Village People South Norwich edition – December / January 2018 (Winter)

DEC / JAN 2018

South Norwich edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

UNIVERSITY

of the Third Age

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

WIN

LISH A STY OWN AL D BENG R COAT E WINT

Celebrating

Human Rights Day through art Wickham Skeith & Hoxne history Space age fashion Job success for former Norwich homeless man

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Contents

19

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2018

Out & About 8

32 Recipe for chocolate, cherry

Good news from our region

13 Adopt a horse or donkey this Christmas with Redwings

& chestnut torte

35 Discover the joy of the journey

37 Burgate Singers 40th

14 Ladies who lunch visit Four Seasons at Wymondham Garden Centre

47

anniversary concert

39 Volunteer - can you help children to learn to love reading?

40 Garden jottings from Ken 44 What’s in season – produce for December & January

47 Memories of Hoxne 51 University of the Third Age and what the group could offer you

55 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

58 On your plot – protecting 16 Film reviews – what’s on the big screen

19 WIN tickets to see Sleeping Beauty at Norwich Theatre Royal

22 Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

your garden and its inhabitants from the cold

61 A sign of the times – Wickham Skeith

63 Celebrating Human Rights Day through the arts

66 Local stories by Neil Lanham

Shopping 71 Book reviews – what we are loving this issue

73 Fashion – space age styles to see you into the new year

Health & Beauty 75 How Emmaus is helping the homeless

81 Health Q & A – battling the festive fat

Jobs, Money & Business 83 Smart money secrets – check your credit score for free

86 Find a local business in our directory

24 Strictly a guilty pleasure – new short story from Attleborough Writers’ Group

27 Village notice board

Home & Garden 29 Making memories with The Spotted Moon Company

30 WIN a Bengal down coat

51

Are you looking for a particular product or service?

Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 86 & 87 5

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Welcome

COMPETITION

KEEP WARM WITH A BENGAL DOWN COAT

This issue we’ve teamed up with Bengal Down Clothing to offer you the chance to win a stylish winter coat. We spoke to the director, Robert Jennings from Norfolk, to find out more…

VP: These coats look incredibly warm! How did Bengal Down Clothing come about?

RJ: Thanks, yes they are. Like a lot of ideas, it started because we couldn’t find what we needed ourselves: a down coat warm enough for my wife (our model). All other down coats were too short or too thin. So we started on a journey to replicate the full length down coats from the 80s and 90s but with the latest high quality materials and down.

VP: A lot of people own a down jacket or coat, are yours really different?

RJ: Of course! We use only 100% duck down, which means there are no quill shafts or feathers at all.

This gives superior insulation so it keeps you much warmer than a traditional feather / down mix. We only use European down which is ethically sourced and ‘Downpass’ certified. Another benefit is the material, which is incredibly soft and light, as well as being showerproof!

I

’m a sucker for a fashion mag and my ears prick up when I read ‘If you buy one thing this season, buy this’, whatever it is. Well now I’m saying it as I treated myself to the best winter coat I think I have ever had! It’s like going outside with your duvet on but super stylish and so lightweight. And one of you lucky readers can win one in this issue’s competition, so to be in with a chance, check out our interview and visit www.village-people.info to enter.

VP: Where are the coats made?

RJ: They are handmade in the UK by a team with over thirty years of down-filled coat manufacturing experience. The quality is beyond anything mass produced and the same care and pride goes into every coat we make. The press studs on the ‘Sha’ coat are sewn in rather than pressed together, so they are always beautifully concealed and firmly attached and the long zip is the best quality we could find.

VP: Sounds like you have a unique product, where can our readers find out more?

RJ: Please visit us at www.bengaldownclothing. com to find out more. If you feel the cold, use a wheelchair or just want to be right ‘on point’ with this winter’s fashion we have the answer. What’s more, we’re offering Village People readers free postage and packaging with the code VP.

Win your own Bengal Down coat To be in with a chance of winning one of these beautiful coats, worth £399, visit www.village-people.info and answer the following question: Where are Bengal Down coats made?

1. Sweden 2. UK 3. Bengal, India Closing date 31 January. Usual Village People rules apply

WIN A STYLISH BENGAL DOWN WINTER COAT

We’ve got some great articles on local history in this issue, Hoxne and Wickham Skeith, and it’s lovely to hear from readers who are reminded of days gone by when they see the old postcards we feature.

ADVERTISE WITH US!

We’re also delighted to invite you to take part in the upcoming Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB. Read our feature inside to see last year’s results for Norfolk and do make sure you pop the January dates in your diary to be part of something wonderful again this year.

Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 50,000 homes every two months. Three editions of Village People provide unrivalled coverage of South Norfolk, reaching more homes than ANY other local magazine. For more information, call our friendly team on 01284 788623 or send an email to office@village-people.info

Make sure your diary is full with the many events taking place locally.

Our Village Notice Board pages are packed full and there’s never enough space to list everything so head over to our website for a complete list at www.village-people.info. It’s the place to submit details of your event too. We are very happy to support anything and everything local and it’s the best way to get enormous free promotion in the region.

Keep your magazine handy as we are not back again until the beginning of February. Where do you usually keep your copy? #coffeetable, #kitchen, by the #phone, in the #loo – connect on Instagram and Twitter @vpmagazine and let us know.

Enjoy lots of festive fun!

Lily

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vpmagazine Read all our magazines issuu.com/villagepeoplemag

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

Visit our website to find out more www.village-people.info

DEC / JAN 2018

South Norfolk edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

WIN PANTO TICKETS at Norwich Theatre Royal

University

of the Third Age

Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

WIN

A STYLISH N DOW BENGAL COAT WINTER

DEC / JAN 2018

South Norwich edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

UNIVERSITY

of the Third Age

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

WIN

DEC / JAN 2018

Norfolk/Suffolk border edition

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

CELEBRATING

Human Rights Day through art

WIN

LISH A STY DOWN AL AT BENG ER CO WINT

UNIVERSITY

of the Third Age

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2018

H A STYLIS WN DO BENGAL COAT WINTER

Celebrating

NEXT DEADLINE February / March (Early Spring) 10th January

Human Rights Day through art c am eith & Hoxne history Space age fashion Job success for former Norwich homeless man

c am eith & Hoxne history Space age fashion Job success for former Norwich homeless man

c am eith & Hoxne history Space age fashion Job success for former Norwich homeless man

7

Good News from our region JUST FRIENDS TOGETHER Join this group of like-minded individuals, who meet up on a regular basis for conversation, fun and laughter, dining, the odd tipple, but most of all for friendship and support.

‘Just friends together’ is a group of men and women over 55 years old who have a common bond; through different circumstances they each found themselves living alone and experiencing feelings of isolation. Thanks to the group, they can now pick up the phone for a chat with someone in the same situation or attend a social event, leading once again to a sense of belonging.

Christmas can be a very difficult time, so why not get in touch and make some new and understanding friends, who would love to meet you. Email justfriendstogether@mail. com or phone Lynda on 01379 674382.

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ALPACA ADVENTURES IN SUFFOLK If you are out and about in the village of Hepworth, Suffolk, you may just spot alpacas taking a winter stroll.

The seven alpacas are part of a diversification project at a small family farm, run by Kath Shearer and her father. They’ve been introduced to help to graze the farm’s grassland meadows but also enjoy walks with visitors, including the campers that arrive on the farm’s eco campsite in the summer months.

With the help of the East Anglia Alpaca Mill near Norwich, Kate also produces alpaca yarn, available in 50g balls. Walks with the alpacas are on offer all year round and are suitable for older children and adults. ww www ww.lingsmeadow.co.uk. w

Good News

CALLING ALL NORFOLK ARTISTS Applications are open for artists across the county to take part in Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2018. Each year hundreds of artists across the region take part, inviting the public into their studios to reveal where and how they work.

In 2017, 515 artists participated in the scheme across 254 venues, along with 13 Norfolk schools.

This year it could be you!

Berni Marfleet, an artist based in Norfolk, who has been taking part in Open Studios for a number of years, said: “There are always delightful surprises with the people you meet, and the reaction and feedback not only boosts confidence but gives one new ideas and avenues to pursue.”

Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2018 will take place between 26 May and 10 June 2018. To apply, visit nnopenstudios.org.uk before the closing date of 8 December 2017.

SCHOOL EQUIPMENT SENT FROM SUFFOLK TO AFRICA School equipment worth hundreds of pounds will be a lifeline for underprivileged children in Africa.

Pupils are benefiting from a donation of hundreds of pencils and cases distributed by Malthouse Security, a Suffolk business based at Rickinghall. Peter George, owner of the security firm, heard about the appeal for stationary through the charity, School Aid. “Hopefully, our donation will raise awareness of the difficulties facing children in the African educational system and inspire others in Suffolk to get behind the School Aid organisation,” he said.

School Aid’s mission is to support the improvement of education in disadvantaged communities in Africa.

It is currently appealing for books to send abroad.

For further details about School Aid, or to make a donation, visit www ww ww.school-aid.org w

Fundraising to help underprivileged children, staff at Malthouse Security at Rickinghall. Picture by Keith Mindham. From left, Peter George, Mark Flatters, Kevin Cook, Teresa Bridgeman and Jordan Mills with some of the pencils and cases sent to Africa.

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Good News

REDLINGFIELD WALK RAISES OVER £2,000 Redlingfield residents Tony Rose-Freitas, Steven Capps, Robert Griffiths and John Chapman have completed their fundraising walk along the Suffolk Costal Path from Lowestoft to Aldeburgh, raising over £2,000.

The group are raising funds to convert two acres of farmland in Redlingfield, near Eye, into a recreation and wildlife amenity for the village,

adding to the existing ‘Doorstep Green’ that villagers created in 2006.

Parish Clerk Janet Norman-Philips said: “We didn’t realise just how popular the Doorstep Green was going to be nor that it was far too small.”

Over the past few years, villagers have raised £27,000 to buy the extra land, where they plan to plant native hedging and wildlife meadow, as well as improving access for visitors.

(L-R) Marley the dog, Samantha Rose, Elle Chapman, Tony Rose-Freitas, Steven Capps, John Chapman, Freya Rose & Maya Chapman Being greeted by family having just arrived in Aldebugh following their fundraising walk from Lowestoft.

10

Good News

SUPPORTING MUSICIANS OF THE FUTURE The Burston Crown is launching a bursary scheme to support young musicians of the future. Working with the Hub – Diss Music School, the pub will provide £500 for a youngster to have music lessons.

Bev Kembery, owner of The Burston Crown said, “We host the best original musicians from East Anglia at the Crown and I just felt that it would be lovely to help a youngster start playing or perfect their skills, sort of putting something back into the community that we are proud to serve.”

The 16th century pub is renowned amongst fans of live music for its Eazy Thursdays and Sunday Sessions where original local bands come to entertain under the watchful ear of in-house sound engineer Billy Fleming.

The bursary is open to all children who live in Burston, attend Burston School or have parents who are pub customers. To apply, email enquiries@ burstoncrown.com, explaining why your child should be chosen to receive the £500 bursary.

Photo credit: Robert Powell

LOCAL HOLIDAY FIRM WIN TOP AWARD Congratulations to Norfolk-based family coach holiday firm, Eastons Holidays, who have won the Small UK Coach Operator of the Year Award.

Competing with some of the biggest names in the industry, Eastons Holidays managed to impress the judges with its exceptional customer service and plans for the future. Director Robert Easton, who accepted the award, said: “The great success of the family firm is down to the dedicated hard work of our Eastons tour drivers and office teams along with continued reinvestment in the company.”

IF YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE EMAIL US AT editor@village-people.info

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at Redwings. They’ll even be invited to their friend’s birthday party and can visit them for free!

And, due to a brand new relaunch of the scheme, adopters can now enjoy even more fun features to bring them closer to their new four-legged friend.

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Redwings’ popular adoption scheme offers you the chance to sponsor an “Adoption Star” for just £15 per year with every penny going towards their care and that of other residents across the sanctuary of which there are over 1,500!

The adorable list of Adoption Stars includes gentle giant Shire cross Fox, sweet little donkey Esther and Redwings’ very own black beauty, Maya!

Visit our fantastic Christmas department for all of your festive needs.

Lights, trees, decorations, baubles, garlands, wreaths and so much more. We have everything you need to make your Christmas magical. Come along and see our dancing snowman, the story telling Santa, our super steam train and our fabulous singing, dancing, talking reindeer!

Four Seasons Coffee Shop

Scrumptious home cooked breakfasts and lunches.

Fabulous home baked cakes. Come and try our famous scones and sausage rolls, delicious!

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Eating Out

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FOUR SEASONS

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Wymondham Garden Centre, Tuttles Lane East, Wymondham NR18 0EP 01953 600282 www.wymondhamgardencentre.co.uk

like the name of this coffee shop, ‘Four Seasons’; it suggests there is more to gardening than summer bedding plants. The garden centre’s main indoor space has embraced the quiet winter months with the most splendid and varied array of gifts and decorations – quite the best I have seen.

When I visited in late October, the display was focussed on Christmas, but I was scared witless by a plastic Halloween ghost with a menacing grin and a big axe in his hand.

We decided to check out the coffee shop immediately on arrival, plan our lunch, and then go looking for Santa’s grotto, which was in construction. It’s a bright spacious area, a little bit noisy and the ‘piped music’ didn’t help, but it was very clean.

Coffee was hot, strong and plentiful and set us up for the next hour as we browsed the indoor Christmas merchandise. We then braved the outdoor garden section and bought pansies and primulas to brighten up our winter gardens, and seeds to get ahead with the broad beans.

Back in the restaurant we quickly chose a vegetable moussaka and a jacket potato with prawns and coleslaw. Both meals came with a very generous serving of salad and the moussaka was accompanied by a bread roll and plenty of butter.

The whole plateful was delicious and as usual I didn’t leave anything except the raw onion. My friend dealt with her meal similarly – slightly sad that the meals came on cold plates, but I reminded her that salad on hot plates isn’t ideal either – it’s a conundrum.

There were no puddings as such – pie and custard or tarts with cream sort of thing – but the range of cakes on offer more than made up for that. There was an irresistible five inch tall chocolate cake comprising four layers of sponge and alternate layers of chocolate cream and orange cream: of course, my friend chose that! Not to be outdone I plumped for a triple chocolate cake covered in chocolate. Really we should have shared one! But

14

I like to have two different options to tell you about each time. Sadly the place isn’t licensed, so no wine or beer; we had elderflower fizz and apple juice instead.

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Cinema

On the BIG SCREEN With thanks to The Light Cinema Thetford, a 3 screen all-digital cinema in the heart of Thetford STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI 14th December Having taken her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rey continues her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the saga.

PITCH PERFECT 3 22nd December Following their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson headline the returning cast of Pitch Perfect 3, the follow-up to 2015’s blockbuster hit that took the honour of highest-grossing live-action movie-musical opening of all time.

GREATEST SHOWMAN 1st January The Greatest Showman is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. The Greatest Showman is directed by exciting new filmmaker, Michael Gracey, with songs and lyrics by Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land) and starring Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman. Jackman is joined by Zac Efron, Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya.

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COCO 19th January Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

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D ec/Jan Dec/Jan

B OX O FFICE: ((01603) 01603) 6633 0 00 0 BOX OFFICE: 00 00

Mon 27 Nov - Sat 2 Dec

Thur 4 January

Mon 22 - Sat 27 January

Star-studded hilarious Ayckbourn comedy £8 - £28.50

Songs from the best musicals £7 - £22.50

Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society with glorious Irving Berlin musical £7 - £23.50

HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES

Tues 16 - Sat 20 January

Sun 3 December

RA RAF A IN CONCERT

The RAF’s finest musicians £8 - £26 Wed 13 Dec 2017 - Sun 14 Jan 2018

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Gillian Wright (EastEnders), Richard Gauntlett, Ben Langley star in East Anglia’s biggest and best family pantomime £7 - £24.50 Mon 18 December

A VISION OF ELVIS Award-winning tribute to The King £7 - £24.50

BEYOND THE BARRICADE

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS High-speed, globe-trotting comedy adventure. 7+ £7 - £21

TOP HAT

Sun 28 January

BRENDAN COLE All Night Long Tour £8 - £38.50 Mon 29 January

CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Rock’s finest moments £7 - £24 Tues 30 January

AN EVENING WITH SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON

Chat and clips from the master £8 - £28.50

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL

18

Theatre

Win TICKETS TO

E

SLEEPING BEAUTY

astEnders actor Gillian Wright will be leaving television’s Albert Square and heading for Norwich to join the cast of this year’s Theatre Royal pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.

Gillian will be treading the boards as the panto baddie, The Dowager Aunt Vipera – a very different character to her role as Jean Slater, one of the BBC soap’s most memorable residents.

She will join seasoned Theatre Royal panto comedy doubleact Richard Gauntlett and Ben Langley. Richard is returning to Norwich once again as director, writer and panto dame for his 17th festive production in

the city, teaming up for the fourth consecutive year with comedian and variety star Ben Langley who lives near Diss.

Ben plays Muddles Midges, the under-gardener, while Richard is his mother, Mrs Midges the housekeeper.

The cast is completed by Elizabeth Carter who was recently seen at the Theatre Royal as Laura in Dreamboats & Petticoats. She will be playing Sleeping Beauty (Patience Midges, daughter of the panto dame), while Glenn Adamson, who played the lead role in Dick Whittington (2016)) and Aladdin (2015) at Colch hester’s Mercury Theatre, will play p the prince. Professional op pera singer g Stephen p Godwa ard,

who appeared in Norwich in September with The National Gilbert & Sullivan Company, will be bringing his rich vocals to the role of Lord Teddy Norbridge of Norbridge Abbey.

Richard Gauntlett has promised Sleeping Beauty will deliver lots of traditional panto fun with all the usual Norwich Theatre Royal special twists including lots of water. “We will be getting very wet this year. We will be getting very, very wet!” he said.

Tickets for Sleeping Beauty cost from £7-£24.50 from the box office on 01603 630000 or online at www. theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

WIN TICKETS We have once again joined forces with h Norwich Theatre Royal to give away a family ticket (for two adults and two children) for Sleeping Beauty on Friday 15 December at 7.30pm. To be in with h a chance of winning this prize, visit www.village-people.info and answer the following question: What is the name of Gillian Wright’ss character in Sleeping Beauty?

A – The Dowager Aunt Vilette B – The Dowager Aunt Vipera C – The Dowager Aunt Vitriolic Closing date 8 December. Tickets cannot be exchanged for seats for another show or a cassh alternative. Normal Village People rules applyy.

19

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Enjoyable Days Out throughout the Year!

Date

Show/Venue

Depart

Cost

Sat 2nd Dec

Lakeside Shopping Thurrock

8am

£23

Thurs 7th Dec 2018 Thurs 4th Jan

Lincoln Xmas Market

8am

£28

Dick Whittington – London Palladium

8am

£60

Sun 14th Jan

Elvis On Tour – The Exhibition @ O2

8am

£42

Wed 24th Jan

Lion King

8am

£68

Wed 31st Jan

Dreamgirls

8am

£68

Wed 7th Feb

42nd Street

8am

£65

Sat 10th Feb

Abba Exhibition Southbank Optional London Eye +£20

8am

£50

Sun 11th Feb

Strictly On Tour @ O2

8am

£85

Fri 16th Feb

Cirque De Soleil – Royal Albert Hall

9am

£88

Sat 17th Feb

Dinosaurs in the Wild

8am

£42

Sat 3rd Mar

Springfields Shopping Outlet & Baytree Nursery Spalding

9am

£18

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Malthouse Security says eight out of 10 people who come to the company for cameras have already been victims of a callous break-in.

They often mistakenly think their family dog is enough of a guard-dog deterrent. “But the reality is that dogs rarely deter thieves,” said a spokesman for the local business.

“We had one person who was burgled when they took their dogs out at the same time nightly and, in a throwback to Dickensian times, we hear that people will even put children through small windows to help them break-in to homes.

“Perhaps even more disturbing, is that thieves could watch every movement. You leave a 56inch television box out for the dustman. What does tha at say? You

have just bought a lovely new TV, TV V something a burglar would love to have!

“And don’t forget, some of your possessions have a huge sentimental value that can’t be easily replaced.”

Malthouse Security’s message is: “Protect your family. A good CCTV TV V camera system will guard you, reduce insurance premiums and burglars will be forced to look elsewhere for easier pickings.”

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21

Crossword

CROSSWORD Exercise your brain cells

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

6

Rise up in fear and back away to be coy (3)

1

Seek favour, support and perhaps love as well (3)

8

Table to use just sometimes (10)

2

Unreturnable stroke on the court - excellent (3)

9

Make an enormous effort, do your best (3)

3

Old boiler on a fashionable race course (5)

11 Conceal a whole surface with what you will (5, 2)

4

When a theory is put to the test (6, 2, 5)

5

Discharge a debt and salary raised (3, 2)

7

Commotion and boisterous activity (5-5)

13 Storehouse for supplies or regimental HQ (5) 14 Simple tube-shaped organism grows on a mucous membrane (5) 15 Appears from what you say to be rather threatening (6, 7) 16 Part association following a quarrel (5) 18 Leg grasped instrument with strings (5) 19 Understand by watching the speaker’s mouth (3-4) 20 Common ox-like antelope from Africa (3) 23 One with special knowledge or skill, once dominant (4, 6)

10 Reward or punish, amends made (10) 11 Advisory, deliberative or administrative body (7) 12 Cutting remark that has some emphasis (7) 17 One of great importance, a giant in the past (5) 18 Tubular duct in tissue (5) 21 It’s for you to turn tea into what you devoured (3) 22 Provide the weaponry necessary for defence (3)

24 Novel, fresh and unused, probably very modern too (3) LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 7) True, 8) Motivate, 9) Smuggler, 10) Lord, 11) Sheet, 13) Lobelia, 15) Include, 17) Vinyl, 20) Mood, 21) Carousel, 23) Pedestal, 24) Nail. DOWN: 1) Drum, 2) Reggae, 3) Amble, 4) Stardom, 5) Evolve, 6) Eternity, 12) Hangover, 14) Educate, 16) Ledger, 18) Iguana, 19) Drill, 22) Epic.

22

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Story

STRICTLY A Guilty PLEASURE A short story by Deborah Dunseith of Attleborough Writers’ Group

M

oira settled down on the sofa with a box of Milk Tray and a small glass of cherry brandy. Her podgy fingers hovered over the chocolates, which one to choose?

Settling on a hazelnut swirl she popped it slowly into her mouth and let it melt on her tongue.

She felt excited. Very soon her favourite TV show was about to restart. Oh how she’d missed it – the celebrities, the outfits, the cavorting – yes, Strictly Come Dancing was back!

More especially, Moira had missed Anton, one of the dancers. He was tall, suave and sophisticated. He was her guilty pleasure. She loved a man who looked smart and Anton practiced his rumbas in a shirt and tie. Oh how she wished she was one of the celebrities on the show.

She’d make a beeline for Anton and make sure he’d partner her.

She closed her eyes and imagined his tight grip, his strong lifts and

throws and their fizzing sexual chemistry dancing the salsa.

terrier out leaving her to lust after Anton in peace.

In the armchair, Bob snored and woke himself up momentarily with a loud snort. Moira threw her slipper at him.

Brucie heard the word ‘walk’ and began to gambol around the living room yapping excitedly.

He jumped up at the side table and Moira’s small glass of cherry brandy wobbled precariously and then toppled over onto the new cream coloured rug.

“I can’t hear the TV!” she shouted.

Then the instantly recognisable theme tune started and Moira lost herself in rapture.

Each celebrity paired with a professional dancer. Finally Anton appeared on the screen, smiling broadly with a mouth full of white teeth. Moira swooned.

Who would he be matched with? Eventually after much anticipation and build up Anton’s celebrity partner appeared.

Anton bowed low and offered her a bouquet of flowers. It was Carol Klein from Gardeners’ World.

“Ugh!” said Moira in disgust.

“Stick to dahlias love.”

Moira was rather put out by the fact that Carol wa as years younger than herself and had a figure to envy vy. y She begrudgingly admiitted that Carol would look good in a tight fitting sequinned evening dress.

Bob stirred and then sat bolt upright.

“Is that Carol?”

“Brucie needs a walk” said Moira hoping that Bob would take their

“Bob, you and that mutt get out of here before I brain the pair of yer!”

But Bob wasn’t going anywhere.

In fact, oblivious to the spillage on the very expensive new rug, Bob had already made himself comfortable.

Gorgeous Carol. He often thought of her whilst pruning his pear trees and pricking out his pansies. Carol knew her onions alright. What she didn’t know about horticulture just wasn’t worth knowing about!

He loved the way she offered friendly, helpful advice to novice gardeners and she didn’t mind getting her hands dirty either.

He wondered, licking his lips, whether she had compost under her nails even now on Strictly Come Dancing.

“Bob!” shouted Moira.

But Bob was lost in a world of his own. In his mind he was leading Carol by the hand through a colourful, fragrant wild flower meadow... for she was his own guilty pleasure. © Deborah Dunseith Attleborough Writers’ Group

24

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26

What’s on this month

VILLAGE NOTICE BOARD

EVENT

CHRISTMAS PRIZE BINGO

FRIDAY 1ST DEC 19:30 Tibenham Community Hall, Pristow Green Lane, Tibenham, NR16 1PX A fun night of Bingo with refreshments.

MARKET ROCKLANDS CHRISTMAS MARKET 2017

SATURDAY 2ND DEC 10:00 Rocklands Village Hall, Attleborough, NR17 1TT Santa returns to Rocklands Village Hall. Stalls will include quality local crafts, seasonal treats, presents and The Wolf Brewery. Santa will be in his grotto to meet the children who will each receive a present.

Visits to Santa (£3 per child) must be booked in advance by calling Sharon on 01953 483187. www.shellrockgroup.f9.co.uk

FAIR BORDER CRAFT COLLECTIVE MASTER CRAFTS FAIR SATURDAY 2ND DEC 10 - 3 Dickleburgh Village Centre, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh Meet local crafters FREE

EVENT ST NICHOLAS FAYRE

SATURDAY 2ND DEC 14:00 Gissing Community Building & The Old School, Rectory Road, Gissing, IP22 5XB A magical event to start the Christmas season with Father Christmas, music from a

mechanical organ, seasonal refreshments, craft stalls, children’s art competition, games and a grand prize draw.

A sparkling concert programme

by Canadian composer Sarah Quartel. TICKETS £7 - available from Hethersett Butchers

EVENT

MUSIC

CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE!

OXLIP GROUP & DICKLEBURGH VILLAGE SOCIETY PRESENT A FORTIES SONGBOOK FEATURING RACHEL DUFFIELD

SATURDAY 2ND DEC 19:00 Tibenham Community Hall, Pristow Green Lane, Tibenham, NR16 1PX A festive evening for the whole

WEDNESDAY 6TH DEC 7PM Dickleburgh Village Centre, Harvey Lane, IP21 4NL Tickets £10 to include a Ploughman’s Supper. Bar & Raffle. 40s dress optional

EVENT DICK WHITTINGTON family with music from the shows and Christmas music by a local choir.

EVENT EATON VETS EVENT

SATURDAY 2ND DEC 3PM-5PM Eaton Veterinary Practice, Cringleford administrator@eatonvets.co.uk Please join us for a coffee and a mince pie (or three!) for an afternoon of festive fun. Various activities including a raffle, games plus a tour behind the scenes at the practice.

All proceeds to go to Cinnamon Trust and a local animal Charity If you would like to attend, please RSVP by email or call us 01603 455196 asap

MUSIC HETHERSETT SINGERS

SATURDAY 2ND DEC 19:30 Methodist Church, Great Melton Road, Hethersett A feast of seasonal music conducted by Rob Goodrich.

PANTOMIME

New Buckenham Village Hall Bar open from 7.30pm and the performances start on the 7th, 8th and 9th December at 8pm evening with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. £8 evening performance and £5 for the Matinee Tickets office: 01953 861438/860320

MUSIC CAROLS ON THE KNOLL

FRIDAY 8TH DEC 19:00 All Saints Church, Redgrave Get the Christmas season off to a good start - join us to sing Carols on the Knoll in Redgrave accompanied by the Diss Salvation Army band. Mince pies and mulled wine afterwards in All Saints Church.

• Continued on page 77

27

Village Notice Board EVENT

MUSIC

A CHRISTMAS CARD TREE FOR STRADBROKE

PHOENIX MALE VOICE CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT

SATURDAY 9TH DEC All Saints Church, Stradbroke An opportunity to write a Christmas message on a full sized model Christmas tree. To raise funds for urgent repairs for the church.

FAIR PULHAM MARKET CHRISTMAS FAIR

SATURDAY 9TH DEC 11:00 Pulham Market Village Hall Home made Christmas Crafts, Christmas Flower Decorations, Father Christmas, Cake Stall, Cafe and other stalls. Children’s secret wrap a present room.

EVENT

SATURDAY 9TH DEC 19:30 Mile Cross Methodist Church, Aylsham Rd, Norwich, NR3 2RU Programme includes popular Christmas songs and carols.

Tickets available on the door at £7.50 includes refreshments.

A REGENCY CHRISTMAS

FRIDAY 15TH DEC 19:30 St Mary’s Church Hall, Mount Street, Diss, IP22 4QQ

SATURDAY 9TH DEC 08:30 Beccles Airfield The weight limit for a Skydive is 107kg for men, and 99kg for women. There is a minimum age limit of 16. Jumpers over the age of 40 years are required to self-declare that they are fit to skydive. www.big-c.co.uk/ Events/santa-jump-2017.aspx

EVENT CHRISTMAS IN THE COURTYARD

SAT 9TH DEC 3PM TO 5PM Kenninghall Village Father Christmas turning on tree lights, fish and chips, mulled wine and mince pies, raffle and craft stalls.

return to St Peter’s with guests joining us for a Concert at 6.30. Contact thetfordvoices@ gmail.com for information and enrollment forms, by 18th December please.

EVENT WINTER WALK WITH LOHP

SUNDAY 31ST DEC 10.15AM Redgrave Activities Centre Enjoy a morning’s walk in the Little Ouse Valley. Soup will be served at the hall afterwards - booking essential for food but just turn up for the walk.

Everyone welcome including polite dogs. Donations welcome.

EVENT OUSE VALLEY FILLING STATION Recreating the flavour of a bygone era in the celebration of Christmas. A dramatic appearance in costume, a vivid account of Christmas - the food, music and family games during the Regency period. Friends of Diss Museum Members - £3 Non-members - £5.

MUSIC SANTA JUMP

• Continued from page 71

A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY 17TH DEC 14:00 St. Andrew’s Church, Trowse.

A Celebration In Music & Words This concert is performed by the excellent and well-loved group, Hexachordia. The cost, which includes mulled wine and refreshments is £10

EVENT THETFORD VOICES CHRISTMAS CAROLLING

FRIDAY 22ND DEC 11:15 St Peter’s Church, White Hart Street, Thetford Young Singers aged from 6-16 are invited to rehearse carols and Christmas songs before an afternoon singing in residential homes across Thetford. We

FRIDAY 12TH JAN 19:30 Garboldisham Village Hall, Church Road, Garboldisham, Diss, IP22 2SE Our meetings are designed to be overtly spiritual but presented in a manner that those outside the church would feel comfortable. We find many people meet God through these meetings and faith is built up.

EVENT NEWTON FLOTMAN & DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CLUB

THURSDAY 25TH JAN 1.30PM Wreningham Village Hall, Mill Lane, Wreningham, NR16 1AN Demonstration of Flower Arranging by different demonstrators at each meeting.

Monthly meetings. New members welcome.

WANT TO ADVERTISE? List your local event for Free on our Village Notice Board.

Log onto www.village-people. info to send us details

For more information on all events including ticket purchase please see www.village-people.info/whats-on

28

Gifts

Memories to last a lifetime Marianne Purdy explains the inspiration behind her glass engraving business, The Spotted Moon Company.

We all feel the need to remember special occasions; a lovely summer holiday, a family wedding, a big celebration or anniversary. The trouble is that your average souvenir seems to fade much faster than your memories! This was particularly embarrassing when I bought a glass memento for a special couple on their wedding day - only for the transfer to wash away before I knew it!

home; your child’s hand-writing or drawing – giving the gift of memories to treasure forever.

Whether you want to say congratulations, thank you or good luck, you can create a beautiful handcrafted keepsake, adding elegance and style to any piece of glass.

That’s when I asked myself how can I get quality, personalised glassware gifts that will last but won’t break the bank? I’ve seen museum pieces of glass engraving which have beautiful artistic effects, but only recently did I discover sandblasting which creates a permanent engraved and stylish design on any piece of glass.

To my surprise, it’s no more expensive than other gifts but you can use it to capture bespoke and sophisticated images. It’s so versatile too; from wine glasses to mirrors, coasters to champagne flutes.

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Competition

COMPETITION

KEEP WARM WITH A BENGAL DOWN COAT

This issue we’ve teamed up with Bengal Down Clothing to offer you the chance to win a stylish winter coat. We spoke to the director, Robert Jennings from Norfolk, to find out more…

VP: These coats look incredibly warm! How did Bengal Down Clothing come about?

RJ: Thanks, yes they are. Like a lot of ideas, it started because we couldn’t find what we needed ourselves: a down coat warm enough for my wife (our model). All other down coats were too short or too thin. So we started on a journey to replicate the full length down coats from the 80s and 90s but with the latest high quality materials and down.

VP: A lot of people own a down jacket or coat, are yours really different?

RJ: Of course! We use only 100% duck down, which means there are no quill shafts or feathers at all.

This gives superior insulation so it keeps you much warmer than a traditional feather / down mix. We only use European down which is ethically sourced and ‘Downpass’ certified. Another benefit is the material, which is incredibly soft and light, as well as being showerproof!

VP: Where are the coats made?

RJ: They are handmade in the UK by a team with over thirty years of down-filled coat manufacturing experience. The quality is beyond anything mass produced and the same care and pride goes into every coat we make. The press studs on the ‘Sha’ coat are sewn in rather than pressed together, so they are always beautifully concealed and firmly attached and the long zip is the best quality we could find.

VP: Sounds like you have a unique product, where can our readers find out more?

RJ: Please visit us at www.bengaldownclothing. com to find out more. If you feel the cold, use a wheelchair or just want to be right ‘on point’ with this winter’s fashion we have the answer. What’s more, we’re offering Village People readers free postage and packaging with the code VP.

Win your own Bengal Down coat

To be in with a chance of winning one of these beautiful coats, worth £399, visit www.village-people.info and answer the following question: Where are Bengal Down coats made?

1. Sweden 2. UK 3. Bengal, India

Closing date 31 January. Usual Village People rules apply

30

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31

Recipe

CHOCOLATE, CHERRY & CHESTNUT TORTE

This flourless torte is a delicious blend of chocolate and chestnut mousse, spiked with black cherries – it’s a favourite pud at The Pennoyer Centre’s Christmas parties. It’s easy to make, keeps up to four days in the fridge and is a fantastic alternative to Christmas pudding – a little goes a long way, if you’ve got hordes on the big day. It will crack and settle as it cools, and the cherries may sink. Don’t worry about it!

Serves 12-14

383kcal, 25g carbs per slice

INGREDIENTS 250g butter 250g dark chocolate (at least 55% cocoa solids) 400g tinned unsweetened chestnut purée 25ml milk 4 eggs 125g caster sugar 25ml cherry brandy (optional) 400g tin of black cherries, in syrup (260g drained) Fresh cherries with stalks, to decorate Dark cocoa powder (Green & Black’s is best) Edible gold dust or paint

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 170ºC. Base line a 23cm round springform cake tin with baking parchment.

2. Put the butter and chopped chocolate in a pan and set over a very low heat to melt together. Stir occasionally. When melted, set aside to cool slightly.

3. Whizz or mash the chestnut purée with the milk until smooth.

4. Separate the eggs into two bowls. Whisk the egg whites until stiff. Add the sugar to the egg yolks and whisk together until light and creamy.

5. Add the chestnut purée and the chocolatebutter mix to the egg yolks, and stir into a smooth, uniform batter. Add the whisked egg whites and fold gently until completely combined. Add the cherries (drained, stoned and halved) and the cherry brandy and fold through.

6. Pour the batter – which will be quite loose – into the tin, and place in the centre of the oven. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until set with the tiniest wobble in the middle when touched.

7. Leave the cake to cool in its tin. Meanwhile, gild the cherries with gold dust – just paint or rub the cherries and stalks with the dust.

8. Run a knife around the tin, open the springform and ease the cake out. Place on a serving plate, dust with cocoa powder and decorate with your gilded cherries. Serve with crème fraiche or double cream. If you want it warm, zap each portion in the microwave for 20 seconds, then decorate.

Tip: Tinned chestnut

purée is in most supermarkets, but you can use tinned or vacuum packed whole chestnuts.

Just mash or whizz them to a smooth purée with the milk

The Pennoyer Centre’s volunteer BakeForce make delicious cakes for sale in the café, which in 2014 won the EDP Norfolk Food & Drink Best Baking Award. The café in Pulham St Mary is open Mon-Sat from 9.30am to 3.30pm. www.pennoyers.org.uk 01379 676660

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Travel

O

Discover the JOY OF THE JOURNEY

nce you’re a coach traveller, you’re hooked to stay a coach traveller. So says the Coach Tourism Association after their nationwide survey found 92% of existing coach travellers will continue to book coach tours over the next five years. In these days of cheap flights to Europe, what makes coach travel still just as attractive?

Peter Stratton, Managing Director of Independent Coach Travel said at a Coach Holiday Conference earlier this year, “We’re all familiar with the often negative view that coach holidays are for older people. What’s clear from the figures is that far from being a negative, it’s actually a positive. The key benefits of coach holidays identified in the survey: good value, sociable, comfortable, safe and less hassle than air travel, are likely to prove even more attractive.”

comfortable with plenty of legroom, air conditioning and toilets on board. Being higher up allows you to see much more than you ever would in a car or plane.”

If you’re considering travelling by coach for the first time, why not look at a short break? Many coach operators offer theatre or events as part of a weekend away. But beware. As the Coach Tourism Association suggest, holidaying by coach can be addictive!

Local coach operator Galloway Coach Travel agree and their Sales Manager, Nicci Graham, adds; “There are many ways to travel these days; drive, fly or take the train and coach travel is another option enjoyed by many.”

If you haven’t travelled by coach before, what should you expect? First, many coach operators offer a home pick-up service. This means you’ll be met at your front door by either a taxi or mini bus driver who will help with your luggage and make sure you’re taken in comfort to meet the coach.

A bonus if you’re travelling abroad as there’s no need to carry your luggage or wrestle with airport security.

Once on the coach, you’ll be travelling with a group of like-minded couples, friends or single travellers all looking forward to discovering the same destination. It can make for a relaxed and sociable holiday as you explore together. Many holiday packages include breakfast and dinner at the hotel plus excursions to help you make the most of your time. But don’t worry, if you prefer a day at the hotel, just let your driver know. Sometimes a day of rest is just what the doctor ordered!

Many say they are put off travelling by coach as they remember being ill on old school coaches.

But Nicci says “These days, coaches are incredibly

35

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Concert

BURGATE SINGERS

I

40th Anniversary Concert

t is 40 years since a few young, enthusiastic newcomers to the village of Burgate decided they would mount Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Through contacts at the Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne the group enlisted some good professionals to come and sing, and donate their fees to the church funds. Juliet Bloye and Daphne Walker were the absolute rocks of the project. This event was heavily oversubscribed and such a success that it was decided to create a permanent choir, The Burgate Singers, and build on the success of that first concert.

Throughout the years the group have always received great support from professional artists, who continue to come for very modest fees because of the standard offered at Burgate and have contributed greatly to the success of some 120 concerts. In common with many professional ensembles in this country, money has always been an issue, but the group are fortunate to have a number of loyal sponsors and Friends of Burgate Singers.

Many young Burgate soloists have gone on to major careers in leading international houses: La Scala, Bayreuth, Covent Garden and the BBC. David Wilson Johnson, David Owen Norris and Diana Montague have all sung with the group. Tamsin Little, now an international soloist, was the teenage leader of the Burgate Orchestra, and Dame Evelyn Glennie was the timpanist for performances of the Brahms ‘Requiem’ and Wagner’s ‘Meistersinger’ overture.

These exceptional amateur Burgate Singers have mastered, in a very professional way, requiems and masses written by the masters of choral music, as well as concert versions of Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’, Tschaikovsky’s ‘Yvgeny Onegin’ in Russian, and much more. From the 20th century they have performed works by Igor

Messiah

Stravinsky, Arthur Honegger, Arthur Bliss and Karol Szymanowski. Performances of the Savoy Operas of Sullivan have been rare but popular.

Now, half a lifetime later, they are back with Handel’s masterpiece, ‘Messiah’, in the newly refurbished Corn Hall in Diss. With a fully professional orchestra and solo line up, it’s set to be a fantastic evening. Join The Burgate Singers (and, as tradition goes, stand up for George the Second during the Hallelujah Chorus) on 9 December at 7pm.

Tickets are available from Diss Corn Hall, 01379 652241 or www.thecornhall.co.uk

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CAN YOU HELP CHILDREN

learn to love reading?

L iteracy charity Beanstalk is calling for members of the community in Norfolk to join its 2017-18 intake of trained volunteers that will help children in local primary schools become more confident readers.

Low levels of literacy continue to be a persistent problem both nationally and locally. According to the most recent SATS test results, more than 2,600 primary school leavers in Norfolk did not achieve the expected level in reading.

“Without intervention, the outlook for children struggling with reading is concerning,” explains Jo Holmes, Area Manager for Beanstalk. “It can lead to behavioural problems and can affect their future prospects in life and work. We need to recruit around another 250 reading helpers in the East of England by the end of the academic year to ensure that we help more school children achieve the skills, confidence and imagination to reach their true potential.”

Denise Humphrey has been a Beanstalk reading helper at a school in Norfolk for just over one year and has found the experience extremely rewarding and a good way to become part of the local community.

Sma job ll spec s a iality

“I get a real buzz out of helping children improve their confidence and reading and we often play word games to make the sessions fun and engaging. The teachers have said that they have seen real improvements which makes it all very worthwhile.”

Beanstalk needs more compassionate and caring members of the local community that would like to volunteer as reading helpers in Norfolk. For more information or to apply, please visit the website at www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call Beanstalk on 0845 450 0307.

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Gardens

Festive Jottings from Ken Shh! a little bird tells me that Fa ather Christmas is coming....

So you better watch out, you be etter take care, he can’t leave the presents if the tree isn’t there.

For where can he put them iff there’s no green bough to lay parcels beneath for th hat big Christmas ‘wow’!

Now Santa is fussy, he like es only the best, so buy locally-grown to en nsure the tree’s fresh.

With soft tactile needles that stay on the tree, a beautiful Nordman is the choice it should be.

We have tall ones & sh hort ones, some fat & some e thin, I’m sure we’ll have on ne that you can fit in to your hallway or corner, maybe a room with a view, in front of the wind dow, whatever suits you.

Always choose ea arly for a shape that is great, you want to be proud of your green festive mate.

As all trees are unwrapped & none are the same, it makes choossing so easy, a pleasure not pain.

Now you’ve selected, it’s through the machine that neatly re e-nets it to make transport a dream.

Once home e it will slip through your wreath-adorned door, a process so simple, need I say more?

Slide into a stand that’ll keep its feet wet, place into position & lift off the net.

Decoratte & cover with warm sparkly lights & yourr tree will look stunning on cold frosty nights.

If you think chopping down trees is a little bit mean, a new w one will be planted where that one has been.

So visit us now, our trees don’t cost the earth, we wish you a Christmas filled with merriment & mirth!

CChe hee eers erss Ken en n & Ang nge geelllaa T Garden Enclosure, Banham The Have fun this festive season!

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Located in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

All rooms are en-suite with TV, hairdryer, telephone, iron and tea/coffee facilities. Guests can enjoy an Oriental meal at Bugis Street or sample the British and European cuisine at The Brasserie.

Price Includes Day 1: After joining the coach from your local joining point we travel through London and onto the Royal Albert Hall. Your extensive guided tour of this iconic building, which will last around an

hour will take you on a fascinating journey through its unique history.

After your tour has finished, we have included for you a traditional afternoon tea. We continue to your hotel, where the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

CALL 01603 754155

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www.eastonsholidays.co.uk Day 2: After joining the coach from your local joining point we travel through London and onto the Royal Albert Hall. Your extensive guided tour of this iconic building, which will last around an hour will take you on a fascinating journey through its unique history.

After your tour has finished, we have included for you a traditional afternoon tea. We continue to your hotel, where the rest of the evening is at your leisure.

1 Night Afternoon high tea at Royal Albert Hall Luxury Executive Coach Travel Local Joining Points

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43

Seasonal food

T

WHAT’S IN Season? his issue, Frederick’s Fine Foods in Diss share their favourite seasonal produce for December and January.

VEGETABLES

n Beetroot is very easy to cook. If you’re short of time, try peeling, slicing and cooking for 10 minutes in a microwave – sweet, pretty and nutritious. There are lots of heritage varieties worth trying too. n Carrots add colour to your meals. Try sweetening them with maple syrup or grating them raw into a fresh salad to perk up those winter days. n Cabbage is great shredded and sautéed with butter and garlic, whether you like Savoy or Sweetheart varieties. n Fenland Celery is at its crunchy, delicious best now! n Brussels sprouts are delicious served with bacon and chestnuts.

FRUIT n Clementines are a real treat at Christmas time and perfect popped into a stocking! n Pomegranates are wonderful as a table centerpiece. As a child we ate them with a pin, but they’re much better scattered over a pavlova or some tasty tabbouleh. n Seville oranges become available in January – try making your own marmalade. n Cranberries are wonderful used as the fruit in an ‘upside down’ pudding – very seasonal!

MEAT n Goose and turkey are quintessential Christmas fayre. n Game – Wild duck, partridge, pheasant and venison are all in season so why not try something your Sunday g a bit different for y y roast this week?

n Parsnips can be made into a lovely warming soup with apple. n Jerusalem artichoke is an unusual addition to roasts and soups. n Chestnuts are great roasted, added to stuffing, served on meringue with chocolate or even drenched in sugar as marron glacé!

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LOCAL HISTORIAN

Hoxne

MEMORIES OF HOXNE Local historian, Dennis Cross from Diss, shares with us his fascinating collection of old postcards, focusing on a different village in every issue. This issue, we take a walk down memory lane in Hoxne

This early 1903 view was taken in Low Street.

What a pretty part of the village this is. The population at this period was 870.

During World War I, the Staffordshire Yeomanry were stationed at Oakley Park in Hoxne. Note the little goat mascot.

This picture was taken in Cross Street in 1909.

Parents stood with their children along with a horse and cart and posed for the camera.

Hoxne watermill on the River Waveney was built on the site of an older watermill. In 1914 when this picture was taken it was owned and worked by the Chase brothers. Mr Chase is standing by the sluice gate in this photo. The mill stopped working after World War II.

47

Hoxne

The Grapes pub in Cross Street was one of six pubs in Hoxne in 1910 when this picture was taken. The landlord was Patrick Daley.

This one time pub closed many years ago and is now a private dwelling.

The Red Lion pub was situated in Cross Street. When this picture was taken in 1906, the landlord was Charles Smith. Sadly this delightful pub was destroyed by fire in 1964.

New houses have been built on this site.

Hoxne Postmill stood on high ground above the watermill. This postcard was posted in 1907 to an address in Harleston.

The beautiful mill last worked in the 1920s.

The Norfolk Postcard Club meets regularly in Trowse in Norwich and new members are very welcome. The next meetings are on 13 December & 10 January.

Dennis is also the author of several local history books that can be purchased by contacting him direct.

On 26th August 1912 a month’s worth of rain fell in two days resulting in flooding in the Waveney Valley. This was the view taken outside The Swan pub with villagers looking on.

48

If readers have any local postcards of Diss or the surrounding villages, please get in touch with him after 7pm on 01379 651897. Š

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UNIVERSITY OF THE Third AGE John Hooper, Chairman of Wymondham U3A explains more about the University of the Third Age and what it could offer you.

O

ften in talking to people I say “I’m a member of Wymondham U3A” and I’m met with confusion. “It’s the University of the Third Age,” I reply. In response to their quizzical gaze I explain that it is an organisation for retired or semiretired people. We have a monthly meeting and there are lots of special interest groups: astronomy, history, learning languages, short-mat bowls and walking to name but a few. Some U3As have over 50 different groups. U3As vary in size but here in the South Norfolk/Suffolk borders area the average is around 350 members.

The concept began in France where “university” has a wider meaning than we understand. The ethos is the promotion of self-learning. In England the number of U3As now exceeds 1,000. Whilst we pay monthly speakers, groups are self-led by volunteers who have the knowledge and confidence to do so.

In addition there is usually a wide social programme including day trips to places of interest and holidays.

In Wymondham U3A we have had 4 holidays; Holland, France, Scotland and Northumberland in 2017. We also seek to promote cultural events and concerts.

U3As are ideal for getting to know people if you have just moved to an area or if you are living on your own and hesitate to go to events alone. Friendships are soon formed and at Wymondham we have a

weekly coffee morning, providing a friendly social venue in the centre of town.

There is a central organisation which provides support, information and resources and a constitution setting out the principles and ethos of the organisation. All U3As however are independent organisations governed by their own elected committees. There is a regional structure and there are currently 140 U3As in the Eastern Region.

There are several U3As within the area covered by this magazine: Diss, Beccles, Halesworth, Wymondham to name a few. So if you are retired or semi-retired, wondering what to do with your time, looking to pursue existing interests, develop new ones or simply looking for friendship, visit www ww ww. w u3a.org.uk to find a U3A near you. U3As have a policy of being open and accessible and there will always be a warm welcome awaiting you.

51

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Count the wildlife that’s counting on you RSPB BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH 2018

H

alf a million people are expected to count their garden birds for the 2018 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this January.

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey, now in its 39th year, takes place on 27, 28 and 29 January. The public is asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden or local green space, then send their results to the RSPB. Last year, close to half a million people across the UK joined in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey (including 12,000 people from Norfolk), counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about the wildlife using our gardens in winter. In Norfolk, the blackbird was top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings, with house sparrow and starling rounding off the top three.

Last year’s Big Garden Birdwatch also revealed an explosion in the number of recorded sightings of waxwings. These attractive looking birds flock to UK gardens in winter once every 7-8 years when the berry crop fails in their native Scandinavia. Known as an ‘irruption’, results showed that waxwings were seen in around 11 times more gardens in 2017 compared to the last couple of years, with sightings as far west as Wales and Northern Ireland.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist said: “The birds we see in our garden are often the first experience we have with nature – whether it’s a flock of starlings at the feeder, a robin perched on the fence or some house sparrows splashing in the bird bath.

“But it may come as a surprise to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate

55

Nature need of our help as their numbers have dropped dramatically. By counting the birds that visit your outdoor space, you’ll be making a difference for nature. It only takes an hour, so grab a cuppa, sit back and see who makes a flying visit to your garden.”

As well as counting birds, the RSPB is once again asking participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. This year, people are also being asked to look out for badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, red squirrels, muntjac deer, roe deer, frogs and toads.

Species such as starlings and greenfinches have seen their numbers decline by 79 and 59 per cent respectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979.

But it wasn’t all bad news. There was good news for robins in last year’s survey, with the average number seen visiting gardens at its highest level since 1986, helping it climb two places to number seven, its joint highest-ever position in the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings.

Daniel added: “The Big Garden Birdwatch allows us to monitor trends and understand how birds are doing. With results from so many gardens, we are able to create a ‘snapshot’ of birds across the UK.”

For your free Big Garden Birdwatch pack, F w which includes a bird identification chart,, and RSPB shop voucher and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org. uk/birdwatch. Registration opens on 13 December 2017.

LAST YEAR’S BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH RESULTS FOR NORFOLK

56

Rank

Species

Average per garden

% change 2007- 2017

1

Blackbird

3.9

+31

2

House sparrow

3.5

-9

3

Starling

3.1

-21

4

Woodpigeon

2.9

+37

5

Blue tit

2.6

+7

6

Collared dove

1.8

-29

7

Goldfinch

1.8

+29

8

Long-tailed tit

1.6

+86

9

Robin

1.6

+32

10

Great tit

1.5

-11

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Gardens

HELP WILDLIFE GET THROUGH WINTER

Protect your garden and its inhabitants from the cold

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The best way to help wildlife throughout the winter is to put out food. Supply a good mix of fatty foods, like suet balls, bacon rind or grated cheese, and healthy grains to encourage a balanced diet. Try different foods to encourage a variety of birds to visi visit your garden; fruit attracts blackbirds and thrushes, berrries will entice finches and d peanuts will appeal to starlings. You may even like to consider c planting fruit and berrry trees to keep birds fed natturally. y

Water is just as important as food, so keep your bird bath topped up and ice free. If you have a pond, use a hot pan to melt a hole in the ice, allowing wildlife to enter and exit the water.

If you have a bug hotel, you may find that overwintering ladybirds and lacewings have checked in. Leave dead wood for beetles to shelter and be careful when turning compost heaps – you may find that frogs and toads are keeping warm inside.

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Gardens

ON THE VEGETABLE PATCH It’s time to harvest your last vegetable crop and protect any remaining plants against the cold.

Harvest your final leeks and parsnips before the soil freezes.

Clear yellowing or dead foliage from your winter brassicas, asparagus and Jerusalem artichokes. These are no use to the plant and may encourage pest and disease if not removed.

Divide clumps of rhubarb and replant to give it a new lease of life.

Cover remaining brassicas with netting to protect them

from birds. Also be prepared to protect your plants with fleece or straw on colder nights; hardy salad crops like winter gem lettuce and any remaining leeks will benefit from some insulation.

Prepare for next year by digging empty borders and piling on the manure – the worms will break up any clods of soil. You can also prepare the ground for growing beans next year. Dig a trench and fill it with compostable kitchen waste, which will rot down and create a perfect environment for your beans.

CARE FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE If you want your Christmas trree to last longer and hold onto its needles, try a pine or fir tree rather than the traditional Norway Spruce.

Before putting up your tree, saw about 5cm off the bottom an nd place it in a bucket of water so it re etains moisture over the holiday season.

Don’t forget to keep it topped d up!

Try to avoid positioning your tree next to a direct source of hea at, like a fire or radiator, or it will ove erheat and start shedding needles before the festivities are over. After e the Christmas, continue to make most of your tree by shredding it and using it in the garden forr mulch.

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KEEP YOUR HOUSEPLANTS HAPPY With its bright red flowers, poinsettia is one of the most popular plants of the festive season and makes a great gift. Try to avoid buying poinsettias which have been chilled, for example those sold in outdoor markets, because the cold damages the foliage. Once home, place your poinsettia in a warm place with lots of light.

As the shortest day approaches, light is really important for all your houseplants. Move plants from dark corners to sunny windowsills where they will receive lots of natural light.

Beware of frosts, particularly with single glazing. If it’s going to be a chilly night, tuck your plants safely in front of the curtains or move away from the window.

In the winter, your houseplants need much less water so water sparingly and only when the compost starts to dry out.

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History

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

Wickham Skeith

In this instalment of her series “A Sign of the Times”, Sarah Doig explores what the Wickham Skeith village sign tells us about the community’s history.

M

any a visitor to the mid-Suffolk village of Wickham Skeith has no doubt commented on its idyllic situation.

Like many Suffolk communities it is considerably smaller today than in the past. At the beginning of the twenty-first century the population stood at just over 300 as opposed to 150 years earlier when there were 613 people living there.

The Wickham Skeith village sign stands on the green, surrounded by well-kept cottages of various ages. The village pond, called the Grimmer, takes centre stage on the sign. But although peaceful now, in 1825 it was the scene of the last recorded “swimming” in Suffolk, when the unfortunate 67-year-old Isaac Stebbings was accused of using black magic on his neighbours. Faced with accusations by villagers of being a wizard, Stebbings offered to be “swum” in the Grimmer. “Swimming” of suspected witches had been popular in the seventeenth century. The person was tied up with a rope and put into the water. If they sank (and sadly often drowned), they were deemed innocent. However, if they floated they were guilty. Stebbings’ ordeal lasted more than an hour, watched by crowds of men, women and children. The spectators, not satisfied by this trial which proved inconclusive, demanded another the following week. Luckily, though, the local clergy and churchwardens stepped in to prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.

The sign also depicts a tractor which demonstrates the prevalent occupation in

the community over the centuries. The parish church and a windmill are also featured. This tower mill has long since disappeared, having been demolished in 1925. At one time, the village also boasted a steam mill which was, in 1890, the scene of a fatal accident. The boiler of the mill exploded, killing a six-year-old boy.

Another local landmark represented on the village sign is the former pub. Until 1967, Wickham Skeith had a pub called the Swan Inn which had operated as a watering hole for residents for at least two hundred years (and probably a lot longer). During much of the 1800s, the landlady was a widow called Martha Bendell. In October 1866, the Norwich Mercury reported a rather curious incident at the Swan Inn: “It would seem that some twenty or thirty labourers and their wives met at the Swan for the purposes of paying their allotment rents, and nearly the whole of them got drunk. On leaving the inn about midnight they indulged in a saturnalia which causes a blush for humanity and extinguishes all notions of “rustic simplicity” and purity of morals.”

I should point out that I am not casting aspersions on current residents of Wickham Skeith who are all, of course, beyond reproach: I’m simply reporting their local history!

Sarah Doig is an independent historical researcher, writer and speaker. Her website is www.ancestral-heritage.co.uk.

61

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Arts

Celebrating

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY THROUGH ART Writer and artist Kristy Campbell investigates how the local art scene is influenced by human rights issues and how two artists have used their voice to instigate change.

E

very year on 10 December we commemorate Human Rights Day. With this, we remember the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, leading to the passing of resolution 423 in 1950 where all

states and organisations were invited to join the movement.

being treated equally, with fairness, dignity and respect.

Human rights looks at a variety of subjects, including racial matters, LGBTQIA issues, gender orientated concerns and questions of social, cultural and domestic violence. It exercises the importance of everyone

Artists Marcia X and Anmar Mirza have kindly contributed to this article, offering up their artistic practice for study and some personal words with reference to human rights.

Anmar Mirza has adopted emotion and perspective as key components forming the framework for his practice. In his later paintings he appears to have incorporated more humorous elements in to works in order to ‘lighten’ the thoughts and semantics applied to his abstract compositions. He notes that everything is based on impulse, and reaction.

“Fundamentally, I want to paint about basic human emotion. I’m not usually one to paint about politics or social issues, but watching the media coverage on Aleppo and the refugee crisis, I felt that the media had dehumanized what was going on. That was the worst bit about it. It made me feel quite frustrated and sad. So I painted something based on pure emotion. Just deep sadness.

Something relatable. One figure who had lost everything, being comforted by another.”

Find out more at www.amrza90.com

63

Arts

Artist, Marcia X places the diasporic experience at the core of her practice. She looks at what it means and what it is like to be a person of colour – in particular, a woman of colour – to be in a constant, existential cultural crisis. As a visual artist, filmmaker and researcher, Marcia continues to probe and confront this crisis, seeking ways to live through it and envision futures away from it.

“Puerto Rico has been a colonial subject birthed from genocide of indigenous peoples like the rest of the Americas, in this case, with the Taino and the subsequent participation of the enslavement of West Africans.

Juggled from Spanish to American hands, Puerto Rico has suffered economic problems, forced sterilization of a third of its female population, poisoning, bombing, mass emigration away from the island, and currently, genocide.

Again.

64

Its president has blamed Puerto Ricans for the failed economy and every time he is critiqued, he lashes out at Puerto Rican’s more and more. His latest is a threat that FEMA, which has already stated has no responsibility in distributing aid to the island, will be removed because it can’t help the people forever.

“I was born in the 80s. I am one generation removed from peasant sugar cane workers that toiled on plantations. Colonialism is alive, and takes its shape in many forms. To see how it is working now, look at the situation of Puerto Rico. Then to the rest of the Caribbean to see how little value black and brown lives have unless they’re able to make other countries profit from the labour on the land.”

Find out more at www.artistmarciax.com

All around the world there are artists, writers, performers and poets working closely with subjects stemming from human rights issues. In the UK, we strive to contribute power to the people through collectives like ‘The Nasty Women Movement’, who tour the country; established artists including Ai Weiwei, Banksy, and Guerrilla Girls who build on the protest art scene; museums, galleries and researchers like Professor Richard Sandell who endeavor to bring discussion on social justice and equality to the fore. Art for Amnesty is another global effort, with artists from around the world standing by Amnesty International with “a vision of a world where human rights are enjoyed by all”.

December is a magical time of year for lots of different cultures.

For the celebrations of Saint Nicholas Day, Eid’ul-Adha, Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa Omisoka, Yule and Saturnalia.

Make 10 December another day on the calendar to remember, to spare a thought for, and to play a part in.

Find out more about Kristy Campbell’s art, research and writing at Axisweb.org/p/kristycamp, follow her on Instagram @kristycamp or contact her on Kristycamp17@gmail.com.

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65

Local Stories

A CHRISTMAS Journey A true story by Ruby Lanham, born in 1904 in Bures, as told to her son, Neil Lanham.

M

y father was hard on me when I was young.

You know, when I was twelve, during the ‘14-18 war, we had two wounded soldiers doing convalescent work for us down at Red House Farm. When it came to Christmas time, Father had sold the turkeys to a butcher in Ipswich. When they were to be delivered there was a terrific downpour of snow which made travelling almost impossible.

Anyway, the turkeys had to be there or we wouldn’t get paid.

They were all plucked and ready to be loaded onto the van, but there was nobody to go with them. Neither of the wounded soldiers knew the way to Ipswich, so somebody’d got to go and show them the way.

“You’ve got to go Ruby,” said my old man. “You’ll be all right sitting up there next to Charlie Cope.” The snow kept coming down as cold as charity.

We put Derby, a blue roan

mare, in a van, loaded the turkeys and covered them up.

It was an open wooden van like a four-wheeled farm cart with iron wheels and a board across the front to sit on out in the open.

Charlie Cope was a decent sort of chap; he came from Walthamstow and had two sons. His wife was running his little general shop for him while he was in the war. Dad let him go home at weekends and he would bring us back some sugar or the like. He had been wounded in battle at the front, but was getting better.

I was well wrapped up and we started off. When we got as far as the blacksmith’s at Kersey Tye, we stopped to have the mare shod with iron spikes so she couldn’t slip. The snow kept coming down fast and thick in a blizzard and it was difficult to see. Anyway, the mare still kept slipping about, but we went on to Ipswich and got there eventually.

But when we arrived, the butcher said he’d changed his mind and couldn’t pay for the turkeys. I think he thought he’d try it on with me as I was not very old. We wanted the money badly, but he said he’d bought them at so much a pound, and that came to so much money, but he was going to knock some off. However, I said that the price agreed was the price it had to be and eventually we got it.

Well, we set sail for home, my fingers and toes numb and frawn, and when we got as far as Hintlesham George, Charlie Cope said, “I’m gonna get us a drink.” He brought me out a glass of ginger wine to warm me up and a packet of five Woodbines. I had never smoked before but when he offered, I said yes.

Then we set off from Hintlesham for home, but when we got just outside Hadleigh, the mare was taking one step forward and almost

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Local Stories one step back, the road was so bad. All of a sudden, at the top of a hill, she slipped and started to slide, her hind legs gone from under her. It was a good job that she had a strong

pair of britchins on which held her. She just sat in the britchins and we couldn’t stop her, and she kept going, sliding down the hill, from side to side all the way into Hadleigh, past

the convent, down Conduit Hill, and right into town. It was lucky we never turned over and never met anything that day but the sky coming down that hill.

When we finally got home at about twelve o’clock that night, I went straight away to give the money to my old man. He was in bed asleep.

Neil Lanham runs www.oraltraditions.co.uk, a website devoted to the spoken word of the vernacular indigenous people and all that it passes in terms of traditional song, story, wisdom, history and cultural identity – folk life, folk song & folk story. You can contact Neil on 01379 890568 or traditionsofsuffolk@gmail.com.

YARE VALLEY

SPEECH & LANGUAGE E THERAPY

20 years experience

Speech, language and social communication skills Groups & Individual Therapy Natasha Dunlop

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67

New store Harleston

now open BULLOCK FAIR CLOSE, HARLESTON

Your East of England Co-op Supermarket, Harleston

I

n October 2017, the East of England Co-op welcomed community advocates Annie Chapman BEM and Carol Wiles MBE to officially open their new Supermarket on Bullock Fair Close.

a chance to collect a share of a ÂŁ1,000 donation every three months.

Working directly with the East of England Ambulance Service, the East of England Co-op has installed over 100 Community Access Defibrillators in harder to reach towns and villages across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. As part of this initiative, Harleston has received a new Community Access Defibrillator on the outside of the new supermarket.

As a community retailer, local people, businesses and charities remain at the heart of the East of England Co-op. The Harleston supermarket is a culmination of everything that the East of England Co-op stands for – a strong sense of community, supporting passionate local producers and providing customers with high quality, convenient and friendly service right on their doorstep.

Returning customers were met by familiar faces with the team from the former East of England Co-op food store on London Road having transferred to the Supermarket, joining the former Budgens team, with Steve Charlton as Store Manager.

The East of England Co-op Supermarket, Harleston is open Monday to Saturday 6am to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. To find out more about the East of England Co-op visit www.eastofengland.coop

Customers can now enjoy more choice than ever before from their Harleston supermarket, with over 450 lines of local produce from 61 local suppliers from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, as well as over 100 lines of locally sourced Deli to Go products.

The East of England Co-op believes in being a business for people and communities, not just for profit. They work in partnership with the local community so that everyone benefits.

Working in partnership with Redenhall and Harleston Town Council, parking has remained free of charge on Bullock Fair Close thanks to an annual donation by the East of England Co-op.

In recent years, the East of England Co-op has also supported a huge range or organisations, charities and schools in and around Harleston. They offer free tea to community groups and good causes through their Co-op Cuppa initiative and fund opportunities through their Community Token Scheme, giving local good causes

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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Five floors of fabulous gift ideas, festive fun, a new deli, wine bar & food hall plus three restaurants to feast in.

Shop instore and online LONDON STREET, NORWICH 01603 660661 JARROLD.CO.UK

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Daily From 25th November

CH RI ST M AS

M EN U

Served Novem ber - Christma s (pr e-b oo kin g req uir ed )

Spe c Chr tacul is ar l fibr ightmas e o ts & ptic s

Santa’s ei ndee r

Selec te d Da

te s

Books

Regional Reads

THIS ISSUE WE L VE 100 NORFOLK CHURCHES OF VILLAGE AND COUNTRYSIDE: A FURTHER SELECTION Andrew Swift Velox Books

ISBN 9780957570153 £20

View our region from a different perspective with this facinating selection of local titles from Chris Rushby of Jarrolds’ Book Department ALL PREACHERS GREAT AND SMALL Keith Skipper

Poppyland Publishing

ISBN 9781909796379 £9.99 This book is based on the marathon series of charity concerts which Keith and colleagues put on over the years across churches in the region.

It’s crammed with yarns about Norfolk churches, chapels, vicars, vergers and the like – but most of all with Norfolk humour. The book includes a foreword written by the Rt Revd Graham James, Lord Bishop of Norwich.

Following the success of the first volume of 100 Norfolk Churches, this is a second tome presenting a selection of the county’s lesserknown rural churches with colour photographs showing off grand architecture and craftsmanship. It covers a variety of villages from Weston Longville to Swardeston St Mary the Virgin and Tivetshall St Margaret.

TALES FROM THE CITY, VOLUME 3 Edited by Mick Dennis Tales From ISBN 9780993238154 £10

This is the third in the series celebrating key moments and people in the Canaries’ story. It includes stories from former players, a former manager, a club director, fans and a former newspaper correspondent.

SECRET GARDENS OF EAST ANGLIA

Barbara Segall Frances Lincoln ISBN 9780711238596 £20 Suffolk gardening author Barbara Segall and award-winning photographer Marcus Harpur capture twenty-two of the most interesting, inspirational and photogenic gardens of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

HOOK LINE SINKER: A SEAFOOD COOKBOOK

Galton Blackiston Face Publications ISBN 9780955893056 £25 Galton Blackiston, well known for the No.1 fish and chip restaurant in Cromer as well as Michelin-starred Morston Hall, shares his love of cooking with seafood in this cookbook.

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Are you a friendly motivated person who enjoys cleaning and always takes pride in your work? k?? WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! l l l

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or email enquiry@home-maid.info

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS

REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY Every purchase helps horses in need.

Full range online at www.redwings.org.uk

Cards and calendars

All photos from the Sanctuary

Christmas cuddles

Exclusive toys based on Redwings’ own rescued residents

Help horses and donkeys in need by shopping with Redwings this Christmas.

72

Fashion High-heeled boots Office, £95 Silver plisse culottes Miss Selfridge, £30

A-line mini skirt Glamorous, £36 Sequin jacket Wallis, £90

Age

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Get ready for Christmas party take-off with this season’s metallic trend

Leather shopper Accessorize, £65

Leopard print skirt Dorothy Perkins, £26

Metallic brogues Jones Bootmaker, £45

Sparkly halter top Topshop, £39

Silver playsuit Miss Selfridge, £32

73

PETER NORTH

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Emmaus

JOB SUCCESS for formerly homeless man in Norwich Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney supports 20 formerly homeless people by giving them a home, meaningful work in a social enterprise and an opportunity to regain lost self-esteem to help rebuild their lives. This issue, 58-year-old Mark Spindler tells us how Emmaus helped him get his life back on track.

I arrived at Emmaus in April 2014 following the loss of my parents and the subsequent breakdown of my marriage; it was a really difficult time in my life. I have always struggled with a chronic back condition and while it is much better today, back then I was heavily reliant on pain relief. One day, after a petty row with my wife, I convinced myself that I wasn’t strong enough to cope anymore. I stuffed my pockets with painkillers, headed for the beach and took as many as I could. Fortunately I wasn’t successful in taking my own life, as someone found me and called an ambulance. But when I returned back home, things just weren’t the same; my wife said she didn’t recognise me anymore. The relationship went downhill, and she asked me to leave.

When I was kicked out, my sister told me she could put me up for a couple of weeks, but after that I would have to find alternative accommodation; I had no one to turn to and nowhere to go. I turned to the church and after explaining my situation they mentioned Emmaus Norfolk & Waveney. I went along and met with Cathy Hembry, General Manager, who said that if the companions (formerly homeless people) were happy for me to live at the community and avoid any heavy lifting, I could move in. Back then, there were only five members of the community and they were all happy with the arrangement, so I came in and worked on the front desk, answering the telephone. It worked well; I enjoyed being front of house greeting people. I was fearful at first, as I’m naturally quite a shy person and the break-up had damaged my confidence but it soon came back.

I was at Emmaus for almost three years, and the best thing that came out of my time was that it made

me believe in myself again. I was able to undergo surgery on my back, which helped greatly. Once I had recovered, I was then keen to take the next step and work towards moving on… No sooner had I thought about moving out and getting a job, was it actually happening. I applied to the council for sheltered housing and within three or four weeks, a home had been found for me. Shortly after, I applied for a receptionist role at the Probation Office in Norwich and was successful. I feel so lucky, really.

Emmaus gave me a new lease of life; it takes you in and harnesses your potential, believing in you when you’re at your lowest. What’s more, the support continues, even once you leave; for that, I’m grateful.

To get involved or find out more visit www.emmaus.org.uk/Norwich

They helped us remember Dad at Christmas It’s the little things that count Here for you every hour of every day

01603 857194

for your local funeral director www.eastofengland.coop/funerals

75

Qualified, HCPC registered podiatrists nail cutting corns and callus fungal nail infections biomechanics diabetic foot health We also sell footwear for men and women, orthotics (insoles), socks, and other footwear and foot care items.

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“The time leading up to the funeral was made bearable knowing that you were at the end of the telephone.”

– from a family we have cared for at Rosedale

Victoria Rd, Diss High St, Attleborough Middleton St, Wymondham

We specialise in the supply of carers and nursing staff to help meet the wide range of needs of children & young people, the elderly, infirm, sick or disabled. We offer anything from a simple one-hour visit right up to round-the-clock care.

01379 640810 01953 452538 01953 601103

www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

We are a family business and promise to provide exceptional care and a truly personal 24 hour service, when you need it most.

Mangreen Time Share Pool Beautiful country setting close to Norwich.

Enjoy having the 30°C pool to yourselves.

Great for families.

Disabled access.

For a free trial swim call 01508 570444 or email trust@mangreen.co.uk Mangreen, nr Swardeston, Norwich (just off A140 nr Dunston Hall) Registered educational charity No 297985

WENDY MATHER

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MEDICAL FOOT CARE PRACTITIONER (DIP MFHP) FULLY INSURED

FOOT CARE TREATMENTS

◆ Lovely & warm 31 degrees ◆ Fully private half hour slots ◆ Up to 8 people ◆ Available every day from 6am until 10pm (15 mins changing time before & after each session in allocated changing rooms)

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76

• TOE NAIL CUT • VERRUCAE TREATMENT • CORN & HARD SKIN REMOVAL • DIABETIC FEET • FUNGAL INFECTIONS • ARTHRITIC FEET • MANAGEMENT OF INGROWING TOE NAILS • HEEL PAIN

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If you have a health concern, Spire Norwich Hospital provides access to specialist consultants and procedures.

Open to all, you can get the treatment you need through your private medical insurance* or choose to pay for treatment with a fixed, all-inclusive price in advance.

*Please check with your insurance provider prior to proceeding with treatment.

We offer a variety of procedures and treatments including: • hip and knee surgery • hernia repair and gallbladder removal • varicose vein treatment • back surgery • pain management • physiotherapy • cataract surgery • diagnostics – CT, MRI and X-ray

Call one of our friendly advisors for more information or to make an appointment – lines open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

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email info@spirenorwich.com visit www.spirenorwich.com 77

ADVERTORIAL

DIAMOND SKINCARE LTD Skin cancer is on the rise, but there’s a local screening process which offers a life free of worry from the disease

If you’re over 40, have a new mole, or one that has changed shape, size and colour, then you need to get it checked. Early detection of skin cancer is crucial in being able to cure the condition.

The process of consulting your doctor and potentially attending a hospital appointment can take up to 6 weeks.

I

t might surprise you that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. Unfortunately, there is no NHS screening available, but 1 in 5 people will contract skin cancer and 2500 people lose their lives to it every year.

By contrast, a full body check appointment with a dermoscopy specialist can be made in Norwich or Gt. Yarmouth within 3 days.

The SkinSafe skin cancer check uses polarised light and advanced detection technology (dermoscopy).

It is non-invasive but ‘looks’ under the surface of the skin.

The good news is that if it is caught early, it is curable, but if it is left too late, no cure exists.

Anyone can catch skin cancer, but one of the UK’s foremost experts on detecting the disease, Dr Deepak Rallan, who runs Diamond Skin Care’s SkinSafe clinic in Norwich and Gt Yarmouth, believes deaths are preventable and completely unnecessary.

The SkinSafe clinic screening process is the most advanced route to a life free of worry from skin cancer.

How do you spot the signs?

Skin cancer can start in a mole or appear on normall look king sk kin wiithoutt a pre-exiisting molle.

The majority of people will develop melanoma (the most dangerous form) on normal looking skin.

This method always catches any possible skin cancer at the curable stage. It produces instant, lasting peace of mind, keeps you safe even if you are most at risk, works at every age and for all skin types.

Repeating the 3 steps once or twice a year ensures that no potential skin cancer will ever go unnoticed.

SPECIAL L READER OFFER

For a limite ed time only, you can book a mole check for ju ust £187 (normally £220, saving £33), by quoting offer code VP1117*.

Book online at www.beskinsafe.co.uk, call 01603 819125 or email info@diamondskincare.co.uk

78

*Offer ends 27tth December 2017.

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79

01508 578807 We are a bespoke care service throughout Norfolk tailored to your needs with anything from 30-minute home care visits to 24-hour live in care all within the comfort of your own home. o o o o o

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Could you become an Able Care Carer and be part of our friendly team?

Able care has run a successful live-in care agency since 1980, we believe that the elderly are happiest in the familiar surroundings of their own home. ✔ Professional experience is not always essential maybe you have personal experience? ✔ Applicants should be prepared to travel to either Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire. ✔ No upper age limit.

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Health

HEALTH Q&A

Q

: I love the festive season, but all the partying, eating and drinking soon catches up with me.

How can I battle the festive fat?

A

: I know how it feels. You’re doing well with your healthy regime, exercising regularly and eating well. Then comes the pastry-filled parties and the calorific conviviality. Your genial soul expands like a flower unfurling in the sun. The problem is, so does your waistband…

4. Over done the booze? Milk thistle tincture contains nutrients that the liver needs to cleanse and repair, improving bile flow and ensuring that dietary fats will be metabolized in an efficient manner.

5. Finally, never forget the huge benefits of friendly gut bacteria. Try Optibac probiotics which help flatten your tum and speed the whole process in a natural and safe manner!

Good news! You can frolic into the New Year with our five festive top tips: 1. Get clever by cramming in exercise: walking, skipping ropes, hula hoops – whatever it takes – can all be done in 5 minute gaps in your day, keeping your circulatory system alive and your arteries open.

2. Plan extra snoozes. Sleep deprivation makes you hungrier, so get some slumber.

3. Chew every delectable mouthful as though it’s your last. Chewing improves the effectiveness of your digestive process and slows down the food input telling the brain you’re full.

For lots more information call the Natural Food Store on 01603 613228 or catch us on line at www.shop-naturally.com or www.Holistic-care.com

It’s hard to imagine someone you love ever needing care. Many families simply aren’t informed when that time comes around.

Hethersett Hall’s team is always happy to offer friendly advice or help in understanding the different types of care available.

For some friendly help and advice, pop in or call our team at Hethersett Hall Care Home anytime.

Call: 01603 954 493

Norwich Road, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3AP

www.barchester.com

Residential Care • Dementia Care • Respite Care & Short Breaks 81

Make the most of your retirement Michael Boon is your local Equity Release Council member for professional independent advice.

If you are interested in releasing a tax-free lump sum from your home then Michael will be delighted to guide you through the different types of equity release schemes available to find the best plan for your needs.

To find out more call Michael on 01508 483983 or visit www.boonbrokers.co.uk

with equity release

Equity release schemes allow you to release tax-free cash from your home to boost your finances in later life • Many clients use this money to repay an existing mortgage, make home improvements, buy a new car and even go on a holiday of a life time, while others may wish to offer financial assistance to their children or to improve their own quality of life in retirement.

• Boon Brokers is qualified and registered through the Financial Conduct Authority to offer a valuable equity release service for homeowners aged 55 or over.

• Boon Brokers only recommend approved schemes from The Equity Release Council.

This is a lifetime mortgage, to understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration.

Boon Brokers is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 301141.

82

Money

CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE FOR FREE

I

t’s human nature for us to wonder what other people know and think about us – as evidenced by the soaring popularity of social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram.

But unfortunately many of us don’t have the same appetite to find out when it comes to our credit report.

To put it in basic terms, a credit report shows the banks, credit card companies, mobile phone providers and anyone else granting credit, just how you’ve managed your finances over the last few years.

If it’s a good report and you have a high score then you’ll have no trouble getting credit at the best rates but if it’s got some bad stuff on it then you may find it less straightforward to borrow money – so why wouldn’t you want to know how your report stacks up?

If you’ve never looked at your credit record and score, it’s well worth spending 20 minutes to find out what’s on file. I’d suggest taking a look at a new service from TotallyMoney.com where you can obtain a copy of your credit score and details for free.

Your credit report will list any late or missed payments on your existing loans and credit cards as well as previous borrowing you’ve had during the last six years. Other areas included on your file include details of any bankruptcies and county court judgements as well as the amount you currently owe on your credit agreements.

You hear many different stories about what’s on your credit record, so it’s worth trying to dispel one or two of the myths surrounding these reports: • Third party information, including members of your family who live, or have lived with you does not appear on your credit file as long as you don’t share any joint financial commitments.

otherwise you won’t appear as being listed at your address if a lender makes a credit search.

• Close credit card accounts that you’re no longer using. Even though your balance may be zero, any prospective lenders will take into account any existing credit limits you have available to you when assessing applications for new finance.

• Having no record of managing credit can count against you so it’s worth having a credit card and using it a few times each year – if you repay the statement balance in full and on time it won’t cost you a penny, but demonstrates that you are capable of managing credit and will reflect positively on your file.

Your credit record is more important than you probably realise, so next time you’ve got a bit of spare time on your hands check out your details at www.totallymoney.com

• Other people who have lived at your address previously will not affect your credit score.

If you’re looking for a few tips on how to improve your credit rating, consider the following: • Ensure you are registered on the electoral role

By Andrew Hagger, Independent personal finance analyst from www.moneycomms.co.uk

83

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Email: help@bailiwickit.com Website: www.bailiwickit.com

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STOP PRESS very limited space left in the

LOCAL DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS Fairhead Bradford Accountants ANIMAL SERVICES Paws Indoors ANTIQUES Olde Time APPLIANCE REPAIRS Norfolk Appliances ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING Andrew P R Love Architecture Nigel Myhill ARTS & CRAFTS Gillian Marklew BATHROOMS AHM Installations Coopers Bathrooms and Heating Norwich Bathroom & Kitchens Supreme Bathrooms BUILDERS MERCHANTS Norfolk Gravel BUILDERS, HANDYMEN & SUPPLIERS Berry Smith Property Maintenance Clark Build Ltd Cooks Building Services Ltd Day 2 Day Building Services Glenn Wilson Ltd Builder Ivan Hurren Kevin George Osborn & Kent Construction Ltd CARE & MOBILITY Able Care Agency Allicare Aspire Homecare EACH Hethersett Hall Olive House Prestige Nursing Limited Saffron Housing Trust Ltd CARPENTERS & JOINERS Hunter Solutions EA Ltd CARS, CARAVANS & GARAGES Caravan & Trailer Services Highfield Garage Home Tyre Norfolk Paul Trailers Ltd CHIMNEY SWEEPS Wilkins Chimney Sweep CLEANERS Crystal Clean Gutter Force Ltd

85 36 65 34 34 57 15 34 62 25 52 36 39 9 39 26 41 54 62 33 80 80 74 44 81 62 76 8 26 65 3 33 57 42 60 57

Home Maid 23 Ovengleamers S Norwich 67 COMPUTER, WEB & GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES Bailiwick IT Ltd 84 JM IT Services 44 Philippa Green Web Design 84 Teknik Computers 57 DATING / INTRODUCTION AGENCY Norwich Elite Matchmaking 20 DAYS OUT, TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS Cynthia Grimmer 15 Eastons Holidays 43 Fairhaven Woodland Gardens 15 Fakenham Racecourse Ltd 10 IC Travel 20 Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery 53 Peter Beales Garden Centre 15 Redwings Horse Sanctuary 12 & 72 ELECTRICIANS Ashley’s Electrical Services 38 Harling Electrical 50 Ian Myhill Electrical 57 ICD Electrics 36 Kitchener Electrical Services 33 Wilson Electrical and Plumbing 60 ENTERTAINERS Stewart Hull 8 ESTATE AGENTS, LETTINGS & PROPERTY Howards (Estate Agents) Ltd 11 FINANCIAL, INSURANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL SERVICES Boon Brokers 82 Fortyhill Financial Solutions 84 LSD Business Support 85 Money and Mortgage Solutions 85 S Jarrett Bookkeeping 84 FLORIST Tiger Lillies Florist 37 FOOD & DRINK Barford Beef and Lamb 66 FUEL MERCHANTS Larkins Fuel Merchants 34 FUNERALS Co-op Funeral Department 75 Rosedale Funeral Home 76 GARAGE DOORS, SHUTTERS & AWNINGS Cooks Blinds Norwich 4

GARDEN SERVICES Arkscape 38 Broadland Tree Services 41 C J’s Garden Machinery 38 Easton Countryside Services 41 Foundry Nurseries Ltd 38 Highway Garden and Leisure 70 Jack Grice Garden Services 57 Lake and Pond Aquatics 65 LG Tree Services 50 Lifestyle Garden and Leisure Ltd 43 M Wild Tree Services 41 Noble Paving East Anglia 54 Pristine Paving & Garden Design 45 Resin Drives 2 The Garden Enclosure 40 Wymondham Garden Centre 13 GROUNDWORKS, DRAINAGE & SEPTIC TANKS Chris Harmer Groundworks 26 D J IRELAND 41 HAIRDRESSERS Barber Shack & Scissor Happy 15 HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS Coltishall Clinic Ltd 74 Footsure 76 Footwise 76 Indigo Dyslexia Centre 66 Ministry of Imagination 50 SES Coaching 84 Yare Valley Speech & Language Therapy 67 HEALTHCARE Diamond Skincare Ltd 78 Spire Norwich Hospital 77 HYPNOTHERAPY Katina Chapman 79 Steve Horrocks Hypnotherapy 26 JEWELLERS Sonkai Retail & Bespoke Jewellers 72 JOBS Hales Group Ltd 82 Domestic Cleaning Vacancies 4 & 72 Key Education Services Ltd 85 KITCHENS Dream Doors (Norwich) 49 Norwich Bathroom & Kitchens 25 Supreme Bathrooms 52 LOCKSMITHS Kingfisher Locksmiths 50 OPTICIANS Cecil Amey Ltd 79

Village People is a trading name of Village People Magazines Ltd. Village People accepts no liability for loss, damage, or difficulties resulting from contracts made through the magazine, nor from errors, omissions or claims made by advertisers. Publication of any entry does not imply a recommendation. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content Copyright © Village People Magazines Ltd. 2008-2018

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next issue to feature local businesses PAINTERS, DECORATORS & STOCKISTS Decorumm 42 Peter Jones 60 Peter North 74 Steve Crowland Decorating 60 PEST CONTROL Bracken Pest Control 26 Lady Mole Catcher 41 PLASTERERS PMC Trade Group 60 PLUMBING, BOILERS & DRAINAGE Bernard & Skeet 11 Chris Clarke 26 D G S Ltd 29 Mark Lloyd Home Solutions 36 P & D Tank Services Ltd 36 Wilson Electrical and Plumbing 60 REMOVALS Van and a Man 15 RESTAURANTS, PUBS, HOTELS, CATERING & FUNCTIONS The Boars 17 ROOFING Anglia Roofline Co Ltd 38 Eastern Roofing 42 PAC Roofing 36 Projects 4 Roofing Ltd 6 & 17 The Roofing & Scaffolding Co. Ltd 60 SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, EDUCATION & CHILDREN Home Tutoring Norfolk 54 Hummingbird Preschool 17 Norfolk County Council Community Learning Services 12 SECURITY Malthouse Security Ltd 21 Sky High Security 50

SEWING, DRESSMAKING & SOFT FURNISHINGS Norfolk Upholstery Ltd 45 The Sewing Box 42 The Sewing Room 36 SHOPPING, BUYING & SELLING Bang & Olufsen 31 Jarrold 70 John Doe Carpets & Furniture Ltd 88 Myhills Pet & Garden 58 & 59 SKIP HIRE Norman Wenn Skip Hire 36 SPORT, FITNESS & RECREATION Anchorage Pool 76 Brave Allstars 12 Mangreen Trust 76 Roseacre Leisure Swimming Pool 79 STORAGE Attic Access Norfolk 37 STOVES & FIRES Raven Stoves 74 TAXIS 5 Star Norwich 15 Station Taxis 65 THEATRE & CINEMA Theatre Royal 18 WATER SOFTENERS & SALT A D Veale 52 Larkins Fuel Merchants 34 WILLS ASP WILLS LTD 85 WINDOWS, DOORS & CONSERVATORIES Cloudy 2 Clear Windows 12 Conservatories etc. Ltd 46 Gr8 Glass 62

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