FEBRUARY 2017 About Thetford magazine by About Thetford magazine

Circulation 12,000 copies

Issue 135 February 2017

Your Local Independent Community Magazine

Thetford Players Wow Audiences With Snow White Our sole focus?

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27th May Barn Dance

3rd June Thetford's Mini Gin Festival

24th June Ascot Comes to Thetford

29th July Gatsby Disco

16th er p Se tembty r a 80's P Night

28th October Halloween Thriller Night

About Thetford Welcome to February’s re into February and the It doesn’t seem possible that we’ a distant memory! In now Christmas hustle and bustle is are now firmly on Pages 4 & 5 - Out And About Thetford ghts thou our e the About Thetford offic but until then of course Pages 6 & 7 - Leaping Hare March and the advent of Spring, and Shrove Tuesday. We Page 8 - Community Corner February brings Valentine’s Day for those booking on the Page 9 - Thetford Players Panto Review 37) e have an extra treat (on pag weekend at the Mulberry. Celebration of Venetian Cuisine Page 13 - Hearing Loss Advice Column ke’s Coo ia Mar of ther ano use Page 15 - Thetford Past & Present We are delighted to er showing the Thetford Page 17 - West Suffolk College fantastic photos on our front cov White and the Seven Players production of Snow Players have put on a Pages 18 & 19 - Health & Beauty d tfor Dwarves. Yet again the The munity to enjoy and the Page 21 - Thetford Probus truly great Panto for our com congratulated. Pages 22 - Thetford Acoustic Night entire cast and crew should be Pages 24 & 25 - Pop Up Enterprises out ing find n enjoying As ever the AT team have bee our in on g Page 27- BTO National Nest Box Week goin nts eve about the various activities and ! Page 29 - Garden & Allotment Club ntly rece TV tard Mus e mad n local community, we’ve eve like us to cover please Page 30 - Friends of Thetford Forest If you have something you’d advertise with us all the get in touch. If you’d like to Page 33 - Thetford Library d on our website under foun information you need can be of Page 41- Lovewell Blake Tax Clinic ge ima t also see a grea the Advertising tab; you can e. pag e hom Page 45 - Swimathon 2017 y on our Nunnery Lakes by Vince Gregor Best wishes, Karen Page 46 - Local Sports News

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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Out & About Thetford The Light Cinema welcomes winners

Congratulations to Chris Minko of Thetford, winner of our cinema competition last month. Generously, Chris donated his prize to his daughter and three grandchildren. Karen caught up with them just after Christmas when The Light Cinema manager Simon Pinches presented the Clarke family with their prize. The Light gave the family their tickets and announced they were also adding a food and drink package to the prize. Speaking about the competition Simon said “Congratulations to our winners, very well done. We want to make it a proper cinematic experience, hopefully like no other for you.” Delighted mum Nikki told Karen, “It’s lovely having a night out as a family, we don’t get that very often. I work evenings and my husband works days so it’s a real special treat for the kids to have some special quality time as a family.” The family enjoyed watching family movie Moana and reported back that they had a lovely time and are looking forward to returning with their Grandad soon.

Battle Stations Activities Centre launches The Force Academy Unique to East Anglia and just

outside Thetford, The Force Academy has opened its doors to budding saber warriors aged 8 years and above. Open 7 days a week, The Force Academy hosts 4 sessions for up to 10 people per day. Guided by Battle Master Gin, Karen and Ricky were taught how to hold their sabers correctly and a range of fight techniques before finally attempting a duel with Darth Vader himself! Speaking about the experience Lee Belcher said, “This is Above: Directors Lee and Darren the only place in the region where you can duel with genuine sabers from America. They have interactive sounds, flashes and are nothing like the replicas you can come across. There are no other companies who have a bespoke battle area for saber duelling. It has surround sound, smoke machines, lasers and barriers, creating an indoor arena that looks like the inside of a spaceship.” Mustard TV were also on site filming, their finished edit included an enthusiastic looking Karen who managed to get her villainous opponent to surrender! Karen and Ricky then moved onto an outdoor tour of the site with Darren Marsh who explained the type of activities run at the centre. “We hold great Zombie events where you can feed and walk your Zombie, before it all goes horribly wrong and you find yourself in a battle! It’s great fun to see the teams in action. We also run very successful team building exercises which are great for businesses.” Karen and Ricky rounded off their experience by taking part in a Battle Laser session against an opposing team that included local businessmen Simon Long and Paul Warren. Team AT are delighted to report a 2 - 0 triumph! For more information go to www.TheForceAcademy.co.uk Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

EPIC Meet ‘n’ Eat keeps on growing

Since the first dinner was dished up just before Christmas, Meet ‘n’ Eat, based at Pine Close Community Centre has seen the numbers of people using it increase week on week. Every Thursday evening around 50 people eat a main course and dessert together. Organised by local group EPIC, the majority of the food is provided by Tesco as part of their Fare Share scheme. Diners are asked to either donate their time and help, some food, or pay what they can afford and the project is open to anyone across the community in Thetford. The donated money is used to supplement what is given by Tesco and for higher cost items, such as meat. Organiser Sharon Thompson said “We’ve had nothing but positive feedback. The Food Bank in Thetford originally suggested to Tesco that we would be able to use up the fresh produce that couldn’t be stored at the Food Bank. We’ve had all sorts of people join us for a dinner and you never know who you are going to sit next to each week!” Sam told Karen, “We try to make as much as we can from scratch, one week I had lots of cherry tomatoes so I made a pasta sauce and hid lots of other vegetables in it. The kids are eating vegetables without realising it!” Sharon continued “A lot of our younger parents are taking more interest in what they are eating since coming here weekly and ask for cooking advice. The children are learning how to eat together, we always set the tables with a tablecloth and have salt and pepper out. The kids have to help by bringing their plates back to the kitchen.” Wednesday evening cooking club often create the desserts; whilst Karen was talking to Sharon one young man popped in and asked what people thought of his apple and cranberry crumble the week before. “Our biggest hurdle when we started was that everyone thought it was either a soup kitchen or only for those on benefits. It isn’t at all, it’s an opportunity to have a meal with members of your local community. Some come because they are on their own and would like a bit of company, and one week we had a whole table of teenagers who wanted to be together.” Stevie-Leigh is a regular helper who told Karen that she came to make friends and now looks forward to joining in each week. Maggie who also enjoys helping said, “I come every week, for my roast dinner.” She laughed and then added with a twinkle in her eye, “I always think I’ll have something different but then I always have a roast!”

Thetford Young Enterprise Challenge announces winners Karen was delighted to

be invited to an Anti Bullying Artwork exhibition featuring work created by young people from across Thetford. Tom Gaskin, founder and CEO of Pop Up Enterprises CIC showed Karen the array of interesting designs and explained the stories behind some of the entries. “Many of our entrants drew on their own personal experiences of being bullied.” Although the exhibition was a happy event and supported by many agencies who help young people such as The Princes Trust and Nova Training, a very poignant moment occurred when young people read out the poems they had written about the effect that being bullied had on their lives. It brought home a very sobering message that supporting young people to have a voice and make a stand is something we should all be doing. It was great to see the range of community groups and support available to help young people find their way in the world. Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

#thisgirlcan - Sophia John Sophia John lives in Thetford, attended Thetford Academy, is a Police Cadet and is very passionate about her rugby! She played for Diss Vixens until 18, then moved to Bury Foxes for women's rugby. She has been selected and played for Eastern Counties U18s team and has been selected for England divisional trials. She is now playing for the Eastern Counties women’s team and we wanted to know more. How did you get involved in rugby? My best friend's father took me to a training session one Sunday morning. How old were you when you started to play rugby? I was 5 years old. Were you ever told that rugby wasn't for girls & if so, by whom? How did you react? Yes I have, by a member of public when I was discussing my rugby game with my dad. I just told him that anyone can play rugby including Sophia John, pictured third from left with Diss Vixens us ladies. As a female rugby player, what has the sport offered you? This sport has offered me a lot of experience, skills and qualities! Such as teamwork, tackling. I'm always learning new things and progressing every game and training session. I'm getter stronger and fitter. It's the best feeling ever! Have you ever faced any prejudice for being a female rugby player? Yes, I've been told it isn't normal, that I shouldn't play rugby and it's for men not women. But every time I'm told these comments I just ignore them because I know that us ladies can be equally as good or even better than them! Did you have any female rugby role models when you started? The experienced players were my role models. Do you feel like you have a responsibility to girls starting out in rugby to act as a role model towards them? Yes I do, because if I don't take on that responsibility they might not want to keep coming to training, which means less numbers, less games. What's the best thing about being a female rugby player? The best thing about being a female rugby player is proving to the male spectators and to everyone who doubts you that you can play rugby! That you can achieve your goals and that rugby is your sport, your passion and that you belong on that rugby pitch! Do you think the media has made it easier for girls to take up rugby as a sport, or does it reinforce gender stereotypes, making it much more difficult? I don't think the media promote female rugby enough! England’s women's team won the World Cup and it was on the news for about 2 mins. When the men win they are on the news constantly. However, I do think it is getting better and we are seeing a bit more promotion. So no it isn't easy for females to try and play rugby. How do you see the future of women’s rugby? I see a bright future for women's rugby! Have you won any selections, awards, cups etc?

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.

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Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and what better way to treat your loved one than to take them to see a show? We have tickets to all the top shows to make it easy for you. We also have a great range of gifts handmade by talented local artisans. Unique jewellery from Etheldreda, vintage felt hearts from Hullabaloo and now, NEW for this year lovingly made bath bombs from Stepping Stones Emporium. Whatever you’re looking for this month, make sure you Buy Local.

Fri 3 Feb Live Acoustic Night Sat 4 Feb Ladies Night Out Tues 7 Feb Evening with Lorne Green Sat 11 Feb Thetford Kids Events Sat 11 Feb Crafts & Stalls Fair Sat 11 Feb Notown Without Motown Wed 15 Feb Breckland Youth Conference Wed 15 Feb GTDP Community Meeting Sat 18 Feb Circus Fantasia UK Sun 19 Feb Suffolk County Billiards Wed 22 Feb Thetford Job Fair Thurs 23 Feb Introduction to Gems Talk Fri 24 Feb Battle of the Bands Fri 24 Feb WAW Wrestling Sat 25 Feb BSSF National Championships Sat 25 Feb Murder Mystery Fri 3 March Ghost Walk Fri 3 - Sat 4 March Venetian Cuisine Mulberry Sat 4 March Men’s Breakfast Sun 5 March Table Top Sale Sat 11 March Mayor's Ball Mon 31 March Charles Burrell Reunion Party Sat 22 Apr 1960 & 1970's Night Sat 22 - Sun 23 April East Anglian Game & Country Fair

It’s also half term this month (13th - 17th February). Thetford’s new Light cinema is very popular with families and they have great weekend and holiday deals.

Our Thetford Ghost Walks have had another incredible season, so much so that we have been taking private tour bookings to meet demand. People are also loving the snippets of local history we like to include. We are now working on our 2017 Thetford's Great Heritage tours and new for this year will be weekday evenings - dates will be announced and tickets on sale very soon. If you are enjoying events in Thetford this half term please be aware that Norfolk County Council will be resurfacing King Street and Bridge Street on Sunday 12th Feb (07:30 17:00) and Monday 13th Feb - Wednesday 15th Feb (09:00 - 16:00).

Check out Thetford’s Great Events calendar on line www.leapinghare.org and buy tickets too. The above list gives a flavour of some of the events coming up.

Greater Thetford Development Partnership Community Sub-Group

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Resident group meetings taking place in February

The Greater Thetford Development Partnership (GTDP) has been set up by Breckland Council as an advisory body to oversee the forthcoming development in Thetford, including 5,000 new homes. The Sub-Group's aims are to ensure that the forthcoming development is carried out in a sympathetic manner, and in the best possible way for the current and future residents, businesses, and visitors; and also to ensure full transparency and community engagement as the plans are developed and implemented. The next meeting is 7-9pm on Wednesday 15th February at the Charles Burrell Centre. For further information or to suggest a topic for discussion, pleaser email Robert Whittaker (Sub-Group Chair) on: rjw-gtdp@mathmos.net

Abbey Tenants and Residents’ Association Meeting on Monday 13th February 2017, 6pm at the Abbey Neighbourhood Centre. Contact 07768974026 for more information. Barnham Action Group Next meeting will be Monday 20th February 2017. 6pm - 6.30pm for surgery time with Councillors and agencies. 6.30pm main meeting. At Fulmerston Church on Fulmerston Road. Croxton Road Community Association Next meeting will be taking place on Monday 6th February at the Church of the Nazarene Hall at 7.30pm. Refreshments available. Contact Ian Dixon, Chairman - 01842 765890

Community Sub-Group Meeting Dates

Norwich Road Residents’ Association Next meeting: Thursday 23rd February 2017 at 8pm Church On The Way, Churchill Road.

Wednesday 15th February, Wednesday 15th March, Wednesday 19th April, All meetings will be held between 7pm and 9pm and take place in the Hotdesk Room at the Charles Burrell Centre, except for 15th March, where I’m still waiting on confirmation, but it will probably be in the same place.

Redcastle Action Group Next meeting will be on Monday 27th February 7pm at Redcastle Senior Citizens Club.

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Players Triumph Again With Panto Success Despite tempting fate by holding opening night on the 13th – Thetford Players returned to the Carnegie Room with yet another triumphant Panto. Very aptly, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs was the seventh consecutive Panto performed by Thetford’s finest dramatic society. Thetford Players continue to give professional Pantomimes a run for their money. Despite the group all being amateurs, the professionalism from the costumes, hair, make-up and sets never fails to impress and it’s clear that many hours of dedicated rehearsals are put in every year. Director Jo Cooper had big shoes to fill after the success of the previous Director Caroline Foot and the loss of the original Director, but in Players true tradition the show did go on and what a show it was! Old favourites such as Phil Pearson, Stuart Wight, Jade Balmer, Charlotte Jeffries and Emma Kelly appeared with several new faces including members of the Oliver cast. Using the younger members as the Dwarves led by Jack Jenkins was inspired casting and certainly brought an ‘Ahh’ factor to the show when the youngest cast member Rosie appeared. Two new leads were undoubtedly the stars of the show, Lynne Jeffries as the wicked stepmother, Queen Caligula and Luke Jeffries as the Dame, Dolly Dumpling. From his fantastic stage entrance to his clever adlibbing, Luke delighted the audience, inciting roaring laughter with his flamboyant costumes and audience participation. Speaking about his role Luke said, “They were looking for a Dame, I was asked if I’d like to audition and here I am! It’s really exciting and it’s a big role to fulfil. I couldn’t wait to dress up, it’s been great fun.”

Top Photo: Left - Harry Smith as Danny Dumpling and Luke Jeffries as Dolly Dumpling Bottom Photo: Lynne Jeffries as Queen Caligula with the Seven Dwarfs be congratulated on a job well done, firmly establishing Thetford Players Panto as a great way to start the year and an event not to be missed. Summing up the experience Lynne said “It’s been surprisingly nice to do something other than work. It’s been great to be with a great bunch of people. Thetford Players make you feel part of a family.” For information on joining the Players email: thetford.players@hotmail.com

With so many great performances it’s impossible to name check everyone. The entire cast and crew should

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On Wednesday 15th February we are holding our second Portraiture Workshop, why not come along to this evening, there is always someone on hand to help in setting your camera and advise you on which angles are better for that ‘perfect’ shot. We have organised for Wednesday 15th March the first of two Tutorials on Macro Photography. This first session will be held at Saham Studios in Saham Toney while the second one, to be held on Wednesday 12th April, will be back in our rooms at Brandon. This is a golden opportunity for you to learn more about Macro Photography and techniques.

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Thetford Society Seeing in the New Year at the Christmas function On Saturday 7th January, many members attended the Carnegie Rooms for the Society’s festive gathering where they were entertained by “The Singing Waiters” and “Lost Highways”, which gave attendees the opportunity to dance off a few calories from the fabulous buffet. January’s Guest Speaker 2017 was kicked off with a humorous and informative talk from Basil Abbot, the manager of the multi award-winning Diss Museum (situated at the end of the street in which he was born). The talk focused on some of Diss’s famous sons and daughters: John Skelton (1463 – 1529) – poet laureate and royal tutor to the future King Henry VIII. In 1510, he became the Rector in Diss; renowned for being both a prolific poet and serial womaniser. Thomas Paine worked in Diss 1765-66 as a stay maker (corsets). It later transpired that Benjamin Franklyn’s Great Grandmother had lived close to Diss, so they had a common talking point when they met! Thomas Manning crossed the Himalayas and met the Dalai Lama in 1811, the first European to do so. The men of his family were Rectors of Diss for 138 years (1770-1960). Thomas’ great-great nephew, Robert met the present Dali Lama at Westminster Abbey in 2012. Ethel Le Neve moved to London from Diss in 1900 to work as a typist in a surgery and became mistress to a Dr Crippen in 1905. After his wife’s disappearance, Cripen fled with Ethel by ship to Canada. Meanwhile, the Police discovered a body in his cellar. Mr and Master Robinson (Ethel’s tomboy youth and small stature helped her disguise), aroused suspicion by being too

Picture: Diss Museum on Market Hill

affectionate. Crippen was convicted of murder when land police were summoned by telegram; the first crime solved in this way. Other notable personalities include the footballers, Trevor Wymark and Mathew Upson. Seretse Khama the inaugural President of Botswana, and his English wife Lady Ruth who was a frequent visitor to Diss in the 60s. The musician Rick Wakeman still lives close by. Next Society Event: 7.30pm on Tuesday 7th February 2017 at the United Reform Churched on Earls Street, Lorne Green will enlighten us on the job of Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Future events include a Battlefield tour in May and a trip to a matinee performance of the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in late November. Bookings and a small deposit at the next meeting will secure places for these much sought after outings. The Thetford Society welcomes all new members; come to a meeting, listen to one of our wide variety of guest speakers and see if you would like to join.

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Hearing Loss – Helping A Loved One By Simon Myhill, Thetford Audiologist for The Hearing Care Centre (pictured) If you are reading this column it is because you suspect that someone you care about might have a hearing loss. And you want to help. Hearing is an easy thing to take for granted. Initially, you may have a giggle at their misunderstanding of words or the bizarre interpretations they come up with, but after a while the daily miscommunication will lead to concern and frustration of having to repeat yourself. Age-related hearing loss generally occurs gradually. As a result, it is often family and friends who are the first to notice the problem. Left untreated, hearing loss can affect relationships between the person affected and their family and friends, quietly eroding their quality of life. That is why it is important to motivate your loved one to get their hearing tested and to take the necessary action, and to learn how you can help with any communication diffculties. At our centres we often have children contacting us who are concerned about their parents or, as they’ve been trying to call them on the telephone all day and they don’t answer, or others who have broken into their parents’ house after repeatedly knocking on the door, only to find them blissfully unaware in the back garden! Tips to convince loved ones to have their hearing checked

Simon Myhill runs his Thetford clinic from Thetford Healthy Living Centre. The multi-award winning, family-run company has 22 other centres across Suffolk and Norfolk. For more information call 0800 096 2637 or visit: www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk Deadline for articles and adverts to be included in the March 2017 edition will be the 15th February. E-mail: karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

• Talk to them about the benefits of seeking help and the things they are missing out on, such as social occasions or physical activities. • Reassure them that modern devices are small, discreet and the technology is simple and automatic. • Discuss the dangers of undiagnosed hearing loss for instance, not being able to hear properly while driving, or the simple fact that leaving it untreated will only make it worsen quicker.

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Exercise Is Key To Wellbeing Thetford University of the Third Age has plenty to offer when it comes to exercising! From gentle to demanding, there are ten activities to choose from catering for different tastes and abilities: dog walking, walking under 5 miles, walking under 10 miles, indoor bowling, cycling, orienteering, short tennis, tennis, badminton and table tennis. You will be amazed at how good you feel: 'I am energized at the end of a session', 'I have lost weight', 'I feel stronger, more productive and in a better mood', 'I love the social side, having a talk and a laugh with others' are some of the comments from members.

Picture: Members of Thetford University of the Third Age Short Tennis Group 08:13 Page 1 MCP Editorial:TEMPLATE 12/09/2013 The Group meets weekly at Breckland Leisure Centre.

If you practice another sport, why not start your own group? Learning from each other is what the U3A is all about! Our two group coordinators will give you all the help you need. For more information about over 40 activities on offer at Thetford U3A, visit our website: www.thetfordu3a.org Or, come to our next talk at the Carnegie Room on Thursday 23rd February 1.45pm where the mystery of the Red Barn Murder will be told. Free to members, £2 for non-members. Our AGM takes place in April and in May Roger Mead talks to us about the history of Photography. We look forward to seeing you!

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Past & Present

St Mary’s Road ceased to exist after the Bury Road was re-routed through part of St Mary’s Churchyard to the new ‘Inner Relief Road’ in 1968. Part of the Bury Road was then renamed Old Bury Road.

Photographs from the David Osborne Collection. Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

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Take Your First Step to Something New and Different A new world of learning awaits you at West Suffolk College Thetford with many new and exciting Leisure and Community courses. Whether you want to gain new skills, enhance your career, take up a new pastime or just make new friends, we believe that we can inspire you to try something different. West Suffolk College is in your community ready to offer you excellence in teaching and learning, whether it is for fun, business or career enhancement.

Interested in one of our courses? There are several ways you can enrol: Go online at www.westsuffolk.ac.uk select ‘Adults’ on the homepage, choose subject area to view available courses, click on chosen course where you can enrol or request further information.

Why not take a look, there is a wide variety of Adult, Community and Leisure Learning courses at our Charles Burrell Centre?

Call our helpful staff locally on 01842 760150, they will be happy to advise you and you can enrol on the telephone or call in person at WSC Thetford based at the Charles Burrell Centre in Staniforth Road. Or look at our pages on the West Suffolk College website http://bit.ly/2iYffIJ for a detailed list. This could be your first step to something new!

It’s never too late to learn a language or use your creative skills in Dressmaking, Flower Arranging, Photography or even Belly Dancing! If you want to gain a qualification you can study one of our learning courses like Maths, English, AAT (accounting), an Education and Training Award, ESOL, Emergency First Aid or Access to Nursing. Courses like these can be the first step to a whole new future. If you want to enhance your career prospects, we also offer courses to improve your employability skills. Our community courses in Thetford include: Computing for Beginners, a Counselling Taster and Introduction to Counselling. If you want a fun leisure course we have: Art, Sewing, French, Spanish, Technology and Beauty courses to name a few. Some of our sessions are in the daytime, others are in the evening or on a Saturday. As a leading provider of adult learning you can be assured our courses are of high quality and meet the needs of the community.

ferent Try something dif for new year…

Here’s some feedback from our students “Without WSC Thetford, I would not now be achieving my dreams of becoming a nurse following the birth of my young children” (Access to Nursing Student)

Adult, Community and Leisure Learning available at your West Suffolk College in your community.

“I won WSC Thetford Outstanding Student of the Year Award, attended a ceremony at Bury Cathedral, which has had such a positive impact on me, especially at work” (AAT Student)

Talk to one of our advisors and discover where your journey may take you next.

“I am thoroughly enjoying learning French, as the tutor is amazing and I’ve made some lifelong friends in the process” (French for Beginners Student).

T: 01842 760150 E: thetford@wsc.ac.uk

www.westsuffolk.ac.uk

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Made to Measure Advert_Layout 1 11/06/2016 08:13

Clean Brushes = Happy Skin

MADE TO MEASURE

Wow! What a busy January, working backstage with my make-up team on this year’s panto and working on my product developments. I felt this was a fitting subject to discuss. Working on a huge cast for any theatre show or production can take its toll on your make-up brushes. Like many artists know, good brushes, looked after and cared for, will last a lifetime.

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Dirty brushes means you run the risk of developing complaints such as conjunctivitis, acne, irritated skin, e-coli and staphylococcus. How do I avoid this? Simple…. wash your brushes following these simple steps every week or fortnightly depending on how often you use them. REMEMBER to also clean out your make-up bag too! 1. Using a mild detergent such as baby shampoo or an anti-bacterial hand wash and take each brush ensuring you only wet the bristles and not the handle of the brushes as this will corrode the handle. Wet the bristles and rub in a small amount of detergent making nice big bubbles. 2. Next rinse in water or under a running warm water tap to remove the bubbles. 3. Now wring all the water out of the brush, this should run clear if you have washed the brush well. 4. Finally using a book or something to prop up the handle end of the brushes, leave to air dry overnight. Propping them up ensures all the water drains away from the handle and out of the bristle end.

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If none of this takes your fancy there are numerous high street brush cleaners out there to try. But, if you want to save your bank balance, use the above method. Easy, cost effective and good for your skin. Until next month, Caroline x www.steppingstonestrainingacademy.co.uk

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Let’s Face It

Halcyon Days

With Christmas now a distant memory, we should be getting back to normal eating habits having finished all those boxes of chocolates and the rich Christmas cake. The change in weather conditions coupled with central heating can make our skin feel dry, tight and maybe even sensitised.

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It’s a good idea to give your face a bit of TLC with a thorough cleansing routine but also very importantly regular exfoliation. It’s not wise to think more moisturiser will help combat dryness, if anything dry skin needs sloughing off with a conditioning scrub (this is a physical exfoliant) or an enzyme which digests dead skin such as Papain or Bromelain, these come from Papaya and pineapple, (this is a chemical exfoliant). Both are very effective ingredients but there are many more. Some exfoliants can be too strong for home use such as the Glygolic and salicylic acids and should only be carried out in a salon by a professionally qualified therapist.

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Having a salon facial is a great experience. If you have never had one then take the plunge and try it. We are able to assess your skin and check your medical history to make sure we use the very best exfoliant for your skin. Our salon formulas are much stronger giving excellent results. Clients are always amazed at how great they feel after a facial and how wonderful their skin looks. Happy New Year! Lisa Stallings, Halcyon Days 3 Woolhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LA.

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Oyez, Oyez, Oyez at Probus Probus members heralded 2017 with gusto as guest speaker Mike Wabe, wearing his traditional livery of red frock coat and tricorne hat, boomed out the familiar ‘Oyez, Oyez, Oyez’, that always signals any town criers’ proclamation. As Thetford’s Town Crier for the past four years, Mike quickly showed that the power of his voice wasn’t his only asset. His knowledge of town criers and their (often colourful) history, from the times of ancient Greece to the present day, told a fascinating story. Until the mid19th century town criers could still be regarded as the main source of information for a sizeable proportion of the population who could neither read nor write. “They were the newspapers, radio, TV and internet of the day,” he explained. And along with the vocal announcement, town criers put up printed versions on designated posts, one of which (believed to be the only one in the country) can still be seen outside The Bell Inn. Mr Wabe traced the role of the town crier through the centuries, highlighting their importance to William the Conqueror in imposing Norman rule in England because they were able to make proclamations in English rather than French, which few would have understood. Town Criers made countless announcements, but records are virtually non-existent except for the parish of Clare in Suffolk, where a unique record of every cry over a century from 1611 is on record.

He referred to another job that he finds very rewarding – that of being Secretary of Link up, the town’s audio newspaper for the blind, adding, “We are always looking for volunteers so please get touch with me by phone on 01842 755131 or email”. contact@linkupbreckland.org

Present day duties for town criers (there are still 220 in England, many of whom are women) are mostly at times of celebration or to mark special events, but the post continues to be an official one. Mr Wabe said that he is also in great demand for occasions such as weddings and he enjoys town crier competitions which, to his satisfaction, show that he is still very much at the top of his profession.

Are you a member of a local group? If so, send us an email with details of your activities and we may be able to include them in future editions. Deadline for inclusion in the March 2017 edition is the15th February 2017. Send all content through to: E-mail: karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk Website: www.aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

Town Crier Mike Wabe welcomes Probus member Sam Hodgson ringing one of the bells he uses. Sam obviously enjoyed the brief ‘duet’ that brought back memories of bell ringing in Carlisle cathedral; he went on to become a gifted organist.

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THETFORD ACOUSTIC NIGHT 5 FRIDAY 3RD FEBRUARY 2017

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News from Charles Burrell Centre The start of 2017 has proven to be exceptionally busy for the Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford. Many people have been visiting the Centre for the first time to take advantage of the fantastic range of health and fitness activities located there which include Zumba, Pilates, Stemz Fitness, Short Mat Bowls, Rugby Fit, Wrestling, Yoga, Tiger Fitness, Ju-Jitsu, Slimming World, Kettlebells and Adult tap dancing. The Centre is keen to minimise the effect that it has on the surrounding community and wants therefore again to urge all visitors to make full use of the approx 200 car parking spaces on site. The picture on the top right of this page shows the two main car parking sites at Charles Burrell Centre. Location B is the former tennis courts space, which is now solely used for car parking. Location A is the main car park. Both locations are accessed from the road to the right of the Centre. Centre Manager Mark Snowdon said: “Can we remind all visitors to please drive and park considerately when visiting the Centre and accessing services here”. For full details of all activities taking place at the Centre please visit the Facebook page or pop in to see them.

For the most up to date information about ‘What’s On’ at the Charles Burrell Centre please ‘Like’ our Facebook page or ‘Follow Us’ on Twitter. You can also subscribe to our weekly E-Newsletter which is packed full of info about the Centre. Contact Mark for more info: mark@charlesburrellcentre.org.uk

Staniforth School Reunion Anyone who left Staniforth School in 1976 and would be interested in attending the reunion that we have planned for the 10th June 2017 at the Charles Burrell Centre 18:30 to 23:45, please contact us a: theclassof76@outlook.com Or visit our Facebook page:- Staniforth School (Secondary Modern) Thetford 1975/6. Kevin Stone

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Bilge Rencber, Aged 18

Jasmine Dawes, Aged 11

Brooke Sokoe Howard Aged 16

Nicola Pastore, Aged 10

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Local Youngsters Use Experiences Of Bullying To Help Others Nearly 50 young people, aged 10-17 from Thetford, have entered a competition to win the chance to design and sell their own antibullying t-shirt. The youngsters, who are participating in the Thetford Young Enterprise Challenge, submitted ideas for t-shirt designs which could be sold to promote anti-bullying. Four lucky winners will each receive £25 and the chance to work with a Professional Designer to create t-shirts featuring their winning designs. They will also receive support to sell their t-shirts locally and to promote anti-bullying.

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Tom Gaskin, Founder and CEO of Pop Up Enterprises CIC said: “I’ve been blown away by the standard of the entries received and the thought that has been put into the designs. Many of the entrants have drawn on their own personal experiences of bullying and have created inspiring designs that will hopefully give hope to other people affected by bullying and encourage them to seek support”.

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The entries were displayed at a public exhibition on 18th January at the Keystone Innovation Centre, where the four competition winners were announced. Pop Up Enterprises CIC will also be running a series of free enterprise workshops in Thetford throughout February and March, where young people can find out more about running their own business and making a difference within their community. They will also have the opportunity to gain business experience and skills that could help with gaining future employment by assisting the four winners of the Thetford Young Enterprise Challenge to sell their anti-bullying t-shirts.

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Managing a Family Split

Here at Rudlings Wakelam all members of our family department are also members of Resolution which is the association for family lawyers and we are therefore committed to resolving family issues in a constructive way, helping you to focus on what is important in the long term and putting the best interests of your children first.

he breakdown of a marriage or relationship can be a difficult time and emotionally draining.

As solicitors we cannot take away the emotional pain but we can help by providing independent advice. The first thing to do if your marriage or relationship breaks down may be to find out where you stand and most solicitors including Rudlings Wakelam offer a stand-alone meeting at a fixed fee. Such a meeting can be wide ranging, covering your various options such as divorce or a separation agreement also what arrangements you need to make for any minor children and the various ways in which financial matters may be resolved between you.

We will use our experience to guide you through the options available to you. The Resolution (first for family law) website can be very useful to visit. This can be accessed via www.resolution.org.uk

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot take away the emotional pain but we can help by providing independent adviceâ&#x20AC;?.

An initial meeting with a solicitor can be used to discuss the possible costs of the various options available to you and to agree the next step that you need to take which may be as simple as talking to your spouse or partner or self-referring to mediation, which is a referral to an independent, usually legally trained, mediator who will help you move towards an agreement.

Once you have decided what your next step is, we can work with you to move forward for example by sending a letter to your spouse or partner or by drafting a divorce petition. No matter what you decide to do, all steps would be agreed with yourself beforehand.

In order to resolve financial issues the first step is nearly always a process whereby you and your spouse or partner exchange details of your financial means and this can be dealt with through solicitors or mediation and is also the first thing that happens if court proceedings to resolve financial issues need to be started.

At a stressful time such a meeting with a solicitor can be very important so be prepared to take a note or bring a friend or relative with you as two pairs of ears are definitely better than one.

At the initial meeting we can advise on keeping yourself safe both physically and financially during the breakup process. At all times we will listen to you and help to give you the confidence to make the right decisions for you and your family.

For further information please contact Kira Arden on 01284 715665 or email kira.arden@rudlings-wakelam.co.uk

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Managing a Family Split_130117.indd 1

13/01/2017 13:10

Build A Home For Your Love Birds This Valentine’s Day For some, February can feel like a pretty bleak time of the year. The Christmas festivities are long gone, but the days are still cold and short, and it can be hard to believe that spring is just around the corner. To cheer yourself up, look for snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses starting to emerge, and if you listen out, you might notice that several birds are already in full song. This is because February is the time when several species’ thoughts turn to courtship, and this means birds are looking for good sites to build nests and lay their precious eggs. the trend towards earlier springs. All this information is vital for conservation. If you’d like to monitor your nest box, then please visit our website for details of what you need to do: www.bto.org/nbc Viola Ross-Smith (Science Communications Manager, BTO)

To help birds with their quest for a nest, we founded National Nest Box Week (NNBW), in conjunction with bird care specialists Jacobi Jayne, in 1998. Traditional nest sites for birds, such as holes in trees or old buildings, are disappearing fast as gardens are ‘tidied’ and old houses are repaired. This means birds need alternatives, and taking part in NNBW is a great way to help. 2017 marks our twentieth NNBW, which begins each year on Valentine’s Day. Anyone can take part – all you need is space to install a nest box. We have lots of ideas and guides for making nest boxes on our website at www.bto.org/nnbw

Thetford (Breckland) Lionesses At the first meeting of the year plans were discussed for future social and fund raising events.

Once you’ve installed your nest box, why not keep an eye on it and tell us who moves in? Nest monitoring is really important for working out what drives population trends in our birds. In some years, lots of nests fail leading to a population decline. We can only address such declines if we understand their cause. Nest monitoring also reveals other interesting relationships between birds and their environment, like how nesting is getting earlier with climate change. Some species are Sullivan Advert_Layout 1 timing 14/12/2016 08:28 able to be 1-8th more flexible in their nest than others, meaning they are less likely to be adversely affected by

The Lionesses, with support from the generous public, are able to help several charities; arrangements have been made for the presentation of a cheque to Nicky's Way. Other charities to benefit from donations are the Chemo Bus and Blood Bikes. The Lionesses were delighted to have collected over £700 from the sale of their knitted Christmas Novelties. A grateful thanks to our knitters and those who support our charities. The Lionesses meet at 7:30 on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at Kings Court, Earls Page Street. New members are welcome. For details please contact Dorothy on 0845-8334764.

RON SULLIVAN BRICKWORK AND PAVING

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immediately after the flowers have gone over. The bulbs do not respond well to being out of the ground for any length of time which is why you do not see them sold ‘dry’ very often. Plant them as deeply as you dug them up and they should move home without any problem.

Thetford Garden and Allotment Club

This month’s talk is about the ‘Garden Buddies Scheme’ with Michelle Turner from Garden Organic. This scheme aims to spread the pleasures of veg growing more widely – you don’t need an allotment! Our club meetings are friendly social occasions costing £2 at the URC at 7.30pm – this month on Thursday 23rd. All are welcome and there will be a cup of tea or coffee to end the evening. Happy gardening! Sue Pilgrim

Garden Notes for February The coldest of the winter weather is past now and February brings lengthening daylight. The weeds won’t hang about so it’s good to make any preparations needed for the explosion of growth in March. Getting vegetable beds ready for action is a good resolution; forking over the area to make sure it is clear of weeds, adding some fertiliser to boost growth and raking the tilth. Then it will all look wonderful and so inviting! Early vegetables to get under way include onion and shallot sets. These little bulbs get your crop off to a racing start, though you will have to check the lines of sets till the roots get established as birds like to tweak them out of place. Another vegetable in need of early planting is the parsnip. They take a long time to germinate – perhaps a month – so it’s a good idea to sow radish seed in the same shallow trench. The radish germinates rapidly so you can see the line while waiting for the parsnip to make a showing – and you can pull up and eat the radishes before the parsnips need the space. You will need to put some protection over broccoli now as the pigeons love it and there will be little next month for them to feast on. Enjoy the tail end of the parsnips and leeks now; as they are biennial they will start to put up flowering shoots soon and become woody. If ornamental grasses are a feature of your garden, now is the time to trim them back. Deciduous grasses should be cut right back if this was not done in the autumn. It’s pruning season again! If you have winter flowering shrubs, they need to be cut back to keep them in a good shape and to encourage fresh growth for next winter. Evergreen hedges also need a firm hand. They will put out about 6 inches of fresh growth very quickly now so cut them back resolutely, especially if they line a footpath. Getting slapped in the face by overhanging greenery in the rain causes considerable ill feeling!! Farmers are not allowed to trim hedges between 1st March and 31st August because they provide a home to nesting birds, so here is another incentive to get the job done. If you want to move or divide snowdrops, do this

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Volunteering With Friends of Thetford Forest Friends of Thetford Forest (FOTF) volunteers are gearing up for a busy 2017, with a number of different groups working alongside the Forestry Commission in and around Thetford Forest. We are a voluntary organisation set up to help increase understanding, knowledge and enjoyment of Thetford Forest and to encourage the involvement and support of the community in its development. We are always looking to welcome new volunteers to our groups. Our volunteers range from teenagers to grandparents and include wildlife enthusiasts and complete novices, but we all enjoy spending time outdoors in the forest! Our Lynford Arboretum group meets on most Wednesday and Sunday mornings, carrying out day-to-day maintenance, a kind of "gardening on a grand scale", in the tranquil and beautiful surroundings of the arboretum. We also have a conservation group which works to enhance habitats for rare plants and animals, meeting on the third Sunday of each month on sites across the forest.

Picture: Members of Friends of Thetford Forest at a recent Volunteering Session

Upcoming activities include construction of a toad fence, scrub bashing, and maintenance of the site around Mildenhall Warren Lodge. As well as these regular groups volunteers check walking trails to ensure they are safe and hazard free, an ideal role for regular walkers, and 'meet and greet' visitors to High Lodge, welcoming them and answering their questions. We are also involved in projects to investigate and care for archaelogical sites in the forest. For more details about FOTF and all our volunteering activities please check out the web-site: www.fotf.org.uk Or email; info@fotf.org.uk

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Events at Redgrave and Lopham Fen Guided Fen Walk Saturday 4th Feb, 10.30am-1pm, £4 adult, £2 child Meet at the Education Centre, no booking required Marmalade Masterclass Sunday 5th February, 10am-3pm. £25 + £7 on the day for jars & ingredients. Booking essential Find Out About Volunteering Wednesday 8th February, 10am-12noon Find out about education and event volunteering both at the Fen & at Knettishall Heath. Just drop in. No experience necessary.

Family Activity: Bird Box Building Weds 15th Feb, 2pm-4pm. Make a nest box to take home. Plus, trail & crafts. £6 per bird box

Two Colour Woodblock Printmaking Thursday 9th February, 10am-4pm £35, inc materials, booking essential

Young Naturalists Thursday 16th Feb, 10am-2pm. For unaccompanied 11-15 year olds. Wildlife detecting and practical conservation work. £7 each, booking essential Weave A Willow Birdfeeder Saturday 18 February, 10am-1pm £25, inc materials, booking essential Basic Hedgehog Care Saturday 25 February, 10am-3pm £25, booking essential Activity Day for home-educated children Tuesday 28 February, 10.30am-2.30pm £7 per child, booking essential

Wildlife Watch Group Saturday 11th Feb, 10.30am-12.30pm. A club for 6-12 year olds, £2 Contact marcus.halmshaw@btinternet.com or call 01379 688333 Children’s Activity: Weird wildlife

The Flowering Of The Fens Tuesday 28 February, 7.30pm Evening talk with Valley Fens Wildlife Group £2 per person (includes refreshments) All welcome, no need to book For further details and to book, call 01473 890089 or visit www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org

Tuesday Feb,1/8 10am-2pm. For unaccompanied No Job to14th Small Advert_Layout 1 11/01/2017 09:57 6-10 year olds, £7 per child, booking essential

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February 2017 Living Well, Feeling Well - Healthy Libraries Would you like to find out more about services and agencies that can help you? Come to our ‘Market Place’ event to meet a large number of agencies which can make your life simpler, cheaper and healthier. (including armchair yoga taster) Thursday 2 February 10am - 12am.

Baby Bounce & Rhyme Time sessions: Are now weekly and will continue during all school holidays. Songs & Rhymes for babies and toddlers and their parents/carers. 10:30am -11:00am on Mondays; No need to book for these fun, free sessions.

NEW - Just a Cuppa – ‘In Good Company’ Weekly social group every Friday from 3rd February 10:30am - 11:30am. Fancy making new friends, or just to have a good old chat? Have a good old fashioned chatter with a tea and biscuit at this FREE drop in.

Story Time Activities with Sure Start Wednesdays, 10:00am - 10:45am during term time only. Children’s Afternoon Storytime – suitable for preschool children, every Thursday (in term time) 2:00am - 2:45am. Zentangle Meditative Art Club No drawing experience or skills are needed. If you can draw a line, a curve and a dot then you can create Zentangle abstract drawings. A ‘mindful’ way to create your own art. Weekly free group 2:00-4:00.

NEW - Books and Boots - A gentle monthly walking book group where people share what they are reading and talk about an agreed book. Collect February title for discussion in ‘late January’. Meet at the library; Our regular route will be at the BTO Nunnery Lakes Reserve, so about 3 miles. Parts of the walk are not suitable for wheelchairs; stout waterproof footwear may be required. First walk Thursday 23rd February, 10:15 - 11.30.

Thetford Reading Group The February meeting is on Friday 24th, 2:30 - 3:30pm. Thetford Audio Book Club with NNAB Are you visually impaired? Come and enjoy audio books with people who understand. February meeting on Friday 10th 10:30-12. To find out more call mark or Elaine on 01603 629558 or email: marksmith@nnab.co.uk New members are always welcome to join all our reading groups!

Thetford Time Travellers – A Friendly Group For Older People Get together to reminisce over a cuppa about Thetford’s past and learn how to create a memory scrapbook and contribute to our community archive of local stories. Fortnightly meetings on Wednesdays 10:30 - 12:00, February dates 1st and 15th. Free group open to all including friends and carers, contact rachel.willis@norfolk.gov.uk or Rachel on 01603 774781 for more information

Opening Hours at Thetford Library Monday: 8.30am –5.30pm, Tuesday: 8.30am –5.30pm Wednesday: 8.30am – 1pm, Thurs: 8.30am – 5.30pm Friday: 8.30am – 7pm, Saturday: 9am – 1pm

Thetford Library Local History Group A chance to find out about the library’s local history collections. Meets on the 3rd Friday of each month, 10:30am -12. February meeting Friday 17th. New members and group volunteers always welcomed.

Where to find us Thetford Library, Raymond Street, Thetford IP24 2EA. Telephone: 01842 752048 e-mail: thetford.lib@norfolk.gov.uk www.twitter.com/NorfolkLibs

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Men’s Breakfast

Women’s World Day of Prayer (International and Interdenominational)

Date: Saturday 4th March 2017 Time: 08:30am

Friday 3rd March 2017

Venue: Main hall, Bishop's School, IP24 1EB Guest Speaker: Rev (Sqn Ldr) Geoffrey Firth Title: 'Serving those who serve' RSVP: Rod Back 750302 or rodback1@aol.com Suggested Donation: £5

The Day of Prayer Service for 2017 has been written by the Christian women of The Philippines. Although written by women, all are invited. Increasingly men and children are participating. Over 36 hours, 170 countries around the world will have taken part. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland over 6,000 services will be held. In Thetford the service is organised through Thetford Christians Together and will be held on March 3rd at the Salvation Army, starting with refreshments at 10.00am and the service following at 10.30am. We offer a warm invitation to all - men and women. The service will go beyond the tourists’ eye view and give us an insight into the lives of women in the Philippines and the faith that sustains them, despite the challenges presented by natural disasters, inequalities of opportunity and low wages.

The breakfasts are organised by the Thetford Team Ministry (C. of E.) and they are very much open to all; that is churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike. We aim to give everyone a delicious and hearty breakfast with fruit salad and yoghurt followed by omelettes and extra bacon and sausages. Each time we have a guest speaker and the talk is designed to appeal to everyone, whether they have a strong faith or none at all. Our speaker on 4th March is The Reverend, Squadron Leader, Geoffrey Firth from RAF Marham. He’ll be addressing his role as an RAF Padre as he speaks on: “Serving those who serve”

For more information contact Corinne Brindle: corinnebrindle@talktalk.net

Services at St Cuthbert’s Sunday 5th February 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am All Age Worship, 6.30pm Sung Evensong Sunday 12th February 10.30am Holy Communion Sunday 19th February 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Morning Prayer Sunday 26th February 10.30am Holy Communion Wednesday 1st March 7.30pm Ash Wednesday Holy Communion Sunday 5th March 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am All Age Worship, 6.30pm Sung Evensong Weekday services include Holy Communion at 10.30am each Wednesday, except Ash Wednesday when the service will be at 7.30pm. Morning Prayer will be held on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 9am. Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

Thetford 93 Continue Fundraising Efforts Recently the About Thetford office had three very enthusiastic and entertaining visitors (pictured). Mark Dean, Stuart Saleh and Andrew Kerling are part of ‘Thetford 93’, a fundraising and community engagement group of friends. Regular readers will remember that last year we covered the fundraising walk from which the group takes its name. Thetford 93 originally started their charity work by undertaking the Three Peaks Challenge for West Suffolk Hospital. They had such a good time that they decided to continue raising money for My WiSH and looked for another local cause to support. Thetford Town Boxing Club benefitted from the lads’ hard work last year and now they’ve decided to help the Mayor raise money for young people in Thetford. Mark told Karen that the group wanted to bring the community together through their fundraising events “There are no fences keeping us in, why should we set up fences against others?”.

Mayor’s Final Fling An evening of comedy and entertainment Saturday 15th April 2017, Charles Burrell Centre Tickets avalable from Leaping Hare.

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Not known for a quiet approach and despite making Karen laugh most of the afternoon with their walk stories a plan for a comedy and music night was soon hatched. The ‘Mayor’s Final Fling’ is an evening of comedy and music by Thetford talent taking place on Saturday April 15th. Franko Fraize, also a member of Thetford 93 will perform along with sets Alton Walberg and Lou Spencer. They will be joined by Thetford comedians Al Wycherley, Martin Fisher and Abby Stancliffe-Vaughan for a very special evening at the Charles Burrell Centre.

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Mayor of Thetford Councillor Terry Jermy said “I’m so grateful to all of Thetford 93 for helping to support my Mayoral fundraising efforts.” The proceeds from the event will be shared between the Mayor’s Charity Fund and My WiSH Charity. Tickets will be on sale mid February onwards from the Leaping Hare Box Office.

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Thetford Open Gardens 2017 2017 and a new gardening year starts with snowdrops, but what will be blooming in YOUR garden at the end of June? We are starting to plan for this year's Thetford Open Gardens and new gardens anywhere in town add excitement to the day and are always welcome. So if you would like to join in by showcasing your garden and raising money for our local hospice St Nicholas Hospice Care, call us on 01842 762165.

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The Mulberry restaurant is celebrating the best of Venetian Cuisine on March 3rd and 4th with a masked dinner. Mention About Thetford magazine when you book your table and get a free glass of Limoncello on arrival. Contact info below.

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Breckland Cats Protection

• A Pension or Disability Living Allowance, also known as Personal Independence Payment. Income of less than £15,000 a year.

“Hello, my name is Lady and I wonder why no one has called about adopting me? Is it because I am nearly 9 years old? It can’t be because I am not pretty, as I am a beauty!! Still active and in fantastic shape and health, I have been well looked after by Cats Protection fosterers for 11 months now. For 8 years I had the same human but then they had a baby who was allergic to me, so I had to be moved on. I love being in contact with humans, yet I am a lady that likes things on her own terms. If you are interested in adopting me, please call Ann on 01953 681092. I am fully vaccinated, neutered and micro chipped”.

If you feel that you do not fall into any of the above categories but still cannot afford to have your cat neutered, please get in touch with us, as there maybe something we can do to help you. For help, advice or assistance in the cost of neutering, please call us on 01842 810018. Rita Thompson

Thetford Voices ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ in a flamboyant choral arrangement rose into the rafters of a packed St. Peter's Church in December, bringing to a close another successful Carolling Day for Thetford Voices. Fifty 6-14 year olds met on December 22nd to rehearse with our own 'incredible string band (fiddles, guitars, ukes and an accordion). After a morning practicing carols both familiar and new they were off into Thetford, through the good offices of Coach Services and their friendly drivers, to sing for the residents of King’s Court, Alexander Court, Ford Place and Laburnum Grove. Back for a party tea before the concert for friends, family and guests, among them the Mayor and Consort. With contributions from guest ensembles, the carollers sang with a will through a programme of traditional tunes spiced with folk melodies and Spanish rhythms. The thoroughly enjoyable and musical day was supported by a much-appreciated grant from the Pearson Family Fund, and collections raised £230 for Quidenham Children’s Hospice.

We are now well into the New Year. You may be interested to know that our small branch of Cats Protection (covering mainly IP24, IP26, IP27 and IP28, and sometimes other areas too) last year homed 43 adult cats and 78 kittens! We also helped 131 members of the public who needed assistance with the cost of neutering, and we neutered 197 of our own cats and kittens including many feral adult cats who were neutered and returned, thus helping to keep down the cat population. We spend over £8,000 each year on neutering alone in the hope that we will have less cats and kittens needing to come into our care in the coming year. But this is never the case - there always seem to be lots of unneutered cats out there. Once again, I am asking for you to help us; If you have an unneutered male or female cat and you cannot afford to pay the vets for neutering, we are here to help you. The main criterion is that you are on one of the following:

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• Income support, Employment and Support Allowance, family credit, tax credits etc.

DELIVERY TEAM MEMBER REQUIRED To deliver About Thetford Magazine around Barnham Village and the Barnham Camp Estate over a weekend each month. You must be 13 years old +, have good customer service skills and be physically fit. Barnham Village resident preferred. To apply please complete the application form on our website: aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk/join-us/ return to karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk Please do not apply via social media Closing date Weds 8th February 2017 Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements

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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Tax Clinic, by Colin Chamberlain Tax-Free Childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced further details of the new taxfree childcare scheme, which is to be introduced in 2017. Who is eligible? To be eligible, families will have to have all parents in work, with each expecting to earn at least £115 per week but less than £100,000 a year, and not be already receiving support through Tax Credits or Universal Credit. The scheme will be available for children up to the age of 12 (or up to 17 for children with disabilities). The new childcare scheme is open to self-employed parents (as well as employees), who will be able to get support with childcare costs, unlike the current scheme (Employer-Supported Childcare) which is not available to self-employed parents. To support newly self employed parents, the government is introducing a ‘start-up’ period. During this, self-employed parents will not be required to earn the minimum income level. How does the scheme work? You will be able to open an online account, which you can pay into to cover the cost of childcare with a registered provider. HMRC are asking childcare providers to register for the scheme as soon as possible. Only childcare providers registered with a regulator (such as Ofsted) can receive Tax-Free Childcare payments. The government will top up the account with 20% of childcare costs up to a total of £10,000 - the equivalent of up to £2,000 support per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children). Parents and others (such as grandparents, other family members or employers) can pay money into their childcare account as and when they like. This means you

can build up a balance in your account to use at times when you need more childcare than usual, for example, over the summer holidays. If your circumstances change, or you no longer want to pay into the account, then you will be able to withdraw the money you have built up. If you do, the government will withdraw its corresponding contribution. When will the scheme be launched? Tax-free childcare will be launched from early 2017. The scheme will be rolled out gradually to families, with parents of the youngest children able to apply first. Parents will be able to apply for all their children at the same time, when their youngest child becomes eligible. All eligible parents will be able to join the scheme by the end of 2017. What if you currently receive Employer Supported Childcare? The new scheme has been introduced to replace the existing system of employer-supported childcare (ie Childcare vouchers), which currently provides income tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) relief to employees. The maximum relief is an exemption from income tax and NIC of £55 a week for a basic rate taxpayer, £28 a week for a higher rate taxpayer and £25 a week for an additional rate taxpayer. This relief is per employee, so if both parents are in employment the maximum exemption is £110 per week (for basic rate taxpayers). In the new scheme the limit is per child.The current system of employer-supported childcare will continue to be available for those who are already members, if they wish to remain in it, or they can switch to the new scheme. Employer-supported childcare will continue to be open to new joiners until April 2018. If you have any questions about this or any other matter relating to UK tax please feel free to contact me on 01842 755032 or at: c.chamberlain@lovewell-blake.co.uk Disclaimer: Please note that this article is provided for your information only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, information herein may not be comprehensive and you should not act upon it without seeking professional advice.

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5 Laws of Gold

tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.

This isn’t an article about gold prices; it’s about the five golden rules of money.

Save at least ten percent of all you earn. When investing these savings, seek out those who are most knowledgeable and have solid reputations. Don’t invest in things you don’t understand, and when the return seems too high, it should be a signal to walk away. These logical ideas, diligently applied, are the key to saving and growing wealth, and ultimately enjoying the good that it brings. Would you like to ask Ryan a business-related question? Email ryanwindsor89@gmail.com

The Five Laws of Gold are classic lessons on growing personal wealth. They’re from one of my favourite books, The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason. It tells a story that is filled with practical advice. The story focuses on the teachings of Arkad, the richest man in Babylon, and Bansir, a chariot builder who wants to improve his life. The lessons are about recognising that the money we accumulate once belonged to someone else, and that it’s up to us to use that money wisely. These are the Laws of Gold; The last three laws are of particular interest to me as a property investor because they focus on who to trust for advice and who to avoid.

Do you waste hours of time on paperwork you loathe? Or do you loathe it so much that it’s not getting done at all? Make life easy, call for a free consultation:

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2. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field. 3. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling.

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Breckland Leisure Centre To Host 30th Anniversary Swimathon Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim is 30 years old this year, and Breckland Leisure Centre & Waterworld will be one of more than 600 venues around the UK celebrating this landmark by hosting a Swimathon event. The 2017 event will take place over three days from 7th – 9th April. As registration opens for the 2017 event, the total fundraising amount over the previous 29 years currently stands at a staggering £46 million, which has been distributed amongst 36 different charities.

cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illness across the UK.Registration is now open for Swimathon 2017. Participants can enter to take part at Breckland Leisure Centre & Waterworld through the Swimathon website. Swimathon.org/participants/register

In 2017, Breckland Leisure Centre will host Swimathon for the 10th time, as it welcomes swimmers to take part in two sessions over the event weekend. Speaking about Swimathon 2017, Kerry Smy, Duty Manager at Breckland Leisure Centre, said ‘the event provides a good opportunity for our customers to challenge themselves whilst raising money to support a fantastic charity. Swimmers should sign up as it is a fun community event that everyone can take part in as all levels of fitness, all abilities and and all ages are accounted for with the various range of Swimathon challenges. Our designated swimathon sessions for anyone wishing to get involved are 3-6pm on Saturday 8th April or 10am-1pm on Sunday 9th April.’

Search For Players Thetford Bulldogs FC are looking for players to join their Training School. 4 & 5 year old boys and girls train every Saturday 10.3011.30am on the Charles Burrell Centre Playing fields. They have teams from 4-18 year olds and they train every Saturday from 10.00/10.30-11.30/12.00. Plus, Thetford Belles U16’s train every Wednesday 6.007.30pm at Euston Playing Fields. Bulldogs are also looking at having a new team of Girls so if you are 12/13 years old please get in touch. You can contact about any age group - Kirsty Turner on 07771744437 or call into the Charles Burrell Centre or via Face Book or just come to one of the training sessions. Thetford Bulldogs are proud to announce that they were awarded the Norfolk FA Charter Standard Development Club Award 2016. All coaches are CRB checked and have achieved their level 1 FA Coaching badge.

Duncan Goodhew, Swimathon President and Olympic gold-medallist, said of the landmark Swimathon event, “For the last 29 years it has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature into the great event it is today.” The official charity of Swimathon 2017 is Marie Curie. The charity provides care and support for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. It has been doing this work for over 65 years and last year alone

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Feltwell Golf Club

Thetford Town Football Club

Feltwell Golf Club is set on the edge of the fens just outside the village of Feltwell on the Hockwold Road. The course has 9 holes and 18 tees stretching to almost 6500 yards from the Gents’ back tees; its attraction lies in its fast, true greens and quick draining soil, enabling the course to stay open all year round. There is also a large grass driving range allowing players to practise from a true surface whether you are a member or visitor as well as putting green and opportunities to practise bunker shots and chipping..

Match fixtures for February, March & April 2017 04.02.17 Thetford Town V. Stanway Rovers 11.02.17 Thetford Town V. Felixstowe and Walton 25.02.17 Thetford Town V. FC Clacton 04.03.17 Wivenhoe Town V. Thetford Town 10.03.17 Thetford Town V. Great Yarmouth Town 18.03.17 Walsham-Le-Willows V. Thetford Town 25.03.17 Thetford Town V. Ely City 08.04.17 Thetford Town V. Hadleigh United 15.04.17 Brantham Athletic V. Thetford Town 17.04.17 Thetford Town V. Mildenhall Town 22.04.17 Ipswich Wanderers V. Thetford Town

We need more ladies whether you are a beginner or have played for some time, you are all welcome to join us. So why spend your money on joining a Gym, when you can join us get some exercise as well as fresh air and really good company!! If you are new to golf, don’t worry we were all there once! The Club has some particularly good new member offers in place at the moment, so please contact Denise Whiting on either 01842 862079 or 07986 290532 for more details. We meet on a Friday morning from 9.30am when we start with the obligatory coffee before going out on the course. These games are just fun, no pressure just some friends getting together to play some golf. If you are a beginner and nervous about starting why not come on a Friday and in the first instance meet everyone and walk the course with us. We look forward to seeing you

All games are at 3pm. Please support your local club and attend matches if you are able to. Visit the website for more information: www.thetfordtownfootballclub.co.uk

Thetford Dolphins Thetford Dolphins Swimming Club held the first round of its mini gala at Thetford Waterworld and with 82 swimmers competing over 50m free and back, the spectators were treated to one new club record, 60 personal bests and 39 new times. Elena Armes led the way setting a club record for the girls 15 years of age 50m free with a time of 30.06. Kacie Cooper was the top swimmer with 7 points but she is hotly pursued by 14 swimmers on 6 points. The White team are top of the leader board with 93 points and a fantastic evening culminated with the parents and guardians showing off their swimming skills by joining in for the relay.

Denise Whiting, Ladies Captain (Feltwell Gold Club) If you’re involved in a local sports group and would like to be featured in the About Thetford magazine then please contact Karen via: karen@aboutthetfordmagazine.co.uk

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