographs of the scene and consults research material relating to the technical aspects of construction and use of the items he wants to include in the work.

Instead of a palette, he mixes his paints on metal take-away tubs, plastic butter or ice cream tubs and a plasterer’s board. Occasionally, he mixes his paints with a medium made from a recipe which he says “is as old as the way of life depicted in the paintings.”

When Malcolm first started painting he didn’t even use an easel – propping his canvases up on a shelf in the lounge, much to the consternation of his long-suffering wife, Margaret.

Happily for both, he now works in a specially-created studio within the large conservatory at his home in North Wootton.

When Malcolm first started painting seriously (he was still serving as a Detective in Norfolk Constabulary at the time) he organised, with fellow officers, an exhibition on behalf of the Police Dependants Trust, a charity set

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up following the murder of three Detectives in London in 1966.

The event was so successful it was visited by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, during a visit to the King’s Lynn Festival.

Other exhibitions soon followed, and as his reputation spread Malcolm became known as the ‘Painting Policeman of Norfolk’ – he made numerous radio and television appearances (both locally and nationally) and was chosen as Artist of the Month by James Bourlet, the London fine art specialists.

“I was given several opportunities to turn professional, but I was never willing to leave the Police service,” he says. “I turned down all of the offers to exhibit in London, and instead opened an Art Gallery in King’s Lynn with my business partner and accountant Neil Russell in order to support local artists.”

Although successful, the Gallery proved to be a constant strain on Malcolm’s time and finances, and he reluctantly decided to close it.

“It simply wasn’t possible for me to produce the quantity of work required while keeping my position in the Police service,” he says.

When Neil Russell died shortly afterwards, Malcolm stopped exhibiting his paintings and for many years he refused to sell or show his work.

After retiring from the Police service in 1993, he worked as a CCTV consultant in the UK, Europe and the USA until full retirement.

His interest in painting was rekindled in 2010, when he was asked to organise an Art Exhibition for charity on behalf of the Rotary Lodge of Norfolk.

And he hasn’t looked back since.

Following a very successful exhibition at the Hanse House Gallery in King’s Lynn during the town’s Hanse Festival, he held a second exhibition (also at the Hanse House Gallery) during last month’s King’s Lynn Festival.

Malcolm’s work offers a unique glimpse into a forgotten world, and hopefully we won’t have to wait too long before seeing more of his work.

“In some ways, I’m now a victim of my own success,” he says. “Most of my time now is being taken up with completing several new works to replace all those that were sold at the Hanse House exhibitions!”

KLmagazine August 2016

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A new home and new era for King’s Lynn Samaritans Literally moving with the times, King’s Lynn Samaritans is now preparing to make its most important move in almost 50 years

T

he story of King’s Lynn Samaritans stretches back to the late 1960s, and if there’s been one constant in the development of the branch and its service, it’s undoubtedly the close relationship it has always enjoyed with the local community it has served so well.

Times have changed tremendously since the branch first opened its doors in Queen Street in King’s Lynn in 1968, and one of the most fundamental changes for Samaritans since those days has been in the ways people access the service.

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Although the majority of contacts to Samaritans are still made by phone, people now access the service on a face-to-face basis, via e-mail and text messages, and the charity also has a strong online presence – Samaritans has been working successfully with online companies such as Facebook and Google since 2011.

In addition to embracing new technology, Samaritans has also become much more proactive – going out into the community in locations such as schools and doctor’s surgeries and working with partners such as

Network Rail and police services. The branch also support Listener schemes in Wayland and Whitemoor Prisons.

“To continue providing more support to people in need, to reach more people who may often be unaware we’re here for them, the service has always had to move with the times,” says King’s Lynn Samaritans new Branch Director Gill Sale. “That even applies to the branch itself. The building has served us – and the community – admirably for half a century, but in many ways the service has outgrown it.”

KLmagazine August 2016

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

They have nothing to sell.

We call them Samaritans...”

Dr Chad Varah, CH CBE Founder, Samaritans

KLmagazine August 2016

the community wishing to volunteer, something the branch’s current home has always been unable to do.

Of course, such a major undertaking carries with it a significant investment, but King's Lynn Samaritans are confident the local community will continue to help.

“The relocation and redevelopment of the branch offers a marvellous opportunity for people to be publicly identified as supporting us,” says Treasurer Martin Sale.

“We’re looking for local companies, businesses and organisations to help us take King’s Lynn Samaritans into the future by sponsoring or even providing equipment and/or furnishings for the new training and duty rooms, the visitor’s meeting room and the volunteer’s kitchen and their overnight accommodation. The branch provides a vital service for the community and we’re so grateful the local community has recognised the importance of our voluntary work through its support over the last 50 years.”

Through sponsorship, local companies and organisations will demonstrate to their customers, supporters, shareholders and the wider business community that they are making an important contribution to the future development of this important local service. If your business or organisation would like to help, Martin can be contacted on 01553 675583 or 07572 180245.

Meanwhile, individual donations (no matter how small) can make a huge difference, and if you contact Martin for more details, Samaritans can ensure that every penny goes towards their

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

King’s Lynn Samaritans/Charity Number 268748

It’s important to note that apart from being reimbursed for volunteer expenses and other costs associated with supporting the prison listening schemes, the branch receives no government grants or funding. It is, in fact, entirely dependent on the support of the community it serves – support that ranges from invaluable voluntary work to financial donations.

Legacies have always been important to the continued work of King’s Lynn Samaritans, and a substantial legacy received in 2014 has made possible a major development of the service.

Over the next few months, work will start on the new branch centre for King’s Lynn Samaritans, which will be located in St. James Street, directly opposite the town’s Greyfriars Tower.

“We’re now finalising plans and layout of the internal structure and we’re really looking forward to starting work,” says Project Lead David Conner.

“The result will be four times bigger than our current base and will be able to provide a service fit for the 21st century – and well beyond.”

The new branch centre, which is currently expected to open in Spring 2017, will feature a fully-computerised duty room, a face-to-face support area, branch administration area, training and meeting room and kitchen facilities.

It will also include duty support rooms for volunteers to prepare for and recuperate from their shifts – an especially important facility for volunteers working at unsociable hours.

Not least, the new building will be able to receive disabled visitors for face-to-face contacts – and accommodate disabled members of

work.

Whoever you are and wherever you are, you can talk to Samaritans at any time on any day of the year, and anyone who calls does so in total confidence. It’s fundamental to our service that no one outside of Samaritans will know what you’ve told us – or even that you’ve been in touch.

It’s also important to remember that you can talk to Samaritans about anything. It’s perfectly okay to tell us you’re not having a good time, that you’re stressed out, that you’re scared, alone, or tired. We’re free to call on 116 123 – and in keeping with our policy of strict confidentiality, the number won’t ever appear on your phone bill.

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

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KLmagazine August 2016

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Arts

ABOVE: The new GroundWork Gallery in the centre of King’s Lynn is hoping to highlight the role art plays in the environment – epitomised by highly acclaimed artist Richard Long’s installation, created by throwing mud from the nearby Ouse onto the new gallery walls.

A new showcase for art with a conscience...

It’s often said that art and the ‘real’ world seldom meet. A new gallery in King’s Lynn is set to change all that, however. Richard Parr meets Dr. Veronica Sekules of the new GroundWork Gallery

J

ust a few months after the sad closure of the King’s Lynn Arts Centre, new life has been breathed into the cultural life of the town with the opening of GroundWork Gallery, which is rather fittingly just a few hundred yards away from the former’s location.

Known previously as Winlove’s workshop, the rather ugly flat-roofed building directly opposite the iconic Custom House has been completely transformed into a stylish gallery focusing on environment-grounded art with the addition of a new second floor and a double pitched roof.

For the gallery’s owner, Dr Veronica

KLmagazine August 2016

Sekules, the completion of the £300,000 re-development is the end of a two-year project – and at last month’s opening (which also saw the the launch of two major exhibitions) she said she was “absolutley thrilled” to see her long-held vision come to life.

“It’s wonderful to see it finished and to see the results of everyone’s hard work over the last few months,” she said. “I’d like the gallery to bring a contemporary focus to the town where we can look at the role of art in relation to the environment – which we all need to care for.”

Appropriately, she explained that the building housing the new gallery stands

in a floodplain in Lynn and, as such, is somewhat under threat from the environment and climate change.

However, she’s keen this aspect should be looked at in a positive way.

Exhibitions staged at the gallery are set to look at how art can encourage people to respond to a changing world and imagine how it can be shaped in the future.

The first exhibition, entitled Sunlight and Gravity, features the work of two artists, both of whom are lifelong friends of Dr Sekules – the Bristolbased sculptor and land artist Richard Long, and Norfolk artist, the late Roger Ackling, who sadly died two years ago

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PICTURES: The creation of GroundWork Gallery is largely down to the vision of Dr. Veronica Sekules (left), former Deputy Director and Head of Education at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich.

The gallery’s first two exhibitions feature work by the important British artists Richard Long and the late Roger Ackling – whose work includes pieces (right and below) created with the help of a magnifying glass and the power of the sun.

after suffering from Motor Neurone disease.

“Both artists use the environment in a subtle way, neither of them using their hands directly,” says Veronica. “For example, Roger created his work by using a magnifying glass held in sunlight to burn and create exquisite designs on pieces of driftwood.”

Richard Long, a widely acclaimed and award-winning artist, has made a literal impression on the new gallery, mixing mud from the nearby riverbank to a desired consistency and throwing it at one of the newly-painted white walls in a “dramatic gesture” and allowing the mud to flow and dry naturally.

“It is a beautiful subtle image,” says Veronica of the striking installation. “It shows us how truly lovely the mud is – something we have piles of but often take for granted.”

Veronica first came across the redundant and decaying 1930s building a few years ago. It had stood empty for over 20 years and had once been used to house classic cars.

“As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect,” she says. “Even at that early stage, I knew that nothing else would do.”

Following her purchase of the building, there followed lengthy and detailed discussions with local planners about how the

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building could be re-developed as a gallery, and her final revised design was eventually given approval.

What had stood as an eyesore across from one of the country’s true architectural gems has been turned into a stylish art space with living accommodation on the upper floors.

On the ground floor, entered from Purfleet Street, is a light and airy gallery space, while on the first-floor is a display of jewellery (featuring designs influenced by the environment) and living space. On the new top floor is a penthouse, which will be hired out for holiday lets once complete.

Dr Sekules said she is delighted with the final design for the building and praised the role of architects Hudson Architecture and Sam O’Gallaghan of the Norfolk Building Company, whose firm carried out the conversion work.

“Once the project got underway I was determined, despite having to overcome planning hurdles, to see it through to completion,” she says. “And I managed to keep within my stated budget!”

In developing the concept of GroundWork Gallery, Veronica has drawn on more than 35 years experience in the arts

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Arts

field – she was formerly the Deputy Director and Head of Education at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich.

“It’s not been all my own work though,” she says. “I’ve been assisted by many people who have given advice and support – some of it free – and this has been really encouraging.”

She says her intention is to make Groundwork Gallery completely selffunding and she’s hoping not to have to rely on public funds.

Veronica’s main hope is that the new gallery will inject a new sense of excitement and that it puts King’s Lynn firmly back on the map in terms of arts and the environment.

“I’m always happy to meet people in the gallery and to discuss the various exhibits on display,” she says. “I’d love to hear what people think of them – and of the gallery itself.”

GroundWork Gallery is now open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11am-4pm.

For details of current exhibitions and future events, please see the website at www.groundworkgallery.com

KLmagazine August 2016

“CWA prepared me for my future in the military”

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Please note that we can only deliver to UK postal addresses. So, to make sure of your copy of KL magazine, please contact us on 01553 601201 – and thanks for your support!

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KLmagazine August 2016

Letters Write to KL magazine at 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or editor@klmagazine.co.uk

DEAR KL MAGAZINE As your magazine does such a sterling job of highlighting and promoting local businesses, I thought your readers would be interested to learn that at a nail-biting event at The Park Plaza in London, Abacus Hotels were recently awarded runners-up in the 2016 Group Travel Awards in the category of Most Group-Friendly Hotel Chain or Group.

The awards were celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and the ceremony itself was hosted by popular actor and TV presenter Christopher Biggins – and was attended by many of the biggest names in the group travel industry.

Abacus Hotels came second only to Warner Leisure Hotels, and defeated big names such as Radisson Blue, Lochs & Glens and Best Western to the title.

The Group Travel Awards are decided by the readers of GTO magazine and have earned an enviable reputation as the most distinguished and respected event serving the group travel market.

They reflect a highly-valued endorsement from customers in this most important market sector.

KLmagazine August 2016

The voting procedure for 2016 entailed a voting form appearing in the joint November/December issue of GTO and in the January 2016 edition, together with online voting.

Abacus Hotels comprises the Best Western Plus Knights Hill Hotel & Spa in King’s Lynn (below left), the Best Western Le Strange Arms Hotel in Old Hunstanton (above) and the Best Western Plus Orton Hall Hotel & Spa in Peterborough (below right) – all of them lovely four-star properties in stunning locations that attract groups from all over the country, if not the world.

We were, of course, absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award, which is not only testimony to the range and quality of our facilities, but also recognises the excellent care and attention to detail shown at all times by all our local teams.

And, of course, it reflects the wonderful experiences enjoyed by all our guests!

JULIE GIBSON FlnstSMM Abacus Hotels

DEAR KL MAGAZINE I really enjoyed reading your feature on the work of local-born explorer and painter Thomas Baines (above) in the June issue of KL magazine, especially as I never think he’s been given the recognition he deserves.

Although your feature mentioned some of the places named after him, it may interest your readers to know that he also gave his name to a beetle (Bolbotritus Bainesi) which he discovered beside the Mungone River in Australia.

What’s even more surprising is that even fewer people would have heard of Thomas Baines had it not been for his mother, who was (somewhat naturally you might think!) his most loyal supporter and promoter.

At a time when women didn’t generally involve themselves in such things, she displayed her son’s canvases in the window of the family sitting room in King’s Lynn and almost single-handedly organised a major exhibition of his work in the town in the 1860s.

She even sent two parcels of Thomas’ pictures to Queen Victoria, managed to receive the patronage of Prince Albert for the publication of a collection of her son’s South African prints, and presented a selection of drawings and sketches to the Prince of Wales at Sandringham in November 1863.

They say there’s no love like a mother’s love and in Thomas Baines’ case it’s certainly true!

Thanks for a great magazine.

JANET CARTER By e-mail

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The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

W

ith last month’s exciting World Snail Racing Championships (held annually at Congham) and the 50m Dash To Be First On The Bus (held daily at King’s Lynn Bus Station), you can’t help wondering if this month’s Olympic Games could do with something a bit different to the 200m Breaststroke and the Women’s Cycling Team Sprint.

Now, I’m not suggesting we start training for Olympic Snail Racing (with the Games only lasting a couple of weeks, anything over 100m would probably be unrealistic), but spectators of Olympics past have certainly been treated to some pretty odd events.

For example, belated congratulations to American William Dickey, who won the one-and-only gold medal for Distance Plunging at the 1904 St. Louis games.

It sounds a pretty fearsome sport, but it has nothing to do with jumping off tall structures. If you had ambitions of becoming a world-beating distance plunger, all you had to do was dive into a swimming pool and see how far you could get underwater without moving your arms or legs for 60 seconds.

It actually sounds like quite good fun – and me and my classmates certainly thought so when we had swimming lessons at school. None of us took up distance plunging for a living, though.

I also remember watching Tug-ofWar competitions at the village fete, little realising it was an Olympic event that lasted until the 1920 games in Antwerp.

In fact, Great Britain was actually quite successful at rope-tugging – on the three occasions the event was held, we won two golds and a silver. The fact 106

that the 8-man team was usually made up of London City police officers probably helped.

Our village fete was also where I first became acquainted with the game of croquet – and you’ll know all about it if you’ve read the feature on Hunstanton Croquet Club on page 80 of this very magazine. The game had a less-thanimpressive appearance at the Paris Olympics in 1900, when only one spectator bought a ticket for the event, which only featured French competitiors. It did have one redeeming feature, however – it was the first Olympic event in which women participated.

An official report of the Paris Olympics later concluded that croquet was a game with “hardly any pretensions to athleticism” and it never appeared again.

Neither did Live Pigeon Shooting, which also appeared for the first and last time at the 1900 Paris games.

Reportedly more than 300 birds were killed in the grisly event, and organisers thankfully decided to skip live targets from then on – the London Games of 1908 featured cutout cardboard deer for the shooting event.

And as if all that wasn’t enough from our friends over the Channel, the 1900 Paris games featured yet another animal-themed event in the form of the Horse Long Jump. Honest.

Now, I know as well as anyone that horses are pretty athletic creatures, but I don’t think they’re cut out for the long jump.

The first winner of the

gold medal was Belgium’s Constant van Langendonck, whose horse Extra Dry managed to leap some 6.10 metres.

Not too shabby you might think, until you consider the world record for a human long jump is 8.95 metres.

Langendock is consequently (and hardly surprisingly) the only winner of the gold medal for the Olympic Horse Long Jump.

My own gold medal for oddest Olympic event, however, must go to our American friends. In 1984, the organisers of the 1984 Los Angeles games introduced Solo Synchronized Swimming (think about it for a moment).

Despite the sheer absurdity of staying in sync with oneself (the event’s supporters claim the synchronization was actually with the music) the event managed to reappear at Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992.

Now, do you still think Olympic Snail Racing is such a ridiculous idea?

Anyway, must dash – I’ve got the Flatpack Assembly Marathon to attempt before Mrs. Middleton gets back from the shops. On your marks...

KLmagazine August 2016