Dispatch Magazine - Diss & Attleborough November 2010

ISSUE 110 Dispatch November 2010

NEWS FOR DISS AND ATTLEBOROUGH RESIDENTS

Diss & gh Attleborournivals Ca Christmas Feature n o t t a r t S Long Christmas !

Is Coming & More!...

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GENERAL News

EACH - Santa Runs Every year EACH hold sponsored Santa Runs to raise funds for the charity. This year there are six events happening across East Anglia, all routes being between 1.5 and 3km.

Each Events Coming Up: Duck Race 12th November

The events are suitable for all ages and levels of fitness - you can sprint, jog, or enjoy the route at a leisurely stroll, it’s entirely up to you!

Registration Fees Are: £10 for entrants aged 14 or over (includes Santa suit and p&p). £8.50 for entrants aged 14 or over if you have your own costume £5 for children aged 13 and under Places are limited so please register early.

Events are happening in the following towns: Bury St Edmunds Sunday 28th November Peterborough Sunday 5th December King’s Lynn Sunday 5th December

Dispatch November 2010

Cambridge Sunday 12th December Lowestoft Sunday 12th December Ipswich Sunday 12th December Bury St Edmunds Santa Parade and Fun Run, Sunday 28th November The run is starting and finishing at Charter Square in the Arc shopping centre, starting at 10.30am. Route approx 2.5km, suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

The event is raising funds for EACH’s Treehouse Appeal.

For information on the other events or to sign up for a Santa Run visit www.each.org.uk.

The Tree House Appeal aims to raise £3,000,000 to build and equip a new hospice in a donated plot of woodland in Ipswich. It will be a single storey building, set in mature woodland with scenic views from each bedroom.

The current hospice bungalow in Ipswich is inadequate, with no dedicated space for specialist services required by families.

It was intended for a maximum capacity of 50 families, but currently cares for more than 80. The new building will provide greater privacy, more space for family accommodation and dedicated areas for specialist therapies.

Diss Town Football Club, Brewer’s Green, Diss. A fun family evening, organised by Diss Friends Group in aid of EACH. First race is at 7.45pm. There will be adult and children races, a raffle and licensed bar.

Tickets are £7 including buffet supper, available from Pauline Manson (01379 650938) or Di Brown (01379 652896).

News from across your region

Christmas Is Coming!

Dispatch Magazine is owned and published by Spider Solutions Publishing Ltd. Director & Editor: Jonathan Horswell Queens House, Queens Square Attleborough, Norfolk , NR17 2AE. Tel: 01953 456789 Fax: 01953 451177 Email: sales@dispatch-magazine.co.uk Web: www.dispatch-magazine.co.uk

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26 In this issue FEATURES

Diss

ATTLEBOROUGH

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Deadline for all editorial and advertising submissions for the next issue will be:

Attleborough Christmas Carnival Switching On The Lights.

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Issue 110

Diss Christmas Carnival Late Night Shopping.

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November 2010

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32 35

Launch Of New Group.

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Welcome To Long Stratton Leisure Centre Activities.

Events At The Diss Corn Hall

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Christmas Is Coming It’s That Time Of Year Again.

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Attleborough Community Team Committed To A Sustainable Town.

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Up Coming Events.

Breckland Photography Competition Winner

Diss Dragons’ Roar With Success

Paul Giverin From Thetford Is The Overall Winner.

Winner Of Diss Dragons’ Den Grand Prize.

Business And The Web Hosting Security.

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing Looking And Feeling Good.

4Networking

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Diss Museum Everest Climber Cathy O’Dowd.

Your Area - Your Future.

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Competition Page Win Tickets To See The Red Card Comedy Club.

Attleborough And Snetterton Heath Area Action Plan

Attleborough Festival Weekend Focusing On Attleborough During WW2.

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Sainsbury’s Attleborough Colleague Wins Award.

November 12th 2010 Editorial submissions: T: 01953 456789 E: editorial@dispatch-magazine.co.uk Readers are invited to submit editorial.

The Publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Designed and published by Spider Solutions Publishing Ltd www.SpiderSolutions.co.uk

Dispatch November 2010

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Welcome to

diss

Diss Town Sell Out For Launch Of New Council Networking Group For Diss Business Christmas Carol Concert An annual sell-out favourite, Diss Town Council’s carol concert is one for all the family with the singing led by the Waveney Choir together with the Diss Salvation Army.

The evening also includes performances by the choirs of Diss High and Junior schools.

Tickets: £3.50 children £2 - includes

mulled wine and mince pies Date: 7th December 2010 19:30 Time: Location: Diss Corn Hall Contact: Diss Town Council Telephone: 01379 643848 Email: towncouncil@diss.gov.uk

Dispatch November 2010

National business networking group 4Networking held a successful launch event at the Scole Inn on Thursday 30th September, which has subsequently been followed up by another full house on the 14th October.

4Networking is a successful and vibrant networking organisation with breakfast groups already taking place in towns across the country, 4Networking picked Diss as a new location because of the number of independently owned businesses that exist in the town.

4Networking Development Director Terry Cooper explains “I’ve been doing business in and around Diss for years and know what a strong business community there is here, so it just made perfect sense for us to come to the town. We know that there are numerous privately owned businesses in the town alone, ignoring the villages and business

parks around and our format gives the business owners the ideal opportunity to meet and promote themselves”.

The 4Networking format is unique. Over a relaxed and informal breakfast, members and visitors can meet each other, hear about each other’s businesses and have three short business appointments, all before 10am!

Local Group Leader Les Smith says “I wanted to promote my business so attended 4Networking meetings in Norwich and Ipswich. I liked the format so much that I got in touch with Terry to ask if I could run a meeting here, (which

seems to be how 4Networking grows) – and a few weeks later we launched with a full house, and subsequently sold out the second meeting – with lots of local businesses joining the group”.

4 Networking in Diss meets every second Thursday at the Scole Inn, starting at 08.00, anyone who would like to attend simply needs to contact Group Leader Les Smith on 07792 273334, email leslie.smith@bizzxsell.com or visit the 4Networking website at www.4networking.biz where you can book online.

News from across your region

Events At Diss Corn Hall Up Coming Events Music & Dance...

Appalachian Roots Friday 5th November 8pm Tickets £10/ Concessions £8 Ira Bernstein and Riley Baugus perform.

voice of Pangle in Cold Mountain, also appearing on the 2009 Grammy Awardwinning Album of the Year, Raising Sand with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

to the live action merging technology, physicality and imagination in a white knuckle, multi-media concoction, chocka-block with ingenuity and originality.

www.tentoepercussion.com/ appalachianroots

www.anomic.co.uk Comedy...

An old-time music and dance show full of humour and skill, fiddles and feet, banjos and ballads.

Ira Bernstein Possibly the best Appalachian stepdancer in the world, Bernstein’s repertoire has a common thread: the production of rhythmic, percussive sounds. His feet are the sticks, the floor is the drum, which is why he refers to his art as Ten Toe Percussion. He has shared the stage with many of the world’s greatest tap and step dancers, including Gregory Hines, Savion Glover and Chuck Green.

Riley Baugus A genuine Carolina banjo man and a virtuoso old-time musician, singer and raconteur, Baugus was the singing

Theatre...

The Sum of it all….

Wednesday 10th – Thursday 11th November 7.30pm Tickets £10/Under 25s £8 Suitable for ages 14+ Anomic Multimedia Theatre Company Dan Shorten, award-winning director and co-founder of Precaucious, stars in a heart-felt story, at once witty and melancholic. The Sum of it All… explores the tragic decisions, unsettling circumstances and extreme emotions which lead the protagonist to the most profound and disturbing decision of his life.

50-inch televisions and projectors create a giant wall of video to form a backdrop

Friday 26th November 8.30pm Tickets Advance £8 / Door £9.50 Minimum age 18 Miles Crawford A regular at the big comedy venues and one of the most versatile personalities in the country, Miles’s electric charisma has also made him a popular television presenter.

‘Quick on his feet, reminiscent of a young Johnny Vegas’ The Frog and Bucket Mitch Benn One of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country, Benn is a regular on Radio 4’s The Now Show and It’s Been a Bad Week for Radio 2.

He’s also had his own successful Radio 4 show, Mitch Benn’s Crimes Against Music and on TV appears on The One Show and C4s Bremner, Bird and Fortune. www.redcardcomedyclub.com Sue’s Food – delicious homemade pasties, samosas and cakes – available from 7.30pm.

‘Pure comic talent’ The Times Dave Twentyman Dave holds the room in the palm of his hand, keeping the laughter flowing.

No matter what your mood, Dave’s chatty, cheeky styles endears him to even the toughest of crowds.

Dispatch November 2010

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DISS News

Diss Dragons’ Roar With Success!

One of the nicest surprises to come out of this year’s Diss on View was the winner of Diss Dragons’ Den grand prize marketing, branding, web, mentoring, advertising and PR package valued at more than £3000.

For the first time, it went to a local ‘lad’!

Miles Garnham of Waveney Animal Feeds really impressed the judges, not only with what he had done with the business to date, but with his vision for the future. He demonstrated to the panel that he both needed and valued this opportunity. Work commences this week… so watch this space. You will be hearing more about this entrepreneur and his business in the coming weeks and months.

But the surprise wasn’t over. The judging panel (which included prize givers Jenna Cox of Marketing, PR and branding agency Articulate HLC and Dave Baker, Vice Chair of Suffolk FSB and Charting Success mentor and other panel members - Ed Nottingham, Director of Merrick Hill, Marion James, owner of Paramount HR and Steve Penney, former editor of Diss Express), found it extremely difficult to choose a winner due to the high calibre of the 10 finalists. In fact, voting was so tight that this year, for the first time, a runner-up was chosen.

Start-up business owner, Elisabeth Radford,

designer of hand-made sterling silver jewellery (with a twist!) was the lucky choice. You will hear about the twist as Elizabeth’s business evolves with help from her Dragons.

Both candidates are thrilled and Jenna Cox has said of the experience: “I had debated for quite a while as to whether or not I would repeat my donation of one of our KickStart packages. Considering that this prize uses more than 100 hours of my time and expertise, and a considerable commitment from the others who have donated time and services for it, I needed to be certain in my mind that the winner would both deserve and value it.

When the idea was mooted to offer it in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ type of format, I thought that was great. And the entrants did not disappoint!”

Jenna went on to elaborate. “It was gratifying to have entrants coming from all over East Anglia, of all sorts and description and at all levels of trading - from start-ups to young and growing, to established SMEs

that knew they needed to sharpen their image. And they all took this seriously. For me and the other judges, that made all the difference.”

Entrants were asked to fill in a short form on the DBF website. Just two simple (or not so simple) questions were asked: What this prize would mean to you and why do you deserve it?

From all the entries, the panel culled 10 finalists who came to Diss for informal interviews. Here are a list of the other 8 finalists and we wish them all success: Comms Consulting Ltd, Karl Alderton.

Comms Consulting Ltd is an Independent telecoms management company, we have no ties with suppliers and we take a % of the savings we find you, giving you piece of mind that we really are sourcing you the best offering as this means it is the best offering for us.

Impact Homestyle, Ann Cooper.

Homestyling/Homestaging - giving advice on the most cost effective way to maximise a home’s potential eg advice on colours/ position of furniture/artwork, styling garden etc.

Jam Packed UK Ltd, Alistair Mackie.

UK’s first independent storage sourcing agents and express same day courier agency.

Parties To Your Door, Kim Daley.

Online Childrens party supplier.

Property On Video, Christopher Walkie.

Innovation for Estate Agents, we provide software solutions to create video tours quickly and economically for UK estate agents.

Dispatch November 2010

Roger Pemberton Ltd t/a Action Coach. I am a business coach. I use the proven Action Coach business improvement system to help business owners in Norfolk and North Suffolk to make more money from and spend less time in their business.

Trusted B2B, Sean Sidney. “A one-stop shop for businesses wanting business services they can trust. Trusted b2b will be a web based service connecting trusted businesses. Customers are vetted and suppliers offer services supported by a satisfaction guarantee, whereby dissatisfied customers pay nothing.

Trusted b2b is unique because it doesn’t offer its customers a choice of suppliers, but instead makes the choice on behalf of the customer. These choices will at first be trusted because of the guarantee. Later, this trust will be built on by experience.

Unlike other sites, suppliers pay no membership or lead fee, only a commission when actually paid by a customer. To motivate the suppliers to provide their best service, this commission is related to the customer’s feedback. If the feedback is excellent, the supplier pays no commission.

Trusted b2b was launched in East Anglia in the September 2010. Once successful in the region, the service will then go national.

Virtual Office Suffolk, Leslie-Ann Giovnilli. A full business support service including financial and secretariat services.

We are a virtual office that is much more than a PA but can cost just the same Congratulations to all who took part.

Business is alive and well and exciting in East Anglia!

News from across your region

Comercrawley

Giveacar

Your questions answered…

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has turned old cars into thousands of pounds of muchneeded funds after teaming up with not-for-profit organisation Giveacar.

Question: I was recently injured whilst travelling on a bus. I gather that the bus driver turned a corner too quickly with the result that I was thrown from my seat and injured my shoulder. Can I claim compensation?

Answer: Yes, a compensation claim can be pursued if it can be proved that the reason for you being injured was due to the negligence of the bus driver. A bus driver owes a legal duty of care to passengers on the bus to ensure that they a not exposed to a foreseeable risk of injury.

It can be argued that by failing to drive at the appropriate speed and to turn the steering wheel appropriately, the bus driver caused for passengers on the bus to be at risk of suffering an injury. The risk of injury can be said to be foreseeable particularly taking into account the fact that passengers will not be wearing a seat belt.

The bus company will be legally liable for the bus driver’s negligence as he or she was acting within the course of his or

her employment. The claim will normally be covered by the bus company’s motor insurance policy.

You can claim compensation in the normal way, both for your shoulder injury and for any financial losses and expenses that you have suffered as a result.

If you have a question for our legal advice team you can submit it by email: enquiries@comercrawley.co.uk Or in writing to: Chancery House, Victoria Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4HZ.

The scheme, in which donated cars are sold for scrap metal and the proceeds donated to charity, has raised £5,582 for EACH since they became affiliated with Giveacar in February this year.

EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions and offers support to their families across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

They offer a range of care and support services including music therapy, short break care and bereavement support. To deliver their services, EACH needs to raise £4 million each year in voluntary donations.

Lindsey Newton, EACH press and media officer, said: “The Giveacar scheme has proved to be hugely successful in turning metal to money for (EACH). There is no doubt that the promotion of this scheme within the local area has been vital to its success.

are incredibly grateful to them for helping us fundraise for such a vital cause.

“As a registered charity, we rely on public support and are thankful for the collaboration and support that the Giveacar scheme has provided us with.”

Giveacar has donated over £125,000 to charities across the UK since it was founded in January. The social enterprise arranges for old cars to be collected and taken to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), where they are dismantled according to strict environmental codes of practice. The money raised from the car’s scrap metal is then donated to a charity of the car owner’s choice.

For more information please visit www.giveacar.co.uk and www.each.org.uk.

“The highly effective scheme is down to the hard work of Giveacar and we at EACH

Dispatch November 2010

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DISS News

“Talk To You Sooner Rather Than Later” Credit Control and Debt Collection mark two important functions of any firm. It is a building block of any successful business that “cash is king” and without sufficient money coming in even the most successful enterprise can fail. level of debt with any one client at a reasonable level. It is tempting when dealing with a large organisation to assume that they will always be “good for the money”, but that may not be the case.

Above: Beverly Phillips from Jackaman Smith & Mulley The establishment of a payment procedure in your business, properly communicated to your client base, is of great importance. Your Terms and Conditions of Trading are vitally important to let everyone know what steps you will take if a client falls behind in payment of an invoice. Terms and Conditions will deal with the number of days within which the debt should be paid, and what the consequences of late payment will be.

The insolvency of a debtor can be disastrous. It is imperative to keep the

A well-monitored credit control system is essential, handled by a representative with the requisite skills of “persuasion!”

Of course, the style adopted for credit control has to be appropriate. A recent case involving British Gas resulted in that company receiving a penalty for despatch of threatening bills and letters including threats of proceedings and threats to report to credit rating agencies. A defence raised that it was a large company and the group relied on a computer-generated debt recovery system did not receive much sympathy from the Court of Appeal!

Phoning up on a regular basis to press the debtor for payment in a polite but firm way can prove very effective. Investment in an efficient credit control system will pay dividends.

If the persuasion fails and debt collection

is the next step then a solicitor’s letter can prove the necessary wake-up call to a reluctant debtor.

If the debtor does not pay or fails to respond on expiry of the time limit within the letter before action, Court proceedings are commenced. Further, If the debtor fails to respond to the claim an application for Judgment in Default is made to the Court.

Subsequently, enforcement proceedings will need to be considered if payment is not made following the Court Order. Each case is different and the best method of enforcement in any case will vary.

For further information please contact Beverly Phillips at Jackaman Smith & Mulley on 01379 643555 or by email at beverly.phillips@jsm.co.uk.

DISS W.I. October meeting After the monthly business matters, minutes etc had been completed we had a very entertaining hour with Mr Charles Garland whose talk described his life from birth as a Vicar’s son in Hampshire to childhood in this region and an extremely varied career path which eventually lead to him becoming a television producer.

Having received drama training and stage experience, Mr Garland delivered his talk with a lot of humour and was very entertaining.

After the coffee break we were reminded that Diss W.I. will be 90 years old next year and we will be celebrating this with a

special evening in May. Details are already being discussed and members will be kept informed.

Members were also reminded that the next meeting will be our annual AGM and voting will take place to appoint new committee members.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at Diss Methodist Church Hall and start at 7.30p.m.

New members and visitors are very welcome to join us.

Trial By Jury The Redgrave singers will present a concert on Friday and Saturday Dec 3rd and 4th which includes a fully staged production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial by Jury’ and Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’.

This double bill will be take place in Redgrave church and there will be an orchestra of 24 players.

The first performance of a new cello concerto (first movement only) will be performed by Rebecca Walker and the concert will be conducted by Peter Creswell who composed the concerto.

Well known local actor Tim Hall will take the part of the judge in Trial by Jury and the plaintiff will be played by Alaine Weide who has for many years been a principal performer with the

Dispatch November 2010

Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Also in the concert will be a performance of the well known song ‘Holy Night’ to be sung by Jennifer Hewes accompanied by full orchestra. This will be the third concert this year given by the Redgrave singers.

Last June they performed Peter’s MASS in C minor and last May they provided the chorus for the musical ‘Cobbold’s Tales’ for which Peter wrote the music.

Tickets at £10.00 are available from post offices in Wortham and Botesdale or telephone 01379 890650.

News from across your region

Electric Forest To Bring Diss Museum Trees Alive At Night

As we prepare to commemorate Thomas Manning’s 1811 journey to Tibet, I thought it would be good to have an intrepid traveller from today.

Visitors to Thetford Forest Park in Suffolk will get the opportunity to see the trees in a whole new light this winter (December 3-19), when a specialist visual arts team, working in partnership with the Forestry Commission, will spectacularly transform part of the woodland into an ‘Electric Forest’.

Using swathes of colour, sound and technology to bring the woodland alive after dark, the award winning Culture Creative team, will light up the forest to produce a family friendly trail through the trees. The illuminated walk, which will be approximately 2km in length and take around an hour of walking at a gentle pace, will include sound, music and interactive installations at discreet locations throughout the trail.

Zoe Bottrell, producer and project manager at Culture Creative said: “Our aim with The Electric Forest is to provide an alternative to main stream events at this time of year, by offering a sensory experience involving the sights, smells and sounds of the forest at night. We will be complementing the existing atmosphere with a combination of magic and spectacle with more interactive and intimate elements.”

Peter Rawlinson, High Lodge attractions manager said: “We hope that these illuminated evening walks will offer visitors to Thetford Forest a unique interactive family event as the winter nights draw in. We’re urging people not to miss this opportunity to see the beauty of the trees in a whole new light and experience the magic of the forest after dark.”

There will be three walks per evening – 4.30pm, 6pm and 7.30pm (last admission will be at 8.30pm and event closes at 9.30pm – see website for full details).

Tickets cost £15.50 per adult and £10.00 per concession (fully inclusive of Forestry Commission parking and booking fees) and are on sale now at Thetford Forest Park or via the Forestry Commission Box Office on 01842 814612 or online at www.theelectricforest.co.uk

near the Alps , but she travels everywhere to give talks. Her website showed that she would be in England next year. I emailed her and described what we are doing in 2011 and invited her to come to Diss, saying that I was just afraid that she would be very expensive. A couple of days later the phone rang and a South African voice said, “Hello, Bezzle. Cathy O’Dowd here.”

Above: Cathy O’Dowd At last year’s Edinburgh Festival I saw a South African man giving a presentation about climbing Everest. I couldn’t remember his name but recalled that his wife was also on the expedition and that her name was Cathy O’Something. I managed to find her website and saw that she is also an inspirational speaker who gets companies climbing every mountain and fording every stream.

Talking to me as though she had known me all my life, she said she would come for nothing, as it was for the museum.

I am constantly amazed by the people who have done that, when they hear it is for a good cause. Last year playwright Trevor Griffiths, writer Peter Clark and storyteller Hugh Lupton all came for just expenses or at reduced rates.

Cathy O’Dowd is the only woman to have climbed Everest from both the north and south sides.

So Cathy will appear at Diss Corn Hall on the evening of Saturday 4 June.

Her husband’s talk gave a hair-raising impression of life at 27,000 feet; and I’m sure Cathy will be equally unmissable.

The couple live in Andorra, obviously to be

Basil Abbott.

Dispatch November 2010

DISS News www.dissonline.co.uk

Indian Waiters Dressed Up As Children’s Superheroes INDIAN waiters dressed up as children’s superheroes for the night to help raise more than £1,000 for young people with life-threatening illnesses. across Norfolk and Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

About 100 diners booked in for the fun fundraiser on Monday September 27th, with staff donating their wages, and 50% of takings from the restaurant and take-aways going to the hospice, raising a total of £1,113.50.

Above: Manager Emdad Hussain, top right, with colleagues Rejuan Hussain, dressed as Robin, Ester Deocampo, dressed as Batwoman, Sanwan Jahan, top left, and chef Alim Uddin.

Staff at the Spice Cottage, in the centre of Diss, held the fundraiser for EACH, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

EACH supports families and cares for children with life-threatening conditions

10 Dispatch November 2010

Emdad Hussain, manager at the Grade II listed Indian and Nepalese restaurant, said: “We know the volunteers who do so much good work at the charity shop on Chapel Street in Diss and wanted to help them, they are the real superheroes.

“The hospice is there for families at times of crisis and we are thrilled to be able to do our bit to help.”

A spokesman for EACH said: “We need to raise £4 million in donations to deliver our services this year. This amounts to £11,000 a day, every day of the year.

“Our support includes care at end of life, bereavement support, short break care, specialist play, music therapy and practical help, advice and information.

We can only do it with your help.”

Or to find out more about other fundraising events the Spice Cottage are organising, call the restaurant on 01379 640222 / 640777.

To find out more about the work of EACH, visit the website www.each.org.uk

Diss Bed Centre Recently opened another Premises on Sawmills Road, Diss - 01379 640070 With more than just beds on sale our extensive range of furniture is definitely worth a visit.

Open 7 Days a week 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday 9am – 1pm Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday our trained staff our always glad to be of service.

With our well established shop in Chapel Street still thriving we can offer excellent prices during these economic times.

Dispatch Joins The Power Of Twitter

Competition EGAP

Have you yet to discover Twitter ?

In case you wondered about the power of ‘Tweeting’, Coca Cola would tell you that it’s “phenominal”. After the company purchased the second ever “promoted tweet“, it saw 85 million impressions in the first 24 hours.

According to articles in the Financial Times, those 85 million impressions translated to a rate of 6% engagement, versus a typical 0.2% for any other type of online ad.

So did Twitter just set a heavy foot into the advertising industry? For businesses that want to tap into the market, the answer is a resounding yes. Of course, timing is still everything, and Coca Cola decided to run the tweet during the US vs England World Cup match. Given that the US and the UK are two of the largest populations on Twitter, it only makes sense.

Dispatch Magazine has recently joined the World of Twitter

http://twitter.com/#!/Dispatch_Mag and already is being followed by an ever increasing number of fellow Twitters.

The King of Twitter Stephen Fry recently said “I can sit in the back of a taxi, write a Tweet in less than 1 minute, and push it out to over 1.5 million followers instantly”. Dispatch has a way to go to reach the same number of followers, but every journey starts with a first step!

Keep fully up to date with all that is going on inside the Dispatch office by following us on Twitter.

Enter our competition and...

WIN

Tickets To See...

Red Card Comedy Club – On The Road...

Friday 26th November 8.30pm – Tickets Advance £8/Door £9.50.

Minimum age 18.

Miles Crawford A regular at the big comedy venues and one of the most versatile personalities in the country, Miles’s electric charisma has also made him a popular television presenter.

‘Pure comic talent’ The Times

Mitch Benn One of the best writer/ performers of comic songs in the country, Benn is a regular on Radio 4’s The Now Show and It’s Been a Bad Week for Radio 2. He’s also had his own successful Radio 4 show, Mitch Benn’s Crimes Against Music and on TV appears on The One Show and C4s Bremner, Bird and Fortune.

TM

Dave Twentyman Dave holds the room in the palm of his hand, keeping the laughter flowing.

No matter what your mood, Dave’s chatty, cheeky styles endears him to even the toughest of crowds.

‘The obvious comparison is with Bill Bailey, but the best stuff in reminiscent of the brilliant Neil Innes.’ The Guardian

‘Quick on his feet, reminiscent of a young Johnny Vegas’ The Frog and Bucket

The November Red Card Comedy Club will be the last one for 2010 but the fun will start again on Friday 28th January.’

www.redcardcomedyclub.com Sue’s Food – delicious homemade pasties, samosas and cakes – available from 7.30pm.

Can You Answer This Question?

Q. Which comedian due to appear in the Red Card Comedy Club line-up for Friday November 26th is a regular on Radio 4’s The Now Show?

Answer:

Your Contact Details...

Name: Address:

Telephone Number: Please send your entry to:

Dispatch Magazine, Queens House, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE. Usual Dispatch rules apply. The winning entry will be drawn on 19th November 2010.

Diss & Attleborough

Dispatch November 2010 11

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DISS News

Win For Families...

Diss U3A

As High Court Decides On Unlawful Legal Aid Tender Round

Mark Mitchels made a welcome return to the October meeting...

The Law Society has secured a victory for families across England and Wales after the High Court decided to quash the outcome of the tender round for new family legal aid contracts.

Where he gave a most enjoyable and entertaining talk on the life and work of poet Edward Fitzgerald, now best known for his translation of the Persian poem “The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khyyam”. Born in 1809, son of a wealthy if somewhat disfunctional Suffolk family, Fitzgerald was educated at Cambridge where he counted Thackeray and Tennyson amongst his

The High Court today declared that the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) family legal aid tender round was unlawful and severely hindered access to justice for vulnerable children and their parents.

The decision follows a three-day hearing of the Society’s application for judicial review at the Divisional Court.

Law Society President Linda Lee said today’s win is a victory for the thousands of families who would have been left without access to legal assistance when faced with State intervention in their family or the consequences of the breakdown of a relationship.

Overburys have a team of family lawyers specialising in divorce, cohabitation disputes, finances, children and domestic violence and have recently been ranked

12 Dispatch November 2010

number one supplier by the legal services commission in Norfolk.

Should you require advice and assistance in relation to any family matters please contact: Amanda Maruca or Richard Bevan on 01379 641221 in Diss or in Norwich on 01603 610481.

Diss Salvation Army Following a visit to Diss by the African Children’s Choir in 1998 The Salvation Army felt that it would like to sponsor two of the children.

The money raised goes towards the child’s education which is provided by the choir. Over the years they have raised a substantial amount in various ways.

This year The Salvation Army has decided to put on a concert and the proceeds will go towards this sponsorship.

In Diss, The Salvation Army holds Sunday services at 10am and 6pm which anyone

can attend. They also have a thriving charity shop attached to its premises on Sunnyside which opens from 10am – 1pm on Wednesday and Friday. There is also a luncheon club for older people on Tuesdays. For the children there is the whole range of Guide and Scout sections.

If you would like further information contact Major Ian & Barbara Fawcett on 01379 642448.

contemporaries. However, unlike them and with the comfort of his family’s wealth behind him he showed little ambition and was happy to surround himself with a small group of clever interlectual friends known as “The Woodbridge Wits”.

Fitzgerald was a complex character who although capable of acts of great kindness could also be amazingly selfish and was posessed of a cruel tongue especially where females were concerned refusing even to stay under the same roof as a woman. He lived in Woodbridge for most of his adult life where he was able to indulge his passion for water and boats and where his increasingly eccentric behaviour was accepted and occasionally encouraged by his neighbours. FitzGerald died in 1883 having outlived almost all of his few close friends.

For further information on Diss U3A please telephone: 01379 953134.

The next meeting will be on November 4th at Diss United Reformed Church commencing at 10.30am.

Diss Christmas Lights And Late Night Shopping!

Come To Diss For The Christmas Lights Switch On & Late Night Shopping Evening The Christmas Lights in Diss will be switched on at a fun packed event on Thursday 25th November.

The entertainment will start at 5pm in the Market Place and Mere’s Mouth with a great programme of music and entertainment for all the family.

Highlights will include reindeer at Mere’s Mouth, kiddies roundabout rides, stilt walkers, festive balloon modelling snowman and the Swinging Santas Jazz Band.

There will also be local brass bands playing carols and festive tunes to get everyone in the Christmas mood, a variety of stalls and Father

Christmas will, of course, make an appearance during the evening.

The lights will be switched on by a mystery guest at 6.45pm and many of the shops in the town centre and the individual shopping yards will remain open until late to tempt customers to stock up with Christmas gifts and goodies.

Above: 2008 Christmas Lights in Mere Stree t

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Welcome to

attleborough

Attleborough Community Team ACT is the Attleborough Community Team, Committed to a sustainable town...

Did You Know?

Breckland Council have produced a plan that has been approved by the planning inspector.

The plan is that by 2026 there will be 10,000 more people, 4,000 new homes, and 6,000 additional cars in Attleborough.

ACT Is Seeking: • Local jobs • A free-flowing road system • Sport & leisure facilities and play areas • Green spaces • Accessible transport • Local junior school places • A commitment from all our elected representatives that these current shortfalls are addressed before any more significant development takes place.

• A commitment that the detailed Action Plan currently being prepared by Breckland Council identifies how all the new

14 Dispatch November 2010

development will contribute to an overall improvement for all residents.

• Proper consultation on any proposals for the town and its surroundings.

For more information and to sign the online petition to show your support, visit: www.attleboroughonline.co.uk/act

Your Community Needs YOU!

News from across your region

Paul Is The Natural Winner Paul Giverin from Thetford has been declared the overall winner of the 2010 Breckland Photography Competition, and winner of the ‘Nature in Breckland’ category. Paul, who also triumphed in the 2008 competition, was awarded a £100 voucher for the Norfolk Camera Centre in Dereham.

Above: (L-R) Judges Simon Edwards and Vicki Nunn with Paul Giverin Judges Simon Edwards, Vicki Nunn and Graham Corney, all professional photographers, decided that Paul’s haunting picture which was captured early one autumn morning at Gooderstone Water Gardens was the clear overall winner across all four categories. Jan Vlcek from Thetford triumphed in the ‘Creative Breckland’ category, Ken Clegg from Watton was named the winner in the ‘Architecture in Breckland’ category and Rosa Furneaux, an 18 year old from Dereham, was top in the ‘Active Breckland’ category. Individual category winners each received a Camera Centre voucher for £50.

Adrian Stasiak, Breckland Council Executive Member for Communities and Benefits said he was impressed with the standard of the submissions: “With so many talented entries this year, it was a difficult choice for the judges. Not everyone can be a winner, but no-one’s efforts will be wasted as all the photographs will all form part of a touring exhibition”.

Photography is something of a passion for

Paul and the Breckland competition is an annual fixture on his calendar. He said: “I always look forward to a new challenge for the Breckland competition each year.

This photo was taken in the morning when the sun had just broken through.

I photograph at Gooderstone Water Gardens quite often. I even dashed up there one Sunday last December after a heavy snowfall – needless to say I was the only person there!”

Above: Paul’s picture - taken at Gooderstone Water Gardens

Women’s British Legion The Women’s British Legion Attleborough has unfortunately decided, regretfully, to close the branch owing to the fact we no longer have a secretary.

The meetings were held on the first Wednesday of the month in the Frances Rooms, Connaught Hall, Attleborough at 2pm. The ladies of the branch are keen to resume these meetings on a “friendship” basis calling ourselves “The Evergreens” If former members or new ones would like to join us there,

the next meeting will be on the 3rd November at 2pm. It will be a social event with the usual tea and biscuits provided.

If you would like any further information, please call Pat Hunter on 01953 452272.

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ATTLEBOROUGH News

Supreme Bathrooms Supreme Bathrooms are an independent family run business now in their 12th year of trading, specialising in all the latest bathroom products from their terrific Wymondham showroom.

We caught up with Mr & Mrs Seymour after Supreme Bathrooms had recently completed their new en-suite & cloakroom.

1. What made you choose Supreme Bathrooms for your bathroom makeover? Reputation and recommendations.

2. What did you think of their design service and were you happy with their idea’s? Right from the start Neil was in tune with our ideas and the design reflected his flair for getting the right products in the right place.

3. Are you happy with the installation of your new bathrooms and all aspects of the work carried throughout to completion? Peter the fitter was very professional in his work and extremely neat and tidy throughout the job.

of the en-suite including building work, new shower and enclosure, toilet, sink and a range of beech fitted cupboards. The flooring was also replaced. We now have a digital power shower with a larger bow shower enclosure, and a fancy LED mirror over our sink.

5. Would you recommend Supreme Bathrooms to our Dispatch readers?

Without hesitation, I would recommend Supreme Bathrooms to anyone wishing to have a new top specification bathroom designed and fitted by Neil and his team!!!

Visit Supreme Bathrooms of Wymondham now for your bathroom makeover.

Attleborough & District Horticultural Society The November meeting of the society takes place on Wednesday 17th November, commencing at 7.30pm.

The venue, as usual, is Attleborough Junior School and guests are most welcome to come along. The talk in November will be “Ornamental Plants Grown For Their Scent”.

industry and his talk was full of anecdotes about these gentle giants. We also came away knowing how to tell apart Shires, Percherons, Clydesdales and the Suffolk Punch.

Mike Flood gave a very interesting talk on “Heavy Horses” at the September meeting.

He has spent a lifetime caring for, working with and breeding these horses whilst working fulltime in the agricultural supply

The Table Competition suffered from a lack of entries. However, the prize for 3 stems of flowers went to Sally Westrup and John Darlow took the award for 3 eating apples.

Reality’s Dream To Be Signed In Ink Poverty, abuse and prejudice have failed to topple courageous woman of faith, Coralita Martin.

4. What products have you now got installed in your new bathroom and has the finished bathrooms matched your expectations? Complete reworking

As a school girl she changed history when she became the first youngster from the slums in Antigua to win a school scholarship.

She has gone from the slums of Antigua to the suburbs of London and the wilds of Norfolk to pursue the doorways of destiny and open the annals of learning for thousands of youngsters for 50 years.

The first black teacher in Thetford and Watton – and many schools in London – will be signing her dream in ink at bookshops around the county to help launch her epic biography Courage to Dream – the impossible becomes reality, published in October by Last Word Publications.

Coralita, 77, fought injustice, silenced misery and out-lasted fear during eviction, near-death, a violent marriage and forced departure to the East End of London where she faced racism and hardship. She lived in a tiny two-bedroom house with a tin roof by the beach that had no kitchen, bathroom or electricity and did not own a pair of shoes until she was a teenager.

16 Dispatch November 2010

Co-author Sandie Shirley from Tacolneston, a former Archant reporter, met Coralita while working for the Thetford and Watton Times. She says: “This book had to be written after I discovered a woman with an epic biography mined in the deep caverns of suffering. Terrible tragedy has forged an invincible spirit in Coralita that has turned the countless trials into golden miles as she has walked with God. Her story provides hope for others no matter how tough life gets.”

Courage to Dream – the impossible becomes reality, by Coralita Martin with Sandie Shirley is available at £7.99. (lastwordpublications.com), ISBN 9780955943942.

Book Signings: October 30th The Book Fountain, Wharton’s Court, Wymondham ( 2-3pm), November 5th Wellspring, Church on the Way, Grenville Way, Thetford (6-10pm); J C Books (Applestore Gallery), 55 High Street, Watton (11am-12noon).

News from across your region

Fish & ‘Pop’ Quiz Not letting off any fireworks? Rain forecast?...

If you want your November celebrations to go with a bang and a sparkle of excitement, then come to the Connaught Hall, Attleborough at 7.30pm on Saturday 6th November where the Attleborough Players will be hosting a ‘Fish & Pop Quiz’.

Musical fireworks will ‘POP’ in a range of a ‘Golden Oldie Rain’ of sixties music to present day ‘Jumping Jacks’. All you have to do is light your Pop knowledge,

stand well back, listen to six rounds of musical clips, come up with answers and win a prize! In addition, Fish & Chips, or ‘Bangers’ & Chips etc may be ordered when you buy your ticket for £7.00 from A.W. Myhill & Son, Exchange Street, Attleborough. Tel. 01953 453107 The date for ticket availability will be advised on application.

A Place Of Hope Where to find a warm, friendly welcome.

At ATTLEBOROUGH BAPTIST CHURCH we seek to strengthen each person’s confidence and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, and encourage them in an obedient and consistent walk with him.

Wherever you may be on your journey of faith, here’s where you will find genuine fellowship, a supportive congregation and opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Near the town centre, with our main entrance in Leys Lane and handy

on-site parking, we are reaching out with the good news. Welcoming people of all ages, it is our intention to both accept and challenge others to join us in obeying the call of Christ-like living and to enable a gracious encounter with our sovereign and redeeming God. For details of when we meet and what we do, please visit our website at: www.attleboroughbaptistchurch.org

Anglia Computer Solutions Ltd has branches in Swaffham, Downham Market and Wymondham. At Anglia Computer Solutions we cover everything and anything computer related.

We have just received a big shipment of reconditioned laptops from £149 which would make an excellent christmas present and are now taking deposits!

We also have a wide range of both new, factory refurbished and reconditioned PC’s and Laptops. Free Data Transfer From Your Old PC / Laptop To New!!

Unfortunately computers do go down, whether it’s due to viruses and spyware, old age or things like electrical storms.

We are here to help! Often these kind of problems can be solved quickly, either by replacing key components or solving any software problems - its always recommended to get a quote for a repair before just going out and buying a completely new unit. Laptops are becoming increasingly popular and although they are a bit more of a challenge to repair we cover all aspects of them. Whether the unit won’t turn on right through to keyboard, power connector and screen replacements. If it’s a problem

which cannot be fixed in store, or it’s just too inconvenient to bring in – then we will come to you. Our callouts are £39.99 which includes travelling and labour.

We cover both homes and businesses whether it’s setting up wireless broadband for personal use or twenty computers in an office. We keep in a wide range of ink cartridges, cables, hardware components and peripherals in stock all ready to go, and if we don’t have what you need then they can often be ordered for the next day.

More and more people are now using internet and phone to make contact rather than face to face. That is why we have added telecoms to our list of services.

We can now provide businesses with a much cheaper alternative to the standard BT systems and these have many more functions including recording of calls, call divert, call queuing, call logging and the list goes on. Please phone us for a free no obligation quote to discuss your needs.

REACH OVER 11,000 ATTLEBOROUGH & DISS HOMES AND BUSINESSES

CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO ADVERTISE HERE?

Dispatch November 2010 17

News from across your region

Attleborough And Snetterton Heath Area Action Plan Issues and Options. Get involved!

The Council are producing an Area Action Plan to guide development over the next 15 years and need the help of residents and communities in and around the town.

The Issues and Options consultation is a chance to have a say early on in the process of producing the Area Action Plan.

We have researched the issues that are either experienced now or could arise as a result of the changes and have come up with some options to address those issues. We want to know what you think.

The area around Attleborough and Snetterton Heath is set to change over the coming years with potential plans for: • At least 4,000 new homes within the Attleborough area by 2026 to the south of the town;

• Necessary supporting infrastructure; • 1,500 to 2,000 net additional jobs in Attleborough by 2021 and release some 10 hectares of land for employment • A new road from the A11 to the B1077 Bunns Bank to help ease congestion;

In Person Come along to one a number of dropin events. Officers will be on hand to answer questions, there will be display material and summary questionnaires will be available. The drop-in events will be held at:

• 20 Ha of new employment land at Snetterton Heath.

• Old Buckenham Village Hall 20th November (10am – 12.30pm) • Attleborough Town Hall 27th November (10am – 12.30pm) • Attleborough Connaught Hall 2nd December (10am – 6.30pm)

In Writing Comments can be made in writing to the Planning Policy Team at Breckland Council. To request a paper copy of the questionnaire with a FREEPOST return address please phone (01362) 656870.

When Is The Consultation?

The consultation will be over 11 weeks and is due to start on 15th November 2010 and finish on 28th January 2011.

How Do I Have My Say? On-line There will be an interactive copy of the draft Area Action Plan document on the Breckland website http://consult.breckland.gov.uk with over 60 questions on a range of topics and issues on the planned growth. A summary questionnaire will also be online focussing on the main questions on possible areas for development. Your comments can be sent on-line

opportunity for the public to have their say and influence the future plans. We are aware of the concerns that the community is telling us and a planned approach through the Area Action Plan is the best way to make sure that growth and infrastructure are properly coordinated.

We will take on board what the public say and combine it with what the background studies are saying. We look forward to hearing from as many people as possible through this consultation.”

To help improve the Area Action Plan and influence what is says please visit http://consult.breckland.gov.uk to find out all the latest on the consultation and to view/comment on the documents.

Please get involved!

Executive Member and Chairman of the Attleborough Task Force, Councillor Adrian Stasiak, “This is the opportunity to have your say on how Attleborough and Snetterton could change. The Council have not made any detailed decisions on the way forward. We see this as an ideal

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ATTLEBOROUGH News

Beacon Farm Livery Set in the rural Norfolk countryside of Rocklands, between Watton & Attleborough, you will find Beacon Farm Livery.

A friendly business offering DIY livery for up to 8/10 horses/ponies. Secure paddock with good grazing and shelter available with immediate effect. A new stable block is currently being built, which will provide accomodation for 4 horses on a full livery basis. It is an excellent location for hacking with quiet countryside roads and many tracks and bridle-ways. With plans to

develop and extend the equine facilities over the 9-acre site over the next 12 months, Beacon Farm is a friendly and professional opportunity for horse-lovers in the area.

For more information or viewing, please contact: Maria on 07887 790898 or email: maria@beaconfarm.co.uk.

VPH Roofing VPH Roofing has been trading for 20 years and grown over this time from a one man band Vincent Harwood to now employing over 23 people.

The company offers competitive pricing of any types of roofing works with quality and satisfaction guaranteed. Unlike many other companies who may dismiss small or remedial jobs VPH Roofing is proud to offer everyone the same service.

VPH Roofing does not only carry out roofing works but also offers sales of new and reclaimed roofing materials.

Attleborough Rotary Club On the evening of September 24th the Attleborough and District Rotary Club held their annual quiz.

The teams taking part represented businesses and other organisations in the town. It was a superb evening with Rotarian Rod Mclean acting as Quiz Master. The event, which included a raffle of prizes donated by club members, raised a total of £680. In due course this will be used for charitable purposes.

were Griffindor Pavilion Performers were second Happy Mondays were third

The club is very grateful to Banham Poultry for supplying some excellent chicken breasts, which were consumed with relish in the interval. The wining team

The Club is in good heart and is always interested in hearing from anyone who feels they would like to join us.

Have You Missed The October 31st Deadline?

There is always confusion caused in respect of the deadline for filing your self assessment tax return.

The October 31st deadline relates to individuals / partnerships who wish to submit a paper version of the return and require HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to calculate their tax liability.

HMRC prefer for returns to be filed online, for which the filing deadline is extended to 31 January. HMRC have recently highlighted the benefits of using its online service and extracts of their comments are repeated below.

HMRC explained that online filing carries a number of benefits including an extension to the deadline applied for paper returns.

“An alternative to paper-filing is to file your return online instead. It’s simple to do

20 Dispatch November 2010

It should be noted that the Rotary Club, which meets weekly on Tuesday evenings, have now moved their venue from the Sherbourne Hotel to The White Lodge public house, London Road, Attleborough.

– three-quarters of self-assessment filers already do it – and you get three months longer to file,” the department explained.

“Online filing has other advantages too your tax is calculated automatically, you get an immediate online acknowledgement once you’ve filed and it’s processed faster, so any money you’re owed is repaid more quickly.”

If you feel that you could benefit from professional assistance in filing your return online please contact Graham (01953 630 004) at TaxAssist Accountants who is happy to help get your tax affairs in order, file your return online and ensure you don’t receive any late filing penalties.

News from across your region

Besthorpe W.I. Members of Besthorpe W.I were joined by visitors from 4 other W.I.s for their September meeting.

The President Mrs. A. Furness, introduced the speaker Mr. Charles Garland whose talk was entitled ‘From Vicar’s Son to BBC Producer’. This was largely a humorous talk but throughout ran the message that one must show determination to reach a particular goal. In Charles’ life he had always wanted to act and eventually achieved his ultimate aim to be on T.V and finally become a BBC Producer.

Charles was one of 4 sons of a vicar and his wife and in his early childhood lived in a large vicarage. He enjoyed the freedom of life in the countryside but this changed when the family moved to Surrey when Charles was 12 years of age. His 3 brothers attended Chichester Cathedral choir school but Charles preferred a different way of life. His godfather introduced him to the world of opera, theatre and ballet which impressed him

greatly and later Charles attended both ballet and drama schools. Some time was spent in performing in dancing and musicals and eventually writing musicals himself. After many years and with sheer persistence he obtained employment with the BBC and worked as assistant to Jonathan Miller. Working his way through the system he became Producer and then Director at the BBC Mrs. J. Wade thanked Charles Garland for his most interesting and humorous talk.

Refreshments were served and a short business meeting held.

Flower of the month winner was Mrs. J. Wade and competition winners for a picture of a church were Mrs. A. Scott, Mrs. M. Dick and Mrs. M. Pilgram.

Attleborough Bible Society

The Best New Party And Costume Shop The Dressing Up Box, Attleborough The Dressing Up Box, Attleborough has recently been awarded the title of ‘The Best New Party and Costume Shop’ by The British Costume Association.

Owner Sue Day is thrilled by this national recognition, she said ‘ it is a great achievement to be chosen by members of the Costume Association for such a wonderful award’.

The Dressing Up Box has grown from nothing, an outlet for Sue’s needlework skills to one of the best Fancy Dress shops in the area, and as her recent win has shown one that the British Costume Association thinks deserves the title of Best New Party and Costume Shop 2010.

The Dressing Up Box celebrated its 4th birthday on October 19th. On proud display was the trophy, refreshments and a large spider cake, supplied by Diamond Cakes of Attleborough, helped to make the day extra special for customers, who were given the chance to enter a draw to receive the cost of their costume hire back.

‘The birthday party was my way of saying thank you to all my friends and customers’ said Sue ‘ I have had a wonderful 4 years, the time has just flown past’

Thought for the Month Secular or sacred?

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world: let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” Romans 12:2 Believing that this life is all we have, secular society concentrates on its search for possessions, prestige, power and pleasure. Sadly such a quest is doomed to fail.

The Bible teaches that this world is not our final home: we are just passing through on the way to a future beyond the grave, a future either wonderful beyond compare or awful beyond description.

Our urgent need is for a spiritual rebirth by saying sorry to God for our sins and receiving His Holy Spirit. He will then transform the way we think and behave while, en route for heaven, we joyfully serve God and others in this world.

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ATTLEBOROUGH News

J&S Homeworks Get your Fascia, Soffits & Gutters cleaned, inspected & maintained ready for the winter. gutters often have weeds growing in them, adding to the problem. Water constantly overflowing from blocked gutters damages bricks and mortar and can cause extensive damp on the outside and mould on the inside of your house as it is absorbed by the bricks, making even the most beautiful of homes appear unsightly.

The benefits of having UPVC fascias and Gutters installed, is that when maintained, they can provide years and years of service and can always be brought back to a like-new condition.

Over time dirt, mould and mildew can build up on the exterior of your property which, in turn, can make UPVC look discoloured and unpleasant, this not only looks unsightly, but can also cause damage if not kept clean.

Gutters can easily become blocked by leaves, feathers, dirt and debris blown into them.

Once a gutter becomes blocked, rainwater will flow directly off the roof onto the walls and windows of your home, as well as onto access paths. Seriously neglected

J & S Homeworks can bring your UPVC back to its original condition again.

Our Fascia and Soffit Cleaning service really can make a difference to the look and feel of your properties exterior and help to keep it in good condition.

The cleaning products we use are specifically designed to effectively and thoroughly clean exterior surfaces.

Call Jason of J & S Homeworks on 01953 458087 or 07747 847606 for a free no obligation quote.

Report On Attleborough Festival Weekend In conjunction with the Town Council, the Attleborough Heritage Group held a weekend of events at the Connaught Hall Attleborough. many with their memories and stories of that time.

Above: left to right: Alan Sparrow, Cliff Amos, Cheryl Joy, Ann Sparrow, Marie Youngs, Roy Woods, Jenny Amos and Jackie Amos.

This focused on Attleborough during WW2 with displays and memorabilia, accompanied by Glen Miller music.

Members of the Heritage Group wore traditional 40’s costumes to compliment the theme of the weekend.

There was a NAFFI style canteen serving wartime food i.e. spam and corn beef sandwiches and other traditional food with the carrot soup and apple crumble proving very popular. Two free quizzes one of 40’s film stars and the other one to identify apple varieties created a lot of interest. The day saw a steady flow of people visiting the wartime collection,

This was followed in the evening by a Heritage Cyder Evening. Roy Woods & Cliff Amos gave a presentation to a packed audience. This fascinating and splendidly illustrated talk detailed the history of the Gaymers Cyder factory and Attleborough and it’s people from 1900 until the present. It also included the part that Attleborough played in the second world war. This was followed by refreshments and a chance for local people to socialise and reminisce.

The 40’s theme continued throughout Sunday. The weekend came to an end at 4 p.m. with a children’s VE style party, which included traditional games and ride on Larry Gray’s old time fun fair.

The Attleborough Heritage Centre in Station Road is always open on a Thursday for anyone interested in the history of Attleborough, it’s people or researching family history.

All welcome to call for a coffee and a chat.

Attleborough Civil Service Retirement Fellowship The Attleborough Group of the CSRF meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Methodist Church Hall, London Road, Attleborough, from 10am. to 12 noon, for coffee and a varied programme of activities.

At the Group meeting on 18th November, there will be a quiz for all those present to take part, with a small prize for the highest score.

On 5th November a quiz team from the Group will visit the Post Office Veterans at their meeting place in Norwich, for a friendly quiz contest, with the hope of a return match early in the New Year.

Membership of the Group is open to all Civil Service, Post Office and BT pensioners and their partners and invited friends.

24 Dispatch November 2010

New members are always welcome at any meeting, or full details of membership and future arrangements so far can be obtained from the Secretary, Mrs. D. Parker, telephone number 01953 456958.

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

News from across your region

Rackham’s Funeral Service Up coming events no longer need, Rackham’s would be most Book Club grateful, as these are most useful.

Rachel Allen, is hoping to start a monthly Book Club at Rackham’s Funeral Home at Diss, if there is enough interest, so please contact Rachel for more information about the book club on 01379 642321.

Book Swap The Book Swap Library service at Rackham’s Funeral Service, Diss has proved a great success, so do come into our offices and have a look at the books and take one, two or more away to read. Also please bring any unwanted books you may have for others to select.

If anyone using this service so desires, there will be a collection box for Help for Heroes for voluntary charitable donations.

There are a mixture of novels, factual, fiction, Mills & Boon and children’s books.

If anyone has any large print books they

Jigsaw Swap After the success of Book Swap, Rackham’s has decided to extend it to include Jigsaws, so come inside and look through our jigsaws too, again, completely free of charge.

Waveney Bereavement Group Evening Meetings The Waveney Bereavement Support You are welcome to take a jigsaw (or Group, which meets in Rackhams Funeral a few) and when you have completed Service’s Waveney Chapel, in Stanley it, either bring it back and swap it for Road, has been meeting on the 3rd another, or simply keep it. If you have Wednesday of each month at 2.00pm and any old jigsaws you don’t want anymore, on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7.00 please feel free to leave them at pm since May 2010.

Rackham’s, so that others can enjoy them. The group is hosted by Andrew

Fairweather, funeral director at Rackhams, and Ruth McAllen, one of the leaders of Diss Christian Community Church.

Tea & filter coffee are served & Ruth brings along lovely home-made flapjacks or cakes. It is productive and of comfort to the people who attend. “It may be that we see a few people attending both meetings or that we see a totally different group in the evenings”, says Ruth, “but the important thing is being able to make this service available to as many people who want to use it as possible.”

For More Information On The Group Please contact: Andrew at Rackhams Funeral Service on 01379 642321.

For More Information About The Book Swap, Book Club Or Jigsaw Swap Scheme Please contact: Rachel at Rackham’s Funeral Service, The Waveney Chapel, Stanley Road, Diss IP22 4BN. Tel: 01379 642 321.

Attleborough Probus Club Thirty Three members attended the second monthly meeting to hear a talk by John Balls on “The Norfolk Survivors” of the Titanic disaster.

John gave a graphic account of the events leading up to the disaster, the ship captained by Edward J Smith was running at full speed not to break any crossing records but to conserve coal which was short at the time owing to a miners strike, the ship consumed 650 tons a day in its 159 furnaces.

The extreme loss of life, 1520 was caused by the shortage of life boats and the complete absence of any organised disaster drill, through the arrogance of the designers it was considered to be unsinkable.

The five Norfolk survivors were, Frank Prentice a Ships Steward from Downham Market.

Ellen Bird from Old Buckenham, a maid of Ida Straus wife of the millionaire owner of Maey’s Dept store in New York.

Ethel & Ted Beane a honey moon couple from Norwich and May Howard a domestic servant from North Walsham.

John gave an interesting insight into their lives before and after the sinking, he is a member of the Titanic Historical Society and wrote an extremely interesting book on the ship and the Norfolk survivors which he offered for sale to our members.

A vote of thanks was given by John Meen to our speaker for a very interesting talk.

The Probus club an organisation for retired professional and business men meets twice a month at the Connaught Bowls Club on Station Road.

Interested? Contact Stan Groom Tel: 01953 454427

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ATTLEBOROUGH News

Riverford

Lil Dragons

Autumn Abundance: Squash At Riverford we sow our squash in small pots in late April for planting out in mid May. They are best planted when the first true leaf is fully emerged and the second one is just showing. We enjoy experimenting with different varieties, but the squash that perform best on the farm and in the kitchen are crown prince, butternut, kabacha, red onion, golden acorn and turk’s turban.

The Lil Dragons class that has been going since July this year is proving to be a great success for those who have been training with the group and they should soon receive their First Award and Certificate, and may already have done so by the time you read this.

How To Cook With Squash Squash are great in a variety of recipes, offering fresh colour, taste and texture.

Squash all have tough skins, so you’ll need a strong, sharp knife to cut through them. Different varieties work better in different recipes. Butternut is perfect in risottos or soup and kabacha, red onion and crown prince are particularly good for roasting. The seeds and inside trimmings from squash can be used in veg stock, giving a vibrant colour for risottos and soups. Try Jane Baxter’s Roasted Squash with Lentils and Feta recipe, it makes a simple but impressive salad.

For more tips on squash, or to order a vegbox direct from the Riverford farm see www.riverford/sacrewell.co.uk

The 8 “Lil Dragon” skill requirements are composed of Physical and Mental benefits, which are Focus, Teamwork, Control, Balance, Memory, Discipline, Fitness and Co-ordination.

Roasted Squash With Lentils And Feta

By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen Serves 6. Ingredients: 1 butternut squash 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped 1 red chilli, very finely chopped 1 sprig rosemary, very finely chopped Olive oil Dressed salad leaves Cooked puy lentils Feta cheese Cut the squash in half lengthways. Peel and slice across into lengths about 1cm thick and place on a baking tray. Sprinkle with olive oil. Bake at 200°C for about 30 mins or until the squash is cooked.

Sprinkle the garlic, chilli and rosemary over the squash and return to the oven for 10 mins until the garlic and chilli and cooked but not brown. The roasted squash is delicious used in a salad with dressed leaves, cooked puy lentils and sprinkled with feta cheese.

Above: Lil Dragons (Left to Right) Callum Bonner and Brandon Watson In our “Lil Dragons” classes we make learning Fun and Educational. Our goal is to help your child be the best they can at everything they put their minds to, “Lil Dragons” today - Leaders tomorrow.

Classes are tailored for the 4-6 years age group and are held at the Attleborough Scout Hall on Thursdays at 4.15pm.

Call or Text Andy on 07775 890359 or E-mail andygillingwater@msn.com to book your place.

Sainsbury’s Attleborough Colleague Wins Award At National Conference Sainsbury’s Attleborough store colleagues and customers will be proud after Amie Buck won a prestigious award at the retailers recent conference. hosted by Lorraine Kelly. CEO Justin King presented Amie and her fellow winners with a commemorative “star” plaque.

Above: Sainsburys Star Competition Lorraine Kelly - Amie Buck - Justin King The ceremony, which took place on Wednesday 15th September at Birmingham’s NEC centre, saw Amie pick up a Sainsbury’s Star award in the ‘Tell Justin Suggestion Of The Year” category.

The award was in recognition of her participation in the ‘Tell Justin’ scheme, where Amie suggested that packaging of frozen basics chicken portions kept splitting so Amie put her idea forward to change this which saved the company £35,000 a year.

The Sainsbury’s Star awards began in 2009 and recognise shop floor colleagues who go over and beyond their store roles.

This year the number of nominations, from all areas of the business, more than doubled to 9000 and was split into fifteen categories.

The ceremony was watched by over 4,500 colleagues from across the UK and was

26 Dispatch November 2010

Amie said: “I feel proud to receive the award on behalf of the colleagues and customers of Attleborough. It was a great experience to listen to the achievements of all the other winners on the day and to be counted among them, and also what a great opportunity it is to go to South Africa to see how are Fair-trade products are grown.”

To honour Amie for her award, she will be heading out to Malawi to witness Sainsbury’s commitment to it’s Fairtrade programme and to recognise how the company is the biggest retailer of Fairtrade products world wide.

Store Manager Karen Watts added: “The competition this year has been really popular with our colleagues and customers and we’re delighted that Amie has been recognised for going beyond her call of duty. Our colleagues are proud to be working with a Sainsbury’s Star”.

Attleborough Christmas Carnival The Christmas Carnival This Year Will Take Place On 28th November 2010 The event will run from 1pm to 6pm. switch on the lights. The switch on will take place at 3.45pm.

During the afternoon we will have lots of craft stalls based at the Town Hall, The Church Hall and The Community and Enterprise Centre in town.

Above: Gill and John Hastie This year we have a local lady Betty Kemp who has helped raise lots of money for the Air Ambulance to kindly

Around Queens Square will be lots of other interesting items including Larry Grays fun fair rides, Hog Roast, Dave Doughnut children’s entertainer who will doing a Punch and Judy show free of charge for the young at heart and of course not to forget Santa will also be there in his Grotto, along with 2 of his real life reindeer Blitzen and Commet.

Eastern Transport Collection will be giving

the general public a ride through the town in their vintage double decker bus starting at 4pm to look at all the lights that have been switched on around the town.

Magazine, The Whitehouse Gallery, The London Tavern, Darren Wright Hairdressers, R J Bartram & Son, Rory J Holbrook, Attleborough Kebab and Pizza and Rosedale Funeral Homes.

Karen Pettitt one of the event organisers would like to say a big thank you to Gill and John Hastie, on behalf of all members of the committee, for all their hard work over the years as this year they have chosen to take more of a back seat. Karen said although they are going to take it a bit easier this year there will still be lots of ways they will be involved.

We plan to keep things pretty much as usual with one main exception that being that this year we plan to have an illuminated parade at the end of the days event starting at 5pm from Hargham Road coming through town.

Also a big thank you to our sponsors this year Donna Kissinger, The Dispatch

If anyone would like to take part then please feel free to contact me on 01953 455755.

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Welcome to

LONG STRATTON

Norfolk & Suffolk Power Flushing

Long Stratton & District Funeral Service

Any of these symptoms in my advert could indicate that your central heating system had problems from internal corrosion, rust, sludge and scale.

Aneliese Rix, from Long Stratton & District Funeral Service, is always helping the community...

A power flush can restore circulation and efficiency to your central heating system by removing these products.

The process involves connecting a power flushing pump to the existing central heating pump valves, or across the tails of a radiator.

Specialist chemicals are then pumped around the heating system to loosen and mobilise the unwanted debris. Each radiator is then individually flushed until clean and on completion, an inhibitor is added to prevent further corrosion.

28 Dispatch November 2010

The whole process is carried out with minimal disturbance and disruption.

For more information on for a free no obligation quote, ring Paul on (01508) 532671 or 07879 414197.

Or alternatively go to www.suffolkpowerflushing.co.uk

So when East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices told her that they can sell used toner cartridges, old mobiles and cardboard to raise funds, Aneliese immediately started collecting from her colleagues. EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia.

The Book Swap Library service is also keeping Aneliese busy. It has proved a great success, so do come along to Flint House, Ipswich Road, and have a look at the books and take one, or some, away to read. There are quite a few regular visitors who are always

looking for a new read, so please bring any unwanted books you have for others to select. There is a collection box for Help for Heroes for voluntary charitable donations.

For further information please contact Aneliese on 01508 531 806.

News from across your region

Long Stratton Leisure Centre Long Stratton Leisure Centre is both open to the public and used by the Middle/High Schools.

It operates a pay and play policy, with a variety of memberships available for the Gym. Concessionary prices are available for Leisure Passport holders. The Leisure Centre has a number of facilities from a four-court sports hall to cycling studio boasting 15 Life Fitness bikes.

There are also two squash courts, an activity room, studio/ function room for classes and to hire, and fitness suite with cardio vascular, resistance and free weights facilities.

A creche is available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9.30am to 10.30am, alongside our morning classes.

The Fitness Suite contains: treadmills, rowing machines, cross trainers, cycles, a stepper, resistance machines and free weights area. Upon joining the gym, every member is given an induction with a qualified gym instructor who will go through a series health questions with you prior to a tour of the gym. Each piece of equipment is demonstrated, after which you are free to work out.

Fitness programs can be set by the instructor and will regularly be reviewed and monitored. A full Fitness Assessment service is available including: body measurements and composition; lung function; grip strength and cardio vascular efficiency measurements.

The Leisure Centre Also Offer A Number Of Fitness Classes: 20/20/20 Combination of cardiovascular and toning exercises. 20 minutes step, 20 minutes aerobics and 20 minutes body conditioning.

BLT: Ultimate toning of bums, legs and tums.

Boot Camp: A fast and furious circuit style class.

Kettlebells: Learn Kettlebell exercises to burn calories, improve stamina, muscle strength and endurance.

Kick Boxing: Fitness based for all levels involving kick and punch moves to improve balance, fitness and coordination.

Indoor Cycling: Burns fat, calories and builds stamina. Come prepared to sweat!

Tone Zone: Intense top to toe toning class.

Total Tone: Intense toning class for both men and women. Tone without increasing size.

Virtual/Beginner Cycling: Enables participant to work at their own level.

Virtual instructor will give you guidance whilst touring through cities and countryside on a screen.

Moss And Roberts Someone asked me the other day what I do for a living! I said, rather swiftly, I make my clients financial decisions easy!

Well, truth be told, it’s not that easy.

Financial markets worldwide are somewhat “nervous” to say the least, so at present it takes a brave Financial Adviser to make firm predictions for clients.

needs good financial advice, so talk to an independent financial adviser, get and pay for (either by commission or fees) a review of where you are and where you want to be – it does make sense!

Looking back, we started 2010 with the FTSE 100 Index of leading UK stocks at 5534,on the 4th January.The lowest point this year so far was 4838 on the 28th June. So if you were brave enough to invest then, your overall share portfolio would have increased by 17% (the figure now being 5662 at today’s date, 7th October).

Financial markets change rapidly, but so do clients’ circumstances. With the advent of the proposed changes imposed by the Retail Distribution Review on our industry almost upon us (31st December 2012), charging adviser fees will be pretty much the “norm”. But, as the saying goes, “there is no such thing as a free lunch!”. If there is, can you tell me where I can get one!

However, in the real world, it’s not like that and you have to look longer term. Indeed, you also need to look beyond the UK, which could then mean more exposure to risk but potentially even greater rewards.

You also need to look at different assets – bonds, equities and property. Indeed you could be “forced” to seek alternatives if you need income from your capital whilst interest rates remain very low.

So, here’s the advertising plug! Everyone

There are no certainties in this life except “death and taxes”. Get good impartial financial advice and you may be able to reduce one a bit!

Paul Roberts, Moss & Roberts, Willow House, Ipswich Road, Long Stratton, Norwich, NR15 2TA

Yogalates: Combines Yoga and Pilates, working on posture and core muscles to improve strength and flexibility.

60+: Covers cardiovascular exercise, toning and stretches, all helping to keep supple.

50/50: 30 minutes of indoor cycling, followed by a mixture of studio exercise.

Opening Times: Monday - Thursday: 7am - 10pm Friday: 7am - 9pm Saturday: 9am - 5pm Sunday: 9am - 1pm Contact Details: Web: www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/leisure Telephone: 01508 531444 Address: Long Stratton Leisure Centre Swan Lane, Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2UY.

Cross Training: Combination of aerobics, step, toning and floor work.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga: Deep stretch, yoga and pilates exercises. Targetting flexibility, core strength and relaxation.

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Focus ON

Harleston & EYE

Harleston Eye Parish Christmas Lights Church Bazaar With Daleks, Live Bands, Harleston Primary School Choir and much more this years Christmas Light Switch on is set to be another one to remember!

The action kicks off at 6pm on Friday 3rd December, with music on the Market Square.

will entertain the crowd with Christmas Carols and we will even have a visit from Daleks!

The lights will be switched around 6.30pm by British television, stage and film actress Matilda Zeigler best known for her roles as Irma Gobb in Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean’s girlfriend), as Donna Ludlow in the long-running BBC1 serial EastEnders and Ruth in the BBC Three sitcom Swiss Toni.

Santa will be at Bullock Fair Charity Shop to meet the children. There will also be 5 live bands at the Apollo Club and many of the shops will be open along with Market Stalls in the square.

Harleston Primary School Choir

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Late night shopping will take place at the Old Eye Theatre on Friday 3rd December from 6.00pm – 8.00pm.

Come along to see Santa, watch the Dove Players show off their next panto and see a local artist display her latest talents.

The main Christmas light switch on will take place at 6pm on Friday 3rd December, with plenty of entertainment for all, Santa for the children, Carol Singers and much more.

There will be Brussells Stalls, Cakes, Confectionary, Raffle (to be drawn at 8pm), gifts and much more.

Come along to see who will be flicking the switch this year!

Bring along your friends and relatives for a lovely evening and pick up ideal Christmas gifts and confectionary.

All the local shop keepers are open until 8.30pm and will be offering a warm festive welcome.

For all enquiries call Pinky on 01379 870539 or Caroline on 01379 871171.

BUSINESS & THE WEB Hosting Security Spider Solutions Transfers 200 Customer Websites To Norwich IT Specialists One of Norfolk’s most progressive, dynamic and fastest growing web development companies; Spider Solutions Ltd, located in Attleborough, have moved their entire client website storage business, to more secure and reliable servers at Digital Network Solutions in Norwich.

said Spider Solutions Managing Director, Jonathan Horswell. “The fact is, the computer service company we previously used, were not prepared to guarantee our clients websites were adequately protected from the increased risk, so we moved to significantly enhanced facilities at Digital Network Solutions in Norwich.”

With big name clients like Breckland District Council, Banham Poultry, Thetford Healthy Town (part of the NHS), and P1 Motorsport, the move is aimed at ensuring the computer services their clients receive are very much less vulnerable to malicious hackers, computer viruses and cyber attacks.

Along with the more than 200 individual customer websites, Spider Solutions Ltd have also transferred their data backup, server monitoring and IT support requirements from their previous computer service company, to more advanced secure facilities at Digital Network Solutions, in Old Catton, Norwich.

“We’ve seen an increase in attempted cyber attacks on some of our clients websites, and the risk was growing.”

“Our clients quite rightly expect us to do our utmost to protect the security

and integrity of their websites.” said Mr Horswell, “We chose to move our entire IT support requirements and data backup, to Digital Network Solutions because they are the local specialists, and they could provide the security we needed.”

Tom Leaney, owner of DNS, welcomed Spider Solutions to their growing list of customers. “Spider Solutions requested increased security for their customer’s websites than previously, as well as data backup and IT support, and we are delighted to have been chosen by another fast growing, progressive and web savvy local company.”

The move to Digital Network Solutions from less secure facilities, which is worth nearly £50,000 a year, is a clear sign that Spider Solutions Ltd are committed to ensuring their web development

customers get the very best IT and secure hosting facilities available in the Norwich area.

For Further Information Contact: Jonathan Horswell Spider Solutions Ltd Queens House, Queens Square Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE. T: 01953 456789 E: jonathan@SpiderSolutions.co.uk Tom Leaney Digital Network Solutions The Grange, 62, Spixworth Road Old Catton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 7NF. T: 01603 778255 E: contact@dignetsol.co.uk

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Christmas Is Coming!

Christmas Fayre Christmas Fayre Saturday 20th November to be held at Connaught Hall Attleborough 10am – 2pm. To be opened by Becky Jago from ITV’s Anglia News.

There we be a Grand Christmas Draw, Tombola, Cakes stalls, Silent Auction, Teddies, Crackers and much much more!

on September 24th which raised £710 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Also to thank you everyone who attended the Biggest Coffee Morning

Also a Quiz Night with Fish n Chip supper on October 8th raised £170.

Christmas Shopping & Craft Event Saturday 20th November Christmas Shopping and craft event Attleborough Junior School, Besthorpe Road, Attleborough 2 – 4pm in aid of the

32 Dispatch November 2010

Friends of Attleborough Junior School.

For more information or to book a pitch ring Sarah 01953 457230.

It’s That Time Of Year Again...

The dreaded season of Christmas shopping is here again; just as we are recovering from last year’s.

The thought of travelling into Norwich, stuck in crowds of late night shoppers for many brings stress and added tension which can be avoided.

As Dispatch shows, there are many great retailers perfect for Christmas gifts, food and home wares more local to home, providing a much less stressful lead up to Christmas.

Of course there is the ever increasing trend of internet shopping, but for some, the high street shopping experience is all part of the fun – especially when it is supporting local businesses.

News from across your region

A Special Anniversary Christmas At Blackthorpe Barn This Year This year the famous Christmas event at Blackthorpe Barn promises to be better than ever. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, from November until Christmas the historic barn in Rougham, just outside Bury St. Edmunds, transforms into a Christmas delight, offering everything Christmassy in addition to a beautiful display of unique and 100% British crafts.

Jul - A rustic range using hand-stitched creations with embroidery and knitting, reflecting a truly country feel.

Fruits of the Forest - Hand crafted animals and ornaments made with the finest natural offerings from the wintery forest.

Visitors return year after year to the enchanting 460 year old thatched barn to see the intriguing festive displays of gorgeous gifts, treats and decorations.

One of the main attractions is the beautiful craft market. As you meander through the atmospheric barn you are treated to an eclectic mix of 100% British crafts, all hand created by the exhibitors themselves, and where the quality, creativity and pure attention to detail leaps out at you.

However for sheer Christmas inspiration the Christmas shop meets every expectation. With a large range of festive lights and hundreds of decorations sourced directly from Scandinavia, here is certainly an air of uniqueness as you browse traditionally made decorations, in addition to some very interestingly contemporary creations. Every year the Barn offers different themes, this year visitors can enjoy the charming delights of: Home Sweet Home – Featuring a food lovers paradise with gorgeous edible decorations and wonderful aromas to match, plus cupcakes cases, biscuit cutters and other ‘must-haves’ for a traditional Christmas.

Nostalgia - An eye-catching range of vintage decorations to create a sophisticated yet traditional feel to your home this Christmas.

Snow Queen - Beautiful Snow Queens and bears provide a sense of serenity and love to your festivities.

The pièce de résistance and magnificent centrepiece; is a 200 year old, full-size, authentic vintage Swedish sleigh, found perfectly preserved in Scandinavia.

Whilst at the Barn many visitors also take advantage of the hugely popular and famous Rougham Estate Christmas Trees. Being situated in the heart of the Rougham Estate where the trees are nurtured throughout the year, the barn is perfectly placed to allow visitors to view the many shapes and sizes, including freshly cut or pot grown trees, before buying. The quality of the trees outshines many others boosted by the fact that Rougham Estate is the previous winner of the ‘British Christmas Tree Grower of the Year’ award and has supplied 10 Downing Street on numerous occasions.

With a reputation from quality and longevity, many tree purchasers travel for miles to get their hands on a Rougham

Estate tree each year, with over 6,000 being sold every year.

George Agnew, owner of Blackthorpe Barn and Rougham Estate says, “This year is going to be extra special, not only is it our 20th birthday, we have also extended our ranges to offer even more exciting and distinctive items to our visitors. And that’s exactly what we are about, we find visitors come back year after year with comments of how lovely it is to find something different for gifts with the crafts or to simply decorate their homes. If you are looking for a distinctive look for your home this Christmas or a different gift for family or friends, Blackthorpe Barn is certainly worth a visit.

Not forgetting the café, and live reindeer, we do everything we can to turn the Blackthorpe Barn Christmas experience into an unforgettable one.”

of Suffolk just outside Bury St. Edmunds, it couldn’t be easier to find; just off the A14 at junction 45 (Sat Nav IP30 9HZ).

For more information see www.blackthorpebarn.com

Blackthorpe Barn is situated in the heart

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Christmas Is Coming!

Bressingham Steams Into Halloween, Christmas And Then 2011 Halloween this year is likely to be a spooky affair at Bressingham this year.

Halloween this year is likely to be a spooky affair at Bressingham this year. The Nursery line will be running from 6 o’clock on Sat 30th October daring to traverse the old haunted crossing and the eerie peatfield swamp. Why not come and see if you fancy a ride on the ghoulish gallopers with a chance to glimpse its ghosts - perhaps of jockeys of old. Halloween opens at 5.30pm, with all the usual exhibits open, food and games inside too.

The Steam Museum is preparing for its

34 Dispatch November 2010

visits from Santa, he promises to be at the Museum on December 4-5th, 11-12th, 18-19th and finally on the 22/23rd entry is from 2 – 5pm, with gifts for the children and no doubt a few words of advice to Mums and Dads on Christmas present trends this year. A visit to Santa also includes entry to the Christmas themed home of Dads Army - Walmington on Sea, and rides on the Carousel horses and Nursery Line steam train – with heated carriages! Present buying is made easy for the Steam buffs young and old within the Steam Museum shop with one of the best ranges of Thomas the Tank Engine gifts in the county for the younger enthusiast and ranges of books and gifts for the older including the Steam Experience driving

Pictures: Christmas 2009 © James Hoye

courses on the narrow gauge locomotives, traction engines, or steam roller; plant lovers are not left out as Blooms of Bressingham Plant and Aquatic centres will also be open along with the two onsite restaurants and old fashioned sweet shop.

We will have Children’s entertainment on site every day too.

For further information and online tickets to all our events look at our web site www.bressingham.co.uk 2011 opening starts with February half term and then for the full season from Easter, Bressingham is 50 in 2011 so look out for lots of exciting events in the year.

Health, beauty & wellbeing Slimming World, Fab @ 50!

Personal Journey

Above: Wendy In March this year I was feeling overweight (as I had gone up 2 dress sizes) lethargic and depressed. I was not looking forward to my 50th birthday in June.

None of the clothes in my wardrobe fitted me comfortably anymore and as my partner and I had booked a luxury holiday to Turkey, at the end of May for my 50th birthday treat, I faced the prospect of having to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes.

I was encouraged to set my own target weight. Your weight is never disclosed to anyone in the group and because everyone is on the same journey you never feel humiliated if you have a weight gain. You are encouraged and given support to motivate yourself to keep going.

My daughter had started attending a Slimming World group as she had gained about 3 stone in weight after having 2 children, so she encouraged me to look for a local group to help me to lose some weight. I looked into local groups and decided to attend Jane’s 5.30pm group in Eye.

The good thing about the eating plan is that you never feel hungry and there are some fabulous recipes in the magazine and recipe books. The family favourite is Valencian Paella which is easy to make and full of chicken, prawns and vegetables. My partner was amazed when I sat down to a full cooked breakfast in the first week of following the plan!

I was apprehensive about attending the first time but there was such a warm friendly welcome that I was glad I had made the effort.

already felt happier and better about myself. Within 15 weeks I had lost 1 stone 3 lbs; reached my target weight and was wearing my size 10 clothes that I hadn’t worn for 2 years. The eating plan has now become a way of life for me.

I was so impressed by Slimming World that I decided to look into becoming a consultant myself to try and help other people with their weight loss journey.

I am pleased to say that I am starting a new group in Rickinghall and Botesdale at Rickinghall Village Hall on Monday 15th November @ 7.30pm.

By the time my holiday came I had already lost ½ stone and 1 dress size so I didn’t have to buy new clothes and

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Health, beauty & wellbeing Introducing Parisa...

Want to look and feel younger, fresher, rejuvenated for Christmas and the New Year?...

Known as Dr Ghanbari to her patients, Parisa decided to branch out from Primary Care and offer her services in facial rejuvenation techniques.

good about themselves – so many of my patients would say to me ‘Growing Old is a terrible thing!’ – well, here is a way to slow it down!...

Offering clients tailor made treatments to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles using Botox injections and semi-permanent dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid – we catch up with her to find out more...

How do the wrinkle reducing injections work?

I offer treatments to reduce the appearance of wrinkles using Botulinum Toxin injections – this is a chemical used frequently in medicine to effectively and safely treat a variety of conditions from cerebral palsy muscle spasticity to unstable bladders! It is particularly effective at paralysing certain facial muscles thus reducing the development of wrinkles especially in the forehead and crow’s feet area of the face. Botox injections take around two weeks to take effect and the results last for around three months.

What made you go into private practice offering facial rejuvenation techniques?

I work as a General Practitioner in a busy Norfolk surgery and no two days are the same – I see a variety of medical problems and get to meet people from all walks of life – I love it but I felt I wanted to do that bit more to help clients feel

36 Dispatch November 2010

I also use semi-permanent dermal fillers containing hyaluronic acid which is the body’s natural ‘skin plumper’ – these can be used to fill out wrinkles around the face and also to give lips a natural fuller appearance – the results of these fillers are instant and last for 6-12 months – a good investment!

If you would like to find out more and meet Dr Ghanbari for a free consultation please contact: Salon Gloss, Market Green, Wymondham, Tel: 01953 600111 Or Creations Salon, High Street, Attleborough, Tel: 01953 457744

Camberwell Dental Practice Was established and has served the community since 1987.

In 2009, the Practice was taken over by Mr Alek Missankov who graduated in 1997 from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Alek has worked in the UK since 1997 and has a particular interest in Endodontics (advanced root canal systems) and cosmetic dentistry including beautiful white fillings, cosmetic crowns and veneers. The practice was renovated in 2009 and is served by excellent staff who will be pleased to help with any dental treatment information.

Please feel free to contact our friendly staff for an appointment on Tel: 01379 652 580.

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY Get Online For many the “world wide web” is a daunting prospect.

Just as you have got a grip of the mouse and keyboard, you are faced with internet jargon and seemingly confusing web addresses. However getting online really is not as complicated and mind boggling as first thought. In mid October, Get Online Week held many events across the country, in aid to encourage those who were new to the internet to embrace it and it’s world of possibilities.

There are 30 million of us who use the internet everyday in the UK. More than half of all leisure travel is now booked online, 90% of all new jobs require basic internet skills and seven million jobs were posted online last year. However, there are still 10 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet, and are missing out on the benefits, opportunities and savings it can provide. What’s more,

the problem is worst for those already at a disadvantage. If you’re older, disabled, or on a low income, you’re far more likely to be off-line.

For the elderly, the internet overcomes mobility issues while increasing accessibility; bringing products and services to the fingertips of the user. Today grocery shopping can be ordered online and delivered to the door; comparison websites allow you to find the best providers for insurance, electricity and heating bills and generally make your money stretch further.

For many older people the internet is a way of staying in touch with family and friends, and even the possibility of finding those people you have lost contact with over the years. Also it is a great way of

accessing news and research to keep the brain active, as well as the cerebral benefits of purely using the internet.

Teaching elderly people how to do internet searches stimulates their cognitive functions, resulting in better memory and decision-making abilities.

or tutors about computers and the possibilities that they can provide. Your local library could be the best place to start to allow use of public computers with someone on hand to help when you need.

Or even ask your children or grandchildren to show you the way.

The internet can also provide health advice, allowing slight symptoms to be recognised without the hassle of visiting a GP.

If you want help to get online and become confident in the world of opportunities it can open, www.myguide.gov.uk provides online tutorials to help you get on your way.

As we progress further and further into the Information Age, more and more will be available online, making it an area that should be accessible by all. Being online does not mean more time isolated and alone with only your computer for company however. Many people are getting together to learn from one another

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CARING FOR THE ELDERLY NBR Scooter Brokers

Woodgate Park

NBR Scooter Brokers is a family run business which prides itself on their commitment to their customers (existing and new!!)

Why I chose Woodgate Park in Swanton Morley

Their main objective is to provide impartial advice together with a friendly and efficient service!!

They offer the service of a free, no obligation, home demonstration for all of their products to ensure they are suitable for your needs.

Whilst their core business is the supply of new mobility scooters, they also have a selection of pre-owned scooters as they offer a part exchange service.

In addition to mobility scooters, they can also supply the following: • Stairlifts • Powered wheelchairs • Powerchairs • Rise & recline armchairs

38 Dispatch November 2010

• Adjustable beds • Bathlifts • 3 & 4 wheel walkers • Attendant and self propelled wheelchairs Apart from selling, they also offer a hire service, together with repairs, servicing and insurance work.

NBR scooter brokers are accredited with Norfolk trusted traders which is organised by Norfolk County Council.

“I chose to move to Woodgate Park despite being active, independent and still able to drive my own car.

Nobody wants to feel that they are getting old or less able, however, following a recent health scare I realised that circumstances can change very quickly and when you least expect. This left me feeling very vulnerable and I feared that I may lose control and have to rely on friends/relatives or even strangers to make important decisions about my future.

Most of all I wanted to avoid admission into a Care Home which usually is the only option, and the most expensive, for many people. I wanted to be able to stay in my own home, feel safe and secure but be reassured that I could rely on trained staff when I needed them.

Woodgate Park ticked all the boxes for me. As a bonus I have made new friends and enjoy the social activities that take place in the Communal Hall. I even have my own garden to continue with the gardening that I really enjoy! I have been recommending Woodgate Park to all of my friends!”

Gwyneth, Retired Pharmacist With Swanton Morley Surgery and Lincoln House Care Home in close proximity, Woodgate Park will truly give peace of mind to the future of its Residents.

Allowing them time to concentrate on enjoying their retirement. Visit the stunning Show Home now.

For more information or to make an appointment call: 01362 620002 or visit www.castlemeadowhomes.co.uk

Brooklyn House Brooklyn House is just one of Caring Homes’ highly acclaimed modern purpose-built care homes.

Our dedicated multi-disciplinary team is on call 24-hours a day and pride themselves on the high-quality care they offer. Our key focus is to provide a safe, homely and supported environment based on a positive, person-centred approach.

The majority of the rooms have en-suite facilities and all of them have a ‘nurse call’ system and television point. Each en-suite has a shower/wet room which is ideal for people with mobility issues and there are assisted baths throughout the building so everyone can enjoy a choice of bath or shower.

Specifically designed to care for elderly residents, Brooklyn House is equipped with every modern facility to ensure high standards of comfort. The landscaped gardens and patio areas are an additional venue for outdoor activities, such as sensory therapy, and are a calm and beautiful place just to relax in.

Brooklyn House has a new sun room which enhances the communal accommodation and gives the residents an additional choice for somewhere to spend the day.

The home’s central position means it is ideally suited for local amenities and public transport links.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide superior palliative care, offering 24-hour care to residents with serious illnesses to relieve their suffering and improve their quality of life, giving comfort to them and their families. Every resident is given a comprehensive, individual care plan, whether they are staying for a period of convalescence or are permanent residents.

We also welcome visitors for a short respite, to simply enjoy a break or holiday at Brooklyn House.

We place a high emphasis on dining at Brooklyn House, serving traditional cooking and offering a varied choice at every meal. Our fully qualified chef carefully plans the menus to make sure all the meals are nutritionally balanced.

We are very happy to cater for special diets and individual preferences and, as well as breakfast, lunch and supper, hot and cold drinks and a range of snacks are available throughout the day.

Brooklyn House’s dedicated Activities Co-ordinator ensures there is always something going on so residents can enjoy a full and interesting lifestyle and continue with their hobbies. Our active residents’ and relatives’ committee plays a key part in helping to develop new ideas and suggestions as to how Brooklyn House is run and the type of services available. Residents can also take advantage of the home’s close links to various local groups.

For more information, to request a brochure or to arrange a visit, please contact Brooklyn House on 0808 166 1347 or visit the website at www.caringhomes.org

part of the caring homes group

Dispatch November 2010 39

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42 Dispatch November 2010

Tyre Tracks - The Motoring Directory

How To Check Tyre Pressures Correctly

Car Fraud When considering car fraud, did you know about a third of stolen cars are never recovered and some end up being sold to an unsuspecting buyer.

Safety First 1. Pressures should be checked at least once a month or before a long journey.

6. Check the pressure in all four tyres not forgetting to check the spare tyre as well.

2. Pressures should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler flap or on the driver’s door sill.

7. While checking pressures, give the rest of the tyre a visual inspection.

Remove any stones and other objects embedded in the tread. Look out for any bulges, lumps or cuts.

3. Check the pressure when tyres are cold (i.e. when you have travelled less than two miles).

8. If you are unsure on any aspect of tyre pressure or tyre condition take your vehicle to an approved fitting centre and speak to the experts.

In addition, every year thousands of dangerous cars are patched up after an accident and resold. Bearing this in mind, anyone thinking about buying a used car should thoroughly check the vehicle’s history before handing over any money.

If you buy a car and it is later found to be stolen, the police have the right to take it away from you. In theory, you are entitled to demand a full refund from the person who sold you the car, but this could prove difficult. You may not be able to trace the seller and, even if you do, they may not be worth taking to court.

If the car’s previous owner still owes money on it, the question of whether you or the finance company owns the car is debatable. If you knew about the outstanding credit when you bought the car, then the car still belongs to the finance company. If you did not know, then you are the rightful owner.

When you are thinking about buying a second hand car, the golden rule is that you must always check the car’s history before you buy. If you do this you should avoid any unforeseen problems with ownership.

4. If you are carrying a full load of passengers or luggage or will be towing a trailer or caravan, tyre pressures should be increased in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Details can be found in the vehicle handbook.

5. Ensure a reliable and accurate pressure gauge is used.

Dispatch November 2010 43