Village People Norfolk/Suffolk border edition Late Spring 2016

Norfolk/Suffolk border edition

LATE SPRING 2016

COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

THE NORMAN CHAPEL

flourishes as Wymondham Arts Centre

TOP CLASS MUSIC

coming to Hoxne

WIN

TICKE TS TO N

ewma Nightrsket

Tour of Britain

legend joins Diss Cyclathon

Fabulous collection of skirts and dresses Lovely walk around Stoke Holy Cross Delicious asparagus recipe

A whole day of non-stop family fun & adventure in the forest!

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East Life/1152 HL/Jan2014©Crown copyright

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CONTENTS LATE SPRING 2016

Out & About 8

Good news from our region

43 Garden jottings from Ken 44 Cycling the Nine Towns Tour

13 Hoxne comes alive with it’s music festival

49 Exercise your brain cells with our crossword

14 Stuff of Dreams touring theatre brings ‘Forgotten’ to a venue near you

50 We review the Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design 55 Collecting Royal Worcester

63 WIN tickets to Newmarket Nights

17 School girl treks for her community

57 Vaccination advice for your pets

68 Skirting around – fabulous fashion updates for your wardrobe

18 In season – our fabulous asparagus recipe

60 “Read all about it”The history of transport accidents

77 Health Q&A: easing acid reflux

25 Wymondham Arts Centre’s beautiful home at the chapel

78 Refreshing Waters talks turning your life around

28 Village notice board

81 Great recommendations for local businesses

Home & Garden 40 On your plot welcomes colour back into your garden

74 Beautiful homeware to match the season

Health & Beauty

21 Scottish life in the 15th century – The James Plays at Theatre Royal

37 Real life short ghost story

25

83 Factory girls to day centre friends

17

85 NEW SERIES read part 1 of The Stowaway Cat

Jobs, Money & Business 89 Business as usual or is it?

90 Smart money secrets on funding home improvement projects 91 Are you making the most of your retirement?

92 Find a local business or service in our local directory 94 Take a wander around Stoke Holy Cross

63

Are you looking for a particular product or service?

Check out our Local Business Directory on pages 92 & 93

BE LO BUY CAL, Sup LOCA bus port loc L ines al commses in our unity

5

Dr Auriel Gibson

BDS(Hons), MSc, FDSRCS (Eng), MGDS, FFGDP, Cert Impl Dent(Sheff 1999)

Auriel focuses on Complex Restorative Treatment in addition to Dental Implants. As a past President of the British Society for General Dental Surgery, Auriel actively engages in post graduate study.

Netherton Dental Practice Do you have a cracked or chipped tooth?

Are you at risk or do you already have Occlusal Disease?

In simple terms, occlusal disease relates to an interfering and often heavy bite on teeth that are susceptible to wear.

unbalanced bite that can lead to chipping of teeth or fillings and can ultimately result in pain, a considerable amount of treatment and/or loss of teeth.

Occlusal disease is frequently overlooked and is often “silent” until something fractures and many patients dismiss it as “natural aging or wearing” of teeth. In reality, occlusal disease is a slow process which ends up creating an

Few people have heard of it, which is surprising, since the majority of people have some degree of occlusal disease, even young people!

What is Occlusal Disease?

How common is occlusal disease?

What are some of the signs & symptoms?

• Chipping or cracking of teeth • Sensitivity to cold • Pain on biting ( but pain on biting may be due to other causes as well) • Maybe muscle tension, headaches, or neck pain • But.... there may be no symptoms at all until something breaks!

What treatment is required?

It may be as simple as wearing a night guard to protect vulnerable teeth or a full assessment with study casts to look at ways of protecting your teeth or modifying the shape of some teeth in order to reduce their vulnerability.

Remember: Prevention is better than cure, so don’t hesitate to take early advice.

If you have any concerns you should contact your dentist in the first instance or book an appointment to see us.

01508 532226

netherton@simplysmiledental.co.uk www.nethertondental.com

6 The Plain, Long Stratton, Norfolk, NR15 2XG

Welcome

I was tapping away on my calculator the other day (I do LOVE numbers!) and I realised that since we started publishing Village People eight years ago, we’ve produced and delivered more than two million magazines! WOW! That’s an incredible amount of promotion for brilliant local businesses – not to mention news, what’s on, local articles and of course our popular competitions.

Talking of which… we’ve got an amazing prize on offer in this issue!

If you love live open-air music, dive right in and see which four incredible artists we are giving away tickets to see at Newmarket Nights this summer.

A few of ou r brightly co loured cove Do you rem rs. ember any of these?

We’ve also started a brand new feature this issue: a short story series for animal lovers. It will certainly make the cat owners amongst you smile! And you can read what happens in part two next issue.

I’m looking forward to the end of April, when we can all buy delicious, locally-grown asparagus. It’s time to dust off our cook books and try a few new recipes and if you want a head start with inspiration, flick to our seasonal asparagus recipe inside.

Did you know that you can browse any of our past issues online at any time? We are often asked for back copies when readers can’t locate their old magazines but remember good walks and articles of ours that they’ve read – so please do keep your copy in the same place so everyone in the family knows where it is. But also, if you need to look something up you can just pop to our website: www.village-people.info As we’re all getting used to the clocks changing at the start of this week it’s great to know that the light nights are coming and hopefully they’ll bring some warmer weather with them.

As always, please feel free to contact me with anything that you’d like to see in your magazine.

I’ll be back at the end of May.

Lily

Lily Goulder editor@village-people.info 01284 788623

WIN tickets to Newmarket Nights

Advertise with us!

Reliably delivered by Royal Mail, reaching 50,000 homes each issue. Three editions of Village People provide unrivalled coverage of South Norfolk and North Suffolk, 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

LATE SPRING 2016

LATE SPRING 2016

Norfolk/Suffolk border edition HOMES • GARDENS • OUT & ABOUT • JOBS & MONEY HEALTH • L COMMUNITY / LIFESTYLE

HOMES • GARDENS • OUT & ABOUT • JOBS & MONEY COMMUNIT

THE NORMAN CHAPEL

TOP CLASS MUSIC

MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

flourishes as Wymondham Arts Centre

TOP CLASS MUSIC

coming to Hoxne

WIN

TICK

ETS TO Newm ar Night ket s

South Norfolk edition

• L Y / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINEHEALTH OF THE

coming to Hoxne

TOUR OF BRITAIN

legend joins Diss Cyclathon

YEAR

WIN

TICK

ETS TO Newm ar Night ket s

LATE SPRING 2016

HOMES • GARDENS • OUT & ABOUT • JOBS & MONEY COMMUNIT

South Norwich edition

• L Y / LIFESTYLE MAGAZINEHEALTH OF THE

YEAR

THE NORMAN CHAPEL

flourishes as Wymondham Arts Centre

WIN

TICKET

legend joins Diss Cyclathon

Fabulous collection of skirts and dresses Lovely walk around Stoke Holy Cross Delicious asparagus recipe

The Norman Chapel flourishes as Wymondham Arts Centre

Fabulous collection of skirts and dresses Lovely walk around Stoke Holy Cross Delicious asparagus recipe

Follow us on Twitter and Instragram @vpmagazine

Early Sum

mer

TOUR OF BRITAIN

legend joins Diss Cyclathon

Newm S TO ar Nightsket

Tour of Britain

NEX DEADLT INE (June/July 4th May

)

Top class music coming to Hoxne

Fabulous collection of skirts and dresses Lovely walk around Stoke Holy Cross Delicious asparagus recipe

issuu.com/villagepeoplemag Visit our website to find out more www.village-people.info Read all our magazines

7

Good News FROM OUR REGION JOIN US FOR A STROLL

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS LIKE ROYALTY

d in Howards Estate Agents was establishe this day birth 90th its rates 1926 and celeb n. year – along with Her Majesty, the Quee Long in s office ich With south Norw proud Stratton and Poringland, Howards is unity comm local our of to have been part s of for over two decades, helping thousand area. the in s buyers and seller In that time, the estate agents have also supported numerous charities, including Marie Curie, MacMillan Cancer Care and Help for Heroes.

Some years ago, John Taylor, David Bell, and the late Clifford Bird, wanted to share their love and appreciation of their historic market town, and so they devised a“Stroll a “Stroll Around Diss”.

Vincent Hemmings took the project a stage further by producing a DVD with the dulcet Norfolk tones of local architect David Summers providing the commentary.

Sadly, Vincent died before he could see his brainchild launched on the market.

Copyright of the Stroll Around Diss leaflet and DVD was entrusted to the Friends of Diss Museum (FoDM), who have decided to relaunch the project this March.

To join one of the strolls, roll up at Diss Museum in the Market Square, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays at 10.30am and 2.30pm. Group-booked tours run Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Visit www.dissmuseum.co.uk, call 01379 640529 or email fodifus@gmail.com for info.

L-R: FoDM vice-chairman, Mike Clarke; mobility advisor, Hillary Stringer; tour guide, David van der Hulks and FoDM chairman David Young.

‘East Anglia’s Finest’

Specialist Plant, Food & Craſt Fair

Sat�rday 7th May 10am – 4.30pm

Various plant, food & craſt companies from all over East Anglia...

Held in the gardens of

Peter Beales Roses,

London Road, Attleborough, NR17 1AY 8

CYCLE, WALK OR JUST ENJOY A DAY OUT Come and join East Anglia’s Children’s Hospitals (EACH) for a wonderful family day out at the charity’s annual Ride for Life event.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of Thetford Forest on Sunday 12 June, choose between off and on-road cycle routes, ranging from 10 to 50 miles. There’s also three or six-mile walks for those who’d rather not cycle.

New for 2016, there’s a Treasure Trail for under fives, with prizes all the way!

All funds raised will go

towards helping EACH continue providing care and support to children, young people and their families, as well as “the nook”, a new purpose-built children’s hospice in the heart of Norfolk.

Entertainment, refreshments and activities will also be available and dogs on leads are welcome too.

For more info and to sign up, visit www.each.org.uk, call 01953 666767, email norfolk@each.org.uk or visit any EACH shop.

Reg charity 1069284

FREE COURSE FOR FAMILY CARERS Suffolk Family Carers is inviting anyone that offers care, support or help to someone with dementia or memory loss to a free, three-week information course.

The course will cover caring for dementia with confidence, tips and guidance on ways to effectively manage a caring role and ways for the carer to look after their own health and wellbeing.

The course begins at Eye Town Hall on Monday 11 April at 1.30pm till 4.30pm, and continues on April 18 and 25.

Places must be booked in advance by calling 01473 835446 or emailing cwc@suffolkfamilycarers.org

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

9

BURSTON ARTIST EXHIBITS IN PULHAM SAINT MARY A professional, Norfolk artist will have a solo show in Pulham Saint Mary from March 21 to April 13.

John Atkinson, from Burston, will be exhibiting 14 to 20 of his paintings at The Pennoyer Centre this spring.Taking his inspiration from bygone decades, his work pays a nostalgic tribute to a different way of life.

“I know The Pennoyer Centre well and the chapel where my work will be hanging is an interesting space,” said John, who also owns Fredrick’s Fine Foods in Diss.

For info visit www.johnatkinsonartist.com, call 01379 740221 or email crownstudio@btinternet.com

Tel: 01953 455735 8 Church St, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 2AH We have been trading for over 10 years and we pride ourselves on our high level of customer service and affordable prices.

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Why not give us a try to see just how unique we are?

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10

KEY LAND PURCHASE FOR THELNETHAM FEN In a major boost for wildlife and the local community, the Little Ouse Headwaters Project (LOHP) is pleased to announce the purchase of a key parcel of land in the Little Ouse Valley, following the award of a grant for £78,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Led entirely by volunteers from the local community, the LOHP manages over 70 hectares of land on the Suffolk/Norfolk border for

wildlife conservation and public enjoyment.

As well as funding much of the purchase cost, the HLF award will allow surveys to be undertaken to assess how best to restore the site for wildlife, provide public access and interpretation, and help local volunteers engage in the restoration through training in new skills.

If you go down to the woods today…

About Charlotte: • Level 3 Forest School Leader and Trainer.

• Qualified British Nordic Walking Instructor.

Where?

Charlotte’s Wood is a beautiful, tranquil woodland in the village of Wilby. Postcode IP21 5LT When?

On Wednesdays starting 27th April Nordic Walking from 9.30 – 11am.

Little Woodies from 12.30-2.00pm.

Cost: £30 per 4 week course

LITTLE WOODIES

4 week taster programme of Parent and Toddler Woodland School (for children aged 3-4 years)

NORDIC WALKING 4 week taster course for beginners

For further information and booking contact Charlotte: E: head@charlottesforestschool.co.uk T: 07879 653488 W: www.charlottesforestschool.co.uk

11

Out & About at High Lodge, Thetford Forest nr BrAndon, SuFFoLk

Thursday 30 June

RUDIMENTAL

+ Anne MArie + FrAnko FrAize

Friday 1 July

JAMES BAY Open all day everyday to residents & non residents Dinner dances, Weddings, Birthdays/Anniversaries All parties catered for Food served all day every day

+ SPeCiAL gueSTS

Saturday 2 July

PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT + STornowAy

Sunday 3 July

SIMPLY RED + SPeCiAL gueSTS

Sunday Carvery served 12.00-3.00pm Regular live music & themed nights

Tel. 01379 642244

www.parkhotel-diss.co.uk • info@parkhotel-diss.co.uk

WYMONDHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 TOWN BUSKING DAY SAT 28 MAY

Tickets: 03000 680400 Buy online/info: forestry.gov.uk/music

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Top class music coming ng to Hoxne

The historic north Suffolk village of Hoxne comes alive with music once every two years.

This year, Hoxne Music Festival will take place from Friday 27 until Sunday 29 May. The non profit making event is run by volunteers and it will be the fifth time the festival has been staged since the inaugural event in 2008.

“The idea was to provide high quality musical entertainment at a reasonable cost for our rural community to see and hear the best musical talent available,” said Stuart Jarrold, Festival Committee Chairman.

The 2016 festival opens with four different folk/roots music acts, presented by the Waveney Valley Folk Collective.

There is a free Music on the Green concert on Saturday afternoon and top of the bill on Saturday night will be the Jive Aces. Sunday evening sees the world reknown Doric String Quartet perform pieces by Hayden, Debussy and Beethoven.

Details of all concerts and ticket prices can be found at www.hoxnemusicfestival.com, by emailing hoxnemusicfestival@hotmail.co.uk or phoning 01379 668317

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A

Forgotten 2016

new spring

production

It’s time to get to know the young and exciting Stuff of Dreams Theatre Company!

the deaths of five of their seven children, and her state of mind became increasingly fragile...

Based in South Norfolk, the company was founded in 2012 to tour high-quality theatre across our region. With a core team of eight, Stuff of Dreams have returned to more than 20 local venues over and over again to put on their shows, which tend to tell stories of local lives.

It is a moving, historical tear-jerker of a love story, with some comic, some scary (and at times downright creepy) moments throughout. On top of that, any resemblance between “life then” and “life now” is definitely not coincidence!

Recently, the company was awarded funding by the Arts Council England for its upcoming tour of play Forgotten by Ray Rumsby.

The play tells the story of the life of Suffolk poet George Crabbe. It dramatises his masterwork Peter Grimes - forever associated with Aldeburgh, fishing, and the coastal communities of East Anglia. But Crabbe’s wife, Sarah, was overcome at the time by

Beginning in April 2016, the professional production has 17 dates and will travel from Wells to Aldeburgh, calling at numerous theatres and village halls along the way.

For details, including all 17 venues and times, please visit www.stuffofdream stheatre.com/shows/forgotten

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16

Lydia’s 100-mile trek for her community

T

en-year-old school girl, Lydia Hawker, has raised £1,500 towards a community project for her family’s local church in Wymondham, after walking a mammoth 100 miles along Hadrian’s Wall.

The sponsored eight-day trek included driving rain and steep hills, but that did not deter the plucky youngster – a competitive gymnast at Norfolk Academy.

“I knew I could do it. I did not have a single blister or feel tired afterwards,” said Lydia, who completed brief training in the Peak District.

With the help of 45 sponsors, Lydia’s efforts brought a cash boost to Hope Community Church’s flourishing community hub at Ayton Road, Wymondham. Hub Community Project is enriching the community after church members dug deep to provide £200,000 for the building which they share.

Lydia was accompanied by her mother, Selina, and grandmother on the trek during the school holidays last year. The three generations of walkers averaged 12 miles a day across industrial and scenic landscapes in the north of England. They finished the final stretch after a gruelling 16 miles.

The town’s Hub Community Project includes support for carers, youth, families and the lonely. It also provides ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) lessons and award-winning “Hoppers” toddler groups.

Contact details: The Hub, Ayton Road, Wymondham, NR18 0QJ, 01953 798505 – www.hubproject.org.uk

“I never imagined Lydia would finish it when we walked through two days of endless rain at the beginning,” said Selina, who helped plan the route with daily provisions and a residential base. “One day I needed four changes of rain jacket to keep dry and Lydia’s socks were soaking.”

Hope Community Church and Hub Community Project moved from Fairland Street to their new premises last May. Activities have grown in line with the town’s expansion, providing much needed community facilities and activities to enrich the community.

“This dream has been made possible by the commitment and sacrificial giving of church members who provided £200,000 for the building alterations,” said church leader, Grantley Watkins.

“The improved facilities and ample parking have enabled people to access the community facilities with greater ease. The resulting growth of the community projects, with their widening resources, is established evidence for the need of the site’s second development phase which is expected to increase the activities of the community rooms threefold,” says Mr Watkins.

17

British asparagus, chilli, lemongrass and lime leaf stir fry with king prawns

Serves: 2 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 12 minutes You’ll need for the stir fry small knob of ginger, peeled and grated 1 stalk of lemon grass, bashed and finely chopped 4 lime leaves, thinly sliced 4 tbsp fish sauce 1-2 tbsp palm sugar or light muscavado sugar 1 tbsp vegetable or groundnut oil 10 raw king prawns, shells off but with tails on 1 small onion, cut into thick slices 1-2 small red Thai birds eye chilli, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 spring onions, cut into thumb length pieces 1 bundle (approx 250g) local asparagus, chopped in half lengthways then cut into thumb length pieces to serve steamed Thai rice fresh coriander and/or Thai basil

18

Method: Mix together the ginger, lemon grass, lime leaves, fish sauce and sugar and put to one side.

Meanwhile heat a wok on high and when hot add the oil.

Once the oil is shimmering, add in the king prawns and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until the prawns have gone pink with slightly golden edges. Remove with a slotted spoon.

Throw in the onion and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the chilli, garlic and spring onion and stir-fry for a further 4 minutes until the onions have softened. Add the prawns back in and the British asparagus and stir fry for a further minute.

Finally pour over the sauce which was prepared earlier, and cook until the sauce becomes sticky, 3 minutes or so.

Serve immediately, topped with the fresh herbs and with the Thai rice.

For more delicious asparagus recipes please visit www.britishasparagus.com

19

Out & About

APR/MAY BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Tues 29 Mar – Sat 2 Apr HAIRSPRAY Claire Sweeney stars in smash hit musical comedy £8 - £45

Sun 8 May BUDDY HOLLY & THE CRICKETERS Great tribute band £7 - £19.50

Sat 21 May LISA FISCHER* Rolling Stones’ backing singer £7 - £22.50

Sun 3 April RUSSELL KANE Right Man Wrong Age tour. 15+ £7 - £17.50

Mon 9 – Tues 10 May TOSCA & CARMEN Two of the best-loved operas £8 - £36.50

Tues 5 April UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN All-singing, all-plucking superstars £8 – £28.50

Sat 14 – Sun 15 May THE JAMES PLAYS* Epic historical trilogy of plays from the award-winning National Theatre of Scotland £24 - £85 (for all 3 plays)

Tues 24 May – Sat 4 June THE BODYGUARD Alexandra Burke stars in award-winning musical based on the blockbuster film £8 - £48.50

Fri 8 – Sat 9 April MY FIRST BALLET Sleeping Beauty Especially for those aged 3 and up £7 - £23 Tues 12 – Sat 16 April HOBSON’S CHOICE Martin Shaw, Christopher Timothy star in classic comedy £8 - £28.50 Tues 19 – Sat 23 April SWAN LAKE Northern Ballet with new adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece £8 - £37.50

*

Tues 17 – Wed 18 May SANS OBJET* Giant industrial robot in spectacular dance between man and machine £7 - £22 Thur 19 May MAX RICHTER ENSEMBLE* Leading contemporary classical artist £8 - £2

Tues 26 – Sat 30 April A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Beguiling comedy in new RSC production £8 - £25 Sun 1 May STEPPING INTO STARDOM Yvonne School of Dance £7 - £18 Tues 3 – Sat 7 May GUYS AND DOLLS Richard Fleeshman, Maxwell Caulfield star in sizzling New York musical £8 - £44

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

20

Hobson’s Choice

Fri 20 May THE ANALOGUES* The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour performed on vintage instruments £7 - £25

The James P lays

Epic drama-packed trilogy to bring Scottish history to life

W

e may have all enjoyed an ultra-dramatic epic or two at home courtesy of a boxsetbinge; but now there is a chance to experience a real-life Game Of Thrones-style drama in person at Norwich Theatre Royal.

Prepare to be fully immersed into a turbulent period of Scottish history as the lives of the Stuart Kings are brought to the stage this May. The James Plays has wowed audiences at the Edinburgh Festival and the National Theatre and now it is heading to Norwich Theatre Royal as part of an international tour.

This will be a rare chance to follow events at the heart of Scottish life during the reign of three Stewart kings in the early to mid-15th century and features political machinations, families punch-drunk with power, drama, intrigue and sword-fights.

James I: The Key will keep the Lock sees the monarch of the title adjusting to normal life after 18 years as a prisoner of the English. He returns to Scotland with his English bride to find his country in conflict and has to make some really tricky choices if he wants to save his homeland, his wife and his crown.

James II: The Day of the Innocents shows the title character as he takes to the throne at the age of six. Scotland’s most powerful families use him as a puppet in their plans to seize power of the country and, as he approaches adulthood, he realises he must fight to hang on to his title as well as deal with his childhood demons.

James III: The True Mirror follows the fortunes of the monarch who mixes charisma with a lack of common sense. His fondness for making grand gestures while ducking his constitutional challenges means he divides the nation he rules. It falls to his wife, Margaret of Denmark, to rescue a struggling nation.

The production boasts a strong cast, with James I being played by Steven Miller, whose previous work includes the acclaimed production Black Watch, and Lenny Lyons in the BBC’s Saturday night hit Casualty.

The role of James II is being taken by Matthew Pidgeon whose previous work includes Wolf Hall for the Royal Shakespeare Company, while Andrew Rothney reprises the James III role after playing it during the first run of The James Plays.

They will join a strong cast which also includes Blythe Duff (Taggart), Andrew Still (Black Swan and Hollyoaks) and John Stahl (Game of Thrones and Being Human).

The James Plays runs at Norwich Theatre Royal on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May 11am - James I: The Key will keep the Lock 3pm - James II: The Day of the Innocents 7.30pm - James III: The True Mirror Tickets are available from the box office on 01603 630000 or book online at theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

21

I’ll have red wine instead of a pork pie If you asked me whether I would prefer half a bottle of spicy shiraz red wine or a pork pie – I know I would choose the wine.

On checking the calories popped it back… fast.

Sandwiches, chocolate bars and crisps can pile on calories with little Half a bottle of average-strength red joy. (One bag of Cheesy Wotsits is about 214 calories.) wine is about 322 calories. A 440g pork pie is roughly 384 calories; but Food and wine are a pleasure, but the pork pie treat also includes a lot the trick is to enjoy mindfully and of fat. not use food or alcohol as a smoker I wa was, I might use a cigarette under stress. co confess, The key is to know what our own te tempted triggers are to eating – other than re recently hunger – then manage them. This by the said way we will not be unhappy about por pork pie in how we feel, have tight clothes, or a garage feel tired and sweaty. when I’d been driving If tiredness is one of your triggers home after to poor eating choices, take breaks John at 21 stone a tiring day. properly. If boredom starts you

snacking, find something else to fill the moment.

We all want to look great, but without addressing the triggers to poor eating Award winning diet coach John Howard lost 7 stone in you will either five months - and nine years struggle with on has kept his new shape. success or fail when something knocks you off-track. ack Identify your own eating triggers and seek one-to-one support to help you reach your goal. Make sure 2016 sees you successful with your weight, for good.

Diet coach John Howard supports you on a one to one basis from Eye near Diss, and Stowhealth centre in Stowmarket, to lose about a stone a month and no longer be unhappy with your weight. He can be contacted on 0787 231 4653, 01379 678416, or by email at john@live-everyday.co.uk For more details, visit www.cambridgeweightplan.com/JohnH

Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday: 9.30 - 5.00 pm Sundays: Closed

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Coming soon, have a go at throwing your own pot on our wheel & biscuit ware painting, contact us for more information Find us on the A143 between Bury St Edmunds and Diss.

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22

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Quality plants and products available with ‘Old Fashioned’ Personal Service and Friendly Advice from knowledgeable staff.

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23

THETFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals

OPEN EVENTS Whole School Open Morning Saturday 16 April 10.00am – 1.00pm

Preparatory School Open Morning Thursday 19 May 9.15am – 10.30am

Summer 2015 Results: A Level A*-A 40%, A*-C 87% GCSE A*-A 34%, A*-C 91% “One of the top performing schools in the country” We are a 3½- 18 co-educational independent day school For further information please contact us - Tel: 01842 752840 or email: hmsec@thetgram.norfolk.sch.uk

www.thetgram.norfolk.sch.uk

Please enquire for information about our bursary scheme

Co-Educational School Day and Boarding Places for Boys and Girls Aged 2-13 Open Days Friday May 6th and Friday 10th June 10am - 4pm please contact the Registrar Mrs Louise Coates Tel 01953 681246 Riddlesworth Hall School (between Thetford & Diss Riddlesworth, Norfolk IP22 2TA email: ljc@riddlesworth-hall.co.uk www.riddlesworthhall.com Graded Outstanding in many areas following recent ISI Inspection

24

The Norman chapel f lourishes as Wymondham Arts Centre The old “Thomas Beckett” chapel is second oldest building in Wymondham, after the Abbey – they both were built in the 12 century by the Normans.

Today, the beautiful chapel is transferred to a very special art space, important not only for the people of Wymondham but for the Norfolk area as a whole.

The chapel is a wonderful setting for exhibitions and, over the years, it has boasted the works of a great range of established artists.

Oil paintings, water colours, wood sculptures, textile works and many other media can be seen there, thanks to Wymondham Arts Centre (WAC), which has existed for seven years now. It is a project, realised by artists and art lovers, led in the past by professor Arthur Lucas.

The centre survives and develops with the incredible effort and spirit of the volunteers. They are the stewards: welcoming the visitors; selling art works, books and cards; and accepting donations for the centre.

The volunteers are very interesting, colourful people – most of them retired professionals.

For more information, visit www.wymondhamarts.org

Bob b Coe Project Director “Sometime ometime after we moved to Wymondham, mondham, five years ago, we went nt to an event at the Arts Centre and I became very interested in wha what was happening there. I we to as many exhibitions as I went could could. uld Later on I volunteered as a st steward, enjoying seeing the exhibitions exhibitions, hibitions meeting artists and visit visitors, and last year I became Projec Project ojec Director.

“I have always been interested in phot photography and, since retiring, I ha have enrolled with the Open Co College of the Arts to follow a par part-time BA Creative Arts degree (distanc learning) combining (distance Ph Photography and Art History.

Pauline Bennett-Mills Co-ordinater for Volunteers “Having just retired as a head teacher and subsequently moving to Norfolk, I was keen to get involved with local groups. My husband and I are keen art collectors so when I was invited to join the WAC Committee and become a

Actually it started with a focus on Photography, but I became interested in Art History so I am now combining the two.

“Over 14,000 visits were made to our 24 exhibitions this year. A team of more than 40 volunteer stewards helped to run the centre and ensured that all the shows ran smoothly.

“In 2015, Wymondham Arts Centre had sales of more than £40,000.

We have also taken the first steps towards repair and refurbishment of the building.”

volunteer steward, I willingly agreed.

“There is such a wealth of local talent. The exhibitions at the centre are varied and of a very high standard.

“It is a pleasure to welcome visitors and observe their appreciation of the artists.”

25

Co-Educational School Day and Boarding Places Available for Boys and Girls aged 2 - 13

For further information or to arrange a visit please contact the Registrar Mrs Louise Coates

Tel: 01953 681246 (between Thetford & Diss)

Riddlesworth, Norfolk IP22 2TA E: ljc@riddlesworth-hall.co.uk W: www.riddlesworthhall.com

Scholarship Assessment Days: Academic Scholarship Day 14/4/2016 Music and Art Scholarship Day 22/4/2016 Drama 28/4/2016 Sport 28/4/2016

your career opportunity to gain a professional qualification via convenient weekend study For more information, call or visit us online:

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Kevin Parker

Email: keeper.kev@btinternet.com

Out & About @stuartgooderham

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In-store Bakery Try our homemade savoury cornish pasties, meat pies and sausage rolls, which we make in our bakery using only the best cuts.

All Day Breakfast

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arm elcome awaits ou at the hite orse Thelnetham E a s a re a i g atm s here here at the White H rse i r a ri k a mea r sam e r tea ee a h mema e ake se e ti We ri e rse es si g a s r e i gre ie ts where ssi e r m th ha gi g me s a g with s me w er week s e ia s

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Village Notice Board

Champion Bras Ba nd to perform in Nosrw ich

M BOWLS SAXLINGHAEN AY CLUB OP theD Playing Field Sat 30th April at 1.30pm

at

a Come along and have

go at Bowls me too

are welco Experienced Bowlers

8 499700 Chris Lacey on 0150

C

D

May 15th

en om m til l m e eshments a aila le

On 8th May there is a rare opportunity to hea r one of the world’s top brass ban ds when Grimethorpe Colliery Band perform at St Andrew ’s Hall, Norwich.The con cert presented by the East Anglian Brass Band Association com mences at 6.30pm The band is currently ranked 4th in the Wo rld, is the 2015 British Open Bra ss Band Champions and the 2014 Brass in Concer t Champions

CLASSIC VEHI CLE RALLY & COUNTRY FA YRE on Su

nday 1st May Bungay Area Lio ns Cl ub is holdi in the grounds of Earsham Ha ng another Fayre ll, Bungay, NR 35 2AN Gates will open from 10am un til 5pm Entry to the pu blic £5 for adult s - under 12s fre Plenty to see e classic cars, mo both commerc torcycles, tracto ial & military ve rs & hicles. Other att on the day will ractions include trade stands, au food & craft stalls, licensed ba to jumble, child r, ren’s games, entertainers & workshops Funds raised fro m the event wi ll go to local Lio ns causes Michael Gardi

ne michaelegardin r 07599 935113 er@hotmail.co m

Hempnall Mill Centre – Luncheon Club Wednesday & Thursday from £4.50 Morning tea or coffee served on arrival from 11am A two course lunch served at 12 noon

Pick up travel can be arranged Contact Margaret Sparham (Wed and Thurs on 499766 or 499579 at other times)

Tickets £9, £12 & £14 bef & £12, £15 & £17 afte ore 31st March r 31st March

01449 2600 or email administra67 tion@eabba.org.uk

Syleham and Wingfield Village Hall (IP21 4LT)

Eastern Angles touring theatre company will present “Somewhere in England” Wed 6th April - bar open A fascinating and moving new theatre production telling the wartime story of the arrival of thousands of American GIs from the 8th US Army Air Force

Contact Alison 01379 668251 or alliemt@btinternet.com

VAN AND A MAN Move Anything, AnytiMe, Anywhere

• Conference Rooms • Weddings and Parties • Heritage • Internet Café • Café • Free High Speed WiFi Station Road, Pulham St Mary, Norfolk IP21 4QT

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28

NATIONWIDE COVERAGE  Single iteM or Full houSehold reMovAlS  SAMe dAy Service  Seven dAyS / eveningS  Student MoveS  oFFice / PiAno MoveS  Free inStAnt QuoteS  All cleArAnceS undertAken

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Combined Garage/Yard Sales @ Caston

HOPTON ART GROUP EXHIBITION

ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES Car Boot at The Barns NR17 1DJ and CAR BOOT at the Village School

by local artists at The Methodist Chapel, Nethergate St, Hopton

Sat 30th April 10 - 4 Homemade refreshments and raffle for “art” themed cake

14th May - 10am to 2pm - £5 per pitch Refreshments available at the Village Hall, School & The Barns

Proceeds to the Vidyal Trust

Fundraising from stalls for the Alzheimers Society

GISLINGHAM VA

RIETY CLUB

presents

BOOK, MUSIC & LY RICS

by LIONEL BART

GISLINGHAM VILL AGE HALL Wed 6th to Sat 9t h April at 7.30pm Tickets £9 (under 16’s £6) Box office 01379 788411

Flower Demonstrations at Roydon Village Hall

April 27th - Mellissa Sheldrake “The Tyme Machine” May 25th - Alan Smith “Floral Magic” Visitors are welcome £5

Not to

. issed..

be m

Wendy Chapman 01953 483756 – yard sales NEW BUCKENHAM

VILLAGE HALL

Alison Chapman 07748 760355 - School car boot

East H a Villag rling Old S e Hal l com chool m ittee QUIZ L N SAT 23rd AP7.3RI0pm I GHT Sat 7t bar open at h May www Adults £6 Doors and dan - 7pm .harlin starts cing and 3 £ golds Children choolh at 8.00pm all.org HASED AT: TICKETS CAN BE PURC in ased Buckenham, and can be purch Kings Store New . advance via 01953 860064

IN AID OF:

Cats Protection is holding a Spring Fayre in Wattisfield Village Hall

Sat 7th May between 11 and 3

A range of stalls, including gifts, cards, books, jewellery, cakes & preserves, Cats Protection merchandise & crafts.

Refreshments & free entry, donations welcome Anyone interested in offering a cat a home or supporting us is asked to call 01449 674584; visit our website at cats.org.uk/bury-st-edmunds or like us on facebook (Cats Protection Bury St Edmunds)

Cats Protection’s registered charity number is 203644

Chris Neave Vocal Tuition & Coaching Never had singing lessons?

Like to improve/refresh your technique?

Local teacher in Fressingfield is offering singing lessons for adults - beginners to advanced levels

Chris Neave

(MA) (MUS) (Open)

01379 586 866 07817 802 712

chris.neave@tiscali.co.uk

29

NEWCOMERS TO GET A TASTE OF WYMONDHAM’S HISTORY

Aslacton & Great Moulton

Coronation Hall Carr Lane, Great Moulton , NR152LA Friday 8th April

Newcomers to Wymondham are being offered an opportunity to sample some of the history and heritage of the town on Sunday April 24 There will be a short presentation by local history & heritage enthusiast, Georgette Vale, as an introduction to a series of monthly Walks and Talks she will be leading in the town during the spring & summer.

Roman Catholic Church Hall in Norwich Road, Wymondham, between 2 and 4pm

Flix-in-the-Stix ‘The Lady in The Va n’ 12A starring Maggie Smith & Ja mes Corden Doors open 6.30pm, film

starts 7.30pm

tickets from village shop or Zoe 07787 434474

Free admission & includes refreshments.

Whilst booking is not essential, confirmation that you plan to attend would be appreciated, via e-mail:

Georgette@ValeMail.eu or tel 07867 681839 or 01953 605434.

Cringleford & Hethersett Flower Club

More info www.wymondhamwalksandtalks.co.uk

Mon 25th April Demonstration by Anne Colby – “All Good Things” Mon 23rd May Members’ Evening – “Cakes and Ale”

WYMOND HERITAGEHWAM HISTORY AND ALKS AND TA LKS W

7.30pm at Hethersett Village Hall, Back Lane, Hethersett NR9 3JJ

ednesd

ays Meet at Abbe y Halt, Mid-N orfolk Railway . 11.15am May 4, June 1, July 6, Aug 3 & Sept 7

SPRING PLANT SALE All Saints Church, Stoke Ash, IP23 7ET

Fridays

Sat May 21st from 10am to 1pm A Grand Spring Draw - 1st prize £50 Refreshments available FREE PARKING

Meet at the M arket Cross – 11am May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug 5 & Sept 2

BANK HOLIDAY

PLANT SALE

Redgrave & Loph

CAR BOOT & SPRING FAYRE

am Fen, Near Dis

s IP22 2HX

Sunday 17 April 10

am – 3pm Over 20 award-w inning & specialis t nurseries, plus second hand tools, donated pla nts & more Adults £1.50, children

Refreshments ava

ilable & dogs on

01379 688333

free

leads welcome

Monday 2nd May 10am-12pm Tacolneston Village Hall

Car Boot pitches £5 on the day (set up from 9:30am) Refreshments, home-made cakes, raffle, games, plant stall, face painting

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30

Proceeds to Friends of Tacolneston Primary School, Tacolneston Playground Improvement Project & Tacolneston Village Hall

LG TREE SERVICES

TREE REMOVALS PRECISION DISMANTLING HEDGE CUTTING & REDUCTION Full Public Liability Insurance 24 Hour Call Out & Free Quotes E: lee.green91@icloud.com M: 07932 593320 T: 01508 813 525

GREAT ELLINGHAM PRESCHOOL’S MAY DAY FEST Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May – 11am - 4pm Great Ellingham Recreation Centre Come join us for a day out for all the family Maypole, many stalls, tombola, raffle, outside bar, bbq, games & much more Contact: gepsfund@outlook.com

MILITARIA FAIR

Thetford Leisure Centre Croxton Rd, Thetford IP24 1JD

Sunday May 22nd

10 til 2 Admission £3

07596 436260 www.norfolkfairs.com

LL RICKINGHA SHOW Y WA MODEL RAIL Railway Society istrict Model

with Diss & D

- 10am - 4pm SAT 7th MAY , IP22 1HD VILLAGE HALL RICKINGHALL ildren £1 , Admission £5

ch accompanied g on site

rkin Ample free pa

cess & disabled ac

eams!) all day (& ice cr Refreshments r rides & n engine traile Model tractio s play area children’ Show

ailway ghall Model R Google: Rickin 0 188472 Enquiries 0793

Hall ham Village New Bucken pril at 7.30 Wed 20th A

MPANY ES THEATRE CO AND” GL EASTERN ANGL EN OMEWHERE IN PRESENTS “S 86 3 0572 live on 0195

Enquiries: C

ALL SAINTS CH

URCH, OLD BU CKENHAM SUNDAY 8th M AY at 3pm

A concert by CHANTER’S JI GGE rm

a lively duo perfo

ing traditional & folk music with ancient & modern instrum ents TI

CKETS £5 (£15 for families) from 01953 86 0845 (inc Tea/C akes) WRENINGHAM VIL

LAGE HALL

PLANT STALL

Sat 14th May 10 am to 12 noon Wreningham ch urch car park For those wanting to stock up your ga rden do drop in and supp ort this stall There will also be a cake stall In aid of Upper Tas Valle y Benefice expenses

“QUIZ & SUPPER” Friday 15th April – 7.15 for 7.30 pm

Wreningham Village Hall

£5 to include a light supper Teams of up to 6 people (or come and join a team on the night) Number in advance to Christine on 01508 488123 In aid of Ashwellthorpe and Wreningham church expenses

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31

Mustard Theatre Company’s Spring production Ten Times Two – The Eternal Courtship

Come Celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 Saturday 23rd April @ 7.30pm Stradbroke High School IP21 5JN

Sat 23rd April - Wingfield Barns, Church Road, Diss, IP21 5RA 7.30pm Tickets £8 (no concessions)

www.mustardtheatrecompany.org.uk

Tickets discounted at just *£7 each*

From Horham P.O., Rolfes Butchers Stradbroke Stradbroke Library & Laxfield P.O. Or by post with a sae to: J. Baker, Poppies, Church St, Stradbroke IP21 5HS

Cheques payable to Stradbroke & District Branch Royal British Legion

*Celebration Refreshments Included * Draw tickets on sale

More info?

Ring 07775 665 733 Proceeds to RBL Charity Funds The Royal British Legion is a registered charity No. 219279

GRAN S

LE SALE

Lincoln Hall, Hingham 20p a mission e ri -a- ra s a es tombola, raffle draw & refreshments uckenham ouse Ri in for the isable incorporatin Carria e rivin Charity No 107 210

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COME VISIT THE TRUE HOME OF DAD’S ARMY! Open 10am - 3pm Saturdays 27th Feb to 26th Nov & Tuesdays in Jul, Aug, Sept & school holidays Tours and visits at other times by prior arrangement

Tel. 07467 175782 to book your tour!

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Out & About

34

The story of a beautiful pond Client brief: to create a beautiful pond from scratch in a natural style. The aim was to attract wildlife and for the new pond to be as natural as possible and blend in with its surroundings. Within a year the wildlife had moved in. By creating the right sort of pond we gave this client almost instant results

I would just like to say how much we have enjoyed the pond. It is just how I imagined and amazing how the plants have matured so quickly, it’s hard to believe you only finished it in April. We have spent hours photographing the dragonflies and watching the fish.

So many lovely comments.

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Design • Installation • Maintenance • Pond Cleaning • Planting Advice

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planning applications & building regulations submissions alteration works, extensions & conversions architectural design consultation & drawings specialist in listed buildings & conservation work site supervision & management excellent local knowledge and contacts domestic & commercial projects

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36

• Brickweaving • Patios • Driveways • Carparks • Concreting • Tarmac

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British Made Shutters

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07753 573774

The Boxford Ghost A

s regular as clockwork, old Jock would go down to The Swan in Boxford for a pint on a Thursday night.

Jock used to complain that each week when he rode his bike home there was always a white figure sitting on the wall of the bridge with its legs crossed.

“Don’t talk so ruddy daft,” his friend, Tickles, would say, “of course there hain’t anything like that. You don’t believe in ghosts do you?”

“Whether I do or not, I see him every time and he sits there just the same, in the same place,” replied Jock.

Well, it was on a night not long after that when Tickles had been grinding up some barley for pig meal with his old Standard Fordson and a belt drive onto his Bamford 4c grinding and crushing mill. He’d been putting the barley in the top and, of course, the flour had risen up in the air and covered everything.

Tickles was working pretty late, because it was harvest time, and when he looked at his reflection in the old bit of tin that hung in the cart lodge he suddenly had a prank up his sleeve.

It was already half past nine, so Tickles thought he’d go down to the bridge wall and give Jock a real fright.

“Stupid old fool,” he chuckled to himself, “thinking that there are such things as ghosts.”

This he duly did - all covered in white barley meal

dust, his trilby, his eyebrows, his face and all his clothing.

At closing time there Tickles sat on the wall, covered in white barley meal dust, with his legs crossed. Sure enough, down the hill came Jock on his bike.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh!” He cried. “Oh dear, oh dear!” And off he shot like a dose of salts.

Well, Tickles just couldn’t wait to get down The Swan that next week, but strangely enough Jock never said a word about it.

When closing time came and he turned to go home, Tickles couldn’t help but say something.

“Well Jock, boy, I expect you’ll see your ghost again tonight,” he said.

“Oh,” he replied. “Last week was terrible, terrible. Oh! It was really horrible… there was two of ‘em there!”

At that, Tickles’s face went whiter than his barley meal. He never let on to Jock, but that completely changed his view about ghosts!

Story told by Neil Lanham, whose uncle was Tickles.

Neil has collected traditional songs and stories all his life and has over 100 DVDs available on his website www.oraltraditions.co.uk or phone him for a brochure on 01379 890568.

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37

Home & Garden

Installation services & maintenance of all types of security & communications systems, covering East Anglia

“After having our iron gates stolen, Malthouse Security came highly recommended.

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The Dell Caravan Park in Thurston

Please Call 01379 890 606 or sales@malthouse-security.co.uk www.malthouse-security.co.uk 38

Home & Garden

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Contact us for a no-obligation quote and see how we compare 39

OnYour

PLOT

A WELCOME RETURN TO COLOUR

LET’S GET STARTED It’s time to get serious with our gardening gloves. As the weather gets milder, we will see our gardens grow brighter.

Sow the following flower seeds to ensure your garden is as colourful as can be over the coming months: • Cat Grass • Cerinthes • Larkspur • Sweet Peas • Sunflowers • Calendulas • Cosmos • Blue Woodruff • Marigolds • Nasturtiums

PD Garden Services Ditch and pond cleaning/clearing Garden clearance/maintenance Small tree work Hedge trimming/removal Fencing Gutter cleaning Gravel driveways Log splitter available • Fully insured

Call Paul 01379 652903 07827015215 pdgardenservices@aol.com

40

For more instant colour, weather permitting, you should now be able to plant out: • Dahlia tubers • Gladioli • Pansies • Chrysanthemums raised from cuttings • Autumn-sown Sweet Pea seedlings • More tender summer bedding plants towards the end of May if the weather is not too wet

KICK START PRODUCING YOUR PRODUCE Fruit: Many fruit trees, including apple, pear, plum and cherry, will start flowering soon. A thing of both beauty and delicious taste needs to be properly tended in spring especially, so mulch around them with well-rotted manure and keep an eye out for any pests.

Also, cut back your summer and autumn-fruiting raspberries to about two feet from the base, and pinch out the tips of grape vine shoots that are two leaves beyond a developing fruit “truss” to encourage growth.

Vegetables: Now you can sow beetroot, runner beans, sweet peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radishes, carrots, swede, peas, salad crops, winter cabbages and cucumber. Onion sets can be planted when the soil is dry and sow marrows, courgettes, pumpkins, squashes, sweetcorn and tomatoes in the greenhouse. Be sure to cut out any rhubarb flowers that may appear near the base to prevent them stealing energy from the plant.

Herbs: Sow dill, fennel, hyssop, parsley and thyme in late spring. Carefully thin any sowing you made last month if necessary.

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TIME TO LEAVE IT HANGING Finally! We are warming up and we are seeing some long-awaited colour outside our windows.

Hanging baskets sometimes get overlooked by the gardener, but a good hanging basket is certainly never overlooked by the passer by.

It’s a simple method to give your home immediate curb appeal.

Why not try doubling the colour with patio containers too?

There are all sorts of slow-release fertilisers and water storing mechanisms available to help make sure your baskets and containers last as long as possible. Ask your local garden centre for the best option for your plants.

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Garden Jottings from Ken

ike people, pots and containers come in all shapes and sizes; tall and thin, short and squat, some a little rotund, others a bit shallow, but whatever the dimensions it’s what’s inside that counts!

It’s a matter of personal choice, you can grow anything in a container, from tiny alpines to enormous trees, it’s all a question of size - if a large plant is to remain healthy it’s going to require a generous-sized pot or barrel to maintain the balance between roots and top growth.

There are several advantages to containers, one is that you can grow the plants you want regardless of the soil conditions in your garden, rhododendrons, camellias and pieris are good examples, thriving only in acidic soils. Another bonus is their portability, allowing you to change their position when it suits (even moving them with you to a new house), and tender plants such as cannas, bananas, palms and the variegated Cordyline ‘Torbay Dazzler’ can be on display when they’re at their best, then tucked away in a sheltered site or moved under cover for winter protection.

You might like to grow tubs of tasty herbs or vegetables close to the kitchen where you can nip out and grab some fresh flavours, or how about filling a few pots with bold and colourful bedding plants such as geraniums, cascading petunias, fuchsias and many others, to match your hanging baskets. Plants such as these are only grown for one season, so a multi-purpose compost will generally be suitable, but be aware that this will only contain plant food for about six weeks, so you can either incorporate a slow-release feed when planting, or

use a liquid feed when you’re watering, and never allow the compost to dry out completely!

We stock a light and fluffy professional-grade multi-purpose compost (no green waste), 3 x 60litre bags for just £10. Covering the compost surface with a good layer of mini-bark chippings, or topping off with a decorative gravel not only looks smart, but will also reduce evaporation during the summer.

Permanent plantings of shrubs, perennials, fruit and ornamental trees are generally best if grown in a loam (soil) based compost such as John Innes, which will retain nutrient and moisture far better than its lightweight counterparts, and being heavier it helps reduce the risk of damage to your plants and pots as they’re less likely to be blown over. All containers must have adequate drainage to avoid the compost from becoming saturated and to help prevent pots from cracking in winter, this can be achieved by placing crocks or gravel into the bottom of the pot when planting (up to a quarter high) and raising the container from the ground onto pot feet during the coldest months.

For established plants in containers now is a good time to refresh them by clearing away a generous layer of soil from the top surface, adding a suitable granular fertilizer, and replacing the earth with new compost and mulch all ready for the coming season.

Elegant containers can create focal points, highlight pathways, frame entrances, and generally enhance an area - and with so many shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, there’s a choice to suit any garden style!

Cheers, Ken

The Garden Enclosure at Banham

All types of plants contained!

INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRE & GIFT SHOP 01953 888043 www.gardenenclosure.co.uk

Open through out Inspiring plant selections, plant sourcing and garden advice, Bank Holiday gardening and floristry sundries, pet supplies, gifts… and more! week ends Find us at Banham Zoo, NR16 2HE - outside Zoo ticket kiosks 43 Open Thursday to Monday 9.30am to 5pm (10am to 4pm Nov to Feb)

Tour of Britain legend joins Diss Cyclathon

I

t was over 60 years ago that Derek Buttle competed in the first ever Tour of Britain. But despite being 85-years-young, he has not hung up his cycle clips yet!

Derek Buttle is currently gearing up to ride the Nine Towns Sportive at this year’s Diss Cyclathon.

In recent years cycling has become an incredibly popular sport, with top riders achieving celebrity status. British riders Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are now household names. But that wasn’t always the case for UK cycling...

Although the first Tour de France was staged in 1903, British cyclists did not ride in it until 1937. In the UK at that time there was only track racing as the British governing body, the NCU, had banned road racing for fear that the police would drive all cyclists off of the road.

It was not until 1951 that the Daily Express sponsored the very first Tour of Britain. Cycling as a sport in the UK was almost unheard of at the time and it was not until men like Derek made a concerted effort to establish it that things started to change.

Now Derek and his friends are looking forward to the Cyclathon on June 19, where they will be cycling through the towns of Diss, Harleston, Beccles, Bungay, Loddon, Long Stratton, Wymondham, Attleborough and Thetford.

In 1952 Derek was instrumental in setting up the country’s first ever professional cycling team. Having ridden for Dayton Cycles as an independent, he turned full professional and rode for both Hercules and Claud Butler.

To join them in riding the Nine Towns tour, and raise money for the East Anglia Air Ambulance, go to www.disscyclathon.org to register.

Cyclists can choose from three routes, or 25, 50 or 100 miles.

Today’s top riders owe a debt of gratitude to him and his fellow early professionals.

Diss Cyclathon will also hold stalls, a beer tent, music and a fun fair.

Anglia Chimney Sweeps • Power sweeping for a thorough clean • Smoke draft test with every sweep • Fully trained and insured • Insurance-recognised certificates

Tel 07711 458575 Or 01359 221893

www.angliachimneysweeps.co.uk

44

Riding for Claud Butler in The Madison.

Bottom Left: The Hercules training squad for the Tour de France

SELF STORAGE near Diss

Clean, Dry Storage Barns All types of storage considered Business, Domestic, Caravans, Cars, Furniture, etc.

Owners on premises Reasonable prices

Please call 07771 780 949

Home & Garden

Broadland ENV Ltd OIL STORAGE TANK INSTALLERS

Oil tanks supplied & installed Base preparation Old tanks removed

Call Rob on

01379 677126 07788 482422 www.broadlandtanks.co.uk

Barn Stored Seasoned Hardwood Oak, Ash, Sycamore, Birch Beech Etc...

Shelfanger Firewood M: 07802 186347 T: 01379 687646 E: r.aves@icloud.com

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Professional Fruit Tree Pruning NIGEL PAYNE

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Specialising in restoring old fruit trees Also wall trained and espalier Apples and Pears pruned October to April Plums and other ‘stone’ fruit when in leaf

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TREE FELLAS Professional and accredited Tree Surgeons With 20 years experience we can cater for all your arboricultural needs

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TRADITIONAL MOLE CATCHER.

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THE LADY GARDENER Lady on your own?

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Home & Garden

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WATER ERVICE

Specialists in Water Softening & Filtration

25 years ago we teamed with Harvey Softeners, manufactures of the prestigious duplex (non-electric) super, efficient block salt softener. Still our most popular. We also supply & install other types particularly the Nuwave Range- all British made and very affordable.

So why have a water softener installed?

Hello! I am Trevor, founder of the business 35 years ago.

Still family owned by my son.

We specialise in supply, installation and servicing of water softeners & filters to the good people of Norfolk & Suffolk.

• To stop scale and protect all plumbing & heating appliances • To save money on replacement items • To stop scum and save on soaps & cleaning materials • To generally improve your lifestyle

To find out more and arrange a free survey & estimate Call us on 01603 713606 Or visit www.ukwaterservices.com

46

MiniMax M2

Nuwave NC 180

Bathrooms Kitchens Design & Installation

Visit one of our fabulous showrooms Bathrooms We are proud to be Norfolk and Suffolk’s leading bathroom retailer and installer. Many of our customers want bathrooms that are not only practical but the perfect space in which to relax after a long day. Whatever you’re looking for, we offer a free survey to help you make the most of your space.

Kitchens We know that your kitchen is often the heart of your home - and that every home is different. Because we are independent, we can offer you a wider choice of products.

We’ll design your kitchen to be as unique as you are, with details tailored to your lifestyle.

We offer all these great benefits

Visit n-b-k.co.uk to take a peek at our showrooms and latest projects.

Norwich Bathroom and Kitchen Showroom 2 Heigham Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4TE Tel. 01603 219957 | Email. sales@n-b-k.co.uk

Long Stratton Bathroom Showroom 2 Cooper Court, The Street, Long Stratton NR15 2XG Tel. 01508 531188 | Email. sales@n-b-k.co.uk

Diss Bathroom and Kitchen Showroom Carmel Works, Park Road, Diss IP22 4AS Tel. 01379 640812 | Email. diss@n-b-k.co.uk

Thorpe End Bathroom Showroom Plumstead Road, Thorpe End, Norwich NR13 5AJ Tel. 01603 219957 | Email. sales@n-b-k.co.uk

47

He doesn’t have a Scale Problem...

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Water Softener Sales & Installations Service, Maintenance & Repairs Salt Deliveries Drinking Water Systems Filter Cartridges & Taps

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48

Est 1981

Call us today

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Exercise your brain cells 1

2

7

3

4

5

8

9

11

6

10

12

13 14

15

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18

19 21

23

ACROSS 7 Generally speaking a reasonable attitude to take (4) 8 Go in reverse, climb to a lower level and give way (4, 4) 9 Horizontal segment of an upright body (8) 10 Face of a script set to print (4) 11 Fatigued by overwork or dissipation (5) 13 Raised to prevent entry or allow it (7) 15 Found a commercial enterprise to fire an engine (5, 2) 17 Calling of one who traversed the globe in 80 days (5)

22

24

20 Placed on top of a tomb perhaps (4) 21 Unoccupied and absent so indolently pass the day (4, 4) 23 Highly fashionable and in the latest mode (2, 2, 4) 24 Usually mentioned advantageously in the will (4) DOWN 1 Bran mixture given to a horse (4) 2 Complain and grumble upon the moor (6) 3 Wherein live those who inhabit (5) 4 Gathering together of interest and

profit (7) 5 Responsible for policy and content of a periodical (6) 6 Matched pair in a suite or suit (3-5) 12 At home on the range these animals can be found (8) 14 Modern operetta (7) 16 Suburban development rife in the 20s and 30s (6) 18 Almost total lack of reaction to any stimulus (6) 19 Sound of a summons from a page (5) 22 Invisible hub on which a planet turns (4)

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 7. Fear, 8. Exchange, 9. Eve, 10. Calm, 11. Dial, 13. Inhale, 14. Noddle, 15. Piston, 18. Cutler, 20. Form, 21. Gale, 22. Sir, 24. Diameter, 25. Hoot DOWN: 1. Heaven, 2. Pry, 3. Debate, 4. Acumen, 5. Candidate, 6. Agnail, 12. Pantomime, 16. Ironic, 17. Negate, 18. Celery, 19. Editor, 23. Why

Answers in the next issue

20

49

Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design CAR REVIEW

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist Twitter @carwriteups www.carwriteups.co.uk

S

eldom do I get to evaluate a vehicle that ticks all the right boxes, but the new generation Volvo XC90 is one such car.

Not only does the all-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle (SUV) look good enough to eat, it almost certainly has the finest sub-Bentley class cabin on the market. It also drives splendidly.

styling and seven-seat flexibility that made it a runaway success.

Many years on, the fresh XC90 is the first of Volvo’s vehicles to carry the Swedish company’s more

The premium SUV arrived in UK dealerships mid-last year, and I was privileged enough to be at its pre-dealer media launch in Spain. I also had the pleasure of driving the XC90 on our British roads more recently.

I can’t get enough of the XC90, because it has always been an extraordinary model.

The previous variant was launched in 2002 and offered a rare fusion of eye-catching

Available to view Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm

(01379) 671 168

50

Malting’s Barn Hinderclay Road Wattisfield Diss Suffolk IP22 1NF

conspicuous iron mark, which has the iconic arrow allied with the slanting slash across the grille. The symbol introduces a completely new, individual and self-assured face.

The SUV’s grander bonnet, the beltline and the honed shoulders linking with the smart rear lights are other arresting physiognomies.

Within the car, there’s a tablet-like touch screen control console. It is near button-free and allows you to read internet-based services.

It also helps establish an interior that’s up-to-date, cheerful and orderly. Amongst the easy leather and spotless metal finishes, the unpretentious seven-seater features seats that free up cabin space, both in the second and third rows. The uncomplicated practicality is perfectly in line with what you might envisage from the Scandinavians.

Behind the wheel, the XC90 shows

off all the qualities that made the original model one of Volvo’s most lucrative cars ever. On the road, the D5 R-Design turbo diesel which I drove, unites magnificent handling and luxury with high-class get-you-there competence.

The automatic gearbox performs impeccably and, for a large, comparatively tall vehicle, there is very little body-roll noticeable when cornering. Truly, the dynamic diesel powered machine has the dexterity of a much slighter and lower car.

In addition, with a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds, it gives an adrenaline rush that, let’s face it, is fundamental to genuine driving pleasure.

The XC90 does it all really. It’s textbook-perfect for a family; plus it looks great for business. It’s just the thing for anyone needing a safe, sporty, premium SUV for all seasons.

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Raven Stoves

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QUALITY STOVES EXCLUSIVE RANGE GREAT ADVICE

51

Home & Garden

7 SEATS FOR FAMILY LIFE.

52

SIMPSONS MOTOR GROUP 01493 809815 East Anglia’s largest motorhome supplier

LOOKING FOR A NEW OR USED ŠKODA CAR, MOTORHOME OR CARAVAN? Simpsons in Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, is the family-run, one-stop shop for all your motoring needs.

With more than 50 years of experience, Simpsons prides itself on exceptional service and aftercare only a family-run business can give.

Simpsons Škoda has earned the retailer of the year award four times in five years while Simpsons Motor Caravan Centre has expanded into the caravan market having built its name across the country for selling new and quality used motorhomes.

Steve & Brinley - Call for motorhome sales

SERVICING PRICES Motorcaravans MOT’s: £54.85 Habitation Service: £199 Servicing from: £159

Caravans

Habitation Service

(Incorporating Mechanical Service)

Single axle £235 twin axle £255

Simpsons has also been appointed a Fiat Professional dealership, carrying out servicing, maintenance, repairs and warranty work on Fiat motorhomes and commercial vehicles.

Fully Approved Accident Repair Shop for Motorhomes and Caravans

Lee & Darren - Call for car sales

SERVICING PRICES Cars MOTs: £39 Minor Service: £139 Cambelt: £299 Brake Fluid Change: £49

Find us at: Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 0LN MOTORCARAVAN: www.simpsonsmotorcaravans.com ŠKODA: www.simpsonsskoda.com 53

BIG NAME FABRICS AND INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE AT THE LARGEST HOME DEPARTMENT STORE IN EAST ANGLIA Sofas & Chairs / Dining & Cookshop / Beds & Bedroom / Linens & Soft Furnishings / Carpets & Curtains Lighting & Gallery / Restaurant & Gifts and everything that makes your house a home.

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54

Collecting Royal Worcester Royal Worcester is a British brand known for its history, provenance and classically English collections of porcelain.

pickle dishes. Larger items can also be found, such as dessert plates, chestnut baskets, sauce boats and larger mask jugs – all decorated in under-glaze blue or polychrome painted.

The production of Worcester soft-paste porcelain began in 1751 and continued, under several different owners, until mid-2009. It is one of the oldest and most highly regarded of English porcelain, and is very collectable.

In 1783, the factory was purchased by Thomas Flight.

Simply decorated wares were produced during this period, particularly fluted tea wares, indicating changes in taste and fashion.

The factory was founded in Worcester on the banks of the river Severn by Dr John Wall, a physician, and his partner William Davies, an apothecary. The pair developed a soft-paste porcelain containing soapstone that could be delicately moulded to produce the fine wares that are so highly collectable today.

George III granted it a royal warrant in 1788, following a visit to the company, and it became known as the “Royal Porcelain Works”. From then till about 1813, when Martin Barr joined Flight, some of the most charming tea wares were produced. Much of the items were marked by the incised “B” “B for Barr or the impressed “F B & B” mark mar for Flight, Barr and Barr.

Many items from this period iod are decorated in underglaz blue,, depicting oriental glazed iental tal

Delicate De repeat patterns were popular at this time, as were gilded motifs and highlights. highligh As technology improved – particularly more controllable kiln temperatures – items of greater style, delicacy delicac and sophistication were produced.

Some of these early 19th century Worcester porcelains are stunning, with crisp mouldings and richly decorated with vibrant enamels. Worcester produced some of the very finest porcelain at this time and such pieces are highly sought after.

scenes, emulating the Chinese designs which were popular in England in the 18th century. Among the most common patterns are the three flowers, the fence, the mother and child and the fisherman.

There are still many opportunities for the collector to find interesting pieces of Worcester. For items to have survived, some from well before the Battle of Trafalgar and the French Revolution, is quite astonishing. The enthusiastic collector should not be discouraged from buying an item that may have a slight imperfection; these will be more affordable until that perfect piece can take its place.

Most of the under-glaze blue patterns are transferprinted, whereas the polychrome patterns and designs are hand-painted.

The Antiques Fair at Dunston Hall always has an amazing selection of early Worcester, why not pop along to the next fair and see …..

Interesting items to look for are tea bowls, coffee cups, cream jugs (the so-called sparrow-beak) and

Thanks, Susan

Next antiques fair is Sunday 10 April at the Dunston Hall Hotel, A140 Ipswich Rd, Norwich, NR14 8PQ

www.norfolkfairs.com

07596 436260

55

Home & Garden

Smylee Pets Everything for your pet

at prices that will make you smile!

First for Riding We believe that everybody should have the chance to enjoy horses, regardless of age, ability or background

Huge selection at discount prices Food & accessories for pets, poultry, horses, farm animals, reptiles and aquatic

Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm Sat 9am - 1pm

01953 861266 Heath Road, Banham, NR16 2DG www.smyleepets.co.uk

COMPETITIVE PRICES • SPECIAL DISCOUNTS £10 TASTER SESSIONS • And much more . . .

EYE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, CLINT FARM, CLINT ROAD, EYE IP23 7JE 01379 870303 info@eyeequestrian.co.uk www.eyeequestrian.co.uk

For a first class window cleaning service

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Using the latest high-reach water-fed poles system, we can leave your windows gleaming

Window frames, sills & doors cleaned on time every time Professional, friendly, reliable & local

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Pets: The importance of vaccination Young puppies and kittens are at the most risk of contracting infectious diseases that cause them harm. Their small size and naïve immune system means they are less equipped to deal with such challenges.

For this reason vets always recommend pet owners complete a primary vaccination course before allowing their new puppy or kitten out in environments where the offending bacteria or virus may be found, and before they are allowed to mix with other animals that may already be harbouring disease.

The primary vaccination course in a puppy usually involves two injections, two to four weeks apart, which they can start when they are eight weeks old. Their immune system will respond one or two weeks after the completion of the course, meaning that the puppy will be able to fight disease if exposed to infection.

flu as well as the virus which causes feline leukaemia.

A kitten’s immune system has full strength against these diseases between one and two weeks after the primary course is completed. Again the immunity must be maintained with yearly “boosters”.

It is important that animals are in full health when they receive vaccinations. If the immune system is being diverted to another purpose it will not respond as well to the vaccine.

Keeping up to date with vaccines is the easiest way to protect your pets from life threatening illnesses, so please speak to your vet for more information.

With thanks to Amelia Duncanson mrcvs from Uplands Way Vets Ltd

Vets commonly vaccinate puppies against distemper, hepatitis (caused by canine adenovirus), parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis. All of these diseases can be life-threatening, so it is important that all puppies are vaccinated against them.

The immune status of dogs then needs to be topped up yearly with a “booster” injection.

Kittens receive their first injections at nine weeks old and complete the primary course at 12 weeks. This covers kittens for the complex of diseases that bring about cat

!

ED OVow on 2AB M VE s n P22 HA linic i am I tre) WEr Diss c essinghrden Cenew,

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Home & Garden

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Contact us for a free consultation and quotation

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We would also like to offer all pet owners & readers of Village People Magazine a Free Pet Food Sample. No purchase necessary, simply complete the below form & post to Trophy Pet Foods East Anglia, 8 Rydal Close, Stowmarket IP14 1QX. Alternatively email your Name, Address, Phone Number & Pet Details to the above email address. We will then contact you to arrange to drop off these free samples for your pets to try. No cash alternative.

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Trophy Pet Foods are Not Tested On Animals – Guaranteed

59

Read all about It:

T

Accidents

In the second of this new series of articles, Sarah Doig delves into our region’s on’s old newspapers to find out how transport accidents were reported in the 19th century.

oday a rail accident is likely to be covered in the newspapers by many photographs, giving an instant idea of the devastation.

Our regional newspapers in the 19th century, however, contained no photographs and very few illustrations.

With a few notable exceptions (including the horrific head-on collision of two trains at Thorpe St Andrew in 1874), many of the railway accidents were reported in a fairly low-key manner, even if a death had occurred.

The Suffolk Chronicle of 26 August 1854 carried this report of a fatal accident on the Norfolk Railway: An old gentleman named Hewitt of Surlingham, took a return ticket from Brundall to Yarmouth; and in the evening, in his anxiety to return as early as possible, he determined not to wait for one of the ordinary trains stopping at Brundall, but got into a special excursion train. This train did not stop at any station between Yarmouth and Norwich, except Reedham.

The article goes on to describe how, despite the efforts of his fellow passengers, the old man opened the door of the moving train as it passed Brundall station and jumped out. He fell under the wheels and was “almost instantly killed”.

In December 1863, the same newspaper reported the death of a farm labourer named Henry Jude – said to be a sober and industrious man – at Garvestone, through which one branch of the Great Eastern Railway ran.

Mr Jude was crossing the railway track with a horse and cart on his way to fetch a load of turnips. For some reason, he had not noticed that the Norwich express on its way to Dereham was approaching the crossing point. The engine driver was not able to stop in time and struck the farm worker who was thrown over a fence into an adjoining field.

Our local newspapers at the beginning A Daimler motor car of the 1900s, in particular, contain a number of reports of accidents involving motor cars. This was an era where an ever increasing number of cars were appearing on the roads, alongside horse and carts. Even with the relatively slow top speeds the cars could reach, there were still pedestrian casualties as well as collisions bet between vehicles.

The Ipswich Journal of 26 May 1900 contained a re report of an “accident through a motor-car”: On Wednesday afternoon a party from Colchester we went through Saxmundham in a motor-car, which fright frightened a horse drawing a rolley [wagon] laden with bricks bricks. Mr R Shead, one of the occupants of the car, alight alighted and ran forward to hold the horse whilst the ca car passed. No sooner did it approach than the horse again became restive, and knocked down Mr Shead who had the misfortune to be run over by one of the wheels of the rolley.

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Raililw ilwa wayy accidents made for good illustrations in the newspapers

Sarah Doig offers a professional family, house & local history research service. For more information visit www.ancestral-heritage.co.uk

Home & Garden

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Home & Garden

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01379 644639 0791 60 67

WIN

TICKETS TO NEWMARKET NIGHTS! 16 tickets in total to four concerts this summer at Newmarket Races to giveaway Win TWO

Win TWO

pairs of tickets

pairs of tickets

The Corrs

Will Young

Set to be the first act of the summer, The Corrs will be bringing chart hits from the last 20 years to the stage, such as Runaway, Breathless and What Can I Do? The siblings return from a 10-year hiatus, having sold over 30 million albums worldwide, with a brand new album, a sold-out arena tour and a live performance here at Newmarket Racecourse.

In 2015, Will Young’s sixth studio album, 85% Proof, became his fourth number one album. He’ll be bringing songs from the album to the stage this summer, as well as his debut single – one of the bestselling UK singles of all time – Evergreen.

Friday 17 June 2016

Friday 24 June 2016

Win TWO

Win TWO

pairs of tickets Busted

pairs of tickets Tears For Fears

Friday 22 July 2016

Friday 29 July 2016

It’s the reunion they said could never happen - even the members themselves admitted it. But Busted are back and the original trio will be touring this summer for the first time in 12 years. Matt, James and Charlie will be playing all their greatest hits together live including: What I go to School for, Crashed the Wedding, Air Hostess and Year 3000.

Leading the “Second British Invasion” of pop music in the mid-eighties, Tears for Fears tasted mass success with hit singles including Change, Pale Shelter, Mad World, Everybody wants to Rule the World and Shout – all of which they will be playing to the Newmarket crowd this summer.

To be in with a chance of winning one of eight pairs of tickets to Newmarket Nights, simply email your name, address and daytime contact number with the artist you would like to see as the email subject to comeptition@village-people.info THE CORRS, WILL YOUNG, BUSTED, TEARS FOR FEARS

www.newmarket.thejockeyclub.co.uk

Readers may enter the competition for more than one artist but must send emails separately, otherwise entry will be void. Competition closes 31 May 2016. Usual Village People rules apply

Home & Garden

Sales & Lettings Agents

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We offer a rent guarantee scheme that is accepted on any type of tenancy from as little as £10.00 per month.

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Offering over 35 years of experience, why not give us a call or pop in to our office for a coffee and a chat with August and Sam.

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Home & Garden Oil Tanks Supplied and installed Pipe Work Gauges Fuel Pumps Spares 24 hour call out

Established over 30 years

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All types of pitched and flat roofs

Felt & rubber flat roofs

Please call Paul Curtis 07540 085736 or 01508 578633 www.pacroofing.co.uk

Lead & brick work Chimney rebuilds Fascia Guttering

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Home & Garden

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FoR all youR REmoval & SToRaGE REquiREmENTS

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Providing a

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3 White Horse Street, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0BJ

Chestnut House, 12 Progress Way, Langton Green, Eye, Suffolk, IP32 7HU And 31 Redenhall Road, Harleston, IP20 9HL

CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS Newman & Co Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors have been serving local businesses and individuals in East Anglia for over 20 years.

We offer a range of services to suit our clients’ individual needs that include: * Tax returns advice and planning * Preparation of annual accounts

Small Business Specialist Tax, Accounts, PAYE, VAT & Self Assessment

* Bookkeeping services and management accounts preparation * Business start-up advice * Payroll services including real-time processing * VAT returns and advice We provide an efficient and friendly service through our professionally qualified staff and believe that there is a real value in developing long-standing professional relationships with our clients.

please contact us to arrange a free initial consultation.

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Lilac balloon midi skirt New Look £24.99

Skirting Around

Let those legs see the light of day again in this fabulous collection of skirts and dresses esses

Camel skirt River Island £28

Stonewear Reversible skirt White Stuff £47.50

Patterned dress with black belt TK Maxx £29.99

Shell pink mesh stripe midi skirt New Look £24.99

Competitive price in a multitude of colours

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Completely bespoke, totally Quayside

For our brochure or further info contact

Quayside Conservatories - specialist manufacturers of high quality hardwood conservatories, orangeries, lantern roofs, garden rooms, windows and doors

www.quayside-conservatories.co.uk

01502 714512 or visit our website

Leaf print linen skirt M&Co £29

Dress seven Phase Eight £275

Space dye skirt F&F at Tesco £14

Button front skirt Laura Ashley £60

Kimball sleeveless creep shirt dress Primark £13

M&S Collection denim dress Marks & Spencer £39.50

N N Smart/casual, Footwear, Accessories

New stock arriving now Stockists of Ultimate Formal Hire for that forthcoming wedding Mon - Fri 9.30 - 5 and Sat 9.30 - 4

25 St Nicholas St, Diss

01379 652575

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Home & Garden Visit our showroom now

u reme

Family Firm Est 1998

Bathrooms and Kitchens

WE OFFER A FULL FITTING SERVICE Open Monday - Friday & Saturday morning

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KITCHEN SENSE of Harleston

62 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BZ

Do You HATE IRONING? Don’t get De-Pressed

Efficient, friendly, professional service with a quick turn around.

el: ax:

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web site: email: staff

opening Hours Mon-Fri: 9am to 5pm sat: 9am to 12 noon

Ironing • Dry Cleaning Laundry • Alterations Repairs

Ironed 4 U, 28 Victoria Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4HW phone: 01379 643291 email: ironed4u-diss@hotmail.co.uk

itchen sense co itchen sense co

J L Roofing

digital and litho BUSINESS CARDS FLYER CARDS LEAFLETS POSTERS LETTERHEADS COMPLIMENT SLIPS

NCR (carbonless) BROCHURES BOOKLETS SMALL MAGAZINES LAMINATION/ BINDING

The Primrose Press TIVETSHALL ST. MARY Proprietor: Paul Playford

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Flat Roofing Specialist CALL VE JAMIE LOREE FOR A F ION QUOTAT All work guaranteed and fully insured

TILED ROOFS SLATE ROOFS FLAT ROOFS

LEAD WORK CHIMNEYS REBUILT RE-POINTING

01379 870193 / 01449 676433 / 07547 594699

Home & Garden

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BEAUTIFUL GARDEN STUDIOS, MADE IN SUFFOLK Stylish, spacious and strong the Ultra provides the perfect office or retreat, all year round.

Three beautiful ranges of garden office, available in seven sizes and loved nationwide.

For our brochure or to arrange your free, no obligation survey contact us on 0800 242 5559 or visit our website www.smartgardenoffices.co.uk

W&M SMITH

For all those special occasions in your life...

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Solutions for home & business • New PC & Laptops • Reconditioned laptops • Inks toners & consumables • Cables, Accessories and Peripherals

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Tel: 01449 711014 Fax: 01449 711815 enquiries@wandmsmith.co.uk

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New Dereham Store NOW OPEN 7 Market Street, Wymondham, NR18 0AJ 53 Market Place, Swaffham, PE37 7LE 9 Market Place, Downham Mkt, PE38 9DG 11 Nelson Place, Dereham, NR19 1EA

Tel: 01953 859753 Tel: 01760 336122 Tel: 01366 387970 Tel: 01362 696868

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71

Home & Garden

&

Diss Bed Centre Furniture Warehouse F A M I L Y

O W N E D

F O R

O V E R

3 8

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Divan beds - mattresses bedsteads - furniture - bunk beds - kids beds - sofas sofa beds electric beds - rise and recline chairs and much much more Sawmills Road,Diss, Norfolk IP22 4GG

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www.dissbedcentre.co.uk STOCK ITEMS SAME DAY/ NEXT DAY DELIVERY

72

LOIRE COLLECTION

Home & Garden

EYE’S GEMS

We’re a small family-led business making our own delicious chocolates and light lunches, and selling great gifts and beautiful greetings cards in the pretty market town of Eye, Suffolk…

Our Chocolatier Helen Fraser launched Cocoa Mama, The Dove Valley Chocolate Co., in Eye, Suffolk back in 2010, when she retired from the hectic world of journalism. She worked tirelessly developing recipes and designs for each chocolate, creating flavours requested by customers she met at farmers’ markets.

Later we began selling the chocolates in our gift shop, The Tilting Sky. Today we also sell our chocolates at The Chocolate Café in Eye, alongside delicious cakes, light lunches and artisan coffees. We run private chocolate workshops and parties, and supply corporate orders for Chocolate Gifts and Hampers.

Look on our websites or Facebook (‘The Tilting Sky Gift Shop’ and ‘Cocoa Mama Chocolaterie’) for information about everything we do.

The Tilting Sky 2a Lambseth Street, Eye, Suffolk 01379 871112 www.tiltingsky.co.uk

Cocoa Mama Chocolaterie 4 Broad Street, Eye, Suffolk 01379 870688 www.cocoamama.co.uk

Open Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 5.00pm

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.00am to 3.00pm

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Teacup embroidered cushion Matalan £10

Nadi table lamp BHS £60

Delicate & Dainty ty

If afternoon tea, candles and French fancies on pretty little cake stands are your thing, look no further…

Madagascan vanilla & rain and forest berries mini jar candles Primark £1 each

Heart wire cake stand Wilko £9

Paisley park cotton tea cosy & peg bag Dotcomgiftshop £6.95 each

Flower shell mirror HomeSense £29.99

Miranda Kerr “Joy” three-piece set Houseology £50

Daisy chair yellow Very £39

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Mini draws Debenhams £32

Health & Beauty

Addocare Scole

Addocare Scole supports individuals in their own homes giving them the opportunity to live as independently as possible.

Addocare Scole has been organised, efficient, extremely competent, and have an excellent rapport with the service users who are placed within their care. There communication skills, both written and verbal, are excellent.

In summary, I would highly recommend Addocare Scole for the position of domiciliary care providers.

NOW AVAILABLE Cleaning, Home & Garden Maintenance, DBS Checked Please visit our website for further information and testimonials

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Addocare Scole, Old Hall Farm Barn, Low Road, Scole, Diss, Norfolk IP21 4ES

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Health & Beauty BALANCE THE BOWEN WAY

Whether your body is out of balance through muscular, skeletal or emotional problems - The Bowen Technique has a good track record for the relief of back/shoulder pain, hip, sciatica, migraines, period pains, depression & many more.

Lucy Keil

M.C.F.H.P. M.A.F.H.P. Est 2007

Member of the British Association of Foot Health Professionals

Donna Rae Walls CBS BTPA Practicing Bowen since 2006

No used by many to athletes

01379 608807 / 07742051532 donnaraewalls@hotmail.co.uk www.donnasbowen.co.uk

customer parking by appointment only 28, Victoria Road, Diss Tel. 01379 640506 opp. Rose Lane junction Mob. 07828 146298 behind Ironed 4 U

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Totally Thai Ladies, enjoy a relaxing massage from a local Thai lady trained in Bangkok

ÂŁ25

Treatments start from Appointments available with Joanne in East Harling Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm

01953 717740 07825 510639 janekk4u@yahoo.com

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New Dentures & Repair Service Denture assessment > Advice > Manufacture > Fitting

Pilates classes and Private Reformer or mat sessions in Diss and local area

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Nigel Towner CDT RCS

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marlboroughdentallab.co.uk

Marlborough Dental Lab

Q&A HEALTH Easing acid ref lux Q:

I keep getting acid reflux. Is there anything you can suggest to ease it?

A:

Some of the most helpful ways of dealing with acid reflux are purely practical.

• Always sit down to eat but maintain good posture,

keeping your shoulders back and making sure you don’t hunch or slump. This allows your stomach (which is under your ribcage) room to deal with your food without having it pushed back up towards the esophagus.

• Chew your food really well and don’t drink within half an hour of eating, to avoid expanding the stomach contents.

• Eat your evening meal early so that you are not going to bed on a full stomach, and raise the head of the bed slightly to allow gravity to help your digestive system.

• Whilst you are getting into the swing of these good habits try a super-soothing product such as Silicol Gel (Bioforce) – drink just one tablespoon in a glass

of water half an hour before meals to cover the lining of the stomach and bind excess acid.

• Consider using a stress-relieving

herbal remedy such as calming Avena Sativa tincture, made from organic oats, suitable for both children and adults, and get in plenty of B Vitamins which aid overworked nervous systems – stress is another factor for acid reflux.

For more helpful information just ring the Natural Food Store, Exchange Street, Norwich on 01603 613228, visit www.shop-naturally.com or www.holistic-care.com

spr i n g is h er e!

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Looking Good!

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77

Former gambler turns the tables for others Norfolk journalist, Sandie Shirley, spotlights the inspiring stories of men and women from the region and beyond that have seen them reach for victory. For more stories visit: www.refreshingwaters.co.uk

J

ustyn Rees Larcombe was a city highflyer with a loving wife and family who had made his fortune. But the man who once had a glittering army career and was honoured by the Queen was a compulsive, secret gambler. He retold his story to a captive Norwich audience that included a host of civic and church dignitaries.

His downward spiral cost him everything – including a staggering £750,000 – but his addiction went in an instance and restoration began when he returned to his boyhood faith, he told guests at an annual county town Christmas dinner.

The man who had gambled daily during the height of a three-year addiction says: “From November 2012 I have never placed another bet or have been tempted to.”

Now he helps others kick the habit that stole his life and his book, Tails I Lose, is a warning about the murky world that crippled him.

Justyn returned to his boyhood home to live with his mother more than three years ago. He reached the end of the road when his wife and two small children left. He was drinking heavily, about to be evicted from his home and with no job or income, he toyed with ending his life. He had lied and borrowed from family and friends and used his company credit card to pay for his gambling. With mounting debts with 11 loan

companies there seemed no escape.

“Finally my pride was gone and I got down on my knees and prayed a simple prayer for forgiveness. My gambling had placed a cloud between God and me but gradually my life began to recover and the debts were taken from my shoulders when I visited a debt counsellor who silenced my creditors and repaid the loan.”

Justyn Rees Larcombe

“I still do not know how I fell from having it all to having less than nothing,” says Justyn, recalling the beautiful house, smart car and prosperous job in the rising world of finance. “But I feel privileged that many of the important things are back: my family, self-respect and my values. Maybe I am better off than before because now I know that honesty, family, friendship and love is important.”

Justyn had placed his first £5 bet on a tennis game when he was 40 years old. Before long he gambled large amounts in search of “a big win” to repay some of the credit card debt and was soon involved with online betting and online casinos.

“I loved my wife and family completely, yet I was a terrible husband and father and robbed my wife of her dreams,” says Justyn, who gambled his wif savings that were earmarked for their wife’s new home and sold his wedding ring to feed his addiction.

Just now leads recovery courses that are Justyn tur turning others from debt and addiction to new hope and faith by putting Jesus Christ at the centre of recovery.

Now his family have returned, Justyn says: No “I am grateful for simple everyday pleasures like reading my boys a bedtime story and talk talking to my wife – a woman I once lost and ha no intention of losing again.” have Tails I Lose (Lion Hudson) For talks: justyn.larcombe@internet.com

78

Health & Beauty

We have a long history of caring for the anxious patient and are now able to offer treatment using ‘The Wand’ (pain free injections) or intravenous sedation with our Consultant Anaesthetist in our safe caring environment.

Please call our reception team to find out more or book a free initial consultation to discuss your concerns.

Saturday morning and evening appointments readily available

Tel: 01284 755631/2 Guildhall Dental, St Andrews St South, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3PH

Further information and opening times available at:

www.guildhalldental.com

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TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

We have everything you need in three great stores at Norwich and Hales. For expert advice, good old-fashioned

19a Alston Road, Hellesdon Ind Est, NR6 5DS Photo for illustrative purposes only. Please call for full details.

service and unbeatable prices, come and see us!

HALES 01508 549900 Yarmouth Road, Hales, NR14 6SP

Open 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday.

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A caring service from your independent mobility experts

79

Health & Beauty

EACH gift in every Will makes a difference Contact Maddy Dodsworth on 01223 204913 Registered Charity No. 1069284

“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

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.

DEBEN FOOT CARE HOME VISITS FOR ALL YOUR FOOT CARE NEEDS

AMY LOGAN

FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER MCFHP, MAFHP

fully certified in first aid Amy_670@hotmail.co.uk

5 MOORES CLOSE DEBENHAM SUFFOLK H) 01728 860898 (M) 07889 583408

Feel right at home

with Ritson Lodge Care Home

We offer a range of services to suit all care needs: Nursing • Residential • Dementia • Respite If you would like a tour of our home or need some friendly advice, call me on:

01502 734 000

Tracey Cumby General Manager

Lowestoft Road, Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk, NR31 9AH • www.barchester.com

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Supporting Local Business GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS Village People READERS FROM YOUR AREA

REC

OMMEND Just a few recent comments from readers about some of the local businesses that are on offer in your area. With great recommendations like this in every issue, make sure Village People is your first thought when you need a local service.

Health & Beauty Massage

Relaxation Hydrotherm Therapeutic Deep Tissue Sports & Medical

Kinesiology Facials

Treatments booked quoting this ad will receive a 10% discount

Natural Facelift Massage Facials Using Organic Neal’s Yard Products

Phone Michele: 01379-676644

EYE FLOORING

Workmanship was first class and the whole experience was problem free even though we needed to have the floor fitted on different dates.

Mr & Mrs B, Eye

SIMPSONS MOTOR GROUP We have had five motorhomes from Simpsons and the service has always been first class.

Always a warm welcome when you arrive.

Mr & Mrs C, Norwich

LARKINS FUEL MERCHANTS AND SALT 2 U

I wonder if I might recommend Mr Larkin (Larkins Fuel Merchants) for his excellent service yet again.

He has just started to supply salt (blocks) and today in the pouring rain he delivered my wonderful logs and bulk water softener salt. He carried the 10 packs (each weighing 8 kilos) up to the garden shed at the bottom of a rather long garden with his usual good humour. It is supposed to stop raining this afternoon (it did!) why did he nor wait, because his customers were waiting. Good old fashioned putting the customer first!

Like our Magazine?

Mr & Mrs A White, South Norfol k

THE HEARING CARE CENTRE LTD

“Whatever did people with hearing problems do before The Hearing Care Centre appeared? I have never been anywhere to find so many kind and friendly people in one place.”

Mrs Abbott, Norfolk

Would you like to recommend a service which you found in Village People? If so, get in touch!

YOU CAN CALL US ON 01284 788623 OR EMAIL office@village-people.info

Please call our advertisers (they make it possible)

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Come and join us!

Socialise with like-minded people, make friends and enjoy a variety of activities oered, while receiving expert care at the Diss Day Centre.

Activities include: l

Entertainment and talks

l

Gardening

l

Hair and beauty

l

Quizzes and games

l

Music

l

Sharing memories

l

Arts and crafts

l

Luncheon club

l

And much, much more

Contact our friendly team to ďŹ nd out more

0303 3000 217 (calls cost the same as to a UK landline) www.ageuknorfolk.org.uk

Age UK Norfolk is the operating name of Age Concern Norfolk, a Charitable Company limited by guarantee in England number 03783205. Registered charity number 1077097. IDN202 03/16

82

Factory girls to day centre friends

W

hen Ann Young – a 94-year-old regular at the Diss Day Centre – was 18, she went to work in a munitions factory near her home town of Stoke-on-Trent. It was wartime Britain and Ann was yet to meet her future partner.

One day Ann was chatting with other girls in the factory when one of the managers came over to ask if she would like to write to his son Ken, who was serving overseas in the RAF. So she wrote, and he wrote back.

It was wa to be some time before bef the two actually met, because Ken’s Ken leaves were we few and far between, but Ken must have made his mark as the couple were married and moved down to Southwick, in Sussex, in 1948.

They had four children – three sons and a daughter – and they also adopted another daughter.

Unfortunately Ken died eight years ago and, after a short stay in hospital the following year, Ann moved in with her daughter and son-in-law.

The family moved to Norfolk five years ago, and Ann has been attending the Diss Day Centre for the last five months.

Ann’s daughter, Mrs Uwins, said she had long been suggesting that her mother join a club.

“I looked on the internet, and found the Diss Day Centre” said Mrs Uwins. “I am so pleased that I did,

because she has a good couple of days out with lovely staff looking after her.”

A crafty regular Former nurse Jenny Stratton, who is 66 and lives at Roydon, found the Diss Day Centre via her social worker. She has been coming on Fridays for the last two years.

Jenny, who comes to the centre on her own by taxi, is very much The Diss Day Centre opens on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10am to 4pm, and the coordinator is Doreen Harrison. It provides a variety of comfortable environments from quiet spaces like the computer room or landscaped gardens, to more sociable areas like the restaurant, café or lounge.

Facilities include: tea and coffee making facilities, a café (which serves two course lunches), hairdressing, manicures and pedicures, massages, reflexology, an information and advice room, a computer with

a creative person. She likes taking part in craftwork activities at the centre – knitting, crocheting ocheting and patchwork – but also brings in examples of her own work done at home.

“The atmosphere is lovely and everyone is so friendly here,” she said. “We are so well looked after.” internet access, a treatment room and a sheltered courtyard garden. The centre also organises activities such as extend exercise classes and entertainers.

There is wheelchair access.

The lower age range is 50 and the centre is open to men and women, with dementia care offered.

To find out more, please contact: Tel: 0303 3000 217 Email: customerservice@ ageuknorfolk.org.uk Visit: www.ageuknorfolk.org.uk

83

Health & Beauty

Join our Team

“Providers of the finest community care in Suffolk” Covering: Suffolk and Norfolk border / Ipswich, Kesgrave & Rushmere / Central Woodbridge / Leiston / Saxmundham / Aldeburgh / Felixstowe / Sudbury / Bury St Edmunds e are leased to confir o r care provision service into the orfol ffol order area e are the leading ho ecare ro ider in ffol and for over years have assisted indi id als to li e inde endentl in their o n ho es

a le to ro ide the er ho ecare s ort

est in

e ha e the ost e tensi e e erience in recognising indi id al needs and eing

irector Loraine illia s asaitis rides her s ccess on eing do n to the fantastic ho ecarers that or hard to s ort eo le itho t o r tea of enth siastic hard or ing and co itted staff s ch s ccess o ld not ha e een ossi le

Accredited by the Care Quality Commision

Licensed by and providing services to Suffolk County Council

e are seeking staff to ork alongside o r tea leaders to assist in de elo ing o r carer ase in ales orth Lo estoft e e enha trad ro e ellis Fressingfield a le lha and all s rro nding illages are staff needed to ork ith ssistance ith orning ro tine rea fast re aration edication s er ision l nch re aration edti e ro tine care checks shopping and prescription collection light ho sehold d ties erience not essential t a ind caring nat re ost certainl is osition s ect to e cellent references and a satisfactor chec reat rates of pay / paid travel and ileage f ll training incl ding N Must drive and have access to a car

If you are interested call Naomi on 01473 655502

Deben 5, Three Rivers Business Centre, Felixstowe Road, Foxhall, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP10 0BF Tel: 01473 655502 Fax: 01473 659892 Email: care@angelsbyclassic.com Website: www.angelsbyclassic.com

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PART 1

The Stowaway cat

Sam had a feline something wasn’t right...

It was a peacefully quiet time in Weston; life went on swimmingly: people came and went, and no one answered back or expected special treatment. That was, until Sam Turner heard of an abandoned cat who needed a loving home -that’s when it all started.

M

illy was salvaged from a miserable life as a car-park pussy, after some heartless jerk moved out of a block of flats, leaving her to fend for herself.

I had gone to see the little cat, which was being looked after by friends of mine for the time being.

They lived in the block of flats and were feeding it temporarily until they found a home for the poor thing. I had lost my previous cat and was in need of another, and my friends assured me this one was a tom.

“Oh good, I don’t want another female – they’re too clingy. You are sure it’s a boy, aren’t you?” I said over the phone.

“Yes! He’s got little… well, you know whats… and everything,” my friend added unnecessarily.

“So what did your neighbour call him?” I enquired, just to be absolutely sure.

“Billy,” she said.

Later that day I arrived at their flat with my trusty cat basket in hand, but one look at the little cat’s face told me instantly that she was a “she”. A quick glance at her rear-end confirmed the fact. Anyone who’s had as many cats as I have will understand you just get a feel for these things.

As I squatted down, inspecting her, she leapt onto my shoulders as if I were a long lost friend.

“Female,” I announced. “She hasn’t got any ’you know whats’. Sorry to be blunt – but these things tend to be fairly indicative of gender. I can’t have another girl, I’m sorry it’s a ‘no’.”

The cat began purring and dribbling down the back of my neck; her little bag-of-bones body was shivering with anguish. She’d obviously been failing miserably at the fending for herself stuff and appeared more than pleased at the idea of coming home with me.

“I’m sorry,” I said, wrenching her off and putting her to the ground. “I really do want a male cat this time:

they’re much more laid back and self-reliant… and no kittens.”

I knew I had to leave quickly before either my friends or my conscience could persuade me otherwise.

As they saw me out, my female friend said: “It is strange, you know, I’m sure the guy who owned her called her Billy.”

“He did!” said her partner. “Over and over again, ‘Billy! Billy! Come here Billy!’ he would shout. Mind you, he did speak as if he had a cold in the nose.”

As I walked back to my car trying to convince myself that I had done the right thing I noticed a fine drizzle beginning to fall. My windscreen wipers had their legs crossed during the journey, so I needed to do a bit of manual uncoupling which took a moment or two; mating windscreen wipers are not easily separated.

Did I hope the cat might find me in the carpark and plead with my conscience further?

She didn’t.

Journeying home, I sighed loudly. “Billy indeed,” I thought to myself. I had to admit I was disappointed.

Just then, my car started developing a new noise.

I pulled over. Wheel bearings (£150)? Worn brake disks (£200)? Perhaps it was slack prop-shaft camshims (whatever they are).

I eventually turned off the engine, but the thrumming noise continued from the back of the car.

It was more of an animal noise.

Part 2 continues in our next issue.

Copyright Susan Lidster

85

Health & Beauty

Hartismere Place care home

Eating as we age What’s planned?

James Clear, Hotel Services Manager from Care UK will give advice and guidance on healthy eating and hydration for older people.

• Information and tips on healthy eating and hydration for the over 60s • Advice on supporting older people with special dietary needs such as swallowing difficulties or dementia • Our chef will prepare some sample dishes for everyone to enjoy • Take part in Care UK’s dining experience and see how we support older people to dine with dignity • Question and answer session • Meet our friendly team and have the opportunity to tour our home

Wednesday 18th May 2016, 2.30pm - 4.30pm pm For more information or to book your free place please call us on 01379 888035 or email angela.hodge@careuk.com Hartismere Place Castleton Way, Eye IP23 7DD careuk.com/hartismere-place careuk.com/hartismere-club

86

Free event

If care matters to you, join Hales.

We are recruiting for Care Workers in your area NOW. Call 0800 124 4765 or text “Apply” to 86688

www.halescare.co.uk

87

Jobs, Money & Business

R 75 i

o c er

01 07 0 e . son@ e te c er.co. www. e te c er.co.

K J ACCOUNTANCY A friendly and efficient service for the self-employed & small to medium business  Bookkeeping ~ Accounts ~ VAT

PC or Mac Running Slow?

Got A Virus? Need help?

For a friendly and professional IT service for PC & Apple Mac call Joe Richards at

Tel: 01953 718421 & 07928 326008 Email: help@bailiwickit.com Website: www.bailiwickit.com

Payroll ~ CIS ~ Tax Returns Tel: 01379 890502/01284 763687 Mob: 07788 408916/07718 257517 Self Assessment always a headache? Don’t worry, give it to us and get on with running your business.

We specifically support the smaller business in all accountancy and tax matters.

For a free, no obligation initial meeting call us today

Contact Graham Cormack

T: 01953 630 004 E: grahamcormack@taxassist.co.uk Exchange Street,Attleborough, NR17 2AB www.taxassist.co.uk/attleborough

88

Architectural Technologist Nick Clarke mciat

• • • • • •

Partial or Complete Service Extensions & Alterations Conversions & New Build Work on Listed Buildings Eco-Friendly Design Outdoor Design

Tel.01379 642555

Business as usual – or is it?

M

any businesses operating in this country do not own the freehold to the premises they run their business from, but instead rent from a landlord under a Commercial Lease.

There are circumstances where a business may become well-established at leased premises over the years and wish to continue with their lease arrangement indefinitely.

A law was passed in 1954 – the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (Part 2) – relating to business tenancies, which provided security of tenure for businesses wishing to continue occupying the premises after a current lease had expired.

The 1954 Act was substantially amended in 2004 by, amongst other things, allowing the parties to a Commercial Lease to “contract out”, so that the tenant would not have security of tenure provided they used the correct procedure.

One of the strengths of the 1954 Act for protecting business tenants is that, towards the end of the lease, they can apply for a new tenancy from the landlord by serving the appropriate notice within the statutory time limits.

This occurred in a recent Court of Appeal case of Hough v Greathall Limited. On appeal at the end of said trial, it was found that whilst the Landlord did not have the requisite “intention to demolish or reconstruct” at the time that it served its notice, the landlord could prove it had by detailed plans and estimates at the time of the trial – and that was the time to test the intention.

Paul Stev Stevens

For further information please contact Paul Stevens by email at

paul.stevens@jackamans.co.uk or call

01379 643555 This article provides only a general summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. Specific legal advice should be taken in any individual situation.

A landlord is able to accept the grant of a new lease, subject to detailed terms and rent, or object on various grounds (including failure of the tenant to comply with the covenants in the lease). Court proceedings may be necessary to determine disputed issues.

Another ground for a landlord opposing a new lease under the 1954 Act is that on termination of the current lease the landlord intends to demolish or reconstruct the premises. In such a case, the tenant does not have to accept such a notice from the landlord and can apply to a court to put the landlord’s intention to the test.

• Accident Claims • Clinical Negligence • Commercial • Debt Recovery • Dispute Resolution • Employment

Harleston 01379 854455 Diss 01379 643555

www.jackamans.co.uk

• Family • Landlord and Tenant • Powers of Attorney • Property • Wills, Trusts & Probate

Our expert team of lawyers is here to help 89

Smart Money Secrets

Low-cost borrowing options to fund your home improvement projects

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

W

ith better weather just around the corner, it’s that time of year when many of us aim to get those home improvement jobs and DIY projects underway.

loan rate is a whopping 16% APR, with some high banks charging as much as 29.9% APR, so you can see that it makes sense to shop around to avoid being ripped off.

Few of us are fortunate enough to have sufficient cash in the bank to pay for that kitchen makeover, revamp of the bathroom, or landscaping in the garden, so picking the right finance is important if you’re looking to keep the costs in check.

If you’re comfortable that you can afford to repay what you borrow within the next two years, it’s worth considering a credit card offering 0% interest on your purchases.

It’s important to do your homework before signing the dotted line for a loan or credit card as making the wrong choice can end up costing you a lot more than it ought to.

There are plenty of options when it comes to borrowing the money you need, but don’t fall into the trap of assuming that taking a loan from your own high street bank is best the way to go.

If you’re looking to borrow £7,500 or more then, yes, the banks are keen for your business and are offering some very tempting deals at the moment; at time of writing, M&S Bank is offering 3.3% APR, one of the cheapest interest rates ever seen for unsecured borrowing.

However, if you only need £2,000 or £3,000 towards the cost of your home improvements, this is where the banks are much more expensive.

If you wanted to borrow £3,000, the average personal

90

The best-buy interest-free credit cards from Post Office Money and Sainsbury’s Bank are worth a look, giving you 27 months and 25 months respectively to repay your borrowing without charging you a single penny in interest – as long as you make the repayments on time.

If you’re not sure you can manage to repay within that sort of timescale, but still want a very affordable option, another smart choice is the Everyday Plus credit card from MBNA. This credit card charges a very competitive 7.4% APR and, unlike the vast majority of credit cards, it enables you to transfer money into your bank account without a transfer fee.

So while you’re on the lookout for those new kitchen appliances or getting a quote to give the bathroom a makeover, don’t forget to check out the specialist personal finance websites too. Try www.moneynet.co.uk and www.money.co.uk to point you in the right direction for the latest low-cost credit card and personal loan options.

Make the most of your retirement We are all living longer and planning to do more with our free time, but a changing economic climate and pension provisions mean many people don’t often have the money to realise their retirement dreams.

Equity release allows you to release tax-free cash from your home to boost your finances in later life and it is beginning to play an important role for homeowners aged 55 and over.

The most important factors for people seeking advice about equity release tend to be:

• Ensuring a “no negative equity guarantee” is available to safeguard the homeowner’s beneficiaries.

• Ensuring no monthly payments need to be made, as interest is rolled up on a lifetime mortgage. If a Home Reversion plan is more suitable, the homeowner would sell a proportion of their property and remain in their home for life with no roll-up of interest on the percentage of the value retained.

With thanks to Michael Boon, member of the Equity Release Council

• Being able to remain in the home for as long as the homeowner wishes.

• Having the right to sell the home at any time

either to down-size or move into alternative accommodation. In this case, the amount owed is repaid with any balance transferred to the homeowner’s bank account.

• Making sure money borrowed is at a fixed-rate

of interest for life, is tax-free, and can be used for any purpose.

Make t e

Before making any decisions, seek independent professional advice from a person qualified and approved by the FCA. (Check www.fca.org.uk/register or telephone 0800 111 6768.)

For further information on making the most of your retirement with equity release, call Michael on 01508 483983 or visit his website: www.businessmattersifa.co.uk.

ost of your retire ent

Mic ae oon is your oca Equity Re ease Counci e er for rofessiona in e en ent a ice. f o r int r st d in r sing t fr s fro o r o t n i i d ig t d to g id o t ro g t diff r nt t s of it r s s s i to nd t st n for o r n ds

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91

STOP PRESS very limited space left in the

LOCAL DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS TaxAssist 88 KJ Accountancy 88 Newman & Co 67 Anthony James Brice 31 Stewart, Boreham & Co 67 ANIMAL SERVICES Swallow Aquatics 95 Norfolk Dog Training 56 Smylee Pets 56 Uplands Way Vets 57 Trophy Pet Foods 59 ARCHITECTURE Andrew P R Love 36 Keith Day Architects 88 Nick Clarke 88 ARTS, CRAFTS & ANTIQUES Susan’s Work-Basket 70 BATHROOMS AHM Bathing 61 Supreme Bathroom & Kitchen Ctr 70 nbk 47 BEDS Diss Bed Ctr & Furniture Warehouse 72 Sound Sleep Ltd 4 BUILDER MERCHANTS Specialist Building Supplies Ltd 42 CARS, CARAVANS & GARAGES Carrs Of Bury St Edmunds 52 Simpsons Motor Group 53 CARE & MOBILITY Saffron Housing Contact Care 76 Mobility Superstore Ltd 79 Ritson Lodge Care Home 80 Culrose Residential Care Home 81 Addocare Scole 75 Angels By Classic 84 Care UK Hartismere Place 86 CARPETS & FLOORING Eye Flooring 3 John Doe of Diss 96 CHIMNEY SWEEPS Anglia Chimney Sweeps 44 CLEANING Ticketyboo Cleaning Services 46 Spring Clean Home Help 65 COMPUTERS, WEB DESIGN & BUSINESS Philippa Green Web Design 56

Bailiwick IT 88 Anglia Computer Solutions 71 DAYS OUT, TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS Galloway Travel 16 Simonds Coach & Travel 14 Eastons Holidays 12 Age UK Norfolk Fun Day 82 Dad’s Army Museum 32 Creative Arts East 34 Fackenham Racecourse 16 High Lodge Thetford Forest 2 Peter Beales Rose Fair 8 Forest Live 12 Wymondham Music Festival 12 Street Forge Workshop 29 DENTISTS Marlborough Dental Practice 76 Guildhall Dental 79 Netherton Simply Smile 6 DRY CLEANERS Harveys Dry Cleaners 10 ELECTRICIANS Dave Ramstead 65 ESTATE & LETTING AGENTS Duet Sales & Letting Agents 64 Howards 8 FINANCIAL SERVICES & SOLICITORS EACH 80 Jackamans 89 Business Matters Equity Release 91 FOOD & DRINK Cocoa Mama Chocolaterie 73 FUEL MERCHANTS Shelfanger Firewood 45 CPL Distributions 33 FUNERAL SERVICES Susan Whymark 67 Rosedale Funeral Home 80 FURNITURE Diss Bed Ctr & Furniture Warehouse 72 John Doe of Diss 96 GARDEN SERVICES The Garden Enclosure 43 Noble Paving East Anglia Ltd 58 Land Army Designs 42 P.D. Garden Services 40 Nigel Payne Fruit Tree Pruning 45 Lake and Pond Aquatics 35

Cabinville 23 Hempnall Lawnmower Centre 42 Eclipse Home & Garden Services 40 Land Sculpture Ltd 59 R & A Driveways 45 A. Waterfield & Sons 36 Gard ‘n’ Cox 42 Foundry Plant Centre 41 The Lady Gardener 45 Smart Garden Offices 71 Tree Fellas UK 45 The Green Man Tree Surgeon 26 Diss Garden Centre 23 L G Tree Services 30 HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS Cambridge Diet with John Howard 22 Nicola Clarke Foot Health 80 Hearing Care Centre 9 Amanda Pilates 76 Totally Thai 76 Lucy Keil Footcare 76 Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic 77 Michelle Therapeutic Massage 81 Donna Rae The Bowen Technique 76 Deben Foot Care 80 IRONING SERVICES Pressed-to-Go 62 Ironed 4 U 70 JOBS, RECRUITMENT & TRAINING Key Education Services 88 Maid 2 Clean 42 Hales Care 87 Angels By Classic 84 KITCHENS Kitchen Sense of Harleston 70 Supreme Bathroom and Kitchen Ctr 70 Pavels Kitchens 61 nbk 47 Voyager Kitchens 39 OPTICIANS Cecil Amey 77 PEST CONTROL Rid of Moles 45 Tim Crease Rodent Control 65 SM Control Services 32 PLUMBING, BOILERS & DRAINAGE Pat the Plumber 37 Else Heating & Plumbing 62 P & D Tank Services 65

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. 2008-2016

next issue to feature local businesses Broadland ENV Ltd 45 Barnards Heating Solutions 62 PRINTERS Primrose Press 70 REMOVALS John Ryder 67 Van and a Man 28 RESTAURANTS, PUBS, HOTELS, CATERING AND FUNCTIONS The Park Hotel 12 The Queen’s Head 19 Goodies Food Hall 27 Pennoyer Centre 28 The White Horse Thelnetham 27 RIDING Eye Equestrian Centre 56 ROOFING Projects 4 Roofing 17 J L Roofing 70 PAC Roofing 65 SCHOOLS & CHILDREN Thetford Grammar School 24 Riddlesworth Hall School 24/26 Hethersett Old Hall School 26 Homeopathic College of East Anglia 26 Charlotte’s Forest School 11 SECURITY Malthouse Security Ltd 38 SHOPPING (BUYING & SELLING) W&M Smith 71 Man About Town 69 Tilting Sky Gift Shop 73 Top Tracks Music 65 Henry Watson’s Potteries 22 Glasswells 54

SHUTTERS & BLINDS British Made Shutters STONE MASONRY Cutstone Ltd Replica Limestone STORAGE John Ryder Rookery Self Storage Self Storage Diss STOVES Raven Stoves The Stove & Fireplace Centre Nexus Stoves THATCHER Graham Borrill TILING D C Mutton THEATRE Theatre Royal VOCAL COACHING Chris Neave Vocal Tuition & Coaching WATER SOFTENER & SALT UK Water Services A D Veale Salt 2 U WEDDINGS Gentle Seamstress WINDOW CLEANING Chris Cottrell Cleaning Terry Bullock Puretech Window Cleaning WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES C & M Glass Conservatories etc Quayside Conservatories Ltd Waveney Window

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Village wanderings

2 A footbridge now crosses the River Tas, linking Venta Icenorum Roman Town with land acquired by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust in 2011. Known as Dunston Field, the additional 22 hectares has been turned into a wildflower and hay meadow for all to enjoy.

Stoke Holy Cross

This walk was instigated by an email from the Stoke Holy Cross footpath warden who was keen to promote the footpaths in his parish. We were equally keen to explore! The new footbridge over the River Tas at Marksha Caistor St Edmund is a welcome addition to the ll Far m Rd network of permissive paths in the area.

R IVE

St

Caistor

Lane

0

3 Chris Skinner and his son run High Ash farm specifically for wildlife with large-scale sowing of flower and seed crops to attract birds and insects. There are over five miles of walks on public and permissive footpaths that meander through the rolling countryside.

VENTA ICENORUM ROMAN TOWN

2

NS TO N FIE LD

A14

Route Boudica’s Way Other footpaths

CAISTOR HALL HOTEL

3

DU

P Start/Parking

TAS

R

1 We found this sign under a magnificent oak on Dunston Common – but couldn’t find the fairies!

Hazel catkins – a sign of spring!

Caistor St Edmund ok eR d

Distance: approximately 4.7 miles. Using OS Explorer Map 237. Start grid ref: TG 227 025.

Approximate postcode NR14 8PF.

Cha

ndle

Permissive footpaths

d

hR

ne

wic

Common Sto ke La

r Rd

Nor

P

ER TAS RIV

1 Dunston

6

d gR

Lo

6 The church of St Remegius, Dunston, was largely restored in the 19th century. Parts of the churchyard are managed under the Churchyard Conservation Scheme.

Salamanca Farm

4

n

DUNSTON HALL

5

Watering Farm

Stoke Holy Cross

5 Stoke Mill stands on the River Tas. Colman’s began producing their famous mustard here in the early 1800s. It is now a popular, long-established restaurant.

4 ‘Salamanca Farm’ is named after a Spanish battle by a former landowner who fought with Wellington in Spain.

Flowering in early spring, Celandine thrives in shady, damp places.

94

Bright sunshine and shadows raced across the fields while corvids and wood pigeons were scattered by high winds on the mild February day that we walked. Our minds imagining Roman legions and other histories embedded in this part of the River Tas valley.

Walked, written and designed by Kevin Parker (keeper.kev@btinternet.com) and Kaarin Wall (kaarin@wizgraphics.co.uk) © 2016.

4 SITES ACROSS THE SOUTH EAST

Aquarium

Ponds

Marine

SPRIN IS IN G THE A IR

Pet Supplies Reptiles

Brands

KOI CARP & PONDS

WE STOCK A WIDE SELECTION OF KOI KARP & GOLD FISH

MARINE FISH & INVERTS WE STOCK A LARGE SELECTION OF COLOURFUL FISH

FILTERS & PUMPS

WE STOCK EVERY PUMP & FILTER YOUR POND WILL NEED

REPTILES & PETS BABY TORTOISES now in stock LARGE SELECTION OF REPTILES & PETS/PRODUCTS

Harling Road, East Harling, Norfolk NR16 2QW

Tel: 01953 718184 www.swallowaquatics.co.uk

10% OFF

EVERYTHING IN STORE

One voucher per person, per transaction & only availabe in Harling and not online. Ends 31/5/16.

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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At Somnus it takes a huge amount to create our exclusive beds. Uncompromising attention to detail. The highest standards of craftsmanship. Our unique Sensa iP Intelligent Pocket Springs that gently respond to the shape of your body. We even rear sheep on our farm to provide fine British wool for supreme comfort.

With 30 different experiences to try, John Doe are the largest stockists of Somnus Beds in the country.

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