Local Reports

WROXHAM & HOVETON LIONS CLUB

My year as President would have been coming to a close this month and we would have been welcoming Lion Terry Vout into the position. However, he has undergone major heart surgery and is recovering so I will be carrying on in the role for next year. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

For those of you who may not have heard, regrettably it has been necessary to cancel this years planned fete in August, as we have been informed that the Village Hall will still be required for the Covid vaccination programme until September. Unfortunately neither of the other two suitable venues in the village is available. However we will be back in 2022.

Although over the past year our fund raising activities have been severely restricted, we’ve still managed to serve our local, national and international communities. Throughout the Pandemic we’ve transported food to the Norwich Food bank warehouse and provided food parcels for disadvantaged families at Christmas. We’ve just donated 9 sets of Wild Tribe Heroes books to Primary Schools in our catchment area. These are designed to raise awareness of the plight of our wild life with plastic, pollution and habitat destruction. Monetary donations have been given to numerous charities and organisations, including the Lions Clubs International Foundation, who have made large grants throughout the world during the Pandemic, which included the UK Air Ambulances through our Multiple District HQ and recently India, to support their efforts in battling COVID 19. Every grant went directly to Lions clubs for use in those areas affected. Our Lions Shop in the Hoveton precinct is always on the lookout for good quality Bric a Brac or clean clothing, so please bring them along or we can collect – just ring 01603 783737. Would you like to volunteer to help in the shop? If so, drop into the shop and talk to a 48

member of staff.

Perhaps you, or someone you know, cannot commit to being a WROXHAM & HOVETON LIONS CLUB member because of family, work, or other commitments;

BUT are willing to lend a hand every so often; just a few hours during different times of the year to help on the tombola stall, at the annual fete, or help Santa on his sleigh - that sort of thing. No committees or meetings, just good intention, some muscle or skill and a sense of fun. If this is you, and you would like to help, just contact us using the link below. Let us know what you can do that could help. If you think that you have no particular skill or ability then don’t worry, we can find a way for any willing person to be able to help in some way. Remember you will gain too! You can be young, older, working, retired, bored, clever, smart, loud, quiet, witty, or whatever. Being willing is most important!

There are so many personal benefits from being a Friend of

Wroxham & Hoveton Lions. We would also welcome contact from people who may wish to join us later. There is no pressure for a

‘Friend of Wroxham & Hoveton Lions Club’ to commit to becoming a Club member at any time.

However, we are pleased that two such friends have recently joined the club.

To support our community, we need the support of our community. If you can help with time, skills or funds please contact us and get involved. We would love to hear from you. As we are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Registration No 1184399 you can see and rest assured that 100% of all donations will be used to support worthwhile causes and projects. Fancy getting involved? It’s easy - Just contact our Membership Chairperson, Lydia Spight, using the ‘Learn More” link on our website www.wroxhamandhovetonlions. org or ring me on 01603 781310.

You can follow us on Facebook or our website. As always, we look forward to seeing or hearing from you.

Lion Mick Holden, President.

WROXHAM LIBRARY

We are inviting you to take part in an innovative new Library Project called ‘At Home with Library Reading Friends ‘ We know that lots of people are unable to visit the library and may be isolated or need to stay at home, for many different reasons. Telephone conversation has been particularly important for many people to keep connected. At home with Library Reading Friends brings the pleasure of sharing a good story and chat to you, by phone. One of our Library staff will call and find out what you’d like to listen to :- we will find something that you like and will enjoy talking about, whether it be stories, poems or even an article from a magazine or crossword. We will read to you each week for around half an hour, at a time that suits you. Just phone 01603 774777 ( weekdays 10 am - 6 pm) or email libraries.iconnect@norfolk.gov.uk

We have now re-opened and look forward to welcoming you back! You can

· Follow our one-way system to browse the shelves · Pre-order a selection of up to 10 books for adults for free through Select and Collect

Use the online form at norfolk.spydus.co.uk or call 01603 774777 · Borrow our new Grab and Go children’s book bags for families

Cont...

· Book one 60-minute session per day on a computer. To book a session or if you need any help using our computers call 01603 774777 · Return items through the drop box or self-service kiosks · Download the FREE Spydus app to check out books on your smartphone · Download eBooks, audio books, newspapers and magazines by visiting www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries

We’ve made some changes to keep you safe, so

· There is no ‘Open Library’ access · Please bring your library card with you or join in the library or online · We may ask for details from you to help with Test and Trace · You will need to wear a face covering in the library · We have a one-way system for social distancing · Hand sanitiser is available for use on the way in and out of the library · Surfaces and computers will be regularly wiped down · Returned books will be quarantined for 72 hours

Sorry, there are no newspapers, magazines or seats in the library and the toilet is not available.

We’ve made some changes to our opening hours

· Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 10 - 4 · Wednesday: 10- 4 · Thursday: 2-6 · Friday: 10-4 · Saturday: 10- 1 Sunday: Closed

www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries

Broadland Chess Club has continued to play during the pandemic but online instead of over-theboard. The national chess league is 4NCL (4 Nations’ Chess League) and includes teams from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (both Northern and the Republic). Currently, it is in its third season online and there are 264 teams playing across 7 divisions. Broadland has two teams in 4NCL. Broadland Kestrels are in division 1 and Broadland Falco Duboisi are in division 5. Broadland Kestrels played seven matches during season 3, winning 3, drawing 2 and losing 2. As a result, they finished fourth in their group of eight and comfortably retained their first division status. Broadland Falco Duboisi also played seven matches, winning 6 and losing 1. These results were good enough to finish top of their group and to gain promotion to division 4. The successful squad (in alphabetical order) was Paul Badger (5/5), Henry Duncanson (4.5/5), Dan Frean (3/4), Mervyn Hughes (2/3), Roy Hughes (2/3), David Payne (0.5/1), Karthik Saravanan (3/4) and Costakis Stephanides (3/3). The figures in brackets are the scores that each individual recorded. As a group winner, the team will now be involved in the play-offs for the division 5 title. Broadland’s juniors have also been involved in a national tournament. The UK Chess Challenge is the largest chess tournament in the world with over 40,000 entrants. The first stage is a local tournament, which was organised by the club and the leading results were as follows: 1.Merlin Perrow with an impressive 10/10 2.Gabriel McNamara 3.George Artherton and Wiktor

Dziedzik All of the leading players have qualified for the Megafinal, which will be played in age groups during the month of June. The club is hoping to be able to return to The King’s Head in the autumn for over-the-board chess.

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TOURS AT ST BENET’S ABBEY RESUME

TO BOOK A FREE GUIDED TOUR OF ST BENET’S ABBEY PLEASE VISIT EVENTBRITE

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ guided-tour-of-st-benets-abbeytickets-152320184773

Tours are on WEDNESDAYS, SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS at 3PM From 1st May to 20th June booking is essential as places are limited in order to comply with Covid regulations. We are hopeful that our regular tours will be able to resume from the 21st June with no restriction on numbers and no need to book if restrictions are sufficiently eased. We, the guides, look forward to welcoming you on one of ours tours. Marion St Benet’s Abbey Guide Coordinator Norfolk Archaeological Trust

Pictured above:

A local guided tour at St Benet’s.