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Welcome… to the latest edition of THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK… Hooray, British Summer Time has returned! Heading towards Easter Holidays, hopefully we can expect slightly warmer weather here in the Norfolk Broads...
If you’re looking to get a little more active, you might like to consider participating in one of the events in our ‘Community Events & What’s On’ pages. There are always things taking place in and around the eighteen villages covered by THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK. Should you have a fundraising event, or a community-based club event to publicise, remember to e-mail us details ahead of the inclusion dates which can always be found here on page 3 and online at www.wacbook.co.uk - click-page digital versions of each magazine can also be viewed on our website. You can literally see our glossy pages on your smartphone nowadays!
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Tracey De-Abreu What’s Inside…
12 - Recipé; Lamb Cutlets with Creole Mojo Sauce. 14 - Home & Interior; 8 Tips for a Truly Comfy Bedroom. 22 - Beauty; British Beauty 23 - Health; Waist Away 24 - 80th Anniversary of VE Day
This magazine is one of 8,000 copies delivered to residents & businesses in: Wroxham, Hoveton, Horning, Badersfield, Coltishall, Horstead, Stalham, Stalham Green, Sutton, Tunstead, Frettenham, Scottow, Belaugh, Sco Ruston, Ashmanhaugh, Smallburgh, Sloley & Buxton.
DRAGONFLY BOOKKEEPING:
(Below, and page 61)
“When our previous long-term Bookkeeper retired in 2024, we were advised to work with locally-based Jo-Ann (pictured left) from Dragonfly Bookkeeping. We quickly established a fabulous working relationship, particularly as Jo-Ann is thorough and communicates well. She’s a pleasure to engage with, and we confidently recommend her!”.
- Tracey De-Abreu, Publisher, The Wroxham & Coltishall Book
ROYS OF WROXHAM DONATES OVER £43,000 TO LOCAL CHARITIES
Roys of Wroxham is proud to announce donations totalling over £43,000 to charities and good causes in 2024, supporting 307 organisations across the region.
More than £30,000 has been donated to Roys’ chosen charities of the year, benefiting a wide range of causes across Norfolk and Suffolk. These contributions will help organisations dedicated to health, community support, rescue services, and animal welfare.
Donations Breakdown:
• Sea Palling Lifeboat – £9,211
• Bowthorpe – Hamlet Centre Trust – £6,263.40
• Faith Animal Rescue – £5,208.60
• Mag St – The Feed – £2,318.40
• Sudbury – The Christopher Centre – £1,573.30
• Thetford – Grow Kids – £1,528.70
• Beccles – Beccles Sea Cadets –£1,392.70
• NW – Norfolk and Suffolk Animal Trust – £847.90
• Dereham – Dereham Cancer Care – £789.50
• HW – NICU – £727.00
These donations are funded through Roys’ carrier bag sales, with 10p donated for each reusable bag purchased. The initiative not only supports sustainability through recycled and recyclable bags but also helps local charities.
Ed Roy, Managing Director of Roys, expressed his appreciation for the charities’ work:
"We are incredibly proud to support these fantastic local charities. Each organisation plays a vital role in our communities, and we hope these
contributions make a meaningful difference to their invaluable work."
One of the beneficiaries, Grow Kids, shared their gratitude:
"We are so grateful for this support. Such generosity enables us to continue offering free clothing for
children and creating a welcoming space for families in need."
Chris Elliott, Corporate Marketing and Fundraising Manager at The Feed, highlighted the impact of Roys' donation:
"Thanks to everyone at Roys for this fantastic support. To put it into perspective, this amount will provide over two months’ worth of free fresh fruit and vegetables to hundreds of members of our Social Supermarket people struggling to afford enough food."
Roys of Wroxham extends its heartfelt thanks to customers, whose continued support enables these vital contributions to local charities and community initiatives.
Below are some of the events and services we offer but see our Facebook page or call the library on 01603 782560.
• Just a Cuppa, every Tuesday 10.00 – 12pm. Come along for a friendly chat over a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.
• Send Café NEW TIMES Friendly and supportive sessions aimed at children with SEND. Meet up with other families, share ideas and have some fun, including a lego activity! The cafes are free, on a drop-in basis, so no booking required, the next date is 24th June 3.15 – 4.15pm.
• Toys We have a selection of toys and games that can be played with in the library, from Duplo, and counting games, to jigsaws. Look in our folder to see what is available.
• Autism Social Group Come to a friendly social group for a cuppa and a chat. No need to book, all welcome. Change of day to first Wednesday of every month 1-3pm.
• Crafting New time 10.30 -3.30 pm on alternate Saturdays (staff dependent). Aimed at children aged 5 -11 (under 8s require supervision).
• Knit and Natter – not just for knitters! Bring your embroidery, textile,
or crochet project along to our informal gathering. Thursday 3rd April and Thursday 17th April 2.00 – 4.00pm.
• Crib Club (Cribbage card game) –new players welcome -Thursday 10th April 2.00-4:00pm. Please bring your own board and cards if you have them.
• Scrabble Club Usually last Thursday of each month from 2.004.00pm. Next session Thursday 24th April. All welcome.
• Thinking of starting up or growing your own business? As a local Business and IP Centre, we have free access to a wide range of business resources at Wroxham library. Find out more at: www.norfolk.gov.uk/bipcnorfolk
• Our Bounce and Rhyme sessions take place on Wednesday at 10.30am. No need to book just drop in and sing along!
• Story Explorers, is a reading adventure for children aged 0 – 5. To sign up and find out more, simply visit the library and speak to a member of staff.
• Family History – Use our free access to Find My Past any time the library is open. Drop-in on Wednesday and Friday evenings between 4.00pm and 6.00pm to get advice from Diane, our family and local history expert.
• Book one 60 or 120 minute session per day on a computer. Contact the library on 01603 782560.
• 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
• Use our self-service Baby Weigh Scales on request. Housebound Library Service
If you are unable to get out to the library to get your library books, we can bring them to you! Details from the library.
Our normal opening hours are below, though please check for updates on our Facebook and Webpages. We have further extended our opening hours with the Open Library service – contact the library for more information.
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: 10 - 7
• Wednesday: 10- 7
• Thursday: 10-7
• Friday: 10-7
• Saturday: 10- 4
• Sunday: Closed
Visit our Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/ wroxhamlibraryofficial for updates on events and activities. www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries
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30 YEARS AGO: ROYS OF WROXHAM FIRE
6th MAY 1995
A Major fire destroyed the Department Store in Wroxham in May 1995.
A “Retail Warehouse” was opened in Church Road to lessen the impact of the fire and to continue trade in Wroxham while a new store was built.
The new department store was completed in 1996, 30 years after its predecessor had opened.
Info: www.roys.co.uk Image: Norfolk Fire Museum
of page...
THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK ~ at the heart of our community ~
DID YOU KNOW?
By Chris Weston
1. Britain introduced Imperial Units, based on the yard, pound, and second, in the 19th century to resist the metric system.
2. The Packhorse Bridge in the grounds of Walsingham Abbey was once part of the main road to Norwich.
3. The M25 is 117 miles long, took over 11 years to build and cost over £1 billion.
4. Construction workers know Norwich’s Magdalen Street Flyover (opened 12th June 1972) as May Gurney’s Flying Circus. May Gurney built it.
Thank you Chris!
A FOCUS ON CHAPEL FIELD - Part 1
by Chris Weston
The area we know today has had more than one purpose! Most people know it for either Pedro’s Mexican-style restaurant or as a temporary venue at different times, for Easter and Christmas Street Fairs.
It all began when the City Walls were built in the 14th century, enclosing in the process, the field of St Mary’s Chapel, part of whose monastery which stood where the Theatre Royal stands. And the Chapel Field name was born. At this time, Medieval England was dominated by church lands, and Norwich was no exception. The area covered by Chapelfield Road, from the Assembly House to the modern-day gardens, belonged to a large site just inside the city walls. This formed the College of St Marys in the Fields, which trained generations of priests. A chapel was built by John le Brun around 1248, forming an adjunct to the hospital built on the nearby site of today’s Assembly House. From 1404, when the city was granted the right to govern itself in the form of a corporation, assemblies were held there in which citizens voted for bailiffs, the officials who were to govern Norwich for the following year. It was also the centre for the Feast of Corpus Christi, an important annual festival in which trade guilds marched in procession. The guilds were vital in forming social and economic loyalties, as well as conducting religious duties. St Marys received royal approval in 1487 when King Henry VII stayed the night at the chapel. The College of St Mary-in-the-Fields remained associated, until the Dissolution. In 1545, this open space was initially granted to a private citizen but was subsequently sold to the city in 1569 to be held in Trust.
Chapelfield’s records tell us it was soon leased for use as Norwich’s
Archery butts and grazing land. Two similar and well-known sites operated in both Aylsham (once a narrow strip of grass between Cawston Road Mill Road) and Wellsnext -the-Sea (an area of grass between Station Rd and Burnt Street). Each was known as the Buttlands. In Norwich, Chapel Field was already well-known and was often used as Norwich’s Military
Training Archery Ground. Archers trained here before the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and the field was also used as a tourney ground. During 1580 the Yeomanry were trained here to resist possible invasion by the Spanish Armada. During 1588, the city militia also trained here, shooting with handguns and arquebuses in preparation for any Spanish Armada
attack. An arquebus is a form of long gun which appeared in Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 15th century. An infantryman armed with an arquebus is called an arquebusier. The term arquebus derives from the Dutch word Haakbus. In 1666 the same field would be used as a mass burial site for victims of the Great Plague, which had begun in London the previous year.
By the 1600s Chapelfield had come into the ownership of the Hobart family. A Norfolk family which prospered in the legal profession, it also built the great house at Blickling Hall, near Aylsham. In 1656 Lady Hobart, wife of the attorney general, held the lease of Chapelfield. She tried to stop citizens right of free access to the area, but the people resisted and maintained their right of way. Chapel Fields has been a Victorian public park since at least 1655.
Designed by George Alden Stevens, this large open space for public benefit, had been fully railed in by 1707. Walks were first laid out in 1746 and the gardens are claimed to be the earliest surviving ornamental public open space in Norwich. In 1746, three main walks with avenues of elm around the perimeter were planted by lease-
Part ll follows in the next edition of THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK
Make sure you don’t miss something now walked over by thousands every year, with no idea it’s buried below them, or ever existed!!
Community Events & What’s On...
You can use this page to send your FREE message to 8,000 households and businesses!
Regular Events
NEATISHEAD COMMUNITY GYM - Friendly, relaxed, affordable, local gym open to all (12+), but especially catering for older age groups and those who are uncomfortable in a commercial gym. Excellent support from experienced instructor. If you want to improve your fitness or mobility, at whatever level, give us a try! Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays 8.30 to 12.30 at New Victory Hall, Neatishead. Ring or text Gary on our FREE TRIAL HOTLINE of 07387 876216, or email gym@victoryhall.info for other enquiries.
COLTISHALL & HORSTEAD PRE-SCHOOL - Monday to Wednesday 9.00am to 12pm and 12pm to 3pm, Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 12pm. For 2 years upwards. Held at Coltishall Community Centre, Rectory Road. OFSTED Graded ‘GOOD’. Welcoming all families to join our active playgroup including regular allotment and local primary school visits. Please phone our friendly team: 07539 928124 Charity number: 1164338.
COLTISHALL AND HORSTEAD WI meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Church Rooms, Rectory Road. Coltishall at 2.30pm. Details; please phone Rosie Howell on 01603 737762.
HAUTBOIS DISTRICT RANGERS meet alternative Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm. We're a small group of girls aged 14+ looking for more people to join us. We do a variety of different activities from camping, to shopping, kayaking to performing! If you're interested or want more information please call Gina 07775 520911.
HORNING ART CLASS is held on Thursday afternoons at 2 o’clock in the Village Hall Annexe. We have an excellent tutor on hand to give guidance or tuition in all media. We are a friendly group with a mixed range of abilities and styles. Interested in joining us ? Please ring Paula Kerrison on 07881 632436.
POKER - Every Sunday at the Diplomat in Badersfield (RAF Colt) we have a weekly league games for points that qualify you for 3 Regional finals & 3 National final competitions. £3.50 a week registers your points online at The Nuts Poker League. Play starts at 7.30pm see you there! New players welcome.
DANCE FOR FUN is a fun dance club teaching children 6 and upwards Ballet, Tap, Disco & Gymnastic Dance. We meet Wednesday evening from 6 to 8pm in Smallburgh village hall. The club takes part in many community events through the year. If your child is interested in coming to see what we do please pop along any Wednesday evening.
KINGS HEAD QUIZ NIGHT Hoveton Thurs nights at 7.30pm. Still £1 per person admission inclusive of a FREE Quiznighter's Buffet. Max 6 in a team. Winner takes all & Picture Quiz winner leaves with a FREE bottle of wine!
NORTH WALSHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC GROUP meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 7.30pm at Salvation Army Hall, Hall Lane, North Walsham. Details from Secretary, Liz Fiddy, on 01692 582793 or email trevorandliz@talktalk.net
TIDDLERS BABY & TODDLER GROUP. Meeting at Horstead Tithe Barn, every Wednesday during term time, 10 - 11.30am. £2 per family. Lots of lovely toys for children, cuppa and a chat for you.
Email: tiddlerstoddlergroup@gmail.com for more info or just come along.
AYLSHAM CHESS CLUB Meets at Aylsham & District Ex-Service & Social Club on Monday evenings during the Sep - Jun season. Contact: David Owen (Club Secretary), Tel: 01263 731327, e-mail: davidowen364@btinternet.com
COMMUNITY CAFÉ AT THE HUB - Come and join us for a cuppa, a slice of homemade cake & a chat! We meet every Thursday from 10.30-12pm at Wroxham & Hoveton United Reformed Church (The Hub), 114 Norwich Rd, Wroxham, NR12 8SA. We are open to all and there's no charge.
1st COLTISHALL GUIDES - We are a charitable organisation who deliver broad programmes of activities for the development of young girls and women. The Guide group caters for 10-14 year olds providing them with a safe environment in which they can develop both personally and socially. Email: firstcoltishallguides@gmail.com or contact Claire on 07826 444 046.
BUXTON PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB - We are a small friendly club catering for all levels and styles of photography, we meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, at 7.30pm in Buxton Village Hall, in Buxton. for further details contact: info@buxtonphotographicclub.co.uk or contact John on 07526777962. Full details of program can be found here: www.buxtonphotographicclub.co.uk
THE NEEDLES - At Broadland Youth & Community Centre Hoveton on Tuesday’s 10-4pm. If you stitch knit, crochet, patchwork, do dressmaking and would like help with zips, hems, casting on or can help others,? Come along and share your skills and tips or learn something new and let’s have some fun and chat. For more information contact Margaret on 07503 902963.
Community Events & What’s On...
You can use this page to send your FREE message to 8,000 households and businesses!
STALHAM COMMUNITY GYM continues to provide a fabulous, friendly and affordable gym facility for the people of Stalham and surrounding areas. We still have the same moto “health and well-being for all”. The fully equipped, air-conditioned gym is based at The Poppy Centre, Recreation Road, Stalham, NR12 9BH. Our qualified Instructors can provide you with a programme designed for you individually whatever your needs and abilities. We support Yoga classes on Friday mornings and members are entitled to a discounted fee for these classes.
Our opening times are Monday 8am to midday (Box fit with Ric at 11am to 1130am). Wednesday 9am to midday. Thursday 8am to midday with Helen. (Circuit Class at 10 am). Friday 8am to midday and Sunday 9am to 11am.
We are also open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings between 6pm and 8pm with Instructor Paul.
Membership fees are £25 per month adult, £15 pm under 18’s. Concessions are available. Or, you can Pay As You Go at £5 per session. Telephone Helen between 9am and 6pm on 07716 811696 for more information. Alternatively, contact us on the gym mobile 07547 321874 during opening hours or email stalhamcommunitygym@gmail.com and we will get back to you. Find us on Facebook Stalham Community Gym, Next Door Stalham or www.stalhamcommunitygym.org.uk
We provide a safe, friendly, supportive environment for all members of the local community and surrounding areas and look forward to welcoming new and existing members.
222 (BROADLANDS) SQUADRON RAFAC - We are a youth organisation sponsored by the RAF. We meet on Monday and Friday evenings at Broadland High Ormiston Academy and get up to everything from flying and shooting, to sport and adventure activities. If you are at least 12 years-old and in Year 8 at school come along and find out for yourself if being an Air Cadet is for you. Get in touch via our website (www.222-atc.org.uk) to arrange a taster visit to Squadron.
HOVETON FARMERS & PRODUCERS MARKET
The Hoveton Farmers and Producers Market is held every 4th Saturday of each month at Hoveton Village Hall. A range of local produce is available including Meats, Bread, Cakes, Pies, Pastries, Cheese, Eggs, Preserves, Alcoholic Beverages, Garden Plants and Cut Flowers. There are also stalls selling Handcrafted Gifts. Hoveton Village Hall, Stalham Road, Hoveton, NR12 8DU.
TUNSTEAD MAHJONG GROUP is a small, friendly and informal group of ladies and men who meet to play Mahjong once a week, on a Friday morning from 10.00am until 1.00pm. At a members home in Tunstead. We are a mixed ability group who would welc ome both those who have played before and total beginners, the latter of whom we are happy to teach. Mahjong is a game played with tiles. The object of the game is to collect sets of particular tiles rather like the card game Rummy. If you enjoy games such as bridge, chess or playing cards, then you might like to join us. If you are interested to play or you would just like to come along and see the game in progress, please telephone Carol on 01603 929368 or email carol_hodgkiss@hotmail.com
STALHAM & DISTRICT BRANCH, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Meet every third Thursday at 1230 in the Swan public house in Stalham High street We are currently looking for new committee members If you are interested in a position please come along to a meeting of contact Robert Glenister email robert.glenister@yahoo.com or via our Facebook page facebook.com/stalhamroyalbritishlegion You will receive a very friendly welcome!
HORNING BRIDGE CLUB at the Village Hall on Monday evenings 6.30-10 pm and at Hoveton Youth & Community Centre on Thursday afternoons. For further information telephone Sue Howes: 07799 777862
NEATISHEAD BRIDGE CLUB at Neatishead Village Hall every Friday Morning 10-1pm. For further information telephone Sue Howes: 07799 777862
WROXHAM, HOVETON AND BELAUGH VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY CARS: Transport to Medical Appointments Charity No. 1044332
We have a team of volunteer drivers who are prepared to take anyone in need of transport to a medical appointment e.g doctors, dentists, opticians, hospitals. The areas we cover are for people registered at Hoveton/Wroxham Medical Practice, e.g. Salhouse, Rackheath, Horning, Tunstead, so if you live in any of these surrounding villages, you will be able to use our service. We also take patients registered at The Coltishall Surgery who live in the Wroxham/Hoveton area. We do make a nominal charge, depending on the distance, to cover the drivers’ running costs. We do have wheelchairs available but you must have sufficient mobility to get in and out of the car as none of our vehicles are wheelchair accessible. For further details with regards to booking a car, please phone: 01603 784 455
Community Events & What’s On...
You can use this page to send your FREE message to 8,000 households and businesses!
Regular Events
WROXHAM FOLK DANCE CLUB meets on Friday evening 7.30pm in the Church Hall, Norwich Road, Wroxham, NR12 8SA. Not done this before? No problem instructions given. Cost £3 per session. All welcome. Contact Rod on 01603 897299.
HORNING & DISTRICT LADIES LUNCH CLUB
Always happy to welcome new members. We meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month ( between October and June ) at the Old Rectory Hotel in Crostwick. We enjoy a delicious 2 course meal, followed by Tea or Coffee, and, to complete the afternoon, we have a different guest speaker each month. You do NOT have to live in Horning, in order to join us. It is essential that lunch is booked in advance, to do this or, if you require any further information. Please contact Tricia Elson on 07931 301606 or, e mail her at, ladieslunchclub@btinternet.com
CHILDREN’S PUZZLE PAGE ANSWERS
MAP READING ANSWERS
MONKEY C3
GIRAFFE E4
HIPPO C1
ZEBRA D5
ELEPHANT B2
TORTOISE A4
CROCODILE A1
FLAMINGO E2
GAZELLE B5
SNAKE D3
WHB TWINNING ASSOCIATION
Get ready, everyone, for our ‘Allo ‘Allo themed VE Day celebration with fun, music and supper on Saturday10th May in Wroxham Church hall. There will be funquizzes, fancy dress encouraged (prizes for the best), music- 1940s tunes, dancing and singalongs and supper-platters of cheeses, cold meats, pâtés, French bread and puddings. Bring your own drinks, glasses and cutlery and let us celebrate 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the liberation of our French neighbours from their Nazi occupation: for more information and to book your places at £20 a head please contact Margaret on 01603 783636 or margaretcollingwood0@gmail.com
Our main event is, of course, the visit to our French Twinning friends in La Pommeraye and Montjeansur-Loire, 9-15th August. We are hoping as many members as possible will join us but we always have room for more on our executive coach and have great fun en route also, including free lunch on the ferry. We are spending the first night in Rouen with dinner, bed and breakfast included and a guided tour and free time the next day in this lovely, historic city, before continuing to our destination and five nights with our French hosts, their wonderful hospitality, local excursions etc. Do get in touch if you’d like to join in all the fun. Book Club had their usual gettogether on Wednesday, 19th March to discuss Phil’s choice of “A Column of Fire” by Ken Follett, the last of his historical Kingsbridge novels. Pat can supply more information on pat.barkergreen@btinternet.com or 07879 454052
For more information generally, please contact our new chairperson, Liz, on powellea@btinternet.com or 07484 897754
WROXHAM AND HOVETON
LIONS CLUB
Spring is now here and hopefully we can look forward to some nice weather over Easter.
I recently had the great pleasure of delivering a donation of £300 worth of toys to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Children’s Cystic Fibrosis and Respiratory Department, where I met some of the nurses who work there and spoke to them about their work We were delighted to be able to supply them with all the toys on the wish list they had drawn up, which are specifically designed to be tactile and are able to be hygienically cleaned after use.
March saw our first Craft Fair of the year at Hoveton Village Hall. The event was a great success with all tables taken up.
At the end of the month four of our members represented the Club at Acle and Brundle Lions Club’s Quiz and Chips evening.
April marks the start of our Charity Shop’s 25th Anniversary year and two logos and bunting, celebrating this and the Clubs 50th year (which starts in July), are now installed in the shop window.
The shop is open 7 days a week and reverted to the summer hours of 9am to 4pm Mondays to Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sundays, from Monday 31st March. We have
a great selection of bric a brac, clothes, books and other items, so come along and see what bargains you can pick up.
I would like to thank everyone who has kindly donated items to us. We are always happy to receive donations of items in good clean condition, including fully working small electricals. If you are not able to get to the shop, collection can be arranged, by telephoning 01603 783737.
Whist on the subject of the shop, we are looking for volunteers to help out between 1am and 4pm, on one or two Saturday afternoons a month. If you are interested, please call into the shop or telephone 01603783737 and speak to Nadia. Our mobile tombola stall will be back out for the first time this year at the North Walsham Fun Day on Sunday 29th June and we hope to see you there.
Planning is in full swing for our Hoveton Village Charity Fete at Hoveton Village Hall and Playing Field on Sunday 3rd August. Booking forms for both stalls and classic vehicles are available to download from our website, https:/ wroxhamandhovetonlions.org
It’s a great day out for all the family, so keep an eye out for further information in future reports and on our web and Facebook pages.
Lion Ron Hill, President
Wroxham and Hoveton Lions Club
Below are some of the events and services we offer but see our Facebook page or call the library on 01603 782560.
• Just a Cuppa, every Tuesday 10.00 – 12pm. Come along for a friendly chat over a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.
• Send Café NEW TIMES Friendly and supportive sessions aimed at children with SEND. Meet up with other families, share ideas and have some fun, including a lego activity! The cafes are free, on a drop-in basis, so no booking required, the next date is 24th June 3.15 – 4.15pm.
• Toys We have a selection of toys and games that can be played with in the library, from Duplo, and counting games, to jigsaws. Look in our folder to see what is available.
• Autism Social Group Come to a friendly social group for a cuppa and a chat. No need to book, all welcome. Change of day to first Wednesday of every month 1-3pm.
• Crafting New time 10.30 -3.30 pm on alternate Saturdays (staff dependent). Aimed at children aged 5 -11 (under 8s require supervision).
• Knit and Natter – not just for knitters! Bring your embroidery, textile,
or crochet project along to our informal gathering. Thursday 3rd April and Thursday 17th April 2.00 – 4.00pm.
• Crib Club (Cribbage card game) –new players welcome -Thursday 10th April 2.00-4:00pm. Please bring your own board and cards if you have them.
• Scrabble Club Usually last Thursday of each month from 2.004.00pm. Next session Thursday 24th April. All welcome.
• Thinking of starting up or growing your own business? As a local Business and IP Centre, we have free access to a wide range of business resources at Wroxham library. Find out more at: www.norfolk.gov.uk/bipcnorfolk
• Our Bounce and Rhyme sessions take place on Wednesday at 10.30am. No need to book just drop in and sing along!
• Story Explorers, is a reading adventure for children aged 0 – 5. To sign up and find out more, simply visit the library and speak to a member of staff.
• Family History – Use our free access to Find My Past any time the library is open. Drop-in on Wednesday and Friday evenings between 4.00pm and 6.00pm to get advice from Diane, our family and local history expert.
• Book one 60 or 120 minute session per day on a computer. Contact the library on 01603 782560.
• 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
• Use our self-service Baby Weigh Scales on request.
Housebound Library Service
If you are unable to get out to the library to get your library books, we can bring them to you! Details from the library.
Our normal opening hours are below, though please check for updates on our Facebook and Webpages. We have further extended our opening hours with the Open Library service – contact the library for more information.
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: 10 - 7
• Wednesday: 10- 7
• Thursday: 10-7
• Friday: 10-7
• Saturday: 10- 4
• Sunday: Closed
Visit our Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/ wroxhamlibraryofficial for updates on events and activities. www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries
WOMACK HERONS is a friendly group of retirees sharing friendship and fun; Why not come and join us? Our 2025 programme includes meals out, bowling, walks, talks and visits – all within easy reach of Norwich. See the updated website: www.womackherons.org.uk for more information; to book or for enquiries contact Tricia@womackherons.org.uk
Our April and May activities are:
Weds 30th April: Spring Walk starts at 10.30am at The Kings Head, Coltishall, returning for lunch at 12.30pm. Book for walk and/or lunch by 22nd April.
Weds 21st May: Walk at NWT Hickling Broad Reserve (Entry £5 for non-members) followed by 12.30pm lunch at The Pleasureboat Inn, Hickling. Book for walk and/or lunch by 13th May.
BROADLAND MODEL
RAILWAY CLUB
The Club has been very fortunate in receiving a donation of a complete OO gauge layout which was built to a very high standard indeed. It will require some work to fix the problems caused by its removal to the club but we hope to be able to add this to our available layouts in the near future. The description and photos will be added to the website as soon as possible, watch this space!
We are applying for space at the upcoming Stalham Artisan Street Fayre in July and we have been invited to participate at the Catfield Village Fete in June – lets hope for fine weather for both events. We be holding our full first show of the year on May 25th in Hoveton Village Hall with a number of layouts both invited and club layouts, look out for the flyers and posters for this event.
The club has often talked about holding ‘education’ sessions for the
membership to share our knowledge of specific aspects of modelling. Last Friday, we held the first of these sessions with an introductory talk on the subject of electronic controls for things like points & signals. This is a bit of a ‘black art’ for many of us, however the Chairman has gained quite a bit of experience in using a system marketed by the Model Engineering Railway Group (MERG) and this system is now being used on three of the layouts we are building (Eight Acres, South Repps and the School Layout) plus it is used on the Chairmans own 009 layout which will be on display at the two events above – come along and ask loads of questions, its not as complex as you might think.
As always, we are interested in hearing from potential new members, full contact information is on the website: https:// broadlandmodelrailwayclub.co.uk/
WROXHAM BURE
VALLEY ROTARY CLUB
We hope you all enjoyed seeing the lovely displays of purple crocuses last month. We have been planting these around the local villages for several years now to support our international “End Polio
Now” campaign, and this year, thanks to favourable weather, saw one of the best displays yet.
Last month we were busy helping staff and pupils at Broadland Academy, firstly by holding mock interviews with students from the 4th and 5th years, and then by running an inter house Technology Tournament. May sees our next fund raiser when we help out at the annual steam event at Strumpshaw. In addition we recently made donations totaling £1500 to the Nancy Oldfield Trust, and the Rotary End Polio Now campaign. We also continue to have a great programme of interesting speakers lined up for our weekly Monday evening meetings at Wroxham Barns. You can also support us and the many local and international charities we donate to, through the Broadland Council Lottery Scheme – simply go on line at www.communityatheartlottery.com and sign up, selecting Wroxham Bure Valley Rotary Club as your chosen cause – or you can support us directly by visiting our page on the www.totalgiving.co.uk web site.
Meantime, we hope everyone enjoys a safe, happy, and healthy 2025. If you fancy joining us for a vibrant, sociable, active, and fun club experience, please contact our president, Kelvin Dore, on 07798 786944.
THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK
~ at the heart of our community ~
ROYS OF WROXHAM DONATES OVER £43,000 TO LOCAL CHARITIES
Roys of Wroxham is proud to announce donations totalling over £43,000 to charities and good causes in 2024, supporting 307 organisations across the region.
More than £30,000 has been donated to Roys’ chosen charities of the year, benefiting a wide range of causes across Norfolk and Suffolk. These contributions will help organisations dedicated to health, community support, rescue services, and animal welfare.
Donations Breakdown:
• Sea Palling Lifeboat – £9,211
• Bowthorpe – Hamlet Centre Trust – £6,263.40
• Faith Animal Rescue – £5,208.60
• Mag St – The Feed – £2,318.40
• Sudbury – The Christopher Centre – £1,573.30
• Thetford – Grow Kids – £1,528.70
• Beccles – Beccles Sea Cadets –£1,392.70
• NW – Norfolk and Suffolk Animal Trust – £847.90
• Dereham – Dereham Cancer Care – £789.50
• HW – NICU – £727.00
These donations are funded through Roys’ carrier bag sales, with 10p donated for each reusable bag purchased. The initiative not only supports sustainability through recycled and recyclable bags but also helps local charities.
Ed Roy, Managing Director of Roys, expressed his appreciation for the charities’ work:
"We are incredibly proud to support these fantastic local charities. Each organisation plays a vital role in our communities, and we hope these
contributions make a meaningful difference to their invaluable work."
One of the beneficiaries, Grow Kids, shared their gratitude:
"We are so grateful for this support. Such generosity enables us to continue offering free clothing for
children and creating a welcoming space for families in need."
Chris Elliott, Corporate Marketing and Fundraising Manager at The Feed, highlighted the impact of Roys' donation:
"Thanks to everyone at Roys for this fantastic support. To put it into perspective, this amount will provide over two months’ worth of free fresh fruit and vegetables to hundreds of members of our Social Supermarket people struggling to afford enough food."
Roys of Wroxham extends its heartfelt thanks to customers, whose continued support enables these vital contributions to local charities and community initiatives.
EAST NORFOLK OPERATIC SOCIETY
Don’t miss the East Norfolk Operatic Society performance of the comic opera ‘Princess Ida’ at The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich from 7th May 2025 to 10th May 2025.
Often described as the hidden gem in Gilbert and Sullivan’s crown, this lesser-known romantic operetta is packed with comedy, intrigue and toe tapping music as it tells the age -old story of the battle of the sexes. This twist on a medieval fairy tale is being staged by award-winning director Tim Hurst-Brown, with musical direction and a live orchestra conducted by Bernard Soper. With an excellent line-up of Principals and a strong supporting chorus, along with stunning costume and set design, this production is set to wow.
Performances are at 7.30 pm each evening with a matinee show on 10th May at 2.30 pm. For seat reservations, please call the Box Office on 01603 620917. Alternatively, book via the theatre webpage www.maddermarket.co.uk
All tickets are priced £21 and a discount of 15% is available for group bookings of 8 or more persons.
THE WROXHAM &
COLTISHALL BOOK
~ at the heart of our community ~
WROXHAM
FOOTBALL CLUB
By the time you are reading this we will have just five games left in April, with our final game Vs. Bury Town on the 26th. It really is choppy waters as The Yachtsmen navigate the next few weeks to stay at Step 4 for a record 3rd season as we sit two places off the relegation zone. Since the last edition of The Bridge our record is P8 W3 D3 L2. Most notably a 4-2 victory over Mulbarton Rovers that sees us reach the final of the Norfolk Senior Cup and a 2-1 away win at high flying Walthamstow. The Norfolk Senior Cup Final will be played at Carrow Road during May where we will play the Norwich City Academy side. It will be a tough game but ending the campaign with some
silverware is within our grasp. We will let you know when tickets go on sale.
For now, though, all our attention is on survival. Our average attendance in the last month is just under 240 and if you are one of those, then we sincerely thank you. Never underestimate just how much difference good supportive crowd can make, even at this level. If you haven’t yet been down to Trafford Park, why not come along and help us over the line - £10 Adults. 16-18 yrs £3 Under 16’s free & over 65 just £8. Local Woodfordes Ales, good food and a warm welcome awaits.
Next at The Ginger Pickle Arena at Trafford Park:
• Friday 18th April KO 3pm Vs Brentwood Town
• Saturday 26th April KO 3.00pm Vs Bury Town
(Below): L to R: Action and goals(!) Vs. Haringey Borough, Sporting Bengal, Mildenhall Town and Mulbarton Rovers
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Inclusion Deadline for June/July 25 edition is 12th May 2025
To contact us: tracey@wacbook.co.uk Tele: 01603 717681
@TraceyWACBook
@BroadlandMediaLtd
Tracey De-Abreu
Welcome… to the latest edition of THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK…
Hooray, British Summer Time has returned! Heading towards Easter Holidays, hopefully we can expect slightly warmer weather here in the Norfolk Broads...
If you’re looking to get a little more active, you might like to consider participating in one of the events in our ‘Community Events & What’s On’ pages. There are always things taking place in and around the eighteen villages covered by THE WROXHAM & COLTISHALL BOOK. Should you have a fundraising event, or a community-based club event to publicise, remember to e-mail us details ahead of the inclusion dates which can always be found here on page 3 and online at www.wacbook.co.uk - click-page digital versions of each magazine can also be viewed on our website. You can literally see our glossy pages on your smartphone nowadays!
Enjoy April & May!...
Tracey
@BroadlandMediaLtd
What’s Inside… Page:
12 - Recipé; Lamb Cutlets with Creole Mojo Sauce.
14 - Home & Interior; 8 Tips for a Truly Comfy Bedroom.
22 - Beauty; British Beauty 23 - Health; Waist Away 24 - 80th Anniversary of VE Day 31 - Join ‘The WACBook’ 30 - Fundraising Concert
