DECEMBER 2016 - About Thetford magazine by About Thetford magazine

Circulation 12,000 copies

Issue 133 December 2016

Your Local Independent Community Magazine

POST YOUR LETTER TO SANTA AT ANY OF CHILTERNS OFFICES FOR FREE

â&#x20AC;¦spreading the festive cheer this Christmas!

Thetford

Bridge Street, 1 Anchor Place

3 fully licensed screens

10% off when you book online lightcinemas.co.uk

Now Open 2-for-1 waffle offer Use this voucher in the Green Room at The Light Cinema Thetford to claim two waffles for the price of one. Offer closes 31st December. Only one voucher can be redeemed at a time. Cheapest waffle is free.

LightThetford_241Waffle_FPAd_v2.indd 1

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r’s About Thetford Welcome to Decembe Christmas seems to start We spend all year moaning that and then all of a sudden earlier and earlier each year ainly the case for me at Page 4 - New Year’s Eve Party cert ’s that December is upon us istmas lights are now on Page 6 & 7 - Out And About Thetford least! Our much improved Chr y of Maria Cooke shows. Page 8 - Christmas Quiz & Carol Service as the front photograph courtes so many Carol services Past 9 - Thetford Town Council nd atte I seem to be booked in to Christmas Day my family that I shall be so well versed by Page 10 & 11 - Leaping Hare will be in for a right treat! Page 13 - Chicc Boutique Now Open to make an extra effort Page 15 - Introducing BTO Thetford Could I encourage all readers never possible this year to support local retailers whe - including of course Page 16 & 17 - Health & Beauty ses cha for your Christmas pur magazine - without their Page 19 - Activities Galore With U3A advertisers contained within this tion would not be possible. Page 23 - Past and Present continued support this publica nt in the local economy, Page 29 - Christmas Church Services spe Remember that for every £1 l shops and retailers a try Page 31 - Fashion Show Cash Raised 63p stays local - so give loca ut what’s on offer. and you may be surprised abo Page 33 - Thetford Library cinema to t’ Ligh ‘The e com wel to Page 35 - Ancient House Museum We’re delighted e this month - make full Thetford and to our magazin Page 39 - Cats Protection Advice the e 2 and check out use of the 2 for 1 offer on pag Page 41 - Garden & Allotment Club ers ertis adv to wish all our competition on page 5. I’d like Page 43 - #thisgirlcan To Launch as. and readers a very Merry Christm Terry Jermy (Editor) Best wishes, Page 45 & 46 - Sports Updates

Inside this month...

E-mail address for all articles, adverts etc:aboutthetfordmagazine@googlemail.com Contact us: 075404 63662 Office Address: C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, IP24 3HL Publisher; In And About Thetford Ltd, C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford IP24 3HL Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this magazine, the publishers take no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by its contributors, in any advertisements or for any loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement. Reproduction of any part of this publication without permission of the publishers is strictly forbidden. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher

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New Years Party AD_Layout 1 28/11/2016 14:19 Page 1

Family Friendly

At Charles Burrell Centre

7pm - 9pm - End of Year Quiz 9pm - 1.30am - Live Party Music for all ages with the 'Ransom for a Deadman' band

Bar and hot food available on the night (CASH ONLY)

ÂŁ7.50 per person (ÂŁ2.50 for 12 - 16 year olds. Under 12's Free) Children's activities throughout the night in the Library space Tickets via Leaping Hare, King Street, Thetford Telephone: 01842 751975 Book online: www.leapinghare.org (Organised by In and About Thetford Ltd) Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

About Thetford Gets A Sneak Peek At The New Cinema Assistant About Thetford magazine Editor - Karen, was invited by ‘The Light Thetford’ to have a look behind the scenes as the finishing touches were being made last week. Karen was delighted to have a sneak peek, and the cinema has been her main topic of converation since! All 3 screens have modern comfortable interiors, wide seats and for those of you who enjoy a glass of wine - bottle and glass holders. Cinema Manager Simon Pinches and Assistant Manager George O’Connor are both community minded and have ensured that they recruited locally, working closely with Thetford Job Centre. Speaking about The Light, Simon said “ Since we started the project, we’ve reached out to the community, the concept we’re bring here is something unique.” George explained “In terms of myself, I grew up in Thetford, I’ve since worked all over the world but to come back to Thetford as part of an organisation bringing something to the community, somewhere to go in the evening and enjoy a night out is a proud moment.” Simon continued “I’ve worked for Vue and Cineworld, but they have moved away from the customer focussed attitude, whereas we are about

creating an experience for you covering every aspect of going to the cinema.” George must have been reading last month’s About Thetford, as he was also quick to tell Karen about the fantastic sounding waffles and toppings available from the Green Room! To celebrate the opening of the new cinema, The Lights have teamed up with the About Thetford magazine and Leaping Hare to give readers the chance to win a family ticket to the cinema. Full details below. Deadline for entries is Friday 16th December. Normal About Thetford Magazine Competition T&Cs apply, please go to: www.aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

Thetford

Bridge Street, 1 Anchor Place

Win a family ticket courtesy of Light Cinema Thetford Simply answer the following question: How many screens will the cinema have?

Send your answer by email with your name and full contact details to our friends at Leaping Hare info@leapinghare.org by Friday 16th December. The winner will be the first person drawn from a hat by Assistant Editor Karen on December 18th. Normal In & About Thetford Ltd T&Cs apply. Please go to www.aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk for more details.

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Out & About Thetford

New Short Mat Bowls Club Opens in Thetford The past few

Friday evenings have seen the Hall at the Charles Burrell Centre full of chatter and the knock of wood as the first of the short mat bowls taster sessions have taken place. About Thetford joined in on the inaugural session along with 28 other people, all keen to have a go at this most enjoyable sport. Short mat bowls is played indoors, easy to learn, fairly gentle, you don’t need lots of expensive equipment and is a great way to make new friends. Following the successful sessions run by East Harling Bowls Club, the new club is now establishing itself in Thetford and inviting people to join up as members.

For more information please contact Pauline on 01953 717275 or Jill on 01953 718703.

TCA Cooking Club holds its 1st Bake Off Competition Following last month’s theme of Karen

eating cake, it was inevitable that she would get invited to judge a baking competition sooner or later! So one Tuesday evening Karen found herself along with Charles Burrell Centre Manager, Mark Snowdon judging 11 cupcakes to find the best decorated & best bake. In true Bake Off tradition, the group were given their ingredients and some basic instructions with a brief to produce 10 decorated cupcakes. With the help of some new scales, donated by Sarah Douthwaite, Community Champion at Thetford Tesco, the kitchen was soon a hive of activity as the club weighed, mixed and baked. Finally Karen & Mark were invited in and presented with a row of cakes, firstly to judge on appearance and then taste. Lily’s banana cake was chosen by both judges for best bake. Each judge then selected their favourite decorated cake. Speaking about the competition Karen said “It was great to see the variety of cakes created by the club, it was a very tough decision to choose just one bake as they were all fab!”

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Memorial Garden opens in Kings House Gardens Following the annual

wreath laying on Armistice Day, at the War Memorial, Karen was invited to the opening of the Memorial Garden honouring those Thetfordians that gave their lives in the Great War. The garden was part of the town-wide Thetford Remembers 1914—1918 HLF funded project and has been a labour of love for garden designer Denise Jones, who worked closely with Adam the gardener at Kings House and her husband Peter to prepare the ground and plant the red, white and blue themed garden featuring Edith Cavell roses. Kevin Whittred created a 2ft tall Poppy sculpture which was then powder coated by Barry Trainor. The garden is a quiet reflective space for visitors to enjoy whilst also acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice so many from the town gave. In the presence of the Mayor, Joff Whitten from the East Of England HLF Committee, Councillors, members of the British Legion and the public including Playdays Nursery, the garden was opened by Councillor Stuart Wright Vice Chair of the Staniforth Trust who manage the gardens. Denise Jones said “It’s taken a couple of years to create, and I want to thank everyone who helped. I’m really pleased with the result.” The Memorial Garden can be found beside the coach house, just Denise Jones & Kevin Whittred in front of the bowling green in Kings House Gardens. Open daily from dawn to dusk. The Tale of Tom Paine’s Statue Following in the footsteps of previous illustrious speakers, local journalist & travel writer Fraser Harrison entertained the audience at Thetford Grammar School with the story behind the town’s Thomas Paine Statue. Old School at TGS proved to be a fitting backdrop as the former classroom of Thomas Paine. Fraser talked about the commissioning of the statue and the reaction in Thetford, using Paine’s life as a background. In 1963 American Joseph Lewis commissioned the last of 3 statues of Paine, inspired by the Napoleon anecdote that every city of the universe should erect a golden statue of Paine. Lewis’ statues were placed in each country he was most associated with, America, France & England. Initially Lewis approached the Greater London Council, they quickly referred him to Thetford as Paine’s birthplace. Thetford’s statue was originally planned for the market place, however Paine was seen in Thetford as a traitor, and the Royal British Legion objected that it would be too close to the war memorial. Finally a space in front of Kings House was agreed, although there were still objections, John Mayes made the national press with his protests and the unveiling included a 3 1/2 hour dedication speech by Lewis despite pouring rain and a dwindling audience. Despite Paine being seen as a radical & revolutionary, Lewis chose one of the most successful establishment sculptors of the day, Sir Charles Wheeler RA, whose work included the Queen. Fraser shared some of his thoughts on the statue. It has a curious pose and the Rights of Man was originally a pamphlet, made to be accessible to the poor rather than a book that only the rich could afford, going against everything Paine stood for. Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

Christmas Quiz Advert_Layout 1 19/10/2016 15:35 Pa

Christmas Charity Concert Success

Mayor of Thetford's Christmas Themed Quiz

A charity supporting the lives of children in Africa has benefitted thanks to the generosity of the people of Thetford. Looking for Christmas was the third annual Christmas production, created by local businessman Simon Barnett and his team in aid of the Quicken trust.

Raising money to support the Mayor's Charity fund (supporting children and young people locally)

Taking place at Charles Burrell Centre. Friday 9th December 2016, from 7pm Quiz provided by Jay and Em Quizes

41 children from Admirals Academy Choir and the Thursday Night Singers delighted the audience with a new audio visual interpretation of the Christmas Story. Narrated by Rev Helen Jary, the children brought the story to life with their enthusiastic singing, supported by the Thursday Night Singers, the live band and conductor, Fiona Barnett. The repertoire ranged from a rousing, rock style Hark the Herald Angels sing to a beautiful performance by the children using hand chimes. Looking for Christmas was the perfect way to start the festive season and to give the gift of education to a less fortunate child.

ÂŁ2.50 per person to enter. Teams of no more than six. To book contact Leaping Hare on 01842 751975 or call in at Thetford's Great Information Centre in King Street

Over the past 16 years Geoff Booker and his team at the Quicken Trust have raised money to improve the lives of the community in Kabubbu in Uganda. This area, like so many in Africa has seen its community ravaged by poverty, despotism, epidemics such as malaria & AIDS. Thanks to the work of the Quicken Trust he community now has access to fresh water, 2 schools, a dispensing clinic, a maternity hospital, day hospital and a farming and training school. By using gift aid to cover the administration costs, the Quicken trust use 100% of their donations to continue their work. For more information go to www.quickentrust.com For advertising enquiries, if you have an event or activity that you would like Karen to cover, please send your request to karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk The deadline for inclusion in the January edition is December 8th. Leaflet delivery and our distribution information can be found on www.aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

THETFORD TOWN COUNCIL www.thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk King’s House, King Street, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2AP t: 01842 754247 | e: mail@thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

The excitement is mounting with Christmas just around the corner, and top of the “to do list” is those special letters to Father Christmas.

schools to get into the wacky and competitive spirit and enter a team; the technical spec for the build will be included with the application to enter form; teams are made up of a driver and four support crew and are encouraged to dress accordingly with their themed vehicle. The Market Place will become a ‘Teamsters Village’ with each team allocated a gazebo ‘pit stop’ for fundraising, photoshoots and last minute vehicle ‘maintenance’ activities as well as a music stage and food vendors. If you are interested in participating in the Thetford Soapbox Challenge then contact David Brooks, Thetford Town Council – email: davidbrooks@thetfordowncouncil.gov.uk

To help Father Christmas out the Town Council is once again offering a free mail courier service to Father Christmas for all your letters. The post box will be outside Kings House from the Christmas Lights switch on event Friday 25th November until Friday 16th December, so that he can get all the replies back to the children before the big day. The Mayor’s Christmas Carol Service is on Friday 16th December at 7pm in St Cuthbert’s Church and all are welcome.

December is always very hectic at our venues with Christmas parties, annual dance shows and Carol concerts as well as the usual activities of dance and fitness classes in readiness for the festive splurge! But January seems to be just as busy these days, especially with local AmDram group Thetford Players, as January means Panto! The Players never cease to amaze their audiences with a great array of local talent on stage, fantastic costumes and props that pull out all the stops… remember Peter Pan flying across the stage in last year’s Panto... this year it is Snow White so if you haven’t booked tickets do so. You will be thoroughly entertained. Then as the month draws to a close we celebrate the TARA’s on Friday 27th January 2017, a gala evening recognizing all those unsung heroes that willingly give themselves to make our town a better place... if you would like tickets for either of these events then contact Leaping Hare 01842 751975 for Panto or Mark Robinson 07864 882 768 for the TARA’s.

Looking forward to next year the Town Council is starting its new e-newsletters and to sign up please go to the bottom of the front page of the council’s website www. thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk and enter your email address. The newsletter will cover events, updates, notifications and local news, therefore a great way to stay right up to date with everything we are involved with. Also new for 2017 and as the next progressive step to the successful Thetford’s Great Festival, traditionally held in August/September, the Town Council have decided to extend its calendar of events throughout the year with a series of special themed events and mini festivals. The first edition of our e-newsletter in January will give a comprehensive outline of all the 2017 event dates for your diary, however one event I am keen to get out nice and early is the Soapbox Challenge. There seems to be much excitement about this type of event and Thetford Town Council together with the sponsors and event partners have set Sunday 23rd April 2017 (St. George’s Day) for Thetford’s inaugural Soapbox Challenge. BUT to make it a brilliant event we need teams and therefore the early call out is for sports clubs, businesses, community groups or

OFFICIAL TOWN SPONSORS

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enter on beh Full Terms a

It’s ! here

Our Christmas Raffle to help fundraising is available from December. Get your tickets from our shop or on-line. Good Luck!

Don’t Panic! Christmas really is just

around the corner - yikes - but Leaping Hare can help. We have some great gift ideas and gift vouchers to suit everyone’s pocket. Our new personalised range make great stocking fillers. Beautiful handmade items from Christmas earrings to dinosaur covered glasses cases to scarf wearing, spotty china dogs. Little Fingy puppets to exquisite flint axe heads! Trips and excursions make fantastic pressies too - come take a look and make the most of our friendly service.

Check out Thetford’s Great Events calendar on www.leapinghare.org for full details of what’s on locally. Here is just a flavour of what’s coming up this month. Thetford’s Great Directory is also jam packed with information and easy to use - make sure you’re on it! Fri 2 Dec New Cinema The Light opens Sat 3 Dec Compassionate Living Fair Sat 3 Dec Gaia’s Kitchen Yule Time Feast Tue 6 Dec Thet Society Talk Victorian Christmas Fri 9 Dec Mayor's Christmas Themed Quiz Sat 10 Dec Brecks From Above workshop Sat 10 Dec Santa's Reindeer/Garden Centre Sat 10 Dec Christmas Craft Fair Guildhall Tues 13, Fri 16, Tues 20 Santa/Burrell Centre Wed 14 Dec Christmas Cheer Fri 16 Dec Soul & Motown Night Fri 16 Dec Mayor’s Carol Service Fri 16, Mon 19, Tues 20, Wed 21, Thur 22 and Fri 23 Dec Supper with Santa Sat 17 Dec Recording Archaeological Earthworks Sat 17 Dec RSPB Birds & Wildlife of the Forest Tues 20 - Wed 21 Dec Lunch with Father Christmas Wed 21 Dec Carols by Candlelight Thur 22 Dec Christmas Carolling Sat 24 Dec Crib Service Sat 31 Dec Family New Year's Eve Party Fri 13 - Sat 21 Jan Snow White Panto Fri 13 Jan Ghost Walk Sun 15 Jan Militaria Fair Sports Centre Fri 27 Jan TARA Awards Sat 11 March Mayor's Ball A big thank you from the Harey Leapers to all our customers and supporters in 2016 - we look forward to seeing you all in 2017. Have a good one! Opening Hours: 24 Dec Open, 25 - 30 Dec Closed. 31 Dec Open, 3 Jan normal hours resume.

Christmas Dinner With A Difference Whilst turkey and all the trimmings is thought to be the traditional dinner in the UK, most people don’t realise that this is a fairly modern tradition, made popular by Edward VII & only became fairly mainstream with the advent of the refrigerator in the 1950s. These days we live in a multicultural society and have a much greater variety of food available. For the fourth year running, Thetford Raj is offering those with more adventurous tastes an Indian Banquet as an alternative. Every year the chefs devise a brand new set menu with special dishes for a totally new experience. Customers can enjoy a variety of traditional Indian dishes including Tequila Lime King Prawn, Steak Moshla & everyone’s favourite sweet, Jalebi! Restaurant Manager Lee said “We try to do our best for everyone who comes through the door. We’re a beautiful modern restaurant offering good food at good prices.” Families are particularly welcome to enjoy the relaxed friendly atmosphere, and for those with special dietary requirements, help is at hand with alternatives suggested during the booking process. Christmas Lunch is £29.95pp, advanced booking only, please phone 01842 764240 or 01842 765190, a £20.00 deposit is required for each person.

& NE N W EW L O M OK EN U

Thetford Raj QP Advert 2_Layout 1 17/11/2016 17:31

Christmas Day

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OPENING HOURS Mon - Sat 5pm - 11pm Sunday 12 noon - 10pm 33 Admirals Way, Thetford IP24 2LB

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MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS

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Chicc Boutique Opens! Thetford’s brand new independent shop in King Street officially opened its doors with a loud Oyez! and a visit from the Mayor of Thetford. A double proclamation from Thetford’s Junior Town Cryer, Harry and Town Cryer Mike Wabe brought shoppers flocking despite the rain. Chicc Boutique owner Nicola Yorke said “I’m overwhelmed by today, it’s been fantastic. I hope that people will love it as much as I do.” Nicola also launched her new twitter page @ChiccBoutique with the help of the About Thetford and Leaping Hare on the same day as the official opening. The ever changing stock currently includes beautiful Christmas decorations to make your home twinkle during Yuletide and a gorgeous selection of stocking fillers to suit all budgets. Nicola sources unusual, high quality and quirky pieces including her ever popular illuminated alphabet letters and candle holders. “I never stock anything I wouldn’t want myself, and handpick everything to ensure we sell only the best quality.” There is something for every room in your home, from attractive kitchen storage boxes to the prettiest hearts to hang in your bedroom. Chicc Boutique is the ideal place to find that special winter wedding gift or traditional wooden toys for children. The shop is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am – 3pm, with an online shop available at other times, there’s no excuse not to have a browse! www.chiccboutique.co.uk

Chicc Boutique Lovely Shabby Chic Inspired Gifts and Christmas Decorations for your Home.

Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 10am—3pm 20 King Street Thetford 07904265654

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RudlingsWakelam Solicitors

...advice for life

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Hello from the BTO! The British Trust for Ornithology is a scientific charity that works to conserve birds. We were founded in 1933, originally as a spin-off from the University of Oxford, but as we’ve grown over the years, we’ve ‘moved house’ and we arrived in Thetford in 1991. And what a place Thetford is for birds! In the surrounding forest, we are fortunate to find rare species, such as Nightjar, Stone Curlew and Woodlark, while the town’s central location means we’re within reach of wildlife havens all over East Anglia. We do a lot of research on our local birds, including attaching state-of-the-art GPS tags to Cuckoos & Nightjars to see where they travel in winter

have seen some unusual birds in your garden, or would like to know where your local House Martins go in the winter. Whatever you’re wondering, we’re here to help! Viola Ross-Smith (Science Communications Manager, BTO)

One of the questions we’re regularly asked is how we differ from RSPB? We work closely with RSPB on a number of projects, but the primary difference is that we don’t campaign. Our role is to stay impartial, and simply collect and report the scientific evidence about birds. We can make recommendations based on that evidence, but we do not have a political agenda. Much of the work we do involves monitoring birds, so we know if their numbers are going up or down, if they are colonising new habitats, or becoming scarce in areas that they used to thrive, and of course why. This work relies on volunteers taking part in bird surveys coordinated by us. If you’re interested in participating in our surveys, please visit: www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys And if you would like to help, but are not confident about your ID, we run training, including online tutorials (see www.bto.org/bird-id). You can also visit our headquarters at the Nunnery in Thetford to use our library or walk on our beautiful nature reserve. We are also on hand to answer your wildlife queries, and one of the aims of this column is to provide a forum for that. So please do send us your questions – perhaps you

New Discovery Trail Launched at BTO A new Discovery Trail has just been launched covering the BTO Nature Reserve in Thetford. The new trail has been funded by the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ grant scheme which reuses the 5p carrier bag charge and allows customers to vote on which community projects receive a share of funding. The BTO were recently awarded the full £12,000 which helped create a new trail with information boards throughout the reserve. The trail is open to the public.

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Male Grooming has taken the beauty industry by storm…

his appearance in a lifetime. * 40% of men use some kind of skin care product * 50% of men say they use a hand product * 42% admit to using a moisturiser * 23% use hairspray * One third have tried lip balm * Two thirds of men say they regularly use shampoo, body spray, shower gel and perfume.

Metrosexual male is not a modern day phenomenon. Men have been pruning, moisturising and plucking themselves since the dawn of time. For example, Egyptian men were known to spend hours daily removing body hair, applying blossom and black kohl eyeliner to themselves. History tells us that it’s perfectly natural for both men and women to want to spend time taking care of themselves. It’s only been recently that men are accepting that it’s ok to take time out to look after yourselves and your appearance. With this in mind, 80% of young men say they use external appearances to express their own identities. This has helped the male grooming industry become one of the fastest growing sectors in the global beauty industry. Male grooming consists of products, treatments for nails, skin, facials, body hair, head hair and general well-being.

So with all this to bear in mind Christmas shopping should have just got a whole lot easier! From my point of view of making and formulating my own product ranges. I know the male product lines are a big part of my business. It is extremely important to me to have a fantastic range suitable for men and women with the correct ingredients. Happy shopping! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2017 from Stepping Stones Emporium. Thank you for your continued support.

Amazingly in just over 2-3 decades the male grooming industry has gone from the back of the dusty shelf in the beauty salon, maybe if you are lucky two varieties of products in the supermarket, to whole sections in department stores, shops, barbers and the high streets shops filled with products aimed solely at men that have exciting packaging, scents and a wide selection to choose from. Most importantly we are all talking about it and we’re not afraid to.

Caroline King www.steppingstonestrainingacademy

* Men spend approx. £180 per year on hair cuts * Men spend more money looking after their bodies than their faces * 75% of men think maintaining a well-groomed appearance is a sign of self-respect * The average man will spend approx. £75,000 on

Accredited beauty therapy courses Adult cocktail pamper parties Handmade beauty products Fun taster beauty workshops steppingstonestrainingacademy.co.uk Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

Winter Skin

Halcyon Days

It is at this time of year we begin to experience changes to our skin.

Skin Care & Laser clinic

It may appear much drier, become chapped and much more hyper sensitive to things, especially the lips and hands. Products and creams that we have used in the past and been perfectly fine with may now irritate the skin causing inflammation, redness and even itching. With the holiday season fast approaching and parties in full swing we are eating richer foods and drink more alcohol and probably more hot caffeine beverages to keep warm which in turn has a dehydrating effect on the skin. Other factors which cause changes may be triggered by a change in the environment, cold weather, central heating which can all cause dryness. We try to overcome these effects by applying more moisturiser but this in turn may not be the best solution. The moisturiser may be too rich, which can make the skin feel congested instead of what we really wanted which was hydration! Also, some moisturisers contain perfumes and or colours which then makes the skin become itchy and or red and easily irritated.

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Wishing all a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year from the Girls @ Cre8ive

to all We would like to say a really big thank you 2016 our clients for their ongoing support throughout We look forward to seeing new & old in 2017

Wishing you a Happy Christmas! Lisa Stallings, Halcyon Days

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Give The Gift of Health

The Old Rent Office Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House, King Street THETFORD Norfolk. IP24 2AP

This year why not give something different to your loved ones. At The Core Studio we offer vouchers for classes, personal training & our nutrition packages to suit all budgets. With our new fantastic clothing range, give the gift of health this Christmas. Please email me for more info. This just leaves me to say a festive thank you & Happy Christmas to everyone who has supported the studio this year. Join our mailing list to receive full information on our services for 2017.

Appointments: Foot Health: 01842-339958 Therapies: 07775 535 617

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Go Places With Thetford U3A Do you ever get itchy feet? Want to discover new places with like minded people? Thetford U3A may be just what you need. They have three groups devoted to trips near or far and two walking groups.

Members of the U3A ‘Day Trips Group’ in Shropshire recently

With the Day Trips Group members have visited the famous Beth Chatto Gardens, the Houses of Parliament, the Royal Dockyards in Chatham and Brick Lane Theatre. Just a few of the many trips that have delighted everyone. The Industrial Tourism Group arrange visits to a wide range of local organisations and get to ask about history, economy, environmental impact and funding. The group is never short of ideas and excursions have included the local fire station, a robotic milking parlour and a 'cold war' site where atomic bombs were kept.

And if none of those appeal, Thetford U3A has over 40 other interest groups to choose from. For more information visit our website: www.thetfordu3a.org Open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm

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For those with really itchy feet, the Holidays Group organise trips lasting several days. They went to Shropshire and had a good time despite torrential rain, ventured further afield to Vietnam and Cambodia and are planning exciting trips to Scotland and Cuba!

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TADDS was the chosen charity for a recent donation by the Thetford Society who held its quiz night at Cloverfield Community Church. £360 raised from their event was presented Jo Cooper and Yvonne Warren from TADDS. Jo said: “We would like to extend our gratitude to the Thetford Society for considering our local group as a beneficiary”. Thetford Dementia Support runs every Friday at Cloverfield Community Church, from 10am until 1pm. Email: taddsgroup@hotmail.com or 07542866519 www.thetford-dementia-support-group.org.uk Picture below shows Pat Smith, Jo Cooper, Yvonne Warren, Wendy Raphael

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Inner Wheel At our November meeting, John Forbes, a chemist from 'Treats' in Bury St Edmunds gave an enlightening and enthusiastic talk on the use of Essential Oils in the food and drinks industry.

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We tend to associate these oils with aromatherapy but they are widely used with food and drink to increase shelf life and to add flavouring and aromas to everyday products such as drinks (eg coca cola,tonic water, squashes and teas), sweets, (eg mints), perfumes, washing powders and cleaning products, toothpaste, talcs and even tablets, to name but a few. Essential Oils are a product of plants – leaves, petals, bark etc. The area where the plants are grown and the amount of raw material available is reflected in the market cost, eg not all rose oils are the same resulting in the difference in price paid for an oil. For example, the most expensive oil is Rose Absolode at £10,000 per Kilo. Also it takes 100 Kg of oranges to make 0.3 kg of oil Several samples of oil were passed around for a delightful ( and some less so!) sensory experience, including cucumber, mango, orange and two types of mint.

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Brandon & District Photographic Club

Thetford Voices Set For Christmas

The clocks have gone back and we are now settling into ‘Winter Mode!’, starting on December 14th we are being given a talk by Alan Sarsby (EAF Judge and Lecturer) on ‘Seeing Black and White in Colour’, giving us an opportunity to learn what we need to look for when taking images in colour and how best we can convert them to mono. This will be followed by a Competition in January where we can all put what we have learned into practice.

Thetford Voices is once again inviting young singers from across the region to join them for a Christmas Carolling holiday workshop on the 22nd December.

The singers aged from 6 to 16 years meet at 11.15am in St Peter’s Church, White Hart Street, Thetford to rehearse familiar and less well-known carols and Christmas songs with our band before an afternoon singing in residential homes across Thetford and collecting for EACH and the children at Quidenham Hospice. The day ends back in St Peter’s Church with guests joining us in a three quarter hour concert at Then to kick start you New Year we are holding a ’Light 6.30pm for families, friends and members of the public. Trails’ Workshop on January 4th – don’t miss this There is no charge for the day, made possible through exciting evening and see what amazing effects you can the support of the Pearson Family Fund and Coach achieve with your cameras. We would also like to take Services of Thetford who have generously provided our this opportunity of thanking everyone who took the time transport for the last nine years. Carolling Day is always to come down to Brandon and visit our Exhibition on 7th a special day for audiences and performers alike, and 8th October, we hope you enjoyed the visit and even exuberantly celebrating the Christmas spirit. All encouraged some of you to take up photography as a enthusiastic singers are welcome; do come along. hobby. Merry Christmas, Denise Whiting, Club Secretary Application Forms and full details can be can be obtained from Music coordinators in many local schools, Don’t forget tooHP to Advert_Layout visit our website 1on 18/10/2016 11:32 through Physiowork Page 1e-mailing: thetfordvoices@gmail.com or by www.brandonphotographicclub.co.uk telephoning John Weeks on 01842 820060

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Past & Present

Some winters have been particularly cold accompanied by heavy snow falls such as in 1947 and 1963. The wintry scene in the past photograph was taken in January 2013

Photographs courtesy of the David Osborne Collection

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In attendance and to help with the medal presentations were the Mayor of Thetford, Councillor Terry Jermy, Lions Vice District Governor Mandy Hawksley and Yannis Prodromou, Managing Director of Chilterns Estate Agents. Chilterns and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society gave financial support to the event.

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Lion President Colin Mackay awarded a special “follow your dream” medal to Joshua Lobo from Great Yarmouth for endeavour and persistence throughout the Gala.

Thetford Rotary The November meeting held at the Thomas Paine Hotel was an “Old boys night”. 15 ex members of Thetford Rotary joined current members for dinner, most from East Anglia but one had flown in from France that morning, returning the next day. Many ex members brought greetings from their new clubs. Jim Wilson, a member of the Norwich Marchasie Club, who left Thetford 52 years ago when moving on from reporting for the Thetford and Watton Times, gave reminiscences of Rotary in the 1960s.

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President Gary Goodchild presented a Paul Harris Fellowship (Paul Harris founded Rotary In Chicago in the early 1900’s) to David Childerhouse for his enthusiastic support for the Rotary Charity Foundation over many years.

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Thetford Society The October meeting began with a summary of our successful October Quiz Night which raised £360 for the Thetford & District Alzheimer’s Society. A cheque was presented to Yvonne Warren and Jo Cooper who gave us a personal account of how the charity operated.

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Our guest speaker this month was Ian Riches with an insight into the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) titled “What we found under the stairs”. Schooled at Thetford Grammar and a friend of Stuart Wright the Society Chairman (who he claimed had tricked him with alcohol to give the talk); Ian has been an archivist for 14 years after a full career in the Police. He relayed how the Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland which was formed in 1926 came into money and could afford a large estate in Galloway; unfortunately, its constitution did not allow it to own land. Meanwhile, south of the border the National Trust was formed in 1895, which could hold land, but had yet to purchase any in Scotland. This led to the formation of the NTS in 1931 with charitable status and a remit to protect and promote areas of historical interest or national beauty (perhaps the Thetford Society has some comparisons here?). With royalty on their side their first patron was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, today it is the Duke of Rothesay, better known as Prince Charles. The founding father Sir John Sterling Maxwell, gifted Crookston Castle which was the first property owned by the NTS whilst the remote Island of St Kilda was bequeathed in 1957 and is one of only 24 dual world heritage sites. They have over 130 properties and 180,000 acres of land as diverse as Glen Coe, Culloden, the birthplace of Robert Burns and the stunning Drum Castle. Ian could have talked at length on so many of the captivating aspects of Scotland’s heritage but unfortunately the clock was against us this time!

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The society’s next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 6th December at our usual meeting place of the United Reformed Church on Earl Street. The evening’s topic is “A Victorian Christmas” by Melisa Hawker of the Ancient House Museum. New members interested in friendship, Thetford’s rich past and prosperous future are always welcome.

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Local Villagers Remember the Fallen

Thetford (Breckland) Lionesses

A gathering of about 45 people from Hockham, Larling, Shropham and Wretham gathered at St Ethelbert Church, East Wretham, on Remembrance Sunday to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts. The Rev Tony Heywood led prayers outside

the church before Wretham and Hockham branch Royal British Legion Secretary and Treasurer Miles Howard read the Exhortation and names of the fallen, followed by a two minute silence. Wreaths were laid from reps of the four villages before the congregation moved into the church for the remainder of the service.

Thetford (Breckland ) Lioness Club joined members of the community at the Thetford cenotaph to lay a wreath in remembrance of the men and women who lost their lives in conflict. Thetford Lionesses meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at Kings Court. New members are welcome, for information please contact Dorothy on 0845-8334764.

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Talk and Tour Are Double Attractions For Probus When a devastating fire at Euston Hall in 1902 destroyed precious archives it might be thought that much of the history of the building and estate was lost. Thankfully, people like Edward Wortley, who is the official archivist for the Hall, have ensured that this is not the case as he demonstrated when he gave a talk to Thetford Probus members at their most recent monthly meeting. Without the aid of notes, he had all the facts, figures and events at his fingertips, and it provided a fascinating timeline of the Hall’s chequered history, from its earliest owners, the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, through to the Dukes of Grafton. Elizabeth I was the first monarch to stay at the Hall and a century later, after the tumultuous Civil War, it hosted the first of numerous visits by King Charles II whose royal gift of Euston and other lands in Northampton was a reward to his Secretary of State for his loyalty to the monarch. The estate then passed into the hands of Charles’ illegitimate son and later the Dukes of Grafton’s who have owned it for the last 350 years. Mr Wortley illustrated his talk with many pictures of the hall, gardens and park showing how these changed after remodelling by successive Dukes, with the latest improvements due to be unveiled when the Hall is opened to the public during 2017.

Picture: Probus Welfare Officer John Snow (right), presents Heritage Centre Manager Bill Estie with a donation

disarmed, of course! One of the latest additions is a mock-up of a NAAFI snack caravan which offers visitors a refreshing and welcome cuppa. To conclude the visit and as a gesture of the club’s appreciation, a donation was presented by member John Snow to centre manager Bill Estie. Contact for more information: Tony Dobbin 01953 718449.

The club’s monthly lunch, saw members making their second visit to RAF Honington, this time accompanied by wives and partners. After enjoying lunch in the officers’ mess, there was a tour of the Heritage Centre, which traces the RAF Regiment’s history from just after the WWI to the present day. Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of volunteers, who are past members of the regiment, the centre continues to No Joband to features Small QP Advert_Layout 1 09/06/2016 expand everything from armoured vehicles to a huge range of weapons, even a nuclear bomb –

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Nadine’s Cakes Now Open At Charles Burrell Centre After recently opening a new studio at the Charles Burrell Centre, Nadine’s Cakes & Celebrations are delighted to announce the launch of their new party packages. All the cakes supplied are freshly baked by Nadine in her kitchen, and she’ll be on hand to ensure all the party guests create a fantastic box of cakes to take home. If this sounds like too much fun, just for children, Nadine will create a special package for adults on request including Hen parties. Package 1 – Fun & Relaxed £15 per child 4 freshly baked cupcakes to decorate freestyle Idea for children aged 6+ Minimum 6, maximum 12 Party lasts approx. 2 hours Package 2 – Fun & Learn £25 per child 6 Freshly baked cupcakes to decorate. This is a taught party where the children will learn to make a pre designed set of cupcakes from your chosen theme Ideal for children aged 10+ Minimum 6, maximum 10 Party lasts approx. 2 ½ hours Included with all packages – Box & personalised gift bag to take the cupcakes home Certificate of attendance, Disposable apron & chef’s hat Personalised sash for the host, All tools, equipment & materials provided, Unlimited fruit squash and a10% discount on a birthday cake. Also available – Wedding, birthday & celebration cakes, Hen parties, classes & gift vouchers. For more information, or to book a party call 07745239853 or nadinescakes2012@gmail.com www.nadinescakesandcelebrations.co.uk

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Services at St Cuthbert’s

Thetford Methodist Church

Sunday 4th December 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am All Age Worship No 6.30pm service as choir at Croxton Carol Service

Annual Christmas Tree Festival (Now in its 18th year!) Grand Switch On: 6th December at 6pm by Rev Steve Oliver and Mrs Jill Oliver. Festival continues from 7th December to 11th, from 10am to 5pm each day. Donations to be shared by East Anglia Children’s Hospices Nook Appeal and Church Funds.

Sunday 11th December 10.30am Holy Communion. Friday 16th December 7pm, the Mayor’s Candlelit Carol Service Sunday 18th December 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am All Age Worship, 7pm Carols by Candlelight

Events include Schools’ Carol Celebration on December 9th at 1.45pm Festival Quiz Night also December 9th at 7.30pm Contact 01842 753298 for further details.

Saturday 24th December 11.30pm Christmas Holy Communion Sunday 25th December 10.30am Special Christmas Service

Festival Christmas lunch served from 12 noon on December 10th at £6 per 2-course hot meal (booking essential).

Sunday 1st January 2017 10.30am All Age Worship. There will be no Evensong.

Carols by Candlelight at 4pm on December 11th, led by Church choir and Rev Ken Nicholls.

Weekday services are as normal: Morning Prayer at 9.30am on Tues, Thurs and Fridays. On Wednesdays there is a service of Holy Communion at 10.30am.

Carol singing in aid of Action for Children Thursday December 15th outside Boots, King Street Everyone welcome.

Thetford Trefoil Guild

United Reformed Church

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Come and join us this Christmas at the United Reformed Church Earls Street, Thetford

Saturday 10th December, 9.30am St Cuthbert’s Church Hall £1 a go and every time a magnificent prize

Wednesday 7th December – 6:30pm “Light up a life” carol service with St Nicholas Hospice

Tea / Coffees and biscuits - 50p Come along and help us support Thetford guiding and local charities

Sunday 11th December – Morning Worship 10:30am Joint service with Cloverfield Community Church Wednesday 14th December – 6:30pm Carols by Candlelight

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Sunday 25th December – Christmas Morning Worship 10:30am

Carols by candlelight: Christmas Eve, 6:30pm 24th Dec.

We wish everyone in the Thetford community a Christmas season filled with peace and joy.

Church of the Nazarene, Croxton Road, Thetford.

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Fashion Show Funds for Meet Up Many of you will have come across Thetford Tesco Community Champion, Sarah Douthwaite in recent months. Sarah has been extremely busy supporting many events and activities around the town and is often featured in this magazine. One of her latest events benefitted a well known community project, the Meet Up Cafe, run by the Benjamin Foundation. This vital project currently needs help raising money for roof repairs, which is where Sarah & her team stepped in. Using the Christmas Tesco F&F range, Sarah organised a community fashion show held at the Meet Up Cafe on November 13th. Ably assisted by Tracy Thomas and Clothing Managers, Sabrina Hockins & Cheryl Maciel; the ladies roped in volunteer models of all ages, shapes and sizes. Appearing on the catwalk were Tesco staff and their children along with colleagues from the Meet Up Cafe. A terrific performance by Thetford singing duo, The Ruby Sisters during the interval entertained the audience. Sarah can usually be seen helping at events, rather than fully organising them, but this time she called several local businesses to help her instead, West Brothers produced the event flyers and posters, along with raffle prizes donated by Timpsons, Costa Coffee,

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Style Lounge and Lloyds Chemists. At the end of a successful evening, £500.00 had been raised towards the roofing costs. Speaking about the event Sarah said “All theEditorial:TEMPLATE great teamwork made the event a success MCP 12/09/2013 08:13and Page 1 a great night was had by all.”

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RSPB Guided Walk Birds And Wildlife Of The Forest RSPB guided walks are back by popular demand! Join our friendly, expert guide on this fantastic opportunity to discover more about the birds and wildlife at Brandon Country Park. All are welcome – from experienced to beginners, including families with budding young naturalists! Wear stout footwear, wrap up for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a great opportunity to learn about birds and other wildlife. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner – we can start with the basics! We’ll be looking out for winter finches and thrushes and birds of prey along with forest specialities such as firecrests. Guided walks are a delightful, informal way of getting out and engaging with nature, sharing wildlife stories and just having a chat so if you’re single, a couple, or a family, we look forward to seeing you there to help us add to our tally of birds and other wildlife around the park. Meet in the car park at Brandon Country Park at 10:30am on Saturday 17th December. Suggested donation: £5 per person (payable on the day). Booking essential: email thebrecks@ rspb.org.uk or call 01842 753732 for more details This event forms part of the RSPB’s work as a partner in the ‘Wings over the Brecks project’, part of the Breaking

New Ground Landscape Partnership scheme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Breaking New Ground aims to tell the story of the Brecks and reconnect communities to the landscape. We’re also planning to organise a guided walk at the RSPB’s Lakenheath Fen reserve near Brandon on New Year’s Day so keep your eyes on the RSPB Norfolk and RSPB Suffolk Facebook pages and Twitter (@RSPBintheEast) for details of this. Alternatively, you can contact me by email or telephone. If you’re interested in helping the RSPB to “give nature a home” why not consider membership as a Christmas gift? We’ve introduced a variable membership rate and there are options for families, children and individuals and couples. Members receive regular magazines, a membership pack and a gift tailored to their age. That will give you plenty of time over Christmas to use the gift books to gen up on your garden bird identification in preparation for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of January. You’ll then be adding a valuable contribution to the biggest wildlife survey in the world! I used to say membership was about the same as a couple of pints a month but with the price of beer these days... To discuss the work of the RSPB in the Brecks or becoming a member, please contact me. Murray Brown RSPB Brecks Community Engagement Officer

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December 2016 NEW - Thetford Time Travellers A friendly group for older people at Thetford Library Get together to reminisce and share memories of Thetford’s past over a cup of tea. Learn how to create a memory scrapbook and contribute to a community archive of local stories. Meets fortnightly between 10.30am – 12 noon on Wednesdays- December dates are 7th & 21st. The group is free and is open to everybody, including friends and carers. For further information please contact Rachel Willis on 01603 774781 or rachel.willis@norfolk.gov.uk

Story Time Activities with Sure Start at Thetford Library – on Wednesdays, 10.00am – 10.45am. These fun sessions with Sure Start in the library are free and are held in the library during term time. No need to book, just turn up on the day! For further information please contact Sure Start on 01842 766438 Thetford Audio Book Club with NNAB Are you visually impaired? Come and enjoy audio books with people who understand. Friday December 9th, 10.30 am -12.00 noon. To find out more please call Mark or Elaine: 01603 629558 or email: marksmith@nnab.co.uk

NEW - Children’s Afternoon Storytime Come along to Thetford Library for an afternoon of fun storytelling! Every Thursday during term time, 2.00pm -2.45pm. Suitable for pre-school children. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Thetford Reading Group The December meeting is on Friday 16th December starting at 2.30pm.

Thetford Library Friends Are you interested in becoming part of a new group who: Develop ideas for local activities, Plan and hold fundraising activities, library sales, community events, Promote the library and its services. Ask at the library about joining a new community group to support Thetford Library.

Thetford’s Friday Night Book Club Looking for a good read? Want to discuss books with others? Then join our monthly book group which meets on the last Friday of the month. Meets on December 16th, 5.45pm – 6.45pm.

Zentangle Art Club Meets every Tuesday, 2.00pm – 4.00pm in the library. No drawing experience or skills needed. A mindful way to create your own art.

Coming in January... Volunteer Fayre Thursday 12th January, 10am -12 noon The library has many exciting volunteer roles we want to fill- IT, delivering books to housebound customers, assisting with a new walking group to mention a few. Why not pop in and see what we can offer!

Thetford Library Local History Group A chance to find out about the library’s local history collections. Will meet on the third Friday of each month at Thetford Library, 10.15am – 11.45am. Next meeting: Friday 16th December.

Christmas Opening Hours 24th December 9am – 1pm Xmas Day – CLOSED 26th & 27th December CLOSED 28th Dec 8.30am – 1pm, 29th Dec 8.30am – 5.30pm 30th Dec 8.30am – 7.00pm, 31st Dec 9am – 1pm 1st and 2nd January CLOSED From Tuesday 3rd January normal opening hours will resume.

Baby Bounce & Rhyme Time Songs & Rhymes for babies and toddlers and their parents/carers, 10.30am – 11.00am at Thetford Library Meets every Monday, excluding Bank Holidays No need to book for these fun, free sessions!

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A gift to last all year!

Ancient House Friends Membership In 1924 Prince Frederick Duleep Singh gave the Ancient House Museum to the people of Thetford. This December Ancient House will celebrate its 92nd birthday! Each year we plan an exciting programme of activities for all our visitors. Ancient House is very fortunate to have the support of its Friends organisation. The group brings together like-minded people who are passionate about Thetford’s past and future and is always open for new members. Thousands of people visit the Ancient House each year to admire its rich and diverse collections, some of which have been generously purchased by the Friends for the museum. The Friends have also supported our learning programme, including our clubs for children of all ages. Becoming a Friend at Ancient House comes with a package of benefits, including free admission to Ancient House all year round, free access to the museum’s Tuesday talks programme and discounts on events. Ancient House Friends are entitled to a special 10% discount in all other Norfolk Museums Service museums, shops and cafés. This year the Friends are organising a trip to Sutton Hoo. Annual Friends membership costs £7.50 for adults. There are also children and family memberships. Application forms are available at the museum & Ancient House web site or from Thetford’s Great Information Centre.

Ancient House Winter Opening:

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Office space when you need it Make the right impression when you interview people or meet with your suppliers by hiring one of our rooms Discover our state of the art facilities situated in the centre of Thetford with great transport connections and catering options to suit every taste. Anglia House Business Centre, Bridge Street, Thetford, IP24 3AG Phone 07799 465044 Email Enquiries@angliahousebusinesscentre.co.uk Internet www.angliahousebusinesscentre.co.uk Office space, board rooms, meeting rooms, training rooms and conference rooms available by the half day, day, week or month. Evening and weekend books available. Our 10 rooms can accommodate from 2 to 25 people. Free Wi-Fi available in all rooms. Buffets and other catering options available upon request.

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Freelance or Entrepeneur Ryan Windsor Let me ask a question: How many of you want to set up a business or might have already done so? How many of you know the difference between a freelancer and an entrepreneur? This is highly important to know as it can mean the difference between success and failure. Sure, you might have a skill, but it is the execution and implementation of the correct strategy for that skill that’s actually important to achieving your goal. So, what is the difference? A freelancer gets paid when they work, they may charge a higher rate than an employee but when they sleep they get nothing. An entrepreneur on the other hand uses their money or someone else’s money to build a business that is larger than themselves. This again I’ll stress is an important distinction. The challenge is to know how to act in order to increase your success. There is only so much time you can spend working on a project and only so much you can charge. The market for freelancers that are mediocre is terrible, but exceptional freelancers are in a fantastic position because everyone wants to work for you. Just think of Architects or Marketers - people come to them because they’re the best in the world! Entrepreneurs are able to become entrepreneurs with less and less money due to technology and the internet. This is a massive opportunity if you can remember you are an entrepreneur - you are building a business that is an asset that has value greater than yourself! You hire other talented people that work for a wage that is transactional - they in turn earn for the business more than you pay them and this is how you can reinvest and make significant progress.

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Keeping Your Cat Safe Cats are naturally inquisitive animals and while most will enjoy happy lives free from danger, their curiosity can get them into scrapes from time to time. As a responsible owner, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to do all you can to protect against unfortunate incidents. You also have a legal duty of care to provide for your catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs and ensure they are protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. Cats Protection recommend that you: 1. Have your cat neutered to reduce the risk of fighting and injury, and contracting diseases or becoming lost. 2. Provide a safe and secure home giving them food, water, a litter tray, hiding and rest areas. 3. Provide a healthy diet, and have them vaccinated, regular flea and worm treatment and vet check ups. 4. Ensure your cat is micro chipped . 5. Know what to do in case of emergency. 6. Consider taking out pet insurance to give peace of mind and the financial means to treat your cat should anything unexpected arise. Cats are very susceptible to poisoning and a number of everyday household items can pose a danger to them. These include: Antifreeze - lethal for cats, disinfectants - particularly those that go cloudy when added to water. Also, decorating materials, such as white spirit. Pest control agents such as slug bait, rodent bait, weed killers and insect killers. Dog flea treatment medication. Human medications such as aspirin and paracetamol. Certain foods such as onions, raisins and chocolate. Poisonous plants - all types of Lily, Lily of the Valley, Foxglove and Poinsettia

entertaining for us, they can be distressing for pets. To ensure your cat will be safe and sound, keep them in after dark and provide them with a litter tray, food and water bowls and a place to hide. Avoid leaving your cat unattended with the Christmas tree to prevent hanging accidents on the lights. Noisy party bangers, Christmas crackers and general commotion can also be disturbing for your cat, especially if he / she is used to a quiet household. Although we have lots of lovely cats and kittens in our care at the moment who are looking for homes, we do not allow any cat or kitten to be homed during the Christmas period. It is not a good time to introduce a new cat or kitten to a household that is likely to be noisy, with lots of guests arriving and leaving. Therefore we keep all our cats and kittens in our care between 19th December until 2nd January. They can be reserved beforehand, but we do not allow cats or kittens to be given as Christmas gifts.

Screen upstairs windows and balconies to prevent your cat from falling. Keep the doors of washing machines and tumble driers firmly shut, and keep the toilet lid down to prevent the cat from drinking the water or drowning. Whilst firework displays and parties are

For help or advice or if you need assistance with the cost of neutering, please call us on 01842 810018. See our website for cats and kittens available: cats.org.uk/breckland and our Facebook page. Rita Thompson

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Thetford Garden and Allotment Club Gardening Notes for December You might think that everything would be shrivelling away with the cold weather and short days but your garden can still have brightness and life. Some heathers bloom now and the foliage varies from plant to plant; you could treat yourself to two or three to go in a tub for immediate impact and, if you have chosen lime-tolerant varieties, they will thrive when planted out even in the poorest soil. The bulbs from previous years and early planting will soon be showing through the soil and can survive frost and snow. If you have bulbs sitting in the shed, get them planted as soon as possible. Late planting means slightly later flowering and shorter stems but it is such a shame to throw them away. If you have ivy or evergreens you will be able to bring in some greenery from the garden to add to the Christmas display – even make a Christmas wreath for the door if you have the skills! More practically the pruning of acers and vines needs to be done before Christmas to avoid the risk of them bleeding sap. Open growing apples and pears should also be pruned now. Sometimes plants have just grown too big for their location and if you take them out now you will have a space to do something different in the spring. Fashions change in garden design and it can be very satisfying to change the look of part of a garden – a great excuse to buy some new plants (especially if you get garden tokens for Christmas – though the best value present has to be annual membership of the club at only £6.50). You will need to keep clearing leaves from your lawn to keep it healthy – where do they all come from? The odd hour spent spiking the area to help aeration will reward you in the spring too. Hopefully there will not be a need to cut the grass now so this is a good time to send the mower off for servicing; shears might benefit from sharpening too. If there is a forecast of prolonged icy weather it is worth lifting leeks and parsnips and heeling them in where they can be retrieved. Make sure brassica plants are netted to keep hungry pigeons away too. If you plan to start an asparagus bed you need to

order crowns to plant in the spring. You can work on preparing the area, remembering that they make tall bushy plants and need a good amount of space. Another job for the winter is repairing paths, evening the lie of paving slabs or adding gravel. There is a tradition of sowing onion seeds on Christmas Day but this is for the most enthusiastic gardener. The little plants would need greenhouse protection and regular repotting and supporting before going out into the garden. This is to produce the huge onions which make such a good display in September shows. You could probably leave it till Boxing Day (or perhaps grow from sets in March like us lazier types). No club activities this December but mark the usual date in your diary for January (27th) as the plan is to share a meal and social event then at the United Reformed Church. The booklet for 2017 will also be available and memberships can be renewed. Happy Christmas everyone! Sue Pilgrim

Wildlife Watch Group

Redgrave & Lopham Fen, Saturday 10th December, & 14th January 10.30am-12.30pm A club for 6-12 year olds, £2 Contact: marcus.halmshaw@btinternet.com

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Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership

Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service. Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long

standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Thetford, Brandon, Mundford,

Croxton, Barnham & surrounding areas and manager Tim Law agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Tim a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

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Thetford #thisgirlcan Campaign

Cushion Manufacturing Supplies Ltd

From January, in partnership with our friends at Leaping Hare & Thetford Garden Centre, we will be celebrating our vibrant community. Every quarter, the magazine will launch a new campaign which will be featured on the community board at Thetford Garden Centre and co-ordinated by Leaping Hare. Our campaign kicks off with #thisgirlcan, followed by Local Environment Heroes, Celebrating Our Twinning & Community Heroes.

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Ashley Wilde sample books available This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sport England and a wide range of partnership organisations. It’s a celebration of active women up and down the country who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets. Thetford Boxer Roni Dean (pictured) will be launching the campaign in January and we are looking for other young women who are making their mark in their chosen sport. However, we know about other young women successfully taking on traditionally male dominated roles and would love to tell their story. If this sounds like you or someone you know please in touch and tell us your story; karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

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Thetford Dolphins Thetford Dolphins travelled to Wisbech for the Junior Fenland League ‘A’ Final and produced a commendable performance. Although coming 5th place on the night The Dolphins accumulated enough points to finish 4th place overall out of 15 teams. Five 1st places were achieved by Archie King 50m fly & 50m breast (Pb) Francesca Long 50m fly, Jack Pinkney 50m breast (Pb) and Amalee Neill-Gourlay 50m back (Pb). Personal bests for Benjamin Flood, Katharine Mold, Charis Neill Gourlay, Ella Darton, Louis James, Ben Buckley, Kacie Cooper, Harry Fasey, Mariesha Blackwell-Florentin, Tommy Morais de Sousa and Tobiasz Szczerbicki. A fantastic achievement in a very tough league.

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Kuk Sool Won Christmas is coming and I intend on getting fat! Like many others I have worked extremely hard this year. I work full time as a Police Officer, and I have continued to push my students and martial arts school to great successes. Add to this raising a family and the end result is a tired man ready to put his feet up for a short while, eat some lovely food and drink some lovely drink. We all deserve that I’m sure. I feel no guilt in doing so either as I will kickstart 2017 with my famous ‘Turkey Buster’ sessions that run every Tuesday through January. I will push myself, and those who attend, to improve week on week in a series of exercises that anyone can take part in and benefit from. Everyone works at their own level so there’s no need to feel like you have to “keep up” and you will record your own results to set goals for the following week. It’s an awesome way to get your New Year off on the right foot. Add to this that they are FREE to new customers, then you can enjoy a guilt free Christmas just like I will. For more details please feel free to email me: kjn.kfrench@kuksoolwon.com

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Our Student of the Month this time around, Isabel Nicolaou, was rewarded for her excellent attendance, etiquette and skill at our Halloween party on 1st November (hence the curious outfits and make up pictured). Izzy trains with her father Chris and brother Sam diligently, highlighting how families that train together stick together. They are a fine example of our family orientated spirit. Keep up the good work Izzy. Kris French, 5th Dahn Master Instructor

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