April 2014 seven churches

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Se en Churches Magazine April 2014

Priest-in-Charge: Rev. Marion Harrison, Itteringham Rectory, The Street, Itteringham NR11 7AX. Tel: 01263 587977 The Seven Churches Benefice includes: St Andrew, Blickling; SS Peter & Paul, Edgefield; St Mary, Itteringham; St Andrew, Little Barningham; SS Peter & Paul, Oulton and Irmingland; St Andrew, Saxthorpe with Corpusty; St Andrew,Wickmere. www.sevenchurches.org.uk

In this issue: Parish Reports: Blickling p.5 Edgefield p.7 Itteringham p. 9 Little Barningham p.11 Oulton p.19 Saxthorpe/Corpusty p. 21 Wickmere p. 23 Nature Notes p. 8 Behind the hymn book p. 10 The MacArthur Grill p. 13 Photograph: Ivan Thompson

The Benefice Planner p. 14 Benefice Service Rota p. 15

Village Gardens p. 17

“I know not this man of whom ye speak!�

And the second time the cock crew.

And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him: Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And when he thought thereon, he wept. (Mark 14) Do you know the man of whom they speak?

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To Jerusalem p. 25 Arts News p.. 22 Village People p. 27 And 2 Groans!

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April Reflection

Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

No matter what the winter throws at us, whether it is a bitter winter or a mild one, whether snow has lain thick and long upon the land, or fields are sodden with constant rain and driving winds cut through to chill our bones, Spring comes.

And how it lifts our hearts, what joy it brings. We become surrounded with light and colour and the warmth seeks out and dispels even our coldest thoughts.

We step out to greet the day with smiles and warm words for those we meet. We take delight in all we see, and some take off their shoes and run barefoot through the dew covered grass.

Spring is such a delight to us. We seem to awake afresh to the beauty of the natural world around us. We all try in some way to capture something of that beauty, to recreate that which pleases us and gives joy to others. It may be found in a painting or a garden, in a photograph of a rare and beautiful bird or a field of ewes with new born lambs. Or even in the colours of our churches stained glass windows.

There is also beauty in peace and stillness. Something that our modern world appears to try and crowd out. Or maybe it is our fear that prevents us enjoying quietness and stillness. For to be truly quiet and still is to be alone with ourselves.

Our own thoughts and feelings can overwhelm us and we may not like what we find out about ourselves. But we are never truly alone, for the God of creation, the one who creates afresh each day, is always with us. If we believe in Him and ask for his help, He is able to create us afresh too, for in His sight each of us is already beautiful.

I would like to thank the ladies of Itteringham for attending our first “Tea and Chat”. Our next meeting will be on April 29th 2-4.00pm at the Rectory.

Austin James Fowell.

St. Mary’s Itteringham would like to thank the friends and family of the late Austin James Fowell (1920-2014) for their kind and generous donations to St. Mary’s Church. Austin was a cherished husband, dedicated father and grandfather, good friend and farmer. Beloved by all who truly knew him and though he is sadly missed, we celebrate a life well lived (see the Obituary on Page 26). The amount given on the day was £545.00. Austin, rest in peace and rise in glory.

Amen.

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Rev. Marion Harrison

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BLICKLING Dave Brady (NT Head Ranger) invites walkers from not only Blickling, but the entire Benefice area to join him in a free guided walk around Blickling Park on Sat 21st June at 10am. Meet in the main National Trust car park (near to the Bucks Arms, and then Dave will share his knowledge of the history of Blickling estate and its future. The walk will take up to 2½ hours, and includes a look inside the Mausoleum. There is also a personal introduction to a new feature in the park, the 2014 Tree Sundial (13 oaks and beeches, across 30 metres).You will also get to meet the 600 year-old walking tree, and walk on the ‘paths of desire’! Contact Dave for details, on 01263 731994.

On the subject of walks: the footpath from Hall Farm to Waterwheel Carr has masses of primroses this year – well worth a look.

Need a bus in Blickling? Aldborough Community Bus offers an excellent service and will take you from Silvergate to Aylsham on a Monday, departing from the bench at 9.25am, returning from Aylsham Market Place at 12.15pm (£2.00 return). It will also take you straight to Norwich from Silvergate every first Wednesday in the month, departing 9.30am, and returning from Norwich Castle meadow at 1.30pm (£4.00 return). Concessionary Bus Pass holders travel free. Children under 16 go half-price. Contact Keith Good for more details – 01263 761580 Observant types may have noticed that the hanging sign outside the Buckinghamshire Arms was missing, but here it is, the new one, freshly painted by me to its original design. It now hangs on its original bracket. The Latin motto on the bottom, Our correspondent shows her handiwork “Auctor Pretiosa Facit” translates as “the giver makes the gift precious”. [Editor’s Note: Jess has also refurbished and repainted the town signs for Aylsham and Spixworth.]

We’re all wishing Neville Johnson a speedy recovery after his recent accident, subsequent operation and hospital stay.

The National Trust is applying for planning permission to replace the timber-framed greenhouse in the Walled Garden at Blickling Hall; details available from Broadland District Council.

The excellent Lothian Barn Book Shop is now open seven days a week from 10.15am each day. Well worth a visit: they hold in the region of 25,000 books.

Future contributions for this page are very welcome: Jessica Perry: 01263 735013 jessica531@btinternet.com contact Jessica - details opposite 5

Nutritionist

ITTERINGHAM VILLAGE SHOP Established 1637 General Store, Post Office, CafĂŠ and Off Licence Run by the Itteringham Community Association Groceries, Deli Counter, Whole Foods, Wines, Beers, Delicious Cakes, Hand Made Pies, Pet Foods, Local Produce, Ices, Sweets, Books, Maps, Plants

Dietitian (Dietetics BSc) who worked for NHS qualified to deal with all dietary issues from allergies to weight management.

Fully trained with appropriate counselling skills to help behavioural changes.

Please call Cherece for a free phone consultation

Shop open 9.00-5.00 every day except Sunday 9.00-12.00.

Post Office open Monday & Thursday am

Tel: 01263 587 459 Mob: 07767 333 862 Or email: dietarymatters@gmail.com

Home Deliveries Telephone 01263 587325 6

EDGEFIELD Church News (from Angela Turner) As we all look forward to Easter, can any late order for Easter lilies please go to Angela as soon as possible. They are £2.22 each this year. It would be great to see lots of people at our service at 9.30 a.m., taken by Michael Banks. We also have a service on Good Friday, 2 – 3 p.m. The daffodils in the car park are looking very spring-like, and the primroses in the churchyard are really special this year, and worth a visit.

It is good that Lorna is back home again, and we continue to pray for her to feel her old self again and be up and about as before.

I shall be moving the vast distance of 1.3 miles to Easter Gate, Chapel Hill, on 25th April! Providing BT behave themselves, a rare occurrence I am told, my telephone number should remain 587292. Here’s hoping! A very Happy Easter to you all.

Edgefield Village Hall Committee (from Jim Frost) Life continues to be busy for the Village Hall committee. By the time you read this, the Irish Evening will have been and gone and our next big event is an evening with Henry Cator at 7.00 p.m. on Friday 16th May. Henry was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2012/13 and is an accomplished afterdinner speaker. The evening will consist of a buffet supper followed by an entertaining talk by Henry on his beloved Norfolk. Tickets are £10 each and are now on sale and can be obtained from any committee member. If you don’t want to miss out, book early, as we expect tickets to sell out quickly. Finally, don’t forget our continuing programme of films, details of the next one is in the Richard Peaver: 01263 587486, rhpeaver@btinternet.com Benefice Planner on page 14.

URGENT: Help needed in Corpusty Due to the retirement in April of both our secretary and our treasurer/ bookings clerk, we are now in urgent need of two or three volunteers to take over.

The volunteers need not live in the village.The secretary’s main task is to take and then type up the minutes of the meetings. In the past the Treasurer has looked after both the finances and the bookings but this could be split into two separate jobs if necessary. Our meetings are bi-monthly, so only six a year and neither of these jobs are arduous but they are very important to the village.

Please help us to keep the Hall going as an important amenity for the village.

If we cannot fill these vacancies there is every possibility that we will have, very reluctantly, to close the Village Hall.Thank you Diane Oliver, Chair.

Tel: 01263 584126 Email: notrobena@yahoo.co.uk 7

Nature Notes Whilst gardening the other day I was compelled to stop. My attention had been caught by the stunning sight of a yellow Brimstone butterfly, its dazzling sulphur coloured wings glinting in the spring sunshine.This was a male (the females being a rather less conspicuous whitish green) and the sighting of it fluttering about truly announced that spring has sprung!

With a longer than average lifespan the Brimstone is one of only a few that hibernate as adults, high levels of sugar in their cells allowing them to withstand low temperatures.

It’s not uncommon to see them on warmer days, even in the depths of winter, but in spring as the sun begins to gain strength, they truly begin to emerge, spurred on by a fragrance exuded by the females.

After mating, the eggs, of which there is only one brood a year, are laid singly, usually Brimstone Butterfly by Sue Appleby on Buckthorn leaves the caterpillar’s favourite food. Camouflaged, the caterpillars alter their colour to match that of the leaf on which they sit, and by angling their bodies in a certain way, can avoid casting a tell tale shadow that would betray their presence to hungry predators.

After pupation a new generation of adults emerges in late summer, promptly engaging in a feeding frenzy in preparation for the winter months ahead. So preoccupied are they with food at that time, that it is relatively easy to approach the normally timorous butterfly. Finding them, however, may be easier said than done as, in order to avoid unwanted attention, they always settle with wings folded, concealing their brightness whilst the colour and angular shape of the underside of their wings perfectly imitates a pale green leaf.

Brimstones are sometimes accredited with giving rise to the name “butter-fly” but the buttery link goes deeper than just their colouration.

In Estonia large numbers of Brimstones during springtime were believed to predict a year with an abundance of butter. Idle superstition?

Perhaps not, for being a sun lover large numbers of Brimstones would suggest a spring filled with fine weather – perfect for the growth of the grass in the grazing meadows. Better grass = more milk = more butter!

Shame though, that the Estonian farmers then took it a little too far by feeding those same unfortunate Brimstones to the cattle, just to make sure the prediction came true!

Sue Appleby 8

ITTERINGHAM In recent years he had been used to driving to the Village Shop and waiting outside in his car for one of the lady managers to appear at the door with his supplies which they would haul down the steps and into the boot of his old motor.

On one particular day this writer had been standing on the top step when he drove slowly past, turned his vehicle around and moved back down towards the shop, arm out of the window, his hand holding a ten pound note which he waved up at the door. He asked if a lady manager knew he was there to which your writer replied, looking at the note in his hand, “I don’t think you’re allowed to do that any more Austin”. He was overcome with red- cheeked confusion but fielded it with good grace.You will be missed Austin Fowell. Have a safe journey.

The Village shares your sorrow Megan.

Your Village Shop can now accept payment by debit/credit card. The terminal should not perhaps be used for items below a sum of £5.

A sociable social with tea and/or Prosecco was hosted by Peter and Liz Downes at Itteringham Mill last 8th. March. It was a nicely chosen date and well enjoyed. The Mill will soon be almost carbon neutral which is a triumph for the village and for the Downes’. Trend setters perhaps?

Peter and Liz Downes whose Itteringham Mill is leading the village towards carbon neutrality

There is to be a family service at St.Marys on Easter Sunday, 20th.April.

Afterwards ‘Young sleuths wanted’ to discover the whereabouts of treasure hidden within the Churchyard. Eye of eagle and snout of hound would assist.

A shower of thanks descends from Sheila Mitchell to all of those who hastened her mend of fracture by their collective comments on the “Life is Uncertain” card. She has ‘stiffened the sinews and summoned up the blood’ and will be ready once more to return to the challenges of Itteringham within two weeks.

She will miss the attentions of her daughter and grandchildren she says but offers this advice to all. “Tie your shoe and boot laces....stupid”! We look forward to having you Eric Goodman 587278 back Sheila.

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What’s behind the hymn book?

We are very grateful to Richard Peaver for providing insights into the background of some of our hymns.This is the last in the current series but Richard will return in November with more. This month: Praise to the Holiest in the height The Church of England in the mid-19th century was perceived by some clergy to be in a period of decline. As a reaction to this, a group of Anglican clerics, many of them fellows of Oxford colleges, founded what became known as the Oxford Movement.

The “Tractarians”, or “Ritualists”, as members of the movement were sometimes known, drew inspiration from the mediaeval traditions of the church and aimed to restore colour and ceremony to the liturgy. They favoured the wearing of clerical vestments and encouraged regular communion. Although in the course of time a number of them “went over to Rome”, many of those who remained in the Church of England exerted increasing influence over the years. The High Church movement was largely responsible for the renewed importance accorded to dignity of worship, high-quality music, the use of devotional images and church decoration. It also influenced Christian Socialism, an offshoot of the work carried out by many Anglo-Catholic priests in deprived areas of the nation.

A leading member of the Oxford Movement was The Rev John Henry Newman. Despite having started his clerical career as an evangelical, he was received in 1845 into the Roman Catholic Church. A scholar, intellectual, educationalist and poet, he was elevated to the cardinalate in 1878. “Praise to the Holiest in the Height” comes from his longest poem, “The Dream of Gerontius”. Partly inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, the poem describes a dying man’s hope of salvation, followed by a depiction of his soul’s journey after death. A chorus of angels sing this hymn of praise, which forms one of the most thrilling sections of Elgar’s setting of “Gerontius”. In our hymnbooks, the words are set to two alternative tunes, “Richmond” and J. B. Dykes’s “Gerontius”, both of them fine settings.

J. H. Newman 1801 - 1890

Over the years, some evangelical clergy have found the heady catholicism of Newman’s poem (and Elgar’s full-blooded setting) rather strong meat, but this hymn remains a much-loved staple of Anglican worship.

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LITTLE BARNINGHAM Many thanks, and good wishes to Debbie Love who wrote this report so successfully for a long time.Taking over from Debbie, and from Margaret Foot before her, is a daunting task.

Community Sunday on March 9th was very successful. 24 people from the village, and nearby, gathered around the table.Talking together at this event each month keeps us in touch with everyday happenings in a friendly way, and the cakes and sandwiches are always delicious.

Michael Gandy and Derek Wintle’s garage is a collecting point for the Syrian Refugee Appeal.There is still time to donate household essentials before the container leaves for the Turkish Border in April, ring Michael on 01263 570097.

In our bid to help save a now endangered species, 1200 toads have been removed from Sweet Briar Lane and delivered by bucket taxi to their pond to spawn.Thanks to considerate drivers and to Pam and Mike Daniels for their invaluable support.

The sound of lambing in the evening, inside the large barn at the Daniel’s Green Farm, has been a delight.The work is incredibly hard and the result is now in front of the farmhouse (pedigree texels) and in the barns waiting to leap about the fields.

Barry Dennis, Michael Daniels and Ray Covell have pruned the hedges and trees around St Andrew’s Church, that was very hard work too. Extra thanks are due to Barry who keeps the grounds around our church looking so beautiful.

At the Village Hall AGM on March 18th, it was voted that Debbie Love will continue as Chairperson and Gavin Swinbourne as Treasurer. Sue Pollard and Roger Hughes are now the Secretary. A large ‘thank you’ to Barbara and Paul Thurtell, who had been central to the committee in the past.They have now decided to stand down.

Norah Jones is recovering from an unscheduled visit to hospital.

“The nursing staff and doctors at The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Barry Dennis at work in St Andrew’s churchyard were marvellous.” she said. Arlo the greyhound was at her side and all her family are relieved to have her at home.

The Table Top Sale, on March 22nd/23rd, has contributed £214 to Church Funds and £105 to Village Hall funds, so it was worth all the organisation, and the cakes were delicious.

The Quiz & Chips evening in the Village Hall, is on April 5th at 7.00 pm.The Quiz starts at 7.30pm, after the meal. Book your £7.50 tickets from Debbie Love, 01263 577430, or Sue Pollard on 01263 570091. Hosted by Barbara and Paul Thurtell this time, it is always good night out.

The Little Barningham Church AGM is on April 30th at 7.30pm.

Fiona French: 01263 577400 11

IYENGAR YOGA CLASSES

Corpusty Stores & Post Office

Come and try it Stretch, Strengthen, Balance, Relax

A rigorous and precise yoga that works to achieve the maximum benefit for each student’s body.

Everything you need, every time you need it.

Edgefield, Reepham and Fakenham

Classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Block booking @£8 per class after your first class

Store open 8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm Sun. Post Office open 9am-12pm Mon-Sat

Contact Liz Ward: 07740 105 339 e-mail: jlward@talktalk.net

01263 587202

Norwich Road, Corpusty

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Foreign Readership

Helen McKenzie, our Web Mistress, reports that the March Online Edition of the Seven Churches Benefice Magazine was read as follows: 102 reads from the UK, 3 reads from the USA, 1 Ireland, 1 UAE and 1 French Guiana (!)

April Groan 1 I used to suffer from kleptomania but I’m much better now I’ve taken something for it.

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The MacArthur Grill: Michael Gandy Sharon Buchan who was the instigator of the Syrian Refugees appeal praises the contribution made to its success by Little Barningham’s Michael Gandy.“He has been fantastic,” she says,“ so dedicated and enthusiastic.

He has made a huge difference.”

Michael got involved with the Syrian appeal after seeing a poster on the church notice board. Since then he has collected five four-by-four loads of clothes, blankets and shoes and toiletries.All the material from the seven villages will now go by lorry to the Turkish border where it will be collected by a relief agency and hundreds of refugees will benefit.

Mike Gandy: Little Barningham’s action man!

Wherever there are good works to be done, Michael Gandy will be part of the action. He organizes Village Care, based in Aldborough, which has 31 drivers who help the elderly to get to appointments with doctors, dentists and hospitals. He organized the stall at the recent village table top sale to raise money for the charity.Although he doesn’t ‘do’ church’ he supports church fund-raising efforts.

Michael, 70, who was born near Northwich, Cheshire, had a varied career before arriving in Norfolk in 2002. He worked for NatWest where he was transferred to the Mayfair branch.They didn’t like his Cheshire accent, so he found a job at the even classier Harrod’s bank. He was then a cashier at Mecca’s Golden Nugget Casino in London’s West End – he wanted to be a croupier but was colour blind - and worked for Mecca on the QE2, before training as a psychiatric and general nurse and then as a social worker and becoming a residential social worker with the elderly in Hatfield. After he met Derek Wintle Part of the goods raised locally by Sharon Buchan, Mike – they share a house in Little Barningham Gandy and their teams of helpers to aid Syrian refugees – the two men bought a house in Nottingham and converted it into the Riverside Retirement Home.

They moved to Saxthorpe in 2002 and Little Barningham two years later. Michael worked in the furniture and administration departments at Bakers and Larners for the next eight years.

Now fully retired, his hobby is painting – he hopes to hold an exhibition - he tends to the garden when his chronic back condition allows and looks after his greyhound Morissey.

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The Benefice Planner Date Event

April 2014 5th Quiz and Chips 5th Spring Bonanza 7th Bure Valley Quilters 8th North Norfolk Knitters 10th Edgefield Annual Vestry & Parish Meeting 13th Open Day 16th LinC North to Alaska Mr M D Smith 17th

17th 18th 20th 29th 30th

Venue

Time

Lt Barningham Village Hall Corpusty Village hall Corpusty Village Hall Corpusty Village hall Edgefield Village Hall Oulton Congregational Chapel Corpusty Village Hall

7.00 pm 2.00 – 5.00pm 2.00 – 4 pm 10.00 – noon 7.30pm 2 pm – 4 pm 7.30 pm

Families Together invite families from Corpusty Village Hall across the Benefice to come and share in the Easter Story, and celebrate their 3rd Birthday, Wickmere Social Evening Wickmere Village Hall Hot Cross Buns and Craft sale Church Farm, Edgefield Easter Egg Treasure Hunt St Mary’s Itteringham Churchyard Tea and a Chat Itteringham Rectory Lt Barningham Church AGM Lt Barningham Village Hall

3.30 – 5.30 pm TBC 11.00 am 11.00 am 2.00 - 4.00 pm 7.30 pm

May 2014 3rd Cambodia: Bob and Kate Maidment

Wickmere Village Hall

7.30 pm

4th

Plant Sale and Seed Swap

Wickmere Village Hall

2.00 - 4.00 pm

10th

Veterans Annual Visit

1 Hodges Row, Oulton Street

3.00 pm

12th

Film Night: The Lemon Tree

Edgefield Village Hall

7.00 for 7.30 pm

13th

North Norfolk Knitters

Corpusty Village hall

10.00 – noon

15th

Families Together God’s Power to Change Corpusty Village Hall

3.30 – 5.30 pm

16 May

An evening with H Cator Esq OBE DL, Edgefield Village Hall former High Sheriff of Norfolk

TBC Evening

21st

LinC: I served a King and Queen: j. Hurren Corpusty Village Hall

7.30 pm

28th

BBC Video Interview Training

Wickmere Village Hall

10 am

June 2014 1st

NGS Open Garden

Oulton Hall

TBC

21st

Oulton Box Day

Oulton Playing Field

3 pm

21st

LinC Strawberry Fair

Corpusty Village Hall

TBC

Corpusty Village Hall Corpusty Village Hall Car Park Corpusty Village Hall

11am - 11.45 am 4.00 – 5.00 pm 2 pm - 4 pm

Regular Events Wednedays (Term only) Pre-school ballet class Most Thursdays Yesu Bus Tuesdays Short Mat Bowls

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Benefice Services Rota: April 2014

April Midweek Holy Communion: 9.00am on Wednesdays at Itteringham HC = Holy Communion, MP = Morning Prayer, EP = Evening Prayer, ES = Evensong, FS = Family Service, CW = Common Worship, BCP = Book of Common Prayer

6th April

13th April

20th April

27th April

4th May

Lent 5

Palm Sunday

Easter Sunday

Easter 2

Easter 3

10.30 Palm Sunday Service: Wickmere

11.00 Easter Celebrations GP 9.00 Family Service

Community Weekend

Blickling

Edgefield

10.30 Community Palm Sunday 9.30 Weekend Service: HC BCP Wickmere

Itteringham

11.00 HC BCP

10.30 Palm Sunday Service: Wickmere

11.00 am 11.00 am Family MP BCP Service with GP Egg Hunt

8.00 HC BCP

10.30 Palm Sunday 8.00 Service: HC BCP Wickmere

8.00 HC BCP

Oulton

9.00 MP GP

10.30 Palm Sunday 9.00 Service: HC CW Wickmere

9.00 Community MP Weekend GP

Saxthorpe

8.00 HC CW

10.30 Palm Sunday 11.00 Service: HC CW Wickmere

11.00 HC CW

Little 9.00 Barningham HC BCP

Wickmere

10.30 8.00 Palm Sunday HC BCP Service 15

9.00 HC CW

8.00 HC CW

11.00 Family Service

Corpusty School’s sporting triumphs!

The Norfolk School Games finals were held at venues across the county during the 7th to 14th March.

The Cross Country Finals were held at chilly and windy Gresham’s School and saw over 600 athletes battling a tough course over distances from 1000m to 1600m. Eleven children from Corpusty competed and finished in an excellent 2nd place. Matthew Waller Corpusty Cross Country Team who finished 4th out of 80 in the year 6 boys’ race commented: “We all enjoyed it and it felt really cool to be part of such a big event.”

Two days later, the Corpusty Tag Rugby team took part in a huge final at Diss RFC. A total of 32 teams, the best in Norfolk, enjoyed a day of exciting matches in beautiful sunshine.The round robin pool stage saw Corpusty pitched against Glebe House, Gresham, Overstrand and Rollesby.There were anxious moments as the team waited to see if they had done enough to progress to the next round.They had, and an afternoon of even tougher matches followed. When the whistle blew after the final gruelling fixture, Corpusty emerged (slightly battered) with a very creditable 4th place.

Well done to the girls and boys from Corpusty.

Finally, a friendly football match was played between the girls from Corpusty and Cawston on 25th March.The Corpusty team set a scorching pace and within seconds were ahead with a goal from Betty Booker. Three more goals followed before half time. Scorers were Bethany Skinn, Georgia Ireson and Betty again.The 12-strong squad played with skill and enthusiasm.Training takes place on Fridays with Paul Willmott, who manages Red Rose FC and who organised and refereed the match.Thanks Paul.

Collection for Syria: Thank you

There has been a tremendous response from the Benefice and beyond for this project so thank you all for your generosity. All the donations are being sorted into boxes (see photograph p.13) to fill a 40 foot container and will then be shipped to Turkey where everything will be given to refugee camps.Thank you to Itteringham Post Office for receiving quantities of donations. I collected a huge pile of bags donated by pupils at Corpusty Primary School, thank you. A special thank you to Ellie for the box of toys for a little girl in Syria. Corpusty hosted a tea in the Village Hall on 16th March which rasied £150 and a mountain of donations.Thank you so much and especially to helpers Anne Humphrey, Joyce Pemberton, Derek Wintle and Heather Monks. I did a tombola at Little Barningham and raised £100 amid great excitement when Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Trail popped in. All monies raised will be used to buy toiletries such as soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes.The collection will continue until the autumn.

We have a website now www.givetosyria.co.uk Thank you.

Sharon Buchan 16

Village Gardeners The daffodils are looking wonderful this year, really strong and colourful. Now is the time to help make a good show next year, so give the plants a dressing of general fertiliser such as Growmore. Also remove the flowers as they fade and then leave the green leaves as long as possible before cutting them off, this puts the goodness back into the bulb. It is time to plant summer flowering bulbs and corms, such as gladiolus, crocosmia, also known as Montbretia and tuberous begonias.

You will probably already have given the grass a trim. It is best not to cut it too short at this time of year. If you have weeds and moss to remove, wait until mid April before applying chemicals. The weeds and grass will be growing more strongly then and the weed killer will act faster and the grass recover quicker.

Any dead moss needs removing by scarifying or raking and to improve the appearance of the lawn make sure you trim the edges.

It is time to sow vegetable seeds as the soil is warming up making germination faster. Sow an early variety of carrot very thinly and harvest while young before the dreaded carrot fly appears.

You can buy a packet of mixed lettuce seed containing 4 or 5 different varieties. As the plants grow you can see the difference between the leaves so thin out to leave a mixture of plants.

Sow spring onions and beetroot. The temptation is to sow too much too thickly at any one time, it is better to sow little and often, to ensure a succession of crops.

Mice always eat my pea seed so I now sow the seeds in a rainwater gutter in the greenhouse and transplant to a little trench. As the Pea seeds grown in a gutter or pot can prevent mice scoffpeas grow, the roots will hold the ing them before you do! compost together in the gutter so that all the peas can be transplanted together.

The gutter can then be refilled with another sowing of peas.

I also sow peas in large pots and keep them in the tunnel so that we have a good crop of early peas. These are shown in the photograph.

Happy gardening.

Peter Eglington 01263 587261 17

M. A. SULLIVAN FENCING SERVICES Free Quotations

01263 585016 or 07972 707053 Breke House, 3 Norwich Road, Corpusty 18

OULTON The combined Vestry meeting AGM and PCC meeting was held in church on March 23rd at 3pm . The churchwardens were duly re-elected and Treasurer, Sue Burton and Secretary, Stephen Jefford agreed to serve for another year. The PCC was re-elected en-bloc As Rev. Marion Harrison was unable to attend, the Rector’s report was held over and Stephen Jefford gave a fabric report as well as agreeing to submit another application for an Heritage Lottery Grant.

Community Sundays.

With a cup of tea and a slice of Eleanor’s excellent cake, the Oulton History Society was born. Our inaugural meeting was held in church on March 23rd as our Community Sunday event for that month and proved to be a very interesting hour.

Founding members shared titbits of information gleaned from a variety of sources which fired our enthusiasm to seek out more.

As previously mentioned these activities will help in our application for a Heritage Lottery Grant, demonstrating community involvement and by erecting a permanent information board. We also aim to create a display in the church to mark the Centenary of WW1.

The plan is to hold quarterly meetings on our Community Sundays so the next one will be June 22nd. All welcome and please keep your history coming in to either Stephen Jefford or Sue Hall.

Community Sunday next month is church/church yard cleaning and maintenance on April 27th 10am -12pm Please join us for a good Spring clean and natter.

Refreshments provided but tools etc. would be helpful.

The Veterans Annual Visit.

This year the marquee will be erected in the orchard of 1 Hodges Row, The Street and tea will be served for the veterans and their families on May 10th at 3pm. A short service at the Memorial will follow. Offers of help to Chris Lambert and Sue Burton on 733904.

As you’ll see from the Benefice Planner on p.14 we have a number of upcoming events: NGS Open Garden on 1st June, Box Day on 21st (offers of help to Susan Mather and Karen Bailey) and Church Fete on 31st August. Each one will need cakes and please remember to save all your bric-a-brac, books and toys for the Fete. Plants and produce will also be gratefully received.

One further request for help. In due course and when funds permit we hope to re-do the floor of the church with paments throughout, in keeping with the aisle and chancel, to create a more usable space. We are therefore keen to start a collection of good quality ones, to keep the costs down. Do you have any spare ones lying around that you could donate? The PCC Sue Hall: 01263 734245 would be most grateful.

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SAXTHORPE WITH CORPUSTY According to Norfolk County Council Mobile Library website no date past 31st March 2014 is available because of rescheduling.When the date is known, it will be posted in Corpusty Stores.

A message from the Bure Valley Quilters, who meet in Corpusty Village Hall on the first and third Mondays between 2 - 4pm, ‘There are some vacancies at present, and anyone interested in learning Patchwork / Quilting is welcome.We have very good quilters able to teach.’ Also the Corpusty and Saxthorpe Art Group continue to meet every Thursday from 10 - 12 noon.

Don’t forget The Spring Bonanza, 5th April at Corpusty Village Hall, 2 - 5pm in aid of Felicity Wright’s sensory garden.The raffle prizes include a signed pamphlet from David Cameron, a signed Norwich City shirt, and a return rail ticket for a family to London, besides many other desirable items. A posh high tea is also on the menu.

A very big thank you to Ann Brewster and her team for organising the 40th Village Exhibition, just over £500 was raised for Village Hall Funds. As always there were plenty of interesting articles to read, photos to look at, displays and some delicious food.Thank you to all who helped and supported.

Families Together will be celebrating their third birthday on 17th April, when all the children, aged 5 - 11 years from the Seven Churches’ Benefice are invited to share in The Easter Story, by way of craft, games, music and a hot supper, no charge. Please let Heather Monks know on 01263 587118, if you intend to come, by Monday 14th April, as catering for an unknown number is always difficult.

The Mardler is a registered charity which is one of over 500 Talking Newspapers in the UK providing audio material for visually impaired people. A weekly Mardler edition records readings from the North Norfolk News and there is a popular monthly Magazine. This is a free service and if you know of anyone who would welcome this way of listening to the local news, please contact Jack Chapman, on 01263 732863.

The community event for the Syrian refugees was a huge success, with friendly exchanges over a cup of tea with a scone or a cake. Sharon Buchan from Wickmere came up with the idea of this humanitarian rescue mission. Sharon and her husband Charlie were overwhelmed and very appreciative of the generous donations given at the event and on other occasions, with about £150 besides clothing and bedding resulting.

It was a tremendous villages’ response with the school, the church and householders giving to help the needy in Syria. Thank you.

LinC is planning a Strawberry Fair on 21st June, more details later.

Judith Banks: 01263 587319 21

Arts All That Jazz!

The Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band will be playing at The Goat Inn, Skeyton, on Sunday 6 April between the usual times of 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. Admission is free and you can just drop-in for a drink or have a meal in the restaurant or the garden room (where the band plays). If you would like lunch, however, it is essential to book. Tel: 01692 538600. Future dates at The Goat, hopefully in the garden, will be: 1 June, 6 July, 3 August and 7 September.

Tickets for Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band’s Jazz and Chilli night at Aylsham Festival on Saturday 24 May 7.00pm are available from Sue Sharpe on 01263 733441.

10,000 flowers and a slug Many people from the Benefice and other parishes have contributed over 10, 000 flowers, not to mention hundreds of brown squares for bark, many green leaves and assorted wildlife (yes even a slug!) to create a full-size knitted pergola.

A large contribution was made by Saxthorpe’s own knitting expert and designer, Rita Taylor, who produced not only her own flowers but a quantity from the national Knitting and Crochet Guild of which she is a leading member .

The formal opening will be from 2pm - 4pm on 6th April

by Pam Rhodes, BBC Songs of Praise presenter and the pergola will then be on show during all Forum opening hours. If anyone has a spare hour in Norwich to hold a collecting tin for John Grooms Court, please contact Laurel Walpole Email: laurelwalpole@manningtongardens.co.uk or telephone: 01263 584175 Red Dot Gallery’s Dog Show Red Dot Gallery has a reputation for exhibiting paintings and sculpture with a canine theme – and so for this new exhibition they selected work by their favourite and most popular artists, many pieces being shown for the first time. Nigel Hemming was born in 1957 and originally painted wildlife. It was only in 1982 when he married and his wife arrived with pet dogs that he truned to canine subjects. He is now acknowledged as one of the country’s foremost canine painters, particularly of working dogs.

The Red Dot Gallery, 2 Lyles Court, Lees Yard, Holt.

Nigel Hemming, Black Lab (sold) 22

WICKMERE WITH WOLTERTON Quiz & Chips was held on Friday 21st March. 4 big tables competed, the outcome was Little Acorns won, and over ÂŁ50 was made for Village Hall funds.

Well done to all who competed. Many thanks goes to Vanessa and Jonny who set the questions.

BBC Voices, the outreach arm of broadcasting based in Norwich, has offered to come to Wickmere Village Hall on 28th May (half term) to teach us how to use our camcorder and develop interview techniques for village archive recording.They bring camcorders and computers and lots of mentors for almost one-to-one tuition.

We would like to extend this opportunity to the other parishes in the group though Wickmerians will get preference. Please contact Lesley Ash 01263 577566 if you are interested in this study day to assess numbers.

There is to be another Wickmere Plant sale & Seed Swap on May 4th from 2pm onwards.Teas, Coffee and cakes will be available.

1st April at 7pm is St Andrews PCC AGM which will be held in the church.All are welcome to come along.

A big thank you to Vic Shaw for cutting the grass and trimming the hedge alongside the Village Hall. He’s done a great job and helps to make the hall look smart and well cared for.

On 3rd May Bob and Kate Maidment will be giving a talk with slides on their work in Cambodia. This inspirational event will start at 7.30 and there will also be an opportunity to buy beautiful Cambodian crafts and jewellery.

With the days getting better and the lovely lighter evenings it might be the right time to ask for a little consideration for the children in the village.We have mentioned before that 25% of the village is under 18. We all know they have nowhere safe to play.This has been the same situation for many generations - I know that there will be a collective groan, but I would ask that speed is kept down, and those allowing their animals to use the village green, please make sure you clear up after them. This way everyone remains safe and happy.

The Oscars were earlier last month, and it seems we have a movie star in the making in the village: George was filmed making her scrummy chutney early on in March.This was part of a series of films made

by Robin Tizzard as part of his university course - move over Delia, Wickmere has a George!

Congratulations also go to Orla Shaw who took part with BBC Orchestra at both Kings Lynn and Gt Yarmouth.This was with the Eagles from AHS - Samba Boom. Orla played a Kahong, which she reliably tells me is a box bead drum.Well done to her and all the Helen Goulty: 01263 570043 Eagles who took part.

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Wickmere: a bulwark against invasion Just when I thought that St. Andrews’s church, Wickmere could not get any more fascinating, I stumbled across a relic of the last War ensconced in a corner of the Churchyard.

Let us return to 1941, the Battle of France was lost and the BEF had been evacuated from Dunkirk. It was believed that Herr Hitler would soon turn his attention to Britain and that invasion was imminent. In that year it was decided to bolster the defences of Home Guard units by the introduction of an anti-tank weapon. Called the Blacker Bombard it was known to the Home Guard as the Spigot Mortar.

The Blacker Bombard (or 29mm Spigot Mortar) was a spigot gun. This means that the mortar shell fitted onto a steel rod, or spigot, instead of into a barrel. The weapon consisted of an alloy steel rod on which the bomb was loaded and also contained the firing pin. The steel rod controlled the direction of fire. To protect the crew against blast when the weapon was fired, a steel The remains of Wickmere’s Spigot Mortar casing was fitted around the rod.

A robust fixed mounting was required for such a weapon and typically this comprised a cone shaped steel pin set in a reinforced concrete pedestal located in the middle of a circular trench.

Today, in Wickmere Churchyard, we can only see the top of the concrete pedestal which is now almost at ground level. Originally it would have been surrounded by a trench some four Home Guard crew practises on a Spigot Mortar feet deep to enable the crew to fire the weapon in a standing position.

The history of conflict is full of irony. There is a body of opinion that St Andrew’s round Saxon tower was, in part, a defensive structure against invasion and was built over 1,000 years before the Spigot Mortar battery used the same high ground for the same reason.

Scott McKenzie 24

Gardens open May-Sept 12-5pm except May 17/18: Norfolk Bird Fair

Fridays 2pm-5pm

from April 25th until October 31st

Jun-Aug: Wed, Thurs, Fri :11pm-5pm

and by appointment

June 20th Rain or Shine Theatre: Merchant of Venice BOOK NOW

WALKS OPEN DAILY UNTIL DUSK Car parks and lavatories available at both locations Private parties, weddings, receptions , just contact us: Mannington and Wolterton Estates, Norwich, NR11 7BB. Tel: 01263 584175/768444 or visit www.manningtongardens.co.uk Email: admin@walpoleestate.co.uk

To Jerusalem In Luke Ch 13 v 33 Jesus says: “.... It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.”

That is, it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem. But what is Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is centre stage in God’s ‘unfolding plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in Christ; things in heaven and things on earth’ as Paul cites in Ephesians Ch 1 v 10.

First David makes Zion, part of Jerusalem, his military centre.

Then his son, Solomon, builds the temple elsewhere in Jerusalem, the one authentic place for sacrifice, replacing several “high places”.

Finally, God’s saving plan is accomplished “once for all” by the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection in Jerusalem.

The name Jerusalem is quoted as an example of the four senses in Biblical interpretation, namely the literal, the allegorical, the tropological (another word for moral) and the anagogical.

Anagogy is different from allegory; in allegory a visible fact is signified by another visible fact whereas in anagogy (Greek for ‘leading above’), from a visible fact, an invisible is declared.

As Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Studies at Edinburgh, George W Anderson explains, ‘The letter teaches what happened, the allegory what you must believe, the moral sense what you must do and the anagogical sense whither you must journey.

Thus the name Jerusalem signifies literally the earthly city, allegorically the Church, tropologically the soul and anagogically the heavenly city to which eventually we all must go.

“And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.”

Jerusalem - still to become, actually, the Holy City on earth for all peoples - the place which points us all towards the New Jerusalem.

Our journey to Jerusalem began at that original time we now call Easter with our Saviour’s resurrection. We complete it by returning there.

Professor Rev. Brooke Lunn 25

Austin Fowell: 1920-2014 Emma, Austins’ Mum, took herself back to her old home at Horndon-on-the-Hill in Essex, had the baby and then returned to James at home in Itteringham. Fair to say that Austin is a Norfolk boy. His remaining 93 years were lived on The Common, 49 of those with Megan.

They had married in 1965. Daughter Emma joined them in 1967 and Robert arrived in 1970.There are six grand daughters and they were all with him until an hour or two before he Austin Fowell as we like to slipped away. He never lived anywhere else.They had wonderful remember him family holidays in Wales and Scotland mostly and once in Isle of Skye met up with his teacher from Itteringham Village School, Miss Cole, who then lived on Skye.

The only hiccup to their marriage was one day in Sheringham when Megan and grand-daughter Eleanor drove away not realizing that Austin had climbed out of the car. Driving through Beeston, a couple of miles down the road Eleanor looked around and said to her Gran, “Where’s Granda?” Austin was recovered standing on the spot that he had been left! The marriage survived the brief separation.

You will be missed by your lovely family Austin and many, many more (St Marys’ struggled to contain the mass of mourners).You will also be much missed by The Walpole Arms.....and the Buckinghamshire Arms.....and The Saracens Head.....and The Eagle at Erpingham......and many more. Farewell from your village Austin James.

You will be with us for awhile yet, we know.

Eric Goodman

April Groan 2

I told my barber I was going to Rome for a holiday.The barber said “Rome? Why would you go there? It’s crowded. and dirty. So, how are you getting there?”

“We’re flying British Airways,” I replied. “British Airways?” exclaimed the barber,“They’re terrible.Their planes are old, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying?”

“We’re at this exclusive little place over the Tiber River called Hotel Trieste.”

“I know that place. It’s a real dump!”

“Then we’re off to the Vatican, maybe we’ll get to see the Pope.” The barber chortled: “You and a million other people. you’ll never get near him. He’ll look the size of an ant!”

A month later, I went back.The barber asked about our trip to Rome.

“It was just wonderful,” I explained, “British Airways upgraded us to first class.The hotel had just been refurbished and food and wine were just fabulous.”

Said the barber,“OK but I know you didn’t get to meet the Pope.” “Actually, we did.

A Swiss Guard told us that Pope Francis likes to meet some of the visitors, and if we waited, he may see us. Sure enough, five minutes later I knelt down before his holiness. As he put his hands on my head the first thing he said was “Who on earth cuts your hair?””

26

Village People Itteringham’s Ray and Betty Covell came back from a 36 hour trip to Calais with a lot more than booze - they both came down with very heavy French colds.

A rogue plane hit Corpusty’s Val Johnson right on the side of the head and caused real pain and damage. Fortunately it was plastic and thrown by her grandson Sam! Wickmere’s Sharon Buchan, Little Barningham’s Michael Gandy and an army of volunteers have been very busy organising donations of useful household items to aid the people of Syria and have been delighted with the help and support they have received from the people of the Benefice.

Corpusty neighbours Charlotte Tyndall and Hester McDonald-Thomas were in the same part of the same town of the same country - Cairns, in Australia - at the precisely same time. What’s more surprising is they didn’t actually bump into each other!

Congratulations go to Becky Hurd and Mark Secker of Wickmere on the birth of their lovely little boy Jake on 10th Feb, weighing in at 6lb 7oz, he’s a little cracker says Nanny Jane!

Blickling’s Mike Swann is back to full strength after the multiple by-pass operation on his heart. He demonstrated this in the Buckinghamshire Arms recently by doing a headstand whilst also drinking a pint of beer!

Ryan Hembling is leaving Wickmere for the Midlands where he is to start his 2½ year’s training to become a paramedic. We hope he comes back fully trained but without a Birmingham accent.

Good news! We hear that Saxthorpe’s Betty Miller, widow of Johnny, is very happy and progressing well in a residential home in Scotland near one of her daughters. This is such good news because Betty was very unwell before she left her Briston Road home - perhaps it’s her native Scottish air that helped!

And, as ever, the fertile soil around Wickmere always produces a wonderful crop of birthdays: Ellie Bray will be 12 on 7th April, on15th George Goulty will be 16, on the 19th Scott McKenzie will be mumble, and on 24th Emma Riches will be 13.

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Pastoral matters:

Rev. Marion Harrison, Itteringham Rectory, The Street, Itteringham NR11 7AX. Tel: 01263 587977 Email: marion681@btinternet.com (Day off on Fridays) Rev. Michael Banks, Quarndon, Saxthorpe NR11 7BL Tel: 01263 587319 Email: mbanks@tiscali.co.uk

Reader:

Gill Peat Tel: 01263 734226

CHURCHWARDENS Blickling Edgefield Itteringham Little Barningham Oulton Saxthorpe Wickmere

Sam Berwick

07810 553321

Mike Lindsell

732662l

Lorna Ross

712359

Angela Turner

587292

Ray Covell

587659

Derek Turnbull

587259

Pamela Daniels

577436

Michael Daniels

577436

Vanessa Perry-Warnes

587836

Sue Hall

734245

Merlin Waterson

587610

Heather Monks

587118

Tony Hurn

577309

Scott McKenzie

577332

Seven Churches Magazine

Deadline for next issue of the Newsletter: Friday April 25th Editor: Richard Lynam Tel: 07831 639196 or Email: richardlynam@btinternet.com To advertise in the Seven Churches Magazine please contact Marian Williams on 01263 732728 or Email: oultonlodge@dialstart.net Printed by Barnwell Print Ltd, Dunkirk, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6SU Tel: 01263 732767 www.sevenchurches.org.uk 28