Local Lynx No.116 - October/November 2017

BALE - BINHAM - COCKTHORPE - FIELD DALLING GUNTHORPE - LANGHAM - MORSTON SAXLINGHAM - SHARRINGTON - STIFFKEY

ISSUE 116 October November 2017

WWI Special Supplement on centre pages i-iv. ©AndrewMoncur

“Remember us to everyone at home…”

With salutes to Capt Bruce Bairnsfather & ‘Old Bill’

ADS DIRECTORY now on back page and at 1 www.locallynx.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Local Lynx is a non-profit-making community newspaper for the ten villages of the benefice.

VH = Village Hall

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OCTOBER 2nd Mon. Binham Coffee Morning VH, 10.30am -12.30pm 2nd Mon. Binham Village Quiz, Chequers 7.15 for 7.30pm 4th Wed. Binham Priory Concerts , BP 7.30pm 7th Sat. Bale Harvest Supper, VH 7pm 8th Sun. Binham Priory Harvest Thanksgiving, BP 11am 8th Sun. Binham Priory Harvest Thanksgiving lunch, VH 12.30 for 1pm 8th Sun. Field Dalling Harvest Festival, Marsh Barn 11am 13th Fri. Bale fish and chips, VH 7pm 13th Fri. Binham ‘Sharrington Gardeners Questions’ Memorial Hall 6.30pm 14th Sat. Langham Autumn Sale VH 10am -12noon 14th Sat. Morston Shovell Dinner. Anchor. 6.30pm 14th Sat. Stiffkey Local History Group talk, VH 4pm 19th Thu. Binham Friends of Binham Priory, Emma Bridgewater in conversation. BP 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

19th Thu. Binham and Hindringham Open Circle Harvest Supper. Hindringham VH 6.30pm 21st Sat. Sharrington Ceilidh band & supper, VH 7pm 25th Wed. Sharrington Live Music Night VH 7.30pm 26th Thu. Langham Mobile Library 9.55am St Mary’s & 10.20am The Cornfield 27th Fri. Langham Fish‘n’Chips and Quiz, VH 7pm 28th Sat. Binham Arthur Hundleby Exhibition.,BP 10-6pm 28th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club Institute 10:30am 29th Sun. Binham Arthur Hundleby Exhibition, BP 10-6pm 31st Tue. Sharrington Halloween Quiz VH 7pm NOVEMBER 1st Wed. Sharrington, Gardeners’ Talk on fungi, VH 7pm 4th Sat. Gunthorpe Friends Harvest Supper Institute 7pm booking essential - 01263 861373 6th Mon. Binham Village Quiz, Chequers 7.15 for 7.30pm 10th Fri. Bale fish and chips, VH 7pm 11th Sat. Stiffkey Remberance Service Memorial 11.45 am 16th Thu. Binham and Hindringham Open Circle. Mudlark – Pam Miller, Hindringham VH, 7.15pm.

17th Fri. Sharrington Noble Rotters, VH 7pm 18th Sat. Binham Christmas Fair, VH 9.30am -2.00pm 22nd Wed. Sharrington Live Music Night VH 7.30pm 23rd Thu. Langham Mobile Library 9.55am St Mary’s & 10.20am The Cornfield 24th Fri. Langham Fish‘n’Chips and Quiz, VH 7pm 25th Sat. Bale Quiz Night, VH 7pm 25h Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club Institute 10:30am 25h Sat. Field Dalling Christmas Fair, VH 10am-12.30pm 25h Sat. Sharrington Christmas Fayre, VH 10.30am REGULARS Tuesdays Binham Art Group VH 10am-12noon Wednesdays term time Binham Youth Group VH 6-8pm Third Thursday in month Binham & Hindringham Open Circle Meeting, Hindringham VH 7.15pm Fourth Thursday in month Binham Local History Group, VH 7.30pm 1st & 3rd Saturdays in month Langham Coffee Mornings, VH 10am -12noon Special thanks to our resident cartoonist, Andrew Moncur for his affecting and dramatic cover artwork.

We welcome articles, drawings, photos and poetry for publication from all ages but the editor reserves the right to edit or omit submissions. A maximum of 400 words is recommended. Please contact your local rep on their email or phone number listed under your own village heading.

All submissions must go through the village rep.

For general information: lynxeditor@pobox.com. ________________________________________________________________________________

Deadlines for submissions to reps are: 6 January, 6 March, 6 May, 6 July, 6 September & 6 November Newsletter and Website Advertising For enquiries about advertising in Local Lynx, contact Maxine Burlingham tel: 01328-830375

email: maxine.burlingham@me.com Rates for advertising (pre-paid) are: One column x 62 mm (1/8 page): £72 for six issues.

Small Ads Panel on the back page: Available for individuals and businesses providing local services. Cost: £36 for six issues.

And please don’t forget….

Lynx 116 and all back issues are permanently available on our website at www.locallynx.co.uk. The website now has and Ads Directory, an ‘In More Detail’ page and a ‘Local Charities’ page to cover relevant articles in greater depth. (Paper copies of website articles are always available from Roberta on 01263 740188.)

BLAKENEY CATHOLIC CHURCH Back Lane, Blakeney Parish Priest, Father Keith Tulloch, 12 Hindringham Road, Gt. Walsingham Norfolk T 01328 821353 Priest in Residence, Father William Wells (the house behind the church). Service Times: Vigil Mass Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 11.00am Wednesday 9.30am

BLAKENEY METHODIST CHURCH Sunday services

6.30pm

DEANERY NEWS

The Deanery Synod meeting will be held on Thurs. 26th Oct. at 7pm in the Meeting Place, St. Andrew’s Church, Holt. Subject: The Future of the Deanery. Speaker: Fr. Phil Blamire, the Rural Dean designate. All are welcome for the meeting or for the talk alone, which is the first item on the agenda.

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Church Services for Bale and Stiffkey Benefice for October and November 2017 HC=Holy Communion. CFS=Church Family Service. MP=Morning Prayer. BCP=Book of Common Prayer 1st October

8th October

15th October

22nd October

29th October

9.30am HC

9.30am HC

9.30am HC

At Sharrington

Field Dalling

9.30am Songs of Praise At Saxlingham

At Saxlingham

At Saxlingham

At Sharrington

Saxlingham

11.00am HC

11.00am Harvest Festival At Field Dalling

11.00am HC

11.00am MP BCP

At Sharrington

4.30pm Silent Meditation 9.30am MP CW

11.00am HC

At Sharrington

9.30am MP BCP

11.00am Harvest Festival 9.30am HC

9.30am HC

11.00am Harvest Festival

11.00am CFS

9.30am HC

10.30am HC Group Service At Sharrington

Parish Bale

Gunthorpe Sharrington Binham

11.00am HC

Morston

9.30am HC BCP

Langham

9.30am Harvest Service At Langham

Stiffkey

Bale

5th November All Saints’ Day 9.30am HC

Field Dalling

At Saxlingham

Saxlingham

11.00am HC

Parish

Gunthorpe Sharrington

9.30am HC BCP

9.30am MP BCP

Binham

11.00am HC

Morston

9.30am HC BCP

Langham

At Stiffkey

Stiffkey

9.30am MP

12th November Remembrance Sunday 9.30am HC Service of Remembrance At Saxlingham 10.45am Service of Remembrance 10.50am HC Service of Remembrance 9.30am HC Service of Remembrance 10.50am HC Service of Remembrance 2.00pm Service of Remembrance 10.50am Service of Remembrance At Langham

At Sharrington

At Stiffkey

9.30am HC

At Sharrington

9.30am HC

At Langham

At Sharrington

19th November

26th November

9.30am HC

9.30am HC

At Saxlingham

11.00am MP BCP

11.00am HC

At Field Dalling

4.30pm Silent Meditation

11.00am HC

9.30am MP CW

9.30am HC

11.00am CFS

9.30am HC

9.30am HC BCP At Stiffkey

9.30am HC

9.30am HC

At Langham

Additional Service Stiffkey: Saturday 11th November, Remembrance Day Service at the War Memorial at 10.45am.

Regular Weekday Services Binham: Tuesday, Evening Prayer at 6.00pm until the clocks change, thereafter at 3.30pm; Langham: Wednesday, 10.00am Holy Communion

RECTOR’S LETTER

beautiful.

I had a very strict upbringing. Up, Wash, Prayers (brief), Breakfast, Get on with It. Sin was real and the Devil active.

But forgiveness was sure and Grace delighted in. All things were contained within the love of God, and transformed by the atoning death of Christ. Every day was fresh, everything given up to God, His blessing asked on every meal. And life had savour.

May I wish you a rigorous, honest, delightful few months ahead. And you might perhaps consider sin, and forgiveness; love, and humility; the needs of others, and one’s responsibilities; decay, and the promise of new life.

Yours truly, Ian Whittle, The Rectory, Langham 01328 830246

Dear Friends and Parishioners, The month of October is for some a sort of decline: bare fields, garden decay, dark by nine. By happy chance I love it as a month of beginning. I have been fortunate to go to two universities where terms begin in October: golden light, enormous expectation, new friends and smiles all round.

And every post I have ever held, whether paid, parochial or voluntary, the work began in October. And for many years it was my holiday month. Very privileged, I went to a continental city or mountain, or both, to read and meet people. I should like to get back to it!

If it can be managed, coming to things fresh, being at ease, even when working hard and doing one’s duty as best one can, makes even the gloomiest day, very possibly,

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that important step forward, try one of the following (they will all be pleased you have asked them): Speak to the careers teacher/adviser at your schools Contact the school or college you have applied to – find out if it will still give you a place on your chosen course or another.

Telephone a careers adviser on 0800 100 900 or visit the website nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk.

Visit the County Council’s Help You Choose website www.helpyouchoose.org to search for Courses and Apprenticeships also www.apprenticeships norfolk. org.

If you have nothing to go on to and need advice, call Norfolk County Council’s Keeping in Touch Team. They can offer support to get into education, training or work.

Call the Help You Choose Helpline 0344 800 8022 or email helpyouchoose@norfolk.gov.uk.

COMMUNITY nEWS COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ NEWS ...from Dr. Marie Strong A brief but hopefully usefully report: Better Broadband for Norfolk: Field Dalling & Saxlingham: I know how anxious many people are for news of fibre broadband and residents of these two villages will not be surprised they have required a goodly mix of fibre solutions, all coming on line at different times. Thank you for your patience, I hope you will be pleased with the following news. (Please note that all announcements regarding fibre broadband going live are subject to survey and all caveats reported previously.)

Field Dalling: Cabinet Binham 3, serving half the village, went live on 19 July 2017. (To check out if you are fibre enabled see website at the foot*) The second cabinet serving the rest of the village is still on schedule for the end of 2018 and should also provide superfast broadband (24Mbps+).

Saxlingham: I reported in October 2017 that all 32 Saxlingham properties should have superfast broadband (24Mbps+) by the end of 2018. It is now expected to arrive Spring 2018. What you may not know is that this is anticipated to be fibre to the premises and if you are unaware of its meaning please google the term!

Parking Infringements: If you have wondered why you rarely see a traffic enforcement officer (traffic warden) I may have the answer. The officers are sent to locations based on their experience, known problem areas and areas of complaint. So if you have a complaint here is what to do.

Send details such as time/day of week and location of what you take to be an infringement to parking. operations@west-norfolk. gov.uk.(Photographs can help but no more than two.) And what is an infringement? For more information and a good read try the Norfolk Parking Partnership, Civil Parking Enforcement Guidance Manual on the NCC website: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/-/media/ norfolk/downloads/roads-and-transport/roads/civilparking-enforcement.pdf?la=en. (I will write later about the police responsibility for obstruction on pavements.)

Congratulations to all GCSE students: I hope you all achieved the grades you need for the next step in your lives.

But if you are worried about the grades you have achieved or just need some information or to talk to someone about

* Useful websites: Better Broadband for Norfolk: www.betterbroadband norfolk.co.uk and enter your post code. www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/adsl.htm Search by phone number if you are a BT Internet Service Provider (ISP) customer. Customers of other ISPs should use the Address Checker option. Once a fibre solution is available a “VDSL” option will be shown.

Mobile Phone Coverage: Ofcom http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/check-coverage Enter your postcode to access coverage maps for each of the four main mobile phone providers. Choose an operator for best coverage at home or where you most use your mobile phone.

All for now, Marie

…from Steffan Aquarone The big news from County Hall arose from the last full Council meeting on 24th July, which revealed that the Council faces a £100m gap over the next four years.

The Conservative administration has vowed not to cut front-line services, but it is not clear how the savings will therefore be achieved in spite of the Council setting up a property development company, which is uncharted territory I particularly welcome people letting me know if they hear of any cuts in services in any of the areas the Council is responsible for, or any "changes" to services that they think are having a detrimental effect.

There is better news in Adult Services - the area of

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©AndrewMoncur

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S NEWS from Cllr. Karen Ward Due to a quiet summer, there is little of significance to report that is relevant at this level. Lots of individual case work, but nothing across these parishes. This hopefully means there will be plenty to update folks on next time.

Meanwhile, if you would like to see how details for the Local Plan are coming along, go to http://www.northnorfolk.gov.uk/media/3512/local-plan-summernewsletter-2017.pdf.

District Councillors’ Contact Details: Vincent Fitzpatrick e:vincent.fitzpatrick@north-norfolk.gov.uk & Simon Hester e:simon.hester@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Binham, Langham & Stiffkey) Karen Ward e:karen.ward@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Sharrington, Field Dalling, Saxlingham & Morston) Ann.R.Green (01328 878273) e: ann.green@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Gunthorpe & Bale)

“Yes. These days all the driving schools bring pupils to Langham to polish-up their hill starts…”

the Council under most pressure due to increased demand. Central Government money in the form of the Better Care Fund is to be used to hire social workers to help clear the backlog of cases, and reduce delayed transfers of care (moving people from hospital back to the community).

Similarly, in Children's Services, which had been in special measures for some time. A monitoring letter from Ofsted in July determined that "steady progress" was being made under the interim director, and the Council has now appointed a new permanent director in Sara Tough, who has held a similar position for Dorset council.

My campaign to improve the mobile phone signal achieved a milestone in early May with the first surveys beginning in Weybourne. This village was chosen as a test site to see whether our technological as well as door to door paper surveying approach would deliver enough information on candidate sites for additional small cell stations, as well as assessing potential demand from local residents. Once the survey test is concluded, the survey will be rolled out to the network of over 100 volunteers who have signed up to take part in the project.

On rural broadband: the Better Broadband for Norfolk scheme is bringing a number of cabinets onto superfast broadband this summer. Many residents are not aware that they need to change Internet package to benefit from the higher speeds once their area goes live - they could even see a reduction in cost. More information can be found at www.betterbroadband norfolk.co.uk.

FLU VACCINATIONS WINTER 2017 The government provides free seasonal flu vaccination for the following groups of patients: Patients aged 65 years and over; Children aged 2 and 3 years at 31st August 2017 (usually given as a nasal spray); AND...

Patients under 65 years of age in certain clinical at risk groups (such as pregnant women and patients with certain respiratory conditions such as COPD). A full list of the “at risk” groups can be found on the Holt Practice website.

The seasonal flu vaccination is also available to patients of any age who are: Carers of older or disabled patients, healthcare workers and patients living in long-stay residential care homes.

The surgery will contact all patients under 65 years old who are eligible, reminding them of the need to be vaccinated.

Our FLU CLINICS for all patients entitled to a free jab (except children, who will be seen in separate clinics) will be held on the following dates: MELTON SURGERY – Thursday 12 October HOLT SURGERY – Saturday 14 October BLAKENEY SURGERY – Thursday 19 October PLEASE NOTE - THERE WILL BE ONE MAIN CLINIC at each surgery, where we will provide the majority of appointments.

County Councillors’ contact details: Dr Marie Strong: County Councillor Wells Division (Glaven, Priory and Walsingham Parishes) marie.strong@norfolk. gov.uk or 07920 286 597 Steffan Aquarone: County Councillor Melton Constable Division ( incl. Bale and Gunthorpe Parishes) steffanaquarone@gmail.com or 07879 451608

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area and its wonderful towns and villages as vibrant tomorrow as they are today. Some tips on how to help: 1.Don’t leave homes empty – if you don’t use it all year round, why not consider short lets?

2.Spend your money locally – buy local products, local crafts, use local businesses 3.Travel sustainably – use the great public transport links, walk, cycle, or help with a local community transport scheme 4.Be part of the community – make links with local people, bring your skills to the area 5.Understand your Norfolk Coast – get involved with local issues, find out about local traditions and features 6.Make your voice heard – volunteer for local causes 7.Keep your place special – keep your garden tidy and your property in good order 8.Ensure your safety – sign up to flood alerts, sign up to oil tank watch schemes 9.Watch your waste – dispose of all of your waste in the correct way 10.Stay in touch and secure – Build a good neighbourhood network, follow local police guidance.

For more info: www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk.

However if these clinic dates are not convenient for you, we will be able to offer alternative dates later in the season.

Each patient gets an individual appointment time! To book your slot, please contact the surgery (after 11.30 in the morning, when the telephone lines are less busy) on 01263 712461 or pop into any of our surgeries. Booking is essential.

If you are under 65 years old and do not receive a text or letter, your records indicate that you are not eligible for a free vaccination. Even if you have had a flu jab previously, unless you meet this year’s criteria you may not be entitled to a free jab.

Our pharmacy has a limited number of private flu vaccinations available for patients who wish to be vaccinated but do not qualify for a free vaccination.

SHINGLES VACCINATIONS These will be available, free of charge, for the following patients (who have not previously had a shingles vaccination): Patients aged 70 or 78 – these patients become eligible AFTER they have turned 70 or 78 during 2017.

Patients who were eligible in previous years (not yet vaccinated) remain eligible until their 80th birthday.

The surgery will write to all eligible patients inviting them to have their shingles vaccination in special clinics.

Where clinically appropriate, these patients will also be able to have their flu vaccination at the same time.

We can provide private shingles vaccinations, please ring 01263 714331 for details.

POLICE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETING for Holt and surrounding villages 6:30pm on Thursday 23rd November 2017 Holt Youth Project, Old Station Way, Holt Why not come along and have your say? After the meeting the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel will discuss and decide the priorities for all partners to act upon for the next three months. The adopted priorities will be published on the Norfolk Constabulary website, via Police Connect and Social Media. More information at www.norfolk. police.uk.

GLAVEN CENTRE SERVICES Toe-nail clinics Wednesday 11, 18, 25 October Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22 November

Hearing Aid clinics Wednesday 18 October & Friday 24 November

Hairdressing Every Wednesday. Regular, occasional or casual appointments can be made.

Ring 01263 740762 to make and check appointments.

NEW SCHEME GIVES OFFENDERS “A SECOND CHANCE” Prisoners and ex-offenders are being offered vital support to help turn their lives around thanks to an initiative funded by Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

A team of 14 volunteer mentors have been working with offenders in prisons including Norwich and Wayland to offer support and guidance for life beyond the prison gates.

IS THIS YOUR HOME FROM HOME? Do you love the Norfolk Coast? If you are a second home owner in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can play a crucial role in keeping the

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Since then, Rotary has helped immunise 2.5 billion children worldwide, and now only 2 countries remain with a Polio problem.

To celebrate this success and keep this achievement to the front of everyone’s minds, and to ensure the battle continues for the illness never to return, Rotary Clubs all over the UK planted thousands of ‘purple for polio’, crocuses in their local communities. Here in Holt, last autumn 5000 bulbs were planted, 1000 of them by the underpass near the School. This year 5000 more will be planted around the town and if you would like to join the Rotary Club of Holt and District in the planting, please contact us.

If anyone would like to know a little more about Rotary, what it does, the good that it quietly does in this community and further afield, how it operates and how you may become involved, please contact the Secretary Mick Elsom on 01263 710118.

Roger Percival

The scheme – the first of its kind in Norfolk – has received more than £20,000 for the next two years from PCC Lorne Green who was delighted to meet with a group of newly trained volunteers in Norwich recently.

“What the team of dedicated mentors are offering these men is a second chance in life,” said Lorne.

“There are four important factors which can help prevent re-offending; having a family waiting, having gainful employment, having accommodation and getting help with problems such as mental health issues or substance abuse.

“One of these however is worth more than all the others and that is family, not necessarily in the traditional sense but caring for others which is what the team of enthusiastic, selfless mentors do.”

Community Chaplaincies work alongside prisoners, exprisoners and their families. They are multi-faith and work with offenders of all faiths and none.

Dozens of referrals have so far been made to the Norfolk team who are also planning to work with female offenders at Peterborough Prison whose future may lie in Norfolk.

Rev Susan Carne, who heads CCN, said: “Our mentors meet with their clients at least a couple of times before they come out of prison to help them put together a plan to start a life that doesn’t involve this revolving door of going back into prison.

“The resilience I am seeing in our mentors is amazing.

There is a real buzz, a real willingness in Norfolk to help people.”

The main aim of the scheme is to offer offenders the support and motivation they need to stop them reoffending once released from prison and to lead a more fulfilling lifestyle within their local communities.

“My ultimate aim is for them not to go back to prison again and that is what they want too,” added Susan.“We want to help them to create the life they want and fulfil their own expectations and ambitions by helping them to take those simple little steps in rebuilding their lives.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the scheme please contact Rev Susan Carne on 07465 428456.

POLICE DRONE TRIALS You may spot drones in the skies over Norfolk in the coming months as police run a three-month pilot. Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lorne Green, has welcomed the trial of two drones by the Constabulary saying: “For our police to be as efficient and effective as possible, it’s vital they have the right tools. To tackle the crime affecting our communities in the 21st century, we need to look at the 21st century technology available to us.

For some time now I have been calling on Norfolk Police to explore the potential that drones offer.”

Drone pilots must be Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) accredited and Norfolk Police currently has four qualified pilots. Sergeant Danny Leach, who was the first pilot to be trained, said: “Every incident which requires air support currently costs the Constabulary £1,320. Although the drones aren’t suitable for every deployment there are certain situations which they are perfect for.

“To get the project operational it has cost less than £8,000. If we can successfully deploy to just six incidents we would have saved enough money to pay for them again.”

The drone units which cost £1,500 (Inspire) and £850 (Mavic) can fly in winds up to 50mph and have already been used for industrial and firearms incidents, forensic photography, searches and pre-planned operations. With a 4K downlink, officers can see live footage captured by the

HOLT ROTARY CLUB NEWS ‘Rotary the World Over’ is a Rotary campaign to rid the world of Polio. In the past this illness disabled and caused the death of young children all over the world including the UK. In 1985 there were 125 countries with the infection.

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drones while they are in the air.

Deputy Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “Drones offer many benefits that complement the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter. This technology offers a highly cost-effective approach to help assist our officers. While the technology still has its limitations, the option of launching a drone in the air in a few minutes could help save lives and secure evidence if a crime was in progress.

“The drones will now be available to assist officers across the county and, while we’re a long way off drones becoming standard kit in a police car, the early indications are they will be a positive contribution to the policing of Norfolk.”

it’s a unique opportunity both to watch the film and have the film historian with us…don’t miss it! Booking now available at www.wells-cinema.com.

WELLS WEA AUTUMN COURSES Beginning in September, as in previous years, the local branch committee of the WEA will offer a Tuesday morning course for the autumn over seven weeks with a break for half term. Fiona Fitzgerald will be the tutor offering the theme of “A Century of Mainly British Building”. The course will consider the evolving styles and fashions in many different sorts of buildings constructed over successive decades of the twentieth century: some now loved and well regarded, others now more definitely not to be repeated.

Courses begin on September 26 at 10.30am, with a full course fee of £51.

Two Saturday Day Schools are also in the programme. On October 7th, with the title of “China Station”, Mark Felton will consider in turn the AngloChinese Opium Wars of 1839-42 and 1856-60, British involvement in the The Boxer Rebellion in China 18991901, and the Yangtze Incident in 1949 when HMS Amethyst was fired on in the Chinese Civil War (you may have seen the film…): echoes of history not readily forgotten.

On 11th November we turn to Hollywood. Jo Statham will illustrate the star system of the big Hollywood studios in the post-Second World War period. under the title of “Dream Girls and Handsome Heroes”: curvaceous blondes and tanned muscle.

Exploited stars of limited acting ability or new breakthroughs in the art of cinema? Both day schools begin at 10.00am, fee: £15.

All meetings at the Friends' Meeting House, Church Street, Wells NR23 1HZ. For further information and booking please email Ann Whitelaw on annewhitelaw @waitrose.com or call 01328 711309.

CLEY CALLING – AUTUMN COLOURS Thursday 5 October – Sunday 8 October The change of the seasons brings a wonderful time of year to spend outdoors being inspired by the sights, sounds and smells of autumn. To coincide with Norfolk’s walking and cycling festival, this weekend will include guided walks, health and wellbeing events and creative art workshops.

Live Street Art: Thu 5 Oct – Sun 8 Oct Coastal Stroll with Jules Pretty: Thu 5 Oct, 5pm walk, 7pm supper, 7.45pm talk Autumnal Landscapes: Fri 6 Oct, 10.30am - 3.30pm Does Nature Make You Happy?: Fri 6 Oct, 7pm supper, 7.45pm talk Ecology Street Art Workshop: Sat 7 Oct, 2 - 5pm Ramble and Roast: Sun 8 Oct, 10.30am - 12 noon For more information on Cley Calling – Autumn Colours and for a full list of events please visit https:// www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on/interests/cley -calling or call NWT Cley Marshes on 01263 740008.

“NAPOLEON” Screen-Next-the-Sea in Wells 19 November at 1.30pm Screen-next-the-Sea in Wells-next-the-Sea will be screening the legendary restoration of Abel Gance’s magnificient 1927 silent film “Napoleon” with full symphonic score by Carl Davis. Five and a half hours of pure cinematic, innovative cinema, on Sunday 19 November, starting at 1.30pm. We are delighted that Kevin Brownlow, the Oscar-winning historian who has spent a lifetime restoring the film, will be with us. So

LANGHAM DOME NEWS One of the joys of being a volunteer at the Langham Dome Museum is to meet so many appreciative visitors who praise the museum for the fascinating and enjoyable way in which the stories of both RAF Langham and the Dome trainer are told. It is especially rewarding when a visitor comes who has either served

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at RAF Langham or has used the Dome trainer whilst preparing for their anti-aircraft gunnery training on the ranges at Stiffkey (light guns) and Weybourne (heavy guns) or who has had a relative who served there. They are usually very keen to find out more about their own history or their ancestor’s story and the Dome has many tales to tell.

Unable to climb, F for Freddie was doomed, as it barrel rolled slowly to the right.

WAAF Ivy cross was first on the scene, She didn't cry, she didn’t scream.

She pulled three airman from the burning plane, Some say she was brave, others said she was insane.

But with the spirit that is only found in war, She turned back for the other four.

The heat was intense, the smoke was black, Injured herself, finally brave Ivy drew back.

Then two American soldiers did appear, Said “She’s fully loaded, we better get outta here”.

And as the fire brigade doused the flame, The squadron felt a new kind of pain.

They’d lost crews on sorties before, But never before they left the floor.

If these men died via the enemy, that would be right, But to be killed by their beloved “Kite”?

The ministry did a quick enquiry to try and find the blame “Catastrophic mechanical failure of the plane”.

One such story concerns the tragic loss of 524 Squadron’s Wellington “F for Freddie” during a night take-off on 26th March 1945. The surviving members of one of the aircrew who died, the Harris family, have erected a memorial on the Dome site, and in the last issue of the Lynx we told part of the story of the copilot on that fateful night, when Flight Sergeant Frederick Harris’s brother presented the museum with a pair of flying gauntlets owned by him. The memorial can be seen at any time and the Dome does not have to be open. A display in the Dome shop highlights the heroism of a WAAF airwoman, Ivy Cross, who pulled three of the crew from the burning wreckage.

The Dome trustees were recently given a copy of a poem which tells the story of that night written by Langham resident Rodney Scott, and we have his permission to reproduce it below.

So what of these four men that died that day, And had their future cruelly torn away.

Pilot Warrant Officer John Brogan knew the price of war, As he’d lost his elder brother, Michael, in a bomber three weeks before.

Though their lives and their bombers may be gone, Two brave brothers still fight on.

Co pilot Flight Sergeant Frederick Harris also knew the price of war, As he’d lost his elder brother, Leonard, in a Wellington some time before.

Now only two young brothers, John and David do remain, They watch the boys in grief, they feel their pain, and they’ll never leave their side again.

F for Freddie Coastal Command, is light tonight A Wellington took off from Langham, but things didn’t go right.

Coastal Command, is light tonight, The starboard engine seized up, and caught alight.

Coastal Command, is light tonight,

Air gunner, Sergeant Leonard Laming had something special in his life, He was expecting a baby with his wife.

The boy will be born three months on, Though his father’s no more, his name lives on.

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new kitchen and bar, the new toilets, the lights and porch, and the outside area which provided such a lovely setting for our village hall barbecue on Bank Holiday Saturday. In all this he was never overbearing, always able to explain in detail his thinking, but in an unegotistical way. He took charge, but without trampling on anyone’s feelings.

As a member of the painting group I experienced his willingness to help, his planning and organising abilities and enthusiasm at first hand. Although he started the group with the idea that he would be painting alongside all of us, it soon turned out that he was a very good and patient teacher, and he spent most of his time helping others, although some of the time he could show by example. He also spent a lot of time preparing projects for the group, so that we could all try to paint a Sargent portrait or an Impressionist landscape if we wanted to.

The village has lost a very special person in Duncan, a multi-talented man with a selfless attitude to the community, a good friend to many of us, a joy to have in the village. He will be missed greatly. Jane Wheeler

Flight sergeant Leonard Cuthbert flew gliders before the war, The crew would tease him, “That wasn’t proper flying” and that was for sure, If he wanted to be a pilot, he had to do it right.

He had to bite the bullet, and take up powered flight.

The squadron completed the sortie that night, Returning to Langham in the early morning light.

As they circled the field they looked down at the Dome, Every man in every crew was glad to be back home.

They’ll toast their lost comrades in The Bluebell tonight, For Coastal Command was light last night.

Rodney Scott ‘the Norfolk McGonagall’, Langham June 2017 This poem highlights not only an element of the fascinating story of RAF Langham and the Dome, but also the wonderful community spirit that has built up around the Museum and the charity since it opened - so why not come along and support us either by becoming a volunteer for the 2018 season or by joining the “Friends of Langham Dome” (a registered charity).

John Blakeley

SILVER-WASHED SUMMER I have made an exciting discovery around the fringes of Bale wood. Here about eight years ago a wet corner of a field was sown with a conservation mixture to encourage birds and insects. Since then it has been almost untouched, with a changing population of wild flowers including thistle and ragwort. It used to be cultivated, with a very wet fringe along the edge of a section of the wood, which is really an overgrown watermeadow.

A complete neolithic axehead was found here, perhaps a deposit as an offering to the place. Now agrimony and fleabane grow alongside knapweed (hardheads) and hemp agrimony, providing a rich diet for insects. The fleabane - yellow daisy-type of flower is a resistant plant that pops up in many places alongside the wetland of this tiny valley that, eventually, feeds into the Stiffkey, one of our North Norfolk chalk streams. I've never seen a fritillary before, so imagine my surprise to find one, at first on the brambly hedge on the other side of the green lane, then in this watermeadow-woodland environment. Such a handsome butterfly, large with pointed forewings, the male dark orange with dark streaks and spots, the

BALE Contact: Jane Wheeler 01328 878656 design@janewheeler.co.uk

DUNCAN THOMAS On behalf of Bale Village, the Village Hall Committee, and the Bale Painting Group I am writing to express our deepest sympathy for the loss of Duncan Thomas at the end of July, to his wife Maggie and children; Hannah, Dan and Ed, and also to express our collective sadness.

It seems now as though they had been living in the village for at least five years, but in fact it was in 2014 that he and Maggie moved into Swallow Barn. Almost immediately he set about organising the painting group, in order to help revitalise our village hall, which he could see being considerably under-used at the side of their garden, and because his own experience of painting courses made him feel he could help a group get to a good standard through passing on this knowledge and practical experience.

He was always one to set his hand to the plough, and before long he was also involved in a plan to fund and refurbish the hall, using his own background and experience as a town planner and landscape architect to negotiate council planning rules and obstructions, and building regulations, and to find the right people to provide logistical help in the project.

Without Duncan’s leadership, plans and designs the almost complete refurbishment would not have happened so fast or so smoothly, or possibly not at all, and it is really his design which we have now, with the

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VILLAGE HALL NEWS

female an eye-catching spotted pattern rather like leopard-print, and the hairs on her thorax an iridescent green. Some of them were rather beaten up, perhaps by the windy weather we'd had that week, it was late in their cycle.

On a sunny early August morning I counted at least fifteen along the edge of the wood where there are thistles as well as in the fleabane and knapweed and on the cut grass around the edge. These silver-washed fritillaries need woodland and open flowery rides, the woodland must have common dog violet, which the caterpillars feed on, and open leaf litter; the eggs are laid on tree trunks, in the bark (smooth barked trees are no good), the larva hatch out in a few weeks, and then enter hibernation, only waking to feed in the spring.

I would encourage all owners of woodland to see if they can arrange these conditions, and perhaps we will have a viable population in North Norfolk. You can read about them in more detail on the butterfly conservation website. It seems to be a good year for butterflies, despite the cold spring. I have read that they may need a colder winter to reproduce successfully.

There are plenty of red admirals around, even more speckled woods, and I found a very smart copper coloured comma feeding alongside the fritillaries, with a painted lady. Turn around from the rich habitat of the wood and the weedlands, and you have successful monoculture, all trace of weed, disease and insect and birdlife gone or invisible.

I have now logged this find with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service, and Butterfly Conservation. This last organisation tells me that the nearest silver-washed fritillaries are at Bretts Wood, Thursford, which is not very far away as the butterfly flies. I hope that they will spread to other woods nearby. Also most of the other sightings in Norfolk have been of one or two individuals. Finding so many gives this the status of a core colony.

Jane Wheeler

I am very pleased to announce that Bale Village Hall is now very much up and running after the closure for refurbishment. Anyone who has attended Fish & Chips, the Barbecue and the Art Group will testify to the fact that the old place has been transformed into a more practical, usable space, complete with new kitchen and outdoor area, yet still retains its old charm and character. A major achievement for all those involved, especially Duncan, who we will miss so much as the project comes to completion. There is still some expensive work to be carried out, including insulation/ cladding and replacement of the windows, so please keep those donations coming in.

Sadly, August Fish & Chips was rather disappointing as Ian was unable to come with the van, but September onwards is back to business as usual and we look forward to seeing regulars and new faces from now on.

The dates for the next two months are 13th October and 10th November, 7pm start and bring your own drinks.

The Barbecue on August Bank Holiday Saturday was a great success, with over forty people enjoying Alastair and Paul’s catering outside on the new gravel area. We were so lucky to have fantastic weather over the Bank Holiday weekend. Unfortunately, because of that warm weather, the underlying tarmac was not quite as solid as it should have been (having been finished only a day or so before the event) so many thanks go to Ali for sterling work cleaning up the chairs!

Autumn is now upon us, and that means Harvest Supper, which is on Saturday 7th October. If you haven’t already booked your place, please do so immediately as we need to know numbers in advance for the caterer.

Call 01328 822012 or email balevillagehall@ gmail.com.

We will be holding another Quiz Night on Saturday 25th November. As in previous years, a two-course supper will be included in the £15 ticket price, along with a stimulating range of questions to exercise the grey matter. Teams of 6-8 are welcome, plus any individuals who would like to join up on the night.

There will be no wine bar this year, so bring your own lubrication! Tickets by emailing balevillagehall@ gmail.com or by calling 01328 822012. Paula Moore

HUNDRED CLUB DRAW RESULTS July Holmes family Susan Buttifant Adam Raphael Jane Wheeler

£25 £10 £5 £5

August David Ramm K Clarke Maggie Thomas Margaret Barnes

£25 £10 £5 £5

HARVEST SONGS OF PRAISE at All Saints, Bale To celebrate Harvest Festival this year, Bale Church will be holding a service of favourite harvest hymns, along with relevant readings and prayers. This will replace the 9.30 Holy Communion service on Sunday 1st October (NB this is the weekend before the Harvest Supper) and all are most welcome to come along and raise the roof with a good sing. The church always looks wonderful at harvest, filled with flowers and produce, which is donated to a local charity.

We would invite you to bring a gift of food to add to the collection (tinned/dried goods are especially useful as they keep for longer). We look forward to seeing you there.

Paula Moore

11

west corner having internal vaulting, replicating that which would have originally been there to emphasise the importance of this bay, and a small gothic arch leading to the low service building in the ruined north aisle. It was a neat solution to a difficult problem and a turning point in the acceptance of the Project, which has proved a great success since its completion in 2009.

It is difficult not to think of Marion as well as Arthur. They were such different personalities but very complementary. It would be no exaggeration to say they have had more positive influence on the conservation of the Priory than anyone we know of since its dissolution in 1539. A fitting epitaph for them both would be that said of Christopher Wren at his funeral in St Pauls, “look around”.

The challenge for us to do justice to their legacy is to work hard to maintain the historic and spiritual building and site, preserving it with our labour and love to be available for generations to come as a space for all to feel “the power beyond us”.

David Frost

BINHAM Contact: Liz Brady 01328 830830 lizdavenport@f2s.com

ARTHUR HUNDLEBY

Arthur Hundleby died on 24th June. This is an abbreviated version of the appreciation given at his funeral by David Frost Maureen and I got to know Arthur and Marion well through regular attendance at the Priory after settling in Binham permanently some twenty years ago. They were a most interesting couple, talented artists with a wide range of knowledge of the arts and a fine appreciation of history and architecture. It was not surprising they loved the Priory. While living and working in London, running a very successful graphic art business, they bought Hill House in the 1960s and came to Binham virtually every weekend until with declining health settled here full-time nearly four years ago. Sadly Marion died in 2016.

Arthur was Churchwarden at the Priory for over thirty years and Marion PCC secretary for some of the time. They worked hard to improve the fabric of the building with Arthur leading the conservation project for the octofoil window on the west front, arranging fund-raising and producing many of the cards, teaclothes and the brochure we now sell to help keep the roof on. They had some storms to weather along the way.

Attendance at classical concerts in London enabled Arthur to spot budding artists and bring them to Binham to continue and expand the annual summer concert series at the Priory, started in the 1990s by David and Jane McCormick. Many of the artists and groups have gone on to become national and international stars. With Geoff Scott nobly stepping into Arthur’s shoes as “impresario” some five years ago this year will be the twenty-seventh annual concert in the series.

Arthur was initially very critical of the need for the Access and Conservation Project at the Priory. Had he continued with his strong disapproval further progress might have been impossible. However after some months he not only withdrew his objection but produced a small model of a tower entrance space in the north-

BINHAM VILLAGE SUMMER 2017 ACTIVITIES Village Fete A big thank you to everyone who came and all those who helped, in any way, with the fete. £900 was made for hall funds. As last year we were lucky with the sunshine, and an enjoyable afternoon was had by all including at least 50 dogs who did their stuff and were awarded accordingly as part of the fun dog show. The usual raffle, tombola, games, cake stall and bric-a-brac, along with face painting, naming the well behaved calf, and the water slide also kept the visitors, children and adults alike, entertained. Oh, mustn’t forget the ladies and gent in the kitchen providing the endless cups of tea, coffee and hot dogs. Again thanks everyone, and we look forward to doing it all over again next year.

Village Show The village show received around 70 different entries this year. With the Victoria sandwich and jars of preserves making the biggest classes. There was a lovely selection of children’s entries, ginger bread men and poems. There was a shortage of fruit, and vegetables but some lovely flower entries. Look out for further examples of the children’s artwork and poems in future editions of the Lynx.

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BINHAM PRIORY CONCERT

Afternoon tea was enjoyed after the judging.

Thank you to all who entered. £123 was made for hall funds.

Next year we are going to combine the two events, the village fete and the village show, watch out for more information and the date in the next issue of the local lynx.

In lieu of the vegetable shortage here’s a limerick or two to brighten your day.

There was a young woman called Wendy Whose sweet peas they grew rather bendy She set up a stall and soon sold them all Cos' bendy had now become trendy!

Weds 4th Oct at 7.30pm Schola Cantorum & Orchestra

directed by John Bowley Fauré's Requiem and other musical offerings from Gresham's School singers and musicians Free admission (retiring collection)

BINHAM PRIORY Harvest Thanksgiving Service Sun 8th Oct at 11am Followed by a Harvest Lunch from 12.30 for 1.00pm in the Memorial Hall. This is a village occasion for all to celebrate with friends and family. All are welcome.

Please let Liz Brown 01328 830519 or Maureen Frost 01328 830362 know if you will be coming. The cost is £5 each; children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF BINHAM PRIORY Coming this month …

October 19th Emma Bridgewater in Conversation 7pm for 7.30pm in Binham Priory Church.

Emma, famous pottery designer, manufacturer and president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, will be speaking about her life, business and design career in conversation with Pennie Alford, secretary of Binham Local History Group.

Tickets are £10 each including a glass of wine/soft drink. For further details please contact Mrs Pauline Scott, pauline33scott@gmail.com (telephone 01328 830940). Limited number of tickets available, booking is essential. Please see FoBP website for more details (friendsofbinhampriory.weebly.com).

Exciting raffle including an impressive prize donated

by Emma herself plus generous gifts from a number of local businesses. Proceeds to support the maintenance and enhancement of Binham’s historic Priory Church.

Amanda Able

There was an old gardener called Tom Deeks Whose greatest passion was growing leeks He tended them day and night To get them just right And his wife didn't see him for weeks.

Beryl Flood The village hall is available to hire for your next party, if you need any information please give Liz Brown a ring on 01328830519.

The next coffee morning is to be held in the village hall on Monday 2nd October between 10.30am and 12.30pm. All are very welcome to come for a warming cup of coffee and yummy scone. Proceeds to the hall funds.

The Christmas supper is on Saturday 2nd December, make a note in your diary. Just a reminder. Liz Brown

BINHAM CHRISTMAS FAIR

VILLAGE QUIZ RESUMES….

Binham Memorial Hall, Sat 18th November

First Monday of the month (October to April) at the Chequers. 7.15 for 7.30 start.

No team required. Free entry.

Just come along.

So the first one is on Monday 2nd October.

Free entry, free parking and a host of sparkling ideas to help fill the stockings this year.

There will be 20 tables offering a wide range of goods from local arts and crafts to cakes, books and plants.

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Refreshments available including mulled apple juice, a particular favourite last year!

As well as running special activities for children, youngsters will be pleased to hear that the organisers have persuaded Santa to make a special early visit with free gifts.

Open 9.30am to 2.00pm, and with full wheelchair access, the fair promises to be popular.

Proceeds to Binham PCC. Tony Pepper

to thank them for their help and encouragement. Very soon you will be able to enjoy an excellent pint, delicious home cooked food and some lovely works of art.

John Hill

BINHAM LOCAL HISTORY GROUP The next meeting of the Binham Local History Group will take place on Thursday 26 October 2017 at 7:30pm in the village hall.

We look forward to welcoming Chris Armstrong who will talk to the group about Mustard, Boots and Beer. Members £2 non-members £4.

Pennie Alford

BINHAM ART GROUP The Group has been very busy during August. We had a demonstration and workshop by Gareth Jones, an excellent artist who showed us how to paint in pastels.

The demonstration was of a sunset over the sea with gentle waves breaking on the shore. The painting had great atmosphere and showed just what can be done with pastels. After a very pleasant lunch at the Chequers during which Gareth heard that he had had two of his pictures accepted by the Royal Society of Marine Artists for their exhibition at the Mall Galleries in October. What a wonderful achievement. Eight of the group sat down with Gareth to have a go at painting in pastels. With his encouragement we all achieved very satisfying results. We will definitely be asking Gareth to return in the New Year.

On the 19th and 20th August we held our Annual Exhibition at the Binham Village Hall. The preview evening held on the Friday was a huge success attended by about 150 of our friends and supporters. They enjoyed wine and canapes while they feasted on the artworks around them. The standard and variety of the paintings was generally acknowledged to be the best yet. During the evening we auctioned the picture Gareth had painted at his demonstration, which he had very kindly donated to the group, and raised £340. Over the weekend there was a good stream of people coming to see the exhibition and we achieved a very satisfying number of sales.

We are holding a demonstration on painting portraits

by Mary Thatcher on the 26th September so I will be telling you about what happened in the next edition.

Our next venture is to create a gallery at the Chequers Inn. The landlords Sarah and Simon have been extremely generous in providing the space and facilitating the setting up of the gallery. We would like

BINHAM & HINDRINGHAM OPEN CIRCLE We are a women’s group that meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7.15 pm in Hindringham village hall. It would be lovely to welcome new members to our group. Either come along or ring our secretary Sue Elkins 01328 878487 for more information.

On October 19th we hold our Harvest Festival Supper and Auction starting at 6.30 pm Please bring along an item for the auction.

Mudlark is the title of the November talk on the 16th where Pam Miller will be telling us what can be found on the banks of the River Thames.

FOOD BANK ALERT A recent survey by the Independent Food Aid Network maps over 2000 food banks nationwide with demand having grown from near zero in 2009 to 1.2 million food parcels over the year 2016/17, the ninth year of continuously rising demand.

Reflecting this desperate situation our local food bank recently came close to running out of supplies altogether.

Please continue whatever support you can afford, either in the box in Howell’s Superstore or in the Priory Church. You can also deliver directly to us at 6 Buttlands Close, Binham. If you would like details of monthly requirements, we would be happy to email the list to you. Alternatively, there is a collection box in the Chequers Inn for cash donations.

Thank you for your continued support for those in need in our local area. Norah and Richard ranglewis @mypostoffice.co.uk.

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continued on page 15

STORIES FROM OUR READERS: A WWI SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT BINHAM 1917

Binham sent 35 men to serve in the army or navy during WWI. Of these 11 didn’t come home. Two of those who served and died, Bertie Fickling and Tom Youngman, were awarded the Military Medal, a medal instigated in 1916 and awarded to NCOs and men for outstanding bravery.

1916 had produced casualties amongst its young serving men from Binham and no doubt as 1917 came into being people would have been anxious as the war waged on. Life in Binham still carried on; Howell’s the butcher, Miss Maria Fox the postmistress, Richard Massingham the boot repairer, public houses The King’s Arms, The Chequers and The Black Horse still sold beer. Women busy doing what they could to support the war effort and keeping domestic life on the go, men farming the land. There was the reading room for social gathering and education, the schoolhouse for the young, the Mother’s Union and the Girls’ Friendly Society.

In 1917, the year of the battle of Passchendaele, Binham men serving in the 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment were in the thick of the fighting.  Battles Of Arras – 3rd Battle of The Scarpe - 03/05/1917  Battles Of Ypres - Battle of Pilckem Ridge - 31/07/1917  Battles Of Ypres - Inverness Copse - 10/08/1917  Battles Of Ypres - Battle of Langemarck - 16/08/1917  Battles Of Ypres – 1st Battle of Passchendaele 12/10/1917  Battles Of Ypres - Capture of Poelcapelle - 22/10/1917  Battles Of Ypres - Second Battle of Passchendaele 05/11/1917 The war diaries of the 8th Norfolks describe the poor weather, the mud that became a quagmire, clogged up rifles and became so deep that men and horses drowned in it; the sheer exhaustion of fighting trench warfare and in a landscape that was as desolate and shattered as only war could make it from constant shelling and explosion.

One of the Binham men caught up in this terrifying landscape was Bertie John Fickling. He survived this horror of 1917 as he did the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Sgt Bertie John Fickling, 8th Battalion. Norfolk Regiment. 12911; 43966 Essex regiment from February 1918. Born October 1890 Binham, occupation farm labourer. Eldest son of John and Elizabeth Fickling of Woods End, Hindringham Road, Binham.

Bertie enlisted as part of Kitchener’s army originally with the 8th Battalion Norfolk regiment. The unit consisted of 34 Officers and 997 rank and file who embarked at Folkestone on 25 July 1915 arriving at Boulogne at 10:30 in the evening. And so began for Bertie a period of almost 3 years of continuous training, marching and fighting up to his death on 8 August 1918 at the Battle of Arras. He was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette supplement 23 Feb 1918 ) .

In 1917, the 8th Norfolks and 10th Essex were seeing fighting action in the Third Battle of

Ypres during the period 31 July to 10 November 1917.

At the time of his death on 8 August 1918 he would have endured many battles and seen the full horror of war.

He is buried, alongside 5 others of his comrades from the 10th Essex regiment who died in the Battle of Amiens on the same day, at Beacon Cemetery Sailly-Laurette, a village 19 kms east of Amiens and 9 kms south-west of Albert.

Continued from Lynx 98, WWI centre supplement p.iii.

Roger Chawath Musters lived in Field Dalling.

ROGER CHAWATH MUSTERS 56 SQUADRON R.F.C. 16 April 1917 My dear Mum, …There has been a good deal of scrapping and we are doing pretty well. Capt. Ball is surpassing his previous efforts and has already accounted for about six more Huns off his own bat. He came back the other day with a huge hole right through the tail of the machine. The shell had carried away all his elevator controls except the strand of one wire with which he managed to bring the machine home. He got out and immediately got into another machine and was off again! He really is a marvel.

He always comes back with his machine absolutely riddled with bullets… I hope I shall have some exciting experiences of my own to tell you next time I write…

22 April 1917 My dear Mum, …We did our first job over the lines this morning. Nothing very exciting happened as there were low clouds over the lines and there did not seem to be Roger’s new plane, the S.E.5 many Boche about. We are very pleased with our machines and I think we ought to be able to put up a pretty good show against the Huns. P.S. If it doesn’t interfere with the rations, I should like a heavy cake occasionally.

21 July 1917 Dear Mrs. Musters, …I am afraid I cannot add much to the news you already have. The last I saw of your son was as follows. He was last in our formation of four, and shortly after crossing the lines he turned back and had a look at a machine below us, which turned out to be not a German but one of our own. This of course put him a little way behind the formation; he caught up quite quickly, but when he was still about four or five hundred yards behind, we went into a cloud, and when we came out there was no sight of him. I am afraid to say that if he is a prisoner it is curious that we have not heard by now but that does not mean that he is definitely killed…A. Rhys Davids

22 October 1917 Dear Madam, We beg to inform you that information has reached us that the above officer died on 7 May 1917. We shall now hope to be able to obtain further details for you, such as the place of his burial and, if possible, the number of his grave. Assuring you our very deep sympathy, Yours faithfully, Secretary, Officers Records

WWI Special Supplement page i

STORIES FROM OUR READERS: A WWI SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT THE LAST FLIGHT OF ROGER CHAWATH MUSTERS, AGED 19 At 5.30pm on the evening of 7 May 1917, 11 S.E.5s took off in a fine drizzle and low cloud to patrol the area of Douai and Cambrai. The S.E.5s in three flights led by Capt.

Ball (the famous flying ace was killed in the same dog fight as Roger) crossed the trenches at a point south of the Bapaume Cambrai Road and then split up into tiers.

Over Bourlon Wood, the formation ran into heavy cloud and as this was being Jagdstaffel 11 with Albatross D.IIIs near Douai.

Probably the same planes Roger fought on 7 May. left behind, the whole formation was attacked by a formation of five Albatross D.III Scouts from Jagdstaffel 11, also known as the ‘Flying Circus’ and the most elite German fighter squadron of the First World War. Every plane was painted red, after the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, who was the leader of the squadron. He was killed a month before Roger’s encounter with them and Manfred’s brother Lothar had taken over command. A young Herman Göring was also a member of the elite group.

The sky soon became a mess of planes, noise and bullets. Pilot Rhys-Davids noticed Roger leaving the formation (described in his letter to Mrs Musters on the previous page).

Some 500 feet under the main formation, which was rapidly breaking up under the German attack, Roger was attacked by Werner Voss and at such a disadvantage, had little chance. The plane fell away, an aileron came off and, spinning, it disappeared into the gathering darkness to crash just off the main Arras to Henin Lietard Road. Werner Voss’ records show Roger was the 25th plane to be shot down by the German ace.

Herr Alfred Frey with the 4th Bavarian Field Hospital was called upon to remove the body of the pilot to the Field Hospital. During the afternoon of 8th May, British aircraft bombed the hospital killing eleven wounded German soldiers and destroying the body of British pilot, Lt. R.M.C. Musters. Roger had survived the infamous ‘Fokker Scourge’ of August 1915–16 where Germany had succeeded in inventing the synchronised machine gun so German pilots could now shoot through their propellers without risk of damaging them. He also survived the ‘Bloody April’ of 1917, a time when R.F.C. losses were so high, new pilots were expected to last only a few days.

Werner Voss was shot down and killed on 23 September 1917 by pilot Arthur Rhys-Davids of 56 Squadron following a lengthy and historic battle with Voss on his own versus at least 8 British aces. The battle and his skill earned the respect of his enemy, with James McCudden, an ace present at Voss’ last stand, calling him “the bravest German airman”.

Pilot Arthur Rhys-Davids was killed on 27th October 1917. His remains and crash site have never been found.

[Researched and compiled by the late Susan Jones, great niece of Roger Chawath Musters.]

LT. ORROK DOULTON IN SALONIKA Written by Bob Brandt who lives in Langham Orrok Doulton, the maternal grandfather of my late wife Helen, served as a lieutenant in the London Regiment in the First World War. Having escaped involvement in the disastrous Dardanelles engagement, he found himself serving in the Salonika campaign in which British, French, Greek, Italian and Russian troops joined with Serbian forces in an attempt to prevent Bulgarian troops from joining with Germany and Austro-Hungary in attacking Serbia.

Throughout both campaigns, Orrok wrote as regularly as possible to his recently-wedded wife who lived in London.

His letters give a very personal view of what life was like for the men engaged a widespread war we can now look back on as incredibly chaotic and wasteful. Behind the banal account of every-day life lies the shadow of the reality of war.

A typical example is the letter he wrote from Gavenza, 20 miles north of Salonika, on the 14th February, 1916.

“We left camp about 11.00 am. It fortunately did not rain but it was damp and threatening. Outside Salonika is a range of hills, the northern slopes are heavily fortified with big guns, trenches and barbed wire entanglements. It looks a formidable obstacle should the enemy get anywhere near. It seems impossible for anyone to get into Salonika. There are our own front trenches then we come to another big valley or plain stretching for another eight miles and then another range of hills. On the southern side of these hills is a shallow river course and that is where we have put our horses. It is a splendid sandy bed and very welcome after the mud we have just left. We are twelve miles in front of the English line and our work is patrolling the country to our north up to the frontier.

We hear that the French have pushed back the Bulgars five miles so we may move on in a few days to Lake Darien where the Regiment was a little while ago. The country is mountainous and rocky like Scotland. I was very interested in the fortifications we passed and the dugouts, for horses as well as men. Along the road we passed a lot of skeletons of horses. Also thousands of wild geese.

Several of the officers fired their revolvers at them but without hitting any. We are taking two shotguns with us so we may get game occasionally. Layton, Murray and Woodhouse were all very pleased to see us again, also several of my old men. They have some rough times but much enjoy their work.

Three patrols have been going out daily. Layton got into a tight hole once but only got two horses shot. There are hundreds of dogs about so I shall get some revolver practice.

They say they are quite dangerous and the shepherds set them on to the troops. They are the only scavengers there are and when a horse dies or is killed there is only a skeleton left in the morning. The Greek army is in front of us. After

WWI Special Supplement page ii

STORIES FROM OUR READERS: A WWI SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT lunch we are going to shoot dogs for practise. I am awfully pleased with our camp it is most snug. We can hear tankers going over every now and then, it is a perfect day for aircraft.”

Orrok was later gassed, suffering damage from which he died six years after the war, aged 42 and leaving a widow and four children.

Wipers Times (now titled the B.E.F. Times for security purposes), November 1917

ON THE ROAD TO PASHENDAELE Letter from Capt. Philip Hamond, October 1917

[probably to Capt. William Arnold, 9th Battalion Welsh Regiment. Philip Hamond lived in Morston.]

My dear Bill, ...The start on the 31st was only moderate as the bloody rain never let up for days and the insane shelling from both sides had reduced the whole country to one quaking bog. ...Sixteen and Seventeen did their best but the mud was too much for them, to put 30 ton tanks over that stuff was just sheer idiocy and can only have been ordered by someone who had never seen the ground. It shook the faith of the infantry in Tanks, too. The butcher’s bill very heavy, men quite unable to keep up with the barrage through the mud. ...All rations etc., had to go up and down a narrow causeway as the mud could, and did, drown anyone who got off the few duck boards tracks. The remains of the pavee Autumn in Flanders 2017 was just about the same width as the tank tracks and in many places to pass a tank you had to climb along the side of it.

There was an abyss of mud and water each side. The position was such that if any tank broke down and was knocked out during the approach march, everyone behind must needs wait on the road till daylight and then be shot like a garden thrush, too easy. As this was the one main highway, you can guess that the Bosch shot it up the whole night long and it had such long straight stretches on it that it was under fixed machine gun fire, too. The holes in the pavee were filled with broken rifles, kit and corpses, the whole overlaid with a stinking

slime… It seems a long time since those days of peace in the old British Line. When is this bloody show going to end? I am sick of it and the damned folly and useless murder of Ypres simply makes me boil. I have long since given up the idea that “It is all for some wise purpose”. I am more narrow minded and parochial that ever you used to say I was, I like living in the line, I hate strangers, the sight of a red hat, however well meaning and harmless is as a red rag to a bull.

Write me a line and let me know your news. Someone told me you were going to Palestine, I wouldn’t mind betting I get to the new Jerusalem before you get to the old one.

Yours, PH

1917 REMEMBERED Sadly, 1917 saw four of our brave men from Sharrington killed in the war.

Ernest Charles Mayes (right) was living in Sharrington with his family and working as a groom but joined up as a private in the 1st Battalion Essex regiment. He was killed on the 14th April soon after the start of the Battle of Arras, at the age of 22 and is commemorated at the Arras memorial, along with almost 35,000 men who died in this sector. The battle raged from 9th April to 16th May and while making significant advances for the allies, did not achieve a breakthrough and cost nearly 160,000 British casualties.

Ernest’s brother, Private Herbert George Mayes had earlier died in 1916 and is buried in All Saints’ churchyard.

On the 22nd of April Private Clifford Sidney Lakey of the Bedfordshire regiment 8th Battalion, died from his wounds, also aged 22. It is unclear in which particular phase of the Battle of Arras he fought but he was buried in Bethune town cemetery, Pas de Calais, where there are 3,004 Commonwealth burials from the First World War. Prior to joining up, he had lived with his family on the corner of Holt Road and working as a farm labourer.

Before the war, Elijah Bambridge had been living on the Fakenham Road and working as a farm labourer but he became a private in the Essex regiment and in 1917 was sent home injured to the Lord Derby Military Hospital in Lancashire where sadly he died from his wounds on 29th July aged 31. He was buried on 2nd August in Sharrington churchyard and his Commonwealth war grave can be seen to the right of the churchyard entrance.

Charles Allison lived in Sharrington from 1901 with his family. At the outbreak of war they were living in one of the houses beside the Swan Inn. Charles, a private in the 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment was killed in action on 14th October at the age of 37. His body was declared missing and he too is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in Bay 3.

Also lost in 1917 was Lt Edwin Ballard Dalby RNR, aged 34, whose ship was sunk by a German submarine off Lands End on 18th March 1917. Although a New Zealander his connection to Sharrington was through his grandfather, William Ballard Dalby who was

WWI Special Supplement page iii

STORIES FROM OUR READERS: A WWI SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT a former rector of the parish. Edwin is commemorated in a marble wall tablet inside the church.

For a small village such as Sharrington to lose four young soldiers in one year was a grievous blow. By the end of 1917 the village had lost nine young men in the war. We are proud to remember them all, particularly each year on Remembrance Sunday and in the church exhibition.

CD Continued from Part 1, Lynx 104 WWI centre section p.iv researched and written by Jock Wingfield from Morston

MORE BRAVE WWI WOMEN Part 2. Perhaps you know these names?

In 1914, 652 nurses of the Queen’s Nursing Institute were called up to do district nursing in hospitals in England, but some were sent out to the Serbian Relief Fund and some, like Miss Tylecote, were on the retreat to Salonika.

Some went to India and some, like Miss Graveson, went to the Russian steppes and a few went to France and Belgium.

Ysabel Birkbeck of Westacre was most brave working on the continent with the formidable Scottish Womens’ Ambulance Service. Mabel Stobart took 16 nurses to Serbia, where they met Dr. Elsie Inglis of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals; and Nurse Flora Sandes of Popplewell near York actually became a Serbian Army sergeant-major!

(Note A.) In late July 1918 the following courageous ambulance drivers – in the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachments) - who had travelled to the continent - were awarded the MM (Military Medal) and the Croix de Guerre (both are medals for bravery) the same night: 2lt Muriel Thompson and Sergeant Norma Lowson. The Croix de Guerre was also awarded to Tpr Winnie Mordant and Aileen Faulkner; and the MM was awarded also to Drivers, Margaret Davidson, Nelly Dewhurst, Sheila Dickson, Win Elwes of Congham, Catherine Fabling, Josephine Pennell and, as well as to nine drivers from the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry)

called Sarah Bonnell, Elizabeth Callander, Elsie Courtis,

Hilda Dickinson, and Sergeant Evelyn Faulder, Aileen Faulkner, Evelyn Gordon-Brown, Molly O’ConnellBianconi and Mary Richardson. (Note B).

Among the bravest of the brave, were the formidable Scottish lady Mairi Gooden-Chisholm and Elsie Knocker, who set up a British First Aid Post in a cellar 100 yards behind the frontline in Pervyse, just north of Ypres (“wipers” to the British) – where over three and a half years they treated the wounded. And these two highly courageous women were both decorated with the Order of Leopold II, Knights Cross (with palm) by King Albert I of Belgium, and with the MM, and both were made Officers of the Most Honourable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem; and Chisolm was also decorated with the Order of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium and with the 1914 Star. The two became the most photographed women of the war. (Note C) Notes/Sources. (A) Kate Adie, Fighting on the Home Front: the Legacy of Women in World War I [2014]. (B).

The Daily Mirror p.1, dated July 23rd 1918, “Medals for Women”, courtesy of Juliet Webster - and from her book in draft entitled “Leaves from Honor Elwes’ Diary”; Lynette Beardwood, F.A.N.Y. at the Western Front: War Tales 1914 to 1918 [FANY, 2007]; Monica E. Baly, A History of the Queen’s Nursing Institute: 100 Years 1887-1987, pp.81-84.

(C). Adie, ibid; pp.207-210; Wikipedia sub Mairi Chisholm.

THANK YOU Many thanks to our reps and readers for sharing such moving stories from their family/historical archives. 1917 was a dark year for exhausted troops across the world and yet the heartbreaking stories of personal sacrifice made by the men and women in these pages are also stories of inspiration, courage, fortitude, and humankind’s unshakable belief in a better future. We will remember.

Ed.

Ariel photograph of the battlefield at Ypres taken on 28 August 1917. Four abandoned tanks are circled upper left, bottom lower left and lower centre. [source: Hamond family archive]

WWI Special Supplement page iv

continued from page 14 and the strawberries and cream were a sell out.

Finally, at the end of a happy afternoon, representatives from BREAK charity collected any goods that remained to distribute to their various shops making sure that nothing was wasted.

This year there was a real sense of community spirit.

Lots of people in both villages gave their time very willingly in so many different ways, and all the families, friends and visitors who came combined to make the fete a great success. Just over £3,500 was raised and our two churches and the Villagers’ Hall will each receive in excess of £1,000. A huge thank you to everyone without whose support this would simply not have been possible.

Bridget Nicholson, Chairman of the Fete Committee

PAROCHIAL CHARITIES LUNCH The Parochial Charities will be hosting a lunch on Friday 13th October. Invitations will be sent out nearer the time.

Alex Wales

BINHAM MEMORIAL HALL 100+ Club winners July winners: £25 Cherie Beckham, £10 Arthur Howell, Andrew Taylor £5 Mike Bond, Mrs Randle, Mr M Mathews August winners: £25 Andrew Taylor, £10 Nora Bond, Brenda Wilde, £5 D Tann, Eva Tomblin, Edward Barlram.

If anyone would like to join the 100+ club, please call at 8 Priory Crescent or ring June Read on 01328 830106.

MACMILLAN CHARITY BINGO

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The Villagers’ Hall was packed out with about a hundred people for this fundraising event in aid of Macmillan Nurses Cancer Fund. It was a very enjoyable evening as well as a successful one, raising £1,750 for this excellent charity.

The organisers particularly want to thank those from the surrounding area for the great donations they received.

Ian & Debbie Ladley

Art is man added to nature. You have your brush, you have your colours and in you go. You could paint paradise!

COCKTHORPE Contact: Maurice Matthews 01328 830350 maurice.matthews@peppard.net

ST ANDREWS CHURCH Harvest Festival in Harvest Barn!

Sun 8th Oct at 11am

No news from Cockthorpe this time.

This year’s Harvest Festival will take place on October 8th at 11am at Marsh Farm, Little Marsh Lane by kind invitation of James Duncan. The service will also include the baptism of eight month old twins, Hazel and Struan Newton.

Do please join us for this happy occasion. Harvest produce may be brought as usual with tins and packets going to the food bank and any perishable items to Glaven Caring. There will be some straw bales to sit on but, if you can, please bring tip up chairs for yourselves and others. We hope you will stay for refreshments after the service. If you need directions please email iannewton46@gmail.com for a set of instructions.

FIELD DALLING Contact: Anthony Smith 01328 830546 aesmith@pobox.com

FIELD DALLING & SAXLINGHAM Summer Fete on Sat 12th Aug

As 2pm approached on a perfect summer afternoon there was an air of real expectation at the Villagers’ Hall. Stalls were laden, games were waiting to be played, the band was ready to perform and a long queue had formed outside. Our rector Ian Whittle declared the fete open and so began two hours of fun with a record number of visitors, many of whom now return every year to enjoy the traditional fete on offer.

Trade was as brisk as usual at the white elephant stall and there were always groups browsing and purchasing items from the book, cake, plants and produce, gifts stalls and the children’s corner all of which achieved record sales.

Games were both competitive and much played, from the hook the duck to the coconut shy and the tombola and raffle were equally popular.

Throughout the fete the Norfolk Jazz Quartet entertained us all with jazz played at just the right tempo. Seats near the band were always full with those listening to the music with their cups of tea and cake while inside the hall refreshments did a roaring trade

Other services in October and November Because our church will be closed until the New Year for re-roofing, most other services will take place

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still collecting subscriptions for the year from June 2017 if you plan to renew or want to join - it costs just £1.00 per month (payable pro rata in advance for the year) to join, and you can get your subscriptions back if you are lucky enough to win a prize. Newcomers to the village are particularly welcome as are supporters who live outside the village. Payments can include your “Friends” membership if you want to join them as well, and a single cheque, cash or BACS payment of just £5.00 plus the pro rata months for the 50:50 Club per person will cover both. Cheques should please be made out to FOGPC. BACS payments can be made as detailed below, but please email jbconsult@btinternet.com to inform John Blakeley if you pay by BACS so that records can be kept up to date and you do not miss the chance to participate in a future draw.

The Friends membership and any other donation, but not the 50:50 Club subscriptions, can be Gift Aided and if you have not already completed a form we would, be most grateful if you could consider doing this, provided of course that you are and remain a taxpayer .

NAT WEST Bank plc Sort code 53-50-73 Account number 25727532 To again quote the motto of a somewhat larger lottery can we remind you that: “you have to be in it to win it!” Myfi Everett, Jeanette Rigby & John Blakeley

in St Margaret’s, Saxlingham, where we are being made very welcome. Please join us there for Morning Prayer at 11am on October 22nd and November 27th; and for the Service of Remembrance at 10:45am on November 12th. Details of Christmas services will be in the next edition of Lynx.

St Andrew’s Church Christmas Fair This most successful event is being held again this year from 10am – 12:30pm on Saturday 25th November, in the Villagers’ Hall, Field Dalling.

There will be a wide range of stalls, so it’s just the place to stock up on those Christmas presents, cakes and jams as well as enjoying the convivial atmosphere. Do join us!

Ian Newton and Margaret Smith th

WINE TASTING

Fri 8 Dec at 7pm at Villagers’ Hall We have created an opportunity for us all to order our Christmas drinks from Adnams. They will be presenting a wine tasting evening on Friday 9th December at the Villager's Hall in Field Dalling.

Entrance is free. There will be ten wines and two beers available to taste on the night. Lee Newstead, accompanied by fellow staff will give background information on the products in what will be a very relaxed evening. Light snacks will be available mid way through the event.

As a bonus, Lee has agreed to give all orders placed on the night a 10% discount. The offer includes the ranges of wine, beers and spirits available from Adnams which can be viewed in store or on line at www.adnams.co.uk as long as ordered on the night.

(Not available in conjunction with other Adnams offers or discounts) This is a fabulous offer from a great supplier, but you must let us know if you will be attending the evening.

Please email us at steveandsusie100@gmail.com or call us on 01328 830365.

ST MARY’S CHURCH NEWS On the 23rd of August we hosted a cocktail party at St Mary's to say thank you to all those who so generously sponsored David on his upcoming bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for The Norfolk Churches Trust and our own church. It was beautifully organised by Dan and Ginny Worsley and Torie Legge-Bourke. One highlight of the evening was Dan's fantastic and intoxicating Negronis. They sent everyone home feeling very jolly! A huge thank you also to David Aitman who played the organ during the evening. In the fading light with the candles lit, enjoying beautiful music in our beautiful church - it was a memorable occasion.

Scilla Latham, from The Trust, came and sold Christmas cards. This year they depict one of the stained glass windows in St Mary's, a great coincidence.

GUNTHORPE Contact: John Blakeley 01263 861008 jbconsult@btinternet.com www.gunthorpefriends.co.uk

FOGPC 50/50 Club Draw Results July August Sam Lemberger £20 David Partridge £20 Barbara Burton £10 Sandra W/ton £15 Norma Prouton £5 Fiona Flint £5 Barney Broom £5 Zena Churchill £5 Mike Whyman £5 Libby Norton £5 David Aitman £5 Lin Poole £5 John Clark £5 Patricia Groves £5 As previously noted we started the new subscription year with 128 members in the June draw, but we are

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Institute. Please phone Gunthorpe Hall on 01263 861373 to reserve seats at £10 for adults, £6 for children 12 and under and pay on the night. Seating in the Institute is limited so book seats early.

The menu will be shepherds/cottage pie, carrots and peas with autumn fruit crumble to follow served with cream and/ or custard – all home-made and delicious. A vegetarian option will be available if you book it when you reserve your seats. You can bring your own wine. Juice, tea and coffee will be included. There will be a raffle so bring some ‘spare-change’. We hope to see many of you there and a happy autumn to you all.

Marie Denholm Friends Chairman

These can be bought from Scilla by contacting her on 01379 677272. David and I will have set off for Lands End on Sept 11th. Wish us luck!

On Oct 8th we hold our Harvest Festival. As always the produce will be donated to The Holt Youth Project.

Any produce would be most gratefully accepted before the service, to decorate the church. Thank you.

Penny Brough Church Warden

LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS At the time of distribution of this edition of the Local Lynx, we hope to have completed our trip. With my wife Penny leading my support team, and help in training from friends, we have had great fun planning it, and as I write we are now looking forward to getting going for real on the 12th of September. Several people have asked me about the route, which is based on the Sustrans national cycle network, and will be from Lands End via Hayle, Bodmin, Sheepwash, Dulverton, Wells, Gloucester, Bridgenorth, Northwich, Slaeburn, Appleby, Carlisle, Moffat, Balloch, Killin, Dalwhinnie, Inverness, Lairg, Bettyhill and finally to John O'Groats.

(Hurray!)

My training has gone well and I hope it will be sufficient. The warm weather has been very welcome and has enabled me to build in some variety to my training in the form of swimming at Cley at the end of my sessions. Thank you to everyone who has so generously sponsored and supported me on our little adventure. I hope to be able to report further in the next edition.

David Brough

GUNTHORPE ANNUAL FETE It was with trepidation that we surveyed the skies early on Sunday, 30th July. The rain had started the previous evening and had pounded down through the night.

Ready for business!

But all was fine by the morning, and we enjoyed good weather for this year’s fete.

As usual, there was a lovely atmosphere during the fete – lots of happy people clutching posies of sweet peas, delicious cakes, knitted rabbits and this year, for the first time, free balloon sculptures for the children.

The games of skill, tempered with a little luck sometimes, were as popular as ever as were attractions such as the bottle stall which kept busy throughout with a continuous queue of people. The Grand Draw broke all previous records with an amazing array of prizes for which we want to thank all who donated them. We were pleased to have members of staff from the Gunthorpe Ward at the NNUH, led by Dr Mishra, present to draw the tickets and congratulate the winners.

A special thank you goes as always to Jeremy and Marie Denholm and their staff at Gunthorpe Hall, who not only prepare and provide a perfect garden setting for the fete each year but who on the day itself work so incredibly hard in supplying refreshments for all.

Thanks to all from Gunthorpe and beyond who took

FOGPC

The Friends Fete BBQ on Saturday the 29th of July was a huge success given it was drizzling at 6:30pm (BBQ start time was 7.00) and continued to drizzle-rain-drizzle (with a few, brief breaks of dry) throughout the evening. However, 30-odd ‘Village-People’ braved the evening - garden-openair event and all - and fun was had, food consumed and the raffle drawn with smiles and laughter all round.

Thank you so very much to all those brave and dedicated folk who attended for making it worthwhile and fun… and boosting the restoration and maintenance funds for St. Mary’s Church by £555. You are all stars and we salute you! The next Friends event is the Harvest Supper to be held on Saturday the 4th of November at 7pm in the Village

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part, either in running the event or supporting us by their attendance and donations. It was a very enjoyable and successful day, and after expenses a magnificent £5,000 was shared by the PCC and Village Institute.

Val King valatt@btinternet.com or 01263 862265 Jenny Kelly jennykellynorfolk@hotmail.com or 01263 860095.

rest a while. Mother often walked us up to the railway crossing gates on the Thursford road, just for us to see the trains pass through.

The year Nineteen Twenty Seven was a hard one.

Father had no employment; he gathered shellfish on the marshes and peddled them around the villages. But he was a very smart and presentable young man, and had worked sometimes in the Feathers Hotel in Holt. He also found work from time to time in the hotels at Sheringham, thereby leading to connections with the golf course where he often found himself in demand as a caddie.

Sometimes he brought home a small toy for us, much to the dismay of mother, who found it difficult to make what little they had, pay its way. I can remember that our mother gathered water cress from the stream in the meadow near to the house. Father set snares for rabbits on the land by the lane. If a snare caught a rabbit, mother soon covered it with grasses until father returned to retrieve it. Water had to be fetched from a well we shared with the family next door. The closet "toilet" was quite a walk down the garden, it contained a wooden bench seat, with a hole in the top to sit over.

Below the hole was the pail; that had to be emptied in the garden. Squares of paper threaded on a string, were hanging on a nail in the wall by the box, containing a candle and matches.

All in all it was a struggle for them in those early days. This was just after the General Strike. The Local Authority had a few schemes to get men working. One was breaking stones by the side of the road for "road repairs". It cost father more for the protective glasses he had to purchase, than he was able to earn. Though he did say, "One man with the knack of finding the grain of the stone, would shatter them with one tap and was able to make a fair wage".

One day father was offered the fire wood from a very high hedge in a field near to the house, should he care to cut it for the local farmer. With his slasher, and me toddling by his side, he started to work on the hedge.

Not aware of the danger. I was close by, and was struck by the back of the axe as he took a swing. I remember little but understand that he lifted me up in his arms, ran over the field jumping the roadside hedge, some four foot high; and to the house, where he left me, in mother’s care while he cycled to Sharrington for the

MEMORIES OF BULLFER GROVE Peter Jackson Peter Jackson, now aged 90, still lives in Briston. He is still a prolific writer of his experiences of life in North Norfolk and this is Part 1 of his “essay” on his early life in Bullfer Grove.

I first saw the light of day in May 1927 in one of two small cottages, near a large woodland called Bullfer Grove, on the outskirts of the village of Gunthorpe; Norfolk. Born with the privileges bestowed to those who come into the world during “Chime Hours” claimed my Mother, with great pride [1]. With the exception of a Family by the name of Knox, there were no near neighbours. A small lane from the cottages led to the road; which at that time, was made up of stones and marl. At this junction was the large woodland which even from this early stage was in the care of the National Trust. (left) Bullfer cottages probably early 1900s I have very little detailed recollection of our stay at Bullfer Grove, though the impression of the place has stayed with me all my life, and helped form the building blocks to the path I preferred to follow - albeit this was not always possible.

My brother was born a year later in the June, and together Mother wheeled us in the pram around the lanes whenever she was able to. Mother loved Bullfer Grove. We played in the leaves in front of the log cabin; that was in the Grove, a shelter for whoever wished to

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District Nurse. I was bound with bandages for many weeks and lucky not to have lost my sight. I remember my paternal grandfather and grandmother coming over from Briston, with my sister. They brought my sister up.

Grandfather was a guard on the railway, and I being his first grandson he was very concerned.

Although I remember little of the early days I can recall the Airship R101 coming very low over the Grove, and scaring me to the extent of implanting R101 in my memory long before I was able to read. As the R101 crashed in October 1930 I could not have been more than three at the time. I also recall mother walking to Langham every week to do a day’s washing for her mother. She was paid two shillings and sixpence for that; the bonus was my brother and I were treated to food and it was one day less for Mother to struggle finding something to fill our stomachs with. It was on one of these journeys that mother had the close encounter with the Sharrington Ghost. More on this later.

[1]Rep’s Note: For anyone like myself who had not heard this expression before Wikipedia states that the term chime hours originated in the north of England and refers to one of several myths related to the time of one’s birth. It was popularised by folklorist Ruth Tongue who also coined the terms “chime child” or “chime children”. The idea behind this piece of folklore is that individuals born during certain hours of the day or night gain special abilities eg to see spirits although what these times are seems to be disputed depending on the individual source or location of the folklore.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Sun 12th Nov at 10.50am

This will be the only service in Langham church on that day. Please make a special note of the time.

CHRISTMAS FAIR

Sat 2nd Dec 10am to 12noon Langham Village Hall I know, it doesn’t seem possible that we are thinking about Christmas as I sit here in late summer sunshine!

More details in the next issue, but meanwhile please would you all be kind enough to save your unwanted gifts, books, bottles or anything else suitable for the raffle or tombola for the fair. The PCC would be most grateful for any donations made.

Goods may be deposited in the porch at 30 Binham Road any time after 15th November, with a note in order to thank donor, or I can collect. Many thanks for your continued support. Proceeds will be for Langham Church General Fund. Further enquiries: Ann Sherriff on 01328 830605.

Langham PCC

DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES! Carol Service on Weds 13th Dec

Mince pies, sausage rolls and mulled wine Carol Service in the Church, on Wednesday 13th December with the Coastal Singers. Over 130 came last year, let’s beat this! A very low-key event to get you into the Christmas Spirit with plenty of singing to participate.

Edward Allen

FRIENDS OF LANGHAM The 200 Club Draw Winners

LANGHAM

The winners for July & August 2017 were as follows: July August 67 Mr C Chorriff 5 Mrs N Allen 38 Mr F Blundell 163 Mrs B Gadsdon 159 Mr & Mrs Coe 11 Ms R Fairhead 105 Mrs J Hope 9 Mr M Freeth 56 Mrs R Smith 180 Mrs B Newman 171 Mrs L Flude 143 Mrs J Lawrence FOL Committee

Contact: Christina Cooper 01328 830207 christinacooper27@googlemail.com

FROM THE REGISTERS Holy Baptism Zara Kathleen Elizabeth Boyce

Holy Matrimony Paul Fawcett & Rachel Grayson

19th Aug 2017 2nd Sept 2017

MOBILE LIBRARY Every four weeks on Thursdays, calling at St Mary’s Close from 9.55 to 10.15am, and The Cornfield from 10.20 to 10.35am. The dates till the end of the year are 26th October, 23rd November and 21st December.

Enquiries to Wells Library on 01328 710467.

AUTUMN SALE Books, Gifts, Bric-a-brac & Tombola Sat. 14th Oct 10-12 noon Langham Village Hall Bargains galore Refreshments available Proceeds for Langham Church General Fund Admission free

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THE CHURCH CLOCK

stall holders which were much welcomed! The weather was mainly fine which enabled another traditional social event to be enjoyed.

Langham PCC

As no doubt most of the village will have noticed, the clock is now back in operation after the first major overhaul since it was recommissioned in 1973. Repairs cost £2,980 and this was paid for using all but a few pounds of the restricted Clock Fund, donations from the ‘Fish, Chips and a Quiz’ night, Friends of Langham and the Langham Church Building Trust.

During the absence of the clock several people asked if they could give a donation towards its repair.

Fortunately we were able to achieve the required amount without a big ‘appeal’ but, unfortunately, this means that the Church Clock Fund is now very low, so if anyone would like to make a donation the PCC would be very grateful. This will ensure that routine maintenance (in 2015 cost was £275) can be carried out and will give provision for any unforeseen disasters.

Donations can be sent to: Ann Sherriff at 30 Binham Road, Dr. Dawson at Kirn House, Holt Road or Edward Allen at East Hall Farm. Please label envelopes &/or make out cheques to ‘Langham PCC Clock Fund’; this will ensure that the money goes into the restricted Clock Fund and not be used for any other purpose. Thank you!

Langham PCC

STRAWBERRY TEA ON 23RD JULY in aid of Langham Church Buildings Trust Thirty attendees enjoyed the congenial surroundings and spectacular views from East Hall Farm House across the valley to Field Dalling on a very pleasant Sunday afternoon, beating the rain that was forecast.

The strawberries and tea were delicious and raised £234.00 which was passed over to the LCBT. E. Allen

MORSTON Contact: Jock Wingfield 01263 740431 jocelynwingfield@gmail.com

DIARY DATES

Sat 14th October: 12th FMC Shovell Dinner at the Anchor.

Talk by author & historian Jim Crossley on “Jutland: who won the Battle?” (31st May & 1st June 1916). 50 tickets only. [For info tel: Jock Wingfield on 01263-740431].

Sun 12th November: Remembrance Day Parade & Church Service. (1.50 pm and 2pm).

RVS LANGHAM CAR SERVICE Schedule to end Nov 2017 Fare: 25p/mile Weekly driving duties beginning on a Monday.

Oct 2nd 830507 Nov 6th 830605 th Oct 9 830606* Nov 13th 830773 Oct 16th 830348 Nov 20th 830606* Oct 23rd 830537* Nov 27th 830847 th Oct 30 830847 * These drivers do not go to Norwich.

If the driver for the week is unable to do the trip, contact the next person on the list. If your appointment is cancelled, please let the driver know.

It would be helpful if a car booking is made as soon as an appointment is arranged or journey planned so that drivers can arrange their schedule. When booking please tell the driver of any walking aids to be transported, and please bring change.

If no driver is available, contact the Holt Caring Society on 01263 711243 giving as much notice as possible.

This roster is also placed in the church porch and the village notice boards with dates beyond the above schedule.

We welcome new drivers, so if anyone would like to join us please give me a call. Alison Murday 07909 923058

MORSTON REGATTA WINNERS 2017 Morston Parish Council Trophy Graham Barker (first boat across the line) Wayfarer 9033 Major P Hamond Trophy Gill Kay (first Morston resident) Oyster Swallow Hassall Trophy Dennis Pell (first Stiffkey Cockle) Cockle 23 Ward Trophy Charlie Martineau (first Norfolk Oyster) Oyster Calypso Wilson Challenge Cup Ben Rickards (first Slow Class boat) Leader 1214 Morston Regatta Cup Allan Jackson (first Fast Class boat) Seafly 703 Carter Trophy Matt Boreham (first single-hander) Seafly 644 John Bean’s Trophy Charles Alston (first helm under 16) Topper 47827

STALL ON THE GREEN 2017 The total proceeds from this event amounted to £410.05 for the Langham Church General Fund. Many thanks go to all who bought and brought produce and cakes to the stall. It was very much appreciated and most kind of you to give your support.

Grateful thanks are extended to Alison Curtis and Ann Hazelhurst who ran the stall again this year and also manned it together with the help of Barbara Allen, Ann Hill, Barbara North and John Hazelhurst. Thanks also go to Sue and John Hughes who kindly took care of the table and to Sue who provided refreshments for the

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Lapstrake Junior Cup Oliver Pinhey (youngest helm) Pico 0808 Wood Trophy Blue Jacket (first fixed seat rowing skiff) National Trust Trophy Victoria Holliday (first sliding seat rowing scull) Muck Boat Cup Matt McKee (first ex-working boat) Crab Boat Athill Trophy Tom Chandler (first pleasure boat) Barnacle Goose

which are a mere scrape in the sand and shingle. They incubate the eggs for three weeks, with both the male and female taking turns sat on the nest. Both parents then work tirelessly to supply small chicks with fish, sand-eels and whitebait.

Over the past four years of the EU Life Project a lot of effort has been put into protecting this part of the beach. Fence lines are placed around sensitive areas during the breeding season and an army of dedicated volunteers are present every day, monitoring the birds, speaking to and helping visitors to appreciate and enjoy these birds and minimise accidental disturbance. This provides a relatively interference free area in which the terns and other shingle nesting shore birds can establish nesting territories, safely incubate eggs without disturbance and then feed small chicks, which is vital.

The reduced area for dog-walking between April and mid-August is also a very important factor in the establishment of colonies in the Spring and early Summer. There are also many other factors affecting breeding success, some fortuitous and beyond control like good weather and plentiful food of which there was abundance this season. We hope for the continuing success of your local colony of Little Terns and as we celebrate the end of a successful Little Tern breeding season, these plucky seabirds are beginning their migration back to Africa and we look forward to welcoming them back next year.

The National Trust team sincerely thank the residents of Blakeney, Cley and further afield in Norfolk including the many visitors, some of whom arrive specifically to see terns and seals in the unique setting of Blakeney Point, for their co-operation and support this season and in the future.

Bill Landells – NT Volunteer Ranger, Blakeney NNR

BLAKENEY HARBOUR ASSOCIATION At our last meeting, we heard of the completion of all this year’s projects on the project list from Charlie, who also told us about a brand-new saltwater pressure washer too. That will keep all the buoyage spick-andspan. We heard about sound finances from Greg £60k+ in the bank. Neil reported that the marsh is clearer of old boats than for a long time. Many thanks to Joanie and Gill, who are stepping down from the Membership and Fundraising Committee. Hannah Kelsey has agreed to take on the Chairmanship – many thanks to her too. The meeting considered BHA’s interim report on “free harbour status”. For those who don’t know, we were asked to look into this by the Crown Estate, which we are doing.

In summary, we are still looking at the possibility of a Royal Charter, with more places still to search. What has been interesting and which could support a ‘free harbour’ character for Blakeney, are the number of things we might not have expected to find - like possessory title and adverse possession, the impact of the Blakeney Harbour Company, customary rights and public rights of navigation – these all have a bearing.

Members have had a full report. It’s too big to be replicated here, but if you want a copy, contact us by email via the website. We will be back in touch before Christmas. We now have a clothing range ideal for presents! See the website.

MB

PCC STALLS ON QUAY On August 19th two PCC stalls were set up on the Quay to raise money for the PCC Building Fund. The Bric-a-Brac Stall run by Alice Carnwath made £146 and the Bottles Stall run by Gill Kay, made £301, thereby raising a total of £447.

The organisers would like to thank those providing items for sale, those helping on the stalls and not least, those who gallantly came to purchase items or try to win them.

NATIONAL TRUST UPDATE Blakeney National Nature Reserve It has been a really successful breeding season on Blakeney Point for Little Terns and we are delighted to spread the news of at least 56 fledged Little Terns from 64 nests. This is the most productive season for many years and may have been even better but for the high tidal surge in June when nests on Far Point were washed out. Thankfully the Watch House colony is beyond the reach of all but exceptional high tides which are rare in the summer breeding season. These dainty seabirds, the smallest of all the terns, migrate from Africa each year to nest on British beaches. However, they are sadly now our rarest seabird and declining in number. The National Trust is a partner of an RSPB-led EU Life project that aims to reverse this decline; and four years into this five year project, the Little Terns have had an outstanding season for breeding success on Blakeney Point. Little Terns lay two to three eggs in simple nests,

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ARCHER-CONNON WEDDING

THOMAS POWDITCH OF BALE 1632-1654

On 5th August, Henry Archer and Lucy Connon were married at St Nicholas' Church Blakeney, followed by a reception in Morston overlooking Blakeney Point.

Lucky with the weather, the earlier rainfall cleared up to welcome in a beautiful afternoon and evening. The church and everyone there looked wonderful. The bride looked stunning and smiled all the way through the service led by Rev'd Libby.

The happy couple travelled by boat from Blakeney to Morston Quay, skippered by the best man, whilst enjoying champagne. What followed was a wonderful evening of fun and laughter on Gill Kay's field overlooking Blakeney Point. The food provided by Harry and Ro from The Anchor was superb, and fantastic music from the brilliant band Hot Squash ensured guests were dancing until the end. A walk along the coastal path home concluded a perfect day for the new Mr and Mrs Archer.

Carole Bix has discovered records of the above being a churchwarden in Bale as under: 1632-1637: Robert Bradford & Thomas Powditch 1645-1654: Thomas Powditch.(A) The Thomas Apowditch, who was the second son of James & Anabel (m. 1538 in Morston) would appear to be too old to be this Thomas Powditch of Bale.(B) Could any Powditch readers of this – be they of UK, Chile, New Zealand or Australia - help in identifying Thomas Powditch of Bale’s connection with those of Morston?

Notes: (A) Rev. R.M. Robertson Stone, Rector, “Who was Who in Bale, 1552-1962.” (B). Patrick PalgraveMoore, Norfolk Pedigrees, Part Five Vol. XXII, 1990], pp.115].

DO CALL, YOU GOTTS!

Part 4: In Napoleonic Times William Buck and French POWs

BRIEF MORSTON HISTORY

Listed below is Morston’s largest family contingent who fought in World War I. They were the Gotts family. Listed in the local Norfolk telephone directories are still many Gotts, but they claim no relationship with the Morston Gotts, that great military family of WWI: Airman Edward Gotts, MAS; Pte Bertie Reginald Gotts, 2nd Norfolk Regiment; Pte Charles William Gotts, RASC; Cpl Herbert Sam Gotts, RASC; Dvr Obadiah Pells Gotts, RFA; Ar Robert Gotts, RN, HMS Gibraltar (ar = ?artificer or possibly it is a misprint for AB - Able Seaman).

Some of the Gotts family came to All Saints church, Morston on 16th Nov 1991 and buried the ashes of Olive May Gotts of Atikokan, Ontario, Canada, who died 1st Sep 1978 and of Bertie Reginald Gotts of Atikokan, who died on 7th Jan 1991. (and Emily Gotts had also been buried at Morston - on 28th Feb 1924 aged 63 (so, born in 1861).

We believe that Olive & Bertie may have been parents of John. Before 2014 John & Pam Gotts were of 66, Lowry Place, Regina, Saskatchewan S49 6C7, Canada, but they have probably moved without our knowing where.

We would love to hear from any family members, from Canada or wherever. At least then the Gotts name will be linked with us through the Lynx on Google … so God willing, a Morston Gotts descendant will get in touch one day soon…

In 1818 William Buck, Jr., owned twelve cottages in Morston, from Beehive Cottage to the five cottages at Tides Reach. These five (built about 1820) he owned “for a great many years” and in or by the 1890s they were apparently christened “China Row”, either because when seen at dusk the cottages looked like “Chinatown”, or because Chinese sailors off the colliers sometimes stayed there.

In Napoleonic times (1796-1815) the Long(e) family lived in China Row and a story has been carried down in their family to this day.(see Note A) The Long owner of the future Gull Cottage of that time (which displayed the French “code sign” of three oyster shells over the front door) “had a little earner” – but a very dangerous one – of hiding escaped French officer prisoners-of-war (POWs) in his house (see Note B) there at the creek end of China Row, pending ”smuggling” them from Morston home to France.

Besides the Hamoaze (Plymouth) prison ships, the British “depots” (camps) for French and Dutch POWs were at Dartmoor, Porchester Castle (Portsmouth), a depot near Pembroke, and two of the biggest – for up to 6,000 POWs (including 100 senior French officers) – were at Norman Cross (which camp now lies under the

KIWI POWDITCHES VISIT In July 2017 Christopher Lee and family, “Powditch descendants”, of 163 Gillies Ave., Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand enjoyed visiting All Saints’, their ancestral church from 1538 when James Powditch from the fens (Pow Dyke) near King’s Lynn arrived in Morston and married Anabel of Morston, whose maiden name we still have not discovered.

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A1 motorway) and at nearby Yaxley aka Stilton Barracks, both just south of Peterborough. Norman Cross was the site of the world's first purpose-built POW camp or "depot" and was built by the RN using 500 labourers and carpenters – incredibly – in three months (December 1796 to February 1797).

In 1798-1809 at least 27 prisoners from Norman Cross “got clean away”, and a further three in 1801 were recaptured in a fishing boat off the Norfolk coast.

Escapees normally headed for King’s Lynn , but some officers headed for Morston. The Longs’ ‘hiding-hole’ – was apparently a cupboard, which was discovered in about 1975 when Gull Cottage was being refurbished.

Notes: A: Mary Ferroussat nee Long of Blakeney. B: Mary Ferousssat and author Captain Frederick Marryatt, RN (buried at Langham). Latter to be confirmed.

assess likely numbers and locations of colonies, after which it is expected that recommendations will be made on what can be done to reduce the damage to the fabric of the building whilst protecting the breeding grounds of these endangered creatures.

FORTHCOMING SERVICES St Margaret’s will be hosting additional services over the forthcoming months as St Andrew’s Field Dalling closes for roof repairs. Please check the Lynx or the two village newsletter for full details.

Please make a note that our Remembrance Sunday service will be held on November 12th at 10.45am with the Reverend Fiona Newton.

DOWN ON THE FARM On a summer’s day in July Albanwise Farming held its first open day. Here is a summary from one of the visitors: “On Saturday 15th July many locals and holiday makers enjoyed a day out at Green Farm, Saxlingham, run by Albanwise. We were treated to group rides around the farm where we learned how the various crops were planted, grown and harvested, how the soil was prepared and kept healthy, and shown many of the amazing machines used in agriculture today.

“Back at the farm yard, where prize cattle and sheep were on view in the barns, there was very much a party atmosphere – delicious sausages and burgers were being cooked and homemade cakes, tea, coffee and drinks were generously being offered. Thank you to Tom and all his helpers for a wonderful day out. Good luck with your harvest.”

MORSTON QUIZ

by Samphire (Answers on page 27) 1. What colour is the wine Tokay?

2. Which order in the classification of animals has most members?

3. How long does the light of the Sun take to reach the earth?

4. In cricket how many runs is a Nelson?

5. Which British sport has the most participants?

6. What is the commonest bird in the British Isles?

7. Which prefix denotes a one thousand millionth part?

8. What two differences are there between the position and paddle of someone in a canoe and someone in a kayak?

9. Which fruit contains the most calories?

10. What coloured cap is worn by an English cricketer capped for his country?

SHARRINGTON

SAXLINGHAM

Contact: Claire Dubbins 01263 862261 cdubbins@btinternet.com www.sharrington.org.uk

Contact: Caroline Robson 01328 830298 carorobson@btinternet.com

CEILIDH NIGHT

SUMMER FETE

Sharrington Village Hall Saturday 21st October at 7.00pm

The summer fete was held at the Villagers’ Hall in Field Dalling on a perfect August afternoon. With lively music from the Norfolk Jazz Quartet, an array of stalls and traditional games, plus superb cakes and teas, the fete attracted a record number of visitors and over £1,000 was raised for each of the two village churches and the Villagers’ Hall. Our thanks to all those on the committee who spend many months planning and organising the afternoon and to those who gave their time and help on the day.

Folk comes to Sharrington in October with the much anticipated visit of the Essex based “Longshot Ceilidh Band” in the newly decorated village hall.

The five person band, which includes home grown talent Charlie Long, plays a mixture of UK folk music on a range of instruments including fiddle, flute, guitar, piano, percussion, accordion and bouzouki.

The band will play before supper and then again for dancing. They have a caller, so novice dancers will be welcome!

Tickets are £13 and include a hot, two course supper, but please bring your own drinks. All proceeds go to All Saints Church. To book your tickets or make enquiries about the Ceilidh, please ring Pippa Long on 01263 860613.

PEL

ST MARGARET’S IN BAT PROJECT St Margaret’s is to be included in a nationwide National Lottery funded bat project. It is thought that the church houses colonies of Natterers, Pipistrelles and Long-Eared bats. Initially a survey will be carried out to

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SHARRINGTON & DISTRICT GARDENING GROUP

VILLAGE HALL It is late August and although the breeze which softens the day is south - westerly the A148 sounds much like the M11 as the bank holiday surge of holidaymakers hums along the tarmac.

Unusually I am settled in the garden and I’m just out of reach of the wood pigeon nesting above. A wild creature has scratched some of the grass from my lawn but a small crab apple tree sits conveniently in my line of vision so I worry not.

As they whizz by the strawberry stall, the bucket and spade brigade will be unaware of our small community and those things that help it thrive. To them our village hall is a relic of the 50’s, of little relevance in the age of the electronic apple. To us it is one of the key ingredients of a successful village; a place to meet to entertain and be entertained.

So, to me, the fact that we have more or less completed a significant refurbishment and redecoration programme is a big deal. The hall is a smarter, brighter place, smells better and when the holidaymakers are back down their burrows it will be warmer.

To all those who have helped rejuvenate it, thank you.

Roger Dubbins Chair, Village Hall Committee

After a busy summer our autumn programme kicks off on Saturday 30th September with a bulb and plant sale in Sharrington village hall 10.30am to 12.30. All are welcome to join us for coffee, tea and croissants and to stock up on bulbs and interesting plants from members gardens.

The highlight of our autumn programme will be a ‘Gardeners Questions’ to be held in Binham memorial hall at 6.30pm on Friday 13th October. We are delighted that Alan Gray a regular broadcaster on Radio Norfolk and co-owner of East Ruston gardens will be on the panel together with local garden designer and consultant Shelagh Ashe and Trevor Harrison of Creake plant centre. This fun evening will be hosted by Revd.

Ian Whittle. Tickets are now available and cost £8 for members and £10 for non-members in advance or £12 on the day.

On Wednesday 1st November we welcome local fungi expert and county recorder for Norfolk, Tony Leech who will give a talk ‘Witches, devils, the darker side of fungi’ at 7pm in Sharrington village hall.

For further information on the group or any of our events, please get in touch with Françoise Allenby on 01263 860910 m.f.allenby@gmail.com or Robin Burkitt on 01263 861939 robin@daubeneyhallfarm. com. Happy gardening!

RB

NOBLE ROTTERS For those whose knowledge of Portugese wines did not extend much beyond Mateus Rosé and Lancers and, maybe, the odd festive slurp of a fortified wine from the Douro, tasting two of season four was something of an education.

Four white wines including two single grape varietals silenced the small pro-Mateus lobby who, grudgingly, had to accept that the progress made in production far outweighed their wish to be reunited with their tipple of choice from years gone by.

The evening progressed through five red wines from Dao and Douro in the north through Tejo in mid Portugal to Alentejario further south.

As a bonus, members were treated to a little Porta, produced just north of Lisbon and currently the best seller at Majestic Wine Warehouse.

Very sadly, it was the last tasting to be attended by our long standing member and ‘premier grand cru’ Duncan Thomas, who died suddenly at the end of July.

He will be greatly missed.

WELCOME TO SHARRINGTON In recent months we have been able to welcome several new faces to the village.

Simone and Debra have moved into The Street and are offering a chimney sweeping service. You will probably have seen their van around the area and may have met them helping to run the raffle stall at the Strawberry Tea in July.

You may also have met Andrew and Jayne Bakewell at the Strawberry Tea and the church barbecue in August as they are now in Sharrington Hayloft.

Newer still are Graham Livermore and Alex Stewart who arrived in August and are living in Church Barn, the old home of Ann Garwood.

We welcome them all to the village and hope they find it a good place to live – as we all do.

CD

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CHURCH NOTES

Tasting four on 17th November will feature English wines including the award winning 2015 Bacchus from Winbirri vineyards just down the road at Surlingham.

For more information about the Noble Rotters please visit the club’s page at www.sharrington.org.uk.

Chief Rotter

th

Saturday 15 July looked set fair to herald in our revamped fete. As always when trying something new one wonders who will come? Well come they did to partake of tea, scones, jam, cream plus strawberries and cream or all such delights. We had the usual bric-a-brac, cakes and preserves, a lovely plant stall, a raffle, some books, cd’s and clothes. We were able to welcome new residents to Sharrington and give them a taste of village life and generally enjoy the company of neighbours and visitors. It was lovely to be able to use the churchyard to set out our wares and of course the church was open for all who wanted a respite from the rather spiteful wind.

All in all it was deemed to be a success raising some £830 and the clearing away afterwards was accomplished more quickly than in previous years.

As always many thanks to all who gave their help.

Our next social venture was the Bar-B-Q on Sunday 20th August. For the second year running, the churchyard was again the venue with Simon presiding over the cooking. A lovely warm sunny day to consume burgers and sausages, coronation chicken, buns, salads of potato and rice and so forth. Delicious trifle and meringues, wine and soft drinks, so all in all a delightful way to spend a few hours eating, drinking and being merry.

On Remembrance Sunday, November 12th we will be holding a special service at our usual time of 9.30am to honour those from our village who gave their lives in both world wars, especially remembering those featured on the centenary display in the church who fought in the First World War. The service will be taken by the Rt. Reverend Peter Wheatley, former Bishop of Edmonton.

Finally and this is extremely personal, I wish to say thank you to Pippa and Perry for their invitation to early drinks in their garden on Saturday 19th August. To explain: after nearly 19 years in our lovely village I was on the move to Holt and this was an occasion to say au revoir but I did not know the numerous scale of neighbours who would come along, so many of you I was lost for words. We eventually collected around the pond and Pippa gave a lovely speech and I was presented with a cheque to spend as I wished and a card signed by all present. The Pimms flowed and the canapes were top notch and it will remain with me for a long time. So my grateful thanks to all of you who

AU REVOIR Sharrington said goodbye to a pair of long-term residents in August when Ann Garwood and her son Paul Booker swapped the leafy lanes of the village for a new home in Holt.

For over 18 years now, Ann has been at the heart of our small community, throwing herself into village life almost as soon as she arrived here with her late husband, Peter. She was later joined at Church Barn by her son, Paul, and the family quickly made friends.

Ann has been chair of the village hall committee, steering it through choppy waters and emerging at the other side ready to move it on to a new stage in its development. She has served on the PCC and is currently churchwarden, an office we are delighted that she will continue despite her move to Holt. Indeed, she has been a tireless supporter of village events, the World War One project, the musical evenings, gardening club and of course this very magazine, the Local Lynx.

Paul has also made his mark on the village, quite literally, as he earnt the title “strimming supremo” for his gallant work on the grass in the churchyard and roadside whenever we were expecting a big event.

So, with such a background, and being such a popular presence round the lanes of Sharrington with their much missed canine companions Toby and Mollie, I was soon able to collect a group of their friends from church and village hall committees to bid them farewell.

Because although we know we will still see Ann and Paul at our village events, and taste the fruits of Ann’s labours on our cake stalls, we will miss seeing her tread her twice daily path to the church, huge iron key in hand, and my dog Hector will wait in vain for his friend Paul to come and make jokes over the garden fence.

We wish them well in their new home and on behalf of their many friends in Sharrington we thank them for the contribution they have made to village life.

PEL

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shared in the end of this chapter of my life and for all your good wishes for the future. I shall still be about as I am continuing as churchwarden at All Saints, a position I enjoy very much.

As I write this I am now installed in my new house, a little chaotic but it will get sorted in the end and Paul (son) is here too.

Thank you and God bless all.

Ann Garwood

course, a pop-up tea and coffee stall. If you are quick you may even capture a bacon roll. For the first time, we will have quality collectibles courtesy of our friends from Brinton.

The draw for our Christmas raffle (main prize a Christmas turkey sponsored by the generous P&S butchers of Holt) will take place at 1.30pm on the day.

RD

AUTUMN EVENTS

STIFFKEY

After a brief summer recess, our popular live music nights started again in the village hall on Wednesday 27th September. In addition to our regular performers we have invited the barbershop group to reprise their very successful appearance earlier this year and we plan to host a variety of other musicians including Brinton based ukulele band, acoustic guitarist Charles Davison from Little Thornage, a duo from Hindolveston and a band group member from Norwich whose material includes Norfolk themed music and dance.

In October we are planning a real treat with the appearance of Carrie Martin a singer songwriter from Hull and a protégée of Gordon Giltrap whose influence includes Eva Cassidy and Ann Wilson from Heart.

On each Wednesday, the village hall doors open at 7pm and music starts at 7.30pm.

Tuesday 31st October sees the return of our Halloween themed quiz which was a great success in 2015 and our quiz master has promised that the questions will be easier this time round! There will be a licensed bar and, of course prizes. Details can be obtained by emailing Gary Grunwald at garygrunwald@btinternet.com or calling him on 01263 860508 and will be published on the website www.sharrington.org.uk nearer the date.

Contact: Geraldine Green 01328 830245 green978@btinternet.com

WARBOROUGH HOUSE GARDENS Many thanks to all who came and supported our garden opening on the 6th August in aid of the National Garden Scheme. A total of just over £1400 was raised for their nominated charities, with a further £490 from the sale of tea and cake going to St Johns Church, Stiffkey. A big thank you to Heather, Lynn, Chris, Marlene, Ruth and Katharine who served the tea, cake and washed up.

Arabella Morgan

STIFFKEY LOCAL HISTORY GROUP August finished with a flourish at our three day exhibition at Stiffkey Church titled ‘Women of Stiffkey’. In addition to the historical content, which was well received, there was free tea and cake and a great tombola. 23 vintage tractors called in on their way to Greenway for lunch on Sunday in support. The Stalls on the Knoll, organised by Heather was a great success.

The money raised was in aid of the Church fabric fund.

Many, many thanks to all, too numerous to name, who gave their time, produce, gifts and donations.

Coming up, in October, is a talk all about the Walsingham Bible. This is a beautifully illustrated 12th century manuscript held at the Chester Beaty Library, Dublin. The talk will be given by Kristine Rose-Beers, senior conservator there. This talk will be on Sat 14th October at Stiffkey village hall, 4pm. £2 members £3 non-members. Free refreshments. All welcome. SLHG

CHRISTMAS FAYRE This year our Christmas Fayre (the fourth) will be held on Saturday 25th November between 10.30am and 2pm. The venue will be our newly refurbished village hall.

We welcome back many of our stall holders with a wide variety of seasonal fayre: cards, books, vintage knitting, corn dollies, Xmas decorations and goodies with Adrian’s magical animals top of the festive bill.

There will be the usual cake and confiture stalls and, of

26

NATURE NOTES This summer has been one of visitors to Stiffkey.

Early in the spring saw the arrival of a pair of little owls. Small as they are they were comical to watch with their upright stance and stalky legs. They were also very noisy often calling during the day. Bullfinches made an appearance, a rarity hereabouts. Large flocks of mixed finch, especially goldfinch, and tits have been busy flashing about. Redstarts and garden warblers were regular visitors.

Around our house in late August a large flock of house martins, about 50, took a very close look at the eaves. Perhaps in preparation for next spring. They were matched by a similar number of swallows surplus to the ones that nest in the barn. On the lawn have been a group of at least twenty immature pied wagtails.

Perhaps the highlight for me has been a house sparrow, the first one I have seen here for about four years. Just to cap it all Stiffkey has been invaded by bush crickets!

Rural Ruth

LANGHAM VILLAGE SCHOOL NEWS At the end of term we were sad to say goodbye to our Year 6 children off to High School. We would like to wish Evie, Charlie, Abbi, Harriet and Rhiannon all the best for the future. Abbi wrote a lovely poem when she left: Langham Langham has been a real adventure Amazing experiences to discover Never will I forget my time here Great memories will stay forever Happiness is what I felt everyday Awesome teachers who make learning fun Many thanks are to be said, I will miss Langham a lot!

CHURCH NOTES Over the August Bank Holiday week end the church hosted the exhibition for the Local History Group entitled 'Women of Stiffkey' and served refreshments throughout the three days. On the Sunday Stalls were once again held on the Church Knoll. From these two events a total of just over £1,005.00 was raised for the church fabric fund. Grateful thanks to all those who helped during this time.

The Quinquennial Inspection was held early in August and repairs have already been carried out to the tower roof. The money raised over the Bank Holiday will be put towards other small immediate repairs to the fabric.

On 3rd September a first Sunday Morning Prayer was held and much appreciated by the 17 strong congregation. There will only be a third Sunday service in October, but first and third Sundays in November.

This year there will not be a Harvest Festival service in Stiffkey, but there will be a joint one at Langham, however the third Sunday service in October at 9.30 a.m. will have a harvest theme.

There will be the usual Remembrance service at the war memorial on Sat 11th Nov at 10.45am. The date for a Carol/Christingle service in December is yet to be finalised owing to Christmas Eve being on the Sunday and Christmas Day on the Monday. Totals: Stalls £438.30 Tombola: £182.46 Refreshments £384.46. HH

We are excited to welcome 15 children into Reception this year; they are Logan, Florence, Zachary, Barnaby, Sophie, Reuben, Zander, Jeremiah, Holly, Henry, Maya, Hugo, Leo, Olivia and Olly. We also welcome Izzy, Fraser and Louis into Year 5.

Over the Summer holidays we have had the mobile classroom refurbished, it now looks magnificent with wood cladding, a new roof and a covered veranda for outdoor learning. It is a much-improved learning environment for our Year 5 and Year 6 children. Thank you to everyone who has helped with this project, it has been a long time in the planning and it is fantastic to see it completed.

We have made some improvements to our Reception classroom too, prompted by the higher number of children coming in. We have redecorated and redesigned the interior of the classroom using all natural colours and materials. We have purchased a new play house for role play and extended the outdoor learning environment.

We can’t wait to get started in our new classes.

Langham continues to go from strength to strength and we are excited about all the activities and learning we have planned for the next academic year, our vision is ‘A place for fun, creativity, friendship, ambition and discovery.’ This is certainly true and embedded in everything we do.

For further information please visit our website www.langham.norfolk.co.uk or follow us on twitter @langhamvill.

MORSTON QUIZ ANSWERS (Quiz Questions on page 23) 1. White. 2. Beetles. 3. About 8 minutes. 4. 111 runs. 5.

Fishing. 6. Wren. 7. Nano. 8. Kayak: seated with double paddle; Canoe: kneeling with single paddle. 9. Avocado pear. 10. Blue.

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LYNX 116 ADS DIRECTORY Art/Interiors/Furniture/Textiles Arthur Hundleby Retrospective Exhibition Nick Hamond Furniture: cabinet-maker Sandra’s Soft Furnishings Walsingham Gallery & Framing

page 12 6 16 14

Care Services Caring First Home Care Polka Day Care: For ages 0-5 Domestic Cleaning Services ACS Oven Cleaning Colin’s Cleaning Service

8 18 front cover 4

Garden/Landscape Grace Sharp Lady Gardener Stephen Beal Landscapes Health Claire Dye: Physiotherapist Counsellor and Psychotherapist Gunthorpe Osteopaths Marianne Atherton Homeopathy Philippa Stancomb Reflexology Pilates at Binham Memorial Hall

20 4 26 24 front cover 24 5 22

Hotels/Cottage Rentals Blakeney Hotel Glaven Cottages: Property Management

12 17

Morston Cottage Leisure The Bluebell, Langham The King’s Head, Letheringsett Model Scenery Supplies Morston Swimming Pool R.A.F.A Social Events, Sheringham

18 10 6 front cover 17 8

Services and Suppliers Allied Glass: Trade and Domestic Glazing 14 Andrew Benn: PC Problems 26 Daren Betts Building and Maintenance 19 David Thompson Chimney Sweep 25 Debra’s Chimney Sweep 13 Elv’s Stoves: Woodburner Services 7 Gowards Funeral Services 9 Ju electrical: domestic and commercial 11 Keeble Roofing Contractor 7 M G Myhill Chimney Sweep front cover North & West Norfolk Log Co. 9 P J Electrics 21 Taxworx 25 Taxis Stuart’s Taxi Town and Country Cars

15 13

Advertising space in this publication is sold in good faith and the editor/publication team can take no responsibility for the quality of goods or services offered.

CHIMNEY SWEEP David Thompson 01328 851081

CLEARVIEW PEST CONTROL Moles Rats Mice, Wasps, Etc Etc Contact Kevin 01328 829154 or 07952 750265

SIVANANDA YOGA CLASS Gunthorpe Village Institute Hall Wednesdays in Term Time 7.30-8.45pm Contact Richard Redmayne 01263 862 289

B.A. TREE SERVICES (Tree Surgeon) Free quotes available Full Public Liability Insurance held 01263 588994 or 07748 570121

ALICE MARTINEAU YOGA Tuesdays 5.30-7.00pm & 7.00-8.30pm 07973 278895 www.alicemartineau.co.uk

GARY WALLER Painter , Decorator & Carpet Cleaner 20 years Experience No job too small 01263 860 705 Mob: 07990 993 406

PTM PLUMBING & HEATING 07824 877 084 Email ptmplumbing@icloud.com

DEBRA’S CHIMNEY SWEEP SERVICES Sharrington 01263 663 214 or 07799 715 496

HAMLYN PEST CONTROL County Council Accredited—NPTA Member Control of Rats, Mice, Wasps, etc., 01263 860112 or 861587

JAYNE BIRD MCFHP MAFHP Foot care in your own home Routine and Diabetic Foot Care 01328 851332 or 07881 107571

Local Lynx is printed by Century Printing, 132 High Street, Stalham, Norwich NR12 9AZ 28 582958 Tel: 01692