KL Magazine May 2011

ISSN 2044–7965

NEW!

ISSUE 8 MAY 2011 FREE

magazine

LOCAL LIFE

OUT AND ABOUT IN HOLT! LOCAL HOMES

Discover the amazing interior of Clifton House!

LOCAL PEOPLE

We interview film producer Robert Fuller!

LOCAL HIDDEN TREASURES:

LOCAL SPORT

Why King’s Lynn Golf Club is a real Augusta replica!

LIFESTYLE

FOOD

What’s inside your local museum?

HISTORY

EVENTS

LOCAL LIFE

editorial 01553 601201

editor@klmagazine.co.uk Eric Secker Charlotte Thorneycroft Ann Weaver Alex Dallas Christine Glass David Learner Karen Reeves Michael Middleton Richard Parr Ian Ward Graham Murray

advertising 01553 601201 sales@klmagazine.co.uk Grant Murray Laura Dunn Becky Drew KL magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

If you’d like to order prints of any photograph featured in KL magazine, contact us at the address below. Please note this applies only to images taken by our own photographers.

Welcome!

K

L magazine isn’t just going from strength to strength – it’s going places too! As you’ll notice form the address below, we’ve moved home. Your favourite magazine is now produced in the beautiful building formerly known as Bishop’s Lynn House, which has been recently been transformed and refurbished by local property developer Morston Assets.

Although our surrundings have changed, you’ll find the magazine itself is still packed with local interest.

We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a look inside one of the most unique homes in King’s Lynn (page 12), met the local Morris dancers (page 50), spoken to a local film producer (page 56) and taken a fresh look at our local golf club (page 62) – which was recently recognised nationally as possessing a truly world-class course.

In addition to all that, we’ve stepped back in time to look at some of the museum treasures in King’s Lynn (page 24) and looked to the future by investigating how different local people are doing their bit to save the planet (page 20).

Hope you enjoy the magazine – and see you again next month!

THE KL TEAM

Contact us at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP TEL: 01553 601201 E-MAIL: features@klmagazine.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

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KLmagazine April 2011

Contents

May 2011

local life 7-9

WHAT’S ON Forthcoming events in West Norfolk

10

DOM JOLY COMES TO KING’S LYNN What’s on at the Corn Exchange

20

GOING GREEN How West Norfolk is saving the planet

30

LOCAL LANDMARKS The life and times of the South Gate

34-41 FOOD & DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 60

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF SPORT Gearing up for Hunstanton’s Lifestyles 2011

8

10 local people

58

16

THE BIG INTERVIEW KL magazine talks to David Taylor

24

LOCAL HISTORY The best of the museum of King’s Lynn

37

COLIN RUSHMORE Making the most of your vegetables

58

ARTS PROFILE A profile of local filmmaker Robert Fuller

62-65 KING’S LYNN GOLF CLUB Why it’s been hailed as Norfolk’s Augusta

50

kl regulars 29

PETS Help and advice with local vet Alex Dallas

42-45 EXPLORER This month we visit Holt 46

HEALTH & BEAUTY Help and advice from the experts

66

WILD WEST NORFOLK Michael Middleton’s lighter view of things

KLmagazine May 2011

24 5

ON SCREEN May 2011

love film. love luxe.

The local cinema experience for serious movie fans

! Water for Elephants ! Hanna ! Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides ! Senna ! Thor ! Submarine ! Oranges and Sunshine ! Country Strong ! Arthur ! Adele Blanc Sec

As lavish as something from the golden days of Hollywood, The Luxe Cinema is an elegantly stylish film lover’s delight. The Luxe Lounge bar sets the mood for a social drink with friends whilst the cinema itself offers luxurious and spacious leather sofas and armchairs – including a selection of Premier Sofas with waitress service! Allowing moviegoers to sit back and relax in true style, enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee whilst watching a wide programme of mainstream, arthouse and classic films. If you love film, you’ll love Luxe.

The Luxe 01945 588808

Alexandra Road Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ

book online:www.theluxecinema.com

MAY

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Sun 1 May DRUM Central School of Dancing & Performing Arts £5.50 - £15 Mon 2 - Sat 7 May YES, PRIME MINISTER Simon Williams, Richard McCabe star in political comedy £6.50 - £27.50 Sun 8 May FIREMAN SAM The Hero next door £5.50 - £13 Mon 9 May STEPHEN K AMOS Stand up comedy £5 - £18.50

Tues 10 May SHAOLIN WARRIORS Kung Fu masters £5.50 - £22.50

Mon 16 May PENGUIN CAFÉ Norfolk & Norwich Festival £5.50 - £18

Sun 22 May SOLID SILVER 60s SHOW Vintage pop £5.50 - £19.50

Wed 11 May BRITISH PINK FLOYD SHOW Stunning tribute £6.50 - £29.50

Tues 17 May KRONOS QUARTET Norfolk & Norwich Festival £6.50 - £27.50

Mon 23 - Sat 28 May FOOTLOOSE 80s dance musical £6.50 - £27.50

Wed 18 May STAFF BENDA BILILI Norfolk & Norwich Festival £5.50 - £18

Sun 29 May ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN Flawless tribute £5.50 - £19.50

Fri 20 - Sat 21 May BALLET NACIONAL DE ESPANA Norfolk & Norwich Festival £6.50 - £32.50

Mon 30 - Tues 31 May MR BENN Family favourite £5.50-£10

Fri 13 - Sat 14 May CHOUF OUCHOUF Norfolk & Norwich Festival £5.50 - £23 Sun 15 May MARIZA Norfolk & Norwich Festival £5.50 - £25

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

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KLmagazine May 2011

WHAT’S ON

May

selected by Charlotte Thorneycroft FUN DOG SHOW Glebe House School Cromer Road, Hunstanton (12–5pm) Bring along your four-legged friend to the school fete and fun dog show. Entry is free and the twelve classes are only £1.50 to enter with rosettes to 10th place! Refreshments, trade stalls and a pet behaviourist on hand – and the chance to have a go at fly ball. Contact Amanda Knight for more information on 01485 534481.

CRAB & LOBSTER FESTIVAL 2011 Cromer and Sheringham All seafood lovers – and those who aren’t! – are invited to the second festival celebrating the fishing industries of two of North Norfolk’s most famous seaside town’s. Focusing on two local delicacies – crab and lobster – there’ll be a host of cookery demonstrations and taster sessions, as well as crustaceous themed art nd and other seafaring music and entertainment.

8th

FAMILY DAY OUT The Walks, King’s Lynn (11am–4pm) The Gaywood Valley Project and Norfolk Wildlife Trust present a fabulous day out for all the family – take a guided walk or listen to a story in the most magical of settings. Experience the wildlife, landscape and history of King’s Lynn and the Gaywood Valley and discover what makes this area so special. Activities for all ages including nestbox making, storytelling, dyke dipping, minibeast hunting, displays and demonstrations

20-22

STEP THIS WAY...

FREE walks – no need to book!

Birds of Reffley Wood (10-11am) Start point at Reffley Wood entrance, Sandy Lane, South Wootton Historic King’s Lynn (10.30am–12pm) Start point at the Walk’s Café Butterflies, Bushcrickets and Bugs (1-2pm) Start point at the Whale Statue, Harding’s Pits Fairstead and Gaywood Meander (2-4pm) Start point at the Walk’s Café In Search of Urban Wildlife (2.30-4pm) Start point at the Walk’s Café A Meander on the Heath (5.30-7pm) Start point at NWT Roydon Common, West Car Park For further information on the event or walks, please phone 01603 598333 or visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

15th

26-29th

SUBARU INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS Houghton Hall The grand surroundings of Houghton Hall will again play host to this major international equestrian competition.

As well as attracting many of the world’s top riders the event will provide plenty of entertainment for the thousands of visitors expected, including 4 days of superb eventing and fine selection of trade stalls. For bookings and information, visit www.houghtoninternational.co.uk

NORFOLK HISTORY FAIR Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse (10am-5pm) Watch Norfolk’s history come to life as members of the ‘The Mannered Mob’ recreate 18th century life. Experts and enthusiasts from across the county will share their knowledge of some of Norfolk’s most famous characters. Call the museum on 01362 860563 for more details.

29th

If you’ve got an event to publicise, send the details to features@klmagazine.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

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WHAT’S ON

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KLmagazine May 2011

ABOVE: The Fairyland Fair is a unique opportunity for children to discover the real magic of nature – and take part in some truly enchanting activities

The local charity with the fairytale mission...

This year, the Fairyland Trust celebrates 10 years of encouraging children to get closer to nature. Charlotte Thorneycroft discovers more...

A

celebration of the tiny fluttering people – Norfolk’s annual Fairyland Fair provides a fun-filled day out for all of the family. The event is organised

by The Fairyland Trust, a Norfolk-based charity which introduces children and adults to nature, ecology and wildlife through multi-sensory experiences using magic and imagination.

Joining in is encouraged through plant and animal interactions and ‘making’ workshops. This year the fun and magic will be bigger and better than ever as the Fairyland Fair celebrates its 10th birthday.

In the magical setting of the grounds surrounding Holt Hall, which consists of 35 hectares of gardens, ancient woodland and lakes, nature will be brought to life. On the site, a root-stock of an old coppiced chestnut tree has had its trunk dated back to the time of King Cnut – making it over 1,000 years old.

Renowned workshops by the trust will take place including magic wands, fairy crowns, fairy gardens, wildflower fairies, wizard shields, magic potions, fairy books and witches pets and the welcome return

KLmagazine May 2011

of magic lanterns! Two brand new drop-in workshops (‘Hungry Caterpillars’ and ‘Flutterbies’) will also be launched at this year’s fair. There’ll also be live musicians including the Ugly Bug Band, stilt walking and other acts and a Norfolk food market featuring local producers.

“It just seems right to honour our decade of introducing the magic of nature to children by celebrating our birthday with a big Fairy Fair,” says the Fairyland Trust’s Abbie Panks.

“We’ve added some great new activities and hope to have a birthday banquet too.”

Children are urged to dress up for a magical day out – parents can

?

too if they like! – and keep their eyes peeled for other exciting attractions such as the Pixie Post office, storytelling, Pirate Fete and trails to the Fairy Queen! But grown-ups haven’t been forgotten – they can make their way over to the beer tent or try some of the delicious food on offer. On the theme of food, ‘Cooking with Trolls’ sees masterchef Dr Tim Kinnaird try his hand at troll wrangling –now that’s something you don’t see every day!

As a unique combination of drama, science, arts and crafts and spectacle, The Fairyland Fair’s 10th birthday celebrations sounds like a truly magical day out. KL

Details

FAIRYLAND FAIR Holt Hall, Holt Sunday 29th–Monday 30th May 2011 (10am-5pm) Bookings must be made in advance, and you are advised to visit www.fairylandtrust.org for full details. Tickets are £7.50 for children, £10 for adults, and £30 for a Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children). Under 3’s free.

Workshop prices vary from £3–£5.

Please note that dogs are not allowed on the site except for guide dogs.

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WHAT’S ON

With a new season packed full of music, dance and comedy at the Corn Exchange, one of the nation’s most innovative comedians, Dom Joly shares his fascination with reality TV and tells us about his forthcoming show on Wednesday 8th June

Dom Joly comes to King’s Lynn

A

ccepted wisdom has it that you only appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here if your career has tanked. Dom Joly stepped into the jungle purely because he’d just signed a movie deal, a book deal and a TV deal and – as he puts – ‘didn’t need the show at all.’

For those who first came across him as the guerrilla improv anarchist from Trigger Happy TV this still requires a little more explanation.

“I confess I love reality TV,” he begins a

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little awkwardly. “I shouldn’t, but I think I’m a Celeb is the most brilliantly made show in the world. They’ve asked me every year and I’ve always said ‘no’. You know you’re on there as your last spin of the dice. But suddenly I had all these deals so I thought – if I’m ever going to go on it, it’s now, because I’ll feel good,” he grins.

“And it had Jenny Eclair and Shaun Ryder and it wasn’t all Emmerdale and footballers and I lost so much weight that it was genuinely good for me.”

Joly has always been about defying

conventional wisdom. From Trigger Happy TV he became BBC chat show host, sketch show performer, travel writer and presenter, sports columnist and war zone author. Add movie star to that – his Boratstyle film War of the Flea is currently in development in the US – and you’ve got the impossible career arc.

There’s only one thing he’s absolutely clear about – he’s not a stand-up comedian.

“My problem was after Trigger Happy, everyone assumes I’m a comedian,” he grins engagingly. “I’ve never done any stand up.

KLmagazine May 2011

My big fear in life is public speaking and stand up.”

And then he returned from the jungle to find his agent had booked a 70 date stand-up tour!

“I just didn’t know what to do – and then I realised that was the point. I don’t know what I do. My kids don’t even know what I do. They think ‘Dom Joly’ is a job.

They once asked ‘What is Dom Joly?’ So that’s what the show is – it’s me trying to work out actually what I do.”

As a guide, he’s showing his holiday photos. Kind of.

He’s been taking photos all his life – he’s got more than 10,000. It’s not exactly the typical slideshow because, whatever you say about Joly, you can’t say he hasn’t lived. If you went to school with Osama Bin Laden, pranked Michael Portillo and caught crocodiles in Australia, you’re going to have stories. It even starts with a full-scale war.

Born in Beirut in 1967 to ex-pat parents, Joly was at the local English school when the 1975 civil war broke out – the school bin Laden went to, although Osama was 18 when Joly was 6 so they didn’t exactly hang out.

“I remember seeing all sorts of weird things,” he recalls. “I found six heads below our school when we were walking to school. ITN went to that school during the war and because I was an English kid they interviewed me. The guy said ‘are you scared when shells are landing?’ And apparently I said, ‘no, because my dad says they’re jolly bad shots.’ Like a really posh little kid.”

In 1976 his parents sent him back to England – to Dragon School in Oxford and then to Haileybury School, where years before, Joly’s father went. It didn’t help their relationship.

“He had a terrible time, so what does he do? Sends me to the same place!”

Joly still sounds slightly angry all these years later. “I think it’s because it’s the only thing he understood. The separation and isolation gave him that outsider status – which later drove his career. As Jimmy Carr says – the comedian is the one who, in a

room of 300 people, is facing the wrong direction.”

“I think because I wasn’t brought up here, I can pull back a bit and look at it in a slightly detached way,” he agrees.

“In both places I wasn’t totally from there. If you’re an outsider in some way, I think that allows you to observe but I wasn’t thinking about that when I was eight.”

When the education system finally spat him out, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life, as long as it was something interesting. Hence working for the EU in Prague, living in Paris and working for ITN. He was almost a member of the establishment. So when he turned up at an audition for anarchoprankster Mark Thomas’ show, he was pretty sure the job wasn’t his. In fact, they wanted his smart suit and charming manner.

‘It was before Brass Eye or Michael Moore and we were taking the mickey out of MPs and stuff,” he grins in arch delight.

“I loved it. Literally on the first day, I drove a tank through a McDonalds drive thru. And it was like – I cannot believe you’re paid to do this.”

These stunts inspired him and, whilst working at the then Paramount Comedy Channel, he began creating more, which went out as screen idents under the title War of the Flea. They targeted Peter Mandleson, chased Michael Portillo dressed as his Mexican family and – when the broadcasters built platforms to avoid them – started stacking acrobats into the picture. Channel 4 took interest and the rest is history. As the show will reveal.

There’s more top comedy at the Corn Exchange this season.

With shows from Milton Jones, Alan Carr and Ken Dodd already sold out, you can still tickle your funny bones with Mike Gunn & Sean Collins on Thursday 2nd June, Rich Hall on Saturday 18th June – and if you’re quick, Jimmy Carr on Saturday 17th September.

Forthcoming Shows Wednesday 4th May PP Arnold Tickets: £18.50 (£17.50 concs) Sunday 8 May Jane McDonald Tickets: £32.50 Friday 13th May Legendary 60s Icons The Troggs, The Animals & Friends featuring Spencer Davis Tickets: £25 (£23 concs)

17th–21st May Peter Pan on Ice Featuring the Russian Ice Stars (above) Tickets: £19.50–£26.50 Friday 3rd June The Drifters Tickets: £24.50 (£23.50 concs) Sunday 12th June A Night at the Opera Presented by London Festival Opera Tickets: £18.50 (£17.50 concs) Saturday 25th June The Great British Barbershop Boys (below) Tickets: £16.50 (£15.50 concs)

King’s Lynn Corn Exchange Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1JW Box Office: 01553 764864 Web: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

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HOMES

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KLmagazine May 2011

ABOVE: Even the staircase leading to the upper floors of Clifton House is full of character and fascinating details

A unique property with a very bright future

It’s one of the most individual properties in King’s Lynn and it’s still undergoing a loving and sympathetic restoration thanks to its historyloving owners. Charlotte Thorneycroft is invited to Clifton House...

N

estled into the Georgian backdrop of King Street, Clifton House is a completely unique property dating back to the days when King’s Lynn was first established as a wealthy trading town. Built mainly in the 15th century, the property still has many original features and surviving elements, thanks to the considerate actions of past owners.

Its Georgian facade (like so many disguising our medieval town) is a later edition, a facelift to revamp an old tired building in the same way we renovate our modern houses today to move with the times.

Inside the Grade I listed property there KLmagazine May 2011

are historic interiors spanning a wide timeline from the 13th century to the 18th.

Happily, the property is now in the best possible hands for a historic building such as this – Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage and his wife Anna, who is also a historian. The couple have lovingly breathed life into the ancient rooms to create a wonderful family home which they share with their two young children, without losing any of the historic details.

Having stood empty for a period of time the property was taken over by the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust who undertook some costly repairs and protection work to prevent further damage from the elements.

What Simon and his wife purchased was

a shell of a magnificent building with yearsworth of renovation needing to take place.

“We gave ourselves a 10-year plan for the building which we thought to be a realistic target,” says Simon.

“Now we’ve reached the halfway point – there’s still some way to go but a great deal has already been achieved. Plumbing and electrics all had to be installed, and some rooms even needed floors so we kept lots of local tradesmen busy! Much of the panelling was damaged or missing so this has been a major project and it still continues.

“With any property of this age, ongoing maintenance is always required, which often eats away at the budget for other 13

HOMES things, but we are both passionate about Clifton House.”

The jewel in the crown of this building is Clifton House Tower which was built in 1520. Many of the merchants of the town had towers built onto their properties, but these weren’t used to observe the return of their ships, as many people believe.

In a port where wealth created from the docks was in abundance, merchants would use these towers as a status symbol to show off their riches to others in the same way their ships would be built bigger and more impressive than their neighbours.

Clifton’s tower was the biggest in the town and the only one still remaining from the era that built King’s Lynn.

The Elizabethan tower is five storeys high with one room at each level and a terrace at the very top. Simon Thurley describes this as one of his favourite parts of the house.

“In the summer it’s lovely to have family meals in the tower dining room which is laid out as it would have been in the 1500s,” he explains.

“We also enjoy taking friends up onto the top of the tower for drinks whilst they admire the breathtaking views of the whole town – a sight which cannot be matched anywhere in Lynn.”

Another of Clifton’s most distinctive features is the vaulted undercroft – which was the first brick building in King’s Lynn.

This would have been used to store wine (a regular import to the town) and was the business of Clifton’s first resident. A series of equally-distinguished residents followed, mostly merchants (many of whom also became mayor) but possibly even the Bishop.

Throughout the property the decor compliments the historic features, with authentic paint colours from the English Heritage range chosen by Simon’s wife Anna, an expert in historic interior design for English Heritage.

Most of the rooms are now 16th–17th century in style although the kitchen is still Tudor. The staircase leading from the main entrance is particularly impressive, and the morning room on the ground floor (although one of the most modern in the house) is a wonderfully casual sitting room where the sunlight floods in from the large windows.

Each year the Thurleys kindly open the doors of Clifton House and its tower to the public, sharing this fabulous piece of King’s Lynn’s heritage.

“The property had a tradition of being open to the public for 30 or 40 years and we both felt that this should continue when we purchased Clifton House,” says Simon.

“There isn’t another property like this in the town – and our open days are a great opportunity for people to see one of King’s Lynn’s most important remaining buildings.” KL

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KLmagazine May 2011

KLmagazine May 2011

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Big PERSONALITY

the

interview

The regeneration of King’s Lynn and the establishment of genuinely sustainable communities sounds like a major task, but it’s already well underway. KL magazine meets David Taylor, Head of Sustainability at Morston Assets...

D

avid Taylor, Head of Sustainability at Morston Assets, has been the man behind helping residents to develop a positive new community in South Lynn and businessmen to use the facilities at Yours Business Networks.

Within three years a very strong residents’ committee has been developed, which culminated in a stunning street party for the Royal Wedding in April.

For David, this was a great reward for the hard work he and his team have devoted to their concept of ‘Good Homes, Good Jobs and Good Neighbours.’ KL magazine talks to him about his work and his vision for the future.

school teacher working in Norfolk and Lincolnshire and very interested in people and how they function – what makes them tick.

I’m always keen to see how young people develop and to work out what inspires them.

Three years ago I drove past a lot of brightly coloured buildings and saw the Morston Assets logo for the first time. I did a bit of research and saw my job advertised. My thought was that it would be an interesting role for a Private Sector developer, and it has been just that.

It’s about how a place functions and the importance within that of people having jobs.

It’s about training and skills and how we can help people manage themselves.

KL MAGAZINE: Was Morston Assets the company born in Morston village?

KL MAGAZINE: What does the title Head of Sustainability mean?

DAVID TAYLOR: Our Chairman Tom Harrison is a North Norfolk person who lives close to the church in the village of Morston. It is twenty years since the company was founded, this is its anniversary year.

DAVID TAYLOR: We have defined sustainability as being ‘Good Homes, Good Jobs and Good Neighbours’ – and I’ve worked with the Chairman Tom Harrison over the last three years to set the agenda for my role.

When I started we had 109 houses in King’s Lynn and a Chairman with a lot of ideas.

From the outset it was my job to make this work. So I’ve defined and refined what a Yours Community looks like. I was alone when I started this, but now run a six-strong team.

KL MAGAZINE: How has the vision of the joint founders developed and altered?

DAVID TAYLOR: Morston Assets started with two distinct arms which are now blended together. They are the traditional property investment development arm and the regeneration business – which is the area I’m part of. This includes the Yours brand. We use the investment side to find and develop sites for Yours Communities and Yours Business Networks.

KL MAGAZINE: How has your experience and background fitted into the company’s ethos and aims?

DAVID TAYLOR: Unusually, I’m not from a property background. I was a secondary

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KL MAGAZINE: How do Yours Communities differ from other developments?

DAVID TAYLOR: We’ve built a brand which differs from our competitors by setting out, at a very high level, what Yours is all about. A traditional developer would buy some land, get it through planning and perhaps just sell parcels off to county house builders or County Councils for schools.

We give enormous consideration to how communities work. This includes streetscape,

landscape and public areas. And we encourage people to look after that space. As a team, the developments in King’s Lynn have taught us about how to create good homes.

These will now be rolled out in our regional developments in Scotland and Northern England.

KL MAGAZINE: What is Morston Assets bringing to King’s Lynn?

DAVID TAYLOR: I’m very proud of three things which have been achieved in my three year’s work.

Firstly, bringing the University of East Anglia to King’s Lynn to deliver virtual seminars. No Private sector company has ever done this before and we’ve had to work very hard at talking the same language and developing trust. I’m very proud their logo is next to ours outside Yours Business Networks. And we didn’t just get one University, we also have Stirling. People say King’s Lynn isn’t a University town, but with these facilities it now has the possibility to be connected with universities all over the world.

Secondly, I’m very proud of Yours Business Networks. When I first walked around Bishop’s Lynn House it had holes in the ceiling, plasterboard on the floor and was pretty derelict. We learnt how to encourage and help visiting businesses by talking to local businessmen. People like to feel safe and secure with new technology and our staff here take away the initial fear. It also offers a chance to expand your business in a way you have perhaps never considered.

Finally, I’m very proud of the strong leadership team which has developed within three years at South Lynn. They still have issues to resolve but while I’ve chaired meetings to facilitate their systems they’re now running things themselves.

The street party to celebrate the Royal Wedding was the culmination of this.

KLmagazine May 2010 2011

KL MAGAZINE: Yours Business Networks has been described as a ‘home’ for networking groups in King’s Lynn. What does that mean?

DAVID TAYLOR: We’ve brought ‘constructive collisions’ to this community. Constructive because we’ve thought hard about who those collisions should be with. If you want to trade with Norwich, France, China or New Zealand this will facilitate those connections.

I was particularly proud of bringing Jon Moulton to King’s Lynn and my team worked very hard to make that happen.

KL MAGAZINE: How have local councillors, SME’s, solopreneurs and business and networking groups reacted to the arrival of such a visionary concept?

DAVID TAYLOR: The council deserve credit for the whole of the regeneration of Yours South Lynn. Borough Councillors have taken very brave decisions during a very difficult economic climate.

Things have happened more slowly than they wanted them to, but they are happening. All the movers and shakers were round the table from the outset shaping the agenda.

It is a new concept and people are naturally wary, but they have been 100% positive.

KL MAGAZINE: Yours Communities is really taking shape now. Is the development of the structured viable community exactly in line with the ‘blueprint?’

DAVID TAYLOR: The plan has developed. One of the things I’ve been able to do is to visit communities all over the world in order to research our own creation in South Lynn.

What I’ve discovered is that they don’t all work all of the time. One third of the community tend to be inactive, one third fall out with one another and one third are very busy and passionate. That’s life. But they do have the power to make decisions for themselves and to voice frustrations.

And they own their own space.

There is very little vandalism or litter at Yours South Lynn, which is very telling.

KL MAGAZINE: What do you personally particularly like about the town and its surrounding area?

DAVID TAYLOR: . As someone who’s a keen photographer I love the way the sky is so vast.

When I first saw the Yours Communities in South Lynn there was a huge thunderstorm brewing and I loved the fact that here you can see the weather coming like no other area.

I also enjoy all country sports. This area has a special quality about it which is hard to replicate.

KL MAGAZINE: Who has inspired you – and what piece of advice would you offer to young people today?

DAVID TAYLOR: I’ve been inspired by my history teacher and also by my current Chairman, Tom Harrison, who is someone who really makes things happen in life.

Life is all about choices. I know it’s a very adult piece of advice but I’d say to young people to try and keep their options open.

It’s important not to limit yourself early on so that you can keep those horizons as wide as possible later on. KL

KLmagazine May 2011

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KLmagazine May 2011

HISTORY

1900 If you’ve got any old photos of King’s Lynn or anywhere else in West Norfolk you think would make an interesting Then & Now feature, send them to us and we’ll try to include them in the magazine. They can be from any time – we’d love to see some from the 1960s and 70s – and don’t worry about the ‘now’ view, as we can take the present-day photograph.

RETURN TO THE SOUTH GATE! To complement our look at the iconic South Gate of King’s Lynn (see page 30) we thought it would be interesting to see what the structure used to look like, and although we’ve got nothing against green spaces, we think we prefer the view of 100

PICTURE: IAN WARD

PICTURE: COURTESY OF NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE

West Norfolk: Now and Then

years ago – it seems to be a more appropriate welcome to the town! This photograph and many others like it can be ordered from Picture Norfolk – you can contact them at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum, Millennium Plain,

2011 Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AW. We’ll be bringing you another look at how things have changed in West Norfolk next month.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

To view thousands of images of Norfolk’s history visit: www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk KLmagazine May 2011

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LOCAL LIFE

ABOVE: One of Yvonne Autie’s recycled rugs, looking more like a work of modern art than an eco-friendly household item!

The art of being green...

W

e all know we should try to be more environmentally aware; global warming is something we are constantly being reminded of in the media. But for most of us, using energy saving light bulbs and recycling some of our waste is as far as the ‘green’ journey goes. Even with the latter it can be confusing as to what can and what can’t be recycled which often means some empty packets make it into the wrong bin.

What you should know is being eco-friendly is easier than you think and has lots of benefits to you too such as saving you money. Now that sounds far more interesting! We have spoken to some residents of West Norfolk who are doing a little more than separating their plastic bottles and newspapers to see what works for them. KL 20

Yvonne Autie H

aving lost the bath mat in a house move, most people would have expected Yvonne, the wife of an RAF officer to purchase another from the shops. However green-minded Yvonne thought why buy one, when she could make one herself, recycling their old duvet cover! Already a keen embroiderer, Yvonne attended rag rug workshops and purchased tools to perfect the craft she has now practiced for 17 years.

“I don’t believe in throwing things away,” says Yvonne. “I admit I hoard, but you never know when you’ll find a use for something – it’s surprising what can be recycled! Apart from the backing for my rugs, which is natural hessian, I’ve never bought new fabric to make them.”

The recycled rugs are very fashionable, for their ‘green’ qualities as well as their unique designs, making a comeback over a century after they were common place in the home. Traditionally a parlour rug, it would then be moved as it became increasingly worn, first to the bedroom, then the hallway, then the back door until falling apart it would be thrown on the compost heap – recycling 19th century style!

Yvonne’s love of making something new from old continues in her jewellery making too. Many of her customers bring pieces of broken jewellery or old broaches and pendants that are no longer used, which she then uses to create a beautiful, wearable item. As a member of West Norfolk Artists Association Yvonne regularly exhibits both her jewellery and rugs, as well as teaching others how to make their own rag rugs.

KLmagazine May 2011

Norfolk Organic Group G

rowing your own is an affordable and sustainable way of supplying your family with fruit and vegetables all year round. But deciding to be organic should be as much a decision of health and taste as that of care for the environment.

The Norfolk Organic Group originally focused all of its energy on home grown produce although it now covers a wide interest of greener living and organics including household cleaning products.

Meeting regularly the group offers advice to its members through talks, visits and resources on using organic and the benefits it provides. Brigid Hayward, chair of the Norfolk Organic Group was already a keen gardener when she was expecting her first child.

“I decided to attend a Norfolk Organic meeting to find out more about the food we consume and how organic produce could be more beneficial for me and my baby,” she explains.

“I was amazed to find out what a cocktail of chemicals we could consume in just one plate of non-organic supermarket vegetables. The members were all so knowledgeable and they all looked so healthy! Now I wouldn’t give my family anything other than our own organic produce.”

Getting the soil right is key to vitamin packed vegetables but this can all be achieved with a little work.

“Growing your own organic is so much easier than people think,” says Brigid, “you just have to remember – nature knows what it’s doing”.

Brigid is also part of the ‘Master Gardeners’ scheme which provides mentors like Brigid to teach people how they can go green and grow their own organic veg at home.

For more information on Norfolk Organic Group or to join (membership is only £10/year including newsletter, 25% off seeds and seed swaps) visit the website www.norfolkorganic.org.uk

Nar Valley Green Burials

I

t might be one of the taboo subjects but more people are planning their funerals in advance to ensure they receive the final goodbye they choose, including selecting a suitable place of rest. The Nar Valley Green Burial Site is a harmonious scene of meadowland and wildflowers, providing a tranquil haven of peace and calm.

Rather than being surrounded by headstones, the landscape is left pure as a celebration of nature and life in keeping with the eco-friendly feel.

Green burials have origins in both environmental concerns and sustainability, although they are also favoured purely for their natural beauty. Staying with the green theme a choice of bio-degradable coffins are available including cardboard, wicker or sustainable wood.

Linda Coggles of A J Coggles Funeral Directors manages the site, which is proving a very popular alternative to traditional cemeteries.

“The green burial site offers something very personal and the atmosphere is enormously comforting,” she says.

“More people are choosing green burials for environmental reasons although we have many nature loving customers who want to be ‘returned’ to Norfolk’s pretty countryside on a site where wildlife and plant life thrive.”

Having cared for the environment throughout life, a green burial is a spiritually fulfilling choice as well as a more sustainable option to conventional burials.

For more information, visit the Nar Valley Green Burials website at www.narvalleygreenburials.co.uk or contact them on 01366 384182.

More information on the Master Gardener programme can be found at www.mastergardeners.org.uk

les b a w e n e R a li g n A t s Ea W

hen Paul Page’s oil fired boiler broke down, he was left with a dilemma – his large 1970’s bungalow in Barroway Drove needed heating, but not only would replacing the boiler be costly, oil prices were rising too. It got him thinking – surely there are other, cheaper ways to generate energy for his home, ones that wouldn’t use up the earth’s valuable resources?

Paul began his research and decided on a bio mass burner which would make an attractive feature in his living room and heat the whole house too.

“Buying the burner and having it installed wasn’t cheap,” explains Paul, “so I thought how I could save money on the fuel I used. Having worked in the building trade I knew there was always lots of timber waste from building sites and such like, so I started making enquires. I’m not shy and didn’t mind asking if there was any wood they could let me have for free – after all it was only destined for the scrap heap! I found a local supplier who was happy for me to take away their leftovers that otherwise would have been made into chippings.”

However, Paul still needed something to heat his hot water as the multi-fuel burner wasn’t an option during the summer months.

Having now fully been converted to all things

KLmagazine May 2011

eco, Paul chose thermal solar panels. Although these served their purpose, when Paul heard about PV Solar Panels he was keen to find out more.

PV panels use solar power, a renewable energy, to generate electricity. Everything in the home could be powered by the electricity made from this source which would save Paul hundreds on his bill each year.

“It sounded great to me,” says Paul. “When Matt Miller from ICL Electrical explained I’d be getting free electricity using a renewable source I thought it couldn’t be better, but then it did!

There was a scheme called the Feed in Tariff which meant because I wasn’t taking energy from the grid, I get paid for every kw my solar panels generate. I get paid for using my own free electricity! It’s a great investment which I’m glad we have made.”

Paul also has two large containers outside his property to collect rainwater which he used to wash his car and water his plants. He is currently looking into a system where this water can be used to flush his toilets. In the meantime he has a ‘hippo’ in his cistern to conserve water. The hippo is a water saving device that is inserted into the cistern saving up to 3 litres with each flush, helping to reduce water bills too.

As you’d expect, in Paul’s house everything goes into the correct bin and what doesn’t have a space in the his home recycling bin he finds a place for, whether it’s jars to the bottle bank or his aluminium cans which he crushes and stores ready to cash in as a precious metal.

Paul feels so strongly about doing his thing for the environment he has set up East Anglia Renewables offering a free service to provide information for others who want to explore his eco-friendly ways.

“I’m happy to do my little bit to be green but I don’t want to push this on others. I have set up East Anglia Renewables so show people how they can save energy with the devices I have had installed. PV panels are quite an outlay, as are most things that will save money in the long term, so I think it’s important that people can come and see them in action and find out more.

It’s hard to reduce your carbon footprint if you don’t know how, so I would ask people to contact me and I will show you – it’s all completely free, I just do it because I was that person once!”

If you’d like to contact Paul and find out more contact 07961 314068 or visit www.eastangliarenewables.yolasite.com

21

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LOCAL LIFE

Originally made for the tomb of a wealthy Ancient Egyptian and intended to accompany them into the afterlife, this ushabti was typical of the objects picked up by Victorian travellers on their Grand Tour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and was dontated to the museum along with the forearm of a mummy and a mummified kitten.

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KLmagazine May 2011

10 of the best from the museum of King’s Lynn...

Famous for its life-size replica of Seahenge, the museum of King’s Lynn is also home to thousands of fascinating objects. Local historian and writer Robert Andrews pays a visit and picks his favourite pieces...

A

few weeks ago I was in London, walking around the brilliant V&A for the umpteenth time when it struck me that I couldn’t actually recall the last time I’d visited the museum of my home town. Describing itself as West Norfolk’s Greatest Treasure, the Lynn Museum on Market Street has thousands of fascinating objects from every stage of the town’s history – from the Bronze Age to the 1970s.

A walk around the museum brings you face to face with the people who made the town what it is today, and it’s impossible to

resist human touches such as the marks left on a piece of wood by an ancient craftsman, the gold coins hidden inside the bone of a cow by a Roman, or the toys enjoyed by Victorian children.

Although everyone will have their own particular favourites, here’s my ‘ten of the best’ from Lynn Museum – a handful of artefacts that (for me) stood out as being particularly interesting, striking, or simply quirky.

King’s Lynn has a fascinating story to tell – and a visit to the museum is one of the best ways of hearing it. KL

This unusual medieval limestone block was found in East Winch. As you look at it, you’ll see it’s actually carved with three faces, and though it’s not known for certain, they probably represent the Holy Trinity.

Norwich Stagecoach at King’s Lynn by James Sillett (1764-1840) – an early view of London Road painted about 1813. The view is very similar today, but the road traffic is a bit more hectic.

KLmagazine May 2011

Although it looks like a piece of modern art, this is actaully a section of Roman painted plaster from Congham.

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KLmagazine May 2011

LOCAL LIFE This is a Staffordshire pottery souvenir figure of James Blomfield Rush. It’s rather a strange souvenir as Rush was a murderer hanged in Norwich in 1849 for the murder of his employer Isaac Jermy (and his son) at Stanfield Hall near Wymondham. Good news for macabre collectors everywhere, the museum also has the companion pieces of Rush’s girlfriend, his farm and the murder location.

This fabulous carved wooden dobby horse was made by Savage’s of King’s Lynn around 1860-74 for Frederick Savage’s children. It must have been a family favourite, as it was still being used as a rocking horse by his grandchildren in 1902. The horse has glass eyes, a real horsehair tail, and its head is tilted to the left (a Savage trademark).

An Enormous Sheep (artist unknown, about 1850) is a rather obviouslytitled painting commissioned by Joseph Brown of Upper Farm, Wimbotsham who actually owned the featured sheep. A contemporary report says “the sheep had the body of a bullock which sagged on legs the size of a normal sheep. So heavy was the body and so slender the legs in comparison that the sheep was trundled about the farm in a trolley.”

This lovely painting is called Portrait of a Lynn Fishergirl

by Walter Dexter (1876-1958) and was painted around the 1930s. I think it’s a lovely study, even more evocative as there’s no indication of her role other than the title of the picture. She’s not looking at the viewer and appears to be content in her own world. Adding a further touch of mystery, the model herself is totally unknown – so this could easily be called the town’s very own Mona Lisa.

This is just a small detail from an intricate papier mache model of a Gopuras (or Gopuram) of the Maduran great temple in India – it’s part of the collection of local artist-explorer Thomas Baines (1820-1875). He was on David Livingstone’s 1858 expedition to Zambesi and is a national figure in South Africa, famous for his paintings and drawings – although he’s woefully under-recognised in his home town.

This letter from the Navy Office dated 28th October 1772 requesting a reference for a young man called Horatio Nelson (who would have just turned 14) is a fascinating little piece of history – I’m amazed it survived!

KLmagazine May 2011

LYNN MUSEUM Market Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1NL Tel: 01553 775001 Web: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk E-mail: lynn.museum@norfolk.gov.uk Opening times: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm (last admission 4.30pm) Prices: Adults £3.50, Concessions £2.90, Young person £1.90

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KLmagazine May 2011

AnimalMatters

PETS

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

PetProblems Q

After your article in the last issue about rabbits, I’ve heard that they can also suffer from “fly strike”. What is this and what should I do to help my pet rabbits?

DANIELLE GREEN

A

Fly strike is where bluebottles lay their eggs on rabbits and these then develop into maggots attacking the rabbits and causing great distress. Treatment is difficult and severe so prevention is best – by regularly checking your rabbit (and the hutch) for cleanliness.

There are also products to help keep the flies away from your rabbit at peak times of risk. Come and talk to us for further advice.

ALEX

Small bites

The joys of cat adoption

I

love Wednesday mornings. My first job of the day is the weekly visit to the Downham Market Cats Protection Adoption Centre, just outside Stow Bridge. I go there each week to examine any sick cats and kittens, vaccinate cats ready for rehoming and check up on any patients currently under treatment.

I also get to spend some time with the dedicated and skilled staff at the centre that care for over 200 cats every day. They work together to look after this huge number of cats and kittens, giving special attention to each and every one. In addition they are out on the road helping with feral cat colonies and visiting the public, making cat welfare their priority.

This time of year we deal with lots of kittens, some born in the centre, and some that are brought in, often in quite a poor state. These are given great care and are nursed to good health, and also are handled and socialised to make sure they leave as excellent pets, when they go to their new homes.

Adult cats also arrive at the centre, and they all are examined and treated for routine problems such as worms and fleas, and also given any further treatment if

required. For some this may be the treatment of a wound or injury, for others more chronic problems with their skin, their teeth or digestion. Our level of success with these cats is excellent and seeing these cats rehabilitated and able to go out to new homes is fantastic.

There’s a real feel good about all this. Cats come in unwanted or no longer able to be cared for, and in a short space of time they receive all the help, tests and treatment they need. They are vaccinated and neutered and can go off for a new start with someone who has chosen to care for them in their home. Seeing these cats again years later when they come to my surgery is terrific, knowing the CP gave them another chance.

All cats leaving the centre are vaccinated, neutered, microchipped, defleaed, wormed and treated for any disease that’s been identified. This is a package that would cost an owner close to £200, yet these cats can be yours for a modest fee.

You also get the satisfaction of helping a cat that really needs a home, and when you take your new cat away, another cat can now come to the Centre and be given its chance.

I wish to use this column to announce that our receptionist Christine James is retiring at the end of May after working at London Road Vets for 38 years. She has looked after clients, patients and me with great dedication. If you wish to say a goodbye to Christine in person, she’s here until May27th.

Your pets This month’s pet is the adorable Mutley, who’s pictured here cuddling up to Spam (that’s the white bit in the picture!) Both dogs belong to Elaine Headley of King’s Lynn, who sent the photograph.

Don’t forget to keep sending me pictures of your pets (the funnier the better!) to Animal Matters at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or e-mail them to editor@klmagazine.co.uk

LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn t: 01553 773168 e: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market t: 01366 386655 e: hollies@holliesvetclinic.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

29

LOCAL LIFE

30

KLmagazine May 2011

Gateway to the town and window on the past...

It’s had a very chequered history, but for some 600 years it has been a very imposing welcome to the town of King’s Lynn. Charlotte Thorneycroft looks at the life and times of the town’s iconic South Gate...

S

till an entrance point to the town today, the South Gate has stood as a passageway into King’s Lynn since the fifteenth century.

Before this time a wooden defence structure would have stood in its place, dating back as far as the 13th century.

Built of brick and stone the current South Gate served not only as a defence fortification but also ensured that people entering and leaving the town could be monitored – this allowed relevant duties from market traders to be collected, and in times of plague, the diseased were kept out.

An order for the rebuilding of the South Gate in 1437 was carried out by Richard Hertanger, a well known London mason.

By using a mason of his standing, it was intended that an elaborate design would show off the town’s wealth to outsiders, especially the rich merchants from London.

Unfortunately the money set aside for repairs in 1416 (to repair the original stone gate) couldn’t actually cover the works and in 1483 Hertanger was released from his contract– it seems under-estimating the costs of building projects is nothing new!

KLmagazine May 2011

Rebuilding was left uncompleted for almost 40 years, until the town finally called in two local masons to finish the work.

It’s thought this sudden rush to complete the gate may have been spurred on because of the visit by Cardinal Wolsey in the same year.

Wolsey was very keen on expressing his own riches through magnificent buildings such as Hampton Court, and it’s plausible that the twon felt his entrance to King’s Lynn shouldn’t be through an unfinished defence gate in need of repair.

It’s recorded that the masons in question – Nicholas and Thomas Harmer from East Dereham – were told to finish the work “as good and as cheap” as possible, so much of Hertanger’s original and elaborate design wasn’t carried out.

Most notably, the fan vaulting under the arch (part of which is just noticeable at the top of the pillars) was made into a more simplified barrel vault.

However, when you consider that in the 1500’s the gate would have only been required to allow a substantial cart laden with hay to pass, it’s easy to see that its imposing stature was for status rather than use (it would be a long time before a

double decker bus happily passed through it!)

The South Gate was one of four gates positioned around Lynn’s defences, which consisted mainly of a ditch encircling the town. As a defence gate the front archway is thought to have had a portcullis – there are slots in the archway suggesting this, and behind them are four iron hinges on which huge wooden doors would have hung. These were removed in 1795 since tolls ceased to be collected after 1723 and the role of the gatekeeper became somewhat redundant.

During the middle ages the gatekeeper had been given the official title The Custodian of The South Gate and Cleanser of the Muckhills – as well as collecting tolls, the gatekeeper was responsible for organising the town’s dumped rubbish on ‘muckhills’ outside the wall. From these he may also have extracted saltpetre to make gunpowder.

During the Civil War, the gate played an important part in the defence of King’s Lynn, and evidence of this still exists – such as the musket rests in the windows of the top floor room. A drawbridge was installed to further protect the town from attack at

31

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KLmagazine May 2011

this time.

The pedestrian passageways were opened up in the 1800’s, and in 1899 the road was widened to cope with the increased flow of traffic.

Thousands of cars now pass through the gate on a daily basis, but despite this it has stood the test of time fairly well as Ken Hill, current keeper of the gate explains.

“Thankfully the lime mortar between the bricks doesn’t set as hard as modern substances,” he says, “which allows the building to absorb the vibration of passing vehicles.

“However the South Gate is a scheduled ancient monument with Grade I listing and it’s hoped that one day the traffic may be diverted around the site to help protect this important part of King’s Lynn’s history.”

Until 11th September Ken will be one of a team of expert volunteers available to show visitors around the South Gate on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 12–3pm (during July and August the Gate will also be open on Sundays).

If you’re interested in historic buildings and would like to volunteer at the South Gate (or the Red Mount) contact Sarah Moore on 01553 782079. KL

KLmagazine May 2011

33

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KLmagazine May 2011

FOOD & DRINK

Salad of Asparagus and New Potatoes with Gorgonzola and Basil

Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 KLmagazine May 2011

INSTRUCTIONS 1 Clean the asparagus and trim any white ends or peel with a vegetable peeler 2 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, drop in the asparagus and blanch for 1-3 minutes until just tender 3 Drain and immerse in very cold water to prevent further cooking. This leaves the asparagus bright green 4 Mix the lemon juice and olive oil together with the sea salt and black pepper. Add the cooked boiled potatoes, cherry tomatoes, olives, shallots and basil and toss together 5 Arrange the asparagus on a large platter or individual serving plates, spoon some of the potato mixture over the asparagus and garnish with the crumbled cheese

PICTURES: WWW.THINKVEGETABLES.CO.UK

INGREDIENTS 500g asparagus spears Juice of ½ a lemon 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil Sea salt and black pepper 225g small British new potatoes, boiled and cut into quarters lengthwise, and tossed in a little olive oil 250g cherry tomatoes cut in half 50g stoned black olives halved 2 shallots finely chopped 1 large bunch of basil finely shredded 150g of Gorgonzola/Dolcelatte cheese crumbled

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A pub as it 2 steaks & a bottle of should be! house wine for £30!

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YOUR BBQ HAS NEVER TASTED SO GOOD! Cooking Demonstration Monday 16th May. Only £25 inc Coffee & Homemade biscuits, Recipe Sheets & 2 Course Lunch Food Lovers 5 Course Tasting Menu - Friday 20th May. £45 - a great way to taste our seasonal menu - indulge your taste buds.

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OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK Mon–Sat 7.30am– 5pm FREE home deliveries to 10 mile radius (£30 minimum spend) Free and easy parking – no town centre traffic!

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Visit our online shop: www.priorsofwestlynn.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

FOOD & DRINK

Vegepedia

with Colin Rushmore

LEEKS A great vegetable which gives a mild oniony flavour in stews and pies. Turn them into something special with a simple cheese sauce – make an easy white sauce from butter, flour and milk and then stir in a good helping of your favourite cheese (mature cheddar works well), then add sliced, blanched leeks. Place the leeks in the sauce into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake under the grill until the cheese begins to brown and then serve.

I

t’s easy to feel a bit sorry for vegetables – at least it is for me! Most people I meet seem to regard them as a necessary evil, and just something to fill up the plate to accompany the main event – the meat or the fish. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a bit of a culinary crime.

Here in Norfolk we’re blessed with a huge range of scrumptious farm-fresh vegetables which taste wonderful straight from the field (or in my case, the allotment!) If you’d like to start making the most of your vegetables, here are some great ideas to give them the edge with some added flavour everyone will love.

We all know the healthy reasons why we need to be eating our veg – I think it’s time to discover the tasty reasons! Enjoy!

Colin

KLmagazine May 2011

POTATOES Bored of chips? Chop up equal amounts of potato and sweet potato into chunky wedges.

Toss in olive oil, season well with salt and black pepper and place onto a baking tray. Add two crushed garlic cloves to the tray (one per portion) and sprinkle with mixed herbs.

Bake in the oven at a high heat for around 30-40 minutes, tossing the wedges half way through. Delicious with tomato salsa dip.

CABBAGES Chop and fry some smoked streaky bacon in a little olive oil in a large pan. Add one clove of crushed garlic and then stir in very finely shredded savoy cabbage. As the cabbage cooks it will reduce in size to fit the pan, so keep stirring.

Nice as a very simple snack or to accompany white fish dishes.

Try this idea with Brussels too.

CARROTS These crunchy orange veggies are universally loved and are so versatile. Serve raw carrot sticks with a mixed mayonnaise, cream cheese (half quantities of each) and spring onion dip. Perfect for quick lunch box fillers, snacks or parties. Or for something a little more interesting on your Sunday roast, use baby carrots glazed in honey and lightly sprinkle with sesame seeds, roast in the oven (par boil first to tenderise). Grind over some black pepper and enjoy!

PEAS There’s not many dishes that won’t accommodate the humble pea, but boiled from the freezer bag just doesn’t do them justice. Summer peas removed from the pod then gently simmered in minted water only require a knob of butter to bring out their beautiful sweet flavour. Show them some attention and try pea and potato cakes. Combine crushed peas and mashed potato using a little egg, add chopped parsley, season and form into small rounds. Lightly fry over a gentle heat, turning until evenly browned.

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FOOD & DRINK

RestaurantReview

In her culinary quest to enjoy a taste of everything west Norfolk has to offer, Ann Weaver visits the Thai Orchid in the middle of King’s Lynn...

W

ith ample parking available on the adjoining Surrey Street car park, The Thai Orchid is conveniently situated close to the centre of King’s Lynn. Other than reading the sign above the door, at first glance it isn’t clear that the smart building is a Thai restaurant at all until closer inspection.

Through the entrance you step away from a King’s Lynn backstreet to an authentic wooden floored restaurant in Thailand. Traditional music plays in the background, Thai ornaments and artwork adorn the walls and the bar in the centre of the dining areas calls out to pull up a stool and sip an exotic cocktail.

A very polite waiter brought our drinks to

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4 4 5 5 5 VALUE

4

SERVICE

FOOD

the table and left us to peruse the menu, for quite some time. The menu gave the option of ordering individual starters and mains, a set menu or an eat-as-much-asyou-like option which was £15.95 a head.

Not everything from the main menu was on the ‘buffet’ choice, including the stir frys which are obviously a speciality of The Thai Orchid, with a number of tempting flavour combinations and sauces available.

We opted to begin the meal with a sharing platter – the Thai Orchid combination starter of prawns on toast, spring rolls, spare ribs and satay chicken.

It was served with beautiful vegetable flower garnishes and three dipping sauces.

Everything was greatly enjoyed although it was a little expensive at £16. At the request of my husband we also had some tempura vegetables on The Thai Orchid the side which were also 19 Chapel Street , King’s Lynn PE30 1EG delicious, with Tel: 01553 767013 an extremely Website: www.thethaiorchid.com light crisp batter.

My husband chose pineapple rice with a chicken Penang curry (cooked in

coconut milk) for his main. After much deliberation I decided on sizzling pork with peppers and some plain Pad Thai noodles which (it said) came in an ‘exclusive Pad Thai sauce’.

As usual Mr Weaver had been a little over-adventurous and the large portions that now confronted him were a bit too much.

There was ample chicken in the curry and the rice! I sampled the rice for him which was very flavoursome and not as sweet as you’d expect, and the curry was tasty too but not as thick as the menu suggested.

My sizzling pork was very nice – the onions and peppers were crisp and the meat as tender as butter, all glazed in a delicious sauce.

The flavour of the noodles was a little strong and overpowered the meat dish.

I would have probably enjoyed them more as a dish in their own right with the addition of beef or chicken (this is an option on the menu).

Due to our excess of savoury dishes we were simply unable to go on to dessert – much to my husband’s disappointment, since he was keen to try the deep fried ice cream!

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our food, had good service and the atmosphere was pleasant too. Pricing is a little high, and our bill came to over £60 (which included two alcoholic and three soft drinks) although the buffet option does provide excellent value for money.

For an authentic taste of Thailand in West Norfolk, you won’t be disappointed. KL KLmagazine May 2011

CafeReview

I

t’s debatable whether the very attractively refurbished Lavender Kitchen Restaurant should be reviewed as a cafe or a restaurant. There’s a wide variety of very appetizing, chef cooked meals, but there’s an equal abundance of homemade cakes, including a lavender scone cream tea. I personally think the informal atmosphere and all-day dining (breakfasts are served from 8am) lends itself more accurately to be reviewed as a cafe.

There’s plenty of space in the large eating area which is tastefully decorated and comfortable. Blackboards opposite the full, food display counters note the day’s specials which consist of hearty favourites such as cottage pie with bubble and squeak topping and pork goulash with boiled rice. Sandwiches of every kind made freshly to order are available, together with hot baguettes – including a hot roast beef with horseradish mayonnaise option which I nearly chose until I caught sight of the farm shop pies.

My steak pie was served with new potatoes and no less than five types of veg! I’d promised myself a light lunch but the temptation was too much – and it was thoroughly delicious. My pie was filled with big beefy chunks encased in a crisp pastry, with vegetables both tender and full of flavour.

My dining partner had chosen a goat’s cheese and beetroot tart – a Walsingham Farm Shop delicacy which was served with a large salad and new potatoes. It was very tasty and refreshingly pleasing to see a fresh salad that hadn’t been drowned in an overpowering dressing.

With a white coffee and Frobisher orange juice, our bill was very amiable at £16. Having been totally satisfied by our rather large lunches, we took two cakes home for later as they were too temptng to resist – a very nice fruit scone and a slice of the famous lavender cake. The latter had a lovely light sponge but the lavender definitely wasn’t to my taste, although the unique flavour did appeal to my partner.

Since there were so many items on the menu we both wanted to try, I imagine the Lavender Kitchen Restaurant may well become a regular lunch venue for us.

The Lavender Kitchen Restaurant Norfolk Lavender, Caley Mill Heacham, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE31 7JE Tel: 01485 571965 Web: www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

Book a table now – new restaurant extension opens 24th June!

See www.brewersfayre.co.uk t Try our Sunday Roas t ea gr – for great food, service, and great value every week!

Book a room at the Premier Inn from only £29!

Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LJ

Tel: 01553 772221 39

FOOD & DRINK

LocalTastes Selected by Charlotte Thorneycroft

BREWERS REAL ALE CHUTNEY Knights Hill Farm Shop, King’s Lynn This dark fruity chutney is very sweet and chunky; and works best with a strong mature cheddar or blue cheese, with a hearty slice of freshly baked bread. The fruity flavours all come through followed by a subtle tang of spice which would also lend itself well to some hot bubble and squeak.

CHILLI AND ONION STICKY RELISH Chilli’s Galore, Drayton Sticky but not too sweet with a mild kick of chilli.

Predominantly an onion flavour with a slight curry hint to the spices, making it a good accompaniment to cold meats in a sandwich or equally as good with mild soft cheeses, such as brie or camembert on crunchy crackers.

PICCALILLI Crowns Farm Shop, Middleton A great traditional favourite, this recipe is well balanced providing a little sweetness with just the right amount of vinegary tang. This chunky old fashioned pickle would be a tasty addition to any cold cooked meat.

T

he season of al fresco dining is here – it’s out with the soups and stews and in with salads and barbeques. So if you’re planning on tucking into a good old fashioned ploughman’s or you’re wanting to jazz up your leftover roast beef to make the perfect sandwich, then try one of these local chutneys to give your lunch some punch!

BLOODY MARY TOMATO RELISH Essence, Dereham The texture and taste resembles that of a salsa rather than relish only a lot sweeter. Being a ‘Bloody Mary’ relish there is quite a bite which comes from the fresh horseradish in the recipe. Delicious as a spicy dip for crudities or tortilla chips!

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KLmagazine May 2011

Eating Out The Ancient Mariner Inn Galley Restaurant Golf Course Road, Old Hunstanton 01485 536389

Congham Hall Fine dining Lynn Road, Grimston 01485 600250 www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk

Heacham Manor Hotel Varied fine dining Hunstanton Road, Heacham 01485 536030 www.heacham-manor.co.uk

The Old Vicarage Seasonal Local Food.

The Street, Hemsby 01493 731557 www.theoldvicaragehemsby.co.uk

Bank House Brasserie Brasserie food, British Classics Bank House Hotel, King’s Staithe Square, Kings Lynn 01553 660492 www.thebankhouse.co.uk

The Crown and Mitre King’s Lynn’s only traditional riverside pub. Great English food using only fresh locally-sourced ingredients. Ferry Street, King’s Lynn 01553 774669

The Jolly Sailors Pub favourites Brancaster, Kings Lynn 01485 210314 www.jollysailorsbrancaster.co.uk

The Orange Tree New takes on pub classics and seafood High Street, Thornham 01485 512213 www.theorangetreethornham.co.uk

Best Western Knight’s Hill Hotel Garden restaurant South Wootton King’s Lynn 01553 675 566

The Crown Inn Gastro pub The Green, East Rudham 01485 528530 www.thecrowneastrudham.co.uk

Best Western Le Strange Hotel Golf Course Road, Old Hunstanton 01485 536389 The Blue Boar Inn Good locally sourced food Great Ryburgh, nr Fakenham 01328 829212 www.blueboarinn.ryburgh.co.uk

The Dabbling Duck Seasonal English Cuisine Abbey Road, Great Massingham 01485 520827 www.thedabblingduck.co.uk The Deer’s Leap 361 Wootton Road, South Wootton King’s Lynn 01553 671919 www.thedeersleap.co.uk

Bradley’s Restaurant and wine bar 10 South Quay, Kings Lynn 01553 600836 www.bradleysbytheriver.co.uk

Buckinghamshire Arms Traditional and modern local food Blickling Hall, Aylsham 01263 723133 www.bucks-arms.co.uk Caley Hall Hotel Gastro pub Old Hunstanton Road, Hunstanton 01485 533486 www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk

KLmagazine May 2011

Leziate Park Local English Cuisine Brow of the Hill, Leziate, King’s Lynn 01553 630393 www.leziatepark.co.uk The Lodge Old Hunstanton, Norfolk 01485 532896 www.thelodgehunstanton.co.uk Market Bistro English Cuisine 11 Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn 01553 771483 www.marketbistro.co.uk The Neptune Inn and Restaurant 85 Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton 01485 532122 www.theneptune.co.uk

Brewer’s Fayre Premier Inn West Lynn, King’s Lynn 01553 772221 www.premierinn.com Briarfields Titchwell, Hunstanton 01485 210742 www.briarfieldshotelnorfolk.co.uk

The Kings Head Hotel Award-winning fine dining Great Bircham, King’s Lynn 01485 578265 www.thekingsheadhotel.co.uk

D’Inacios 9 Newmans Yard, Norwich Road, Fakenham 01328 851247 www.dinacios.co.uk The Gin Trap Inn Gastro Pub 6 High Street, Ringstead, Hunstanton 01485 525264 www.gintrapinn.co.uk The Hare Arms Varied fine dining Stow Bardolph, Kings Lynn 01366 382229 www.theharearms.co.uk

Palmers British Brasserie 45 High Street, Downham Market.

01366 388124 www.palmersrestaurant.co.uk The Riverside Restaurant English Cuisine 27 King Street, King’s Lynn 01553 773134 The Rose and Crown Traditional pub favourites Old Church Road, Snettisham 01485 541382 www.roseandcrownsnettisham.co.uk The Swan Inn South Wootton, King’s Lynn 01553 672084 Timbers Hotel & Restaurant A la carte and traditional pub food Lynn Road, Fincham 01366 347747 www.timbershotel.co.uk Titchwell Manor Traditional and modern infusion Titchwell, Kings Lynn 01485 210221 www.titchwellmanor.com The Yurt Restaurant Drove Orchards, Thornham Road, Thornham, Hunstanton 01485 525108 www.theyurt.co.uk

A taste of West Norfolk If we’ve missed your favourite local restaurant from this list, we’d love to hear from you – and so would our readers. Send the details to us at features@klmagazine.co.uk, and remember to pass on any fine dining tips, advice or recommendations as well!

41

LOCAL LIFE

Explorer Words: Charlotte Thorneycroft Photos: Sue Payne

Holt dates back to pre-Domesday book, although it is noted now as a Georgian market town since most of medieval Holt was destroyed in a great fire in 1708. The fire, which devastated a huge area of the town in just three hours caused £11,000 worth of damage – an enormous sum at that time. Thankfully donations were received from all over the country to help rebuild the town, which is now one of the prettiest in Norfolk.

Holt is famous for its shops, selling a mix of everything of the highest quality and one day just isn’t enough to explore the retail side of the town.

Shopping in Holt is a unique experience as there are hidden lanes and yards off of the main street where even more boutiques, galleries and eateries are waiting to be discovered. The biggest store within the town is Bakers & Larners whose extensive department store is situated on the Market Place, although further down the High Street there’s also a homewares department. Having existed as a business in the town since 1770’s, Bakers & Larners is often compared to the large London stores of Fortnum & Mason and Harrods. At first the Baker family business was focused more on building trades including plumbing and ironmongery, eventually becoming C T Baker Ltd. In the last fifty years the department store has developed through rapid expansion and the acquisition/merging of other family business including Larners and Betty’s of Holt.

Today the upmarket department store sells everything from clothes and footwear to furniture and sporting goods, it also has a very impressive wine cellar and food hall.

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Browsing the streets of Holt you will find many Art Galleries have made this market town home.

From classic oils and bronzes to contempary sculpture and prints there is a piece for every taste.

Most of the galleries have regular exhibitions from local, national and international artists so there is always something new to see each time you visit.

Combining a day out around the art spaces of Holt lends itself perfectly to lazy lunches and afternoon teas in one of the many fine cafes.

KLmagazine May 2011

The North Norfolk Railway (also known as The Poppy Line) runs a 10½ mile round trip from Sheringham on the North Norfolk Coast, through Weybourne and into Holt.

Step back in time with a journey on historic steam trains (vintage diesel engines for some journeys) through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

It may be a small trip but through the carriage windows the views include wooded hills, flowering meadows and the coast as you approach Sheringham.

The Poppy Line takes its name from the sea of poppies visible on the train trip towards the beginning of autumn.

KLmagazine May 2011

Holt Letheringsett Water Mill on the River Glaven just outside Holt is Norfolkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only remaining working watermill. Built in 1802 (the current mill replaced a much earlier mill which was destroyed by fire) the property is now owned by Mike and Marion Thurlow.

Since the couple purchased the mill in 1987 the building has undergone restoration to become a much loved tourist attraction, as well as producing flour for a large number of outlets around the county. Throughout the year the mill holds regular working demonstrations and events, as well as guided tours most weekday afternoons. For more information contact 01263 713153.

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KLmagazine May 2011

Explorer

LOCAL LIFE

The Muckleburgh Collection is the UK’s largest privately owned military museum and is found near Weybourne and Kelling. On display are examples of military vehicles (most of which have been restored to working order), guns and tanks from around the world. Once the site of the Weybourne Military Camp, the airstrip is still used by civilian aircraft and the Kelling Model Flying Club. The museum has also been featured on TV and film in the past. With a radio room, tank demonstrations and other fascinating exhibits, there is much to be enjoyed by all ages. Contact the museum for more information on 01263 588210.

Holt comes from the Anglo Saxon meaning ‘wooded’ and a trip to Holt Country Park will show you why. Footpaths wind through acres of forest and heathland, which was once the site of the town racecourse. Some of the pathways are suitable for pushchairs and the play area is always a favourite for children. You may also come across some of the sculptures in the park, a totem pole and the popular pond area. Attractive views can be seen from the observation tower – keep a look out for some of the parks wildlife, especially the deers in the evening.

KLmagazine May 2011

The Holt Festival is now in its third year and will again run over one week in July. This celebration of the arts takes place in venues across the town as well as many street performances. During the week the market town comes alive with music, comedy, poetry, theatre and dance, there are also workshops to join in too.

Although still a new festival, this summer event has already attracted top names such as Miles Jupp, the popular comedian who performed as part of last year’s line up.

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Good Looks HEALTH & BEAUTY

with Elizabeth Dutton ELIZABETH DUTTON is a qualified foot health care practitioner and train er. She offers low level laser treatments from The Foot Care Cent re in King’s Lynn and home visits are available. You’ll find her at The Foot Care Centre, 4B Tower Street, King ’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1EJ. Full direc tions can be found on her website www.thefootcarecentrekingslynn at .co.uk You can call her on 01553 768661 (clinic) or 07973 230293 (mobile) or e-mail enquiries to enquires@thefootcarecentrekingslyn n.co.uk.

Training courses on the use of laser are also available – just ask for deta ils.

Banish unsightly and painful verrucas with Cryosurgery (& some LLLT thrown in)

C

ryosurgery – more people than you might think can benefit from it! We’ll look at what it is and how it can help you or your family and friends if you have persistent verrucas (verrucae).

Ridding your feet of verrucas Verrucas, also known as ‘plantar warts’, are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Occurring singly or in groups, they can be painful, annoying and unsightly.

Happily, many verrucas disappear of their own accord, and some can be successfully treated with salicylic acid or silver nitrate at your foot care centre. Others, however, can be more persistent, and this is where you can make friends with cryosurgery!

CRYOSURGERY: THE FACTS CRYOSURGERY: THE FACTS Cryosurgery is used to treat verrucas by destroying specific cells through the precise application of extreme cold – liquid nitrogen is most commonly used.

Unwanted cells (such as those infected with the verruca virus) are destroyed because fluid in the cells freezes and forms ice crystals which rupture the cell membranes. It’s also used for lesions, warts and skin tags.

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How does Cryosurgery help?

Cryosurgery or Cryotherapy is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. It can get rid of persistent verrucas (verrucae) by freezing and killing the cells that the virus is infecting. It reaches far lower temperatures than over-the-counter remedies can, meaning your verruca can be properly zapped.

You may feel some slight discomfort and maybe a stinging sensation – but a mild painkiller such as Paracetamol can help alleviate any discomfort.

You mentioned LLLT? LLLP (it stands for Low Level Laser Therapy) safely penetrates the surface of the skin and helps promote healing of damaged tissues.

When it’s used just after Cryosurgery, it prevents any discomfort and helps speed

up healing around the area where the verruca was. Its healing properties are why we also use it to treat other problems such as fungal nails or bruising.

Is Cryosurgery safe?

Cryosurgery isn’t appropriate for children under 10, or if you’re anaemic, on steroids or anticoagulants, or have some forms of cancer.

As with all such procedures, if you are in any doubt, you should always get medical advice first.

How much does Cryosurgery treatment cost?

One treatment of Cryosurgery is usually enough to get rid of your verrucas, though occasionally more treatments are required.

It costs £75.00 (which includes one follow up session) and £10 for any subsequent session.

Get Spring into your step!

Now’s the time to start thinking about getting feet fit to bare! Visit your foot clinic to rid of verrucas and corns, buff your heels and soles daily, and soak them in tepid water with Epsom salts at least twice a week. Moisturise your feet with oil (it absorbs better than cream), and clean off old nail varnish before applying a new coat.

When you get to the beach, use the sand as a natural exfoliant – and remember to always protect your feet with sun cream!

KLmagazine May 2011

Welcome to Charmed Interiors

Full of great ideas for your home...

I

n a converted barn on the outskirts of Downham Market, you will find everything you need to make a ‘beautiful’ home. Charmed Interiors, a family run business, specialises in soft furnishings and gifts and offers a spacious showroom to browse for your perfect finishing touches. We offer top designer brands such as Kylie Minogue at Home and Kirstie Allsopp as well more affordable options starting at just £9.99, all of which meet the high quality our customers demand. Because we have such a good range of accessories to compliment the soft furnishings, everyone can get the look they want at a price they can afford.

With so much on to see, what could be better than relaxing with a freshly brewed cup of tea and a homemade cake?

Charmed Interiors tea rooms are now open serving delicious sandwiches, jacket potatoes and homemade treats throughout the day to complete your shopping experience. As pretty as the items on sale, the tea rooms have a country cottage feel with homely food and a friendly atmosphere.

For bedding and cushions, candles, vases and gifts, to make your house a home, visit the interiors store with charm.

Visit our website to browse and buy online at www.charmed-interiors.co.uk.

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Details

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KLmagazine May 2011

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47

ADVICE

PropertyLaw

with Jan Curtis of MCP

Q

I have a very large garden with my house which is now too big for me to manage. I’d like to sell part of the garden as a building plot to give me some income and to reduce the area of my garden to a more manageable size. I’ve mentioned this to my neighbour – a large local landowner from whom I purchased my property – and have been told there is a ‘covenant’ on my deeds preventing me from having more than one house on my land. I’m very keen to proceed but what do I do?

A covenant in its most general sense is a solemn promise to engage in (or refrain) from a specified action and is a type of contract in which one party makes a promise to another party to do (or not do) something.

In property law the term is used for conditions regulating the use of land. The neighbouring landowner (in selling you your property) wanted to keep some control over what you do with your property so you don’t do anything he doesn’t approve of or which may adversely affect his retained land. He therefore imposed ‘restrictive’ covenants on your title which (amongst others) state only one property can be built on your land. Unless you can reach an arrangement with your neighbour to ‘release’ this covenant you will not be able to proceed.

If agreement can be reached with your neighbour to ‘release’ this covenant, this will be done by a deed which your solicitor can prepare for you. The neighbouring landowner will almost certainly charge you a sum of money as a condition of the release being granted.

The deed can then be registered after it is completed at the Land Registry on your title and any Solicitor acting for the buyer of the plot will then know there are no concerns relating to a possible action for breach of covenant.

JAN CURTIS is part of the property department at the King’s Lynn office of Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar where she specializes in residential property law. Jan has had a long association with the Firm, first joining in 1970 subsequently taking time out to raise children – and has been back in the fold since 1996.

A

Q

My partner and I have been married before and each have grown up children.

We now want to sell both our houses and buy one in our joint names to move in together. We’re concerned to ensure our respective children inherit what they would have received if we’d remained in separate properties, and we are also worried that if one of us dies the survivor will be able to continue to live in the property and won’t be thrown out of their home. We also want to safeguard our respective contributions to the new property (which are not equal) so that if our relationship fails we can take out what we put in.

Legally speaking, whenever more than one person owns a property a trust arises. Each and every co-owner has a ‘power of sale’ which means that one co-owner can insist the property is sold at any time even if the other refuses. Co-owners have a choice between owning as ‘joint tenants’ or ‘tenants in common’.

There are important differences between co-owners who are joint tenants and those who are tenants in common and these should be discussed with your Solicitor – but in your circumstances, it would be appropriate to hold as tenants in common and this could be specified either quite simply in the document transferring the property to you at greater length in a formal trust deed.

Since you are not married, it’s also advisable to have a declaration of trust deed which sets out each co-owner’s responsibilities and entitlements, for example the fact that you have contributed different proportions towards the purchase price.

It’s also very important that you both have Wills which your Solicitor can prepare for you. These will specify what will happen to your repsective shares in the property upon your death(s). Provision can be made in your Will(s) for the survivor to be allowed to continue to live in the property if required.

Finally, your Solicitor can arrange for a restriction to be registered on your title at the Land Registry which will notify any prospective purchaser of the property that the property cannot be sold by just one of you – which will again afford protection to yourselves and all your families.

A

48

The questions and answers on this page are intended to provide general information only. Every effort is made to ensure that the law is correct at the time of publication but no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Each case is different and so you should always seek our specific advice.

MCP Solicitors 28/32 King Street, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1HQ Tel: 01553 778101 Fax: 01553 766807 Web: www.mcp-law.co.uk

KLmagazine May 2011

TheConsultingRoom What is a cataract?

The eye is like a camera. It has a lens in front that focuses light on the retina, which acts like a camera film. For a sharp crisp image to form on the retina it’s important the lens is clear.

Over time the lens loses its transparency and turns cloudy – this is called a cataract. Cataract causes deterioration of the quality of vision by obscuring the passage of light to the retina and causing distortion of image.

Cataracts are most commonly a result of natural aging but they may also occur as a result of certain eye conditions or significant eye trauma.

Long term use of some drugs such as steroids can also form cataracts.

Manzar Saeed

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon The Sandringham Hospital

What are the symptoms?

Cataract may cause a variety of symptoms including blurred vision, reduction in contrast and dull colour vision. These symptoms are very gradual in onset but occasionally develop rapidly. Usually both eyes are affected, but it’s not uncommon for one eye to be more severely affected that the other. The ability to read, recognise faces and driving is often affected. Early cataracts may also cause troublesome glare during night

driving, while the vision may still be quite good. It must be noted there is no pain associated with cataract symptoms. Symptoms of advanced cataract cannot be rectified with spectacles.

How are cataracts treated?

Symptoms of very early cataracts may be relieved to some extent by changing your spectacles or increasing lighting when working. Eventually, cataracts require surgical removal in order to restore normal vision.

Cataract surgery is a very successful operation, relatively painless and normally carried out under local anaesthesia. Modern techniques entail the removal of the cataract with a high frequency ultrasonic probe. At the end of procedure, a prosthetic lens implant is fitted.

How long does it takes to recover ?

Most patients are able to return home on the same day of surgery. You are able to resume your normal activities quickly and vision usually recovers within a few days. The outcome of treatment may be affected by the underlying state of your eyes.

Sometimes visual improvement may be limited due to the presence of other conditions such as macular degeneration.

Will I need spectacles after surgery?

It depends on the choice of lens implant and whether you already wear glasses. If you’re long-sighted, nearsighted or have astigmatism, it may be possible to rectify this. Multifocal or accomodative lenses may be considered for the correction of presbyopia (age-related weakness of near vision), while astigmatism can be corrected with Toric implants, thereby eliminating the need for spectacles altogether. Your suitability will be assessed by your consultant ophthalmologist.

For more information and details, you can call the BMI The Sandringham Hospital on 01553 769770

The Sandringham Hospital

We can help you design your wedding down to the finest detail from choosing your invitations to dressing your bridesmaids.

Plus, create your gift list with Debenhams and you will receive… r FREE £50 giftcard* r FREE planning tools and personalised website r 10% discount** on the gifts you didn’t receive r FREE gift insurance† r FREE delivery Call 01553 778503 to book an appointment. *You will receive the giftcard when you complete your gift list, minimum spend of £250 applies. **Discount applies to most departments. Selected concessions are not participating.†This covers the products on your gift list up to the value of £1,500.

KLmagazine May 2011

49

LOCAL LIFE

ABOVE: The King’s Morris dancers keeping the tradition alive – and you’ll be able to see them in action this month!

The men keeping in step with a local tradition Morris dancing may be as old as the hills, but the King’s Morris was formed a mere 33 years ago. Charlotte Thorneycroft discovers more about the team and their efforts to keep the local tradition alive...

M

ay Day wouldn’t be complete without some traditional morris dancing.

Nobody knows for sure the origin of this ancient custom, but theories suggest it may be derived from pagan rites or simply be a rustic version of Tudor courtly dancing.

There are actually many different forms of dance which fall under the umbrella of ‘morris’ although The King’s Morris (the team of King’s Lynn) practice the traditional

50

Cotswold Morris Dance, which is the one best known to the public. This dance requires six (sometimes eight) dancers and may also feature a ‘fool’ – one of the dancers in disguise, such as a dragon or hobby horse. The men are dressed in white clothes adorned with ribbons and bellpads and perform either waving handkerchiefs or brandishing heavy sticks.

The King’s Morris was formed in 1978.

The baldrics (cross-belts) on the dancer’s outfits, bell-pads and hat ribbons are in the

town’s colours of blue and yellow and the team also wear the heraldic shield of King’s Lynn on their baldrics.

May Day is the most important day of the year although The King’s Morris perform regularly throughout the year (see diary dates opposite).

Festivities begin with ‘Dancing the Dawn Up’ and at midday the King’s Lynn May Garland is carried around the town, an old local tradition revived by The King’s Morris in 1983. Although the origins of the King’s

KLmagazine May 2011

Precious,

the lifestyle you have earned now and for the future.

Who understands what is precious to you?

We do.

Lynn May Garland has been lost in history, it was significant enough to be mentioned in William Hone’s ‘The Table Book’ (1828) in which he suggested it may have been derived from the Roman Floralia or May games.

In the early part of the 19th century, children would begin the celebrations by first opening the doors of their houses early in the morning to welcome May Day. They would collect flowers from gardens and fields to make the garlands, the King’s Lynn garland consisting of two hoops covered with flowers and greenery with a doll in the middle set onto a pole. The town would then be brought to life as the garlands were carried through the town by the children announcing their arrival with the loud blowing of cow horns as they attempted to collect money from the public.

This tradition continued in the town until 1914 (in a lesser form of often just a doll and some leaves in a box) although possibly as late as the 1930’s. Thankfully The King’s Morris have breathed life into the King’s Lynn May Day Garland which now takes place each year, and often includes local school children in the procession with their own May garlands.

The King’s Morris are always pleased to welcome new members to their sociable and energetic hobby.

Anyone interested in finding out more should contact the Bagman, David Jackson on 01553 768930. KL

Call us about our investment options on 01760 724888 or pop into the office to talk to Lucy Sankey & Nick Drew at NFU Mutual Office, Beacon House, Turbine Way, Swaffham PE37 7HT.

We do right by you

NFU Mutual Financial Consultants advise on NFU Mutual products and, in special circumstances, those of other providers.

NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. For security and training purposes, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers.

Dates for your Diary Sunday 1st May King’s Lynn May Garland Procession 12.30pm – assembling on the Saturday Market before travelling around the town Monday 2nd May Morris Dancing on May Bank Holiday Holkham Hall (11am), the Lord Nelson at Burnham Thorpe (12pm), the Globe Inn, Wells (1pm) and the Quay, Wells (2pm) Monday 30th May Morris Dancing on Spring Bank Holiday Bircham Windmill (11am), the Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe (12pm), the Hoste Arms, Burnham Market (1pm), and the Globe Inn, Wells (2pm) Sunday 11th September Massed Morris dancing in Thornham by with the King’s Morris and guest teams The Old Coach House (11.30am), the Orange Tree (12.15pm), and the Lifeboat Inn (1pm with an afternoon of folk music to follow)

KLmagazine May 2011

51

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Books

David Learner

A wider world of great books to discover...

From the Americas to Russia and safely back home in Blighty, this month’s recommended reading matter takes in history, adventure, fun, finely-observed insights – and the odd Yorkshire Pudding! Enjoy!

The Man who Cycled the Americas Mark Beaumont Thinking of getting the bike out? Mark Beaumont did, only he did it in style. In 2008 he pedalled round the world, visiting more than 30 countries, up to levels of well over 30,000 feet to produce a unique travel diary. Now he’s tackled America’s two highest peaks, never before achieved, on a bike, on his own, and he’s mad.

Food Britannia Andrew Webb ‘As traditional as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding’ has entered the lexicon with the ease of an expanding soufflé. Stilton cheese, Welsh lamb and Preston’s Goosnargh duck ride high now in menus from Macclesfield to Mexico – and the alarmingly dribbling Andrew Webb tells us why, even apologising for clotted cream’s Middle Eastern origins.

Treason!

Music for the People Gareth Malone We should all have a Malone metronome on the mantelpiece. His inspiration has fired reluctant schoolchildren, mouthy adolescents and Carpenders Park in its entirety (some feat) to cuddle up to musicality with the passion it deserves. Witty, urbane and a bit talented is our Gareth and the royal percussion section should give him a gong.

KLmagazine May 2011

The 50 books you really should have read by now!

See page 54

Russia Martin Sixsmith With two decades’ expertise in the country’s art, history, vitality, politics and global location there’s nobody better than the BBC’s erstwhile Moscow correspondent to walk us confidently through a thousand years of why Russia is what it is: splendid, glorious, enigmatic. Coinciding with Radio 4’s new series the book offers an incisive, intriguing but never intrusive read.

Made in Britain Evan Davis It’s all too easy to gaze at a supposedly golden time of British engineering and to mourn. Davis, with his brightest early morning smack, rouses us with the news not only that it is still thriving, but also that its value has been enhanced by numerous other intangible products now shared with the global market place. It’s about how Britain pays its way to offer cause for continuing celebration.

Plugged Eoin Colfer We follow Colfer like sheep, such is the talent of the man. Moving on from Artemis Fowl (ask your kids) into adult crimethrillerdom he’s the sort of writer that makes you want to join the other monkeys who are still working on the first draft of Hamlet. To be or not to banana.

Nope, still doesn’t work. Plugged. You may as well buy it because everyone else will and you’ll feel left out.

David Learner is Assistant Manager for Waterstone’s at 137 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1AU Telephone: 01553 660111 53

LOCAL LIFE

50 books to read before you’re 15...

7–9 years

Inspired by the Education Secretary’s recent suggestion, Sarah Hayes-Porter of Glebe House School presents a recommended reading list...

E

ducation Secretary Michael Gove recently suggested that every eleven year old child should be reading 50 books a year in order to improve literacy standards, which roughly equates to a book a week and approximately 500 books in an average childhood. An admirable proposal I’m sure most of you would agree, but one that raises a number of questions. The most pressing of these (for parents) would be: ‘what should my child be reading?’

In putting together this list I had to consider different perspectives – firstly, what I’d consider ‘good’ children’s literature compared to what children would consider to be ‘good’. Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves what’s the key to getting children reading? For me, the answer is very simple – enjoyment! I’m an ardent believer there’s a book suitable for every child and one that will ignite the flame of a love of reading, but all too often that spark is put out by the wrong book.

Therefore, in this list I’ve combined a 54

selection of classic and modern children’s books, some of which will be considered ‘literature’ and others just ‘good fun’ – but surely that is what reading is all about?

A book should be an adventure, an opportunity to explore different worlds, situations and experiences, but in safety.

Consequently, not all the books here are a safe, comfortable read, particularly for the older age range, as they challenge assumptions and explore moral issues.

Not every book will suit every child, but explore the world of books and soon your child will discover their own tastes and once they do, 50 books a year will seem insignificant compared to the number they are reading!

Sadly, a list of 50 books couldn’t contain all those that I’d wish to see there. It’s just a taster, and will hopefully lead your children on to discover new books for themselves.

Lastly, I’d rstrongly recommend you read the books your child is reading too – you may be surprised just how enjoyable they are! KL

1 The Twits – Roald Dahl No children’s reading list would be complete without at least one Roald Dahl book on it.

No other writer has succeeded in understanding and tapping into the weird and wonderful humour of children as Dahl has done. In turns utterly disgusting and hilariously funny ‘The Twits’ also carries a moral message in how we should treat others. A true delight.

2 Charlotte’s Web – E. B. White 3 Hugo Pepper – Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell 4 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C. S. Lewis 5 The Sheep-Pig – Dick King-Smith 6 The Butterfly Lion – Michael Morpurgo

KLmagazine May 2011

9–12 years

7 Stormbreaker – Anthony Horowitz A classic adventure story updated to the 21st century, but keeping true to the genre. Alex Rider is the reluctant teenage spy, recruited after the ‘murder’ of his uncle by a shady government organisation. A whiteknuckle, adrenalin-pumping ride from start to finish.

23 The Worlds of Chrestomanci – Dianne Wynne-Jones 24 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J.K. Rowling 8 The Dark is Rising – Susan Cooper

25 Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer 26 Silver Fin – Charlie Higson

9 The Little White Horse – Elizabeth Goudge 10 Beyond the Deepwoods – Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell 11 Wolf Brother – Michelle Paver

27 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll 28 War Horse – Michael Morpurgo 29 The Mozart Question – Michael Morpurgo

12 Mister Monday – Garth Nix 30 Once – Morris Gleitzman

13 I am David – Ann Holm 14 Witch Child – Celia Rees

31 The Weirdstone of Brisingammen – Alan Garner

15 The Wind Singer – William Nicholson

32 The Star of Kazan – Eva Ibbotson

16 Carrie’s War – Nina Baldwin

33 The Sword in the Stone – T. H. White

17 The Demon Headmaster – Gillian Cross

34 Skellig – David Almond

18 Goodnight Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian

35 River Boy – Tim Bowler

19 The Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett

36 Midnight for Charlie Bone – Jenny Nimmo

20 The Silver Sword – Ian Serraillier 37 The London Eye Mystery – Siobhan Dowd

21 The Hobbit – J. R. R. Tolkien 22 The Diamond of Drury Lane – Julia Golding

38 Millions – Frank Cotterell Boyce

12–15 years 40 The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness 41 Northern Lights – Philip Pullman 42 How I Live Now – Meg Rosoff 43 Private Peaceful – Michael Morpurgo 44 You Don’t Know Me – David Klass 45 Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve 39 Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman A Romeo and Juliet style love story, set in a society where the Noughts (blacks) are considered superior to the Crosses (whites).

This story tackles issues in a thoughtprovoking and sensitive manner, exploring areas that previously hadn’t been considered suitable for children’s fiction.

KLmagazine May 2011

46 Finding Violet Park – Jenny Valentine 47 The Tricksters – Margaret Mahy 48 The Book Thief – Markus Zusak 49 Sabriel – Garth Nix 50 Before I Die – Jenny Downham

Glebe House School will be holding a Scholarship Assessment Day for Academic, Sport, Music, Art and Drama Awards on Thursday 19th May. For further information on this day, other financial assistance and provision for children with special educational needs, please contact the Registrar, Bridget Crofts on 01485 532809 (ext 4) or send an e-mail to bmc@glebehouseschool.co.uk

Glebe House

School & Nursery 2 Cromer Road, Hunstanton Norfolk PE36 6HW

55

PICTURE: MICHAEL FYSH

ARTS

ABOVE: Robert Fuller at work on his new film about the life of Audrey Stratford with presenter Amanda Arterton and sound engineer Mike Coady

The man putting Lynn’s past in front of the camera Robert Fuller’s films about local life are engaging, informative, and they play a vital role in preserving people’s memories for future generations.

Richard Parr looks his work and goes behind the scenes of his new film...

S

he was regarded as a woman ahead of her time. Audrey Stratford – who lived for almost a century – was passionate about education and history. Even in the years before she died aged 93, she spent hours painstakingly collecting everyday documents and papers she felt would be of historic interest.

The 200 boxes of paperwork, which included everything from plane tickets to shopping receipts and newspapers, have been documented, logged and stored in

56

the borough archives at Lynn Town Hall.

And now a new film, to be presented by well-known Lynn professional actress Amanda Arterton, will chronicle the life and times of Miss Stratford.

Robert Fuller Associates has been working on the new film which is due to be given its premiere screening in the Autumn.

It’s the latest in a successful series of films

by Robert Fuller Associates backed by the Audrey Muriel Stratford Charitable Trust.

Miss Stratford herself established the Trust before her death with the aim of

stimulating interest in, and educating people, about King’s Lynn.

Robert Fuller describes Miss Stratford as an “extraordinary woman very much ahead of her time”.

“Audrey Stratford led a fascinating life,” he says, “and when I and my scriptwriter began researching her story it was a real eyeopener for us. We’d previously not been aware of Miss Stratford’s wealth of knowledge and passion for social history and her desire for it to be conveyed to a younger generation of people growing up

KLmagazine May 2011

ABOVE: Robert Fuller checking a courtroom scene during the filming of Portrait of Victorian Lynn RIGHT: Audrey Stratford’s graduation photograph – she’s the inspiration for Robert’s new film

in Lynn in the 21st century.”

Scriptwriter and researcher Julie Chaplin explained that Miss Stratford’s own research had formed the basis of the plot interspersed with the biographical details of her own life and how Lynn developed all around her.

Social events of her time will be covered in the film including the death of George VI, technological developments in computers, changes in the town’s education system, the expansion of Lynn, the arrival of people as part of the London ‘overspill’ agreement and the re-development of Lynn town centre.

One of Miss Stratford’s areas of interest was in the design of new council housing.

She attended planning meetings and would contribute to discussions on the design.

Miss Stratford was born in Johannesburg and came to England when she was four with her father George and mother Emily.

The Stratford family was well known in Lynn and ran Stratfords in Norfolk Street which was originally set up as an army surplus store.

Miss Stratford went to university where she studied physiology and took up work as a lecturer. She travelled extensively across Europe, America and western Australia .

Sharman Kunes, a relative of the Stratford family and member of the Trust, said Audrey was a woman ahead of her time and a remarkable woman.

“She was always at the forefront of things and she was using computers long before most people and she was very well educated and well travelled,” she said.

While King’s Lynn may have lost a lot of its history over the past few generations with large-scale demolition, particularly in the town centre, by using moving images Mr Fuller captures moments in time that

KLmagazine May 2011

will never be seen again.

Robert Fuller Associates, with backing of the Trust, has arguably done as much as anyone to save Lynn’s history for future generations via the most accessible medium of all.

Mr Fuller explained that to produce a film of high quality involves a team of specialists in various fields such as sound and music, who all contribute their expertise to the overall project.

The life of the old North Lynners leaps out at you from his film The Lost Fishing Community, while two other films – Faces of Lynn and Millennium in Lynn – are snapshots of the modern town and surrounding West Norfolk community.

One of the important aspects of these films is that they preserve areas of the town’s history for future generations as recorded by people who were actually involved in the various trades and industries such as farming, industry and annual events like the famous Lynn Mart opening ceremony and the King’s Lynn Festival.

“I like to film people as they tell of their own recollections,” says Robert.

These include people like the late Dot Smith who, in her role as a nurse, helped the 22-year-old American airman Reis Leming after he’d rescued 27 people whose beach homes at Snettisham were destroyed in the devastating floods of 1953.

This remarkable act of bravery led to him being awarded the George Medal. Mrs Smith, who appeared in the Faces of Lynn film, had an emotional reunion with Mr Leming years later just before her death.

A trademark of Mr Fuller’s films – which are still available from a number of shops in Lynn – is that he’s been fortunate to engage famous actors as narrators, including Robert Hardy, Robert Powell, Stephen Fry,

Nigel Havers, Ian Lavender and Roy Marsden.

Most of his previous films have also been given VIP premiere screenings at Lynn’s Majestic Cinema with people who’ve taken part being among the capacity audiences.

Mr Fuller would be interested to hear from anyone who may have photographs or old film of King’s Lynn for possible use in this film or future projects.

People who would like to register their names for tickets for the premiere screening of the new Audrey Stratford film can also contact Mr Fuller on 07767 843407 or at info@robertfullerassociates.co.uk KL

57

CASTLE FARM BARN & UNIQUE HATS

Inspired ideas for your home.

S

et in the heart of the quiet and picturesque village of Castle Rising, housed within the beautiful 15th century Castle Farm Barn, is the amazing Unique Gifts & Interiors showroom.

Quite literally stocked to the exposed rafters with an amazing array of inspirational quality home furnishings and home accessories, with endless gift ideas nestled into every nook and cranny. Upstairs you can browse through Unique’s extensive collection of hats, available in every colour and style, alternatively you can use Unique’s hat design service to create your truly Unique dream hat for every special occasion.

Castle Farm Barn & Unique Hats, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG Telephone: 01553 631500 Unique Interiors/Design Studio 01553 813198

Castle Rising Tea Rooms 01553 631211

Hunstanton Studio 01485 533879

Caley Mill (behind Norfolk Lavender) 01485 570775

E-mail: uniquegifts@btconnect.com Website: www.uniquegiftsandinteriors.co.uk

SPORT

Let the games begin...

It may not be the Olympics, but when the West Norfolk Village Games open in June, there’ll be plenty of competitive spirit as Docking and Feltwell defend their titles. Charlotte Thorneycroft investigates...

F

ormerly known as the Inter Village Games, this community spirited event has this year been rebranded, as this fantastic sports festival is now in partnership with Active Norfolk and the countywide Norfolk Village Games initiative.

Held annually since 1992, the event encourages all ages to have a go at a variety of sports representing their village against other villages across West Norfolk.

Organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk with the help from local sports teams, the games are split into two sections – one for small villages (under 1,250 inhabitants) and one for medium villages (1,251–4,250 inhabitants).

Lynnsport and Leisure Park will host the event on 26th June between 10am and

KLmagazine May 2011

4pm (approximately).

As a combination of community and sport there’s a good selection of activities to choose from whatever your athletic ability! For the more adventurous, there are energetic competitions such as 5-a-side football, fitness triathlon and squash, but there are also some slightly less demanding options including darts and indoor bowls.

As well as the sports you’d expect to see on the line-up there are a few that make a surprising appearance, including archery.

If you’re wondering whether your village has a budding Robin Hood then fear not – there’ll be some coaching before the competition and all the equipment is supplied.

Last year’s winner for the small villages was Docking (who’ve held the title for the

last six years), while the 2010 champion medium-sized village was Feltwell.

Being a countywide initiative, this year’s winning team from West Norfolk will have the chance to compete against other district winners in a county final in September.

Entries must be made by 27th May – forms are available (along with further information and rules) on the official West Norfolk Village Games website at www.intervillagegames.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call the Borough Council’s Sports Development Unit on 01553 818015.

Most importantly the day is all about having fun, meeting new friends and getting to know your fellow villagers a little better too! Let the games begin! KL

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PICTURE: AIRSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

SPORT

N O T N A T S N U H ESTYLES 2011 LIF

7 1 – 5 1 Y L JU

A different view of sport For the sixth time, Hunstanton is gearing up for an exciting weekend of kite surfing, windsailing, skateboarding and alternative sports.

Charlotte Thorneycroft discovers what Lifestyles 2011 is all about...

N

ow recognised as one of the top extreme sport and culture events in the country, the Hunstanton Lifestyles Festival attracts thousands of visitors to the seaside town each July. Started in 2005, it has rapidly grown to become a huge national event showcasing the best of extreme sports and the lifestyle that surrounds them.

As well as demonstrations and competitions of the sports which include

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BMX, skating (inline and board), climbing, windsurfing and kitesurfing there are lots of taster sessions for visitors to try out some new sports.

Shallow waters around the coast of Hunstanton coupled with the striking backdrop of its famous red and white cliffs make it the ideal location for the two major competitions held at the event – the British Kite Surfing Association’s Grand Prix and National Windsurfing. For sports such as this, West Norfolk provides the perfect ‘flat

lagoon’ conditions on both north- and west-facing coastlines – something unique to us in the East.

For both kite and windsurfing, the wind part (as you’d expect) plays a considerable part in ‘getting it right’ but this is also helped by our unique coastal set up which mostly provides the south-westerly breeze liked by participants. Tony Devenish, Sports Development Officer at The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk believes these sports have wider KLmagazine May 2011

KLmagazine May 2011

PICTURE: AIRSHOT PHOTOGRAPHY

importance to the local community.

“West Norfolk, and typically the resorts of Hunstanton and Snettisham are now hot spots for kiters and surfers who travel from all over the country to practice here on a regular basis,” he says.

“It’s great – especially for local businesses when the tourist season begins to wind down. Last year the event attracted 12,000 visitors and we’re hoping for the same this year. We have some very impressive local talent too – people should come along and show support for their local sports stars.

Last year the amateur ladies top kite surfer was Danielle Durrant from Docking (her sister Chloe came third) and the amateur men’s champion was Marcus Hawkins from Snettisham.”

This year, for the first time, the event will also feature a national competition in Street Dance – and top crews from around the country are expected to take part. Street Dance is an increasingly popular sport which has been helped by celebrities in the field like George Sampson and Diversity.

Another popular, but not so publicised sport is Parkour, which will also feature prominently at Lifestyles.

Parkour is a way of getting from A to B in the quickest and most fluid way, which when put in to practice can be breathtaking as ‘free runners’ overcome any obstacle in their path with spectacular ease.

Lifestyles is about far more than just the sports, as Tony explains.

“There’s a broad culture and lifestyle built around adrenalin sports embracing art, music and clothes, and you’ll see them all at Lifestyles 2011,” he says.

“The scene is strong in Hunstanton and King’s Lynn in general – we’re lucky to have excellent facilities in the area such as The Shed skatepark based at Lynnsport. As well as an extensive array of trade stands selling everything from surfboards to gifts, there’ll be live music, art exhibitions and a VW show. One of the reasons the Hunstanton Lifestyle Festival is so appealing is because it’s not just about the elite side and more about introducing everyone, whatever their age, to something new in both sport and culture.”

Most events take place at or near to the sailing club on the North Promenade and visitors are advised to take advantage of the additional transport offered by this year’s sponsor – Norfolk Green. Extra bus routes to and from King’s Lynn and the surrounding area will be put in place for the event including late night buses – as entertainmen is expected to continue until 11pm on the Friday and Saturday night.

For more information on Lifestyles Festival 2011, including details of camping available for the event visit the website on www.lifestylesfestival.co.uk or follow the excitement on Facebook and Twitter. KL

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SPORT

“King’s Lynn is an Augusta replica just on the edge of town...the fairways are immaculate” Chris Jones Editor, Golf World

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KLmagazine May 2011

Welcome to the Augusta of Norfolk...

King’s Lynn Golf Club recently won national acclaim as a local rival to the most famous golf course in the world. KL magazine discovers why

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ach year thousands of golfing enthusiasts flock to Augusta in the state of Georgia to watch the world’s best players take to the fairway in The Masters Tournament. This annual golfing event is one of the major championships in professional golf and has put the Augusta National Golf Club on the map as one of the top courses in the world.

Recently, renowned golf expert and editor of Golf World magazine, Chris Jones, described King’s Lynn Golf Club as ‘a replica Augusta’ much to the delight of local players. Golf World is a highly respected publication within the industry, closely linked to the professional game and the

KLmagazine May 2011

advice and recommendations made by it are well regarded by most players. Through his career Chris has been lucky enough to play on many of the finest courses around the globe including Augusta and also King’s Lynn. It isn’t hard to see why Chris made the comparison to Augusta, with the thick frame of pine trees which surround the King’s Lynn course entwined with the occasional Rhododendron. There was however more than this that he found appealing whilst playing at the course.

“Being so close to Sandringham, the Royal estate, there is a real sense that the course is going to be something quite special as you enter. It may not have the major championship history but the dog legs,

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Fine food at the Clubhouse...

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hether you are looking for refreshment after a busy 18 holes of golf or you would like somewhere welcoming in which to enjoy a relaxing lunch, the Clubhouse restaurant offers an appetizing menu throughout the day. Due to the extensive calendar of events that take place at KLGC (see events guide for a small selection) the kitchen is fully staffed with experienced chefs who prepare fresh, quality dishes to order from locally sourced produce.

Lunch is served between 12pm and 2.30pm when a range of food is available. With a choice from a freshly made sandwhich, a healthy salad or a 3 course meal.

Dinners are served throughout Friday and Saturday evening offering an excellent variety of meat, fish and vegetarian options for both starters and main courses as well as a mouth watering selection of desserts. The chefs are also happy to cater for individual requests if booked in advance.

Social memberships are also available at King’s Lynn Golf Club and the restaurant regularly offers special promotions for members.

which bend left and right, the heath land and pine trees do remind me of Augusta.

The course is kept in lovely condition which combined with the ambience of the birds singing and a beautiful sun I found very relaxing.” But don’t be fooled into thinking the calming serenity of the surroundings makes for an easy game.

Chris was surprised by the challenging course which would test any level of golfer.

When the course was first built the removal of trees has caused a natural development of the ground, resulting in undulating fairways which have the added obstacle of remaining pines. Thankfully, the bracken has gone, so although you may lose a shot you won’t lose a ball! Chris commented that holes 9, 10, 11 and 12 were a delightful stretch and the 18th was very good. With such a mix of holes across the course it is hard to pin point individual ones as standing out against the rest. It certainly stands to reason that if you learn to play at King’s Lynn then other courses will seem a whole lot easier! Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, along the quiet road to Castle Rising, the Club is more than just

about the golf. There are a number of social members at the Club who simply enjoy the serenity of the landscape and meeting up with friends. The membership of King’s Lynn Golf Club is a wonderful reflection of the whole local community.

During the year there are numerous well supported events, taking in all the elements of the Club, so that whatever your playing ability there is an event for you.

Members are attracted from every walk of life and every background, proving that golf is a game to be enjoyed by everyone – just like a big family.

“One of the things I noticed about King’s Lynn Golf Club was how very welcoming it was,” said Chris. “It is like a mini Augusta, a hidden gem and I would recommend it to any golfer.”

If you weren’t lucky enough to be in Augusta to watch the Masters this year, then spend a day in the Norfolk sunshine instead and visit our own ‘mini Augusta’. Yet again our corner of Norfolk has been recognised for something outstanding and we are proud that it was the people and the place that made it so. KL

A great Club for juniors

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Mike Timson 64

uniors at King’s Lynn Golf Club are masterfully guided through the sport by Norfolk County Golf Partnership coach, Mike Timson, who is also the Club’s Pro. Through Mike’s work with the partnership he is able to identify talented youngsters which has made King’s Lynn Golf Club a perfect venue for attracting elite players. As well as Mike’s high level of teaching there are also a number of other influences which make King’s Lynn stand out from other Clubs in the area. These focus around the advanced methods used to aid the teaching of young players such as physiotherapy and the flightscope. Lessons are available for all ages, with junior competitions throughout the year.

KLmagazine May 2011

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER

Join King’s Lynn Golf Club now – and save £500!

Apply before the end of June and we will take £500 off our normal joining fee of £750.

Combined with our pro-rata subscription for 2011 you can now join King’s Lynn Golf Club for less than you thought!

For more details, contact the Club Secretary by calling 01553 631654 or e-mail secretary@kingslynngc.co.uk

www.kingslynngc.co.uk KLmagazine May 2011

Events Calendar Thursday July 7th An exciting day of competitive golf will be taking place with special guest, snooker champion Willie Thorne. Members are invited to take part in the competition which will be followed by a two course meal with a jug of Pimms on every table and an informal after dinner speech by Mr Thorne. Tickets for this fun members’ only day are £20 per person.

Monday 30th May Ladies v Gents – a fun day of golf, but who will be the better sex on the day?

Monday 25th July Pro-AM – open to both members and nonmembers, the Pro-AM is held annually for teams consisting of three amateur players and one pro.

Club Captain’s and President’s Weekends 6th–7th and 27th–28th August Marshall Toyota King’s Lynn will be offering the prize of a car for a hole in one Tuesday 1st September Charity AM-AM – open to both members and non-members. Raising money for RSPCA Norfolk (West) and a new premature baby incubator for the QE Hospital in King’s Lynn.

In the evening the charity auction has some great lots up for grabs including 3 weeks in a villa on a golf resort in the Algarve, a 1-week luxury break in Burnham Market, and a dinner, bed and breakfast break at The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market.

Wednesday 19th October Seniors v Ladies Friday 25th November Men’s Black Tie Dinner – with guest speaker Alex Hay. Members only.

For more information on upcoming club events visit the website www.kingslynngc.co.uk

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LOCAL LIFE

Michael Middleton’s

WildWestNorfolk

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he gate to the Middleton residence has broken again. You can always tell when this is about to happen because a string of pleasant weather is coming to an end and full-to-capacity storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. Just when you didn’t want to stand in the rain for an entire Sunday afternoon, the screws keeping the afore-mentioned gate in an upright and working order work themselves loose and the whole rotten structure takes on an alarming tilt.

If you’re wondering why I haven’t been across the road to see my naturally-gifted neighbour who seems to be able to fix everything so it stays fixed, you should be aware that Mrs. Middleton is a firm believer in the theory that you shouldn’t ‘get someone in’ when there’s someone closer to home willing to waste a weekend coming up with ingenious ways of fixing a stupid gate.

Having exhausted my admittedly-limited DIY skills, I started looking for a book to help me solve the gate issue once and for all – surely someone out there (other than the man at No.34) was willing to help?

Sure enough, the reference section of my local library was promisingly full of ‘How to...’ manuals. But you know what they say about first impressions.

The number of people wanting to write books of advice is almost as amazing as the willingness of publishers to print them regardless of their usefulness – to say nothing of the people who obviously part with good money to buy them.

Take Barbara O’Connor, for example.

She’s the proud (I assume) author of a book called How to Steal a Dog. Now forgive me if I’m old fashioned about this sort of thing, but I thought stealing was wrong. In fact, I was under the

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impression it was against the law.

Why on earth would you want to steal someone’s dog anyway? My neighbours (not Mr. Fixit, I hasten to add) have a particularly unpleasant dog that always seems to be suffering from some sort of satanic possession, but I’d never dream of stealing the thing away from its longsuffering owners.

Unless you fancy a short stay at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, I think this is a book best avoided.

Much the same could be said of Sarah Whitehead’s book How to Speak Cat. There is a cat in the Middleton household, but I don’t need to be a linguist to know he has a vocabulary of a mere five words, allowing him to form the two sentences ‘give me food’ and ‘let me out’ – something he does incessantly.

Sorry Sarah, but I simply haven’t got the time to learn a new language to talk to something I only see every other day and spends most of its life asleep.

I have a gate that needs fixing.

The more I looked and the more books I picked up, the more I came to the conclusion that we seem to suffering from a mass case of marble loss at the moment.

Someone called Gary Renard has managed to find a publisher for his book called How to Break the Cycle of Life and Death, despite the fact that as far as I’m aware there’s no cycle to be broken. Life has a beginning and an end, doesn’t it? It doesn’t go round in circles (though I seem to spend most of my time doing exactly that).

Another book I don’t think I’ll be needing on my shelf

anytime soon is Daniel Wilson’s How to Survive a Robot Uprising.

Now, although I’m not any kind of expert, I do know that any sort of mechanical device (robots included) needs some form of control to do anything – let alone start a revolution – and as evidence I’d point to the vast collection of remote controls around the house.

In the event of the world’s robots suddenly deciding to rise up and take over the local council, all we’ll need to do is hit the OFF button. Or just put them on standby if you can’t be bothered.

Uprising survived, I fancy.

Actually, while we’re on the subject of surviving everyday hazards, I must mention How to Avoid Huge Ships by Captain John W. Trimmer. Living in King’s Lynn as I do, I’m constantly mindful of the dangers huge ships present to the casual pedestrian walking along the quayside – and I’ll confess here and now that I actually borrowed Captain Trimmer’s book.

It makes fascinating reading, and I’m sure it will come in very handy next time I’m in the vicinity of the Great Ouse. At the very least, it sure beats fixing a fence.

KLmagazine May 2011

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