NEWS & VIEWS

NEWS & VIEWS

BARSHAM • WALSINGHAM • HOUGHTON OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2018

A MAGAZINE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

Contents Time to remember 3 The history of Walsingham time-line - panel 1860–1910 5 Wendy Myhill recalls her wartime childhood 7 Coffee morning with Fakenham Blind club 8 Wanted: a room of one’s own. Can anyone help?

8 Health and fitness ambassadors 9 All done and dusted, phase 1 complete 11 Mindfulness: the story behind the new kneelers 12 Welcome to Fr Harri and Clare Williams 14 Walsingham and District History Society 17 Latest addition to the High Street 17 WEA classes for 2018 18

Editor’s comment Welcome to our Autumn edition.

This season we commemorate 100 years since Armistice Day 1918, the day the guns fell silent. We will share remembrance and thanksgiving at our village war memorials and collectively at the Common Place, 11 November, 4.30pm, when the beacon will be lit.

It is also the centenary of the commissioning of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which bravely saved WW2 Britain from occupation. The red, white and blue roundel, first used by the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, continues to be a favourite symbol of Britishness.

New films for autumn 21 Friends of Walsingham CE VA School 22 Walsingham & District WI 22 Junior gymnasts enjoy popular classes 24 Heritage House 24 Autumn diary outline 24 Alderman Peel High School News 25 Tulips love November 26 Granny 27 Updates from Dr Marie Strong 28 Colouring in the Common Place 30

Our cover photo (Andrew McCann) shows WAAFs raising a barrage balloon in 1941 London to deter dive bombers. Such efforts were vital to save lives and boost morale in the nights of the Blitz.

The relaxed focus shown in the photo complements the articles about physical and mental well-being. Exercise, hobbies and social activities keep us engaged with the world. We are fortunate to have a variety of projects at hand.

Colin King, renowned illustrator has set us a challenge. Find the tiny bee on the colouring page. The bee is symbolic in all faiths. It is a small selfsacrificing creature that works for

the hive and for the production of exquisitely sweet honey. Colin also asks us to count frogs; and who can resist such a request.

Late November we look forward to the induction of Rev’d Dr Harri Williams as parish priest for Walsingham, Houghton and the Barshams. He and his wife Clare have written to give us an insight into their imminent move.

So, the days shorten, the beacon is lit, and preparations are being made for the December switch on and festivities in the Common Place.

Let’s commemorate and celebrate.

Zoe Wenzel

We welcome contributions for the December/January issue by 31 October 2018.

Please email to News & Views secretary Lynette06@live.co.uk.

Would you like to join our volunteer team?

We need helpers to deliver N&Vs. Contact Lynette for details.

THIS MAGAZINE WAS DESIGNED AND PRINTED BY

DESIGN / PRINT / WEB www.fakprepress.co.uk 01328 855783 tris@fakprepress.co.uk

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News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

Time to remember RAF North Creake memorial project The Control Tower RAF North Creake memorial project team invite you to a fundraising commemoration.

Walsingham, along with the rest of the country, will be commemorating the centenary of the end of the Great War on Sunday 11 November 2018 (Remembrance Sunday). The commemoration for Walsingham will begin with the Remembrance Service at the War Memorial in Great Walsingham in the morning. At 4.30pm the beacon will be lit in the Common Place with a short commemoration event alongside.

Starting from 5.30pm at the Black Lion Hotel, Nigel and Claire of The Control Tower B&B will be hosting a joint First and Second World War commemoration event as part of the ‘Time to Remember’ project raising funds for the erection of a memorial at former RAF North Creake in Egmere. The event will have an auction, raffle, talk and buffet. Entry is free and open to all; registration for the auction is £2 and the hot and cold buffet is £20 per head (tickets must be bought in advance). All proceeds go to the memorial fund.

‘Time to Remember’ is a project to raise funds to build a memorial to those who served at RAF North Creake during the Second World War. For more information and buffet tickets contact either the Black Lion Hotel or Nigel and Claire at the Control Tower Bed & Breakfast: www.controltowerstays.com/history.html mail@controltowerstays.com or on 01328 821574.

We very much hope to see you all there and thank you for your continued support.

Claire Nugent and Nigel Morter

October – November 2018

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For the love of local food What’s on in October and November at Walsingham Farms Shop ‘Porkstock’ on Saturday October 13th at The Norfolk Showground Daytime free family food festival, followed by evening ‘knees up’ from 7pm.

Live music and porky treats. Evening tickets www.porkstock.co.uk All profits to Nelson’s Journey, the charity supporting bereaved children in Norfolk UK Sausage Week Mon 29th Oct-Sun 4th Nov We’ll have sausage offers and new flavours to try Christmas brochure, and orders taken, from 1st November Christmas tastings in Walsingham Christmas weekend of tastings with our suppliers at the Farm Shop Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th November OPENING HOURS IN OCTOBER MONDAY-SATURDAY 9am-5.30pm SUNDAY 10am-5.30pm WINTER OPENING HOURS FROM 28th OCTOBER TUESDAY-SATURDAY 9am-5pm SUNDAY AND MONDAY 10am-4pm

Guild Street, Walsingham NR22 6BU 01328 821877 info@walsingham.co

The history of Walsingham time-line - panel 1860–1910 Unfor tunately in the course of the celebrations the weight of the bunting pulled down the pinnacle leaving the ‘pump with the stump’.

The Pump and beacon, ‘Jolly good! Let’s enjoy ourselves mafficking.’

On Sunday 11 November, 4.30pm, the beacon on top of the Pump in the Common Place will be lit to celebrate the end of World War I, but this will not be the first time the pinnacle on top of the pump has been used to celebrate a national event…

In May 1900 the pump was topped off with an attractive slender pinnacle which may have come from the ruined Augustinian Priory.

On 17 May 1900 the Common Place was the central point in the village when Walsingham joined in the national celebrations for The Relief of the Siege of Mafeking during the Second Boer War in South Africa.

British Forces, under the command of Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, were besieged by the Boers in the town of Mafeking in South Africa for 217 days from 13 October 1899 to 17 May 1900. The British people followed the progress of the war with great interest and enthusiasm in the popular press of the time where they could read about the exploits of the British Army, especially the reports sent back

by Colonel Baden-Powell. The lifting of the siege of Mafeking was the turning point in Britain’s favour in the Boer War which ended the following year.

The original pinnacle on the pump

When news reached England that Mafeking had been Relieved the nation went wild with joy and major celebrations took place in every town and village across the country, resulting in the verb ‘maffick’ meaning ‘to celebrate boisterously’. In Walsingham, the Common Place was festooned with gaily coloured bunting, secured to the top of the slender pinnacle on top of the Pump to the buildings across the square.

The stump was eventually replaced with the present beacon and has been lit to celebrate national events. In 1933 Fr Alfred Hope Patten moved the statue of Our Lady from the parish church to the newly built Shrine of OLW. It has also been lit on 5 June 1977 for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee; 29 July 1981 for Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s Wedding; 31 December 1999 for the new millennium; 3 June 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee; and on 5 June 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Common Place today

The beacon will once again be lit to mark a national celebration – the end of the First World War 1918 – on Sunday 11 November at 4.30 pm. So please come and ‘maffick’.

Walsingham pump at centre of Common Place

Scilla Landale Walsingham History Society

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Wendy Myhill (née Nelson) recalls her wartime childhood Wendy was born on 8 October 1935, in Great Walsingham. She lived there for four years until her family moved to the High Street in Little Walsingham. Her father owned Nelson’s butcher shop on the premises where Let the Children Live (38, High Street) is now situated.

After her grandmother came to live with them they also rented no 40, High Street (now the Aid to the Church in Need charity shop) and what is now 38b (now The Little Shop, see p15), although at that time these were one property. This was accessible to the butcher’s shop being joined internally by doors and passageways.

and sad. They were then allocated to families in the village although Wendy’s family never had any to stay with them. However, Wendy did befriend an evacuee called Margaret who lived in Swan Entry.

and then sell these for pennies to the authorities for them to be made into rosehip vitamin syrup.

Only twice did they have to go down into the cellar of their house and the nearest bombs dropped were at Fakenham; life went on much as usual for us. Wendy does recall going to the primary school to be fitted with a gas mask – not a very pleasant experience!

London evacuees at North Walsham

During the war, clothing was rationed and clothing coupons were needed to buy these, luckily one or two of the shops did sell clothes of a kind for children and adults. The ration book was very precious and necessary for all our needs.

Ministry of Food leaflet, 1948

School children with gas masks, 1939

Wendy Myhill spoke to Lynette Sutton

Recruitment poster from 1939

Her father was an Air Raid Patrol (ARP) warden and she recalls seeing evacuees coming into the village on buses from the cities with their gas masks and name tags on them; they looked lost

Ministry of Food leaflet, 1948

Although it was wartime Wendy says she knew very little of it. During the summer and autumn we would scour the hedgerows for rosehips,

If you have memories of old Walsingham you would like these transcribed and recorded for posterity, please contact Lynette, our in-house reminiscence writer, who would be delighted to help.

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Coffee morning with Fakenham Blind club Pilgrims and visitors alike enjoyed coffee and cakes whilst browsing the bric-a-brac stall, buying tombola and raffle tickets.

Members from Fakenham Social Centre for the Blind gathered at The Orangery, in the grounds of The Shrine of OLW, for their annual fund raising coffee morning in July on a beautiful sunny morning.

Members from the Social Centre enjoyed the Shrine grounds, some having not visited for a number of years, were surprised how it had changed over the years and some never having been there before marvelled at this oasis in the middle of the village! Pilgrims and visitors enjoyed meeting some of our members, happily mingling together. The morning ended with

Wanted: a room of one’s own.

Can anyone help?

Hello, I wonder if there is anybody in Walsingham with a small office/annex/spare room they would be willing to share with a local claustrophobic author/editor?!

Our family expansion means that we now have a ‘no more room at the inn’ situation at home, so I am looking for a ‘writer’s garret’, preferably within walking distance of Crown Yard! I would be grateful for any offers or ideas – please contact me on email at shelly@ commonthreads.org.uk or by phone on 01328 820445.

Whilst I’m writing, could I also please say a very big thank you to everybody who has encouraged me through my doctoral studies. As many readers of ‘News and Views’ will know, it’s taken a while (!), but I have received tremendous support from the village and was finally awarded my doctorate in August.

With best wishes Dr Shelly Newstead (Richeldis Singer of Crown Yard!)

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News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

the drawing of the raffle and all agreed a very successful time was enjoyed by everyone.

The Fakenham Social Centre for the Blind meets on second Thursday in month from 2–4 pm, Heather Barrow Social Hall, Norwich Road, Fakenham. All blind/ partially sighted people welcome and carers too.

There are planned trips out in the summer. Contact Lynette on 01328 820560.

Ruth Margetson and Lynette Sutton

Solutions to Anagrandma’s scrambled map from Aug-Sept edition, ‘In our neck of the woods’ 1 Little Walsingham 2 Old Hunstanton 3 Ingoldisthorpe 4 Brancaster Staithe 5 Burnham Deepdale 6 Letheringsett 7 Overy Staithe 8 Downham Market 9 Runcton Holme 10 Ringstead 11 Cockthorpe 12 Sandringham 13 Tittleshall 14 Helhoughton 15 East Rudham 16 Castle Rising 17 Swanton Novers 18 Gunthorpe 19 West Barsham 20 Hindringham

Health and fitness ambassadors Fitness instructor Steff Barker on cardiovascular health I’m sure we all know, in a roundabout way, the importance of looking after our health and keeping to a healthy weight. But do we really understand the impact of not doing so, not only our physical health but our mental health as well?

It is reported nearly a third of adults are physically inactive and only complete 30 minutes or less of physical activity per week.

As ambassadors for health and fitness, Results Aimed Workouts (RAW) feels a moral obligation to help inform and educate our local community in the areas of wellbeing, health and exercise.

Poor cardiovascular health is linked to heart disease, some cancers, type II diabetes, joint problems, increased risk of anxiety and depression, lower back pain, osteoporosis…to be honest, it is hard to find something that poor cardiovascular health is not linked to!

Lots of us are becoming increasingly sedentary in our daily lives. Many of us have office jobs where we are seated for most of the day, we get home and have homework to help with, TV shows to catch up on, perhaps more desk time catching up on life admin. Those hours spent on our derrieres stack up very quickly.The average adult in the UK spends 9.5 hours seated per day, but sadly I

see a lot of people who easily exceed this. My challenge to you: starting at the beginning of your day and ending at bedtime, how many hours to you spend seated per day?

Luckily, there is lots that can be done to help counteract this epidemic and help reduce the risk of some rather nasty illnesses.

Increasing both spontaneous and purposeful physical activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 35%, all causes of mortality by 30%, risk of hip fractures by a whopping 68%!

These are just a few examples as the list really does go on.

Increasing your daily spontaneous activity is not as hard or indeed, as expensive, as you might imagine.

Breaking up every hour you are seated example with a few minutes of activity is the best place to start.

For whilst at work, could you stand each time you take a phone call?

Are walking meetings something that you could adopt? In everyday life could you park a little further away from your destination and walk the rest of the way? During the advert breaks perhaps you could play with your dog for a few moments? Buddy would love the extra attention!

Another way to help you improve your health and fitness is to ensure that you are completing around 150 minutes of purposeful exercise

per week, this is the government guideline and it can best be spilt into five 30 minute sessions per week, whichever suits your lifestyle.

Rest assured, this does not have to be a blood, sweat and tears type workout! Simply walking your dog, playing tennis, going for a bike ride can all count. The main thing is that you are moving and raise your heart rate to a level where you can hold a conversation, but with difficulty.

RAW’s mission, as health and fitness professionals is to help our local community become more active, without breaking the bank.

We have recently opened a cardio room, which can be hired for just £1.50 per session. No contract, no ties, just pay for what you use. The room contains a rower, upright bike and a treadmill.

We also run outdoor workouts three times a week in Great Massingham for £7.50 per session.

We welcome everyone of any ability and age to join us for these fun and effective workouts.

For more information please feel free to call Results Aimed Workouts on 01485 528892 or email steff@resultsaimedworkouts.co.uk and we would be delighted to speak with you.

RAW is based at unit 7, Coxford Abbey Farm, on the way from Fakenham to East Rudham, PE31 6TB.

October – November 2018

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All done and dusted, phase 1 complete Finally, a big thank you to James Goodley, (local farmer) who so generously donated new communion kneelers to the Church, to Eleanor Richards and her choir and Paul Sterry who restored the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Some of the volunteers cleaning East Barsham church, August 2018

For over two years East Barsham Church has stood without a roof after all the lead was stolen. The roof has now been restored in steel and fitted with an alarm.

This was achieved in part with help from a local charity to whom we are most grateful. There still remains some ceiling boards to be replaced now the drying process has finished, which should happen in Sept/Oct. Once the builders had finished the roof the next job was the BIG clean. For one churchwarden by herself yet with the help of her sister-in-law Sheena White (North Barsham church warden) it was decided the job was just too big.

An appeal letter to the residents of East Barsham requesting help on various dates produced five

wonderful volunteers prepared to work hard. Volunteers from West Barsham also came along.

Stephen Parkinson (church warden St Mary’s) kindly posted my appeal on the notice boards of both churches in Walsingham and we had a wonderful response from 21 people who then worked solidly over the three days.

Without all these wonderful people we would never have been able to return the church to a usable condition and I would like to thank all those involved, you are all truly amazing people.

I would also offer my sincere thanks to the Barsham Arms, East Barsham who so kindly helped out with hot water, use of the toilet facilities and wonderful food.

On Sunday 26 August, All Saint’s East Barsham was officially reopened with solemn evensong presided by the Bishop of Richborough. At this service the kneelers embroidered by the late Rev’d Michael Mannall (1937–2016) were presented and dedicated to the church. Those who knew Fr Mannall are invited to sponsor a kneeler to raise funds.

Sincere thanks to…Andrew and Rosemary; Michael and Kathleen; Graham and Maureen; Roddy; Brian and wife; Brenda; Barry, Sarah and niece; David and Kiwa; Sheena and John; Grace; Susanna; David (my husband)…without whom none of this would have been possible.

Follow or donate via:

Sue White Churchwarden of East Barsham church Rev’d M Mannall SSC, retired priest and former Mayor of Kingston upon Thames, was a Fakenham resident.

He was a beloved member of East Barsham church and Houghton St Giles from 1996.

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Mindfulness; the story behind the new kneelers in East Barsham church Dad, or Fr Michael, to those who knew him, sewed all the kneelers now homed in East Barsham church in the 12 months prior to his passing, July 2016. He initially wanted this to be a fundraiser for the church.

Two particular ones were done to remember his parents and his mother-in-law. The rest were to be auctioned to parishioners to place a plaque on the back of their chosen kneelers to remember a loved one. All monies raised were for East Barsham church.

After Dad’s death, we decided to leave them to the church in memory of Dad and his love of and service to both East Barsham and nearby St Giles.

You may be asking yourselves, what was Fr Michael’s motivation? Did you even know he could sew? In our family my Dad was not always known for his patience, or for his attention to detail. In 1990, after a serious bout of depression, Barbara swept him up from the church where they both attended (St Luke’s, Kingston upon Thames) one Sunday and took him home for a meal. In terms of how Dad and Barbara got together, the rest is history and they subsequently retired to Norfolk. But while getting to know Barbara, Dad also spent a lot of time with his mother-in-law, who taught him how to sew the beautiful embroideries you now see on these kneelers and that as a family, we have around our homes.

As a family, we firmly believe the talent Dad discovered was what you would now call ‘mindfulness’. Dad was able to focus his attention on something that helped him concentrate on the now and not what was troubling his mind at the time. Over time, Dad’s depression became less of a concern to us all. When he was having a bad day, not only would he go into his study and say his Office and pray at his altar (which he did every day), he would then sit in his chair in their lounge in Norfolk and get himself stuck into his sewing.

My brother Adrian has a lovely picture of Noah’s Ark and some cushion covers. I have a beautiful ginger cat embroidery that Dad had made into a cushion for

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News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

Designs, photo G Howard

me, plus a lovely sunflower picture. I also have a set of creation embroideries that are going to be made into cushions eventually. Not only are the embroideries so perfectly done with an incredible eye for detail, but if you were ever to take them apart and look at the backs of the needlework, you would find they are as perfect as the front.

It was his daily exercising of the mind. I have a feeling his talent and skill was always there – his mother, my grandmother, was a very talented craft lady and I par ticularly remember her always having a knitting project on the go and homemade Christmas decorations on our trees.

So we hope you enjoy the kneelers at East Barsham, and next time you use one to say your prayers, remember our Dad with fondness. He overcame his depression, but pray for all those and their loved ones, who struggle with this debilitating illness.

Clare Mannall daughter of Rev’d Mannall

Welcome to Fr Harri and Clare Williams Dear friends We are grateful for an opportunity to introduce ourselves to you all prior to our arrival in late November.

Fr Harri writes: I was born in Cardiff in 1985 and grew up in South Wales, and I was educated until the age of 18 through the medium of Welsh. Until the age of 8 I had no contact with the Church or the Christian faith and it was only by chance that a voice trial was held in my primary school, that I was invited to become a chorister in Newport Cathedral.

I spent 10 happy years in the choir and during that time I was baptised and confirmed, by the then Bishop of Monmouth, Rowan Williams. Following my A-levels I spent a Gap Year in St Davids, another great place of pilgrimage, working as a verger, in the cathedral shop and singing in the various choirs. I then went to read history at Balliol College, Oxford before moving to St Michael’s College Llandaff to study theology and train for the priesthood. I was ordained deacon in 2010 and priested the following year and served my curacy in Haverfordwest. I was appointed Vicar of Milford Haven

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in 2013 and at the time was the youngest Vicar in the Church in Wales! I have spent five and a half happy years in Milford and have thoroughly immersed myself in the life of the local community, serving as a governor in two of the local schools, being involved in the Milford Haven Music Festival and the work of the Royal British Legion. I recently completed my PhD into the campaign against the disestablishment of the Church in Wales, and in my spare time I love reading, predominantly biographies and historical novels.

Clare writes: I grew up in a Cardiff vicarage, and I am one of six children. Life was always interesting in Splott, and although living in the vicarage had many challenges, it was an experience I wouldn’t change for the world. Following my schooling I went to Exeter University to read theology and then moved to London and worked in St Gabriel’s Pimlico as a pastoral assistant. I met Harri whilst he was in theological college, my brother Ben was also training there for the priesthood. We were engaged in 2011 and married in 2012, and when I came to Pembrokeshire I initially worked as an LSA before obtaining the position of Assistant Education and Pilgrimage Officer at St David’s Cathedral. For the past three years I have served as Children and Youth Work CoOrdinator for the Diocese of St David’s, which has involved a

News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

tremendous amount of travelling around a rural diocese, but it has been great fun. Moving to Walsingham feels a bit like coming home in a funny way, as it was in Walsingham that my parents met in the 1960s when they were on pilgrimage, they also got engaged there and this year it was wonderful as a family to return to Walsingham to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. I am also thrilled that I will be able to see a lot more of my Godmother, Sr Angela SSM. I have been on pilgrimages to Walsingham since my childhood, having attended the Youth Pilgrimage as a teenager, and it was my privilege to lead a group of teenagers from our parish for the last seven years.

Fr Harri and Clare write: Little did we think in April when we came on pilgrimage with our parishioners from Milford Haven that by the end of the year we would be calling Walsingham our home. God however certainly moves in mysterious ways and we are absolutely delighted to be sharing the next chapter of our lives in this wonderful place. Please be assured of a warm welcome to the vicarage when we do arrive and we greatly look forward to meeting you all in the coming months.

With our prayers and best wishes Fr Harri and Clare

Fr Harri and Clare Williams, new incumbent for Parish of Walsingham, Houghton and the Barshams

WE ARE OPEN 2018 April and May: Bank Holidays, Thursdays and Sundays 10:30am to 4pm June and July: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 10:30am to 4pm

Built in 1942/3 on the edge of RAF Langham, This intriguing building utilised innovative Technology to train anti-aircraft gunners.

August: Bank Holidays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 10:30am to 4pm September: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 10:30am to 4pm October: Thursdays and Sundays, 10:30am to 4pm Admission Adults 5.00, under 16s free

‘A hidden gem' 2018 TRIP ADVISOR REVIEW

Last recommended entry time: 3:30pm Telephone: 01328 830169 admin@langhamdome.org

October – November 2018

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Walsingham and District History Society

Latest addition to the High Street

Programme for 2018–2019 We look forward to seeing our existing members at the opening meeting on October 4th, and even more welcome would be some new members. We have our talks at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, Wells Road on the first Thursday of October, November, December, and in 2019 March, April and May. Membership is £5.00 for the 6-meeting season, with a meeting entry fee of £1.00 for members. Nonmembers are welcome at £3.00 per meeting.

Come and join at the October meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.

Tim McDonald, Chair WDHS Thursday 4th October 2018 – 7.30 Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Norfolk” (speaker tbc) Thursday 2nd November 2018 – 7.30 pm (The last of our 1914–1918 themed talks) “Norfolk Coast in the Great War” Steven Browning Thursday 7th December 2018 – 7.30 pm “Starting your Family History” Sue Adams (tbc) Thursday 7th March 2019 – 7.30 pm “History of the Well’s Lifeboat” Peter Rainsford Thursday 4th April 2019 – 7.30 pm “Subterranean Norwich and North Norfolk” Matthew Williams

38b, The Little Shop, for home and garden, on the High Street

Walsingham extends Sue and Roger a warm welcome for their new venture The Little Shop.

The Little Shop stocks a terrific array of goodies for home and garden as well as an eclectic mix of gifts, many of which are locally sourced and handmade.

Opening hours are 10:30–4:30, closed Mondays.

Pop in when you are passing and investigate this gem of a shop in its wonderfully historic setting.

GW

Thursday 2nd May 2019 – 7.30 pm “My life around Agriculture” Baroness Gillian Shepherd

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Classes on Norfolk art history, famous gems and Norfolk under fire As in previous years, Wells WEA will offer a Tuesday morning course for the autumn over seven weeks with a break for half term.

Fiona Savage is the tutor for a seven week course to the title of: “Painting in Norwich and Norfolk: the Art of John Crome”. The course will consider how the Norwich School of Painters influenced landscape painting in Britain from its founding in 1803. Drawing on influences from the Dutch Golden Age, the movement included John Sell Cotman and Joseph Stannard locally and influenced JMW Turner and John Constable, in an early anticipation of landscape painting by the French Impressionists.

Beginning on September 25 at 10.30am, with a full course fee of £51.

Dates: 25 Sept – 13 Nov Two Saturday Day Schools are also in the programme. On October 6, we welcome back a well-regarded tutor, Michael Nash, offering “Famous Jewels and their Place in History: their origins, cutting, design, use and ultimate fate and value”. Among many such jewels, he will consider our own British Crown Jewels through to the $20 million plus Burton-Taylor Cartier 69-carat diamond in Elizabeth Taylor’s collection, auctioned for £75 million in 2011.

On November 10, Ian McLachlan returns to the Second World War with his course “Battle Skies over East Anglia 1939–1945: Aerial Conflict affecting East Anglian Communities”. Ian weaves the military story of the British and American air power with human stories on the ground: a different take on a history in part familiar to many.

Both Day Schools begin at 10.00am, and the fee for each is £15.

Also, the WEA Branch AGM is on November 27 at 10.30am.This will be with a talk by virtuoso pianist, conductor and vocal coach Adam Johnson, who will talk about his training and career. Adam, who lives in Wells, is also Music Director of the Yorke Trust in South Creake and founder of ‘Music-next-the-Sea’, a new music festival held locally at the end of June. No charge.

All meetings at the Friends’ Meeting House, Church Street, Wells NR23 1HZ. For further information and booking please email Ann Whitelaw, secretary, on anniewhitelaw53@icloud.com or call 078 567 921 86. Or at https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk Peter Townroe, Chairman of WEA Wells

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News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

New films for autumn

Enjoy an evening at Walsingham’s village cinema, once a month on a Tuesday. Visit our Facebook page for reviews, stills and trailers, or see Twitter @walsingcinema www.walsinghamvillage.org email: walsinghampp@gmail.com Tuesday 23 October Journey’s End PG 107 mins Adaptation of RC Sherriff ’s classic play, set in an officers’ dugout in Aisne 1918 over a 4-day period. It is the story of a group of British officers, led by the mentally disintegrating young officer Stanhope (Sam Claflin), as they await their fate. Directed by Saul Dibb, with Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Asa Butterfield,Toby Jones, Stephen Graham and Tom Sturridge in the principal roles.

Journey’s End was the seventh of RC Sherriff ’s plays and famously drew on his own experience of the trenches. First performed at the Apollo Theatre in London by the Incorporated Stage Society on 9 December 1928, Sherriff had trouble getting Journey’s End produced in the West End. He wrote “every management in London had turned the play down.

They said people didn’t want war plays… ‘How can I put on a play with no leading lady?’ one [theatre manager] had asked complainingly.”

Sherriff used No Leading Lady

as the title of his autobiography, published in 1968.

Dibb’s hard-hitting urgency and brilliant work from a talented cast.”

The first two, semi-staged, performances starred the 21 year old Laurence Olivier. The play subsequently found an audience and ran in the West End for two years, becoming internationally popular, with numerous productions and tours in English and other languages.

A 1930 film version was followed by other adaptations, including a German remake in 1931 and a very early live television version screened from Alexandra Palace in 1937.

Tuesday 20 November The Bookshop 12A 113 mins Director, Isabel Coixet. With Emily Mortimer,Patricia Clarkson,Bill Nighy, Honor Kneafsey. Based on the novel

by Penelope Fitzgerald. Florence Green, a free-spirited widow, puts grief behind her and risks everything to open up a bookshop – the first such shop in the sleepy seaside town of Hardborough, England.

But this mini social revolution soon brings her fierce enemies: she invites the hostility of the town’s less prosperous shopkeepers and also crosses Mrs. Gamart, Harborough’s vengeful, embittered alpha female who is a wannabe doyenne of the local arts scene.

Sherriff considered calling his play Suspense or Waiting but eventually found a title in the closing line of a chapter of an unidentified book, “It was late in the evening when we came at last to our journey’s end”.

Film critics’ consensus: “Journey’s End brings R.C. Sherriff ’s 90-yearold play to the screen with thrilling power, thanks to director Saul

Sheriff, East Surrey Regiment c1918 (SHC ref 2332/box12)

Tuesday 11 December The Happy Prince 15 105 mins The last days of Oscar Wilde – and the ghosts that haunted him – are vividly evoked in Rupert Everett’s directorial debut. Everett gives a career defining performance as Wilde, physically and emotionally embodying the literary genius as he lives out his last days in exile.

Walsingham Picture Palace Walsingham Parish Hall, 14 High Street, Walsingham NR22 6AA Tickets on the door: adult £4, 25 and under, £2 Programmes begin at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Doors open at 7pm for ticket sales and refreshments.

EMB

October – November 2018

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Friends of Walsingham CE VA School We would just like to start off by saying a huge thank you to the community for all their generous donations, sponsorship and support at our events throughout the last school year. Without this support we would not be able to continue the work that we do. I am still surprised by the fact that we are such a small school that is incredibly blessed by the generosity of other people.

2017–18 was even busier than previous years as we added two new events to our calendar. The Easter Egg Hunt, which was held free of charge to all families in the community and the Christmas Fayre. Due to the feedback we received from people who attended, we have decided to add these to our regular list of events, which now includes Quiz nights, Bingo and our amazing Summer Fete and Craft Fair.

The Friends raised a huge amount of money this school year, all of which goes towards making the children’s time at the school even more irresistible. One project which we are all eagerly awaiting is The Brig, which is being built on the school field in the autumn term; a pirate ship climbing structure for the children to use during their playtimes. This is just one of the things we have been able to purchase this year, thanks to your support.

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In keeping with the modern world, you can now also find us on Facebook as The Friends now have their own Facebook page with details of upcoming events, meetings and other information.

If you think that you would like to join our Friends committee please feel free to come along to one of our meetings. You will be very welcome. Dates of meetings can be found on our Facebook page or by emailing us direct.

Or if you would just like to help occasionally at an event that we are holding, or have any ideas you would like to share please drop us an email at friendsofwalsingham@gmail.co.uk You can also speak to me, teaching assistant in KS2, at the school or Michael Walsh, a parent who is in the playground every day. We hope you will continue to support our fantastic little school.

Victoria Guymer, Friends co-chair

Walsingham & District WI Hello once again from the ladies of your local WI. I would like to tell you about our July speaker, and our social afternoon. Mr Bolton came to tell us about garden wildlife, his life as a photographer and how he came to create the

News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

most fascinating wildlife garden at his house in one of the suburbs of Norwich city. He started by showing us pictures of how he dug out and lined his 20ft pond in 2010. He planted a few plants, marsh marigolds, mustard plants, pond weeds, irises, spotted orchids to name but a few. His hope was to attract some wildlife and that he did. The garden soon started to attract frogs, toads, common newts; peacock,orange tip, comma, and blue butterflies. It also attracted damsel flies, many different birds and bumble bees.

His photography was superb, mostly of his garden. He did go on to tell us he had taken photos at Stody Gardens, Pensthorpe and the Norfolk Broads. Mr. Bolton answered our many questions.

And we hope he can pay us a second visit sometime.

In August we had our social afternoon; a garden par ty in one of our member’s gardens. It was a nice sunny afternoon, the food was delicious and it was a good time to catch up with everybody.

Our next meeting in September will be our Harvest lunch, and in October the speaker will be Mr J. Carrie on basket weaving.

If any of you ladies would like to join us, we meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month in the Parish Hall, High Street, Little Walsingham.

Contact our President Mrs. Iris Bacon on 01328 820225 or our Secretary Mrs Barbara Scott 01328 820626. We look forward to meeting you.

Barbara Scott, WI secretary

Junior gymnasts enjoy popular classes Fakenham Sports and Fitness Centre offer fun recreational classes for 5–15 years. These have become popular with Walsingham CE VA pupils.

Children learn basic skills with the opportunity to progress through the British Gymnastics award scheme.

Young children attend a taster class (first Saturday of month, 8am–9am) to determine their initial level as either a beginner or intermediate.

Children are then offered a class place for Thurs pm, Fri pm or Sat am. Fees start at £20.50 (monthly direct debit) for 1 hour a week.

Other classes offered are: Monkey Business A pre-school gymnastics class incorporating basic skills and fun play. The 12week course is £42.50 for 45 minutes, ages 2.5 to 5 years.

Junior Gym A cardiovascular workout session for 11–15 years old. Free to members, otherwise £5 gym entry and £5.50 gym entry and programme card.

Trampolining Fun courses working towards medals and certificates for all ages and levels. A 12-week course is £59.66.

Fakenham Sports and Fitness Club: Trap Lane, Fakenham NR21 9HL; phone 01328 850010 No 36 bus from Walsingham; alight at Shell garage and walk up Toll Bar road, or walk up Field Lane (both about 10 minutes).

ZW

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Heritage House Our major item of news this autumn is the anticipated appointment of a new Care Centre Manager for Heritage House. At the time of writing the position is still being advertised but we expect the new manager to be well and truly in post by the time you read this.

This new appointment differs from the Day Care Manager post previously held by Michelle Reynolds in that the successful candidate will be responsible for the overall management of Heritage House, not just the day care side of things. We expect an appointment to be made in mid/late September.

We’ve had a busy and successful summer from a fund raising point.

Despite being the beneficiaries of significant (but specific) funding thanks to the Norfolk Superheroes, we still need to raise £50,000 each year to keep Heritage House going.

Thanks to the efforts of our supporters and volunteers, Sally Whitworth and Moira Wright in particular, we managed to raise a grand total of just over £3,250 in July and August. That’s a fantastic achievement but none of it would have been possible without the support of the kind people who generously supported our Cake & Produce stalls, the Burnham Market Flower Show tea tent, our Norfolk Day stall at Holkham, Claire Lewis’s very successful bottle stall on Wells Carnival Fȇte Day, the Carnival Quiz and our Grand Summer Raffle. So a big thank you to them from all of us.

News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

And there’s more to come. Our next Cake and Produce stalls in Burnham Market are on the mornings of 27 October and 24 November (both Saturdays). On Friday 23 November we’ll be holding another Adnams wine tasting evening in Heritage House (see www.heritagehousewells.org. uk/news-and-events/).

Plus there are Teatime Teasers at Holkham to get your teeth into; they’re on the last Thursday of each month.

Nigel Dark, committee member

Autumn diary outline Check times and dates before attending 2nd hand books

St Mary’s church bookstall open 7 days a week, all genres. Sales table in south porch after Sunday mass.

Book donations gratefully received.

Thank you, Monica Smith

Pilgrim Federation Fireworks

Hindringham CE VA Primary School 5.30–7pm 2 November. All proceeds to fund Federation Panto trip in Spring 2019.

BBC’s Children in Need BBC Appeal Show Sat 17 November

Friends Christmas Bingo Friends of Walsingham CE VA School late Nov/ early Dec

Lactation Motivation charity

Guest speaker at MU meeting, Tues 20 Nov, 12.30pm, Parish Hall, Walsingham. Children welcome

Christingle Service

Walsingham CE VA School at St Peter’s church Great Walsingham, late Nov or early Dec

Alderman Peel High School News It is with great pride and pleasure I am able to pass on our provisional GCSE results from 2018. Congratulations to all of the students who have worked so hard and all of the staff who have supported them so well over the last five years.

It was a particularly challenging year for all students (and staff) due to the new GCSE examinations. In many cases the content of the exams was different, the way students were assessed was different and everyone had a brand new grading system to come to terms with.

We have sent back a number of papers to be checked so these figures may yet be higher!

As a school we are continuing to grow and now have over 500 students. The maximum we can take is 525 so if anyone is thinking of moving their child to us, please act quickly by contacting Norfolk County Council (Admissions). Finally a big thank-you to our community who support us, allowing us in turn to ensure our students make great progress. Well done to everyone.

Alaistair Ogle, Principal

Summary of GCSE results 1. The progress students made was above national average.

2. The progress disadvantaged students made was above national average.

3. The progress non-disadvantaged students made was above national average.

4. The progress students made in English was above national average.

5. The progress disadvantaged students made in English was above national average.

6. On average students achieved approximately half a grade better in English than nationally.

7. 78% of students achieved at least a grade 4 in English (roughly equivalent to the old C grade) 8. 62% of students achieved at least a grade 5 in English (roughly equivalent to a high C / low B grade) 9. 64% of students achieved at least a grade 4 in Maths 10. 40% of students achieved at least a grade 5 in Maths.

October – November 2018

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Tulips love November The law of diminishing returns is a problem much encountered in the garden, and especially with bulbs.

But some will multiply year on year. Snowdrops are a case in point. Happily they expand into a veritable rug in light woodland, improving as the years go by. The same can be said of the naturalised daffodil, when planted where they will not go short of light and moisture. For the tulip, the most critical time for planting is during and after flowering. Often a prolonged dry spell can result in a poor show next year. If and when this happens, invest in additional large fat bulbs that are equipped with the ability to do well in the first year and thereafter, God willing, continue to thrive, provided they are not planted too shallow with good drainage and a fair amount of light. I always plant in clumps of 2/3 dozen bulbs, the groups spaced a yard or more apart. The overall effect is more pleasing than dotting them through the border.

Tradition has it that tulip bulbs should be dug up and dried off, the cluster being broken up to form new single bulbs to plant the following autumn. That said,

there are some tulips that can be left in the ground to re-emerge next year with no loss of vigour. An elderly lady friend of my acquaintance always plants her bulbs 9 inches deep, insisting if she did so, there was never a need to dig them up. To prove her point she showed me a clump that had flowered regularly for twenty years. You must try it for yourself.

On a visit to the Prince of Wales’ garden at Highgrove, I noticed the meadow was planted with pink and purple tulips to follow the daffodils when they had faded - to stunning effect. This year I’m planting Tulipa Negrita, a beetroot purple, Mistress, a deep pink and Gabriella a soft pink.

Just writing about them makes me impatient to get planting. Although much of the delight in gardening comes from travelling hopefully and anticipating joys to come, this is one display unlikely to let me down. The one thing about new bulbs in their first year; someone else has done all the hard work for you. All you do is plant, sit back and wait for the show.

David Simmons

Tulip bulbs in German market (Pixabay source)

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News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

Granny Granny is old fashioned That’s how she wants to stay She carries out domestic chores In the good old fashioned way.

She hangs it in the garden

She does her cooking slowly Over her old fashioned range And thinks that micro ovens Are both frightening and strange.

She keeps her home well-tended Apparently with ease And the only aid she uses Is a drop of elbow grease.

Her washing she does by hand She has no smart machine Yet her washing is perfection And beautifully clean.

Yes, Granny is a wonder An example of the way In which her generation Did chores of yesterday

Between the apple trees Where it sparkles in the sunshine And flutters in the breeze.

And when l ask why that was She answered well, you see What was good for my own grandma Is good enough for me!

Alice Drury Submitted by Pauline Elley Listen to Alice Drury reading her poetry on www.kingscare.co.uk/sound/ index.htm

October – November 2018

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Updates from Dr Marie Strong our County Councillor Missing transport connections between buses and trains at King’s Lynn, and buses to Fakenham and villages onwards.

The service between King’s Lynn and Fakenham, and onwards was previously run by Stagecoach on an hourly basis. As readers know Stagecoach withdrew their services from Norfolk in April. Fortunately Lynx Bus took over this service along with other routes but for this route could only do so on a 2-hourly basis. Whilst NCC will continue to work as closely as possible with Sanders and other operators, NCC, as stated last month, cannot see the public transport subsidy budget increasing anytime soon – ‘unless there is a greater political emphasis on the importance of public transport’.

NCC Passenger Transport staff are aware connections with the trains do not work well and recent train timetable changes have not helped, but the bus from King’s Lynn also has to connect at Fakenham with buses that go on to Wells, Norwich, Holt and further afield. NCC cannot change the times of the buses but all services will be reviewed regularly.

Scams: NCC agreed the objectives for the Norfolk Against Scams Partnership (NASP), a group of organisations committed to tackling scams. Fraud costs the UK economy £52 billion a year but it is believed that only 5% of victims report the crime. If you think you or a relative, friend or neighbour have been the victim of a scam or fraud or you are concerned about a possible scam or fraud, please report it to

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Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or Fraud on 0300 123 2040. For more information visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/business/ trading-standards/scams

as fridges, sofas, electrical items, furniture, recyclables and garden waste etc. See https://www.norfolk. gov.uk/r ubbish-recycling-andplanning/rubbish-and-recycling/ types-of-waste-we-accept.

Blue Badge scheme: See NCC website. Please assist any friends who may need help either applying for a badge or renewing it. Also read the information on ‘inaccurate’ use of the badge and help avoid embarrassment. https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/caresuppor t-and-health/disabilities/ blue-badges

I also have a personal plea for calling the recycling centres just that, not the dump or tip. The plea is not just because that is what the centres are (this last month my local centre reported 86% of what had been taken there had been recycled) but because amongst the hard working and dedicated staff there are fathers and mothers whose children should be proud that their parents do this work – and do not work at a dump!

Opportunity for Norfolk businesses to claim up to £3,000 towards installing superfast broadband. The £67 million Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme was launched in March to deliver full fibre coverage across the UK.The offer is for small to mediumsized businesses and the local communities surrounding them.

A one-off contribution towards the installation cost of a full fibre connection capable of delivering gigabit. The scheme will run until March 2021 or until all available funding has been allocated. Business owners can check their eligibility and find out how to register with a supplier in their area, at https:// gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/ Recycling Centres: Fly tipping publicity continues and it is easy to get confused. I thought therefore to repeat accurate information with a link. All household items are accepted for free – things such

News & Views: Barsham • Walsingham • Houghton

Parish Partnership Scheme with Norfolk County Council: A reminder that due to the success of working in partnership with parish/town councils for the last seven years the Parish Partnership Scheme Initiative will be repeated in the financial year 2019/20. In our division there have been several successful projects where the town or parish council has organised the bid but others have provided the funding. (I had one such bid where three organisations shared the cost.) Further information, including possible funding sources for your share of the bid, is available on NCC’S website.

Dr Marie Strong Wells Division (Glaven, Priory, Walsingham Wards) marie. strong@norfolk.gov.uk or 07920 286 597