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Legion Volunteers Recognised
Recently three of our volunteers were recognised by Breckland District Council for their tireless work with an Unsung Hero Award. Presented by Chair of Breckland District Council, Cllr Mike Nairn, the first award went to ohn Waine for Service to the Community. ohn has been the Thetford Parade Master for twenty-nine years, organsing the town’s commeration event each year. The second award for Service to the Commuity and Fundraising went to Barry and Maggie Findlay who have helped with the annual Poppy Appeal for over twelve years. Collecting her award, Maggie said, “I’m very pleased to be recognised. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed selling poppies. I’ve met lots of lovely people whilst selling them and would recommend becoming a volunteer. ohn said that he was also surprised but pleased to be recognised for something he enjoys doing. Each volunteer recieved a certificate and special pin badge in the shape of the district featuring a deer. The Royal British Legion has been in Thetford, for over 100 years, they help both serving and exserving members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans, and their families. Every single penny donated to the Poppy Appeal goes to provide support. From providing expert advice and guidance, to recovery and rehabilitation, through to transitioning to civilian life. It’s not just members of the Armed Forces they help, but their families too. This year’s Poppy Appeal launched on 27th October, you’ll see collectors out and about until Remembrance Sunday on the 13th of November. As last year, collectors will be in supermarkets, and boxes with poppies will be in some of the local shops. There will also be a collection at the Remembrance Parade on the morning of Sunday 13th November.
Mandy Adlington has been appointed as the new Poppy Appeal Organiser for Thetford, “I can • SERVICING • REPAIRS •
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L to R: Thetford RBL President Robert Kybird, John Waine, Maggie Findlay, Chair of Breckland, Cllr Mike Nairn, Thetford RBL Chair Roger Smith and Mrs Nairn at the Unsung Hero Award presentation
help with sourcing poppy boxes for businesses, wreaths for Remembrance or any other event. We re also looking for volunteers. If you feel you would be able to help to be a collector, please contact me. I would like to say a massive thank you to Rosemary and ohn Waine for all their hard work organising Thetford’s Poppy Appeal for many years.” To become a Poppy Collector Home Flame QP Ad.qxp_Layout 1 10/10/2018 13:33 Page 1 please contact Mandy on 01842 750592 or email:
rbl@ixworth.net
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A new project has been launched between The Brecks Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership (BFER) and The Brecks Society. The Industrious Rivers project will explore the history of trade and development along the waterways of the Brecks. The rivers included in the project are the Lark, Thet, Little Ouse and Wissey. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the area, and to acquire new skills and insights into this lesser-known aspect of our local heritage. The project launched at Brandon Country Park with speakers Professor Tom Williamson, a landscape historian and landscape archaeologist from EA, and Elliott Wragg, pro ect officer at the Thames Discovery Programme, Museum of London Archaeology. Professor Williamson said, “It’s a great project, one of the things that interests me is the effect that transport links can transform the area economically. In the Middle Ages, Breckland ourished, it was good for growing barley and the river provided good transport links because of the navigability of the rivers.” Elliott Wragg explained that he is aiming to explore the archaeology and history of the area by looking at the river buildings and commerce of the rivers. “You cannot look at the development of the area in the Brecks without looking at the rivers.” The project also includes a series of workshops throughout 2023 including millwrighting, lock repairs, in-river brickwork and production of an illustrated report on river trading history, digital mapping and an exhibition to raise awareness and celebrate the vital role of the rivers in the Brecks.
Just a THE MILL HEAD, c.1930 few yards andon the sameroute from the Small Bridges, is another ancient andheavily-used river Thetford Mill Head c1930 © David Osborne crossing. It passes over the Mill Head and River Thet, the furthermost point of the old ThetfordNavigation. This view of the Mill Head changed little until the 1960s when the large, wooden warehouse that can be seen was demolished. From Thetford A Century Remembered Part Two sometime just before the 1939-45 War until the early 1980s, the flint building andriver bankin the right foreground was occupied by Vic Dann's wood yard, where tree trunks were cut into logsandfirewood for delivery to households in the town. Vic Dann'sformer wood yard was cleared awayand the site landscaped in 1987. The old watermill was last used for industrial purposes in 1956. [See also ThetfordA Century Remembered page 15]. RIVERSIDE MALTINGS, c.1965
With the final disappearance of the town's riverside industries in the last quarter of the 20th century, many areas by the rivershave inevitably taken on a new role.As once familiar industrial scenes have been swept away, they have been replaced by schemes that have made the riversand riverside much more appealing andaccessible. So complete are the changes, however, that apart from old maps, photographs and our memories, there is little surviving evidence of the industries once centred around Thetford's rivers.
Viewed from the Town Bridge, these maltings were working intothe 1960s before they were demolished,to make way for the Riverside Walk development that opened in 1968. The land on the right, previously occupied by the general engineering works andgarage of W. J. 'Watty' Woods, is now a car park. 9
For more information or to join the project please contact Helen Leith, Project Manager BFER Industrious Rivers Project at:
indrivers.brecsoc@gmail.com
Or, visit: www.brecsoc.org.uk
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