ISSUE 101 BALE - BINHAM - COCKTHORPE - FIELD DALLING GUNTHORPE - LANGHAM - MORSTON SAXLINGHAM - SHARRINGTON - STIFFKEY
April & May 2015
NEWS FROM OUR VILLAGES 75th Anniversary Return to Dunkirk 21st - 25th May 2015 In early May 2015 the Lucy Lavers will leave Wells-next- theSea, Norfolk, calling at Lowestoft, Aldeburgh, Levington, Harwich, Ramsgate, and finally crossing the Channel to Dunkirk for the 75th anniversary of Dunkirk. Stiffkey charity Rescue Wooden Boats is using a Heritage Lottery Grant to restore Lucy Lavers to her former glory in order to make this commemorative voyage. For more details see page 25.
1 www.locallynx.co.uk
WHAT’S ON APRIL 1st Wed.-Sun.12th Langham Egg Hunt in church 1st Wed. Sharrington Gardeners, Village Hall 7pm
- is a non-profit-making community newspaper, run for the ten villages of the benefice. We warmly welcome drawings, articles and letters for publication, but must reserve the right to edit or exclude items. A maximum of 400 words is recommended. 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.
4th Sat. Binham Easter Service & Egg Hunt, Priory & grounds 4pm
4th Sat. Binham Easter Eve Service of Light, Priory 8pm 4th Sat. Langham Coffee, hot cross buns and Easter Egg Hunt Village Hall10-12noon 5th Sun. Binham Easter Day, Holy Communion, Priory 11am 8th Wed. Field Dalling Social Club from 7:30 pm 8th Wed. Sharrington Church Coffee Morning All Saints Cottage 10.30am 10th Fri. Bale Fish and Chips Village Hall 7 pm 10th Fri. Binham Priory Concert, Priory 7pm 10th Fri. Field Dalling Villagers’ Hall Bingo 7:30pm 10th Fri. Sharrington Quiz night Village Hall 6.45pm 12th Sun. Sharrington Police street surgery V. Hall 10 – 10.30am 16th Thurs. Langham Mobile Library 21st Tues. Binham AGM & Annual Parish meeting, Village Hall 7pm. 22th Wed. Field Dalling Social Club from 7:30 pm 24th Fri. Binham History Group talk, Village Hall 7.30pm 24th Fri. Gunthorpe Themed Evening Institute - tba. 25th Sat. Bale Police Street Surgery 10:30-11:00am 25th Sat. Gunthorpe Police Street Surgery Institute 10-10:30am 25th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club Institute 10:30am 25th Sat. Gunthorpe St Mary’s PCC Mtg Institute 6pm 27th Mon. Field Dalling Annual Parish Meeting, Villagers’ Hall AGM and social at 7pm
C o p y d e a d l i n e f o r n e x t i s s u e : 6 M AY
CONTACT FOR ADVERTISERS For enquiries about advertising in Local Lynx, contact Maxine Burlingham tel: 01328 830375 email: maxine.burlingham@me.com Rates for advertising (pre-paid) are: One column x 62 mm (1/8 page): £72 for six issues. Small Ads Panel on the back page: Available for individuals and businesses providing local services. Cost: £36 for six issues. And please don’t forget… If you are between 15-18 and would like to shadow the Lynx production team contact lynxeditor@pobox.com. Ly n x b a c k i s s u e s a r e p e r m a n e n t l y a v a i l a b l e a t www.locallynx.co.uk. Paper copies of website articles are always available from Roberta Hamond on 01263 740188.
MAY 2nd Sat. Bale Spring Fling, Village Hall 7pm 2nd Sat.-Tues. 5th Langham Art Exhibition Village Hall 10am -4.30pm 2nd Sat-4th Mon. Morston FMC Book Sale Village Hall 10-4pm 6th Wed. Field Dalling Social Club from 7:30 pm 6th Wed. Sharrington Gardeners. Talk, Village Hall 7pm 8th Fri. Bale Fish and Chips, Village Hall 7pm 9th Sat. Langham Disco & Music Quiz Village Hall 7.30pm 13th Wed. Sharrington Police street surgery V. Hall 1-1.30pm 13th Wed. Sharrington Talk by local farmer, Village Hall 7pm 14th Thurs. Bale Police Street Surgery 1.30 - 2.00pm 14th Thu. Gunthorpe Police Street Surgery Institute 1–1.30pm 14th Thurs. Langham Mobile Library 16th Sat. Langham Spring Sale & plants V. Hall 10–11.30am 20th Wed. Field Dalling Social Club from 7:30 pm 25th Mon. Langham Bring and Buy churchyard 10-12noon 28th Thurs. Binham History Group talk, Village Hall 7.30pm 30th Sat. Gunthorpe 50:50 Club Institute - end of year superdraw 10.30am
DEANERY NEWS Our next meeting will be on Thursday 11th June at Blakeney Church, starting promptly at 7pm. More details in next issue.
BLAKENEY METHODIST CHURCH High Street Blakeney Sunday Services: 6.30pm. Minister: The Rev’d J Pathmarajah 01263 712181
BLAKENEY CATHOLIC CHURCH Back Lane Blakeney Parish Priest, Father Keith Tulloch, 12 Hindringham Road, Gt. Walsingham Norfolk 01328 821353 Priest in Residence, Father William Wells (the house behind the church). Service Times: Masses: Vigil Mass Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 11.00am
REGULARS Mondays term time Binham Parent & Toddlers Group Village Hall 10-12pm. Tuesdays Binham Guild of Artists Village Hall 10-12noon. Tuesdays Field Dalling Villagers’ Hall Yoga at 7:30pm Wednesdays term time Binham Youth Group Village Hall 6-8pm. 2nd Wednesday in month Field Dalling Villagers’ Hall Coffee morning from 10:30 to 12noon 4th Wednesday in month Field Dalling Villagers’ Hall Friends and Neighbours at 2:30pm Thursday Field Dalling Villagers’ Hall Carpet Bowls 7:30pm 3rd Thursday in month Binham & Hindringham Open Circle, Hindringham Village Hall 7.15pm.
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Church Services for Bale and Stiffkey Benefice for April and May 2015 HC=Holy Communion. CFS=Church Family Service. MP=Morning Prayer. BCP=Book of Common Prayer
Bale Field Dalling
5th April Easter Day 9.30am HC 11.00am HC
Saxlingham Gunthorpe Sharrington Binham Morston
At Field Dalling 11.00am HC 9.30am HC 11.00am HC 9.30am HC BCP
Langham
11.00am Easter Celebration 9.30am HC
Parish
Stiffkey
12th April
19th April
26th April
9.30am HC 11.00am CFS
9.30am HC At Saxlingham
9.30am HC 11.00am MP BCP
At Field Dalling
11.00am HC 4.30pm Silent Meditation 9.30am MP CW 11.00am CFS 9.30am HC BCP
At Field Dalling 11.00am HC 9.30am HC 9.30am HC
9.30am MP
At Stiffkey
9.30am HC
At Langham
9.30am HC
At Langham
9.30am MP BCP 11.00am HC
3rd May
10th May
17th May
24th May Pentecost
31st May Trinity Sunday
9.30am HC
9.30am HC
9.30am HC
9.30am HC
Field Dalling Saxlingham Gunthorpe
At Saxlingham 9.30am HC
11.00am CFS At Field Dalling 11.00am MP
11.00am MP BCP At Field Dalling 11.00am HC
Sharrington Binham Morston Langham Stiffkey
9.30am MP BCP 11.00am HC 9.30am HC BCP At Stiffkey 9.30am MP
9.30am HC 11.00am HC
At Saxlingham 11.00am HC 4.30pm Silent Meditation 9.30am MP CW 11.00am CFS 9.30am HC BCP At Stiffkey 9.30am HC
10.30am HC Group Service At Bale At Bale At Bale
Parish Bale
9.30am MP At Langham
9.30am HC 11.00am MP 9.30am HC At Langham
At Bale At Bale At Bale At Bale At Bale
Maundy Thursday (2ndApril): The Lord’s Supper, a service of Holy Communion; Sharrington, 6.30pm. Good Friday (3rdApril): Stations of the Cross; Morston, 10.30am; Bale, 2.00pm. Good Friday (3rd April): A Remembrance – readings, reflections and music; Field Dalling, 12 noon. Easter Eve (4th April): Family Service (with Egg Hunt); Binham, 4.00pm. Easter Eve (4th April): Service of Light; Binham, 8.00pm. Easter Day (5th April): Egg Hunt, Stiffkey, 3.00pm. Prayers for Holy Week (Mon – Thurs): Readings at Field Dalling, 6.00 – 6.30pm.
Regular Weekday Services
Binham: Tuesday, 6.00pm Evening Prayer, Langham: Wednesday, 10.00am Holy Communion Stiffkey: Friday, 10.00am Holy Communion (not Good Friday) How do we make sense of all this? The World is fallen. We all sin. The Lord Jesus Christ met this in his body and died. Yet….. Good Friday is followed by Easter. Christ is risen. He never dies again. But he meets us, in life; in our dying; and promises to us a life like his: eternal and glorious. And wouldn’t you want to live everlastingly, perfected, and aged at about 33 years? I think I might….
RECTOR’S LETTER My Dear Friends and Parishioners, The year’s two best months are upon us. Well that’s my view! Weeks of promise and growth and of an increase of sunshine. Not normally known for hopping and skipping I must warn you that NOW I am… Do please be careful on the lanes, roads and paths of our lovely villages! Yet even here do we encounter nastiness: ugliness popping up, wrecking vistas and views; aggressive driving causing upset and creating danger; and far away from our fields, people just being wickedly vile to their neighbours and former friends.
Yours thoughtfully, and most truly, Ian Whittle The Rectory, Langham 01328 830246
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even ignore signs that a road is unsuitable. Signs on the road from Holt to Guist used to say so, but even bus and coach drivers now use it, to the alarm of the residents of Thornage. Satnavs are to blame sometimes and are not infallible. Drivers in the countryside could easily find themselves with no way through. One truck was stuck under a railway bridge. Surely the driver was equally at fault as well for lack of judgement? I don’t trust satnavs any more. We were driving to Wales and mine wanted me to turn left into Kinnerton’s in Fakenham! So many car drivers are just impatient. They seem to be desperate to overtake, taking a chance that there will be no vehicle round the bend ahead. They are in a hurry to get to their next accident, which could well be with a farm vehicle, which are often as wide as the country roads. We all know that farm vehicles have a limited speed, but car drivers fret and fume when they have to drive behind a tractor. Mind you, not all tractor drivers pull off the road when they are causing a queue and that can make anyone frustrated. Our rural roads have a lot more traffic to carry today. There is a risk that some well-meaning authority tries to “improve” them, so that they lose their special character. It would be much better if we could improve the drivers, or is this wishful thinking? No wonder villages press for more “slow down” signs when as many as two thirds of drivers exceed the limit when entering a village. Anyway, what has happened to those rural road fatality reports? Forgotten, like so many other shock horror stories. Ian Johnson
RURAL ROADS Back in October 2014 there was a lot of media publicity about there being more fatalities on rural roads than any others, including motorways. The statistics may sound shocking, but there are many more miles of rural roads, so that is one reason why there are more rural road fatalities. However, one statistic quoted is more shocking, that the number of fatalities on motorways and urban roads is decreasing, but not on rural roads. These statistics were based on an RAC report in 2009 and can come as no surprise to anyone who lives in Norfolk. Traffic has greatly increased but the rural roads have not changed, apart from those few main ones which the local authorities have found the money to widen and straighten. Once you turn off them you are on the traditional, narrow country roads with hedges and twists and turns. As G. K. Chesterton wrote “The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.” They used to be a just a normal part of country life, lined with berry hedges and Queen Anne’s lace, a joy to walk or cycle along listening to the yellowhammers and picking a handful of blackberries now and then. No yellow lines and no white lines down the centre. No street lighting and no pavements. How idyllic, but how dangerous as we leap into the hedge to avoid being knocked down by one of latest of those wide, four-wheel drive vehicles which are so fashionable today. Few of their drivers keep to the speed limit, possibly because they feel invulnerable, just because their vehicles are so much larger. They drive just too fast. They don’t allow for ramblers and cyclists. They don’t expect to come across pheasants or deer. They ignore the risk of blind exits. Of course most of us are very aware of all those risks, or I hope we are. We drive more carefully and flash our headlights as we approach a bend at night as a warning to anyone round the bend. Indeed, some drivers seem to be round the bend! They don’t dip their lights, blinding us as they cut the corner on the wrong side of the road. Above all, they don’t keep their speed down. Even 30 mph is far too fast on some of our roads. Our rural roads are usually narrow, sometimes barely allowing two vehicles to pass. Some drivers do not slow down, trusting in their own lack of judgement that it is quite safe to carry on. If they are lucky, they will not lose their lives, just their wing mirrors! Heavy vehicle drivers
COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S NEWS Reference Areas Many of us were concerned at the prospect of ‘zoning’ off part of Blakeney marsh as a reference area. Whilst for now Blakeney is not under consideration it is best to keep an eye open for any developments. And in future we need to look out for the term ‘Highly Protected Marine Areas’ – this is the new name for reference areas! And what is under consideration is whether there is a need for Highly Protected Marine Areas within a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in our waters. The work on this project commenced in September 2014 and will run until the end of March 2015. I will endeavour to obtain information as soon as possible after the final report is ready. Emergency Mobile Telephone Signals There has been an understandable concern regarding the lack of even an emergency mobile signal in some parts of Norfolk. I am sure you will be pleased to learn that the Department for Culture Media and Sport (with responsibility for digital matters) has now released information on the Mobile Infrastructure Project for
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Dr Marie Strong: County Councillor Wells Division (Glaven, Priory and Walsingham Parishes) marie.strong@norfolk. gov.uk or 07920 286 597 David Ramsbotham: Melton Constable Division (Bale and Gunthorpe Parishes) david.ramsbotham@norfolk.gov.uk 01263 577418
Norfolk. Whilst we have been in discussion with the Department for some time regarding this problem it is only now we can share the following information: The project was to identify and rectify areas of Norfolk without an emergency signal. There have been 9 locations selected for potential infrastructure. 7 of these sites have a potential solution identified. These sites include; RAF Neatishead, Itteringham, North Elmham, Swanton Abbott, Blakeney, Hingham, and Sedgeford. Two additional sites, Elsing and Salthouse are still to have a solution identified. Concessionary Travel Cards Please check your concessionary travel card because you have until 7 April to make sure your smartcard is valid before a new 'hot listing' system blocks your free travel. These cards are already electronically checked as you board a bus but from Monday 2 March this will show up any cards that have been 'hot listed' after being reported lost, stolen or withdrawn for some other reason. Up until 6 April (Easter Monday) anyone whose card shows up as being ‘hot listed’ will be allowed to travel and advised to apply for a new concessionary smartcard. From 7 April any ‘hot listed’ cards will be retained by the driver. Enquiries about updating concessionary travel passes can be made by calling the County Council on 0344 800 8020 or email concessionarytravel@norfolk.gov.uk. Silica Sand Review You may read that an initial consultation on the ‘Single Issue Silica Sand Review of the Minerals Site Specific Allocations Plan’ will take place over a six week period from 9 March 2015 to 20 April 2015 inclusive. All Parish and Town Councils in Norfolk will be written to, informing them of this consultation. However I am assured that none of the parishes within our division are underlain by silica sand resources. Wishing you a Happy Easter, Cllr Marie Strong
SPEED IS ABOUT MUTUAL RESPECT I am a resident of Langham but I write this as a Local Lynx villager and hope that what I say below appeals to the community mind-set and caring spirit of everyone who lives in our 10 villages and drives a motor vehicle. As a new dog owner I walk in Langham every day at the time when people are going to work, children are going to school and other pedestrians are out and about. I am enjoying the experience but I am truly amazed at the speed at which people drive through our lovely village. I know from my own experience that we are all busy and we often feel time poor with so many things to do, to be and to get, which in turn can lead to self-absorption. Using driving time to deal with and compose our mental to-do lists for actions we need to take is a valuable use of ‘down’ time but surely not at the potential expense of another’s health or at worst, their life. When reading this I guess that some readers will say that they know the roads well enough not to have to think about what speed they are driving at but what about the unexpected? This is what catches us out when our heads and attention are elsewhere. Why do we need speed signs and expensive SAM (Speed Awareness Monitor) machines to remind us all to slow down when we are driving through places where people live? What stops us all just slowing down to 30mph or better still, 20mph, as soon as we approach a place where people live, including our own village? Let’s begin an agreement of Mutual Respect on Speed (MRoS) amongst all of us who live in the Local Lynx villages. We can ‘sign-up’ to the agreement by simply slowing to 20mph or 30mph in every village we drive through. Come on drivers, it’s actions that speak louder than words or flashing numbers for that matter! Vicki Espin
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S NOTES At Full Council end February, next year’s budget was discussed in detail. Of note NNDC’s portion of the Council Tax was frozen for the fourth year at £138.87 for Band D. Big Society funding for community projects was commended as was help given in the aftermath of the surge. A reminder of What’s On at Norwich Castle – many excellent exhibitions, talks and events. This edition covers not only Easter but also the General and Local elections – best wishes to candidates, Local Lynx and all residents. Lindsay Brettle District Councillors’ Contact Details: Jonathan Savory (01328 820719) e: jonathan.savory@north-norfolk.gov.uk & Peter Terrington (01328 711126) e: peter.terrington@north-norfolk.gov.uk (Binham, Langham & Stiffkey) Lindsay Brettle (01263 710030) e: lindsay.brettle@northnorfolk.gov.uk (Sharrington, Field Dalling, Saxlingham & Morston) Ann.R.Green (01328 878273) e: ann.green@northnorfolk.gov.uk (Gunthorpe & Bale) County Councillors’ contact details:
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GLAVEN CENTRE SERVICES Toe Nail Clinics 9am-3.15pm March 20th; April 10th & 24th; May 8th & 22nd Hearing Aid Clinics 10am-12pm March 27th; April 15th; May 29th Hairdressing 9.30am-12.30pm Every Wednesday. Regular, occasional or casual appointments can be made. Ring 01263 740762 to make and check appointments.
GLAVEN CARING COFFEE ON THE QUAY Sat. 18th April 10am-2pm
A CELEBRATION OF HOLT 1st – 8th May
St Nicholas Church Hall, The Quay, Blakeney. Everyone welcome - homemade cakes, raffle, books, bric-a-brac, tombola etc.
The Holt Society, founded in 1965, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and everyone is invited to share in a week of community events in May. Don't miss out - put the dates in your diary now. An exhibition 'Holt People and Stories' will run all week at Picturecraft Gallery with intriguing photographs of the town and its inhabitants. Did you know, for example, that Winston Churchill was photographed here in 1940? Find out more about why he was in Holt. We'll celebrate Holt's culinary talents with a Bake-Off (Saturday 2nd May). Alison Yetman will be judging your entries, baked at home not on the spot. No experience necessary, but start practising now! Think attractive, delicious and fun - possibly inspired by something unique to Holt. Open to everyone - adults and children. Come and meet John Roebuck, author of the eagerly awaited new book 'Wartime and post-war Holt' at the Holt Bookshop (Tues 5th) and discover the extraordinary stories he has unearthed. Also join him and some of the contributors sharing poignant memories at a sociable evening at the Community Centre (Friday 8th). Be inspired by the one-day-on pop-up exhibition based on the theme 'A Sense of Place' (Monday 4th). A wide range of multi-media art and design talent will focus on the visual environment of Holt - including painting, drawing, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, knit, photography. An opportunity to meet the artists, see demonstrations, and some work will be for sale. A community poem will be created from your words and ideas. Holt Primary School will be exhibiting pupils' displays (Wed 6th), and the Holt Family History Project will show you how to research your family history (Tuesday 5th). And saying it with flowers, the Holt & District Flower Club will be creating a Flower Festival for your enjoyment.
WEYBOURNE COMMUNITY FUND EVENTS AN AFTERNOON'S ENTERTAINMENT WEYBOURNE VILLAGE HALL
Sunday 26th April 3pm-5pm
Cavender Singers, Welsh Male Voice Choir and many more famous choirs. Entry £3.00 to include cream tea/ cake. To book call Sandy 01263 588883. NORTH NORFOLK COUNTRY FAIR
Sunday 24th May 10am-4pm opposite Weybourne Windmill on A149
Entry £3.50 per adult, 14 and under free. For more information, contact Janice on 01263 588086 (before 6pm).
YOU ARE INVITED TO A BRIDGE DAY The Lifeboat Inn, Thornham Wed. 29th April Entry fee £20 per head, to include coffee from 10.30 am, bridge 11am-4pm, with lunch 12.45-2pm and finishing with tea and biscuits at 4pm. Tables are limited to 20 and the closing date for entry is Wed. April 22nd . Once again this event is kindly sponsored by The Lifeboat Inn. There will be a raffle. All profits will go to the Astro Brain Tumour Fund registered charity number: 1133561 www.astrofund.org.uk. Tickets: Audrey 01485 518121 Christine 01485 572767
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Spread the word and join us in May. Further details will be published in the Holt Chronicle, and regular updates can be found on the Holt Society's website www.theholtsociety.org.
NATIONAL TRUST UPDATE Blakeney National Nature Reserve Spring is almost upon us and the team are busy preparing for the new breeding season on the reserve. The beach on Blakeney point is now quiet after a recordbreaking seal pup breeding season and we are now awaiting the first arrival of migrant birds at the end of March to bring the Point back to life. We are now finishing work on Blakeney Freshes, and now have new infrastructure and also new footdrains and scrapes which have gone down well with Teal, Wigeon and Brent Geese. Other recent sightings include a Kingfisher, Water Rail and Bittern. Work is currently underway to prepare for increasing visitor numbers in the coming months, as the weather starts to improve. The Morston footpath project has now started, linking the new bridges and the viewing platform overlooking the harbour. The work is due to be completed by Easter. From March 1st, the parking tariffs at Morston Quay have changed. The new all-day tariffs are £4.00 Car, £5.00 Car/Trailer, £10.00 Coach, NT members park for free. Boat parking charges remain at £10 per calendar month. This year we ask boat owners to only pay up to December 2015, as the terms and conditions are under review. The visitor reception team start at Morston Information centre on March 21st and are open during high tides, please visit the team to arrange boat parking. We will be carrying out our annual litter pick on Blakeney Point on Saturday 28th March at 10am. Every year we welcome anyone who has a spare hour or two to help us clear the beach before the season begins. If you would like to join us, please meet at Cley beach car park with a pair of sturdy gardening type gloves and a bite to eat. We usually finish at the Watch House for a snack and a gentle stroll back to Cley. All welcome! George Baldock, Ranger, Norfolk Coast
JOHN CHURCH It was only possible at short notice to compose a sentence acknowledging the death of John Church in the last edition of the Lynx. On his arrival in our midst, with Patricia, it soon became apparent here was no ordinary man. He had had a successful academic career at Oakham School and Worcester College, Oxford, where he read History. History demands rigorous examination of evidence, which suited him. He would have been an excellent lawyer! A recurring theme in his life was an interest in matters military. As an historian he was aware of the tide of history when as a National Service lieutenant he commanded the last Palace Guard at Khartoum when the British withdrew, and then took part in the struggle with EOKA in Cyprus. After university he entered the textile industry, quickly rising to be a director, and becoming a well respected member of various management boards during his career, nicknamed the Ice Man due to his professional and successful approach in handling all decisions regardless of the significance. Outwardly at least not much phased him, but he was quietly uncompromising when it came to the truth and insistent on doing the right thing. Taking the decision with Patricia to retire in 2000, once settled into Folly Cottage he entered fully into local life; Secretary of the PCC, Benefice Treasurer, member of the Diocesan and deanery Synods, helping at Heritage House Day Care Centre, and chairman of the PC. He also found time to become chairman of the East Anglian Area of NADFAS, having become a member of the Glaven Valley branch committee in 2001. In addition to this he continued his interest in history, music, theatre, the architecture of churches and castles, in his garden, in trying to improve his bridge, and not least taking care of his two beloved Maine Coon cats. Patricia’s care and devotion to John over the last few weeks of his life knew no bounds; she was a great comfort to him.
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TREASURER FOR BINHAM MEMORIAL HALL After being treasurer for Binham Village Memorial Hall for a considerable time, sadly Richard Lewis will be retiring at the AGM in April. He has been a great asset to the Committee and will be greatly missed. If anyone would like to take on Richard’s role, please could you contact me on 01328 830580 or mobile 07776 232440. Alex Wales
BALE VILLAGE HALL SOCIAL CLUB DRAW January 2015 Richard Scott Samantha Lee Will Powney Basil Postan
£25 £10 £5 £5
February 2015 Emily Postan £25 Jim Peppitt £10 Henry Postan £ 5 John Wall £5
VOLUNTEER REQUIRED: BINHAM PLAYGROUP The Binham Playgroup, which takes place every Monday (term time only) from 10am till 12 at Binham Village Memorial Hall, is in need of a volunteer to run the group. No qualifications are needed and full training will be provided. The group is well attended by parents/carers and pre-school children. If you are interested, please contact Lesley Gurney on either 07918 027092 or 07919 623457.
BALE VILLAGE HALL NEWS After a quiet period during the dark winter nights, we will be welcoming the (hopefully) brighter weather with a “Spring Fling” in the Village Hall on Saturday 2nd May, from 7pm. The evening will be for all ages, with fun and games suitable for all, plus snacks and, for the over-18’s amongst us, perhaps a drink or two. Tickets, £5, will be available shortly and, as previously requested, the caterers would appreciate advance notice of how many to expect. Please either call Paula (01328 822012) or email balevillagehall@gmail.com to reserve your place. Fish & Chip Night goes from strength to strength, with increasing numbers enjoying supper from our new (or relatively new) visiting van. It has been nice to welcome some folk from other villages – the more the merrier. There is no need to book, just come along with your own drinks, place your order, and join in the friendly banter! Don’t forget that if you have any ideas of activities you would like to see offered in the Hall – or would like to organize something yourself – please contact a member of the committee or use the email address above. We are grateful to Duncan Thomas, one of our newest residents, for his offer of art classes; please look out for the posters giving details.
GRANT FOR ACOUSTIC TREATMENT TO BINHAM MEMORIAL HALL Since its opening in 2000, the sound level in the Memorial Hall has troubled many people due to the echo effect caused by the highly reflective surfaces of the walls, ceiling and floor. In 2009, the Hall’s Committee considered adding sound absorbent material, but nothing was done due to cost difficulties. However, in 2014, the Committee looked at the problem again. They first asked the village for their views on the acoustics following which written and verbal replies were received, most of which asked for improvements. Five specialist companies were then asked to tender for the work. At this time the Committee, being aware that the North Norfolk District Council’s (NNDC’s) Big Society Fund was awarding grants for community activities, decided to apply for a grant and an application was submitted in October 2014. We were delighted to hear that a grant of £1,500 had been awarded in January 2015 towards the cost of the acoustics, which allowed the work to be carried out over the weekend of January 31st/
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February 1st. Over the next year the Committee will be asking for reaction and comments from hall users. However, early indications suggest that the work carried out has greatly improved the ability to hear speech & music more clearly. A big “thank you” therefore must go to NNDC for their help in getting this work carried out. Mike Jeffery
HOWELL’S BUTCHER
We have a great butcher's shop in Binham again. Well done for making such a good presentation. So much fresh variety and a deli as a bonus. Thank you Gavin for your friendly help and advice, it is a pleasure to shop with you. BW
FRIENDS OF BINHAM PRIORY
a visual feast as these screens, in 180 of the Norfolk Churches, represents one of the finest collections of medieval decorative art in this country. Thursday 1st October, Binham Priory Church at 7.30pm, “Magna Carta and the Binham connection” - a lecture by Professor Vincent Nicholas, an acknowledged expert on the Magna Carta. As we are celebrating 800 years since the signing it is very appropriate the contribution to the drafting of the document by Baron Fitz Walter, patron of Binham Priory and instigator of the design and construction of the iconic West Front, is recognised in the actual building we are still privileged to have in our village. Tickets for both these evenings from David Frost 01328 830362 or email: davidfrost226@btinternet.com. David Frost
On the evening of Valentine’s Day last month an audience of just under a hundred enthusiastically enjoyed “Lots of Love”, a multi-media production based on another imaginative script from Andrew Moncur and produced with great dynamic ability by Fiona Thompson. The readers skilfully conveyed the range of emotions accompanied by visual images and music, both live and recorded. This feast of entertainment was complimented by a supper of ham salad and sumptuous desert. There was also a liberal consumption of wine. The Friends of Binham Priory gratefully acknowledge the donation of £825 arising from the proceeds of the evening and are extremely appreciative of the generosity of all the cast and helpers who gave so generously of their time and talents, together with waiving many expenses. A further £255 from the raffle, has been given to the Salvation Army, at the request of Anne Prockter in memory of her husband John. Together they were the driving force behind developing this very successful form of homegrown entertainment. The main fund-raising event for the “Friends” this year will be on Saturday 4th July, 5pm to 8pm in the Cloisters of Binham Priory, by popular demand another “Picnic2Jazz” with the DixiMix Trad Jazz Band. Tickets from Mick Jeffery 01328 830886 mj.sj@btinternet.com. The “Friends” will also be co-hosting two evenings with Binham Local History Group: Friday 27th March, Memorial Hall at 7pm, an informal reception followed by a richly illustrated presentation “the Rood Screens of Norfolk”. This will be
BINHAM VILLAGE FC Season Review 2014-2015 It has been a predictably topsy-turvy season for BVFC in their second year in the Norwich & District Sunday League. With one game remaining, the Blues are on course for a respectable mid-table finish, however were certainly hoping for more after their blistering start to the season back in September. Four games into the new season, and having been forced up a league due to restructuring, Binham were sitting pretty at the top of the league after three excellent victories (including the highlight of the season; a 7-4 away win at Salthouse Reserves) and a draw. However a run of one win in eight games saw them fall down the league and their promising start evaporate. A resurgence in December put a halt to the slide, however due to a combination of misfortune and superior performances from good opposition, results since have been inconsistent. Despite the unpredictability of the team, this season has seen a number of excellent young players emerge through the ranks. The likes of Jack George and Olly Hall
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have performed extremely well in their first seasons with the club and have been ably supported by the evergreen regulars. Paul Pierce will claim a deserved second golden boot in two seasons (barring a landslide in the final match of the season vs Hethersett Athletic Reserves) while experienced goalkeeper Michael Balls, who has performed with great consistency all season, could be set for an emotional farewell should he be leaving the area at the end of the year. Although what at one stage of the season looked like being a very memorable year for the club, BVFC have still made excellent strides towards the 2015-16 season in which manager Adam Peden will look to his team to set their sights at a top 4 finish. It remains to give thanks to those who have put their heart and soul into organising the ground (including having to deal with some unsavoury vandalism), the team and the club as a whole as Binham’s reputation within the league continues to grow from strength to strength. David King
BINHAM PRIORY CONCERT Friday 10th April, 7pm The Yorke Trust presents: an EASTER CHORAL CONCERT James Murray conducts Handel's “L’Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato” performed by an International Course Orchestra and Choir Tickets - £18 (reserved) from: The Yorke Trust: 01328 823501 email: rodney@yorkedition.co.uk
BINHAM SUPPORT FOR THE HOLT FOODBANK
Website: www.theyorketrust.org
BINHAM & HINDRINGHAM OPEN CIRCLE
Many thanks to all for continuing to support the Foodbank. Our village’s contribution was 52.6 kg of food during January, out of a total for Cromer and District of 3023.2 kg. Unfortunately, the need for your help is as great as ever; we are hearing examples from Holt of people sleeping in their cars and in their local church after being made homeless and hungry. Foodbank has helped find them very short term accommodation whilst they attempt to get their lives back. Please continue to give an item of food and/or toiletries from your shopping if you can. For more information please contact Richard and Norah on 01328 830723.
Our meeting on 16th April will be our annual dinner and on 21st May Dr Marie Strong will be giving us an insight into Norfolk County Council. The Open Circle Women's Club meets at 7.15pm on the third Thursday of each month at Hindringham Village Hall. New members are always welcome - just come along on the night or ring secretary Fiona Thompson on 01328 830639.
BINHAM VILLAGE HALL AGM & ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
The Binham Village Hall AGM followed by the Annual Parish meeting is to be held on Tuesday 21st April at 7pm. Please come along and hear what’s going on in your village. Cheese & wine at the end of the meeting. Hope to see you there. Liz Brown
BINHAM PRIORY EASTER SERVICES Everyone is welcome to attend any of the following Saturday, 4th April, EASTER EVE 4pm Family Service followed by Easter Egg Hunt in the Priory Grounds 8pm Service of Light Sunday, 5th April, EASTER DAY 11am Holy Communion
BINHAM LOCAL HISTORY GROUP The Writer s Garden January is always a cold weather meeting night and true to form it did not disappoint. However, our talk by
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Next Talks Friday 24th April, 7.30pm - The Story of Norwich, Barbara Miller Thursday 28th May, 7.30pm - Norfolk Heraldry, Philippa Sims
American Air Museum at IWM Duxford and the Eighth in the East project
garden writer Jackie Bennett, based on her book ‘The Writer s Garden’, made the effort of coming out from a warm house very worthwhile. Using slides from the stunning photography of Richard Hanson to illustrate the gardens and how they influenced some of our best loved writers. The book contains over 19 different gardens of writers and Jackie selected half a dozen to talk about. We looked at Greenways, the stunning Devon home and gardens of Agatha Christie and how she used the garden in some of her novels to The Vicarage at Granchester, home to WW1 writer and poet Rupert Brooke, which also had an interesting local connection through the Ward family in Morston. My personal favourite was the garden of Roald Dahl's Gypsy House in Bucks where he famously wrote wonderful children books for over 30 years in a small shed with a bright yellow door using the garden very much as an inspiration. The garden and house, still owned by the Dahl family, retains a Gypsy caravan that he had bought for his children in situ and used in several of his stories. A garden very much where magic still lives on.
In October 2014, the American Air Museum launched a website to tell the stories of the American airmen based in Britain during the Second World War and the British people they met. The website is based around a collection of around 15,000 photographs which depict the people, planes and places that contributed to their experiences. The project has asked for help from local people to identify the people and places shown within the pictures and to capture and preserve some of the photographs and memories which local families may also have of the Americans in Britain. Perhaps your home was used by US servicemen during the war? Or maybe you have a war bride in the family? If you or your relatives have memories of the Americans in Britain, then the project would love to hear from you to preserve this archive. The website is editable by anyone who registers on the site. They have suggested giving a talk and demonstration to Binham Local History Group and to any others interested. If anyone is interested in helping with this project perhaps you can either email me at blhg@btinternet.com or ring 01328 830700. If you would like to preview the website then please visit: www.americanairmuseum.com Pennie Alford
Wells and The Reformation
February meeting welcomed Wells local history author Roger Arguile to talk about his research on Wells people and the impact of The Reformation, the period of history in the 16th century when Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church. This must have surely have been a time of significant change to people, monastic buildings such as Binham and Walsingham Priories sacked and destroyed and Statuary and religious valuables seized for the King's treasury. Dissenters to the change were rounded up and 11 men from Walsingham were cruelly executed around Norfolk as examples to the people that the newly created Church of England, with Henry at the head, was not only the new way but the only way. Roger used information gleaned from wills and inventories to gauge reactions of people locally showing the way money previously left to the church for tithes and masses changed. Also an inventory declaration from the parishioners of St Nicholas dated 1552, in which they declared they had since 1547 (the year Henry dies) sold all the church's valuables in order to raise £61 which was bestowed upon repairing the whole church .
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from a terrible over-reach 22nd We had a town meeting, I was reappointed guardian and surveyor 23rd Went to hear Mr Randall’s lecture on the Church of Pergamy, very dark night and obliged to borrow lamp 26th Poor Freddy James came home from school with a broken arm and dislocated shoulder from a fall in play 30th I went to the Board and then to old Marsham’s sale at Sculthorpe – bought a nice little flower stand as birthday present for Ems.
DIARY OF A BINHAM FARMER’S SON Aged 37
BINHAM 100+ CLUB WINNERS
1859 February 2nd We went to Binham to tea than to Langham to hear Mrs Napier’s lecture on Stephenson, dear Ems was taken ill there 7th My grey horse taken ill with inflammation in the kidneys at Hammond’s where I sent him to have his sore mouth examined 12th Had another decided case of pleurs in the other lot of bullocks which I put in Hammonds hands 15th We gave all the bullocks an alternative drink today at Hammond’s recommendation – I think the one he attended to will die 17th A horribly dull market, sent another bullock to be knocked on the head 22nd Sold all my bullocks to Strangleman at a terrible sacrifice March 1st Middleton drove me to meet the hounds at Foxley but they did not come so we went to see a horse at Rotterdean and lunched there 8th Was in great trouble about my sheep supposing that they had scale but on consultation found it was from a dressing 15th We dined at Binham and had my birthday plus pudding, I had some presents of books from dear Ems, the Mither and Sally 16th I drove Middleton to Hardistone green to wait Mrs Rose’s hounds, had poor sport and lamed my horse
January winners: £25 A. Procktor, £10 Stanley Hewitt, Paul Frost, £5 Lucy Walduck, Marie Grange, Barb Thompson. February winners: £25 Pennie & Neil Alford, £10 Becky Bunting, Violet Dunn, £5 Sheila Law, Mr G Griffiths, S. Cuthbert. If anyone would like to join the 100+ club, please call at 8 Priory Crescent or ring June Read on 01328 830106.
BINHAM GUILD OF ARTISTS We meet every Tuesday morning from 10am to 12 noon in the Village Hall. A fee of £2 per morning includes coffee and biscuits. For further information you will be welcome to call in during a session when we will be happy to help.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Grandmothers are inclined to bring their grandchildren home muddy, sticky, radiant, exhausted and two hours late. Wise mothers say nothing.
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ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
COCKTHORPE CHURCH PROGRESS
Mon 27th April 2015 at 7pm
It has been some time since the church tower restoration was completed and planning for phase two which is the repair of the roof begun. The roof has deteriorated rather badly with sections of it actually collapsing into the chancel, so for the past two years a temporary corrugated iron roof and scaffolding covered with plastic sheeting has been in place. Scilla Latham secretary of Norfolk Churches Trust reports that the funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund was approved a year ago and stage one was started. This meant meeting all their various criteria, costs calculated, the project put out to tender and a builder selected. The next step is to get the Lottery Fund to release the money so the actual work on the church can begin. This will probably be late summer as the program has to take into account the welfare of the resident bats.
You are warmly invited to the Annual Parish Meeting in Villagers' Hall at 7pm on Monday 27th April. This is an important once-a-year opportunity for all organisations, clubs and associations in the village to meet, tell others about their past year, and discuss their hopes and dreams for the future. It will be an open forum for the whole community, very informal, and sociable as well. Drinks and nibbles will be on offer after the meeting. And there will be a guest speaker. Please mark the date in your diary, and if you’d like to have an item on the agenda for the evening, do call or email me; contact details below. We look forward to seeing you on the night. Roy Findlater T 01328 830442 or E royfindlater@gmail.com
ST ANDREWS CHURCH Medieval Wall Painting Restored After several weeks carefully cleaning and filling in damaged areas, our conservator has now completed her work on the wall painting that came to light a few months ago. The transformation from hardly discernable grey outlines to what we have now is quite stunning, but is only a portion of a much larger painting which would have covered the entire north aisle wall. The colours are all original; nothing has been retouched. Just think - it was painted by people in the 14th century. That’s seven hundred years ago! It is well worth viewing, so do drop in and admire the finished work. Roy Findlater, Fabric Officer
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FOGPC 50/50 Club Draw Results January February Colin Dewing £20.00 Chrissie Whyman£20.00 Carol Finch £15.00 Norma Prouton £15.00 Helen Clare £10.00 David S-B £10.00 Julia Izzard £5.00 Simon Long £5.00 Stephen Burton £5.00 Zena Churchill £5.00 Lynn Marr £5.00 Sharon Lloyd £5.00 David Aitman £5.00 Carol Aries £5.00 If you would like more information on the 50:50 Club and “Friends” memberships please contact John Blakeley on 01263 861008. Can I also remind all members of both the “Friends” and the 50:50 Club that the subscriptions to both organisations fall due on 31 May 2015. Membership subscriptions until May 2016 are £5.00 per person for the “Friends” and £1.00 per month for the 50:50 Club ie £12.00 for the year - (which can be paid with one cheque if you are subscribing to both - cheques should, please, be made out to “FOGPC”). The “Friends” element can also be Gift Aided so if you have not done this would you please consider doing so - we can provide you with the appropriate form. Very many thanks to all who continue to support us.
OUR VILLAGERS’ HALL… …urgently needs your support Villagers’ Hall is a fantastic amenity right on our doorsteps, but it is at risk. It needs your practical support to keep it operating for the benefit of everyone in the local community. Since the major refurbishment, Villagers’ Hall has become ‘the place to meet’ and we need to keep it that way. But without additional help, we will not be able to carry out essential repairs, developments and fundraising and the viability of the hall will be at risk. In short, ‘We Need Extra Hands’ both as additional members of the committee, and to help run the various events throughout the year; perhaps helping to set up the Bingo sessions, or getting involved in planning the annual Summer Fete. If there are enough people involved, then it only takes a few hours now & then to keep things running smoothly and with enough ‘hands’. We will hold our Annual General Meeting on the 27th April as part of The Annual Parish Meeting at 7pm. Some of the Hall Committee will be standing down, so this is a good time to get involved, either as a ‘willing pair of hands’ or as a committee member – or, best of all, both. Neither role need take up much of your time and you would be supporting this worthwhile local amenity. Learn more at: www.fdands.org.uk. If you can spare a little of your time to get involved or just want a chat to see how you might help, then please call Mark Gardner on 01328 830755. Chas Lister for Steve & Susie Collins
ST MARY’S CHURCH NEWS As we write this anticipating the warmer weather to come, the spring snowdrops in the churchyard are stunning this year - we hope that many of you had the chance to see them before they disappeared. On a very
SOCIAL CLUB At the Social Club we play darts, shove ha’penny, dominoes, bananagrams, table football, cards and of course table tennis; in fact anything you’d like to play! Join in and bring along your favourite game. And your favourite drink; we supply our own. No membership is required, just £2:50 per person, per session. We meet every two weeks on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm. Why not come along to the next one, on April 8th? Future meeting dates are in What’s On. For more details call Roy Findlater on 01328 830442.
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cold day at the end of January, our grandson George was christened. Ian took the service and George didn't protest too much. What a happy day it was. We are looking forward to the Easter celebrations and wouldn’t it be great to see our church as full as it was at Christmas. The Service will be followed by coffee and Easter Cake. As a reminder the Parochial Church Council’s AGM will be held in Gunthorpe Institute at 6pm on Saturday 25th April. Thank you everyone for your continued support of the Bottle Bank despite the issues we had with its location - it remains a vital source of income to support the church. Penny Brough Church Warden
FRIENDS OF GUNTHORPE PARISH CHURCH
proved to be a very popular alternative to a cosy night at home, lighting the fire or turning the heating up and the television on. Or perhaps the reputation of the very delicious pies with a local provenance was all too tempting for the forty folk who gathered to tuck in and enjoy a pie, a pint and good company. To all who supported and contributed to this very enjoyable evening on 31st January (including the organisation behind the scenes and the consumption in front) a big thank you for your endeavours. It was also a very successful fund raising event and special thanks to Sandra Warner for another challenging Quiz and the all essential raffle. Now I know how long the 100 Years war lasted (116 years from 1337 to 1453 if you have a quiz coming up!) With St George’s Day in April a date for your diaries, our next evening event is Friday 24th April, and plans are underway with this in mind for a themed evening. Some suggestions have been made, but any further ideas would also be welcomed. We look forward to seeing you. Tony Dufour for the Committee
It is with great sadness, emotion and enormous respect that I write about the death of Martin Swindells on the 26th of January, 2015. Martin was the Founder member of the Friends of Gunthorpe Parish Church. Along with his wife Peggy, and John and Mary Smith, Martin approached us in 1993 to help to save Gunthorpe St. Mary’s Church by forming the ‘Friends’ charity. Without Martin’s leadership, extremely-hard work and dedication, the Friends charity would never have been established let alone ‘flown’ to become the success it remains today. Martin gallantly, being the gentleman he was, let me be the chairman. He told me this was a ‘figure-head-job’ and not to worry because the Secretary really did all the work (Martin was the Secretary, and Martin did all the work!). Gunthorpe Church and Village owe him the greatest thanks and admiration for all he (along with his wife Peggy) did for our Village. He and Peggy never took any credit or praise. Martin honoured and entertained me with his friendship, while imparting valuable, extraordinarily diverse, knowledge all the while. I hold the friendship I have had with both Martin and Peggy very dearly and close to my heart. Martin was one of the precious ‘meetings with remarkable men’ I have had in my life. The service in Celebration of Martin’s life, very appropriately held at Beeston and followed by a reception at Beeston School, where he was Headmaster, was a wonderful tribute to him, with many of his former students returning to pay tribute to Martin - for he was a remarkable man to many, and in so many ways. The Friends Committee members join me in sending Peggy and the Swindells Family our deepest sympathy and thanks for our many happy times with Martin and for his dedicated leadership. A meeting never goes by without mentioning Martin. Near the end of each meeting I still feel him gently tapping me on the arm, subtly glancing at his watch and giving me that wry-smile signalling all should be drawing to an end. He will live on in all our memories with great respect, thanks and affection! Marie Denholm, Friends Chairman
INSTITUTE NEWS The opportunity to enjoy a Pie and Pint amongst friends and neighbours on a cold, damp January evening
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MARTIN SWINDELLS
IN MEMORIAM - PHILIP SMITH
We were saddened to learn of the death, following a fall at his home in Holt, of former Gunthorpe resident Martin Swindells in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 26th January. He was 89. Martin and his wife Peggy moved to Gunthorpe in 1986 on his retirement as Headmaster of Beeston School and both immediately threw themselves into village life. As well as working hard locally for many charities, including “Crisis at Christmas” one of Martin’s major achievements, for which he will long be remembered, was to be one of the founding members of the Friends of Gunthorpe Parish Church, and his co-founder and current chair of the “Friends” Marie Denholm has paid her own separate tribute to the prodigious amount of work which Martin did for the community - without which St Mary’s would not be the church that it is today. Martin and Peggy moved to Holt in 2004, but they have both continued to support the village as well as the community in Holt. M a r t i n ’s l i f e w a s remembered at a Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving in a packed All Saints Church Beeston on 13th February - a service attended by almost 250 of Martin’s family and friends together with many former pupils from Beeston School. Martin is survived by his wife Peggy, daughters Sue, Elizabeth and Jane, and by 7 grand-children and 4 great grand-children. We send them our deepest condolences as well as our thanks for the outstanding contribution that Martin has made to our village life and indeed the wider community.
In Gunthorpe Church entrance there is a special bookcase which John and Mary Smith donated in memory of their beloved son and a dear brother, Phil Smith, who died tragically on February 11th 1985 as a member of the RAF Germany Band, when their double-decker coach crashed on the German autobahn near Munich. This accident became a major international news story as 21 young men lost their lives that day, 19 musicians, a policeman and the civilian driver. As it happened 30 years ago, a special service was held at RAF Northolt to mark the occasion, and some of our family attended. Many friends and relatives were there to pray, lay their flowers; listen to music from the RAF Central Band and to remember their loved ones. Although Phil Smith is buried out at Rheindahlen in Germany along with 5 others, he lived in Gunthorpe all his life and played with local bands before joining the RAF. He does share a headstone in Gunthorpe churchyard with his dad, John William Smith.
CHURCHYARD CLEARUP The Friends plan to meet for the annual Churchyard Clear-Up on Saturday 11th April starting from 9:00am, (but please check the Institute Notice Board for any last minute change of date or in the event of inclement weather). Last year we had sixteen volunteers turn-up and paths were weeded, with pruning, strimming carried out - and fallen shrubs removed and all dregs went to the bonfire. We hope to achieve the same this year. Sausages and buns will be served at noon. Marie Denholm, Friends Chairman
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FROM THE REGISTERS Funeral. Mrs. Joan Harris Brown January 19th.
EASTER EGG HUNT Langham Church Sat.28th March to Sun. 12th April. Come to the Church and join in the hunt. Details are on posters in the church porch and on notice boards. Information regarding all the churches taking part is on the Norwich Dioces website: dioceseofnorwich.org.
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS These can be made with Jan. Rates of hire can be seen on the Village Hall notice board or by application to Jan on 01328 830847. Jan Hope
EASTER DAY Sunday April 5th 11am
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, CERAMICS AT LANGHAM VILLAGE HALL
Come and Celebrate A non-communion service with Easter hymns of celebration will be held in Langham Church. Children and families are most welcome. Do come and join us. Drinks afterwards at the Rectory.
Sat 2nd – Tues 5th May 10am–4.30pm daily Free Entry. Our usual wonderful refreshments will be served daily. Proceeds for Langham Village Hall. For application forms and further details, please contact Pauline 01328 830696 bartlett16@btinternet.com
WELCOME We would like to offer a somewhat belated but very warm welcome to Mrs. Brenda Winch and Mr. Nick Marvell. We hope they will be very happy living in Langham. Langham P.C.C
EVENING DIARY DATE Rock to Gold Standard Langham Village Hall Sat. 11th July 2015 Dust off those dancing shoes and enjoy rocking to this local band. More details in next issue. Nic Page
HOT CROSS BUNS AND COFFEE Easter Saturday 4th April, Langham Village Hall. 10am – 12noon. Easter Egg Hunt for children aged 6 and under.
LEUKAEMIA AND LYMPHOMA RESEARCH
NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE VILLAGE HALL
Spring Sale with Plants Langham Village Hall Sat. May 16th 10-11.30am
A generous donation from the erstwhile Ladybirds has purchased a Microwave oven and 90 wine glasses. We also hope to have some more matching small tablecloths in the near future. Thank you Ladybirds.
Everyone has been kind enough with donations for our sale. Sorry we cannot accept anything at this time. Maureen 01328 830731
MAUREEN’S EVENTS Sun 28th June Travelling by coach from Langham or Holt to the Norfolk Broads. Jazz by Lumière Rouge on the boat. Take your own food; drinks must be purchased from the bar. Total cost £19.50 p.p. Please let me know A.S.A.P if you are interested on 01328 830731.
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Cornfield 11.15am. Enquiries Wells Library 01328 710467.
WE NEED YOU Are you a car driver? Are you a ‘people person’? Do you have some spare time every other month?
VILLAGE HALL NEWS Please note the name change from the Parish Room, to give a more village feel. Thanks to a generous donation from the Street Fayre, we have purchased and have had delivery of, 60 new chairs with padding for the seat and back. Please come and try them out to give us your seal of approval. How about the coffee mornings, first Saturday of the month 10am.-12noon? Note, this is the normal date but there are exceptions so please read the Lynx What’s On calendar. Next on the shopping list are eight new square tables and a removable sail/flag/poster that will be sited near the carpark at the roadside to advertise coffee mornings.
If the answer is ‘yes’ then we need you. We are the Langham Village Community Car Service and we are in urgent need of new drivers. This service is operated by volunteers under the auspices of the RVS. Its main purpose is to take village residents to and from medical appointments where there is no suitable public transport available or it cannot be accessed because of frailty or mobility restrictions. Volunteer drivers agree to use their own car for this service and to make themselves available for duty over one week approximately every other month. They are reimbursed for each return journey at a rate of 45p per mile. At present we have nine drivers on our rota and would dearly love to have a few more people so that drivers’ duties would not come round quite so often. If you think you could help us maintain this valuable service for our village, please contact either: Ann Sherriff 01328 830605 or Gill Hartley 01328 830624
Edward Allen Chairman
RVS LANGHAM CAR SERVICE Schedule to June 7th 2015 Fare: 25p per mile Weekly driving duties beginning on a Monday Mar 30th
830 605
May 4th
830 731
LANGHAM ALLOTMENTS
Apr 6th
830 537*
May 11th
830 056
There is a half plot vacant at Langham allotments. Any keen gardener interested can contact Cavin Reed on 01328 830444 or any plot holder.
Apr 13th
830 348
May18th
830 348
Apr 20th
830 056
May 25th
830 605
Apr 27th
830 624
June 1st
830 677
GET YOUR DANCING SHOES AND GLAD RAGS ON FOR 1960/1970 DISCO
* These drivers do not go to Norwich If the driver for the week is unable to do the trip, contact the next person on the list. If your appointment is cancelled, please also cancel your car service booking. Please give three days’ notice wherever possible, except in an emergency. It would be very helpful if a car booking is made as soon as an appointment is arranged or journey planned so that drivers can arrange their schedule. When booking, please tell the driver of any walking aids to be transported. Please bring change. In the infrequent event that no driver is available, contact the Holt Caring Society (01263 711243), giving as much notice as possible. This rota is also placed on the church porch and the village notice boards with dates going beyond the above schedule. To avoid drivers having to do a double duty we are in urgent need of more drivers for our full complement. If anyone would like to join us please give me a call. Ann Sherriff 01328 830605 Gill Hartley 01328 830624
Langham Village Hall Sat. May 9th 7.30pm If you love dancing then you will want to come to this event to help raise money for the newly formed Langham Rangers Junior Football Club. We will be dancing to the best music from these two amazing decades as well as doing a music quiz, a raffle and of course awarding prizes for the best retro outfits. We provide the food and please bring your own drink. Tickets £10,to include a BBQ with vegetarian options. Booking in advance is essential. Make that call now, you know you want to! Call Anita McInally on 01328 830526 or Vicki Espin on 01328 831982.
MOBILE LIBRARY Thursday April 16th
Thursday May 14th
On each of these days the van will call for 20 mins at St. Mary’s 10.25am, The Old Post Office 10.50am, The
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DIARY DATES Sat 13th June: FMC AGM in Village Hall. Wed 17th June: PCC Crab Supper in Village Hall. Sat 12th Sept: NCT Bike Ride. Sat 17th Oct: FMC Shovell Dinner 2015. Martin Stephen, late High Master St.Paul’s School, London, on “Stuart Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs of Salthouse”.
DIARY DATE
ARIANA HILL CHRISTENING
SUMMER CONCERT BY CHORAL GROUP ‘DOUBLE OCTAVE’ Langham Church Weds June 10th 7.30pm
On 10th January at All Saints’ Morston, the daughter of Sarah Louise Hill and Adrian Ashleigh Hill of Field Dalling was christened Ariana. The church was packed with friends and relations.
More details in next issue.
GIANT BOOK SALE RETURNS
MAY BANK HOLIDAY MON. 25th
The sixth Friends of Morston Church mammoth secondhand book sale returns to the Village Hall on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th May from 10am to 4pm. As well as thousands of books, to suit all ages, interests and pockets, the event will feature a plant sale for the first time. The charity is keen to match the £5,000+ raised for church maintenance and repair in 2014 so do please come along and browse. For the first time, the Monday of the sale will see all books available at half marked price. There is still time to donate books for this (or indeed next) year’s sale. If you are de-cluttering, downsizing or simply have some books no longer needed please call Sally Metcalfe on 07813 369145 to arrange collection.
Bring and Buy 10am-12noon This will be held in the churchyard or inside the church if the weather is inclement. There will be the usual coffee morning stalls and refreshments. If anyone would like to bake a cake or bring along books, gifts, bric-a-brac or a raffle prize, all will be gratefully received. If you would like to help on a stall, do get in touch. Proceeds are for Langham Church General Fund. We look forward to seeing you. Ann Sherriff 01328 830605
NEW LOCAL LYNX REP Amanda Deacon has kindly come forward to replace me as the Langham representative for the Local Lynx. My time reporting on Langham news goes back to March 1997 when it was in the form of a folded A4 leaflet titled Coast and Country. Then in July 1998 the Local Lynx was created. I have enjoyed the last 18 years in the job but it is time to introduce young blood. I will continue to offer help to Amanda in these early stages and I hope you will all support her by making every effort to submit your copy promptly. It has been an interesting education over the past years and not being a computer expert I must thank my husband Colin for his patience and perseverance, whilst I got the hang of it. There is more to this task than you can imagine but there is a great team spirit in the Support Group. Good Luck Amanda. Anyone wishing to contact Amanda about the Lynx can do so on 01328 830908 or amandajd@live.co.uk. Ann Sherriff
JACKET FOUND IN CHURCH 23 DEC After the Morston Carol Service on 23rd December a royal blue Child’s Jacket of the “Snow” brand was found. Claimants please call 01263 740063.
NCT BIKE RIDES 2014 & 2015 Our intrepid bikers, Rob & Max Metcalfe and Anne Rolfe are to be congratulated on raising the amazing total of £858:88 in last September’s Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride.
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This year’s NCT Bike Ride will be on – as usual – the second Saturday in September - September 12th. Any questions to Ned Hamond on 01263 740188.
FMC QUIZ 2015
Ten teams, each of 8 members, competed in the Friends of Morston Church’s 12th Annual Quiz. Competitors came from some dozen villages, some from as far away as Swanton Novers and two team members were just back from China. The teams, sporting East Anglian dialect names were as follows: Best Bay-Ducks (shellduck), Cley & Gunthorpe Green-Olfs (greenfinches), Cockthorpe & Morston Cockles, Langham Lagarags (lazybones), Myriad Macaroons (fops), Morston Mouse-Hunts (stoats), Morston Pishmires (ants), Norfolk Nattlers (bustlers over trifles), Wiveton Wrigglers (sand-eels) and the Wiveton Wood-Sprites (woodpeckers). They did 9 rounds each of 8 questions on many subjects, with supper in the middle and a raffle at the end. The 2014 champions, the Morston Pishmires (captain: Mary Athill) are to be congratulated on retaining their title. The evening raised a record profit of £1,516.80 (comprising £1,054 on tickets, £320 on the raffle and £142.80 on the bar) – all monies going to the upkeep of and repairs to Morston Church. The Friends of Morston Church Committee would like to thank all 80 participants and those who donated raffle prizes or lent equipment, and those who helped run the show, including those who brought the delicious supper. The Chairman thanked Mally Bullard for arranging the quiz catering so well over the last 11 years and her successor, Antonia Hardcastle, who organised a fantastic meal this year.
MORSTON QUIZ By Samphire (Answers on Page 23) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
From which wood were longbows made? What name is given to a unit of electrical power? Back, blanket and buttonhole are all types of what? Who was the first unseeded man to win Wimbledon? What is the score in tennis when the tie break is introduced? What is the boiling point of water on the Fahrenheit scale? In opera, whose tiny hand was frozen? Which German word meaning “lightening war” entered the English language? What is the maximum number of clubs permitted in a golf bag? In which country does the Amazon rise?
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
Meetings were held on 28th January and 25 February 2015. Reports from District Councillor Lesley Brettle, County Councillor Dr. Marie Strong, PC Jason Pegden and National Trust Countryside Manager, Victoria Egan.
JACK HALL R.I.P.
On 3rd February Jack Hall, the father of the late Marilyn Mace of Morston and then Langham, was buried at Morston beside his daughter.
Key points The footpaths at Morston Quay (including the lower quay) and the car park surface are now being repaired in time for Easter. The Parish Council will be working in closer partnership with the National Trust in future. PC Pegden asks all residents to be vigilant as outboard motors are still at risk. Morston PC will continue to have ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency in regard to local flood defences. The date for the Morston Regatta is 7th August 2015. The new bottle bank at Morston takes all types of glass and provides revenue for the village. Better Broadband in Morston is currently on track for the end of March. Updated news from District and County Councillors can be found in the Lynx general section and updates from the National Trust in the Morston section. Next meeting: 25th March, Village Hall at 7.00pm. All welcome.
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WIZARDRY ON THE FARM Peter Savory who lived and farmed at Sidney House Farm in Saxlingham in the Fifties benefited from the great inventive skill of his farm-manager, Patrick Banks of Field Dalling. One problem facing farmers was the labour-intensive method of transporting sugar-beet: farmworkers had to stop what they were doing to help handfork beet onto lorries. Patrick was quick to spot the potential of a Guy Field Artillery Tractor available from a pool of ex-WW2 machinery. It was 4-wheeled and 4wheel drive with a winch on a short chassis designed to tow a 25-pounder gun. Patrick converted it to reversedrive and ensured that the vehicle’s submarine batteries could provide the power for its turntable-mounted jib. The loading bucket,connected by a cable and used a great deal for airfield construction, now proved very successful in speeding up the loading of sugar-beet from roadside heap to waiting lorry,particularly because the vehicle was highly manoeuvrable and could work in a very small area. The cable winch also proved invaluable for pulling out stuck tractors – which happened often in the wet years of that time! Nowadays huge juggernauts, swiftly loaded by purpose-built and powerful loaders on countless expanses of concrete in North Norfolk, speed south-westwards towards the sugar-beet factory at Wissington. Spare a thought for Patrick Banks perched on top of his grey exWD contraption steering hopefully towards the Norfolk Showground in 1958 to exhibit it in the Farm Mechanization display and collect his Silver Medal! Eric Hotblack
MISSING COMMUNION SET
St. Margaret’s Church, Saxlingham is missing a travelling communion set of a chalice and paten (see photo). We think it may have been either lent to, or left at, one of our neighbouring churches or maybe at the house of a parishioner some time after 2005. If you do know where they might be, could you please contact Liz Peart on 01328 830668.
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CHURCH NEWS Burns Night Supper On Saturday 17th January the doors of the village hall opened to welcome our guests for the annual Burns Night Supper, some 46 people, our very best response yet. Our fame is spreading. Before the actual evening there had been much planning, purchasing, cooking, peeling, boiling and mashing to produce a very tasty traditional Scottish haggis supper with cock - a- leekie, dessert, coffee and tea. We welcomed the piper, Richard Dawson and his wife who seem like old friends now and who stay to supper. The evening was orchestrated by Martin with his usual aplomb and Roger was in charge of the haggis as it was piped in, weaving around the tables. The Selkirk grace was said and then the mammoth task of serving began. At the end it was time for the toasts: the loyal toast, toast to the lassies given by Simon, very good and the reply on behalf of the lassies by Pippa, also very good and amusing followed by a toast to the piper and vote of thanks delivered by Martin. We had a Scottish themed quiz, a 20 question sheet placed on the tables and the results were announced although nobody managed a correct full house. There followed an amazingly swift clearance of tables and then the dancing commenced with much merriment and energy with help from Pippa as caller, when needed. We have probably four dances which we can execute with some degree of competence and we can only get better. The evening finished with Auld Lang Syne sung enthusiastically in a very large circle and everyone gradually dispersed for home. It was a really enjoyable evening and thanks go to all concerned in bringing it to fruition. Without you it would not happen. The result of such a successful evening was over £500 raised for church funds. Sadly we had several people who wanted to come but left it a bit late and we could not fit them in. For next year
please look out for an announcement in the Lynx and thereafter there will be posters around the village and a notice on the village website. That is the time to phone the contact number and book your place. Thank you everyone.
World War One Exhibition
Many of you will have found the exhibition in the village hall last November of great interest. Our initial task was to find out as much as possible about the nine people mentioned on the war memorial in church but this was expanded to incorporate a wider picture of Sharrington including employment, employers, housing and life in general. Well now we have transferred part of the exhibition to the church itself and on specially purchased screens we have displayed the details and some photos of the nine gentlemen concerned. In addition there is a copy of the 1911 census and a notebook for any remarks you may wish to make as well as your contact details if you require any other information or indeed you have something of interest to add. Our thanks must go to Lesley Forrest and Ann Abrams for their meticulous work in assembling the material so beautifully. The church is open every day so please do go along and have a look and take time to read at your leisure. Now some dates for your diary: Wednesday 8th April, Coffee Morning at All Saints Cottage (next to the church) 10.30 – 12noon Sunday 21st June, Garden Fete at Church Farm House 2pm. APG
VILLAGE HALL The hot news is that the village website has now been launched (www.sharrington.org.uk) It is still a work in progress but have a look and you will see pages devoted to the village, its church, the parish council, the village hall, Sharrington Gardeners and the Noble Rotters Wine Club. There is also a ‘local links’ page designed for local businesses which pay £10 a year to help support the hall. If you visit the site on a fairly regular basis, you will
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g l o v e s , D e b b i e ’s d a u g h t e r, K e r r y M a r s h a l l . RD
MORSTON QUIZ ANSWERS
(Quiz on Page 20) 1. Yew. 2. Watt. 3. Stitches. 4. Boris Becker. 5. Six games all. 6. 212 degrees. 7. Mimi’s (in La Boheme). 8. Blitzkrieg. 9. 14. 10. Peru get details of upcoming meetings and other events throughout the year. The village hall committee is deeply indebted to Chris Abrams for constructing the site on a virtually nonexistent budget, to Peter Chapman for permitting the use of his paper on the history of the village and Derek Harris for helping compile the history of the village hall. If you know of anyone who would like to advertise on the local links page or if you have any ideas for the site please contact either Roger Dubbins ( r. d u b b i n s @ b t i n t e r n e t . c o m ) o r C h r i s A b r a m s (abrams.chris2@gmail.com). At the time of going to press the committee is putting the finishing touches to its programme of events for the year so keep an eye on the website to see what we have planned. First up we have a quiz night on Friday 10th April. The fee for entry will be a modest £3 a head for teams of four to six people. There will be prizes of course, a raffle and a licensed bar. Kick off is 6.45pm, so whether or not a Sharrington resident, come along, show off, have fun and help support our hall. If you want more information, please contact Gary Grunwald on 01263 860508. Next, Tom Dye of Albanwise will talk to us on Wednesday 13th May about local farming. Watch out for our posters a little nearer the date for full details. Finally, after what seems a lifetime Debbie Ladley ‘has hung up her broom’. The committee, past and present would like to express their thanks for all her hard work in keeping the hall spick and span. Worry not however, responsibility has passed to a safe pair of rubber
WW1 COMMEMORATIONS
As a helper on last years’ World War One exhibition held in the village hall I was interested to hear of the meeting organised at the NNDC offices on February 2th open to all interested parties. Luckily I was able to attend what turned out to be an interesting and informative morning. Sonia Shuter, the health and communities officer had brought together a diverse group of attendees from a wide range of organisations who had been involved in commemorative events last year. As was pointed out, the war lasted for four years and there is therefore plenty of scope for further events over the next three period. Sonia was at pains to emphasise that the council was not seeking to organise events for us or tell us how we should be running them but rather to provide a forum for the exchange of information and a chance to meet others involved in events as well as giving us the opportunity to suggest ideas and provide feedback to the council on how they might help – albeit with a limited budget. She told us about the commemorative sculpture that has been donated to the council by a local blacksmith which the council is planning to unveil at the NNDC site in June to tie in with Armed Forces Day and we were invited to suggest people who might be invited to do this as well as suggesting other invitees.
We were then asked to put post it notes on whiteboards saying what we had done last year and what plans we had if any for the next three years as well as noting any representatives we felt were missing from the morning’s session – eg National Trust and the library service amongst others. After coffee and biscuits there was a general discussion on the suggestions posted on the boards including an interesting item on a possible WW1 pillbox trail along the coast. Apparently there are a number of
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these pillboxes but many are in a bad state of repair and need renovating. We also heard from Cromer Museum on a forthcoming exhibition of photographs by the Sheringham photographer Olive Edis – the first official war photographer who, post war was commissioned to go to Europe to record images for posterity. The exhibition is funded by the Heritage Lottery fund and partnered by the Imperial War Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The council is proposing to provide a dedicated area of their website www.northnorfolk.org to give information on WW1 events and offer a free advertising service for us all. We could also advertise events on the plasma screen in Cromer tourist office. There are plans for further meetings of this type and anyone wishing to be kept informed should contact Sonia at Sonia.shuter@north-norfolk.gov.uk. CD
CHURCH NOTES January 16th saw the date for Chris Jarvis to be laid to rest. The church was packed and half Wells seemed to be with us. It bears testimony to Chris as a man of Stiffkey; one of several long established families with roots going back a very long way. The writer probably gave Chris his last job – sorting out a tricky plumbing job in a property he first modernised in the 1970’s. Done with typical good humour. He will be remembered with affection, gratitude and someone who was always ready to help & at short notice. The PCC is grateful to the Stiffkey Local History Group for offering to denote a Beech tree to the churchyard – with a suitable inscription to the fallen of WWI. We have an especially lovely church yard – and with our extension to the east can be thankful and blessed. Our new neighbours by the church, the Hoopers have moved in, and have been very helpful with occasional car-parking problems – not to be taken up too often! We wish David every success in his watchmaking project – another first for Stiffkey! – alongside boatbuilding/ restoration. With our shop, post office, lamp shop and thriving pub what can we expect? Hidden depths. Thanks are due to the Parish Council for the various speed restriction signs. They do seem to make a difference especially abreast of the green. Bridge Street remains a speeding nightmare. 20mph signs are ignored too often. As you read this Easter Sunday on April 5th will see us drawn together after Lent and holy week. Details in the front of Lynx. And the 3pm Egg Hunt. Keith McDougall
STEETON COMES TO SHARRINGTON At our AGM in February Françoise Allenby, one of the founding members of the Sharrington Gardeners stood down from the committee after four years, during which time the club membership has grown considerably and its programme become more diverse. Robin Burkitt re-joined the committee as vice chair-person and Adrian Allenby took the post of treasurer. An outline programme for 2015 was agreed including five talks, one workshop, a visit to a notable garden and, as we have done in recent years, visits to members gardens during the summer months. The programme proper started with a talk by Christine Miskin at the March meeting entitled ‘Good enough for the Yellow Book?’ Christine, from The High Hall in Steeton, West Yorkshire entertained our audience of 29 with tales of her arts and crafts house and how she and her husband had transformed its garden to bring it to a level suitable for opening to the public under the National Gardens Scheme. Pretty impressive and much hard work we thought. As a small gesture of thanks for her vision and creative effort whilst on the committee, the group presented Françoise Allenby with a large fine glazed pot which will, no doubt be given pride of place on the Allenby estate. On Wednesday 1st April, Simon Harrap of Natural Surroundings, Bayfield, and author of Harrap’s Wild Flowers, will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘Wild Flowers of North Norfolk’. Our May meeting will be on Wednesday 6th May and will feature Trevor Harrison on how to plant a garden for a show of flowers throughout the summer. RD
NATURE NOTES A long period of cold weather but little snow. Daffodils, snowdrops in profusion – spring is here and Alexanders is becoming rampant.
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come back each year – to a huge welcome as we know that summer has arrived. But not such good news for House Martins (where is the Cockthorpe colony?) and Swifts. Numbers are down seriously. Pightle
Experts are still talking about Ash Die Back disease and the dire consequences across the UK. My specimen tree (treated with fungicide in 2014) seems to be OK – but one tree amongst millions of wild Ash coppice is not the answer. The idea is to identify and breed up a resistant strain; a long term business. Barn Owls are active and hopefully finding plenty of voles which have apparently had a good breeding season in 2014 – 2 or 3 litters per year. Hen Harriers have been spotted and they come down from Scotland in winter and roost communally on the marshes. Birds of prey are at their highest recorded levels of numbers being fully protected by law. Fair enough as long as their prey species also hold up in numbers. Conservation is all about balance in our highly developed small island. I wonder if my family of swallows will re-appear from South Africa (yes South Africa!) again. They nest in my tool shed and it is a wonder to me that these tiny birds
LOCAL LIFEBOAT LUCY LAVERS RETURNS TO DUNKIRK, 75 YEARS ON Something special is happening this Spring – veteran lifeboat Lucy Lavers is returning to Dunkirk. Her very first trip as a newly-built lifeboat in May 1940 was helping the evacuation of British and Allied troops stranded in Dunkirk, France. This Spring will be the first time she’s been back there since ‘Operation Dynamo’. The charity Rescue Wooden Boats is using a Heritage Lottery Grant to restore Lucy Lavers to her former glory in order to make this commemorative voyage. After years of neglect, by May 2015 she will look her magnificent best again. In early May 2015 Lucy Lavers will leave Wellsnext-the-Sea, Norfolk, calling at Lowestoft, Aldeburgh, Levington, Harwich, Ramsgate, and finally crossing the Channel to Dunkirk. The aim is to tell her story in each port and to encourage people, especially young people, to learn about the Dunkirk evacuation and maritime history. At each port, visitors can board Lucy Lavers, experience being on this 1940 lifeboat and feel the enormity of the events she took part in. Lucy Lavers’ journey will involve a team of volunteer
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Springing from this has been the restoration of the pill box which happened with the practical and financial cooperation of the National Trust and the county archaeological services. This also resulted in some primary clearance work being done on the Whirligig by these groups and Holkham Estate. We had a big bonfire (it being 5th November) jacket potatoes with cheese, cake and toasted marsh mallows. The launch of our book ‘Stiffkey with Cockthorpe, A Story of Norfolk People' has been a great success and over 600 copies have been sold in one year. We are now planning a small booklet covering the records we have regarding the men (and one woman) of Stiffkey and Cockthorpe who had served in World War One. We are pleased with our progress over the last few years. Our small society is keen to keep up the momentum as we can see many projects that need to be done. Our long term plan is to create an archive that will be available to members and have some where to store it. Do you think you could support us giving some time for research, collation, fund raising etc.? Whatever your skills are they would be welcome. If you cannot help in practical ways then think about joining our society anyway as the membership fee, and your support, is always welcome. Subs are just £5-00 per year; due 1st April annually. It would be much appreciated. Contact Geraldine Green on 01328 830245 or
sailing crews, onshore coordinators, and a film crew, all working together along her route to France and back. There will be a programme of linked events onshore, including presentations and a volunteer-manned travelling exhibition. There’s even the opportunity to share in this exciting voyage, by bidding for a place on board for some legs of the journey! Visit our eBay profile to bid: www.ebay.co.uk/usr/rescuewoodenboats We’re seeking support - the voyage from Wells-nextthe- Sea is 385 nautical miles and will cost £90 per mile. Text LLDQ01 £3 to 70070 to donate by text, or donate at www.rescuewoodenboats.com, and your name will be written in a commemorative book which will accompany Lucy Lavers on her voyage. We encourage community participation – volunteers, fundraisers, educational organizations and local interest groups will be welcomed at each port of call. If you’d like to be involved and become part of Lucy Lavers’ story, please contact Kate Faire, info@rescuewoodenboats.com. After her return trip to Dunkirk, Lucy Lavers will live in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, and give educational trips to help people understand and experience our maritime heritage. Her story will continue to be told, through films, photographs and displays at the Rescue Wooden Boats Visitor Centre in Stiffkey, Norfolk, NR23 1QF – open at weekends, 10am- 4pm, throughout the winter months – and online at www.rescuewoodenboats.com. Lucy Geering, Dunkirk Voyage PR Tel 07748 733 960 / email lucyashtongeering@gmail.com
green978@btinternet.com
STIFFKEY LOCAL HISTORY GROUP The past year has been a busy one for our society. We have had an outing to the curious and unique Glandford Shell Museum and were amazed by the beautiful carvings in the church next door which was restored by Sir Alfred Jodrell in memory of his wife. We walked along the river Glaven to Natural Surroundings at Bayfield where we had refreshments and a heavy shower just managing to return before the next one. Our exhibition covering World War One at Stiffkey Church was a great success where donations for a memorial tree and plaque reached over £100. This should be planted soon. We thank Carol Wordingham especially for her hard work on the research for this project and also others who contributed and manned the event.
STIFFKEY REP NEEDED If you would like to support Local Lynx and live in or near Stiffkey, please contact steven@stevenbashforth.wanadoo.co.uk or lynxeditor@pobox.com.
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Chinese dumplings that we made and the Chinese meal for lunch. Class three had fun with Chinese shadow puppets, and at the very end of the day we learnt a tiny bit of karate. Sports Report – Honor Spice We have enjoyed some more sporting success. Abbi McCallum (year 4) has won two events at North Walsham in cross country and swimming, which is fantastic. The football team won their Wells school tournament, and also the big match at Carrow Park. We came second in the netball tournament at Wells High school , with Eli as man of the match. The athletics team also enjoyed success in an event at the UEA in Norwich.
LANGHAM VILLAGE SCHOOL It has once again been very busy at Langham village school. Days full of ambition, enterprise and, wonderful international inspiration. Walking with the Wounded This week, Class 3 were very lucky to meet Duncan Slater from Walking with the wounded. Kai, Kieran and Archie will fill you in; We talked to Duncan Slater. Duncan got his legs blown off in Afghanistan when he was a soldier. We learnt that Walking with the wounded is for people that were in the war or the military, who have been wounded. The charity gives them a chance to go on an extraordinary expedition. Duncan had been on an expedition to the South Pole. When we asked him why he went on the expedition he said, it was because he wanted to prove he could do it. Kai: I thought that the most interesting thing was that one person that went on the expedition was blind and he skied 200 kilometres without whinging. Kieran: I thought that the most interesting thing was that they had to wear a special harness so that they could pull their gear. Archie: I was amazed that sometimes they were hot; from the ultraviolet rays of the sun reflecting on their black trousers, but they still had to put three pairs of gloves on so their hands didn’t get frostbite.
Ambition for Norfolk A number of pupils have recently attended the ambition for Norfolk day. Here are some of the year 6 thoughts and ideas on ambition. Charlotte Everitt - Year 6 I think ambition is where you have a goal or an achievement you would like to complete. It could be a future ambition or one that you can complete in a day or a week but, normally, you will have an achievement in your mind that you badly want. There may be obstacles in your way; you may need to get a job to complete your ambition or do some training in a particular event, but when you do complete your ambition it will feel amazing! You may need to take steps or even make a map for the journey. You don’t always have to be alone as you go, you can take friends or family along the way. Ambition is like going on holiday: you plan it; get there and you feel delighted. It’s like a big map that you will follow. Charles Cox - Year 6 Ambition to me is where you try and push yourself a little bit more and go beyond the limits of what you think you can do. You try a bit more!
Enterprise days – Florence Allen On Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd February the whole school split into six groups to raise money for a chosen charity. The six groups chose things to make and then sell to raise money. We came up with ideas then had to do a presentation to the dragons in the hall. We decided to make bunting, biscuits, jewellery, tablet covers, stone babies, bags, chalk boards and batik cards. At the end of the two days we sold all the items we had made after school. The sale went really well, we raised lots of money and really enjoyed it. It was fun working with children from other classes and doing something together.
Zeb Guppy – Year 6 I made a game for ambition for Norfolk called ‘roll to the goal’ the whole point of it was to test people’s ambition. It was a big game and lots of people played. I was afraid that if they landed on a bad result they’d be unhappy. Lots of people landed on ‘you’re a relaxer.’
Chinese day – Karina Allison On Tuesday 10th February the whole school had a Chinese day to celebrate Chinese New Year. Two Chinese ladies came to the school to teach us about China. We learnt how to make a bendy dragon, how to paint a panda using traditional inks. We also learnt to eat using chop sticks, which came in handy for the 27
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