Local Lynx issue 58, February/March 2008

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

FEBRUARY & MARCH 2008

ISSUE 58

NEWS FROM OUR VILLAGES

Looking West from Langham - Ken Bartlett

BLAKENEY PRE-SCHOOL In the Village Hall Pre-School

Monday to Friday inc. 9.30 - 12.45 pm New: 2 yrs and over, unaccompanied - £4.50 (Children in nappies now taken)

Toddlers

Monday & Tuesday, 9.30 - 11.30 (combined with Pre-School) 0-2 yrs - £1.00

For further details contact Marny (Supervisor) on 01263 740925

WALSINGHAM ABBEY GROUNDS AND SHIREHALL MUSEUM Ruins of Augustinian Priory, tranquil woodland and river walks.

Museum contains original Georgian Courthouse, artefacts and photographs.

Open daily 10 am - 4.30 pm.

Entry fee: £3.00 adults, £2.00 concessions.

Christmas Shop - Weekends 3Nov-22Dec - 10am - 4pm

Further details: 01328 820510 or 01328 820259

E. & M. Grimes BUILDERS Telephone (01263) 740274 All types of building works - Painting & Decorating Flintwork Specialists Extensions Conversions Renovations Alterations New Build Free Estimates

Galley Hill House, Langham Road, Blakeney, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7PJ

WHAT’S ON in our ten villages

LOCAL LYNX - is a non-profit-making community newspaper, run for the benefit of ten villages.

FEBRUARY 1st Fri. Stiffkey ‘Stiffkey before 1600’ Village Hall 2nd Sat. Langham FOL Coffee Morning 10 - 12 3rd Sun. Binham Pancake Race, 12.30 fo 12.45 4th Mon. Binham Chequers Quiz Night 6/7.30 5th Tues. Langham Ladybirds Cley Panto dress rehearsal 7.30 12th Tues. Langham Parish Council, Parish Room 7.00 16th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club 16th Sat. Gunthorpe Quiz Night 16th Sat. Field Dalling History Lecture 7.00 20th Wed. Langham FOL Coffee Morning 10 - 12 21st Thurs. Binham & Hindringham Open Circle 23rd Sat. Morston Annual Quiz, Village Hall 7.00 23rd Sat. Gunthorpe Parish Plan Presentation, Village Hall, 10.00am – 12 midday th 28 Thurs. Binham History Group Reformation/ churches

We warmly welcome drawings, articles and letters for publication, but must reserve the right to edit or exclude items. The items published do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the village representatives.

For information about submitting items for publication, or if you want to help in any other way, please contact your village representative, through whom all village news must be submitted.

For general information please send a message to our email address:

lynxeditor@pobox.com COPY FOR APRIL/MAY ISSUE REQUIRED BY 9th MARCH

MARCH 1st Sat. Stiffkey Parish Plan presentation 10.00 1st Sat. Langham FOL Coffee Morning 10 - 12 3rd Mon. Binham Chequers Quiz night 6/7.30 5th March Langham Ladybirds Mardle 7.30 10th Mon. Binham History Group - Royal Gardens 19th Wed Langham FOL Coffee Morning 10 - 12 20th March Binham & Hindringham Open Circle 23rd Sat Gunthorpe Parish Plan Presentation - Institute 29th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club 29th Sat. Langham Joy’s Coffee Morning

PLEASE NOTE: CONTACT FOR ADVERTISERS For enquiries about advertising in Local Lynx, please contact David John, tel: 01328-830933 Rates for advertising (pre-paid) are: One column x 62 mm (1/8 page): £60 for six issues.

Small Ads Panel on the back page: Available for individuals and businesses providing local services. Cost: £5 per issue.

DEANERY NEWS The next meeting of the deanery synod is on Thursday March 6th. 2008. Holt Church Hall 7.15pm. for 7.30pm.

Speaker: Mrs. Susanna Gunner, a Lay Development Co-ordinator. All are welcome.

DISTRIBUTION CONTACT: For all enquiries or offers to help, please contact: Rita White, tel: 01328 830821

HOLT MEDICAL PRACTICE

BLAKENEY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Notice to all patients registered at Holt Medical Practice, Melton Constable and Blakeney Surgeries.

The surgeries will be closed ALL DAY on Thursday, 6th March, 2008, for training purposes. For emergencies please telephone the usual number: Holt 01263 712461.

Repeat prescriptions and routine appointments will not be available on this date, we apologise for any inconvenience

Back Lane Blakeney Father Michael Simison 12 Hindringham Road Gt. Walsingham Norfolk Tel: 01328 821 353 Priest in Residence Father William Wells ( the house behind the church) Service times Vigil Mass: Saturday 6.00 pm.

Sunday Mass: 10.30 am

NORMAN LAMB M.P.

BLAKENEY METHODIST CHURCH

holds regular advice surgeries in the constituency. He can also be contacted via the constituency office at: 15 Market Place North Walsham Norfolk NR28 9BP Tel: 01692 403752 Fax: 01692 500818 e-mail: normanlamb@hotmail.com www.normanlamb.org

High Street Blakeney Minister – The Reverend David Greenaway 8, St. Andrew’s Close Holt. Tel: 01263 712181 Sunday Service 6.30 pm.

For weekday services see ‘Glaven Valley Newsletter’.

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CHURCH SERVICES FOR STIFFKEY & BALE BENEFICE FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH 2008 HC=Holy Communion. FS=Family Service. MP=Morning Prayer. BCP=Book of Common Prayer.

All Communion Services are in traditional language except those marked * Parish

3rd February Candlemas

10th February 1st Sunday of Lent

17th February 2nd Sunday of Lent

24th February 3rd Sunday of Lent

Bale Field Dalling Saxlingham Gunthorpe Sharrington

9.30am HC At Saxlingham 9.30 am HC 9.30 am MP 9.30 am MP

9.30 am HC At Saxlingham 11 am HC 9.30 am HC 9.30 am HC

9.30 am HC 11.00 am FS At Field Dalling No Service 9.30 am MP

9.30 am HC 11.00 am MP BCP At Field Dalling 11.00 am HC 9.30 am HC

11.00 am HC 9.30 am HC* 9.30 am HC BCP 11.00 am HC*

11.00 am HC 9.30 am HC No service 11.00 am HC*

11.00 am FS 9.30 am HC* 9.30 am HC BCP 8.00 am HC*

9.30 am HC At Stiffkey No service 11.00 am FS

9th March 5th Sunday of Lent 9.30 am HC At Saxlingham 11 am HC 9.30 am HC 9.30 am HC 11.00 am HC

16th March Palm Sunday Service at Langham Service at Langham Service at Langham Service at Langham Service at Langham Service at Langham

23rd March Easter Day 9.30 am HC 11 am HC At Field Dalling 11 am HC 9.30 am HC 9.30 am HC

Langham

2nd March Mothering Sunday 9.30am HC At Saxlingham 9.30 am HC 9.30 am MP 9.30 am MP 11.00 am All age service 9.30 am HC*

9.30 am HC

9.30 am HC

Morston Stiffkey

9.30 am HC BCP 11.00 am HC*

No service 11.00 am HC*

10.00 am HC Service for the Benefice Service at Langham Service at Langham

Binham Langham Morston Stiffkey Parish Bale Field Dalling Saxlingham Gunthorpe Sharrington Binham

9.30 am HC BCP 11.00 am HC

Ash Wednesday (6th February): Langham 10.00 am and Bale 7.00 pm, HC and Ashing.

Maundy Thursday (20th March): Binham Village Hall 7.00 pm Agape, followed by one hour vigil at Binham Priory.

Good Friday (21st March): Solemn Reflection for one hour, Morston 10.30 am, Field Dalling 11.00 am, Bale 2.00pm.

Easter Saturday (22nd March): Binham 4.00 pm, Family Service and Easter Egg Hunt.

Easter Saturday (22nd March): Binham 8.00 pm, Easter Service of Light.

Easter Day (23rd March): Stiffkey 3.00 pm, Easter Egg Hunt.

30th March: Bale 10.30 am, Group Service.

Regular Weekday Services Binham: Tuesday, 6.00 pm Evening Prayers, Langham: Wednesday, 10.00 am Holy Communion Stiffkey: Friday, 10.00 am Holy Communion.

NEW BEGINNINGS

repertoire including songs from the world church and from communities like Taize and Iona, as well as a more modern form of responses to use at Holy Communion.

The first Benefice service we will sing for will be the one on 30th March. If you are interested, please let me know.

Thirdly, did you know about our monthly all-ages service in Field Dalling, which is going from strength to strength? Everyone is welcome, especially families with children and those who are comfortable with a more informal and relaxed kind of service. It is a joyful and creative way to worship God, with songs, stories, conversations and activities intended for all ages, with or without children. It is at St Andrews, at 11am on the third Sunday of every month. Do come and join in!

And a Happy New Year to you!!

Joanna Anderson, Rector 01328 830246

As this New Year begins to unfold, let me share with you three things - two new ventures and one existing and growing event.

First, at the end of February, a new parent and toddler group for people from all our villages will start up. It will be held in one of our village halls and supervised by a children’s support worker. This is offered as a weekly time for parents, carers and their children to gather for play, stories, support and friendship. So often we have to look outside our villages for these needs to be met, and now we hope to meet them locally. Posters will be on display soon in all villages, so please keep an eye open.

Second, I want to put a singing group together, to enrich the Benefice Services we share, and make them even more special. I should like the group to develop a

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HANDEL'S MESSIAH

9B Chapel Yard

Fakenham Choral Society's next concert will be a performance of Handel's Messiah on Saturday, March 15th, at 7.30pm in Fakenham Parish Church. The concert, with orchestra, will feature four top soloists: soprano Felicity Brown, contralto Beth Mackay, tenor Stephen Miles and bass Tom Appleton. Tickets are ÂŁ10 from 01328 830639 or on the door. Under 18s free.

Albert Street Holt NR25 6HG Tel: 01263 710203

COUNCILLORS’ NOTEBOOK

www.birdventures.co.uk

From Lindsey Brettle Happy New Year and thanks to all at Local Lynx We must all be aware that landfill space is limited and Norfolk has been involved with several district councils under the umbrella of NEWS (Norfolk Environment Waste Services) and a party of district councillors visited the impressive Waste Recycling and Transfer Centre at Costessey which is one of the largest recycling facilities in the UK and indeed one of the most technically advanced in Europe.

A new breakdown of figures released by Defra reveals that Norfolk is the third best county in the country and the top in the Eastern Region for recycling. In 2006/7, Norfolk councils recycled 26.1% of household waste, less than half a percent behind the leading national county.

If the predictions are achieved the monies received from the recycled materials will be passed back to Norfolk councils and ultimately back to the council tax payer. The local main recycling centres have been made more user-friendly with clearer signage. Cooking oil can now be collected and recycled by a unique process developed by a Norfolk company, Living Fuels.

In some shopping centres the District Council team has been giving away free jute and cloth shopping bags to encourage people to reduce their use of plastic bags and handing out leaflets about recycling and composting.

Despite difficult timing restrictions, Unitary proposals continue on the basis of city/coast/countryside. NNDC officers have provided a progress report on the Local Development Framework and further meetings on coastal issues and with Flood Wardens are now taking place.

Lindsay Brettle

YOUR HEALTH, YOUR HOSPITALS, YOUR SAY People living in Norfolk and Waveney can have a bigger say in the future of the region's busiest NHS Trust by joining as a member.

Membership of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust is free and open to anyone aged over 12 years old. Being a member will enable you to: Get involved with areas that interest you Receive regular updates about the Trust Receive invites to events for members about health topics Vote in elections for Governors and stand for election as a Governor (for members aged over 16) To join, either go online at www.nnuh.nhs.uk or ring 0870 707 1628 for a membership form.

For further information about Foundation Trusts visit www.nnuh.nhs.uk/Page/FT.

Contact Details

G & B Electrical

Jonathan Savory (01328 820719). e.mail:jsavory@north-norfolk.gov.uk - and Joyce Trett (01328 710300) e.mail:jtrett@lineone.net (Binham, Langham & Stiffkey)

(Established 1980)

Electrical Installations to the very highest standards N.I.C.E.I.C. APPROVED CONTRACTOR FIRE ALARMS

RE-WIRING

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

STORAGE HEATING

BURGLAR ALARMS

TESTING TO I.E.E. REGULATIONS

SECURITY LIGHTING

INDUSTRIAL HEATING

Mrs Lindsay Brettle (01263 710030) e.mail:Lindsay.brettle@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Sharrington, Field Dalling,/Saxlingham & Morston).

Mrs A.R.Green (01328 8782;73) e.mail:ann.green@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Gunthorpe with Bale).

ALL WORK FULLY GUARANTEED - FREE ESTIMATES

Tel: 01263 861064

Mobile: 07860 295273

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BALE

PHILIPPA STANCOMB MBSR

News

MBCMA

Contact: Jane Wheeler 01328 878 656

REFLEXOLOGY PRACTITIONER

A NATURAL THERAPY FOR MANY CONDITIONS Including:

Stress-related problems, Muscular pains, Poor circulation, Digestive disorders, Back problems and Tension

CHRISTMAS The Carol Service Our festival of carols and seven lessons took place at All Saints in a church lit by the soft light of dozens of candles, in the evening on 16 December. The large congregation, from the parish and far beyond, was greeted on arrival by the playing of the Bale Handbell Choir.

The service, conducted by Canon Cedric Bradbury, was soon underway with the Matin Responsory sung by the choir, which had been raised by Margaret Barnes from among her friends: the conductor was Mike Roythorne.

The organist was our good friend Martin Jacklin. "Once in Royal David's City", the solo beautifully sung by Verity Jacklin, set us off on the right musical note. The carols and hymns were familiar yet they wove their spell and helped to produce an atmosphere of devotion.

Backed by the choir the rest of us sang with great confidence. There was a good balance of light and shade, from the carols sung by the choir alone ("Gabriel's Message", "Sing Lullaby", "In the Bleak Midwinter") to the fortissimo of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". The part of Gabriel and the solo verse of "In the Bleak Midwinter" were sensitively sung by Stephen Miles who had arrived hot foot from the Norwich Cathedral choir.

After the service the congregation walked off into the darkness, well warmed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Ring for an appointment. Home visits can be arranged Myrtle Cottage, Wiveton, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7TQ

Tel: 01263 740596

GLAVEN CENTRE Hearing Aid servicing is now available at the Glaven Centre, Thistleton Court, Blakeney. Future dates include Friday, 22nd February and Wednesday 19th March.

For further information telephone Maureen Buckey on 01263 740762

NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST The new Visitor Centre at Cley Reserve is an undoubted success, visitor numbers for ’07 were an amazing 22,500. Annual Membership rates - Individual £27, Joint £34 and Family £39. If you pay by direct debit you will get a super Norfolk ‘Wildfile’ worth £4.95.

Membership rates are going up in April, so sign up now and enjoy all the benefits of membership, including free entry to all our wonderful nature reserves.

Feb. 7th Thurs. Blakeney Harbour for wildfowl & waders. 9.30am - 10.00pm, walk with Richard Porter.

Meet Cley Beach car park, wear stout shoes and warm clothes. £1.50 members, £2 non members.

Feb 21st Thurs.

Flowers of Norfolk coast.

Illustrated talk by Simon Harrap. Admission £1.50 members, £2 non members includes refreshments at Cley Village Hall, 7.30pm.

Sponsored by Natural Surroundings For more information call Richard Porter, 01263 740322

MIDNIGHT MASS

Susannah McDougall Landscape and Garden Design Design, Planting And GARDEN CONSTRUCTION Hall Farm, Langham Road, Morston, Norfolk NR25 7BL Telephone 01263 740056 Mobile 07887 480793 Email landscape@susannahmcdougall.com

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There is something unique about the arrival of Christmas Day at midnight. This year the moment was heightened by a musical treat in the form of several pieces, movingly and expertly sung by the choir of Jacklins. This Introit consisted of "O Magnum Mysterium" (Peter Maxwell Davies) soprano solo; Verity Jacklin; and later the same work in a two part version; "Truth Sent from Above" (trad. arr. and sung by Christopher Jacklin); "The Lamb" (John Tavener, words Blake); "The Fader Of Heven (Maxwell Davies); finally the Vesper Responsory which took us into the service itself.

In a church filled with flowers and greenery Canon Cedric Bradbury administered Midnight Mass and helped us to interpret the true meaning of Christ mass. During the receiving of Communion the haunting sound of a trumpet came from the transept. It was Verity playing "Aria" (Flor Peeters).

Cedric bade us go forth and there was much bonhomie and many Merry Christmases as we departed, inwardly refreshed.

OLD YEAR’S NIGHT AT BALE VILLAGE HALL Continuing the tradition established last year, a party was held at Bale Village Hall by the social club.

Delicious party finger food, wine and a fruit punch were provided, while on the long table dishes of After Eights and party poppers added to the festive appearance. Two beautiful vintage paper hats also did the rounds, and some members took on quite a carnivalesque character.

After sufficient food and drink had been consumed, we were entertained by a series of games and quizzes devised by Alastair and Paul. First there was the list of sayings which had to be matched to the language they originated in; we liked the one that said “If you have some work to do, take a nap and it will pass.” That was Russian. Nobody did particularly well at this quiz, however. Then we rolled pound coins along the floor to hit a bottle of ten-year-old malt. It was extremely difficult; a good roll had the coin whizzing off under the chairs and tables, and if it didn’t roll it didn’t get very far. Ann Ramm won the bottle with a particularly skilful and delicate throw. £27 was made towards the Village Hall Repair Fund with this game. he main event was a four-page general knowledge quiz, which taxed our fuzzy brains quite considerably.

Who knew that William Frieze Green was the inventor of the first motion picture camera, and that Rod Laver is the only tennis player to have twice won all four of tennis' Grand Slam singles titles in the same year?

(Well, we do now). It was a close run thing but the Sharrabangs won a lovely bottle of pink champagne.

While the marking was going on we sang music hall songs to the organ, played by Ian. After the count down to midnight champagne corks and party poppers went off (except that one champagne cork popped itself rather rudely before the chimes of midnight had got going) and Auld Lang Syne was duly sung. Then we played pass the parcel with the aid of our electric organist.

After that mayhem ensued, as a 70’s disco music CD was put into the machine, and several people, all male, who shall be nameless, gave us an excellent and uproariously funny exhibition of 70’s disco dancing and we all went home with sore sides from laughing so much.

Our thanks to Grace, Margaret and Ann for organising the event and the food and drink, to Alastair and Paul for devising the wonderful fun and games, and to Ian for the organ music. It all made for a wonderful evening, and long may the tradition continue.

THE CEMETERY Organising the maintenance of the Bale cemetery on the Common falls to Bale PCC. The PCC administers a small income, which is produced by a trust devoted solely to this purpose. However this income does not cover the cost of what is desirable - mowing, care of flowerbeds, hedge cutting, coping with invasion by moles and rabbits. This is hardly a problem unique to Bale.

At a recent event in the Village Hall a sum of money was raised which, it was unanimously agreed, should go towards the improvement and upkeep of the cemetery. It was also suggested that a wider appeal should be made to the families of those who are buried there. Many of these families no longer live in the parish of Bale but they would wish to see the cemetery well maintained.

Anyone who would like to contribute to this appeal should contact a Church Warden: Dick Payne (01328 878 467) or Alan Sankey (01328 878 874). All contributions however big or small are welcome.

Contributors may wish to increase the capital sum of the trust or have their contributions put towards the annual cost.

In addition, a volunteer who could spend a short time each week hoeing the flowerbeds would be immensely appreciated.

A.KEEBLE ROOFING (Established 30 years)

Roofing Contractors to the National Trust (East Anglia Region)

Tiling, Slating, New Roofs Strip/Retile & Repair Flat Roofs Repaired Telephone: 01328 730386 or 07748 845143 Email: akeebleroofing@yahoo.co.uk

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HOW TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING

Pat & Bridget Newman welcome you to THE BLUEBELL LANGHAM

PART 1. HANGOVERS Are usually caused by excess intake of alcohol. This causes, amongst other reactions, the brain to de-hydrate (due to the increase in urine production by the body as it tries to cleanse itself) which shrinks slightly usually resulting in a headache, and the production and conversion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide which causes upset to the stomach lining and gives stomach aches. Finally, the depth of the hangover varies according to how many side products are produced during the fermentation of the alcohol consumed, or ‘congeners’.

For example, the fermentation of white wine produces less zinc than red, and people tend to find that they suffer a ‘lesser’ hangover on white wine than with red.

Cure ideas: Re-hydration using proprietory ‘energy’ drinks such as a certain coloured bovine animal.

However, any ideal cure must include the following: Magnesium which depletes following alcohol and lack of which is thought to be a cause of Migraines. Fluids to replace the de-hydration. Tolfenamic acid which has been noted to reduce the more common after effects of alcohol abuse. Chlormethiazole to lower the blood pressure. Vitamin B6; known to reduce the symptoms.

Rosiglitazone and N-acetylcysteine which scavenge the body of over produced chemicals and return the balance of these chemicals.

Whilst there are also some more basic applications, should you not have any of the above in the cupboard; Take two eggs, three rashers of bacon, a slice of black pudding, two sausages (preferably Lincolnshire) one slice of bread cut in two. Place in a large frying pan with a knob of butter and groan for 5 minutes. Serve with a cup of sweet tea. Stay in Bed. Aspirin.

One patented cure is the taking of the correct mixture of Artichoke and Sarsaparilla extract. This patent was struck in November 2004 issued U.S. Patent No. 6,824,798 and proved to reduce the symptoms in 80% of cases tested. Cures given a test run after the author’s participation in Bale Village Hall’s O. Y. N. party.

It may seem odd, but people tend to enjoy the company of their fellow villagers in the hall more than the experience of bright lights and the night club scene in Holt or Fakenham, which always ensures a good turn out.

Entertainment, as usual, was provided by Richard, and organised by Alistair and Paul. Started off by a bizarre quiz from which we all learnt that the speakers of Swahili worry that if they go outside naked they will no doubt bump into their ‘in-laws’! Pass the parcel moved us toward 2008, and at the same time, reduced most attendees to the age of eight! The chimes were met to everyone’s delight, and much kissing and hugging was witnessed.

Which all goes to show, it isn’t where you are or what you are doing, it is who you are with that make these occasions special.

Delightful beer garden Freshly prepared food - non-smoking dining room Wide choice of keg, cask and guest ales Baby changing area and toilets for the disabled

Telephone (01328) 830502 FISH AND CHEESE PIE 1 lb boiled cod 1 oz flour ½ pt fish stock 1oz butter 1oz onion finely chopped 2 oz grated cheese 1 oz parsley, chopped 2lb potatoes salt and pepper Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon mustard vinegar ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper Method Cover the fish with cold water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender. Drain, saving the liquid. Remove skin and bones from the fish while still warm and flake the flesh. Fry the onion in butter on a low heat until soft.

Add the flour, stirring, and then the stock (milk can be used as part of the quantity). Bring to the boil, simmer until it thickens, stirring all the time. Add salt and pepper, mustard powder, and a few drops of vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, then the parsley and cheese. Mix in the flaked fish, put in a greased oven-proof dish, and top with creamy mashed potatoes. Cook in mod oven for approx 15 minutes. Serve hot.

The practice of serving a slice of lemon with fish began in Western Europe in the 12th century. It was believed that if a person accidentally swallowed a fishbone, the lemon juice would dissolve it!

KATHRYN GIGG Chartered Accountants, Business Advisers and Tax Consultants Personal Tax Returns & Self Assessment Advice ▪ Annual Accounts & Audit ▪ Independent Pension & Investment Advice ▪ VAT Returns ▪ Payroll & Book-keeping Service For an appointment please contact

Mrs K H Gigg, FCA on 01485 534800 The Office, 20 King’s Lynn Road, Hunstanton PE36 5HP Registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities

by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

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SALES

SERVICE

DECEMBER DIARY

REPAIRS

11th Dec 2007 A beautiful bright day, but we are tipped over so far away from the sun, now it is nearly the shortest day, that even at midday the sunshine hardly mitigates the cold air.

The woods are very light with all the leaves gone, backlit by the low slanting sun. One hazel grove is full of soft brushes of mares tail, a fuzzy grey-green texture under the trees. There is a huge intensely blue sky with faraway cities of cloud, the low sunshine making the rows of little winter wheat leaves incandescent green.

13th Dec 2007 Yesterday’s frost hung about in the shade all day. Along the wood shore the leaves on the ground were all frosted, with edgings of big crystals making miniature rainbows in the bright light. But today the frost has already melted by nine in the morning and we have patchy cloud cover, so there won’t be any sparkly leaves in the woods.

16th Dec 2007 The last two days the wildlife has been very evident down on the farm. Yesterday a pair of roe deer stood in the wood, in their woolly winter coats, staring out at me; they seemed not to have realised that I could see them.

There has been a large flock of Brent geese encamped on the winter wheat. I waved my arms and walked up the field near them, and they only waddled further away from me, nattering to each other in their guttural purring voices. Today I did make them take off, but they just landed again a hundred yards further up the field. They seem very tame compared to the Pink-footed geese, which go very quiet if there is a human near, and take off at the slightest movement. One was even sitting down. I hope it’s not that the cold weather is making them weaker.

As we walked down the track back to the wood, two big hares got up and ran off; luckily Tilda the lurcher didn’t really see them, and she was on the lead anyway. It is nice to see them about, though no doubt fifty years ago on a sunny winter afternoon there would have been tens of them rather than two.

At home later, I was in the garden assembling a sheaf of garden leafery and berries to go on the door for Christmas when there was a terrific noise of Brent geese protesting at being turfed off their nice comfy wheat field, and they flew over. I wonder how far they would have gone. There are plenty of fields of wheat round here.

For all makes of Washing Machines Dishwashers Cookers etc.

No Call Out Charge 44a Holway Road Sheringham

Tel: 01263 825273 FRENCH PANCAKES (for 6 people) 1 ½ oz butter 2 oz flour 2 eggs ½ pt milk Method Melt the butter, stir in the flour, add the eggs and beat well, gradually adding the milk. Leave for an hour. Well grease 6 saucers and pour in the mixture. Bake in a moderate oven for ½ an hour. Fold the pancakes over, and serve very hot with jam, or fruit.

RUSSIAN TIPSY CAKE 1oz unsweetened chocolate 3 tablespoons water 4 ½ oz castor sugar 2 ¼ oz plain flour 3 eggs pinch salt 1 extra tablespoon plain flour Filling 2 tablespoons fruit juice 2 tablespoons rum ½ pt double cream chocolate drops Method Grease a nine inch tin then dust with castor sugar and flour. Heat oven to 190°C/375°F. Melt the chocolate in the water. Whisk eggs and sugar in a mixer at a fast speed until thick then fold in the flour and salt. Divide into two equal parts, add the chocolate to one half and the extra flour to the other. Put alternate spoonfuls in the tin to create a marbled effect. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes.

When cool split it and spoon a mixture of the fruit juice and rum over both parts. Fill the middle with cream and decorate the top with whirls of cream and chocolate drops.

BALE VILLAGE HALL SOCIAL CLUB DRAW November Lady Nicholson £25 Basil Poston £10 Judy Everitt £5 Betty Carter £5

December Betty Preston £25 Chris Buchschacha £10 Dick Payne £5 Ann Ramm £5

Special Christmas Draw for £25 Tim Schofield

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BINHAM

News

M. G . MYHILL

Contact: Carolyn Wright Tel: 01328 830270 cpwrightuk@aol.com

All types of chimneys swept Bird and rain cowls fitted Clean Professional Service

PARISH NEWS

- Fully Insured -

I have in my possession a letter from Bernard Matthews (his staff that is, not the man himself) saying that they have no intention of building any wind turbines where they are not welcomed by the local people. Since, in the case of Cockthorpe Airfield, they say that they believe that the turbines are not welcome, they have no intention of proceeding with the plan. I guess, if you are an “anti” you would say that the decision was Bootiful!

You will have noticed that the tree on the small Green (does anyone have a name for it?) (The Green, not the tree) has been cut down. Unfortunately it was diseased and dying, and had to be cut down before it fell on somebody. It will, however, be replaced by a similar tree but of a different species. Many thanks to Trevor for the temporary stopgap during the Christmas period.

The green above is also home to the village sign. The current model has nearly reached the end of its life in the outside world, and is destined to be relocated inside the Village Hall where it can live out a retirement without temperature fluctuations or rain, sleet and snow etc.

Meanwhile a new model is being prepared. Designed by Lionel Wilde, it is being carved in seasoned oak by Warren Trett of South Creake. Warren has made several local signs including the one at Wells, and the recent seat-come-sign at Wighton. You will appreciate that this is craftsman and not production-line work. For that reason we do not have a delivery date yet, but we hope to take possession by the late spring or early summer, when a suitable ceremony will no doubt take place.

Keith Leesmith Parish Clerk 01328 710261 keith@leesmith.co.uk

Over 25 years experience

Tel: 01263 860559 MOTHERING SUNDAY Sunday 2nd March Family Service in the Priory at 11 a.m. Posies for all mothers. Do come and bring the family - grandparents, grandchildren and all your friends.

We look forward to seeing you.

DIARY OF A BINHAM FARMER’S SON, AGED 23 1844 Jan 1. This was our New Year’s Party day but we mustered badly, there being only the Adcocks and Brookes, however we were as merry as could be expected.

Jan 3. George went eel fishing in the Woodlands, caught some nice ones. Sally and I went to a nice party at Derings. Very pleasant - the Miss Damants there - nice girls.

Jan 5. Mr Upjohn preached an excellent sermon from Revelations 6.10 “How long Oh Lord !!!”

Jan 16. Father went to Fakenham to pay his account, Lake went with him as bodyguard. Uncle John and Ellen came to dine on wild goose which we all pronounced an excellent bird.

Jan 18 I went with the Governor to Fakenham to hear Mr Warnes lecture on the cultivation of flax. Made 17/and 15/6 of the barley and 25/- and 25/6 of the wheat.

Jan 27 I was steward today, Cousins being laid by with bad flu. Hitched a part of the Parr Close stack - had a course in the Hall close.

Feb 3 Charlie and I went out for a ride. Took lessons in the polka, read aloud to the ladies.

Feb 6 This was our first hunting day and horrid weather, a sharp wind but the most beautiful pack of foxhounds.

Feb 7 I went to an evening party at Old Sherringham’s.

Miss Francis, Miss Read and Miss Damant there. I took a bed there.

Feb 13 Mr and Mrs Fisher and Rosa came to dinner. A very pleasant evening, cards and music this time.

Feb 1 Charles and I went to Aylsham and tried to make a bargain with Mr Smith but could not skin him £70 for one horse.

Feb 24 Ted, Charlie and I went to Blakeney to meet Wyndham’s hounds, slow hunt but killed a brace of hares. Ted’s new grey mare carries him well.

Richard & Norah Lewis

EASTER SATURDAY

On Easter Saturday, 22nd March, there will be a short Children’s Service in the Priory at 4 p.m. followed by the Easter Egg Hunt in the Priory grounds. Bring all the family!

PLUMBING & HEATING Local ‘CORGI’ registered specialist undertakes all plumbing work including installation and maintenance of all central heating systems oil, gas and solid fuel.

Robin Berry Mills Macmillan Ltd 01328 878621 Also complete kitchen and bathroom installations

9

TWITCHERS & TWEETERS

LLOYD DURHAM

Any hobby can easily become an obsession, like “twitching” - the pursuit of unusual or rare birds. When news breaks of a rare bird, sometimes hundreds of bird watchers speed to see it, often huge distances, just so they can add it to their lists. In one case it was a thousand or more to see an American warbler in a ‘Tesco’ car park in Kent. In another, a European rarity in the UK brought “twitchers” from the Netherlands.

Twitchers keep personal lists (hence “ticking”) of the different species they have seen this month, year or ever in a specific locality, whether their own garden, county, Britain, Europe or the whole world. Twitching and ticking are now world-wide; Dutch, Finns or Yanks are all at it. A whole industry of bird news media, guide books and wildlife travel agents has built up to serve the market. No-one has seen all the more than 9,000 birds in the world yet, or ever will, probably, but I believe a determined lady “scored” about 8,000 before she died, out on a “twitch.”

One well-known twitcher left his own wedding reception in quest of another “tick!” Such listing is obsessive and highly competitive. How do you prove you have seen any of these birds, without witnesses or photographs? I mean really seen, to identify and be certain. When a comparative newcomer beat the record for the highest number of birds seen in the UK in one year, this led to a ludicrous, vitriolic dispute about his veracity. For years the crown for the longest UK list has been worn by a Salthouse resident with many more than 500. But others are close behind and “....uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

Twitching is not a new name for bird-watching, which has a long history, for man has always been interested in birds. The Song of Solomon says “ - the voice of the turtle (dove) is heard in our land.” Before there were any professional ornithologists, many amateur naturalists were fascinated by the life and behaviour of birds. Much of what we know today of their curious lives we owe to those humble observers who delighted in the mysteries. The Reverend Gilbert White in the 18th Century was the father of British bird-watching, though all nature excited his curiosity. Today, twitching is almost entirely a sport but it does add to our knowledge of the differences between species. Some twitchers are even bird watchers!

North Norfolk has more than its share of twitchers, drawn by its reputation for rarities since Victoria’s reign, many of them wind-driven vagrants (birds, that is).

There are always more twitchers around Cley-next-theSea than you could shake a stick at, much as you might like to. I confess to having had the disease. You can recover but you are never really cured. I know many twitchers, some quite normal, until you hear they have driven hundreds of miles on the off chance of glimpsing a Swinhoe’s storm-petrel caught in a mist net.

Ian Johnson

FUNERAL SERVICES 11a Avenue Road, High Kelling, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6RD

Telephone (01263) 713113 Funeral Director:

Mrs Zoe Mitchell, N.A.F.D. BINHAM LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Thursday 24th January 7.30 p.m.

Members’ Open Evening & AGM. At 7.30 p.m. we will have a short AGM and following this some of our members will be sharing their interests and research with us. There will be more interesting finds to see: some discovered by Cliff and Sue Hudson while metal detecting around the village, also Andrew Moncur will bring some of the artefacts he has found around Field House. Richard and Norah Lewis are continuing their research into various subjects. David Frost will bring the latest architectural model of the Priory Project and Jack Grange has found still more photographs and books recalling earlier days in Binham.

Alan Eagle will bring a full range of photographs taken over the Medieval Weekend last August and unveil the medieval montage for the Village Hall.

Thursday 28th Feb. at 7.30 p.m.

Prof. Victor Morgan. The Material Evidence for the Reformation in Parish Churches Monday 10th March at 2pm.

Dr Roger Last. Royal Gardens, including those at Sandringham. Later in the year we hope to organise a visit to Dr Last’s superb gardens in Corpusty.

Monday 21st April at 7.30 p.m.

Dr John Davies, Chief Curator of the Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service. “The Land of Boudica” Please note that we have two Monday meetings in March and April – one in the afternoon. We will return to the more usual Thursday evenings in the autumn.

All meetings in the Binham Village Hall. £1 members, £2 non members.

For more information call 01328 830270

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Growing up is optional - growing old is mandatory.

You know when you are getting old when you fall down and then wonder what else you can do while you are down there. When you can admit that wrinkles don't hurt and when laughing becomes a good exercise - it's like jogging on the inside.

10

There are many exiting methods now available in this area. We have awarded the contract for the establishment of an overall interpretive plan giving cohesion to displays, leaflets and other forms of information provision to be developed. Professional research has been commissioned to supplement the known history of the monastic site together with the artefacts and architectural fragments still in store, but unexamined, from the excavations of the 1930s. We are greatly heartened by the willingness of many members of the parish to help in the preparation of information on walks and cycle rides that can be undertaken relating local features to the priory site. Also volunteers have come forward to be guides and training will start in the New Year.

Fund-raising At the time of notification of the Heritage Lottery Fund award in April 2007 we still had just over £80,000 of match funding to find. Considerable effort has been directed to this vital element of the project. Thanks to the generosity of charitable organisations, English Heritage and many individual and corporate donations nearly half this sum has been received.

BINHAM PRIORY ACCESS and Conservation Project Progress Report - June to Dec. 2007 Conservation The conservation work on the gatehouse structure has been the first site activity. The specialist conservation contractor W S Lusher and Son have completed both N and S sides of the gatehouse, removing the attached bullshed and bull-pen, consolidating the medieval walls where necessary and completing the weather protection by “rough racking”, a technique of applying lime mortar to ensure no water traps are left in the flintwork. A really exciting aspect has been the exposure of a complete medieval window and some remains of a second one, making a matching pair. The existence of these two windows may alter the archaeologists’ thinking on the internal layout of the gatehouse.

The conservation of the precinct wall will be carried out from spring next year as the risk of frost damage to the new lime mortar precludes continuing over the winter.

Physical Access Enhancement of physical access depends upon constructing new external paths, together with a secondary entrance to the church and a low services building in the ruined north aisle. The services building will contain a display area, refreshment point and toilets.

All design complies with the requirement of the Disability Discrimination Act. The services building has to be provided with water, sewerage connection and an up-rated electrical supply cable.

You will not be surprised that the Heritage Lottery Fund demands we follow comprehensive project management and reporting procedures including competitive tendering for all contracts valued over £5,000. Donald Insall Associates carried out all the preliminary work for us to achieve the multiple planning consents necessary for the new-build aspects of the project to proceed. However in the evaluation of the bids for the architect to take the design through the detailing and site supervision stages, The Whitworth CoPartnership was more competitive.

A change of architect half way through a project is not ideal but all the detailed design and specifications were completed by October. Enquiry documents were prepared and issued to 5 selected building contractors, considered having the potential to be main contractor and expressing a desire to tender for the work. Tenders will be received for evaluation in the New Year. It is hoped to appoint the main contractor for a site start in the early Spring and completion by Christmas.

Intellectual Access The Heritage Lottery Fund award was very dependant on this third element of the project; imparting to users and visitors better understanding of the archaeology, architecture, history and spirituality of the site, particularly when traditional familiarity with church usage and practices is declining.

The effort will not slacken during 2008 for the project to be completed free of debt with the whole site fit to be enjoyed by all for many generations to come.

David Frost

OPEN CIRCLE Thursday 21 February. Vicky Marks returns to talk about Scoliosis – curvature of the spine. st

Thursday 20th March. Bob Smith, Wells Harbour Master, explains the history and workings of Wells Harbour.

A reminder to all Binham & Hindringham Women's Club members that our meetings for the next few months are being held in Hindringham Methodist Chapel following the summer floods damaging the floor at Hindringham Village Hall. New members are always welcome.

We meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7.15pm. Just come along or call secretary Fiona Thompson on 830639.

G J PARSONS Landscaping & Complete Garden Service Patios, paths, driveways and shed-bases laid.

Decking, fencing, carports and sheds erected.

Strimming, Rotavating, grass-cutting, hedge-cutting, mole-catching, pressure washing, and garden clearance undertaken.

Mini-digger/JCB hire and general property maintenance. Free estimates.

Tel: 01263 587867 or 0787 622 6551

11

BINHAM’S FIRST PANCAKE RACES

COCKTHORPE

Sunday 3rd February 2008 Village Hall Playing Field 12.30 for12.45 start whatever the weather it will happen!

Teams of 4. £8 per team. Individual Children’s Race and Veterans’ Race will be arranged on the day. Pans and Pancakes will be provided. Colourful pinnies, chefs’ hats etc. may be worn.

Please let Maureen Frost know before 1st February if you can take part (with your team name if possible). Soup and rolls will be available.

Maureen - 01328 830362 or email: cpwrightuk@aol.com

News Contact: Ann Massingham

01328 830558

THE CALTHORPES OF COCKTHORPE VIRGINIA LINE Cockthorpe Church contains the fine Jacobean altartomb of Sir James Calthorpe of Blakeney (buried 1615) and his wife, Barbara nee Bacon, who [in 1639] “at the age of 86 years was much comforted by the sight of her 193 children and their offspring”. Sir James’s great great grandfather was James Calthorpe, Lord of the Manor of Blakeney (son of Richard Calthorpe of Ingham and his wife Margaret nee Irmingland of “Stivekey”). [Blakeney Historical Group, “Blakeney in the Eighteenth Century”, p.4].

This huge number of offspring was probably composed of family who lived all over Norfolk, in London, Suffolk and Essex (Great Parndon), and maybe even Devon and Kent, but presumably excluded their Virginian Calthorpe descendants, who were nearly as prolific. Their grandson, Christopher Calthorpe, Jr., who emigrated in 1622 to New Poquoson (pronounced “P’caw-son”), Virginia. (In 1648 his neighbour, Oliver Segar, for fishing on the Sabbath and so “disregarding the sacred character of the day”, was sentenced by the Minister and Churchwardens of New Poquoson Parish, to build a bridge over the swamp between Captain Christopher Calthorpe’s and Lieutenant William Would’s plantations).

At the time of his death in 1662 Christopher Calthorpe had 67 cattle, and was a Member of the House of Burgesses and Commissioner for York County, Virginia.

By the 1690s his grandsons, James and Charles Calthorpe held, respectively, 900 acres in York County & 165 acres in New Poquoson. The Calthorpes of Cockthorpe are traceable in Charles Parish and Isle of Wight County, Virginia, in, respectively, the 1740s and in 1775.

Christopher “Calthrope” , originally of Cockthorpe, is a “Qualifying 17th Century Ancestor” for the prestigious “Jamestowne Society” today.

BINHAM GUILD OF ARTISTS The Group consists of anyone interested in Art or Craft, beginner or otherwise. Artists with professional experience form part of the Group and will gladly advise if needed. We meet every Tuesday morning from 10 to 12 in the Village Hall. A fee of £2 per morning includes coffee and biscuits.

For further information contact James Bucknill 01328 830651.

THE CHEQUERS’ QUIZ NIGHT Monday 4th Feb. and Monday 3rd March.

A very informal affair - we make up teams on the night, depending on how many of us there are. Come at 6.30 if you’re going to have a meal, or at 7.30 for a drink and the Quiz. Alex and Steve look forward to seeing you.

BINHAM 100+ CLUB Winners. November: £25 Andrew Marsh, £10 Mr Griffiths, David Brief, £5 Mrs Johnson, Norah Lewis, R Savoury. December: £50 A Lambourne, George Bond, £25 Alan Eagle, £10 Mike Jefferies, Roger Newman, £5 Doris Burton, Mr M Tyrell, Ann Procktor.

There are still some more numbers if anyone new wants to join. Please get in touch with June Read at 8 Priory Crescent, Binham.

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12

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

STORY BEHIND A DATESTONE In the Eastern Daily Press of Saturday 29th December 2007 the weekend walk described in the Sunday Supplement was around Binham and Field Dalling. The writers made the comments that “Field Dalling has a number of attractive houses. One is dated 1795 so there is clearly a history attached to the village. Sadly, attempts to unravel it in books and on the internet were in vain.”

The house in question is ‘The Old Bakehouse’ on the Langham Road, almost opposite the churchyard. As well as the year, there are the initals WEC. These are thought to be for William and Elizabeth Coe. There are records of the Coe family dating from 1643 up to 1920, when a Mrs S Coe was recorded in the parish rate book as owning the (now derelict) cottages behind the church.

Willim Coe was a butcher but also farmed in the village and had family connections of grocer and owning a public house called ‘The Sign of the Hammers’. The 1795 datestone probably marks the Georgian rebuilding of the bakehouse. When William died in 1804 he left the sum of Five Pounds to pay for bread to be distributed to the poor of the parish of Field Dalling on the two successive Sundays after his death. He is buried in a family plot near the church porch.

The Coe family were connected by marriage to the Frankling, Rush, Crafer and Burrell families, among others. So there is history in Field Dalling - if you know where to look and who to talk to!

Much of the information in this article was unearthed

by Mrs Jane Harrap of Chester while researching her family history. Our thanks to her. If any reader has additional information about the Coe family (perhaps in property deeds or other records), she would be grateful for it. Please contact Anthony Smith at the telephone or email address in the village header.

Eric Hotblack

DOUBT IF BUST IS OF SHOVEL On the Norfolk Coast Curches website (www.norfolkcoast.co.uk/churches/ch_cockthorpe.htm) I wrote that there was in Cockthorpe church a “Terracotta statue of Cockthorpe’s famous son, Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, attributed to John Bushnell.

(Courtesy of the Strangers’ Hall Museum, Norwich). To see this fine bust for real, visit the Museum in Charing Cross, Norwich.”

I have, however, since discovered that Admiral Sir Cloudesley’s biographer, Simon Harris, wrote “there is also doubt that it really is Sir Cloudesley. [Harris, Shovell, pp.381-382].

The two busts that definitely are of the Admiral are the one on his tomb in Westminster Abbey and the one which belongs to the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath.

Joc Wingfield

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13

PAUL R. SMITH

GUNTHORPE News

CABINET MAKER

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CHURCH NEWS Cannon Michael Wilson led a Remembrance Day service starting at the memorial cross in the churchyard.

Ray White, himself a veteran of WW2, laid the wreath and Marie Denholm read the names of the fallen, followed by the two minute silence. 23 people attended what is always a moving service with a very apt address from the Rev Wilson. The collection was sent to the Royal British Legion Fakenham branch.

Cannon Michael led the Christmas Day service of carols and readings by the younger village residents - his ninth time of doing so. Martin Jacklin played the organ accompanied by his very talented musical family on brass instruments. 93 people attended the main service and enjoyed an address by the Rev Wilson on the meaning of Christmas - illustrated by an explanation of each letter of the word as they were held up by the children. The main service was followed by a short Holy Communion with some 34 members of the congregation attending. Many thanks to all who took part, to all who came to make the service so enjoyable and worthwhile, and to all who decorated the Church - one gentleman from the USA was heard to remark how beautiful the Church looked. The collection was shared between the Children’s Society and Church Housing Society - which helps homeless families.

Telephone 01263 712433 www.paul-r-smith.co.uk Hill House Farm Estate Lower Bodham Holt NR25 6RW

NORTH NORFOLK NOSTALGIA Local History Lecture Sat 16 Feb 2008 at 7 for 7:30 Local historian Philip West will lead us on a nostalgic journey through the ten villages covered by Lynx, showing us North Norfolk as it was in days gone by. Drawing on his slide collection of photographs and postcards he will show us views of farming as it used to be, and scenes of Holt and Wells.

The lecture will be in Field Dalling & Saxlingham Village Hall, which is on Holt Road in Field Dalling.

Refreshments will be available in the interval, and a raffle will be held in aid of St Andrew’s Church General Fund.

Tickets cost £5, to include a glass of wine on arrival.

You may reserve a seat by purchasing a ticket in advance, or buy one on the night. Seats will be allocated on a first come basis. Please make cheques payable to ‘Field Dalling PCC’ and send them with a self addressed envelope to Mrs Ginny Kirby, 96 Holt Road, Field Dalling, Holt NR25 7LE. Tel 01328 830211.

FOGPC 50/50 Club Results

November M Wilson R Cutterham C Wallace N Hinton H Clare J Arthurson

December £20.00 £12.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00

H Ford E Wilson G Clare E Baldwin H Craske G Shaw C Aries

£30.00 £15.00 £10.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00 £ 5.00

A very enjoyable 50:50 Club Christmas Party raised £157.50 for the “Friends”. A very big thank you to all who contributed food, drink and the raffle prizes and also thanks to all those who came and supported the party so generously.

We still have 115 members with monthly prize money in excess of £50.00. There are still a few numbers left in the monthly draws – as a somewhat larger organisation advertises - you have to be in it to win it! To join for the rest of this year (to July 2008 at £1.00 per month, paid in advance) or for more information please contact either Peter Everett (012163 860035) or John Blakeley (01263 861008).

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INVITATIONAL LETTER TO INTRODUCE THE PARISH PLAN

For further information or to arrange a visit:

t: 01263 862133 e: enquiries@cottage concierge.co.uk www.cottageconcierge.co.uk

The Chairman, John Church, and Vice Chairman, Diana Arthurson, of Gunthorpe Parish council have asked the Lynx to publish the following letter which will also be delivered to all resident of Gunthorpe and Bale.

10th January 2008 Dear Residents, Invitation to a Parish Plan Presentation in Gunthorpe Village Hall Saturday 23rd February 2008 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

As part of national & local government planning, Parishes are very much encouraged to produce their own plan for their own future, so it’s important that all of us living in Gunthorpe and Bale decide to influence & shape what may happen here.

What is a Parish Plan?

It describes what you value in our two villages It identifies issues that affect us like traffic, speeding, housing development, wind turbines, street lights, footpaths etc It sets out hopes & aims for the next 5 years or more Why make a Parish Plan?

You live here & these are your villages, so you know what’s wanted. So, as the local experts, give your ideas & opinions. Tell local & national government what you want our future to be like Get involved Come to the meeting on 23rd February. Gather ideas and views. Plan for our future.

Carolyn Heydon of the Norfolk Rural Community Council will explain all about Parish Plans, what they can achieve & how you can be involved.

Please come: coffee and biscuits will be served, but if, for any reason, you can’t be there, but want to be involved, please contact John Church in Bale, 01328 878377 or Diana Arthurson in Gunthorpe, 01263 860539.

GUNTHORPE WHAT’S ON Diary dates, watch notice board for full details

February 16th 50:50 Club brought forward to allow Parish Meeting to take place in Institute.

16th 7.00pm Quiz Night bring the kids - there will be a children’s prize rd 23 Parish Plan Meeting in Gunthorpe Institute full details to be circulated by Parish Council early in New Year.

March 15th Institute AGM 6.00pm Illustrated talk on Travels in China 7.00pm 29th 50:50 Club.

DORIS MORRIS One of Gunthorpe’s longer serving residents Mrs Doris Morris sadly passed away on 26th December, aged 96.

With the need to move to a bungalow she had lived in Melton and Briningham, next to her son Robert, for some time before moving to the care home at Pineheath where she spent the last few years of her life.

She and her husband Colonel John Morris moved to Woodside (originally the Cross Keys public house) in 1969.

Colonel Morris died in 1994, but the family links with Gunthorpe remain as their daughter Diana and husband John Arthurson still live at Woodside.

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15

However, Garry (researcher) said, that if I preferred it, he would take me into a Group Session and if possible introduce me to Nigel Farage the Independence Party leader.

This suited me much better and so went to one of the many meeting rooms with tables wired up so that wearing the headphones one can hear the talking in the listener`s own language. There were MEP`s from UK, Denmark, Poland and Romania taking part. This is a very costly expense as many translators need to be employed depending on subject matter. Garry and I had joined quite near the end of the session and as the small party left the platform Garry introduced me to Nigel Farage as he was leaving and we had a brief chat. As we crossed one area, with people going in all directions, I said, “This reminds me of an airport” Garry said, “We do call this ‘The Airport Lounge’”. We then joined the rest of the group in Tom`s office, something of a squash and about 4 o`clock left for our coach and back to Bruge.

Along the way I collected some relevant facts and numbers:The Council of Ministers (Heads of Governments) meet on a regular basis in secret i.e. nothing from these meetings is divulged although in “My fundamental rights in the European Union” Article 42 states:- Any citizen of the Union……….has a right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.

There are 17 Commissioners who are appointed by Heads of Governments for 5 years. (In our case throw-outs from our own Government in London?).

The Head of each country decides how many EMP`s to have. There are 78 for UK (Note: Malta has 5 for a very small population and only Malta and Cyprus have only men.)

All UK MEP`s salaries are paid by our Government.

And now for the biggest waste of all. Because France insists that the Parliament meets on French soil once a month everything required to continue the work is transported by a fleet of lorries over a weekend to continue next Monday morning for a week in Strasbourg. Tom has to leave home at 3 in the morning to get to Strasbourg for the session starting at 5 p.m. He gets there about 3 and they work over night; a long day! Moreover, because everything in France shuts down in August they have to go twice in September. This procedure costs at least 250 million euros a year at present. There are about 60 employees working at the building in Strasbourg which is about 1% of all EU employees, about 6,000 altogether.

However there is also another ‘third seat’ which is little used but over-staffed in Luxembourg, and I read that recently the auditors have refused to sign off the accounts of the EU for the 13th consecutive year. No wonder Martha Andreasen who was sacked when she blew the whistle on this appalling state of affairs has joined the Independence Party as Party Treasurer.

On a positive note the third day was free time to enjoy this lovely city often called the Venice of the North and buy lots of Belgian chocolate and the fourth day was the trip back home taking in St. Flora Castle, the “Palace” (more chocolates) where King Albert and his family spent the whole of the war years 1914 to 1918 and a meal stop at Cite Europe.

A DAY IN EUROPE

by Gunthorpe resident John Arthurson. His views are not necessarily those of the Lynx or its editors, but they will, no doubt “strike a chord” with many readers.

Early this summer I joined a party from Dunstable on a trip billed as a “Holiday to Brugge & Bruxelles from June 5th to 8th inclusive.” This was a trip initiated by Tom Wise the MEP for Bedfordshire and organised by his UK office manager Peter Cole. I thought I would be another Guy Fawkes and go and set fire to the place….but no, but I would like to see where my money is constantly wasted.

The first day was spent mostly in travelling from Gunthorpe, leaving by taxi at 5a.m. to Dunstable and joining the coach party from there down to the Channel Tunnel, through on the train and on to Bruges.

The second day was the most important and after checking with our list of do`s, don’ts and must`s we were back in our coach and reached the EU Parliament coach park and building in Brussels. The coach park was full so the driver had to find space elsewhere and about this time, eleven o`clock, Tom Wise came out to greet us. He is a man of boundless energy who works long hours and is doing his utmost, along with the other Independence Party MEPs, to get us out of the EU. We were taken into the building by Tom, through the security screening (similar to those at airports) with all handbags, cameras etc. placed on the conveyor belt for scanning. We were all wearing our stick-on badges, without which a problem would immediately arise. We then went to a lecture room and had to sit through a 45 minutes talk about the EU from its beginnings, obviously by a man employed by “The Firm.”

Tom then took us to another room (the place is vast) and gave us a much more interesting talk about the EU Parliament workings and his part along with the other MEP`s who are doing their best for an eventual withdrawal. He then took us to the Council Chamber/Seat of Parliament with all the countries flags on show behind the platform. There were 785 members at that time. It had been enlarged and will now hold 900.

Victualling came next in Dining Room 4, where we enjoyed a three-course meal and wine with waiter service.

This meal was paid for by Tom out of his own pocket!

Tom`s young researcher had now joined the party and recognising my Air Crew Association tie sat next to me as he is ex RAF. After the meal Tom took the group up to the top of the building for a sight over the city.

16

FRED’S GARDENING DIARY

NEED A GLAZIER ? ..... CALL:

Seed Sowing

ALLIED GLASS

If you did not sow broad beans in November you can start from the end of February through to March or even April if the soil is not waterlogged.

Onion sets can be planted in March but if you grow from seed wait until April. You can sow carrots and parsnips in late March if soil conditions are right.

If you have a cold greenhouse you can sow some tomato seed, but it is best to start these indoors as they need a minimum temperature of 12° C (54° F). They are best planted in small pots or seed cells (5cm). As they grow give each plant room so that it does not grow spindly. Plant into grow-bags or 30 cm pots in April.

Plant outdoor varieties in early April and the others in May after the danger of frost is over.

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HELP REQUESTED In these days where a minority of young people, generally in the larger cities, but even sometimes in our local towns, generate bad news that belies the good work that so many of our young people do, it is nice to have a positive news story.

Gunthorpe teenager Sophie Mills has signed up for a 28 day expedition to Madagascar to be undertaken in summer 2009. The purpose of the expedition is to help with cultural projects and wildlife research, and in order to participate Sophie with other team members has to raise some £3,000+.

One fund raising idea is to collect empty aluminium drink cans for re-cycling, and if you feel you can contribute in this or indeed any other way please contact Sophie at Dumpling Cottage - telephone: 01263 861669.

Jobs for the Garden If you have not done the following jobs: Pruning should be done now. Tea roses can be cut back by at least half to an outward facing bud. Weak growth should be removed to leave open bush.

Floribunda such as Queen Elizabeth should be pruned more lightly, just removing any weak or diseased wood and any growth crossing other branches.

On shrub roses - remove the tips of shoots and maintain the shape of the bush.

Herbaceous plants can be divided now if they have been growing in the same place for 3 years or more - dig up and split into smaller pieces using the young growth round the outside of the clump and discarding the old middle part.

Delphiniums and Lupins can be lifted and divided with a sharp knife.

Plant sections of Iris and Lilies, but only plant near the surface, and only partly covering the rhizomes.

You can also plant most new shrubs or move any you already have in February or early March. If the soil is dry water well for a few days.

Fred Morley

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH update Sergeant Andy Hood, the coordinator for the Community Speed Watch programme has confirmed that the £750 deposit requirement for the camera etc is likely to be dropped early in the New Year when, hopefully, additional industry sponsors come on line.

If the Parish Council has insurance cover the deposit is already not being taken anyway.

Some of the Lynx villages are already in discussion with Sgt Hood so when you see those warning signs you should assume that someone will be paying close attention to your speed.

JB

WELCOME As always a warm welcome to any newcomers to the village since last Summer. We are only aware of one change, and we welcome John Kaye and his wife Catherine Alexandra who have moved into Valley Farm House. John is a retired company director, but still “keeps his hand in” with part-time management consulting as well as having a keen interest in the countryside and wild-life conservation.

Some readers may have noticed the new pond (lake even) that has appeared in place of the overgrown and mud filled pond next to the House – John assures us that by the end of the summer this will be real wild life haven.

Catherine owns and runs “Catherine Alexandra Great Clothes Ltd” in Burnham Market and so will already be known to many readers. One other claim to fame is that one of John’s sons, Julian, is a member of the classical pop group “Blake”.

For

Nannies, Au pairs House Keepers / Couples Also

House and Pet Sitters Peace of mind whilst you are away Anna de Soissons Emma Stimpson 01263 834 290 / 01263 768 675

17

www.helpunlimited.co.uk Info@helpunlimited.co.uk

MEDIAEVAL LANDOWNING AROUND GUNTHORPE

briefly through the de Clare family itself, Edward IV was was by descent seventeenth in ‘the Honour of Clare’.

Comparatively recently, in 1724, this same ‘Honour of Clare’ was referred to in the title deeds to the Inn in Gunthorpe.

Turning next to the Lordships of the Manors of Gunthorpe (for there were two of them), these were held of course ‘in fee’ from the feudal superiors (above) and the first family appears to have been that of Peter de Valoignes, a nephew of the Conqueror’s. The last of his family line, Christina married William de Mandeville, Earl of Essex around 1200. Unhappily they died childless and their estates, passed to the de Say family (who had married the last female of the de Mandeville dynasty).

Thus inheriting some of the huge de Mandeville estates, the de Says took the Mandeville Coat of Arms and a variation of these are Arms are depicted on the first shield beneath the font in Gunthorpe Church. (For the heraldically technically minded, these Gunthorpe variations of de Say Arms have been ‘differenced’ by a ‘bend’ or band across it to show that they belonged to a de Say heiress or cadet line and not to the head of that family).

It would have been around 1300 that the de Say heiress married Sir Ralph Sefoule for his Coat of Arms are added to hers on the second shield under the font. The other coats of arms under the font (those of the Welbys and Davys) show that each in turn married an heiress of the earlier family (the last, the Davy’s, incorporating those of de Say, Sefoule and Welby).

The other Lordship of the Manor was held jointly from shortly after the conquest by Le Mays and Avenels.

A Ralph Avenel paid his feudal dues direct to the King in 1154 and nearly two hundred years later both Avenels and Le Mays paid their dues to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester up until his death, as mentioned above, at Bannockburn. Later again records show that the Avenels and Le Mays were paying their fees to the Earl of March (the 4th Earl, son of Edmund & Philippa, heir presumptive to Richard II and great-grandfather of Edward IV and Richard III).

Although I have not yet found any descendants of the Le Mays, an Avenel daughter married a Welby and they were also related in marriage to the de Terringtons of Terrington and therefore to the Howards of Wiggenhall (both places being just south of Kings Lynn). Thus the Avenels ‘live on’ in the descendants of William Howard of Wiggenhall. To put this in another context, five generations after the said William Howard, his descendant Sir John Howard was created Duke of Norfolk in 1483. In 1983 (my kinsman) the 17th Duke thought he would ‘throw a party’ on the five hundredth anniversary of the Dukedom for all the descendants of the first Duke. He gave up the idea when the list of such descendants passed the 1000 mark. This shows, I think, how amazingly numbers of descendants multiply and it would be intriguing indeed to find any of those who live in this area who (whether they know it or not at present) are also descended from some of the names above (which naturally would make us kinsmen together).

David Stuart-Black recently moved to Gunthorpe and we soon found that he had much stronger links to the village than even he had realised, as this article shows. Perhaps others from local villages will be able to contribute more connections than he has found so far.

Asked to write this article by John Blakeley, I considered it with some trepidation for not a single member of my own family shares my forty year interest in heraldry and genealogy and I fear the same might apply to readers of the Lynx. However, given an interesting document by John which sheds much light on early mediaeval landowners in this part of the world and finding from it unexpected links to some of my own family ancestors, I agreed and so here are a few notes on this huge subject.

Firstly, as many readers may know, the Domesday Book shows, (among other things), how William the Conqueror shared out his new realm amongst his family and his chief commanders. It also shows that he kept huge possessions to himself and amongst these were Gunthorpe, Bale, Barney, Binham and others in this area.

And it would appear that the Feudal Superiority of the area remained with the Crown until Edward I’s daughter, Joan of Acre, married Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Hertford and Gloucester. It seems likely that they were given the feudal superiority on their marriage.

Unfortunately their only son, Gilbert, was killed at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and so the vast de Clare estates were split between his three sisters. One of these, Elisabeth, married John de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and their granddaughter and sole heiress, (also Elisabeth) married back into the Royal Family in the person of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, second son of Edward III. (Incidentally, it is the de Burgh raised Red Hand Emblem that is honoured to this day by Ulster Unionists!). Lionel and Elisabeth de Burgh had an only child, Philippa Plantagenet, Countess of Ulster who married Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. This pair’s connection with Gunthorpe (having inherited the Feudal Superiority) is of particular interest for me as they are direct ancestors of mine, (in that one of their daughters, yet another Elisabeth, married firstly Sir Harry ‘Hotspur’ Percy of Shakespearian fame, and secondly the first Lord Camoys, second in command at the Battle of Agincourt - my great-grandfather was the Lord Camoys of his day and the present one is therefore my cousin). It was to Edmund, Earl of March that John Avenel, one of the Lords of the Manor of Gunthorpe paid his feudal dues towards the end of the fourteenth century.

A later member of this Clare/ de Burgh/Mortimer/ Plantagenet line was Edward IV and his brothers Richard III, Edmund and George: and this historic line ended on the male side with Edward IV’s nephew, Edward Earl of Warwick, executed on a trumped up charge by Henry VII (for, like many others, he had a better claim to the throne than had Henry himself). It was about this time that the mediaeval Feudal System was coming to an end and although the Feudal Superiority of Gunthorpe, Bale, Binham and area had passed only

18

CHURCH FLOWERS

LANGHAM

We are most grateful for the work of all the kind people who have provided and arranged flowers in church during the year.

Volunteers are always welcome, especially at festivals.

Flowers and foliage can usually be provided from our gardens, so if you would like to help, do get in touch with Margaret Freeth or with anyone whose name appears on the flower roster in the church porch.

News Contact: Ann Sherriff 01328 830605

CHURCH CLOCK The latest news is that work on the church clock is planned to begin on January 16th.

Langham PCC

CHURCH FLAG AND FLOODLIGHTS

LANGHAM LADYBIRDS

Thanks to the generosity of one of our villagers we were able to have the church floodlit over the twelve day Christmas period.

For this I am sure we are all very grateful. Many thanks also to Paul Freeth for putting up the flag in all kinds of weather, not an easy task on occasions.

Any person may request the flood lights to be on for a fee of £5 per night. Contact: Ann on Tel: 830 605.

Our year will start with the usual visit to the Panto.

Everybody welcome to CADS PANTO DRESS REHEARSAL at 8 pm on Tuesday February 5th. at Cley Village Hall. Please come and see our local talent.

Wednesday March 5th, Mardle Evening at 7.30 pm in the Parish Room. Discussion and ideas for 2008.

I have requested tickets for Thursford - Fingers Crossed!

Maureen 830731

CHRISTMAS FAIR Once more a festive atmosphere pervaded the Parish Room on Nov 24th and everyone seemed to have an enjoyable morning.

The amount raised for the Langham Church general fund was £715 which was very pleasing. Thanks must go to ALL who helped in ANY way and to all who bought and brought.

Competition and raffle results were: Christmas Hamper Bob Smith Basket of Flowers Barry Betts Quilt Juliette Snell Number of Sweets 96 Jack Fowle of Binham 97 Christmas Cake Jan Hope Christmas Cake Auction June Scruby Thank you to everyone for all your support.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC CONCERT With Double Octave What a wonderful evening of music, song, mulled wine and mince pies!

If you missed it, you missed a treat. Charpentier’s Christmas Mass - Messe de Minuit pour Noel, and carols with audience participation, provided a well balanced programme to please everyone.

Recorder solos by Philippa Press and vocal solos by Linda Phelps were absolutely marvellous.

Double Octave were a great group of people and their action of going round to charities and performing concerts to raise money for them at no charge has to be highly commended. Credit must also go to Travis Perkins who sponsor the group.

We were very grateful for their presence and we are pleased to report that after expenses proceeds amounted to £327. 26 for Langham Church general fund. Thank you to all those who came along to support the event which was indeed a very enjoyable evening.

If anyone is interested, they are in need of tenors in the choir – contact Wyatt Earp for further details.

Langham PCC

CAROLS, SHERRY, MINCE PIES AND SAUSAGE ROLLS

MACE CONSTRUCTION General Builders & Decorators No job too small or large 45 THE STREET, HINDRINGHAM FAKENHAM, NORFOLK, NR21 0PR Phone: 01328 878357 - Free Quotations Partners:

ROGER FLOOD

ANDY TURNER

Phones:

01328 878357

01263 712905

19

A wonderful evening was spent on 19th December in the Parish Room, singing a collection of carols, listening to Eileen and Wendy singing some duets, Jan reading an amusing poem of the 12 days of Christmas and Ken waxing lyrical in his inimitable style.

Great thanks to Pauline for playing the piano so melodiously and to those who helped decorate the room and baked mince pies and sausage rolls.

The audience participation on the rendering of the musical version of the 12 days of Christmas was a sight to behold with each table trying to out do their neighbours with volume and action. We wondered how the floor stood it!

It was disappointing that we didn't have a full house, so this year’s date will be 17th December (provisionally), please jot it into your diary as I don't want to hear that "we didn't know about it".

The profit from the evening was £90.67 which goes to the running costs of the Parish Room.

Edward Allen, Chairman

LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH

THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY

There will be a ‘Spring Sale’ - watch out for posters for details. Meanwhile a date for your diary is July 12th. when we will be having the ‘Grand Sale’.

Maureen Dennis 830731

Donations from the Carmel and the Bluebell collection box together with half the church collection at Midnight Mass, enabled us to send £71.57 to The Children’s Society. Thank you to all who gave.

Langham PCC

THANKS TO FRIENDS OF LANGHAM Thanks are due once more to the Friends of Langham for the lovely decorated tree on The Green, which shone out so beautifully over the Christmas period. It looked absolutely fantastic and thanks to Sue and John for the use of their power supply.

A bus load of us would also like to say a huge thank you for the generosity of the Friends of Langham which provided members with a free trip to Norwich before Christmas. This proved to be a very enjoyable occasion.

Thank you to the Committee for all that you do for the village.

A Member

LANGHAM CAR SERVICE SCHEDULE UNTIL APRIL 13TH. Week beginning Tel No th Jan 28 830731 Feb 4th 830056 Feb 11th. 830348 Feb18th 830537 Feb. 25th 830605 March3rd 830605 March17th 830821 March 10th.830537 th March 24 830606 March31s 830036 th April 7 . 830097 The schedule can be viewed on the notice boards in the ‘Bluebell’, the church porch and on the vicarage wall.

If you are unable to get to any of these sites please telephone one of the drivers.

We ask that those who want to use the service, please give three days notice wherever possible but if something unforeseen occurs do not hesitate to telephone the driver for that week. Rates 20p per mile Do bring change Anne Sherriff 01328 30605

MOBILE LIBRARY This will visit Langham on Thursdays Feb.14th.March 6th. March 27th. calling each day at: St. Mary’s – 10.00am.

Old Post Office- 10.25am Swan’s Close – 10.50am. The Cornfield – 11.15am.

Enquiries: Wells Library Tel: 01328 710467.

FRIENDS OF LANGHAM Coffee Morning dates February 2nd & 20th March 1st & 19th Do come along to these informal gatherings, from 10.00am - 12 noon in the Parish Room. Meet your friends and neighbours and enjoy a cuppa! We are always in need of volunteers to run these mornings, so if you would like to help, please give me a ring.

Thank you.

John Hughes Tel: 01328 8305

LANGHAM PARISH COUNCIL Wind Turbines.

A letter was received from Bernard Matthews to say they will not proceed any further with investigating the suitability of the old Langham airfield as a possible site for turbines.

The letter was posted on the notice boards for everyone to read and copies also sent to all the surrounding villages and individuals who had contacted the company.

KEEP FIT These classes are still going strong. They are not too demanding and are very enjoyable. So do come along and join us - every Monday morning in the Parish Room 10.00am = 11.30am.

Ring me if you need any further information.

Sue Hughes Tel: 01328 830595

Allotments

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Agreement has been reached on an area of land of approximately half an acre with Allen Farms at the rear of the bottom two houses of Swans Close. This will be available from October this year.

In the meantime progress will be made on setting up an Allotment Club. Sources of funding are being investigated to help with the initial work such as fencing, water supply and legal costs of setting up the agreement.

The collection from this Sunday service amounted to £108.53 and was all sent to the Royal British Legion.

JOY’S COFFEE MORNING Saturday March 29th. 10am - 12 noon This event was traditionally held one week before Easter. This year Easter is the earliest it can be in the calendar so it has been decided to have the coffee morning a bit later in the month. Joy Franklin used to hold the coffee morning in her own home and we have carried on this tradition. If anyone would like to host the event please contact Margaret Freeth Tel: 830561 or Ann Sherriff Tel: 830605. So watch out for posters for details of venue!

Notice Board This was received and erected on the Green, but may have to be moved to another suitable place if and when one can be found.

Next Meetings

These are on Tuesday 12th February and Tuesday 8th April.

Colin Sherriff. Chairman

20

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM In March of last year Edwina and I along with our daughter, Belinda, spent three days at Ypres in Belgium, scene of some of the worst fighting during the 1st World War. We visited such places as Sanctuary Wood, Hill 60 and Plugstreet, places that, I am afraid most of us had never heard of, but places that saw unimaginable carnage, along with quite amazing acts of courage and endurance, during those terrible 4 years 1914 to 1918. We visited many of the war graves and museums and found it very moving. We found the grave of my Great Uncle, 2nd Lieutenant John Feilden of the Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed just outside Ypres, in April 1915 aged 19.

I was particularly interested in following the actions of my old Regiment – The Grenadier Guards. So armed with various Regimental books we were able to trace many of their actions and walk over the very ground on which so many of them had fought and died.

Our other mission was to find, and pay our respects, to some of Langham fallen. So with the help of the internet and the brilliant War Graves Commission web site we managed to locate and visit three of them.

Private Fredrick Burton was born in Langham in 1889. He went off to fight with the 8th Battalion of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment but was killed on the 26th September 1915 near Loos-en-Gohelle a village 3 miles north-west of Lens. He has no known grave so there is merely a stone tablet with his name carved on it. His niece, Norah Shucksmith still lives here, in Langham.

Private Cornelius Jarvis was born in Langham in 1894, son of Herbert and Martha. He joined the 1st Battalion The Middlesex Regiment but died on 4th June 1915. He is buried in a small cemetery at Desplanque Farm in a village called La Chappelle-D’Armentieres.

Private James Crane. Another Langham lad, who went off to war with the 17th Battalion The Manchester Regiment never to return. He was killed on the 26th September 1917 and is buried at Pond Farm Cemetery near the village of Wulvergem.

And so it was, on the 11th November, as I stood before the War Memorials, in the church and on the cross roads outside, and read their names, and the names of the other 13 fallen, in many cases brothers and cousins of one another, that once again tears welled in my eyes as we remembered them.

And then I looked around at the small band of 25 fellow villagers stood there with me and I thought what a disgrace; out of a village of over 320+ people, only 25 could be bothered to come and stand in Remembrance.

To give up just one hour of one day, once a year on the Sunday nearest to the 11th November, is that really too much to ask of today’s society? There is a certain irony in that, when it comes to a controversial planning application like the Hotel or the Wind Turbines, we can pack the church, and yet for those men that made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’, so that we are free to have such debates, we cannot be bothered.

Come on lets try a little harder next November, it will, after all, be the 90th anniversary of the ending of that terrible war.

Patrick Allen

MORSTON

News Contact: Joc Wingfield 01263 740431

CANDLELIT CAROL SERVICE

On 23rd December All Saints’ Church looked wonderful for the Carol Service - especially the beautiful Coimbra Chandelier above the font.

The Service of readings and carols was highlighted by the usual lovely descant by the “Ward Sisters” (even though they were at only two-thirds of their normal strength!) The Collection raised £468.00 for church funds.

The Collection raised £468.00 which was divided 50:50 between Kelling and Wells Hospitals.

CAROL SINGERS Ned Hamond and Jane Temple and the carol singers beat their record for the fourth year running by raising £276.93 for Morston’s All Saints’ Church.

Their singing was great - as usual - and I already have a request for next year (which I heard sung on the radio at Newcastle Cathedral: “While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night” to the tune of “Ilkley Moor”.

MORSTON BIKERS’ TRIUMPH Congratulations to our intrepid bikers, Olive Hewitt, Rob & Max Metcalfe and Anne Rolfe - on, as usual, the second Saturday in September - raising for the North Norfolk Churches Trust the magnificent sum of £707.00.

Of this half (£353.50) comes to Morston Church funds straight away (with “14p in each pound raised by taxpayers to follow”).

MORSTON QUIZ BY SAMPHIRE (Answers on page 24) 1. What is the distance between rails of a railway track called?

2. What is a Ro-Ro vessel?

3. Who invented the first internal combustion engine?

4. What new type of passenger ferry appeared in 1959?

5. Which male singing voice comes below tenor?

6. What type of paintings did the artists of the Norwich school produce?

7. What is the more usual name of the sea parrot?

8. What is the hosing used for racing pigeons called?

9. In which year did the Berlin Wall come down?

10. In which year was the USSR formally dissolved?

21

LANGHAM AIRFIELD WINDFARM No progression without support N.F.Bartram, the Group Chief Executive of Bernard Matthews Ltd, wrote in December to residents of Langham a letter headed “Potential Development of Wind Turbines in Langham”. This stated: “Lanhgam Parish along with the local parishes of Morston, Stiffkey, Cockthorpe and Binham have concluded that they do not wish to support this development. I wanted to reassure you that as stated during the presentation we will not progress this project further without this support.”

This was followed by eight paragraphs of justification, in which it was stated that of 42 sites considered, five were identified as having potential and three were preferred: North Pickenham, Holton and Weston – where early stage development work was taking place.

MORSTON MARDLE

by Samphire

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Jan. 28th. Mon. 6.30 pm. PCC at the Carnwaths’ Feb. 23rd. Sat. Annual Quiz - Village Hall.

July 19th. Sat. Friends of Morston Church AGM Village Hall.

Aug. 23rd. Sat. Morston Regatta 24th. Sun. Oyster Regatta. (Provisional only)

MORSTON QUIZ SAT 23RD FEB The Friends of Morston Church Annual Quiz will take place in Morston Village Hall on Saturday 23rd February (7.00 for 7.30 start). A super supper will be served half way through. At the end there will be a Raffle. Teams of 8. £10 a head. The following teams are expected: Binham Barley-Birds (Carolyn Wright), Cley Chatterpies (Fiona Bolingbroke-Kent), Morston BishopBarnabees (John Wise), Morston Coastguards (Neil Thompson), Morston Cockles (Carole Bean), Morston Mouse-hunts (Susy Harrison), Morston Pishmires (Graham Lubbock, Champion Team - for four years running), Morston Missing the Point (Jane Temple), Stewkey Blues (Mary Gerrard), Wiveton Wizards (Godfrey Sayers).

STEPHEN BEAL LANDSCAPES Ltd. ‘Cap’n Marryat says his house int worth ten bob since they put that hooge thing up’

(S.R.Beal, A.Beal)

SHOVELL DINNER ‘08

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* * * * * * *

Already enquiries are coming in about this, but tickets will not be available before September. Morston’s Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell Dinner 2008 will take place on Saturday 25th October at the Anchor, with all proceeds going to Friends of Morston Church. The Guest Speaker will be the naval historian Justin Keay from Oxford.

Garden design and landscaping Lawn and grass cutting, lawn maintenance, turfing and seeding new lawns Garden maintenance for private and holiday homes Patios and paths laid Seasonal pruning of shrubs, trees, fruit trees and roses Hedge cutting and fencing Garden clearance

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Tel: 01263 740591 Mobile: 07831 102592

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22

SHORTING OF MORSTON

SAXLINGHAM

The Powditch and Shovell families were not the only interesting families that lived in Morston in the 16th-18th centuries, before spreading across the country. Amongst others visible in the Records, was “the Shorting Family of Morston & Walsingham” (& of Stonham Aspal, Suffolk). In 1557 John Shorting the Elder & his wife, Alice, flourished at Morston (Alice being buried here in 1582); and their sons were Christopher (christened here 1544, living 1558) and John the Younger (who married Alice the Younger in 1556 and was buried here in ?

1606). Their issue was: James Shorting, yeoman (father of Peter, Jr; living 1644) and Peter Shorting, Sr., (yeoman, m. Clemence Pull, buried 1601), parents of Thomas Shorting the Elder, (“Gent of Morston”, c.here 1599, held property in Hingham, Sutton and Hickling, died of smallpox, 1652), the father of Thomas Shorting II, “Gent of Morston”(a surgeon in the Royal Navy in 1654), whose brother Robert Shorting moved to London (and became a Gunner aboard “The Hart” (1657) and Commander of the Jamaica Adventure 1672 - when the pirate Henry Morgan was sent home for breaking the peace that he did not know existed). Of three other brothers, William was the progenitor of the Walsingham Line.

Thomas Shorting II’s son was Thomas Shorting III (christened Morston, 1660-1729, “Gent of Cley”, Collector of Customs, m. Anne daughter of John Flaxman of Walcot, the stepfather of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, 1691). Their offspring – the 7th Shorting generation at Morston - were the last of the Morston Shortings: Shovell Shorting (b.1692, d.inf.), Cloudisly (b.1693, d.inf.), John (c.1703, will adm.1734), Elizabeth (c.1706, l.1727), Rev. Thomas Shorting III (c.

Morston, 1695, Caius Coll.Camb., Curate of Cley, d. unm, 1718, MI), Anne (b.1697, m. William Brereton Esq., of Brinton), Henry, (c. Morston 1700, apprenticed to John Blyford, woollen draper of Walsingham, 1714, “Overseer of Holt”, 1741, buried there 1751), Captain Robert Shorting, R.N., (c. Morston, 1701, Lieutenant of the “Tartar”, 1828, Captain of HMS Deal Castle, 1734, when he died at Port Royal, Jamaica, will dated & proved 1734); and the Rev. Nathaniel Shorting (c. Morston, 1704/5, Caius Coll.Camb., Curate of Blakeney, 1727-29, Rector of Brinton, 1729-58, Vicar of Morston, will dated 1748, proved 1758, buried at Morston 1727).

Surgeon Thomas Shorting II, RN, “disclaimed arms” in 1664, but arms were granted in 1912 to his descendant, Rev. Charles Shorting of Stonham Aspal (who in 1917 was based in the USA). Thomas Shorting III of Cley had a younger brother, George, who was progenitor of the Hindringham Line, which in the 18th century married Shortings from Walsingham, Cockthorpe and Langham (traced down to 1827), who were probably cousins.

[Source: P.T.R. Palgrave-Moore, Norfolk Pedigrees, Pt.4, pp.158-160. MI = Monumental Inscription].

News Contact: Bridget Watson 01328 830248

SAXLINGHAM CHURCH

Our Christingle Service took place on Sunday 2nd December at 3.30pm. It was well supported by adults and children alike. Whilst the church appeared somewhat sombre for Advent, the glow of candle light from the christingles more than compensated!

The church was beautifully decorated in time for Christmas Day thanks to the joint efforts of the Robson and Beeson families. We are also grateful to Albanwise for donating a superb tree from the estate.

The collection at the Remembrance Day Service for Field Dalling and Saxlingham Parishes raised £155 for Combat Stress.

Last year most of our fundraising was to help pay for repairing the tower (the flintwork mainly but also a buttress and fixing a new rainwater chute).Some financial relief has resulted from the reimbursement of VAT charges. In 2008 we hope to be able to install new electric wall-heaters. Fingers crossed.

We have taken steps to combat the theft of lead and other valuable items from St. Margaret’s. All the roofing and other items have been marked invisibly and indelibly so that anything stolen can be precisely and promptly identified - and linked to those responsible, for example, thieves and certain metal-dealers. China’s voracious demand for metals is blamed for the rash of thefts from churches.

NEW GALLERY

The very best of contemporary British art has gone on show in a flint barn in the heart of the North Norfolk countryside.

Following a 10 month restoration project, acclaimed painter Jeremy Barlow and his wife Jan have thrown open the doors of their barn which has been converted into an exciting new gallery venue.

Remarks Jeremy, "This will, without doubt, appeal to collectors and anyone who is interested in seeing a diverse range of styles and subjects. We wanted to bring something new to the area, work that you don't usually see outside the Royal Academy, Mall Galleries and other major galleries in the country.”

"It is rather unusual to have a pretty special, eclectic collection of work from a host of important artists in a barn at the end of a lane in a little village like Saxlingham."

23

PEACE AT HOME

SHARRINGTON News

Wouldn’t it be awfully boring if we could not find fault and dish out blame to “The Others” and between ourselves? Like the gross negligence of forgetting to bring my reading glasses downstairs - “darling!!” My dearly beloved is a very fortunate lady because I give her an enormous number of reasons to complain, from dawn to dusk. Three complaints before breakfast is a pretty average start to the day. One sure sign that a couple love each other is the amount of bickering and nagging they indulge in. I read that in some way out tomes on marriage guidance - psychiatric you know; every home ideally should have a sniping room, bare boards and two upturned sofas. I have a better throwing arm against her lively ability to duck and dive. Everyman should have his shed and every woman her boudoir? With the opportunity to cease fire when shout comes to tirade.

Having common enemies is a great boon. The Government, the Council, the National ‘ealth, George Bush, Gordon Brown.

Dear delightful fellow combatants, be glad of your various lots in this world. Heaven sounds too peaceful a place to aspire too. I am afraid I should be bored to death by perpetual peace and goodwill after my first millennium.

Peace in Heaven and Peace on Earth - in short bursts please - be reasonable.

PJG

Contact: Dr Peter Garwood

01263 860700

SHARRINGTON Church News What do a 14lb salmon, an iced Christmas cake, and May and Joseph have in common?

For Sharrington residents, a one pound stake was all it took for the chance to win a whole salmon and a festive cake and help raise the cash needed to buy a new nativity set and a stable for the church.

Many thanks to Sam Orr who caught and donated the salmon, and to Mary Lee for kindly agreeing to ice the cake and of course to everyone who took part in the competition. Brenda Dodman was the lucky winner of the cake, while the salmon found it’s final resting place with the Allenby’s.

During the week running up to Christmas, Mary and Joseph took their final steps towards their new home, spending one night with the Poole family and then moving on through the village via the Moore’s, Walker’s. Le Marquand’s, Parnell’s, Rivett’s and Sloman homes until reaching All Saints Church in time for the Carol Service on December 23rd.

Rev Tim Fawcett conducted a lively and moving service of lessons and carols, during which members of the congregation placed the new figures in the stable, ready for the traditional blessing of the crib.

We were delighted to welcome newcomers to the village, friends and relations staying for Christmas, and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

The Church was beautifully decorated as usual, and glowed with flowers and candles for the service on Christmas Day taken by the Rev. Joanna Anderson, and the Group Service when Tim Fawcett was with us again to lead worship for the whole benefice.… looking ahead, do not forget our Mothering Sunday service on 2nd March … details of Easter services will be on the church notice board …..Anne Sloman’s coffee morning PEL will be on Wednesday 26th March ….

A LIGHT-HEARTED BUT TRUE STORY of a long to be remembered Christmas dinner “Turkey and all the trimmings” There was a suggestion of turkey flavour in the somewhat cardboard like strips generously heaped on my plate. I could not bite into them so went hunting for something my fork would penetrate. A sausage the size of my thumb nail was swimming in some pale gravy. I ate this with relish delicious. I then asked for “Plumb pudding” - “Nah don’t do plumbs mate” - “Christmas Pudding Einstein”, I said. “Nah - y’carn ‘ave that, your diabetic” Was there any rescue for this festive occasion? A very tightly wrapped offering styled ‘iced spiced slice’ had to be fought into. Politically correct Christmas cake I guess. It certainly was alcohol free.

Thus satiated I thought “How can a hospital, such a professionally recognised ‘centre of excellence’ doing vast service to our community serve up this quite awful food?”

Not on, folks, there is room for improvement. Please make it more in line with the glossy technicolour menu. I know there are many others who share this view.

PJG

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24

NATURE NOTES

STIFFKEY

Premature growth of spring bulbs as evident before Christmas may yet suffer from harder weather in February. Certainly the seasons seem to be less defined these days. My personal view is that they have moved in such a way that winter is less distinctive and everything overlaps. Global warming?

They say that Woodcock have had a good breeding season in northern climes - Russia and Scandinavia. They also breed throughout the UK choosing secluded woodlands with bracken areas. The males ‘rode’ in spring flying at evening to attract females, making a grunting noise. They are probably polygamous. The females are known to carry their young in flight holding a chick between their thighs. They migrate south across the North Sea during moonlight in November and December, sometimes pitching in large numbers into our coastal sand-dunes and gorse banks; quite exhausted. They have to feed up quickly on earthworms before continuing their migration south to France and Southern Europe.

A mysterious bird - a wader adapted to forest living.

Beautifully camouflaged to blend with fallen leaves.

Pightle

News Contact: Keith McDougall

01328 830344

CHURCH NEWS Services at St Johns were very well attended at Christmas. Almost 50 came for the Christingle service on the 23rd and a similar number on Christmas morning. The church looked very attractive by candlelight with an abundance of holly from our tree in the churchyard.

Many members of the congregations at both services were spending Christmas in the village away from their homes. It is good that our Church is there for them to worship and we hope they gained inspiration from the services.

Carols at the pub on Christmas Eve went with real gusto! For those who find it strange to sing carols in a public house, it is worth recalling the words of our rector, Joanna, a year ago; who reminded us on that Christmas Eve that Jesus was born in a stable at the back of an inn.

The church building has recently had its regular 5 yearly inspection. A good deal of work is needed to maintain the building in good repair, including a major project to re-lead many of the windows, many of which leak in wet and windy weather.

The inspecting architect described the church and churchyard as being well maintained, and we are grateful to all who have helped with time, skill, energy and gifts.

John Adnitt

CHRISTMAS at the second oldest Christian site in the UK Our family spent a week at Applecross on the west Coast of Scotland over Christmas. Saint Columba founded Iona monastery in the 6th Century. This was several hundred years before Pope Gregory sent St Augustine to convert the heathen Anglo-Saxons down south. Christianity came to Scotland from Celtic Ireland when England was warring and barbarous – which it remained with the Vikings.

The church at Appleton, built in 1817, is on the site of the original cell founded by Iona monks. Rather to our surprise (we rented the manse next to the church) it was deserted on Christmas day.

With lighted candles we held our own family service – sang Christmas hymns and felt privileged to be at a this holy site.

No credit to the Church in Scotland for not mounting a Christmas celebration at this special place. (Though there was an inter-regnum apparently).

KMcD

PARISH PLAN A date for your diary A meeting will be held at the Village Hall at 10.00am on Saturday 1st March to explain the development of the Parish Plan for Stiffkey.

A presentation will be made about Parish Plan by Carolyn Heydon of the Norfolk Rural Community Council.

From the meeting it is hoped that the Parish Plan Working Group can be formed, volunteers are welcome.

Steven Bashforth

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25

THE RETURN OF HEROES

MARY CARTER

The 1 Battalion the Royal Anglian regiment exercised its right to March through the streets of Norwich with bayonets fixed, flags flying and drums beating – in November after a 6 month tour of duty in Afghanistan – some 800 men on parade.

The three companies in the battalion are made up of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex men – to continue the association with the previous county regiments before amalgamation. We had at least one Stiffkey representative, Eddie Proctor’s son Alistair on parade.

The Regiment has the best recruiting numbers in the army. It was a fabulously smart turn-out in front of the City Hall followed by a service at the Cathedral. Great care is taken of the wounded and bereaved families by the Regimental Association and Army Benevolent Organisation.

Well done ‘The Vikings’ – Norfolk and especially our villages here applaud your fine record. Crowds lined the streets of Norwich six deep and the following day they repeated the parade at Bury St Edmunds.

Mary Carter has died aged 94. She lived in Stiffkey for most of her long life having come here from her home in Wighton when she married Fred Carter on Easter Monday 1939. Fred died in 1998. They had one daughter, Iris, who died tragically in the 1970’s. Before Mary married she worked for Mr Jagger in the chemist’s shop in Wells, cycling there each day from Wighton.

Mary loved Stiffkey and her home on the hill which she and Fred built before their marriage, and it was sadness to her that old age compelled her to move into the Wells nursing home aged 91.

She always wanted news of Stiffkey and the Church of which she was still part and for which she had played the organ.

Her last years were full of discomfort despite the care of the home. May she now rest in peace and the love of God. Helen Leach

st

NEW BENCH Welcome to all walkers will be the new bench installed at the bottom of Bridge Street.

The bench was kindly presented to the village by John and Doreen Hannant who chose the site as they are former residents of the nearby Big Yard. Motorists are requested not to park in front of the bench.

Thanks go to Eddie Proctor for the work in preparing the base for the bench.

Steven Bashforth

Footnote The Royal Norfolk regiment (now absorbed into the Royal Anglians) had and have several personalities in our area – Major Andrew Athill (Morston); Major General Turner-Cave (Stiffkey); Canon William Sayers (of Wells); Col. Paul Raywood of Great Walsingham – and our war memorials remain a sad testimony to many others. The Regimental colours were black (because we buried Sir John More at Corunna in the Peninsular Wars), red for Royalty, and (as we like to say), yellow, for the malting barley.

Keith McDougall

CRICKET NEWS After a successful 2006 season team members met for their Annual meal at the Indian Restaurant in Holt in late November. Captain John ‘the Fish’ Griffin made a short speech remembering highlights of the season and promising a full programme for the 2008 season.

The team is moving to become a more formal organisation and elected its first committee during the lager course, Peter Bedell becoming its first chairman, Andy Griffin secretary with John continuing as Team Captain.

Steven Bashforth

BOTTLE BANK As reported previously, the Parish Council have been discussing possible locations for the bottle bank which was in the Post Office yard. No suitable site has been located.

The bottle bank at the Red Lion can be used by residents but the Parish Council will consider any new sites for an additional bottle bank.

If you have any ideas please contact any Parish Councillor, or attend a Parish Council meeting, held at 7.00pm the first Monday of each month at the Village Hall.

Steven Bashforth

TALK ON STIFFKEY BEFORE 1600 A reminder of John Smallwood’s talk in the Village Hall on Feb 1st at 7 pm. We hope for a full house for what will undoubtedly be a very enlightening and enjoyable.

John Adnitt

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26

the greatest excitement. ‘We were thrilled,” says Mike Green, acknowledging the team’s achievement in emerging as runners-up in the Holt tournament ‘bowl’ thanks to parent Simon Neale’s hard work in getting them to ‘think rugby’. Future plans include setting up a small netball league.

On a more cerebral level, some of the older children took part in the Primary Maths Challenge organised by the Mathematical Association. Congratulations are due to Euan Edwards, who won the Gold Award, Emily Brett and Ellen Grove, who won Silver, and Angus Duncan, who won Bronze. “Some of the questions were very tough and thought provoking,” says Mike Green. We might test you with some in a future Local Lynx report.

This term the school has welcomed poet Ann Osbourne as part of the involvement in the Poetry-nextthe-Sea competition. Ann conducted a workshop with a science flavour. A bring’n’buy sale is set for 2pm on Friday 25 January to help raise money for UNICEF. The aim is to support fresh water projects in The Gambia, so feel free to drop off unwanted books, clothes and bric-abrac if you read this in time.

The Gambia is the latest country to be part of the school’s focus on international affairs. This follows displays and assemblies about Australia, China, Spain, Finland and Cost Rica. In French lessons with Mrs Howes, Years 4, 5 and 6 pupils have particularly enjoyed sending letters to and receiving them from children studying in La Ferté Saint-Aubin. Mme Lefort-Jobin has found Langham’s pupils a pen-friend each.

On top of lessons, French Club starts up again in February. The school now has a link also with a school in India. “We are hoping to share English recipes with our friends in France and India and we hope they will share recipes with us,” says Mike Green. “Could this lead to a Langham Village School International cookery book?”

The school is celebrating the first anniversary of its web site and, as always, you can keep up to date with everything happening at the school by logging on to the school’s own website at: www.langhamvillageschool.com.

LANGHAM SCHOOL NEWS The new term in January often seems like a fresh beginning, even though it’s one third of the way through the school year. The days are getting longer again, the youngest children in the Reception year are attending full time and Emma Cotton is back in Class 3 from maternity leave, allowing Headteacher Mike Green to spend more time running the school rather than teaching more or less full time.

Looking back for a moment, the school’s Christmas Show at Cley Village School was the usual sell-out success, with Class 1 providing the nativity story and some sweet songs, Class 2 telling it from the innkeeper’s point of view and Class 3 creating an epic version of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. There was lots of spirited singing and enthusiastic recorder playing and enough cringeworthy jokes to make a Christmas cracker read like Oscar Wilde. Example - Q: ‘How does Santa’s wife make her cakes so light and fluffy?’ A: ‘She uses elf raising flour.’ You were warned. The school also held a carol service in Langham Parish Church - thank you to the Reverend Anderson for making everyone so welcome.

Similarly warm and friendly, the Christmas Fair raised an amazing £1,170 for school funds - thanks to the hard work of Christina Everard and her team of ‘Friends’.

Earlier last term Harvest contributions raised nearly £80 - this year forwarded to the Barnado’s charity - and the Drum Club members served up an energetic performance in the Parish Room, directed skilfully by Ronnie Prudence.

Sport, as ever, has played a large part in activities, with an inter-house lunchtime hockey tournament providing close competition. The school football, table tennis and netball teams have all enjoyed competing against other schools but it was tag-rugby that provided

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