FREE! Issue No. 154 A Free Paper Supporting Mid-Norfolk Communities February 2010 Help Yourself FREE! Now In Our 6th Successful Year The Right ‘Plaice’ to get the best! THE WATTON PLAICE 9 Middle Street, Watton Frying on Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30am to 1.45pm and 4.30pm to 8.00pm Closed Sunday and Monday “Gone fishing!” Don’t forget our Thursday Lunchtime Delivery Service for the Housebound and Elderly only. There is no charge for delivery - you pay only the normal take-away prices. Plaice your order before 11am on a Thursday WET FISH available from 9am daily Telephone 01953 882 401 The Best Traditional Fish & Chips Freshly Cooked Especially For You 100 years old and still going strong Council look to spend £000’s on speed sign but reject salt bins for residents Councillors at Watton look set to spend thousands of pounds of resident‟s taxes on a flashing speed sign after receiving advice from Norfolk County Council that the signs cannot be justified. As we reported last November, an analysis of traffic speed has shown that the average entry and exit speeds of vehicles on Watton‟s roads are broadly in line with the speed limits in force but, despite the advice and the data, councillors continue to press plans to purchase the signs. The Clerk was asked to submit the data to Norfolk County Council for an opinion and the Casualty Reduction Section has responded that, based on the accident record for the road, they would be “unable to justify county council funding” [for speed signs]. On a 5-2 split vote the Recreation and Environment Committee resolved to continue getting the costs of installation, with Councillor Rudling saying the council should be saving lives and wanted the sign installed as soon as possible. At the same meeting, after hearing about requests from residents as well as questions and assurances from Norfolk County Council, councillors discussed the provision of salt bins at strategic points in Watton that would allow supplies to be at hand for residents to spread on pavements in the event of icy weather. Cllr Ivory wanted the council to consult with residents though Cllr Rudling felt they would not be value for money, while Cllr Wassell thought they would just be something else to set fire to. After another split vote, the committee decided against spending an estimated three hundred pounds on the installation of 2 salt bins for residents at this time but would ask Highways for their thoughts. More detail and comment on page 16. Bill and Olive Salter of Watton on the Occasion of Bill’s 100th Birthday in January. Full story and more pictures on page 5 We are pleased to announce that from the beginning of February Wayland Community Bank, your local branch of Norfolk Credit Union Ltd., will be extending opening times at Wayland House in Watton High Street to include Monday afternoons: Mondays 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 pm Tuesdays 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 pm Thursdays 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 am You are welcome to make an appointment by telephoning 01953 883915, or to just drop in during any of the above times when our trained volunteers will be happy to discuss how they can help you with low cost loans, savings which including locked-in and Young Savers accounts, and also our new Current Account with it's direct debits, standing orders, and ATM or Debit Card facilities. You can also visit our web site at www.waylandbank.org Norfolk Credit Union Ltd. is fully approved by the Financial Services Authority Extended opening hours for Wayland Community Bank Old Buckenham’s "Christmas party" now set for March The Senior Citizens‟ party that was postponed in January is now provisionally fixed for Saturday 20 March. Make a note of the new date now – more details will follow later see http://oldbuckenham.blogspot.com Spring Art Exhibition (Mixed Media) 10th - 17th April Dragonfly Exhibition Centre Wayland House, Watton. The exhibition is open to local amateur and professional artists and art groups. If you would like to take part please contact Susan Hollingworth at Wayland House on 01953 880205 or email her on [email protected] for more information or to request an application form.
The Mid-Norfolk Times is the community newspaper for Mid-Norfolk, the Wayland area and Breckland, Norfolk, UK.
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FREE!
Issue No. 154 A Free Paper Supporting Mid-Norfolk Communities February 2010
Help Yourself
FREE!
Now In Our 6th
Successful Year
The Right ‘Plaice’ to get the best!
THE WATTON PLAICE 9 Middle Street, Watton
Frying on Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30am to 1.45pm and 4.30pm to 8.00pm
Closed Sunday and Monday “Gone fishing!”
Don’t forget our Thursday Lunchtime Delivery Service for the Housebound and Elderly only.
There is no charge for delivery - you pay only the normal take-away prices.
Plaice your order before
11am on a Thursday
WET FISH available from 9am daily
Telephone 01953 882 401
Th
e B
es
t T
ra
ditio
na
l F
is
h &
C
hip
s
Fre
sh
ly
C
oo
ke
d E
sp
ec
ia
lly
F
or Y
ou
100 years old and still going strong
Council look to spend £000’s on speed sign but reject salt bins for residents Councillors at Watton look set to spend
thousands of pounds of resident‟s taxes on a
flashing speed sign after receiving advice
from Norfolk County Council that the signs
cannot be justified.
As we reported last November, an analysis of
traffic speed has shown that the average entry
and exit speeds of vehicles on Watton‟s roads are
broadly in line with the speed limits in force but,
despite the advice and the data, councillors
continue to press plans to purchase the signs.
The Clerk was asked to submit the data to
Norfolk County Council for an opinion and the
Casualty Reduction Section has responded
that, based on the accident record for the road,
they would be “unable to justify county
council funding” [for speed signs].
On a 5-2 split vote the Recreation and
Environment Committee resolved to
continue getting the costs of installation,
with Councillor Rudling saying the council
should be saving lives and wanted the sign
installed as soon as possible.
At the same meeting, after hearing about
requests from residents as well as questions
and assurances from Norfolk County
Council, councillors discussed the provision
of salt bins at strategic points in Watton that
would allow supplies to be at hand for
residents to spread on pavements in the
event of icy weather.
Cllr Ivory wanted the council to consult with
residents though Cllr Rudling felt they
would not be value for money, while Cllr
Wassell thought they would just be
something else to set fire to. After another
split vote, the committee decided against
spending an estimated three hundred pounds
on the installation of 2 salt bins for residents
at this time but would ask Highways for
their thoughts.
More detail and comment on page 16.
Bill and Olive Salter of Watton on the Occasion of Bill’s 100th Birthday in January. Full story and more pictures on page 5
We are pleased to announce that from the
beginning of February Wayland
Community Bank, your local branch of
Norfolk Credit Union Ltd., will be
extending opening times at Wayland
House in Watton High Street to include
Monday afternoons:
Mondays 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 pm
Tuesdays 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 pm
Thursdays 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 am
You are welcome to make an
appointment by telephoning 01953
883915, or to just drop in during any of
the above times when our trained
volunteers will be happy to discuss how
they can help you with low cost loans,
savings which including locked-in and
Young Savers accounts, and also our
new Current Account with it's direct
debits, standing orders, and ATM or
Debit Card facilities.
You can also visit our web site at
www.waylandbank.org Norfolk Credit
Union Ltd. is fully approved by the
Financial Services Authority
Extended opening hours for Wayland Community Bank
Old Buckenham’s "Christmas party" now set for March The Senior Citizens‟ party that was postponed
in January is now provisionally fixed for
Saturday 20 March. Make a note of the new
date now – more details will follow later see
http://oldbuckenham.blogspot.com
Spring Art Exhibition (Mixed Media) 10th - 17th April
Dragonfly Exhibition Centre Wayland House, Watton. The exhibition is open to local amateur and professional artists and art groups. If
you would like to take part please contact Susan Hollingworth at Wayland House
on 01953 880205 or email her on [email protected] for more information or
to request an application form.
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 2 News
WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER ‘Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God’
A Service prepared by Christian Women of Cameroon on Friday 5th March, at 2.30pm
at St Mary’s Church, Watton All Welcome - Men, Women and Young People
Collection or Delivery. Valid on Mondays to Thursdays until 28th February 2010
Terms and Conditions apply
LARGE CHEESE &
TOMATO PIZZA £5.99 with this voucher
Collection only Valid until 28th February 2010
Terms and Conditions apply
Full Takeaway Menu at: www.italianjobs.co.uk
Voucher Terms and Conditions: You must mention the voucher when ordering and present the voucher when paying. Offers available for delivery are subject to a £1 delivery charge.
BROOM HALL Country Hotel
Saham Toney Your Local Three Star Hotel
Wednesdays Steak Night Sirloin or Rump with chips £10.00
Fridays Pie & Mash Night Pastry Pie & Mash with Dessert £9.95
New Ivy Room for Bar Meals
Monday to Saturday 6.30 – 8.30 Tuesday to Saturday 12.00 – 2.00
01953 882125 www.broomhallhotel.co.uk
Chantal’s making her dream come true Quiz Night Saturday 6th February 7.30pm
At Great Ellingham Recreation Centre
£2 per person - teams of four
To book a table ring Jean on 01953 453 375
In aid of Great Ellingham (St James) Scout Group Charity Number 1062603
Despite the weather and condition of
the roads the first meeting of 2010
on 12th January was attended by just
under half the membership. It was
decided, however, to postpone the
AGM until the meeting later in the
month when it is hoped roads and
pathways may be less treacherous.
At the meeting on 23rd February
there will be a demonstration of
Japanese Folding Patchwork. This
popular technique has many
applications and the advantage of
being layered, lined and quilted all in
one operation. It is very useful for
using up small quantities of fabric.
We are asking people who have
spare fat quarters of cotton fabric to
donate for a new Linus project we
are planning. If you have ever
acquired any of these and not used
them you may like to donate them to
this very worthwhile cause.
Advance Notice On the 23rd March
we will be holding an open meeting.
We h a v e i n v i t e d a l o c a l
representative from Project Linus to
speak about the charity and also,
hopefully, receive some quilts
members have made. Also present to
give a brief update on the work for
the Orphanage in Thailand and
selling their wonderful fabrics will
be Rob and Verona from Sew & So‟s
in Bungay , sewers should start
saving now! There will be donations
to both charities made through
voluntary contributions. A small
charge will be made for refreshments
to cover expenses.
Meetings are held on the 2nd and
4th Tuesdays of the month in Watton
Christian Community Centre, High
Street, Watton. For information
contact Sue on 01362 822536 or Jane
on 01953 884215.
Hackers, Tackers and Stuffers
More questions than answers . . . The Old Buckenham Social and Wine
Circle once again began their 2010
programme of meetings with their
traditional quiz evening. David
Sallnow had set the questions and his
wife Jenny was the scorer.
There were five rounds with twenty
questions in each to keep the teams
thinking hard. All rounds were a
collection of general knowledge
questions covering a very wide range
of subjects. One round involved
answering questions based on short
snippets of music from David‟s wide-
ranging personal collection. The
question were not easy and the
winners, who managed to get nearly
40% of their answers correct, were the
team of Susan and Neil Hunter, Doris
Monkhouse and Margaret Pearce.
LINCOLN’S TEA & COFFEE SHOPPE Situated on Fairland Green, Hingham
Telephone 01953 851357
VALENTINE’S DAY Fri 12th, Sat 13th & Sun 14th February
Book now to reserve your table from 6 to 8pm
2 Course inc Coffee & Chocolate Heart £12.95
3 Course inc Coffee & Chocolate Heart £15.95
Tea Shoppe open Tues - Sun 10 - 4pm
Evening Bistro open Fri & Sat 6 - 8.30pm serving our new
winter menu with dishes from £8.35
Enquire about our new theme evenings once a month
www.lincolns-of-hingham.co.uk
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 4 Advertising
ROGER TURNER 07759 948 830 01953 881 382
So that went well then! I am hoping
that by the time this is being read,
January will have had a complete
thaw. The downside of this is that we
shall be looking at a bedraggled mess
and trying to work out what survived
the awful weather and what has
succumbed. Wait and see has to be
the motto, maybe for a few weeks. It
is frustrating to read the seed
catalogues‟ sowing instructions -
January or February to April. We can
be forgiven for a hollow laugh.
However, all the experts agree that
sowing later, when the conditions
have improved, is better than
struggling with cold, waterlogged soil
and rotten weather. Seeds sown thus
will catch up and may even survive
better than those sown according to
the calendar not the weather.
However, if you want to sow early in
the season you can cloche the ground
for a week before, it will warm up the
soil a little and allow the soil to dry
off as well. If you are lucky enough to
have a cold frame the seeds that
benefit from early sowing can be
started off in pots under the shelter.
These include broad beans, onions
and peas. There is a nifty gadget for
peas called a Rowplanter. This gives
peas the benefit of depth as they
dislike their roots being disturbed.
Square guttering would work as well,
as it is deeper than round. The pea
plants are transplanted into their rows
by sliding the whole issue out of the
guttering into a prepared trench.
Watering the plants first is a good
idea and having a second pair of
hands to hold one end is even better! I
guess that this method would work
for sweet peas as well.
The cold frame is great for getting the
summer cabbages and cauliflowers
off to a good start. Those few degrees
of extra warmth get them away well
and when they're out of the cold
frame it will be used for hardening off
greenhouse-sown plants.
A nice warm job for February, if not
already done is sorting seeds into a
month by month sowing plan. It helps
if you have a divided box or tin but
not essential. If you haven‟t already
got the seeds to sort, another warm
job is to get down to ordering from
the various catalogues or buy from
reputable retailers if you are hardy
enough to be out and about shopping.
There has been some concern about
the way retailers may be storing
seeds. I think most of them are pretty
responsible but if you see them in a
sunny window walk on by! Seeds
need to be kept dark and cool. Total
blackout is impracticable in shops but
at least they can be displayed at the
back, not in full daylight.
If the weather is reasonably clement,
fruit trees can be pruned if not already
done, currant bushes thinned by
removing old wood and autumn
fruiting raspberry canes should be cut
to the ground if this couldn‟t be
accomplished in January. It is
possible to start the crop earlier by
cutting half the canes to the ground
and the other half by half. These will
produce fruit a little later than the
summer fruiting varieties so the
season is extended by several weeks.
It is recommended that the same
canes are not treated this way every
year as they will become exhausted
and refuse to fruit.
If you planted green manures in the
autumn now is the time to cut and
compost or incorporate via digging or
mulch. Of course this is pretty tricky
if the ground is still under snow or
waterlogged. It would be as well to
keep an eye on this crop as it might
end up as a rotten slimy mess, but it
should do no harm if well dug in.
Good luck with that one.
This is a good time to check the
greenhouse for missing or damaged
panes. However cold it is, it is worth
making immediate repairs as if a
strong wind arises it will get in there
and demolish more if not the entire
house.
Once the snow has gone and the soil
not completely waterlogged it will
come as no surprise that weeds have
started to grow! If you can, a quick
hoe round works well to get rid of
them but if there are bulbs showing
through it‟s best to hand weed. This
does have the advantage of giving a
close up view of what‟s coming along
and a cause for optimism, looking
forward to March when things really
should be moving, including the
gardener.
However, if you want to sow early in
the season you can cloche the ground
for a week before, it will warm up the
soil a little and allow the soil to dry
off as well. If you are lucky enough to
have a cold frame the seeds that
benefit from early sowing can be
started off in pots under the shelter.
These include broad beans, onions
and peas. There is a nifty gadget for
peas called a Rowplanter. This gives
peas the benefit of depth as they
dislike their roots being disturbed.
Square guttering would work as well,
as it is deeper than round. This
method was demonstrated by Carol
Klein (using round guttering) and she
showed how the pea plants were
transplanted into their rows by sliding
the whole issue out of the guttering
into a prepared trench. Watering the
plants first is a good idea and having a
second pair of hands to hold one end
is even better! I guess that this method
would work for sweet peas as well.
Dangerous activities at Loch Neaton Numerous people have been walking
on the Loch when frozen. This
practise is highly dangerous and
members of the public should stay
off. The life saving equipment should
be left in place for use in an
emergency.
During the recent cold spell the 2
fibre glass safety boats belonging to
the Loch Neaton Trustees have been
taken from their storage. Both were
used on the snow covered bank and
both have been broken in half. The
Loch is now without any boat what so
ever.
If any member of the public wishes to
donate a boat we will be very
thankful.
In your garden with Lotta Potts
News Mid-Norfolk Times Page 5
Long time Watton resident, William
John Salter, known to everyone as Bill,
celebrated his 100th birthday on
Wednesday, 13th January.
Bill‟s son John, who lives in America,
had organised a large party and family
get together at Richmond Park Golf Club
on the preceding Saturday, but sadly the
snow prevented several of Bills close
family travelling from all over to get
there. None the less, there were a great
number of people present despite the
weather.
Bill, was born of English parents at Porth
in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. His father
had recently retired from the military and
was a well decorated man, but sadly he
died when Bill was only 6. At the age of
14 and like most Welsh boys of the time,
Bill went down the mines and worked
the coal seams of the Rhondda Valley.
After some years, Bill left mining and
served his apprenticeship as a carpenter
and joined the construction company
Laing‟s and, in 1939, found himself in
Watton supervising the gangs of men
involved in the construction of RAF
Watton.
It was around this time that Bill met
Watton girl, Olive Buckle, and they were
married in 1941. While working on
Thorpe Abbots airfield, heavy snow
intervened again in Bills life.
Bill was in a reserved occupation of
course, a key worker, but a phone call
had to be made every three months from
Laing‟s to confirm his status. The snow
brought down the phone lines and as a
result, no call was made and Bill was
called up and, in 1941, he
joined the Royal Artillery
and trained as a Radar
Operator and Gun Layer.
During the war Bill saw
many things of course but
remembers well playing his
part in the defence of
London from Hitler‟s
vengeance weapon the V1
of Doodlebug.
“One day” said Bill “we
were told they had sent
over 88 of them and only 8
got through the defences.”
“I saw a Spitfire put his
wing onto the wing of a
doodle bug and made it
turn away out to sea.”
“Later we moved to
Lowestoft to help track
down where they were
coming from in Germany,
we found out and had a
letter from Churchill to say
our bombers had traced it
and bombed it.”
“Then they sent the V2's over which
were bigger than the doodlebugs, they
left zig-zag trails over the North Sea.”
After demob in 1945, Bill joined local
builders Peek Vout‟s and then was with
Lawrence‟s on the aerodromes until he
retired in 1977.
When asked how he felt about being 100,
Bill laughed and said “Alright! I don‟t
feel any different somehow. I don‟t feel
100 years old, just normal, that‟s all.”
Bill spends a lot of his time reading and
Olive says that is what keeps him going
and keeps his mind sharp.
Does he have a secret to his age? “I don‟t
smoke, don‟t drink” says Bill “and I have
the love of Olive.”
Bills son John, himself now retired
pointed out that Bill‟s sisters lived to be
87 and 103 and Bill‟s mother died in her
70‟s which was undoubtedly a great age
for those times so the real answer is - it‟s
in the blood!
Questions About Your Medicines?
• Are you getting the most from your
medication? • Do you know the best time of day
to take it? • Do your medicines run out at
different times? • Want to know how to
manage this? • Do you understand why you are
taking your medicine? • Do you know how to
use your inhaler?
For answers to these questions and more, book a FREE and confidential appointment with our pharmacist.
?
14 Gregor Shanks Way, Watton, Tel : 01953 881157
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon to Fri 8am to 11pm Sat & Sun 8am to 8.30pm
ONLY £99.99 with this voucher ! ! ! (Cash and Carry Price - cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer)
SAVE A
FURTHER
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SONY KDL37W5810 37” 1080P Full HD
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SONY BDP-S560 Hi Spec Blu Ray DVD player Wi Fi Internet Connection for BD Live and update functions
+ FREE Alphason Black Glass Stand
Usual package Price £1529.99
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INCLUDING FREE DELIVERY AND CONNECTION* SATELLITE INSTALLATION RQUIRED FOR FREESAT (NOT INCLUDED)
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Digital Freeview LCD TV including FREE 5 YEAR GUARANTEE
Usual Price £899.99
ONLY £599.99* (*Collect from store price)
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Usual Price £799.99
ONLY £549.99* (*Collect from store price)
PANASONIC TXP37X10
37” HD Ready Digital FREEVIEW Plasma TV Including SD Card Slot for Digital Photo Viewing
Usual Price £599.99
ONLY £499.99 (collect from store price)
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NEO PDP SD Card Slot
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ONLY £599.99* (*collect from store price. Satellite
installation required for freesat not inc.)
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freesat Tuner for subscription free HD Viewing + 600Hz NEO
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Plus add a PANASONIC DMP BD60 BLU RAY DVD Player for
Only £159.99 saving £40 on normal price!!
News Mid-Norfolk Times Page 7
St Peter and St Paul C.E V.C School Carbrooke Happy New Year everyone. What a
start we have had. Back to school on
5th January for just 2 days and then
snow closed us. Thankfully we are
back to normal now and looking
forward to the warmer weather.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all those who collected the
vouchers from the different
supermarkets for our school. With
the vouchers we have managed to
get a multitude of items. Amongst
these items we have received walkie
talkies, battery chargers, a CD
player, an active map, many books,
sports first aid kit, rugby tag belts,
buckets of tennis balls and skipping
ropes.
We have several things to look
forward to this half term. Our school
disco will be on 5th February and
there is a Friends meeting on 11th
February. Anyone wishing to attend
the Friends meeting - it will be at
7.30pm at the school. All are
welcome you don‟t have to have a
child at the
school.
EDWARDS OF WATTON
WATTON’S SPECIALIST NEWSAGENT
"Pick & Mix Sweets" now
available in store
We are also pleased to offer News Deliveries 7
days a week in the following areas Griston,
Northacre, Caston, Stow Bedon, Breccles, Great
Hockham, East Wretham, Larling, Snetterton,
Shropham and Mount Pleasant
50 High Street, Watton. Tel: 881234
Established in Watton for four generations
Relationship difficulties Bereavement Stress
Bullying/Abuse Addictions Depression
SANCTUARY COUNSELLING SERVICE WATTON
It’s good to talk! Counselling can help if you’re struggling to cope with:
Sanctuary offers a confidential low-cost counselling service with
professionally trained counsellors, who work on a short-term or long-term basis. Call us on 01953 880922 to arrange an appointment.
Appointments are available 6 – 9pm Tuesdays and 9.30am – 1pm Wednesdays. Sanctuary Counselling Service is part of River Ministries (Norfolk), registered charity number 1054419
Need small home improvements?
Keith Huish Skilled & Experienced Carpenter
Doors, windows, locks . . . no job too small. Free no obligation estimate.
K R H Carpentry Services 01953 (Watton) 882484 – Mobile 07746 114285
Louis de Bernières will open Norfolk’s first film festival
Above: This has turned up in the family box. I know the teacher on the right - that‟s my
dad, Wilf Horn. It looks like it is Watton School in the „50‟s Who is in the team?
Below: No date (taken away at Bungay)
Back Row: A Shipp , R Marsh, ????? , R Jessup, Williamson, E Cox
Front Row: R Ward, Finch , Leggatte , P Thompson , T Tuttle
All the other team pictures and team names are from the archives of Watton United F.C.
Above Front Row: R Horne, P Thorpe, L Easter , T Mouncer , I Williamson , R Puttock
Back Row: P Thompson, T Whitmore, P Bunn, R Ward, R Worden
Football In Watton
Below Watton Football Club 1950/51 team
Back Row: W Buckle , E Cox, Carman , T Pettit, G Williams, C Willimot, W Petit (Coach)
Front Row: F Ward, G Bristow, K Worden, H Morley , J Johnston
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 12 News
HI DEFINITION
The best songs from the 50’s 60’s 70’s and a few well chosen songs and modern classics up to the present day
At the Queens Hall, Watton 8pm 20th February Tickets £6
Licensed Bar
Mike or Barbara 01953 889890
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w.h
ide
fin
itio
nb
an
d.c
o.u
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cv
James Ball SHOWROOM: 49 High Street, Watton
01953
883288
Very Competitive Prices
Most Makes of carpets
& Vinyl Supplied and Fitted
FINE BOOKS BOUGHT AND
SOLD BOOKS J.C. & Applestore Gallery
Telephone/Fax 01953 883488 55 High Street, Watton
For quality out of print books, Fine Bindings and Collectable Editions. New Books including local and children’s classics.
Visit the Applestore Gallery on the first floor, exhibiting the Paintings of Kevin Robinson and his complete range of East Anglian prints including Watton and Wymondham.
HJC Ltd Motor Engineers
Servicing & MOT preparation to all makes of
modern cars & light commercials
Tyres, Exhausts, & Batteries supplied and fitted
Courtesy cars available
Ask for Steve at: 5 Linmore Court Threxton Rd
Industrial Estate Watton
Tel: 01953 889924
What is black and slimy, and makes me
want to cry? Almost everything in my
garden! Much of it happened while I was
in Egypt swanning down the Nile. We
had no snow here, apart from a few
flakes, but our damage was done by
temperatures down to minus 15 celsius
and howling 45 miles per hour winds.
This icy period broke all records, and
now we have to start over. January was a
mess, but not as much of a mess as you
had in England with all your snow!
The blackest and slimiest were the
Cannas, which of course defy death
every year. I wonder if it is really
possible to kill them – I know every year
I dig up great clumps and give them
away. They will return! In February we
think of Valentine‟s Day and flowers,
and we start to have some warm, sunny
days. The temptation is great to chop
down all the dead wood and plant
materials, but apart from those pesky
Cannas, patience is indeed a virtue! Cut
back too soon, and the new growth starts
to appear, assuming there is still life in
the plant, which then gets zapped by the
next unexpected late freeze!
In the green house, if we had one, we
would now have started our tomato
seeds. Mine sit on top of the fridge,
which gives a little bottom heat, and
have a light hanging over them. The
problem with fridge-top propagation is
that I forget to look up, and being a short
person, have. Yes, tomato plants will be
available at the garden centres later in the
spring, but there is something magical
about growing your plants from seed.
Like baking cakes “from scratch”, which
always seems to evoke admiration and
amazement from friends and neighbours!
In February we continue planting carrots,
asparagus crowns, beetroot, broccoli,
garlic, kale, kohlrabi, head and leaf
lettuce, mustard greens, turnips, edible
pod peas and radish, and traditionally
prune our roses on Valentine‟s Day. In
February gardeners start experiencing
Spring Fever, and the frantic eight to ten
weeks of gardening seminars and plant
sales starts. Plant sales will no doubt
suffer from the loss of plants to the Big
Freeze, but gardeners are innovative, and
will manage somehow.
Birds and other wildlife have suffered
through all this freezing weather, but
have appreciated the daily human ritual
of the breaking of the ice so they can
drink from the pond. Today a huge flock
of Cedar Waxwings swooped in and they
will stay until they have stripped all the
berries from the Cedar Trees. The Ruby
Crowned Kinglet (pictured) scouts are
arriving daily and are delighting us with
their warbling song. These tiny birds will
stay a few months, then move north
before the South starts to sizzle.
Tomato – Tomayto Gardening in Navasota, Texas with Helen Quin
Arrive at Watton in good time for
opening and the chance, possibly the last
chance during the morning, of a cup of
coffee. It is also important, certainly with
the recent bad weather, to get the heating
on and try to warm the place up for
opening at 10.00. Recently we have done
the first couple of interviews still
wearing our coats! It is also useful to be
able to have a little time with other
volunteer advisers and our Manager, who
supervises the advice session, in case
there is something we should know about
breaking news, changing circumstances,
or clients who are expected to call in.
Go across to the Community Centre to
fill up our water container and to
exchange a cheery good morning with
the bowls players. Then back to our
portakabin to put the kettle on and sign
in on our computers – not in the first
flush of youth, a bit like us advisers
really!
We have two interview rooms and,
usually, three advisers, so the first two
start off with the first clients. We know
that it takes a certain amount of courage
to ask for help and we try to make it as
easy as possible for the clients to explain
why they have come to see us. Obviously
this needs to be balanced with a bit of
direction to establish important details
which will help us help the client. We
have a really powerful tool on our system
called Advisernet. It enables us to focus
on the particular problem and to get the
best and most up-to-date information on
which to base our advice. We can also
print off extracts to give to the client.
There is a particularly good extract for
those considering ending a relationship
and it sets out all the issues that need to
be resolved as part of this process. It is
so detailed that it is possible that couples
thinking of separating decide it might be
best to give it another try!!
There is no time limit on interviews
although we try to help in as businesslike
a manner as possible. We always
remember that there is usually a queue of
clients waiting for help and that it can get
frustrating to be kept waiting. We do try
to explain to those waiting that we will
give them the same detailed attention as
the client we are currently dealing with.
We will always ask the client if they
have been to us for advice before. This is
to establish whether we have an existing
record for them and avoids duplication.
All our records are confidential and we
never, ever, disclose information about
any of our clients unless they authorise
it.
After the interview we are required to
write a full account of the contact. If a
client record does not already exist then
we create one with information provided
by the client. This record is completely
confidential and we ask the client to sign
a data protection form to allow us to
keep the information with the condition
of confidentiality. The record is also
useful for the client if they need to return
for further advice as we can check on the
issue and the stage it has reached before
moving forward to the next stage of
advice.
We set out the problem, giving all
relevant details, and then set out our
information sources. This aspect is
particularly important as all our advice is
based on sound and verifiable
information and certainly not of the „sage
of the saloon bar‟ source of advice.
Those who have experienced such advice
will know that, although the information
is said to be absolutely accurate, the
problem has always happened to a friend
of a friend and somewhere there lurks the
phrase „well everybody knows that that
is what happens!‟
The final part is to record the advice we
have given and what the next steps will
be. It may be that the client has been
helped in writing to the organisation
causing the problem and we will suggest
that they return if they need further help.
In each case we are advising the client,
we are not telling them what to do. It is
important that clients are able to take
responsibility for the way in which they
help themselves to deal with their
problems.
In our opening times from 10.00 until
15.00 we may each see up to 10 clients
and we help each to the best of our
ability. Some we may have to refer on to
other organisations but we will help,
when it is needed, to put the client in
touch.
When we finally switch off our
computers and head off home we are
usually tired, but in a satisfying way.
A day in the life of a Citizens’ Advice Bureau
News Mid-Norfolk Times Page 13
Health & Wellbeing
22 Thetford Road Watton IP25 6BS
Tel : 01953 886860
Gift Vouchers Available
Aches and pains, stress or strains. Bad habits to kick, new habits to learn. Visit Total Health Therapy
and find out how we can help you.
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down and keep moisture in with
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Watton area
01953 881969
80 Brandon Road, Watton.
Tel: 01953 882752
The Hare & Barrel Hotel
Originally an old manor house dating back to 1806, we offer 16 en-suite bedrooms, 10 of which have been converted from
the old Coach House Stables
‘Noted for Good Food’
Extensive Bar & Restaurant Menu bookings advisable at all times
A relaxing Conservatory ~ Beer Garden Patio ~ Bar ~ Restaurant
Games Room ~ Car Park ~ Courtyard
Try our Traditional Sunday Lunch
Discounts for large bookings always negotiable
Children Always Welcome
4 times marathon veteran and local pharmacist Geoff Ray vowed never to run the
London Marathon again after his 2006 success. But 4 years later, the stiff joints
and sore feet are clearly a distant memory!
The 2010 Virgin London Marathon is on Sunday 25th April and Geoff will join
the thousands of runners hoping to complete the course and raise in excess of £30
million for charity.
Geoff Ray of Total Health Pharmacy in Watton will be running the London
Marathon in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance (Registered charity number
1083876) and hopes to raise at least £2,000.
Geoff, who has already started his training programme, says “I wanted to support a
local charity and the Air Ambulance relies upon fund raising to provide a vital
emergency service to our rural area 365 days a year. I‟m sure it‟s going to be
tough but I‟m already looking forward to the finish line!”
To support Geoff and help him to reach his target, sponsorship or donations can be
made at Total Health Pharmacy, 14 Gregor Shanks Way, Watton (opposite the
Watton Medical Practice or by visiting www.justgiving.com/geoffray
Never Say Never Again
An Upside-Down Christmas Muffins, music, a beach barbecue, films of New Zealand and an explanation of
the traditional Maori Haka – all these were on offer at the Watton Christian
Community Centre as part of Do Down Under Day. The event was organised by
some members of the Methodist Church to share experiences of Christmas on
the other side of the world and to raise money for the Meningitis Research
Foundation. It had been due to take place in December but had to be postponed
until mid January. The day got off to an excellent start with Watton Junior
School Choir, led by Mrs.Blundell, singing typical New Zealand carols: „An
Upside Down Christmas‟ being one of them. Throughout the day there were
film and slide shows and exhibitions of pictures posters and artefacts. Another
feature was a mini „Puzzling World‟ giving visitors a little taste of the tourist
attraction found at Wanaka, South Island.N.Z. Martin Neave, helped by his
grandson, Jonathan, gave an explanation of the famous Haka and the event
finished with carols „on the beach‟ .The food on offer included many varieties of
delicious homemade muffins, and a barbecue and salad style lunch followed by
pavlova. The event was generously sponsored by Waitrose of Swaffham and
Tesco and the Co-op of Watton so there was no actual charge made for any part
of the proceedings but donations were invited for Meningitis Research. These
amounted to an amazing £641: 53. The weather outside was very January- wet
and cold- but indoors the warmth of the New Zealand sunshine could be felt
amongst the large company of people who supported this unusual venture. This
was a „Spirit of Caroline‟ event.
Our first meeting of the year on
January 21st got us off to a very
good start with a visit from Bill le
Grice the well known rose grower
and authority on roses, as was his
father before him. He told us lots
about the work done in the industry
during earlier years and the labour
saving devices now used by
modern growers. Together with lots
of mouth - watering slides of both
old and new roses it was a most
e n j o y a b l e a n d i n s t r u c t i v e
afternoon, and his audience were
very appreciative. I am sure that if
the Garden Club is unable to
arrange a club trip to his Wroxham
sales outlet he will be getting lots
of club members finding their own
way there. Bill was also able to
answer questions that had been
troubling some of our members.
We also welcomed several new
members, one of whom mentioned
that he had been informed that the
Club was full and closed to new
members. Goodness know where
this originated, as the club is
always open to new members who
are very welcome to join us
Members were told that we will be
trying to arrange two trips this
year. One will be to Holt and on to
Stody Lodge in May, the other to
Scotsdale Garden Centre and Ely,
probably in September. Further
information to follow.
Next meeting date is February 18th
when we will be having a visit
from Trevor Harrison from South
Creake with his selection of rare
and unusual plants
Anyone interested in joining us
should contact secretary John
Vincent on 01760 440 320 or just
come along to the next meeting
Ashill Garden Club news
Yes, according to a recent item on
BBC Radio and an article in the
Thetford & Brandon Times on
13th January, singing is extremely
good for your health. Heart and
lungs are obviously the main
beneficiaries, but a host of muscles
associated with posture and
breathing, together with voice
control and the brain, can also be
added to the list. The "satisfaction
and happiness" benefits are
dist inctly individual and
impossible to quantify.
Carol O`Neill, a natural voice
practitioner who has been running
community singing groups for
years, told a local reporter: "It is
wonderful the way a sense of
community develops simply by
singing together. Singing becomes
a rewarding experience where
friendships are forged between
people who have a shared sense of
endeavour and belonging." Carol
runs 12 week "Sing for Wellbeing"
courses in Swaffham and
Fakenham aimed at all ages and
singing abilities, including those
who think they can`t sing. She may
be contacted on 01328-838316 but
anyone over 16 in the Thetford and
Brandon area is invited to contact
Thetford Singers via the website
www.thetfordsingers.org.uk or
phone 01842-811236. No audition
is necessary and there is no
obligation to come again! With
over 35 members it may be
possible to hide for an hour but the
group is far too friendly for a
newcomer to remain anonymous
for long. Rehearsals take place
every Wednesday at 7.30 in the
Methodist Church Hall, Tanner St,
Thetford. Children under 16 will
be welcome at the Queensway
Junior School, Thetford at 4.30 on
Thursdays or visit
www.thetfordmusicproject.org.uk
Sing for your health
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 14 Comment
It seems that you and I are thought to
be so hopeless that we are unable to
lead our lives safely without a
proliferation of signs directing us
every step of the way.
In my case, I am very much prepared
to accept that this might be so, and
being a typical man, I tend to ignore
them anyway; how often have I
pushed at the door when the sign said
I should pull?
In my opinion, chief among the
“pointless panels” that blight our
countryside are the signs on the
Ovington bends. In case you haven‟t
seen them, they are solar powered
chevrons that flash to tell you the
road is about to deviate sharply in a
right or left hand direction, a fact you
might have missed, unless they lit up
like a Christmas Tree warning you of
impending doom.
Now, anyone who travels that road
with moderate frequency will tell
you, the solar powered signs do not
work half the time because the sun in
our part of the country is of
insufficient strength to keep the
batteries charged.
But it gets better. Not content with
treating me like an idiot (however
justified that might be), the highly
paid executive person in charge of
pointless panels ordered that another
panel be erected, at my expense,
telling me how my carers are trying to
improve my safety.
And now, the same highly paid
executive person in charge of
pointless panels has deemed that the
signs be switched off. It is a trial
apparently though why they should
bother is beyond me, because, as I
think I may have mentioned before,
they didn‟t work most of the time
anyway, and being solar powered
almost never worked at night when it
might be argued that there was some
point in indicating the presence of a
bend!
And having issued the order to switch
off the signs, it has been seen fit to
spend even more of our money by
erecting yet another sign to tell me
that the flashing signs that were
installed to make my life safer have
now been switched off. Presumably
making my life a little less safe.
If I have an accident now, could I sue
and win back some of my own
money?
For goodness sake! If I can‟t see the
road is bending one way or another I
jolly well shouldn‟t be driving and if I
travel so fast that I cannot negotiate
the bends safely then more fool me.
You will surmise that I find signs in
general less than effective. And it
seems I am not alone.
Tabled during a meeting of the
council before Christmas, was the
text of an email received by the Clerk
in response to an enquiry asking what
criteria NCC used to assess the need
for Vehicle Activated Signs (flashing
speed signs to you and me).
In it, Mr Kevin Allen. a Project
Engineer in the Casualty Reduction
Section of Norfolk County Council
(NCC), wrote as follows:
“Whilst Vehicle Activated Signs
(VAS) are often beneficial in reducing
vehicle speeds and raising driver
awareness, there are now over 300
installations in the county and their
effectiveness is declining due to
driver habituation”
In other words you and I are so used
to them, we are ignoring them and
they are becoming a bit of a waste of
time.
You may be surprised therefore, to
learn that Watton Town Council are
taxing us sufficiently hard to allow
them to fund the installation of one
such sign on the Brandon Road and
hope to continue to have them
installed on Thetford Road, Norwich
Road and Dereham Road as well.
They have already collected and put
in their purse £6,000 and another
£3,000 of this coming year‟s precept
will be devoted to the same cause.
At the moments costs are not clear,
but the engineer quoted above
suggests the costs per sign are in the
order of £6,000 but this appears to be
the cost of a simple sign that flashes
“30” at you. The signs that indicate
your actual speed are expected to be
around £10,000. For all four roads, a
total cost of £40,000 is likely.
The engineer also went on to say: “I
note you are particularly interested in
providing VAS on the Brandon Road
approach to Watton and I have
investigated the accident record
between the start of the 30mph speed
limit and Swaffham Rd roundabout.
Thankfully, no inbound speed related
accidents have been recorded by the
police on this approach to the town
within the last 3 years. However, this
does mean that I am unable to justify
county council funding for a VAS.”
If there have been no accidents, and
the results of a recent survey suggests
that the actual traffic speeds are not
excessive and Norfolk County
Council themselves say they cannot
justify the installation of the signs,
why on earth are Watton Town
Council pressing ahead with a scheme
that NCC won‟t support; while at the
same time not pressing ahead with
one whose need has been highlighted
just this past month?
During the most recent meeting of the
Envi ronment and Recreat ion
Committee it was reported by the
Clerk that a number of letters had
been received from residents
regarding icy pavements, and also
that Norfolk County Council had
asked why Watton had no salt bins to
deal with the problem of slippery
pavements during icy periods. NCC
stock and replenish the salt supplies
free of charge, but the council has to
buy the bins at an estimated cost of
£150 each plus installation.
Reporting the ensuing exchange, the
Clerk said she had told NCC that it
was council policy not to have the
bins because of the risk of being sued
if they should make an effort to clear
pavements.
NCC responded that this was a myth
and the council were at no risk of
litigation if they just supplied the
bins.
In the following discussion Cllr Ivory
suggested the council should consult
residents with a view to funding 2
bins at any suggested locations as
soon as possible this year.
Cllr Wassell said “They would just be
something else to set fire to.”
Cllr Ivory proposed again that the
council should get two salt bins to
help residents help themselves.
Cllr Rudling then spoke saying there
was no point in
getting them now as
the snow had gone
and they “were not
value for money and
we have not budgeted
for them”
Subsequently, the
council decided not
proceed with the
purchase of the salt
bins or consult with
residents at this time
but would seek
suggestions from the
Highways department
as to where Highways
felt there was a need
for them.
The committee then
moved on to the
subject of the flashing
speed signs. Cllr
Rudling was very
supportive of the
speed signs saying
that “What we want
are the signs that
show you how many
miles per hour you
are doing.” And
proposed the council
should get the cost of such signs.
Speaking informally, for she is not a
member of this particular committee,
Council Chair Margaret Holmes, said
the council had asked for NCC‟s
opinion and they were not supportive
and the council could not go ahead
without justification. Cllr Osborn
agreed saying “The signs are not
needed”.
Cllr Crabtree added “We have looked
at this from time to time and the
police do not support them, Norfolk
County Council do not support
them”, and indicated he did not
support them either.
Cllr Wassell said “We have been
putting money in the budget for 2
years now and the budget is a public
document. People must know about
these signs, yet we have received no
protests.”
Cllr Rudling said that “The sooner we
get the signs the better. We should be
saving lives and the public expect us
to provide them. We have budgeted
for the money and we should spend it
now.”
Speaking from outside the committee
Cllr Paul McCarthy said “the money
would be much better spent on the
Luncheon Club facilities than on light
up signs we don‟t need.”
In the end, the vote split 5 for and 2
against to continue and get prices for
the signs.
So, did you know about the signs?
Have you examined the budget
documents cited by Cllr Wassell who
says there has been no protest against
the signs therefore the council should
continue with this possible £40,000
project?
Although they have said so to me, I
feel sure that the council would
welcome views on the signs and
whether you are in support or not.
Has Norfolk County Council got it
right – if there is no justification for
the flashing speed signs and the costs
cannot be justified; then the project
should not go ahead?
Or is Cllr Rudling right, are lives at
risk? Should Watton Town Council
spend your money on this project?
(Oh - and should they ignore the need
for salt bins as well?)
Do ring the Clerk on 01953 881007,
or write to Watton Town Council,
Wayland Hall, Middle Street Watton,
IP25 7AG and let them know what
you think. Or visit their website and
u s e t h e f o r m t h e r e :
www.wattontowncouncil.gov.uk
Or you could just write to me at the
Mid Norfolk Times.
A Round-about way of thinking Reading your article about the
Norwich Road development set me
thinking in a "round-about sort of
way".
A few years back someone decided to
put Watton's first roundabout at the
junction of Brandon Road/Swaffham
Road and the estate known as
"Birdland" (due to road names – not
young female occupants). It was quite
obvious to one and all, right down to
the village idiot's pet monkey, that
there wasn't enough room for a full
sized roundabout. Did this deter our
planners and engineers? Not a hope.
So they built a small island with an
inner circle that is intended to exclude
vehicular use (except articulated lorry
trailers and extra long vehicles). They
then put a second circle outside that
to drive on. Great. You would think
that with all that forethought and
consideration for large vehicles they
would have made the approach road
wide enough for them to get to the
roundabout. Wrong! Within days the
High Street exit and Swaffham Road
exit were a mess with kerbs knocked
out. The former was altered and the
latter repaired. But just look at it
again now! There is only just room
for a van, never mind a lorry. What
was wrong with a mini roundabout
which fitted the space and cost much
less?
With this in mind I drove along the
Norwich Road. I had made note of
the "improvements" that took place
about 2 years ago. Apparently, the
little islands that appear in the middle
of the road are to facilitate safer
pedestrian crossing. Taking the one
between the Watton Green turn off
and Drome Garage as an example, I
have only ever seen one person using
it since it was built. I did, however,
give up counting how many times the
island had been run over several
months ago and I was up to 5 times
then. Improved safety!
This seems to be the pattern all along
the road, with the crossing between
the Aerolite Garage and Beech Tree
Road being the only logical one along
there. After all, how many people
actually cross the road when there is a
good footpath on their side? Anyway,
the pedestrian crossing doesn't work.
Now, if they had put a couple of
islands in at the Lovell Gardens
junction, a notorious accident black
spot – or even a mini roundabout, I
could see the logic, but no!
After all these "improvements" were
completed, we then suffered for over
a year with a road surface that was
dangerous due to the uneven surface
and pot holes. Even when it was
resurfaced, parts had to be redone.
Now it's a good road as far as Lovell
Gardens and then?
Finally, roundabout number 2. This is
at one of the widest parts of Norwich
Road. There is about 4 metres of
grass verge and then the old Norwich
Road in addition to the actual current
highway. Plenty of room to put a
roundabout in you would think. A
glance at the part of the project
completed so far shows that no use is
to be made of this unused piece of
land, but the island is to be put off to
the other side of the road on the old
RAF camp.
Looking at the angle of the kerbs
already laid, it looks like there will be
a sharp turn into an even tighter
roundabout with an adverse camber.
How long before the first HGV rolls
over? No doubt someone will defend
this piece of planning genius by
telling us that is slows the traffic
down and thereby "helps the
environment". Well just think about
how much more diesel the HGVs will
burn getting back to 40 mph as they
accelerate uphill towards Norwich!
That's a lot more than if they could
maintain a constant 40mph!
Never mind, I hear we may be getting
some "state of the art" flashing speed
warning signs, at nearly £10,000
Letters to the Editor . . .
News Mid-Norfolk Times Page 15
By Frank Wilder
In medieval times the contiguous
parishes of Tittleshall and Godwick
were known as TITTLESHALL cum
GODWICK, the latter being the
village where Sir Edward Coke built
his home in 1586. He had been born
in nearby Mileham in 1552 and had
married, as his first wife, Bridget
Paston, who brought a dowry of the
vast sum of £31,000 to the marriage
and who bore him ten children. He
became a very successful barrister
and by 1580 had made sufficient
money to buy the manor of Godwick
from the Drury family and to build
himself a modest home. He was
prosecutor for the Crown at the trials
of the Earl of Essex, Sir Walter
Raleigh and Guy Fawkes, where his
reputation suffered because of his
violent abuse of the prisoners. In
1606 he became Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas and despite the efforts
of his rival, Francis Bacon, who
succeeded in having him 'promoted'
to the less powerful and far less
profitable post of Chief Justice of the
King's Bench, he became a great
champion of the rights and privileges
of the House of Commons against the
encroachments of the Crown
culminating in the passing of the
Petition of Rights in 1628. In his
retirement he wrote eleven volumes
of his 'Reports' of law cases and four
volumes of his 'Institutes of the Laws
of England' upon which his enduring
fame as a lawyer rests.
In 1610 Sir Edward bought one of the
manors of Holkham and in 1612 his
son John married the heiress of the
other. An ancestor, Robert Coke, had
bought the manor of Tittleshall in
1553, which is why the Cokes are
buried in the chancel of St. Mary's
and Godwick was allowed to fall into
ruin. All that can be seen now is the
tower of the ruined church and a
large barn with seven 3-light
windows with brick mullions which
was once 2 storied with an attic, so it
was built as a
house, not a barn.
It has a most
interesting roof of
a l t e r n a t i n g
hammer beams
and arch-braced
trusses, collars
and wind-braces
and was probably
built around the
time that Sir
Edward built his
home, namely
1586. There are
traces of an E-W
street and two side
roads.
The contents of
the chancel of St.
Mary's, Tittleshall
make the church
truly historic,
containing as it
does, splendid memorials to the Coke
family from Winifred Coke 1569, the
mother of Sir Edward Coke to
Mrs Jane Coke d 1800, the wife
of Thomas William Coke, Earl
of Leicester, the great
agriculturalist and builder of
Holkham Hall which took 27
years to complete. The Earl took
up farming and introduced
reforms with astonishing
success by enriching the soil,
enlarging the farms, growing
wheat instead of rye, breeding
cattle, sheep and pigs and using
the latest machinery. His famous
'Holkham Shearings' attracting
between 200 and 700 guests
over three days were the
fo r e ru n n er o f t o d a y ' s
Agricultural Shows. He was so
successful that the King, George
III, told him that he had quite
enough land and was not to buy
any more. Coke asked for one
further acre and permission
granted, acquired it, but it was
Castle Acre an estate of some
3000 acres!
The splendid bas-relief
monument to Jane Coke is of
white marble by Nollekins and
cost 3000 guineas. Sir Edward's
memorial is a sarcophagus of
black and white marble with a
white recumbent effigy. Robert
Coke d 1679 has a black and
white marble tomb chest. Thomas
Coke, Earl of Leicester d 1759 has a
truly magnificent memorial of large
Corinthian columns with pediment
and busts of the Earl and Countess by
Roubilliac.
The monument to Bridget Coke, nee
Paston, 1598 is of alabaster and is
probably the finest 16th Century
monument in Norfolk.
An interesting memorial slab in the
floor is to the Rev. Dixon Hoste
rector here for 42 years who died in
1825. His second son was Sir
William Hoste, Bart. R.N. who
served under Nelson and fought in
the battle of the Nile.
A mausoleum on the north side of St.
Mary's was erected in 1720. It was
partitioned in 1897 for the organ
chamber and the burial chamber
sealed. It contains various coffins.
The church of St. Withburga lies on a
mound in the extensive park of
Holkham Hall and was heavily
restored in 1870. The restoration
revealed the foundations of a tower
which may have been Saxon or
Norman, but the present tower is
early C13 and together with some
windows and arcade has been mainly
rebuilt. There are two alabaster
monuments and some C12 or C13
coffin lids with foliated crosses. The
dedication to St. Withburga is unique,
not only in Norfolk but in the whole
of England.
On (01953) 883143
Mobile 07721 535 285
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01953 881243
Unit 2, Coughtrey Industrial Estate
Church Road, Griston. IP25 6QB
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Bathrooms
Internal Doors
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Full Planning Service
DY-FIT FOR LIFE EXERCISE TO MUSIC CLASSES
Watton Sports Centre, Dereham Road. All the sessions are designed to promote stamina, strength and flexibility whilst taking into account
the fitness level and ability of participants.
General Aerobics Mondays 7pm An hour long, as energetic as you wish!**
Nifty Fifties Fridays 11am A challenging workout for
"recycled teenagers"**
Gentle Option Fridays 10am 40 minutes duration, no floorwork. Problems such as
arthritis and joint replacement are taken into account.
Please note there will be no classes during the half-term holiday Monday 15th to Friday 19th Feb. inc.
** Please bring a mat for floorwork
For further details, please contact
Diane Cuthbert
01953 850275 RSA/YMCA Qualified Teacher
Classes held during term-time
each, to put on roads where a survey
has shown no excess speed problem
at all!. The genius continues – and
guess who's paying for it! P. Lincoln.
Lifelong Watton Resident
Hard up developers? So the developers of Blenheim
Grange have hit hard times and want
to renegotiate the deal they have
agreed.
I believe that Cofton Ltd owe
Norfolk County Council (NCC)
about half a million pound towards
the costs incurred for the roadworks.
This is money spent on a half
finished project and will no doubt
end up being paid for in full by NCC.
That is to say we, the council
taxpayers, will foot the entire bill.
Would NCC be so accomodating if
individuals claimed hardship? I very
much doubt it.
NCC presumably took on this work
without any kind of guarantee that it
would be paid for by the developers,
secure in the knowledge that us
"mugs" would cough up if things
went wrong. N J Dasey. Carbrooke.
The Memorials at RAF Watton Permit me to commence by
informing your good selves that I am
now into my 90th year and for the
past few years I have been confined
to a "Powerchair". That information
probably means nothing to you;
maybe the fact that I am an "Old
Boy" of number 82 Squadron RAF
Watton in the 1940's will draw your
attention.
I have to admit I have been quite
taken aback to learn of the
desecration carried out on our
memorial some time back. It is most
distressing to learn of such behaviour
by young persons, on the other hand
I regret to say that this was not an
isolated incident in this country.
Over the years my contemporaries
and myself have lectured in many
schools and other venues on the
subject of W.W.II. While some
appreciate our comments, it is
regrettable that there are those few
who do not respond to our lectures.
I enclose an item of poetry which
may (or maybe not) register in the
minds of those vandals!
Although many will not be with us
now, I tender my sincere thanks to
the 'war-time' families of Watton
who so many years ago, helped and
cared for us in those difficult times.
Pax vobiscum
Dennis A. Wiltshire FBIS, FAIAA,
ARAeS, FIMgt, HonR.A., RAF (Rtd)
Questions and Answers
"Why do you march, old man
With medals on your chest?
Why do you grieve, old man
For those you laid to rest?
Why do your eyes gleam, old man
When you hear the bugler blow?
Tell me why do you cry, old man
For those days long ago?"
"I'll tell you why I march, young
man,
With medals on my chest,
I'll tell you why I grieve, young man,
For those I laid to rest;
Through misty field of gossamer silk
Comes visions of distant times,
When boys of such a tender age
March forth to battle lines.
We buried them in a blanket shroud
Their young flesh scorches and
blackened
In a communal grave so newly dug,
In bloodstained gorse and bracken.
And you ask me why I march, young
man,
I march to remind you all
That but for those apple-blossomed
youths
You'd never know freedom at all.
From one no longer fit and able to
march.
ANON
New Years Eve 'New Years Eve' was as every year, a
most wonderful evening of dancing
novelties, raffle and an extremely
good buffet, all organised by Mike
Rix and his band of helpers.
Music was supplied by 'The Bar
Hoppers' with a lady and gent
vocalist among them.
The 'New Year' was heard in with the
sound of Big Ben and everyone
holding hands in circles and dancing
in friendship. A lovely friendly
evening. Thanks to everyone who
made it so. Doug Wickwar
HOLME HALE PAVILION Film Night
'The King & I' starring Yul Brynner
& Deborah Carr Friday February 12th Doors open 6.30pm
Tickets £3.50 Phone 01760 440525 or 01760 441607 to book.
Historic Parish Churches of Norfolk
Six High Street businesses whose electricity was used to light up the
town over the Christmas period showed their festive spirit by
generously agreeing to donate not only their costs for 2009 but also for
2008! The Chamber of Commerce has duly donated the sum of £155
to HELP for HEROES on behalf of traders Blaines, Italian Job, Little
Gary‟s Plaice, Smith & Co., Smith & Pinching and Tote Sport.
Wayland Chamber of Commerce members were also delighted to fund
and assist with the erection of the 2009 Watton Christmas Tree at
Chaston Place.
At the Open Meeting in November, speakers Linda Byers and Philip
Westhead of Business Link talked about the services they offer to
„help businesses start and grow‟. They offer an information service,
free seminars, specialist advisers and indicated that there is statistical
evidence that those businesses who ask for help tend to last longer and
make more money. Linda Byers is Business Adviser for Business
Link and can be contacted at 0845 641 9829 or go to
www.businesslink.gov.uk/east
Heather Nunn, Secretary, Wayland House, High Street, Watton, IP25
6AR
Watton Businesses Support HELP for HEROES
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 16 News
Happy Birthday SSAFA 1885 – 2010
As it‟s a special month, here are 10 things you may or may not know
about SSAFA FH!
1. In February 1885, SSFA (Soldiers and Sailor‟s Families Association)
was founded by Major James Gildea, The Royal
Warwickshire Regt, to look after the wives and
families of the men who were going overseas to
form the 2nd Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
2. HRH Princess of Wales – later Queen Alexandra
– became the first President and allowed the
Association to use her personal monogram, in the
form of two crossed A‟s as the seal. It is still used
today.
3. After the formation of the Royal Air Force in
1914, the Association‟s title was amended to
include „Airmen‟s‟
4. The motto is „ bis dat qui cito dat‟ or „He gives
twice who gives quickly‟
5. SSAFA125 campaign logo is „First In> Last Out‟
reflecting that SSAFA FH is the organisation that
the Armed Forces and their families can depend
upon for support throughout their entire lives. See
www.ssafa125.org.uk
6. With the very generous support of Co Op
Watton, Norfolk and Watton volunteers will be „on
show‟ on SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2010 for
our very first National Collection Day. Come and
talk to us about our work, leave your name to
become a volunteer or take our telephone number
for a friend.
7. Do you like statistics?
a. SSFA was formed in 1885 for wives and families
and now serving and ex serving members of Armed
Force including TA and Reservists. SSAFA FH
almonised > £20m in 2007
b. Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 and is
the leading ex Serviceman‟s charity. It almonised
>£88m in 2007
c. H4H was formed in 2007 for „injured blokes‟ and
has almonised >£20m
d. RAFA was formed in Sgts Mess in RAF
Andover 1929 as Comrades of RAF. In 2007 it
almonised >£8m
8. James Cracknell and Ben Fogle raised >£20k on
their Ride of Britain in rickshaws
9. There are over 100 social work staff in overseas
and home communities including more than 70
fully qualified staff working with SSAFA FH
10. All funds raised on 13 FEBRUARY will go to
Branch funds to aid and support local cases. All
staff in the office and out in the field are volunteers.
We helped < 500 cases in Norfolk in 2007
HAPPY 125th BIRTHDAY SSAFA!
HOLME HALE PAVILION
Film Night 'The King & I'
starring Yul Brynner & Deborah Carr
Friday February 12th Doors open 6.30pm
Tickets £3.50 Phone 01760 440525 or 01760 441607 to book.
Thought for the Month By Fr Michael Johnstone
I read in the paper recently that a
glove once worn by Michael
Jackson had been sold for $30.000.
Ow!! But if one looks on e-Bay,
I‟m sure one could find equally
mundane objects owned, worn, held
by ... maybe even looked at ... by
celebrities being sold for this, that
or the other ridiculous sum!
Even at home, loving family
members keep objects associated
with or owned by those who are no
longer around - „passed away‟ …
„gone before‟ ... „beyond the veil‟
… or if one is being honest „dead‟.
Queen Victoria kept Prince Albert‟s
bedroom exactly as it had been
when he died in 1862 exactly the
same until she died in 1901.
There is something inherently
human in longing to keep, touch or
have an item belonging to someone
one has truly loved. It is part of
being human that one should
associate human loved ones with a
tangible relic of their human
existence.
Our God became Man: as St John
says: “The Word was made flesh”.
Jesus Christ is Emmanuel: “God
with us”. So we cannot deny the
physicality of our religion. Neither
you nor I are pure spirits; neither
you nor I are angels, who are pure
spirits. We all participate in the
humanity taken on by Jesus Christ -
conceived by the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary - who was
a simple Jewish maiden.
It‟s not surprising therefore that
Christians should be like that
fellow who bought Michael
Jackson‟s glove, and wish to
associate themselves with that
which belonged to or was part of
someone special. Except that, in the
case of a Christian one raises one‟s
sights beyond the „celebrity‟ to the
„holy‟ ... not to one who has been
touched by commercialism, but to
one who has been touched by God.
Christian Relics got a bad name at
the Reformation. And they have yet
to recover their good name in
ordinary society. But, for those who
have retained the Faith as practised
universally in Europe before the
16th Century, rel ics have
maintained their connection with
our Faith which is both Physical
and Supernatural. And so we find
we are able to find God through
contact with those who have
themselves been touched by God.
So, for us, the great event in 2009 in
Norfolk was the arrival in our midst
of the Relics of a most remarkable,
spiritual, holy girl who died aged 24
in 1897. She was called Therese
Martin, but now is known as Ste
Therese of Lisieux. She had a deep
and mystical love for Jesus from a
very early age, and even managed to
get extra-special permission at the
age of 14 to enter a Convent. From
that time she lived a life of total
s i m p l i c i t y , b u t a b n o r m a l
commitment, within her Community.
She developed TB in her early 20s,
but did not allow it to make any
difference to her love for God or her
fellows. She suffered huge spiritual
deprivation and darkness in her
suffering; but she maintained her
Faith through interior self-giving
throughout her last days. Her trials,
her programme of life, her love for
Jesus and for all people became only
known and understood when her
writings were disseminated after her
death. But since then she has had a
universal appeal.
Her relics, which help to bring us in
touch with her deep spirituality, with
a new way of looking at our life
(which as St Paul says is „no longer
my life, for it is no longer I who live
but Christ who lives in me‟), and with
a person who had lived the way
Christians ought to live, came to
Norfolk for 22 hours on their journey
through the British Isles. And they
truly had an enormous impact.
While the relics of Ste Therese‟s
human body were in Walsingham -
and also in many other places in the
UK last autumn - hundreds of
thousands of our largely impious
fellow Britons went to pray before
them; to celebrate God‟s love for
our humanity in them; and to thank
God for His grace within us, and
within Ste Therese of Lisieux. And
so to raise our sights to what we are
able to become in Christ.
Ste Therese once said: „I will spend
my Heaven doing good on earth‟.
And so she has. Millions
throughout the world have been
touched and altered through her.
She touched many in her visit to
Britain. And I, one poor Christian,
can vouch for that.
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„Beauty for brokenness - hope for
despair‟
„I was hungry and you fed me, I was
thirsty and you gave me a drink, I
was homeless and you gave me a
room,
I was shivering and you gave me
clothes, I was sick and you stopped
to visit, I was in prison and you came
to me.' (Matthew 25:36)
25th February „I was hungry and
you fed me, I was thirsty and you
gave me a drink‟ A speaker from
CAFOD (Norwich) about providing
Aid around the world
4th March „I was homeless and you
gave me a room, I was shivering and
you gave me clothes,‟ Derek Player,
General manager of St. Martin‟s
Housing Trust on their work amongst
the homeless in Norwich
11th March Shared meal
18th March „I was sick and you
stopped to visit,‟ A speaker on the
work of a hospital chaplain
25th March „I was in prison and you
came to me.' Rev‟d Sarah Tan from
the HMP Wayland chaplaincy team.
All of the meetings will be held at
Watton Christian Community
Centre, starting at 7.30pm and
concluding at about 9pm. Each
evening will include worship, a
speaker, questions and refreshments.
Each evening is open to all.
Watton Churches Together Lent Course
Down to Earth with a Bump I‟m sure you can relate to me when I
say that I‟ve met many people these
last few weeks who have said they
have fallen or almost fallen in these
icy conditions!!! And I‟m sure we
have all been on the verge of a fall (if
not had one) ourselves in this
extreme winter weather. The
footpaths have been treacherous, the
roads not much better and some of
the car parks have been lethal for
those on foot. Those of you who
have experienced a slip or even a fall
onto your bottom do keep in mind
that the effects of a bump could be
the start of aches and pains elsewhere
in the body over the next few weeks
or even months.
Sometimes when we fall (particularly
onto our bottoms) the trauma and the
impact can affect our pelvic
alignment and we become slightly
„wonky‟. As a result our bodies will
compensate and keep us upright and
moving by making adaptations to this
imbalance elsewhere in the body.
This in turn places extra stress on
various other structures above or
below the pelvis, because the pelvis
isn‟t moving harmoniously.
Complaints such as knee pain, aches
between the shoulder blades and
even headaches can manifest as a
result of a fall months later. Often
these pains just come on for no
apparent reason. Commonly people
will say that there doesn‟t seem to be
any reason for the pain ……. it just
starts. This is because the body has
had to learn to move in different
patterns. Therefore, this puts extra
strain on parts of the body that aren‟t
used to doing this new job and
consequently they start complaining!
Those of you who have had a fall or
know somebody who has and would
like to take advantage of a free 10
minute examination/ consultation to
eliminate the possibility of any knock
on effects please feel free to contact
Sharon @ Watton Sports Centre Tel:
0 1 9 5 3 8 8 4 7 3 2 o r v i s i t
www.sgoclinics.biz Sharon Gibbons
is an Osteopath based in Watton and
Norwich and very happy to answer
any questions.
Church times and Puzzles Mid-Norfolk Times Page 17
WATTON CHURCHES TOGETHER SERVICE CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2010
St. Mary’s Church, Watton
1st, 3rd & 4th Wednesday at 9.30am Holy Communion
2nd Wednesday Morning Worship. Church Office opens Tues,
Business Rates – winners and losers Business rates is a topic close to the heart of
all commercial organisations and, at a
February event organised by Breckland
Council, company owners in the district will
have the opportunity to quiz representatives
from the Valuation Office to learn how the
new rateable values for their premises were
calculated.
Entitled „Winners and Losers‟, this event has
been organised in partnership with the
Valuation Office in response to concerns
raised by company owners at the Council‟s
„Business Ratepayers Consultation Event‟ last
November. Many of those who attended said
they would be faced with a significant
increase when the new rateable values come
into effect in April this year.
Executive Member for Economic &
Commercial Services, Mark Kiddle-Morris,
who will attend the event, said he understood
the concerns of the district‟s businesses;
“Business rates are a significant outgoing for
most companies and, at the November
meeting, we found that many people did not
understand how their new rateable values had
been calculated, or did not agree with the new
sum. This event will give businesses the
opportunity to gain a greater understanding of
the revaluation methods used and find out
about the appeals process”
The „Winners & Losers‟ event will be held on
18th February from 12 noon – 2.30pm at the
Innovation Centre in Thetford. The event is
free of charge but, as space is limited, places
are restricted to one person per company and
must be booked in advance. To book a place,
contact Lindy Warmer on 01362 656870 by
12th February.
Rateable values of business premises are
determined by the Valuation Office, and are
reviewed every 5 years. As the result of the
most recent revaluation exercise, businesses in
Breckland had notification of their proposed
2010 rateable values towards the end of last
year; these will come into force in April 2010.
The level of business rates charged (i.e. the
sum charged per £1 of rateable value) is set by
central government. Breckland Council acts as
a collection agency for business rates for
central government and the sums collected by
Breckland are passed on to central
government.
Mid-Norfolk Times Page 20 News
RSPCA Charity shop opens
Watton Mayor, Margaret Holmes, opened the
latest RSPCA charity shop in Watton, on 6 th
January. The shop joins the others raising funds
for the Norwich and Mid-Norfolk Branch at
Attleborough at Cromer, Norwich, and
Wymondham.
Branch Trustee John Pinnington with his wife
and fellow trustee Julie, were present for the
opening with the Mayor who was ably assisted
in the cutting of the ribbon by Bailey, a local
Newfoundland owned by Stella and Graham
Langford.
Also present, and doing her best to help the get
off to good, if somewhat boisterous, start was
Emma, an 8 year old Golden Labrador and one
the branches latest animals to come into their
care. (all pictured right)
Manageress Bev Everitt said “The shop has got
off to a great start and we are very grateful to
the Mayor and all the people of the area for their
support and donations.”
Echoing Bev‟s comments, Assistant Manageress
Paula Greatbanks added “The support we have
received has been wonderful and we hope that
support will continue for many years to come.”
John Pinnington said “We are
entirely self-supporting and I am
sure the new shop at Watton will
contribute greatly to our work in
future.”
The RSPCA is probably the best
known of all the animal charities
and the Norwich branch which was
founded in 1840, is entirely self-
financing, receiving no funding
other than that which it generates
through fundraising activities,
legacies and the RSPCA charity
shops.
In 1995, the branch‟s animal home
was closed down due to planning
issues (involving noise levels and
local residents), since then the
branch has moved to Barrack Street
and continues to rehome cats and
dogs, with a cattery licensed for 38
cats and spaces for 10 dogs at
private boarding kennels outside
the city.
EVENTS DIARY ACC = Ashill Community Centre, Hale Road, Ashill; Watton CCC =
Watton Christian Community Centre; Wells CCC = Wells Cole Community Centre, Saham
February Fri 5th Candlelight Dinner and Cleaving Heavages at
the Queens Hall, Watton. 881007 for Tickets
Sat 6th Great Ellingham Recreation Centre See ad
Fri 12th Valentines Barn Dance Queens Hall Watton
See Inner Wheel Article
Wed 17th Inner Wheel Lunchtime Concert Queens Hall Watton.
See Inner Wheel Article
Fri 26th Charity Quiz and Curry Night at Wells CCC Se ad.
Written estimates always provided Memorials supplied
Personal supervision Pre-Paid Funeral Plans available
Arrangements may be discussed in the privacy of your own home
Tel: (01760) 440269 (24 hrs) Established over 60 years
FUNERAL DIRECTORS SERVING WATTON & DISTRICT
W.C. LITTLEPROUD & SON of BRADENHAM
‘A genuine, family owned & run business
offering a caring, traditional & affordable service’
H. BRETT & SON Monumental Masons ~ Craftsmen in Stone
Call for our Brochure or
Visit our SHOWROOM and WORKSHOPS
Home visits can be arranged
also Fireplaces, House Names etc.
75 NORWICH ROAD, WATTON,
NORFOLK, IP25 6DH Tel: 01953 881501
The Watton Society Programme – February 2009 to March 2010
7.45 p.m. at the Watton Christian Community Centre Wednesday, February 17th Stephen Pope. Norfolk Aviation. £1.50 members. £2.50 non members. Wednesday, March 17th Tim Lidstone-Scott - Norfolk Footpaths, including the Peddars Way Wednesday, April 21st Watton Christian Community Centre 7.45 p.m. Robert Maidstone - Woodland Wonderland. Judy For more information on the Watton Society and a programme to December 2010 telephone Judy Kerr 01953 882613 or email [email protected].
MID-NORFOLK TIMES The deadline for the March issue will be 12
Noon on the 16th February Page space is allocated strictly on a first come, first served
basis. Deadline is the latest date and time that copy will be
considered for inclusion. Arrival of copy before deadline does
not guarantee inclusion, if you wish to be certain your entry
gets to print then please make sure it arrives in plenty of time.
If you are submitting on paper you MUST sign and include
your contact details with each item. If you do not, the item
will NOT be published.
You can contact Julian by ringing (01953) 858908. You can
write to 32 High Street, Watton IP25 6AE Or you can leave
copy in the bin at Adcocks, 32 High Street, Watton.