NEWS & VIEWS

News & Views

Barsham . Walsingham . Houghton April – May 2017

A magazine for the whole community

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Contents Wells Dementia Friendly Community Group 13 News from Heritage House 14 Book review 14 Alderman Peel High School News 15 A Horse Picture 15 North Norfolk Model Engineering Club (NNMEC) 16 Holy Week and Easter Services 17 Walsingham Open Gardens 17 Regular Church Services 18 Directory of Advertisers i Useful Telephone Numbers xii Crossword xiii Latest News and Pictures from Walsingham CE Primary School Back page

Editorial 2 Introducing Walsingham CE Primary School 3 From the Hedgehog Class… 3 From the Meerkat Class… 4 Christian Comment 6 7 From your District Councillor Walsingham Parish Council and Walsingham Recreation Trust 8 Barsham Parish Council 8 Eating at Easter 9 Walsingham Mobile Post Office Service 10 Heather Honey – and a Recipe 10 11 From your M.P. Walsingham Picture Palace 12 Walsingham and District W.I. 13

Editorial Welcome to the April/May edition of News & Views. Sadly, since the last issue Angela Morris has stepped down as Editor. On behalf of the Committee and all our readers I would like to thank Angela for all her hard work in helping to launch News & Views and for her dedication and skill as its first Editor. As well as showing imagination and resourcefulness in commissioning articles, Angela was particularly adept in keeping us all to deadlines -which are qualities and skills we will greatly miss.

The current issue has a particular focus on Walsingham CE Primary School. As well as news from the school there are also examples of pupils work to enjoy, which I hope will become a regular feature.

I am delighted that Gabby Williams has agreed to join our Editorial Committee and we also welcome three new advertisers: East Coast Decorators, Brocantes and P.G. Antiques. We are grateful to all our Advertisers, who help to keep News & Views free of charge to all who live, work and worship in Walsingham, Houghton and Barsham. You will find our Advertisers in the Directory towards the end of the magazine and I urge you to patronise and support them, and indeed all our local businesses, whenever you can.

Finally, I am grateful to Andy Langley for providing the photograph for the Front Cover. Andy has his studio in West Barsham and details of his work can be found at www.andylangleyphotography.com.

Fr Andrew Mitcham Articles and other items for the June/July issue should be received by 30th April to the Copy Editor by E-mail: j.mcilwaine@ucl.ac.uk, or by post to: The Vicarage, Church Street, Walsingham. NR22 6BL. Printed and Designed by

www.fakprepress.co.uk

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Introducing Walsingham CE Primary School Walsingham CE VA Primary School is a small, welcoming village primary with children aged from 4 to 11 years. With such small classes and our excellent staff, each child is nurtured and supported in order to enable them to achieve the best they can. Our irresistible approach to learning helps to engage but also to challenge and inspire children. The school is small, but has amazing resources both inside and out. If you would like to find out more, visits are always welcome, just contact the school office on 01328 820265 or email office@walsingham.norfolk.sch.uk . Why not visit our website www.Walsingham.norfolk.sch.uk or read our Ofsted report https://www.gov.uk/find-ofsted-inspection-report. On the pages following you will find examples of some of our childrens’ work and on the back page latest news and pictures featuring the opening of our new outside play area and kitchen.

Marshall Schaitel, Senior Teacher

From the Hedgehog Class…

We are reading a book called Whatever Next by Jill Murphy. It’s about a bear that went to the moon! We put on our space boots and helmet and went to the moon. We pretended we saw aliens and then made and described them when we got back down to earth.

“The alien I saw on the moon was fat.

His name is Bob.” Mitchell Edwards

“The alien I saw on the moon was sparkly cold and squidgy.”

Summer Payne

“The alien I saw on the moon was big kind adorable and googly.”

Violet-May Chapman

“My alien I saw on the moon was funny and clever and really happy. His body was colourful and clumsy and really little but he was naughty. He was eight and had two legs, really googly eyes and was squishy. His name was spot.”

Lacey-May Reed 3

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

‘Make it up Monday’ Every Monday children enjoy their creative writing task. They use their imagination to tell the class what they did at the weekend.

“At the weekend I went to the cinema to see The Batman Lego Movie. In the middle of the Lego movie it sucked me in. Suddenly I turned into Robin then I saw Batman’s base. Suddenly I got in the bat mobile then I saw the joker then out of nowhere the jokers team came and we had a big battle and me and batman won the battle. Quickly the cinema screen unsucked me.”

Max Maplethorpe

From the Meerkat Class…

Emotion Poems Happy Happy is colourful like a rainbow.

It tastes like fresh air.

It smells like hot food.

It looks like a cold lonely road.

It sounds like a loud drum and wind.

It feels like someone is touching you. MW

Jealousy Jealousy is grey like being in prison.

It tastes like raw radishes.

It smells rotten and grim.

It looks like retaliating to your best friend.

It sounds like the movement of someone angry.

It feels heartbroken and devastating. MD

Happy Happy is blue like the sea.

It tastes like yummy blueberries.

It smells like flowers.

It looks like fun and happiness.

It sounds like the sea.

It feels like grains of blue sand. JG

Anger Anger is red like lightening striking in the sky.

It tastes cold and sour.

It smells dirty and damp.

It looks like a dark, lonely bedroom.

It sounds like gun shots.

It feels like being trapped. JLC

Joy Joy is gold like blooming sunflowers.

It tastes like warm milk.

It smells like perfume.

It looks like exhilarated children playing.

It sounds like screams of excitement.

It feels like being with friends. JW

Death Death is black like a lonely lake.

It tastes sour like bitter lemons.

It smells like blackened soot.

It looks like a blood stained coffin.

It sounds like crying.

It feels like shattered dreams. WS

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON Happy It is gold like golden charms, coins and necklaces.

It tastes like salty water.

It smells like dirty sweet and sour It looks scary and creepy It sounds spooky. It feels weird. LP

Love Love is gold like a glistening sky.

It tastes sweet and juicy.

It smells pure and refreshing.

It looks like two swans dancing in the pond.

It sounds friendly and kind.

It feels like the touch of a new day. JLC

Fear Fear is grey It tastes like the blood of death.

It smells like hot food.

It looks like someone is rocking down.

It feels like being alone. SF

Happy Happy is bright It tastes like a big feast with extra gravy.

It smells like the fresh air.

It looks like rainbows and butterflies.

It sounds like birds singing and bees humming.

It feels like your touching all different colours. SF

Fear Fear is black like death.

It tastes like miserable porridge.

It smells like salty disgusting water.

It looks like black and that’s bad.

It sounds like blank footsteps rushing down the hallway.

It feels like burning fire on your finger tips. TA

Peace Peace is like a white dove.

It tastes like rainbows glittering in the sky.

It smells like perfume.

It looks relaxing and calm.

It sounds like being in an adventure.

It feels like you’re away in the puffy clouds. TA

Did you ever wonder how to dress a Roman gladiator? Well if one comes to visit here are some instructions – you won’t find this on Google!!

How to dress a Roman Gladiator by MD You will need: A white cloth, a golden belt, a dagger, a pair of golden boots, a shoulder guard, a trident, a blue headband, a net and a white bandage.

1. Get your white cloth and put in on your waist 2. Tie a knot in it to the back of your waist 3. Put your golden belt to the top of your cloth 4. Next, get your dagger and shove it inside your golden belt 5. Put your boots on and zip them up tight 6. After that, tie your bandage on your left arm – make sure it is nice and tight.

7. Strap your shoulder guard on your left shoulder 8. Carefully slide on your headband.

9. For the finishing touch grab your net into your left hand, you could tie the net round your wrist 10. Last of all, hold your trident in your right hand Now you are ready for battle!

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Christian Comment It’s Easter already! I’m constantly taken by surprise by the realisation that a feast-day which, only yesterday, seemed so distant is upon us. We all experience the passage of time, and experience it differently. In childhood, it seems to pass very slowly. Waiting for a promised treat for as much as an hour was difficult, and Friday afternoon in the classroom seemed endless. In later life time seems to pass at such a speed as to be dizzying. It is already Easter and this year Easter is quite late.

From ancient times people have measured time and devised for themselves times for celebration. The foundation of our awareness of time, since long before it could be scientifically explained, has always been the regular motion of the planets. We mark the days, months and years and belief in the supernatural led people to superimpose a religious meaning on to seasonal festivity. Easter, of course, is a commemoration of the mystery of Jesus Christ. In many European languages, however, the name of the festival derives from ‘peshach’ (‫) ֶפּסַח‬, the Hebrew word for Passover the time in the Jewish calendar when the events Christians celebrate took place. ‘Easter’, at least according to St Bede writing in the eight century, derives from Eostre, the name of an ancient, pre-Christian goddess associated with spring. It is strange that names persist and can camouflage what they intend to signify.

We celebrate birthdays and other anniversaries because we value, we love the people whose lives we celebrate. I celebrate Easter for similar reasons; because the events we commemorate give meaning to my life. My celebration of Easter is not uniquely of a religious character. Chocolate eggs, Bank Holidays and other secular festivities are important in a Society like ours and I join in with gusto. The most recent U.K. government statistics (2011) indicate that 59% of us identify as Christian. That’s quite a lot. The same source indicates, however, that only about 1.5 million attended church at Easter. There are, doubtless, many ways of explaining this. What do all these self-identifying Christians do to celebrate Easter if they don’t take part in a church celebration? I don’t know. Can it be that they do not bring to mind at all the central events on which their faith is based?

Perhaps a suitable way to mark Easter for churchgoers and others would be to ask ourselves a question like, “What do Christians want?” There are any number of flabby replies to the question, such as, “Christians want a more just world, where people love one another, do good rather than evil, a world where people are truly human…” Of course we do; but so does everyone else. There has to be something more specific and we need to identify what it is, and not let ourselves of the hook.

Fr Keith Tulloch SM

Happy Easter!

From the team at News and Views

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

From your District Councillor Dear fellow residents, I am very pleased that the District Council will be freezing its share of your Council Tax bill once again this year, the seventh year in a row. This is being done by continually reviewing our operations whilst maintaining a very high level of services and North Norfolk District Council continues to be regarded as one of the best run councils in the east of England. Our finances will run at a surplus for the next two years but, three years down the line, we will have a projected year on year funding gap and things are well underway to be able to address this by making better use of our assets on order to bring in revenue income.

When our CEO resigned to move to further her career, we carried out a strategic review and decided not to fill the post, but make some innovative changes in senior management which have proven to be very successful. In addition, these have delivered around quarter of a million pounds in savings year on year.

Our staff feedback is excellent, sickness levels below the national average and we now hold the Gold level of the externally accredited Investors in People award.

The North Norfolk Sporting Centre of Excellence, set up by NNDC in conjunction with Gresham’s School and open to those aged 11 to 14 has been going from strength to strength since its launch in October last year. Students have access to top class facilities and coaching to help them be well placed to achieve their ambitions. At the end of February, some of the centre’s athletes achieved top places in the English Schools’ cross country events.

Our area has some of the highest numbers of second homes in the country and we have been making representation to central government about the pressures this causes for a number of years. Just before Christmas the Department for Communities and Local Government announced that it was making £60 million available to help tackle this situation. North Norfolk received £24 million, the highest for any district council in the country.

I am very pleased to be the current Chairman of the North Norfolk Big Society Fund which continues to be available to help communities and groups with a variety of projects, ranging from children’s play equipment to community hall improvements such as new kitchens. Please do not be put off making an application, as the staff at the council will be only too pleased to help. A Big Society Awards evening will be taking place at the end of March to help celebrate some of the work being done by volunteers across the district.

There is a new website for the District Council and the feedback so far has been very positive. This allows for more business with the Council to be conducted online, for those who wish to do so, while we continue to maintain and invest in telephony and facilities for callers at both Cromer and Fakenham offices. Planning applications continue to increase and, as always, I am happy to discuss any areas of concern with neighbours and raise these with the planning staff.

The District continues to support Orchestras Live North Norfolk, a series of the highest quality orchestral concerts developed by North Norfolk District Council in partnership with Orchestras Live and local community organisations, as part of its promotion of the arts.

Many will have noticed the scaffold in front of the public lavatories in the High Street. This followed a partial collapse of masonry in the front wall at the beginning of the year. NNDC and Walsingham Estate worked well together to get the road cleared and the area made safe, my thanks to all involved. Given the historic nature of the structure the reinstatement will be done to a high standard and in conjunction with the relevant conservation and heritage bodies. However, it is not possible to carry out the work until the warmer weather is with us.

As ever, I am very happy to meet with anyone who needs help and offer any advice I can on matters of concern to residents and businesses.

Tom FitzPatrick tom.fitzpatrick@north-norfolk.gov.uk 01263 516312 (office); 07803 166293 (mobile) 7

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Walsingham Parish Council and Walsingham Recreation Trust Clerk: Mrs Joanna Otte, Little Manor, Thursford Road, Little Snoring, Fakenham, NR21 0JN, tel: 01328 822366, email: walsinghampc@googlemail.com The next Walsingham Parish Council and Recreation Trust meetings are on Wednesday 5 April and 24 May 2017 (Annual Meeting of the Parish Council). There is always time at 7.15 pm for members of the public to raise matters of concern before the meeting begins at 7.30pm. For more information about the Parish Council do visit the Walsingham Village website www.walsinghamvillage.org (the schedule of meetings, minutes, last year’s accounts etc. can be found under ‘essentials’). Please do contact the Clerk if you notice any street lights that need to be repaired email walsinghampc@google.com or telephone 01328 822366.

Litter Picking in April We are having an informal litter pick on 3 and 4 April. If you would like to join us do contact the Parish Clerk on 01328 822366. Alternatively you can telephone James Woodhouse on 01328 820268 to collect a litter grabber so you can litter pick at a time convenient for you.

SAM2 speed awareness sign is proving a success. It is hoped that we can find suitable locations on Bridewell Street and Hindringham Road to encourage drivers to drive carefully.

The Annual Parish Meeting for Walsingham is on Wednesday 5 April at 7 pm in the Village. At this meeting the charities in the village present their accounts. All parishioners are welcome to attend and to raise matters of interest or concern.

Please remember to use the Bottle Bank to recycle glass and the Clothes Bank in the Mill Car Park. The Parish Council receives recycling credits from the County Council for every tonne of glass recycled.

REQUEST FOR HELP: Walsingham Recreation Ground playground is in need of some repairs and repainting of the older equipment. If you would like to help with this please do contact the Clerk, Joanna on 01328 822366 or email walsinghampc@googlemail.com.

Walsingham Village Hall is available for bookings, at very reasonable rates, for parties, talks, exhibitions and classes. Walsingham Village Hall is conveniently situated on Wells Road with ample parking both in the car park and on the street. For further information including booking form and rates visit the Walsingham Village website www.walsinghamvillage.org (Walsingham Village Hall is listed under ‘essentials’). Alternatively contact Joanna Otte, Clerk to Walsingham Parish Council, email walsinghampc@googlemail.com or telephone 01328 822366.

Online reporting for Norfolk County Council and North Norfolk District Council If you see a pothole that needs repairing, a damaged sign post or other problems on roads, pavements or public footpaths please report to the Highways department at the County Council. The online reporting form can be found at https://apps.norfolk.gov.uk/highwaysdefect/.

The District Council also has online facilities for reporting fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling. Please go to the website https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/ and use the Environment and Emergencies tab.

Barsham Parish Council Barsham Village Hall is a massively underused facility. Bingo and Bowls appear to be the only regular bookings plus some Church events, but this is available for all to hire for wedding receptions, christening parties, children’s parties, adult birthday parties, works parties or conferences. The Hall is large and has

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON plenty of available parking and kitchen facilities. Tel No for bookings 01328 820 348. It is available on an hourly and daily rate (£6.00 an hour and £50.00 a day) It does cost a lot for this facility to be run with simple standing costs for heating/water/insurance. With very little regular income it may reach a point where the committee will have to make a tough decision about its continuation. “Use it or Lose It!” Tracey White Clerk

Eating at Easter We all have our own family traditions of festive eating at Easter, maybe not quite as fixed as at Christmas but still often a moment for a special meal. Without necessarily realising it, we cook and eat according to very old traditions, shared across religious denominations and national boundaries. We make celebratory food with those things that were once excluded, and also historically just scarce, during the Lent fast. We cook food which is symbolic, whether buns marked with a cross, or the first eggs from hens which have been ‘off lay’, or the first green shoots of chives from the herb patch, foods which remind us of rebirth and renewal.

In England, we have perhaps painted some blown eggs for decoration and bought or baked hot cross buns enriched with fruit and spice, a Simnel cake, and roasted the paschal lamb for Easter Sunday lunch.

Meanwhile in Russia, there’s a delicious creamy pashka which is a little bit like a cheesecake, marked with XB (Христосъ Воскресe, ‘Christ is Risen’) and eaten with kulich, a fruited bread/cake a bit like an Italian panettone. The Italians make the colomba, the bread shaped as a dove and studded with candied peel and almonds. In Greece the boiled eggs are coloured red to represent the spilt blood of Christ, and they crack the eggs together to symbolise the opening of the Tomb. In Germany Maundy Thursday is Gründonnerstag, ‘Green Thursday’ and a green chervil soup is eaten.

Even if you have no religious affiliation, and haven’t been fasting for Lent (or swearing off booze, chocolate or social media) there’s a seasonal hunger for some fresh spring foods. Joys of spring salad for lunch or a starter: little gem lettuce cut in quarters, with sliced radishes, halved boiled eggs (slightly soft in the middle, not hard unless of course you prefer them that way), shredded wild garlic or chives and some good mayonnaise thinned with lemon juice. On St George’s Day, April 23rd, the traditional start of the asparagus season, you will be able to add some steamed asparagus spears! Slow roast lamb: new season spring lamb should be roasted fast and hot, and served pink. But if it seems a bit too pricey – go for last year’s lamb – it has tons of flavour, but costs a little less, and cook it long and slow. This works well if you are going out for a long walk or to church but hosting friends or family later, as the meat can go in the oven and stay there quietly ticking over until you are ready. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Make a rub for your leg or shoulder of lamb by crushing a good amount of crushed garlic, up to a whole head, with sea salt and some finely chopped rosemary and thyme, in a pestle and mortar. Add a spoonful of mild olive or other oil (not extra virgin). Put the lamb in a suitable roasting tin and massage in the rub. Add 250ml water and put in the oven for 3 – 3 ½ hours. If you need to leave it longer, just set the heat lower, to 150°C or even 140°C and cook for 4 hours or more. Allow to rest covered with foil for 15 minutes before carving.

Lazy lemon tarts: buy some top quality lemon curd, some are almost as good as home made, and (if possible all-butter) ready rolled shortcrust pastry. Heat oven to 200°C. Line one large tart tin, or a bun tray for individual tarts, with the pastry. Prick all over with a fork. Bake empty until pale gold (you can bake blind, covering the raw pastry shell with baking paper and weighted down with ceramic baking beans, rice or pulses, but it doesn’t make all that much difference). This takes about 10-15 mins depending on the size. Allow to cool completely before filling with the lemon curd. Dust with icing sugar and maybe top with a shred of lemon peel.

Elizabeth Meath Baker

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Walsingham Mobile Post Office Service TUESDAYS 10.00 am to 11.30 am near the Farms Shop, Guild Street, Walsingham, NR22 6BU Services A wide range of services is available. Customers can still collect benefits in cash using our everyday banking services or Post Office card account Access and facilities There is a step into the Mobile vehicle, but an electronic tailgate is available to facilitate easy access for wheelchair users and those with disabilities. Parking available close to Van.

Heather Honey – and a Recipe Many village people will remember fondly the smell of baking when they would visit mum to collect their family allowance or pensions. The visit to the Post Office would often be a long drawn out affair where Mum would listen to everyone’s problems. I wonder if any can remember a particular smell of heather honey! I must admit it was not a smell that I cherished but I did appreciate the hard work that went into getting in. To collect the heather honey the bees had to be transported to the North Yorkshire moors at the end of July.

Before the bees could be moved they had to be stripped of all their summer honey collected here in Norfolk so as not to mix the two as the honeys are so totally different and have to be handled in a completely different way. The hives had to be strengthened with frames of bees just about to hatch off and ideally a young queen. Bees were loaded late at night once they had finished flying, then strapped up and transported to Yorkshire to be ready to be put down before light. It would then involve a visit two weeks later to see that they were all right and to give them extra space if needed. This would be a family weekend away, and a chance to catch up with my sister who lives in Ripon and have a great meal out on the Saturday evening.

Another two weeks down the line we would do the whole lot in reverse and if the bees had produced a good quantity of honey we would have to do two trips on the return. So many of these trips ended up being adventures. More than once the vehicle would get stuck trying to get off the moors, and this once involved going to the local farmer to borrow a tractor to tow it off, only for Eddie, my husband’s beekeeping friend, finding it had no brakes and having to turn the tractor back up the hill to stop it careering into a dry stone wall. Being on the moors early in the morning had its highs and Dad and Mum talked fondly of one morning coming back off the moors by Carlton church and following a female badger down the road with her young family.

Now back to the smell in the Post Office. All the heather honey had to be extracted in Mum’s kitchen as it was either cut up for comb honey or spun out in a converted spin dryer. Heather honey is thicksotropic so cannot be extracted in the usual way, since it is more like a jelly than honey and has a very strong aroma. Poor mum would have the back hall packed with anything up to 40 supers of honey which would then be put through her kitchen at a rate of three or four a day depending on how full they were. I would say that Mum was a long suffering beekeepers wife who had not only to allow this but also to get involved herself so as to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

I was to take on board one of Mum’s words of wisdom, when taking over the honey business she looked me straight in the eye and said “whatever you do keep the honey out of the kitchen!” and I have stuck to her words, only having it in the kitchen for actual use. Wise words Mum, wise words.

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Carrot, Honey & Raisin Cake Pre-heat oven to 170°C, 325°F, Gas Mark 4 Ingredients: • 3 carrots

• 85g (5oz) honey

• 125g (4oz) self-raising flour

• 3 eggs

• 125g (4 oz) wholemeal self-raising flour

• 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract

• 1 tsp (5ml) baking powder

• 125ml (4fl oz) sunflower oil

• 1 tsp (5ml) cinnamon

• 85g (3 oz) raisins

• 25g (1oz) brown sugar

• 2-3 tbls milk

Instructions: • Line a 20 cm (8 in) round cake tin with greaseproof paper and brush with a little oil.

• Peel and grate the carrots on a chopping board. Place the flours, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and mix together.

• Put the honey, eggs, vanilla, and oil in a separate bowl and mix together with a whisk or fork. Add to the flour mixture and mix well.

• Stir in the grated carrots and raisins with a metal spoon. Add a little milk to give a fairly soft consistency.

Spoon the cake mixture into the lined tin. Bake for about 1 hour. Check that the cake is done by inserting a skewer or knife into the middle and it should come out clean when the cake is cooked.

• Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then loosen the sides and turn out on to a wire rack.

Remove the lining paper and leave to cool.

Pat Marshall.

From your M.P. I am writing this article after a 1 a.m. finish at Parliament this morning owing to the votes on the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. This Bill will affect us all and is obviously causing huge concern to many people. I have received hundreds of emails from constituents both in favour and against the Bill and I understand both arguments. However the British people have spoken and we have to follow the democratic process. I am therefore voting in favour of the Bill.

January has been a busy month with meetings in London and Norfolk. I attended the Norfolk Headteachers meeting in the House of Commons at the end of January and look forward to visiting Lingwood Primary School this Friday to talk to the Year 6 students who recently visited Parliament. Last weekend I attended a very successful MPs event organised by the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn in Norwich with fellow Norfolk MPs. I am grateful to all those who have contacted me regarding the EU Bill and I will always pass on your views to our Ministers responsible for Exiting the EU. Rt Hon Keith Simpson MP

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

The Spring Programme Continues With the award season over, and the stacks of Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes and more all handed out over the winter, it means the batch of films ready for wider distribution and DVD release in the late spring and summer is especially excellent.

Tuesday 18th April A UNITED KINGDOM (12A) BBC Films’ A United Kingdom opened the 60th BFI London Film Festival in October. Director Amma Asante is the first black British director to open the Festival. Her film, with a screenplay by Guy Hibbert tells the inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments.

Seretse and Ruth defied family, apartheid and empire – their love triumphed over every obstacle flung in their path and in so doing they transformed their nation and inspired the world. With beguiling performances by David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike in the leading roles.

‘With terrific warmth and idealism – and irresistible storytelling relish – director Amma Asante gives us a romantic true story from our dowdy postwar past.’ Peter Bradshaw, Guardian Tuesday 30th May LION (PG) Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home. With Dev Patel (most recently seen at the Picture Palace in The Man Who Knew Infinity) and Nicole Kidman, who has described Lion as “a love letter” to the two children she adopted herself in her 20s when married to Tom Cruise. A remarkable performance also from Sunny Pawar (now just 8) as the 5 year old Saroo.

‘A deeply empathetic performance from Dev Patel and an unflinching view of child poverty on the streets of Calcutta provide a winning edge to Lion.’ ‘This big-hearted film does full justice to the horror, the pathos and the drama of his postmodern odyssey.’

Programmes and reminders of our screenings are circulated by email, so send us an email at walsinghampp@gmail.com if you would like to be added to our mailing list.

We post the film programmes and trailers on the village website www.walsinghamvillage.org and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WalsinghamPicturePalace, with film info, links, images, reviews of the films and more.

Tickets £4 (£3.50 members, £3 under 16) on the door. Doors open 7pm for tickets and refreshments.

Programmes begin at 7.30pm with accompanying short.

Walsingham Picture Palace is at Walsingham Parish Hall (Odd Fellows Hall).

14 High Street, Walsingham, NR22 6AA. Contact: walsinghampp@gmail.com 12

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Walsingham and District W.I. I must say that our WI got off to a good start in 2017, we welcomed four new ladies into membership and we still have a couple of enquiries. We are doing extremely well for a small village.

Our January speaker was Mr. P. West, his talk this time was “Crabs Cliffs and Coasters”, a journey from Wells to Cromer which is about 20 miles. He started by telling us about Wells and its trade with exports of mainly grain and corn and imports mainly coal and animal feed. He said that there were still 16 fishing boats based at Wells. He went on to tell us about ship wrecks along the coast, and Cley Customs House and the smuggling that occurred, chiefly of brandy and tobacco. He also showed us some very interesting slides.

February’s speaker was Brian Landale our local farmer and Justice of the Peace. Brian started by saying he had been a JP for 34 years, and when he started there was a magistrates bench in Fakenham at Holt and Hunstanton as well as Kings Lynn, but sadly only the bench at Kings Lynn still exists. JPs he said had been about since the 1300s. He said that being in court was a frightening experience not just for the defendant but also for the families as well. He said Family courts were very difficult, he had worries about probation, and the prison services especially about what was happening up in Northumberland and with people reoffending. He ended with a funny, but true story about a Vicar, a Bishop, and a brace of pheasants. A very interesting talk. Our April speaker is Mr. G Baker on “Trading Standards” and in May it is Mrs. A. Seales on “Fabric Sculpture”.

If any of you ladies are interested in joining us, we meet on the 2nd Tuesday in the month, in the Parish Hall, High Street, Little Walsingham at 2:15 pm. Please contact Secretary Barbara Scott, Tel. 01328 820626 or our President Iris Bacon, 01328 820225.

Wells Dementia Friendly Community Group We met recently to discuss plans for the year ahead and, in particular, for Dementia Awareness Week which runs from May 15th to the 21st. Although the Group is based in Wells the activities it offers can be enjoyed by anyone from the surrounding areas too and everyone is always made very welcome. The weekly Wednesday morning Dementia Activity Sessions at Wells Community Hospital are a great way to get to know others and if transport is an issue we may be able to help. There are also some new sessions being held. Called ‘Our day out’ these are aimed at the elderly and not just those with dementia, although they are ‘dementia friendly’. These run from 12.30 until 2.30 on the first and third Tuesday of each month. We were lucky to be chosen by Creative Arts East to be one of the areas receiving these music and dance sessions which are hosted by professionals from London. All the sessions offered are free and always include refreshments.

Another project that is starting soon is the Joy of Food classes which aim to increase knowledge of foods available to eat, demonstrate and teach ways of incorporating them into everyday meals, increase confidence about budgeting, planning and preparing meals and provide opportunities to try new foods in a ‘no cost, no risk’ environment. Sponsored by Norfolk County Council, these 4 x 3 hour sessions are offered free of charge to anyone over 14 years of age (no upper age limit) and take place in dementia friendly surroundings.

For Dementia Awareness Week, there will be various information displays at the Library in Wells and also at Bang in Wells – a dementia friendly café at the top of Staithe Street. The very popular Wednesday Music for Memory session will also be held at the Library rather than its usual venue of Wells Hospital so make a note of the date and time – Wednesday May 17th at 10.30 a.m.

Other activities being discussed are exercise sessions, guided walks in Holkham Estate and Wells Town and dementia friendly pub and garden centre lunches. We are also happy to receive suggestions from anyone on anything they feel might help those living with dementia and their carers to be active and valued members of their community. You can find information on everything that’s happening on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/wellsDFC/ Jackie Stanbridge jacquelinestanbridge@gmail.com 13

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

News from Heritage House After the indulgences of what felt like quite a long Christmas break, New Year’s Day and the harsh reality of Heritage House’s annual Dash and Dip came as something of a shock. The weather was, without doubt, the worst it has been in the four years the event has been running but, despite a 35 mile an hour northerly wind, driving rain and a wind chill factor of -10ºC, thirteen hardy souls braved a cold North Sea to raise funds for Heritage House. All thirteen sprinted down Wells beach and splashed their way into the channel. Three actually put their heads under! Afterwards they were rewarded, revived or resuscitated (as appropriate) with a bracing rum punch provided by a frustrated Mary Britton, who would have been in there with them were it not for the fluey cold that had blighted her entire Christmas.

The appalling weather meant that there were fewer people on the beach than in previous years to witness this selfless act of bravery (and help fill our collection buckets!) but we’re really grateful to all those who did support the event, be they spectators, helpers or, most particularly, the ‘Heritage House Thirteen’ themselves. Thank you all very much.

Our next planned fund-raising events will be the first of our very successful Cake & Produce stalls in Burnham Market on Easter Saturday, April 15th and on May 27th (9.00 am to 1.30 pm) and the Heritage House Spring Fair, which will be held in the Congregational Hall, Clubbs Lane, Wells on Saturday, April 22nd (10.00 am to 2.00 pm). Then, on May 28th, it’s Open Gardens at Stody Lodge where Heritage House will be providing the tea and cakes; your chance to enjoy these wonderful gardens – and a nice cup of tea!

For details of these and other events please go to www.heritagehousewells.org.uk, email us at heritagedaycare@btconnect.com or give us a ring on 01328 711333.

Nigel Dark

Book review My first story, 2016: East of England Tales, Edited by Donna Samworth. Peterborough, Young Writers, 2017. ISBN 978-1-78624-675-2.

Going out one day I met a neighbour of mine, the granddad of Rebecca Goldsmith. Chatting to him he mentioned that Rebecca had, at school, won a competition to have a story entered into a book that was going to be published soon.

I said that was very good for a young girl, Rebecca is aged 6 or was at the time this happened, being last year. Seeing him more recently I asked if he had received a copy of the book yet, which he had. I said I would like to see it with a thought to writing something for News & Views.

This book is a collection of stories by schoolchildren from: Hillside Primary School, Ipswich; Mepal And Wicham CE (VC) Primary School, Ely; St. Bede’s RC Primary School, Romford; Tollgate Primary School, Bury St Edmunds and of course Walsingham CE (VA) Primary School, Walsingham. Each child was given the start of a story and asked to finish it with the help of storyboards. They used pictures and their own imagination to finish the stories.

With Archie S, Chloe, Max, Ellie, Rebecca, Lacey-May, Liam and Archie W (the authors from Walsingham school!), we discover their world of jungles and zoos, with pirates and wicked witches, from space to fantasyland, with elephants and teddy bears and forests and elves, the list is endless.

A ‘must have’ for any child’s birthday or special occasion; a ‘keep-sake’ for anyone knowing these schools and children or just as a book to treasure. Priced at £15.99, a truly precious gift.

Lynette Sutton 14

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Alderman Peel High School News As we hurtle full speed into the examination season children of all ages are working extremely hard.

As year 11 pupils prepare for their final GCSE exams we are confident they will be successful. It will be interesting to see the new scoring system in the new GCSE English and Maths as students gain a number grade between nine and one (nine being the highest). This will be implemented in nearly all other subjects in August 2018, meaning this year students will receive a mix of the old letter and the new number grades.

As you may be aware the government’s drive for all schools to become academies has not relented. The Governors of the Wells Federation of Schools: Alderman Peel High School, Wells Primary and Nursery School and Burnham Market Primary School have been considering which Multi Academy Trust to join.

Following initial conversations with several Multi Academy Trusts a shortlist of three was agreed. Having had further discussions with all those concerned and following a thorough process I am pleased to inform you that The Wensum Trust is our preferred option and that they in turn have agreed that we can join them. This means that when we turn Alderman Peel High School, Wells Primary and Nursery and Burnham Market Primary School into academies we can continue to work closely together with additional collaboration among other schools in the Trust.

The process of due diligence has now started and our plans will be considered by the Department for Education. As all our schools are rated Good by Ofsted we are confident this will proceed. There is likely to be a phased process meaning that all three schools may join the trust at slightly different dates. This is to ensure the process is manageable for Governors, Headteachers and The Wensum Trust. We will of course keep you informed however if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Alastair Ogle, Executive Headteacher.

A Horse Picture A little while ago my wife was out and about looking for pictures for the shop. In another Antique shop she found a very nice pen and ink drawing of some horses in an orchard. She knew my mother loves horses – so she bought it.

When she got home I looked at it and saw it was by a Dutch lady artist – drawn in 1965. I decided to look her up on the Internet just out of curiosity. It turns out that this lady was an illustrator of children’s books.

There was a contactable email address for the agency in Holland, but I assumed that by now she would have passed on. However I gave it a go and amazingly she replied! Now in her eighties she remembers doing this drawing as part of a series for a book all those years ago.

She was very surprised that somehow it had made its way to Norfolk from Amsterdam, but clearly it did.

There is a happy ending to this tale which is that she has asked to have the picture back – so it is off to where the journey first started, all thanks to t’internet – which didn’t exist at the time the picture was originally drawn.

Richard Willson – Brocantes, Walsingham 15

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

North Norfolk Model Engineering Club (NNMEC) Members not only enjoy running the scale locomotives but building them too. Some more experienced engineers choose to build from scratch using scale drawings and raw materials, while others prefer to use kits, that are now becoming more readily available and with a greater degree of accuracy. However, all methods still require a good amount of skill and knowledge to assemble as well as many hours of work. Most locomotive builders The NNMEC was first formed in 1993 when a take 2 – 5 years to complete a project, not a hobby few enthusiastic folk wanted to start a club locally. for the impatient!

From then we have steadily grown to about 50 in number, with a broad range of engineering Within the club we have owners of both steam and interests, from boats to clocks, stationary engines, battery-electric locomotives and members of the traction engines locomotives and any sort of public are always amazed at the power of such small mechanical scale models in between! It is a club engines. “Can that really pull me and the family?” for all ages, currently our membership ranges from is a question we often get asked. Some of the more 20 years to 87 years young, and it’s not exclusively powerful 5 inch engines have been known to pull just the men who have fun; we have lady members 10 adults, while even the 3.5inch scale engines can manage a family of 2+2 and the driver. too who equally enjoy their hobby.

Like many of our members, my personal interest in all things mechanical and railway related stems from a young age, when I spent many a happy hour with my train and Meccano sets and reading the stories of the Rev. W. Audrey’s Thomas the Tank Engine and friends! My life – long interests have continued but now having retired I find I have at last more time to devote to my hobby.

Our busy running season starts this year on Sunday 2nd April when we run for the public passengers from 12 – 4 pm (Weather permitting). We often see many happy returning faces, both from locals and visitors alike who come for a miniature train ride, enjoy a look at the museum at Holt Station and use of the picnic facilities too.

Our club meetings are held at High Kelling Village hall on the 1st Friday of each month at 7.30pm, where we have a varied programme of speakers and practical interest sessions. Members live all over the North Norfolk area and a few further afield.

There are many like myself who share a rail enthusiasm and in 2003 the club were able to rent land on the North Norfolk Railway’s site at Holt Station on which to build a track both for public running and members use. At first having cleared the waist high thistles and nettles we built a simple straight line, then developed this into an out and back track with a turntable. Over time this has developed further as funds allowed into raised 5 inch and 3.5inch dual railway circuits with raised points signalling, a station canopy and a running length of about 1000 ft.

We have a Facebook page with photos and information of events and it is hoped that later this year we will be able to launch our own website.

If anyone would like to find out more about the club or miniature railway please contact us via our Facebook page.

Gordon Ford Holt Minor Station is run by North Norfolk Model Engineering Club Here are some forthcoming events: Easter holidays 2nd & 9th April Easter weekend 16th April Steam Gala 22nd & 23rd April Thomas Tank Engine 29th, 30th April & 1st May Dad’s Army 28th & 29th May Diesel Gala 10th & 11th June Tracks & Trenches 25th June Transport Festival 1st & 2nd July Red Service 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th July All subject to Weather Permitting and locos available.

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NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Holy Week and Easter

S. Mary and all Saints’, Little Walsingham

in the Benefice of Walsingham & The Barshams (Church of England) Palm Sunday 9th April 9am Eucharist S. Peter’s 10am Mass S. Giles 10.30am Blessing of Palms in the Abbey Grounds [Parish Hall if wet] Ecumenical Procession 11.00am Sung Mass S. Mary’s

Crux Fidelis a Sequence of Music and Readings for Holy Week with the Richeldis Singers

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 7.30pm Mass and Address at S. Mary’s Wednesday 12noon Chrism Mass

Palm Sunday 9th April at 5.30pm

Shrine

Maundy Thursday 13th April 7.30pm Sung Mass of the Last Supper & Watch of the Passion at S. Mary’s Good Friday 14th April 9am Stations of the Cross 10am Stations of the Cross 12noon Stations of the Cross 3.00pm The Liturgy of the

Passion 5.30pm Maria Desolata

WALSINGHAM OPEN GARDENS Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd July 11am – 5pm School Fete on Saturday

Holy Saturday 15th April 8.30pm Easter Vigil

Teas in the Parish Hall on Sunday

S. Peter’s S. Giles The Shrine S. Mary’s S. Mary’s S. Mary’s

Easter Day 16th April 7.30am Mass The Shrine 9am Sung Eucharist S. Peter’s 9am Eucharist North Barsham 10am Mass with hymns S. Giles 10am Eucharist [BCP] West Barsham 10am Mass East Barsham 11am Sung Mass S. Mary’s 4.30pm Maria Consolata The Shrine

“Name the Gnome Trail” for Children If you are willing to open your garden please contact Fr Andrew 01328 821316 Tickets £5 (valid for both days) accompanied children free Proceeds in aid of The Walsingham Development Group

Easter Monday 11am Sung Mass 17

The Shrine

NEWS AND VIEWS – BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON

Regular Church Services Walsingham Methodist Church Worship Services Sunday 2.30pm

The Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation [Roman Catholic] Mass

Sunday 10.30am Weekday 9.30am Holy Days

9.30am & 7.00pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday at 10.00 am

The Benefice of Walsingham, Houghton and Barsham [Church of England] Sunday

9.00am 10.00am 11.00am

First Sunday of the Month 10.00am Parish Eucharist

Saturday before the 3rd Sunday of the Month 6.00pm Parish Mass All Saints’, East Barsham

Fourth Sunday of the Month 10.00am Parish Eucharist

All Saints’, North Barsham

Weekday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

The Priory of Our Lady of Walsingham S. Mary’s, Little Walsingham S. Giles’, Houghton-in-the-dale S. Mary’s, Little Walsingham S. Peter’s, Great Walsingham S. Mary’s, Little Walsingham

For further details visit our website: walsinghamparishes.org.uk

Parish Eucharist Parish Mass Parish Mass

9.30am 11.00am 10.00am 7.30pm 10.30am 9.30am

S. Peter’s, Great Walsingham S. Giles’, Houghton-in-the-dale S. Mary’s, Little Walsingham The Assumption, West Barsham

Mass Mass Mass Mass Eucharist Mass

Orthodox Chapel of the Mother of God – The Spring That Contains Life Located upstairs in the Anglican Shrine, Little Walsingham Divine Liturgy most Sundays Chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov Former Railway Station, Station Road, Little Walsingham

Occasional Services

Church of the Holy Transfiguration Scarborough Road, Great Walsingham Great Vespers: Saturdays, 6pm (BST); 5p.m. (GMT), Liturgy: Sundays 10.30am Contact: Fr Christopher Knight 01328 820108 18

Directory of Advertisers Accommodation & Eating Out Black Lion Hotel Model Farm Bed & Breakfast The Norfolk Riddle Pilgrims Rest Bed & Breakfast Stonegate Bed & Breakfast

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Art & Antiques, Gifts Brocantes i iv Great Walsingham Gallery & Framing ix Holt Antiques Littleblood vi vi PG Antiques Charities Let the children live

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Emma Duggan Gowards S.T. Sutton

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Health and Personal Care Bert Frew, Hairdresser Rita, Mobile Hairdresser Katrina Swift, Foot Health Professional King’s Lynn Mobility Centre Private Care Provider Randell’s Footcare

x vii x iv vii vi

Home maintenance East Coast Decorators David Thompson, Chimney Sweep Peter Empson, Maintenance Services

i v iii

Computers Sure Computers

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Dressmaking & Alterations Fay Dewing Shed Crafts

Sites of interest Walsingham Abbey & The Shirehall Museum

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Solicitors Hayes & Storr

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Taxi service Near and Far

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Veterinary Service Glaven Veterinary Practice

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Food and Drink Walsingham Farms Shop Funeral Directors Canler & Son

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For the love of local food Find the best of Norfolk's produce at Walsingham Farms Shop Come and try our lovely new pie recipes Taste British farmhouse cheeses sourced by Neal ’s Yard Order spring lamb from South Creake for Easter Save the date for Open Farm Sunday on June 11th Take a look at our online shop www.walsingham.co Delicious Norfolk food now delivered throughout the UK, and locally For 10% off your first order just quote “Love Local” at the online checkout Opening hours from March 21st MONDAY-SATURDAY 9-5.30 SUNDAY 10-4

Guild Street, Walsingham NR22 6BU 01328 821877

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THE BLACK LION HOTEL  Real Ales  Pub meals  Six attractive bedrooms

Friday Market Little Walsingham Norfolk NR22 6DB

01328 820 235 www.blacklionhotelnorfolk.co.uk

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VISIT HOLT ANTIQUES AT WALSINGHAM MILL www.holtantiques.co.uk NORFOLK’S PREMIER PURVEYOR OF QUALITY ANTIQUES SPECIALISING IN: OAK & COUNTRY FURNITURE FINE ART TREEN METALWARE GLASS CERAMICS DECORATIVE PERIOD ITEMS FROM THE 15TH CENTURY TO THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY

“A TRADITIONAL ANTIQUES SHOP, OFFERING QUALITY STOCK & GOOD OLD FASHIONED SERVICE - SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO MISS” REFER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR OPENING TIMES: www.holtantiques.co.uk TELEPHONE: 07551 383897 EMAIL: info@holtantiquefurniture.com

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Want to advertise your business in News & Views?

Advertise here for only ÂŁ55.00 per year!

To advertise in this magazine please contact Andrew Mitcham xi

Useful Telephone Numbers Police (Non Emergency) Advice Age U.K. Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau Norfolk Carers (freephone) Norfolk Debt Line Relate Marriage Guidance

101 0300 500 1217 01328 856024 0500179546 01603 763980 01603 625333

Banks Barclays Fakenham Barclays Wells HSBC Fakenham Lloyds Fakenham Nationwide Fakenham NatWest Fakenham N & P Fakenham

0845 755555 01328 755702 0845 7404404 0845 072333 01328 750100 01328 853210 01328 851511

Travel Information Age Concern Mini-bus Community Car Scheme National Rail Enquiries Sanders Bus Stagecoach Bus Wells/Walsingham Steam

01485 578218 01485 525511 08457 484950 01263 712800 01553 776980 01328 711630

Churches Anglican (St. Mary’s) Anglican Shrine Methodist Church Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Basilica Roman Catholic Church

01328 821316 01328 820255 01603 864175 01328 820610 01328 820217 01328 821353

Local Government M.P. Norfolk County Council North Norfolk District Parish Council Barsham Parish Council Walsingham

01603 865763 0344 800820 01263 513811 01263 478542 01328 822366

Health N & N Norwich QEII Kings Lynn Wells Community Hospital Wells Physiotherapy Hospital Heritage House, Wells Fakenham Surgery

01603 286286 01553 613613 01328 711996 01328 711187 01328 711333 01328 851321

Health (cont.)

Walsingham Surgery Bridge Street Dentist Brooklyn House Dentist Compass Clinic (Dentist) Wensum Dentist Red Cross

01328 820334 01328 853555 01328 862620 01328 710999 01328 862363 01328 711829

Libraries Fakenham 01328 862715 Mobile 07887625416 01328 710467 Wells Post Office Fakenham Mobile Van Wells

03456 112970 03456 112970 01328 710332

Restaurants (Walsingham) The Black Lion The Bull Norfolk Riddle Norton Rooms

01328 820235 01328 820333 01328 821903 01328 820255

Schools/Education Adult Education Alderman Peel Fakenham High Walsingham Primary

01328 851213 01328 710476 01328 862545 01328 820265

Taxis Near & Far Parkside Tiny

01328 853636 01328 878777 01328 888888

Vets Fakenham Summerhill Fakenham The Grove Fakenham Wensum Valley Wells Glaven Valley

01328 855814 01328 862137 01328 864444 01328 711027

Other Numbers Fakenham Choral Society Poetry-next-the-Sea Royal British Legion Sport–a-Peel (Swimming)

01328 851848 01328 738243 01328 712052 01328 713909

Notes:

Solution Crossword taken from Puzzle Choice. (http://www.puzzlechoice.com/cw/Themed01x.html)

Latest News and Pictures from Walsingham CE Primary School

Photographs © Graham Howard Walsingham Church of England Primary School is a small school with big ambitions. In February it celebrated the completion of both its Playground and Kitchen Projects. With the help of a charitable donation and tireless fund raising by the ‘Friends of Walsingham School’, the play area for the younger children has been developed with top quality resources for play and for learning. In addition, the school now has a fabulous new kitchen for all of the children to develop their cooking skills. Walsingham dignitary, Mrs. Elizabeth Meath-Baker cut the ribbon on the new climbing structure and pronounced the playground for the younger children officially open. She then played on the new bongo drums with older children in the school. Parents, governors and Friends of the school watched as the children had fun in their giant sandpit. The junior children then performed to the parents and visitors on their newly acquired ukuleles with Senior Teacher, Mr Schaitel. Mrs Meath–Baker spoke to the children about the joy of cooking, and of eating, before she declared the new kitchen open. The children then handed out, to the visitors, the fabulous cakes that they had made for the occasion earlier in the day. Executive Headteacher, Mary Dolan, expressed her thanks to ‘The Friends of Walsingham School’ for their hard work and support with both projects also stating ‘‘It is so important for children to learn the life skills of cooking and to taste the widest possible range of foods, especially those that we are able to grow in the school garden.’’ The new kitchen was put straight into use the following day as the whole school made pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

Mary Dolan, Executive Headteacher.