OCTOBER 2021
YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY MAGAZINE ISSUE
189
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IN THIS ISSUE
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BE PENSION WISE WITH CITIZENS ADVICE
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Inside this month...
that feels this way but Hopefully it’s not just me ckly this month? Brrr. qui y ver hasn’t it turned cold complain, Autumn is my Page 7 - Celebrations At Not Just Books Although I really shouldn’t Page 8 - The Gift Of Life ! son sea ite favour Page 9 - Antique Auctions Return een low Hal with locally There’s lots going on Page 10 & 11 - Leaping Hare the return of the Fireworks festivities in October and Page 16 & 17 - Hedgehog Heroes of lots - as ever there’s Spectacular in November Page 18 - Garden And Allotment Club p kee to ine nth’s magaz information inside this mo Page 19 - Let’s Go Outdoors see and ugh thro d rea d you busy so do have a goo Page 21 - Moths Matter to you and your family. what may be of interest Page 23 - ‘EnAble Thetford’ Needs Help the favourite time for Page 24 & 25 - Challenge Celebrated be to ly like is n um Aut get ready for their long Page 26 - Thetford Society Returns hedgehogs too as they Page 29 - Black History Month nge is causing disruption sleep. Sadly, climate cha s with some awful Page 30 - Life Is For Living Returns tern pat p slee al usu ir to the read more about this and Page 33 - Helpline Wins National Award consequences. You can . Page 35 - New Aesthetic Clinic in this month’s edition Hedgehog Hero Karen , Page 39 - Money Matters fire bon a e hav to nding Remember, if you’re inte ls Page 45 - Simon Completes Ride ma ani r the ano or ogs please check for hedgeh Page 46 - Tim Hangs Up His Boots de. that may be sleeping insi my Terry Jer About Thetford Magazine is ine printed on carbon balanced tor, About Thetford Magaz Edi DKM Services AD.qxp_Layout 1 09/07/2018 15:51 Abbey Pag Garage AD.qxp_Layout 1 17/07/2017 14:36 Pag paper in Norfolk CBP007812
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The email address for all articles, adverts etc: aboutthetfordmagazine@gmail.com Contact us: 075404 63662 Office Address: C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, IP24 3LH Publisher; In And About Thetford Ltd, C/o Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford IP24 3LH 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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Thetford Fireworks Advert 2021.qxp_Layout 1 21/09/2021 14:38 Page 1
Thetford Firework Spectacular
Family Fun Day, Live music & 2 Firework Displays
• Display 1 - 5.45pm for children • Display 2 - 7.45pm for adults
Sideshows • Fairground rides Food vendors and much more...
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(NO Alcohol, sparklers and fireworks. Event security provided)
Barnham Cross Common Playing Fields Sunday 7th November 3.00pm - 9.00pm Car parking at Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road Onsite disabled parking available
For more information please call Larry on 07831458779 or email larrygray08@yahoo.co.uk Join in the fun at our floodlit, covod secure, family event and raise funds for the Mayor's charities Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 4
Second Climb Challenge For Vasanti Keeping fit and raising money for charity has kept Thetford resident Vasanti Patel busy throughout 2021. The grandmother of three said that her challenges have improved both her physical and mental health as she’s missed being with her family for much of this year. “It’s been something to do, keeps me active and I like to be occupied. This year has been so difficult at times as my children live outside of Thetford.” Vasanti, who is 72, has lived in Thetford for over 45 years. She originally moved to London in 1972 from Gujarat on the West Coast of India in search of a better life with her late husband. “I’ve always felt very at home in Thetford.” Vasanti worked for Jeyes for over 22 years and supports lots of activities around the town.
Vasanti started her latest challenge in August, although she had continued to climb Castle Hill steps after her first challenge earlier in the year. “I’m on the countdown now!” Vasanti laughed, “When my Captain Tom 100 challenge finished, I thought what shall I do now? I really enjoyed raising the money for charity and I know I can reach 1000 climbs.” Vasanti can normally be found in Castle Park first thing in the morning before her yoga class or walking group starts. She says people look out for her now, and if they haven’t seen her for a couple of days they ask if she’s ok. She’s made lots of new dog walker friends and says that people have been very kind to her. The money Vasanti raises from her second challenge will be split between the NHS and Life is 4 Living, a local exercise group for older people in the Thetford. “I wanted to support West Suffolk Hospital and encourage older people to take some exercise so Life is 4 Living is perfect as they provide a class which is suitable for all.” To help her achieve this a friend from Thetford Junior Parkrun, where Vasanti volunteers has set up a Just Giving page for her. To support Vasanti and make a donation please visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ castle-hill-challenge
Thetfordstarting Raj QP August 21.qxp_Layout 1 05/08/2021 1 Vasanti an ascent of Castle Hill steps
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Having conquered her first challenge, Vasanti has set herself a second challenge to climb the Castle Hill steps 1000 times and raise £1000 by February. This equates to taking 176,000 steps when you include descending the hill as well to complete the challenge. However, having got to 524 climbs in July, Vasanti was on target to reach 800 climbs at the end of September. So far September has seen her finish over 150 climbs in one month.
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Thetford Pumpkin Trail Bring your little monsters for a family friendly Pumpkin Trail around the Cloverfield Estate in Thetford during half term between Monday 25th and Sunday 31st October, 10am - 5pm each day.
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Hunt for the painted or carved pumpkins using our Trail Sheet which will be available online via our Facebook page and also from Thetford Garden Centre. Each pumpkin will have a marker on the trail map and a letter to reveal a spooky phrase. The event is completely free, just remember to bring a pen or pencil to mark off your sheet. There are three competitions running: Anyone who shares our Facebook page: https://www. facebook.com/ThetfordPumpkinTrail/ will be entered into a prize draw and there is a prize for best photo posted to our page with the hashtag #ThetfordPumpkinTrail. Plus, there’s a prize for the best display voted by you on our page after the event. Chris France, Thetford Pumpkin Trail
Bringing The Library To You Reading and listening to books is enjoyable for many people – they can help make people feel less isolated and lonely too. But for those unable to get to their local library, the pleasure of reading is easily lost. Volunteers from our Books on Wheels services work with local libraries to select reading materials for clients that, for whatever reason, can’t get to their local library. Based on clients’ tastes and preferences, books, audio books, and sometimes films and music are delivered to clients in person. Home Library Service volunteers deliver so much more than books – they are a friendly, familiar faces making regular home visits to people whose mobility and social interaction are limited. They also provide a useful check on the safety and well-being of people living in the community. To register for this service all you need to do is contact Thetford Library on 01842 752048.
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Celebrations At Not Just Books Happy Birthday to us! October 2nd marks our 1st Birthday and we want to thank everyone who has supported us on our journey. Admittedly, it’s not been the easiest of starts but meeting you all and sharing the book love has certainly made it worthwhile and we look forward to supporting Thetford in the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has entered our Design-ABookmark competition and we look forward to sharing with all our customers the winning designs. Bookshop Day this year is taking place on Saturday 9th October and is an opportunity for people to join us in celebrating bookshops both big and small. On Saturday, we will have available for sale a limited number of the stunning bag designed by Dapo Adeola and we will be helping you get the Christmas shopping started with the launch of our Christmas catalogue and 10% discount on all purchases of shop stock. The October Children’s Book of the Month title is The Story of Afro Hair by K.N. Chimbiri and Joelle Avelino and is a joyous celebration.
From the first glance at its sparkling gold foil cover, the reader knows that they are in for a real treat. With beautiful illustrations from Joelle Avelino, the book covers 5,000 years of Afro hair history, from Ancient Egypt to modern day and all that’s in between.This is an essential guide, not only for children, but adults too, of the fashion, politics and key people within the Afro beauty industry. The Fiction Book of the Month title for October is Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet and is a is a dazzling, and often wickedly humorous, meditation on the nature of sanity, identity and truth itself, by one of the most inventive novelists writing today. Set in London, 1965, an unworldly young woman believes that a charismatic psychotherapist, Collins Braithwaite, has driven her sister to suicide. Intent on confirming her suspicions, she assumes a false identity and presents herself to him as a client, recording her experiences in a series of notebooks. She soon finds herself drawn into a world in which she can no longer be certain of anything. Even her own character. In Case Study, Graeme Macrae Burnet presents these notebooks interspersed with his own biographical research into Collins Braithwaite. Thank you again for all your support and don’t forget, in order to keep the high street alive, we must shop on it or as Richard Osman says “Use it or lose it” Happy reading! Jane James, Not Just Book
NotJustBooks Independent Bookshop 23 Riverside Walk Thetford. IP24 2BB 01842 753660 Grab yourself an exclusive book bag from Not Just Books on Bookshop Day this month
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The Gift Of Life ‘Remember a Charity Week’ took place during September - the now annual event that aims to encourage everyone to make or update their Will and remember a charity close to them. Gifts in wills currently fund over a fifth of the East Anglian Air Ambulance services lifesaving work; meaning that many of the people being saved by our clinical teams today are being helped by the incredible generosity of those no longer with us. It is thanks to these supporters who had foresight to see how much of an impact they can make by leaving a gift for the future that we have made great leaps in pre-hospital emergency medicine since the charity was established in 2000. Not only providing rapid life-saving treatment at the scene of an accident or medical emergency, but also helping more patients to recover and go on to lead a fulfilling life.
Image credit: Tern TV
These special gifts left in wills, no matter what their shape or size, help to make sure that we can continue to give as many people as possible word-class treatment right at the scene, bringing them the very highest standards of care, using the latest technology to make a difference and save more lives. A stark reminder of the powerful impact of gifts in wills on our daily work is our new base in Norwich.
This £7 million development was primarily funded through years of unexpected gifts in wills which we were able to save and safeguard for the base; for the future of the operation. This included over £500,000 from the sale of a 1964 Ferrari Nembo Spider, generously gifted by Richard Allen, a racing driver and motor enthusiast who passed away in 2016, which enabled us to purchase the land the new base is built on. Richard said he could clearly remember the EAAA helicopter coming to the help of one of his fellow race drivers, hence his generous gesture. Without all of these magnificent gifts, we simply wouldn’t have such an amazing world-class facility today that is fit for the future of the operation. For more information visit the website: www.eaaa.org.uk/wills
1 in 5 of our missions are funded by Gifts in Wills. Whenever someone’s life is in danger, you can help make sure they get urgent, life-saving treatment. Find out how you can give someone the gift of life.
Together we save lives
www.eaaa.org.uk/wills
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Auctions Return To Thetford Inspired by his Grandad, Sam Royall has followed his dreams and opened his own antiques shop, BA Royall Antiques, at the Charles Burrell Centre. “My Grandad used to have a stall on Great Yarmouth market selling china including Charlotte Read, Susie Cooper and coins, I’ve loved antiques since I was 8 years old.” Sam started his career at Gary Emms Auction House as a porter, then moved to Clare Auction. These days alongside the shop you’ll find him with a gavel at the Rare Auction in Great Thurlow and from January 2022 at his antique and collectables auction in the main hall at the CBC. “I’m looking to put together auctions that have a bit of everything, at a price for everyone.” Sam continued, “I’ll be holding valuations beforehand, and we’ll also provide a reserve price offer.” Sam prefers traditional in the room bidding with the catalogue available a week before the auction. Sam is aiming to hold 6 auctions in Thetford during 2022. Since starting his own business Sam has moved Sam Royall in his new antiques shop from china to teddy bears, his favourite being Stieff bears, modern or old. Sam also loves Whitefriars Glass, especially the Geoffrey Baxter Antique Auction - Save The Date! texture range and says it’s his favourite type of 29th January B A RoyallSaturday Advert.qxp_Layout 1 2022, 31/08/2021 15:26 Page art glass. Sam has recently started to buy modern at Charles Burrell Centre collections including collectables such as Wallace and Gromit, comics, computer games and autographs. He wanted to bring in collectables that engage with a younger market and hopes Buyer and seller of Antiques & collectables this will encourage younger people to learn what’s Vintage, Retro, Antiques & Collectables. good and how to sell. He is keen to help new Open Thursday 11am - 8pm dealers avoid getting ripped off and is planning Saturday 11am to 4pm a YouTube channel. Sam is a member of EADA Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday by appointment (Essex Antique Dealers Association) a trade body Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, that regulates dealers and offers a good network Thetford IP24 3LH of experts. The shop stocks a diverse range from Mobile: 07595 189678 traditional antiques to retro and vintage. Prices Email: baroyallantiques@gmail.com AKFSfrom Advert.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2020 Twitter: @royallantiques range £1 to £2000 with Sam happy 17:03 to helpPage 1 Facebook: www.facebook.com/baroyallantiques budding collectors build their collections.
B.A. ROYALL
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From pumpkins to 1980s, get your tickets now
THET CALE 100374 Thetford 2022 calendar.indd
Looking for a family-friendly Halloween-themed day out? Pumpkin Fest, on Wednesday 27 October (10am-3pm) is perfect. Set in the picturesque woodlands of Brandon Country Park, the event includes entertainment, spooky storytelling, circus and hooping workshop, ghostly trail, crafts, stalls and more. You can even purchase your very own pumpkin to carve. Thetford Town Football Club kick off a series of fun events on Saturday 16 October with an 80s Night (18+). Tickets are only £6.50 (including a free shot) and must be purchased in advance. Thetford Town FC are also putting on a family-friendly New Year’s Eve party, and tickets will be on general release from Friday 1 October. Don’t forget the Dad’s Army Radio Show on Thursday 14 October, and tickets for Thetford Players’ curious pantomime are on sale on Monday 25 October.
Other dates for your diary: Friday 19 November Thetford Ghost Walk
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Sunday 21 November Bring on the 60s with the Swinging Blue Jeans
Sunday 12 December Thetford Music Project 20th Anniversary Showcase 27/09/2021 08:13
THETFORD CALENDAR 2022
Thetford calendars – on sale from October
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Congratulations to Chris Nicholls, whose fabulous snowy image of the BTO won the competition to be the front cover of our 2022 Thetford Calendar, as voted by About Thetford readers. We’ve held the price of the calendar at £6.95 each (only £6 if you purchase two or more). We can also provide envelopes if needed – the calendars make fantastic gifts. Next year’s calendar competition is already open for entries – the closing date is 31 May 2022. Think seasonally and enjoy taking lots of photos that say “Thetford” to you.
Thetford Christmas cards We are also delighted to announce an addition to our Christmas cards this year. Working with St Nicholas hospice using their beautiful, original painting by Mike Sherard of a parent and child with the Captain Mainwaring statue. The cards raise money for us and the hospice; packs of 10 are priced at only £4.99. We will also have our beautiful “Greetings from Thetford” cards of the Guildhall.
Fabulous new gifts Welcome to Clare & Angel, whose bracelets are new in the shop. Maker Clare loves travel and open-water swimming, and can often be found sourcing unusual gemstones to combine with leather and silver. Prices range from £12.95-£14.95. Stunning stained glass feathers and even a witch’s broom have just arrived from Crafty Emporium. Prices start from £21.95.
Leaping Hare
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Dippy on Tour Adventure Trail Friday 10 September - Thursday 28 October
What do you call a dinosaur with one eye?
Find Dippy’s friends and you could win a dinosaur-themed prize Enjoy our free family trail in Thetford to celebrate the Natural History Museum’s much loved Dippy, who is on Tour at Norwich Cathedral.
dinosaur themed prize. Complete the grid below with your word and drop your entry through the letterbox of the Everything Thetford shop at 20 King Street or email your answer to info@leapinghare.org. Remember to include your name and contact details. Good luck!
Dippy’s friends have arrived in Thetford, find them all, solve the clue and you could win a dinosaur-themed prize. There are 17 numbered dinosaurs to find around Thetford town centre in certain shop windows. Track them down, collect their letters and complete the grid below.
The Dippy on Tour trail is organised by Leaping Hare and supported About Thetford magazine.
Send us your answer, and the correct ones will be entered into a draw for a roar-tastic
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Discover Garboldisham Art Trail This year over 260 artists are opening their studios to the public as part of Norfolk Open Studios. This includes five local artists who have created the Garboldisham Art Trail, the only art trail in the Breckland area. Their five studios will be open each weekend from 10am - 5pm, September 25th, 26th, October 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th or at other times by arrangement (check individual artists listing for details).
‘Flooded Reflections’ by linocut artist Gill Thorton
The Garboldisham art trail provides a suggested route to follow to discover the studios of local artists working in ceramics, watercolour, acrylic, mixed media and printmaking, including linocut, etching and lithography. This is a unique opportunity to visit the artists in their homes, studios and gardens. The studios are free to visit and provide hands on opportunities to discover how the work is created as well as the chance to buy original artwork direct from the artists. Some of the artists will be providing free light refreshments and demonstrations. The route also provides the opportunity to visit The Garboldisham Fox, an award-winning community pub.
Examples of the group’s work that will be on display during the art trail
Brochures and art trail maps will be available from local shops or businesses or are available to download from Norfolkstudios.org.uk Follow the artists on Instagram for more details @garboldishamopenstudios @paulsartprints @gill.thornton.art @pennylindopartist @throw.glaze.fire @debbieplaskett
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Twinning And Tom Paine! As we all know, the pandemic has meant that travel has been extremely difficult for the last year. So when my school, Thetford Grammar opened up applications for the Peter Large Travel Scholarship, there was a big question of what could you actually do with it. I was lucky enough to receive the grant for a trip to Thetford’s Twin Town in Les Ulis, France, with the aim of improving my French and talking about Thetford’s radical writer – Thomas Paine. Accompanied by Grace Tod (a fellow ex-TGS student), I travelled to Les Ulis on the 13th September. The people of Les Ulis showed us an outstanding amount of hospitality. We were hosted, shown around the town, taken to tourist sites and fed until we burst in the true French way. There are so many opportunities to be gained from Twinning and I hope more people become aware of it.
Halloween Fun For Half Term Halloween Half Term is not that far away. The kids will be off again soon and what better activity to do then come to Pumpkin Fest 2021. We are so excited to be able to hold Pumpkin Fest again this year at the Brandon County Park on Wednesday 27th October 10-3pm. A Half Term Halloween themed family friendly day out. Surrounded by woodland and picturesque settings. This year on the main green you can expect lots of Craft, Community, Food and Fun Stalls as well as Spooky Story Telling, Circus and Hooping Workshop, Puppet Show, purchase a Pumpkin to Carve, Ghostly Trail and more. Take part in one of our exciting competitions to win spooktacular prizes. Why not dress up in your favourite costume!? Pumpkin Fest is organised by Pumpkin Events. With thanks to Brandon Town Council, Brandon Country Park, West Suffolk, The Toy Den, Mark Skinner Funeral Services, Leaping Hare, Terry Hawkins Marketing and About Thetford Magazine. Visit Pumpkin Events on Facebook to keep up to date with Pumpkin Fest 2021 Tickets are available from 27th September from www.leapinghare.org at £2.50 per person (under 2’s free). Pumpkin Fest is a sell out event so please do not wait to purchase your tickets, staggered times available. Parking available onsite at an additional cost.
Elizabeth (L) with Grace (R) in front of the statue of Thomas Paine in Paris
In the end we gave five talks about Thomas Paine, who despite being so influential in the French Revolution and holding a seat in the French National Convention, is as unknown in France as he is in England. These talks were given to a whole range of people; from the children at the youth club to members of the general public. We did some talks in French and some in English, which left my poor confused brain speaking a mix of the two languages by the end of the week! We finished the trip with a long weekend in Paris, walking in the footsteps of Thomas Paine and his contemporaries. We visited places where he lived, where he spoke politics, met with other revolutionaries and possibly even where he was imprisoned. A particular highlight was finding his statue in Parc Montsouris in Paris, even if it wasn’t quite as shiny as our one here at home! Elizabeth Wright
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Local Business With A Heart Martin Taylor is a familiar face around Thetford and has been a gas engineer for over 40 years, 22 of those as Homeflame Gas Services Ltd. Martin started his long career with British Gas, “I did my apprenticeship with them and worked there for many years.” Since then, Martin has not only built up his own business but has also trained many of the gas fitters in the town, “I’ve really enjoyed that side of my work and I’m really proud that they’ve all gone on to build successful businesses in the area.” Martin has a strong belief in sharing knowledge and has mentored not only young fitters starting their careers such as his son, but also those in their mid 30s and 40s including some who’ve decided to have a career change. Homeflame Gas Services Ltd offer a wide range of gas services, “We’re a local company that you can trust” explained Martin. “We enjoy working with people and looking after our customers, we’re always punctual, tidy and reliable. Our highly organised record keeping enables us to track our customers servicing needs easily.” The business specialises in installations, repairs and servicing for both domestic and rental sectors including landlord certificates. Plus, Homeflame Gas Services Ltd also offers full plumbing and bathroom refits including tiling. “If you’re looking for a new bathroom, we’re happy to visit and give a no obligation quote and can help you choose the right fittings for your needs.” Martin has lived in Thetford for over 50 years, moving to the town with his parents as part of the overspill project. He attended Raleigh First and Staniforth Secondary Modern School and played football for Thetford Town and Thetford Rovers. Over the years he has also fundraised for Thetford Rovers. “I love Thetford, it’s a great place to live and work in, I’m looking forward to marking 25 years of running a business in the town in 2024.”
MartinFlame Taylor QP fromAd.qxp_Layout Homeflame Gas1Services who 13:33 Page 1 Home 10/10/2018 also mentors local gas fitters
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Hurrah For Hedgehog Heroes! The discovery of a small hedgehog just before Christmas 2009 began Brandon resident Karen O’Neill’s mission to rescue this much loved endangered species. 12 years on and work has just finished on a purpose built Hedgehog Hospital in Karen’s garden. After discovering her original Hedgehog, Karen started off volunteering in Ipswich where she gained valuable experience. In 2015 she attended a hedgehog course at the Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre and carried on volunteering at other rescues to gain more experience. Karen says that hedgehogs are amazing little creatures, they all have their own individual characters. She has found that hedgehogs don’t show pain unless it is severe, they don’t come out in the daytime unless they are on their last legs or are on a mission, such as nursing mums looking for food. The hospital was opened in March this year, after 10 years of fundraising by Karen and the community. The fundraising team held raffles, craft stalls, car boot sales and created unique hedgehog items to sell in the local area. Karen is always in need of old newspapers and wet food as a hedgehog can eat as much as a Jack Russell dog. It costs around £5,000 per year on top of donations to run the hospital. When it comes to feeding her patients, Karen can get through 40 cat food pouches and 5 mother and baby cat food tins a night. There are drop off points for donations in Brandon, Thetford, Mildenhall and Fornham St Martin. “I’ve got a wonderful community who have come together on my Facebook page,” Karen said, “they’ve been very supportive and are ready
to help if I ask. It’s enabled me to devote more time to helping the hedgehogs. The volunteers are learning more about hedgehog care whilst they help too.” Karen says that she wouldn’t have coped this year without the support she’s had from her supporters and the wider community, “I love the people on my Facebook page, they are so friendly and caring.” Mid September saw 54 Hedgehogs in the hospital, although the numbers can change very quickly. The past two years have seen Karen at her busiest throughout the year, “Due to climate change we don’t seem to get a break these days, it used to be quieter in March and April once the Hedgehogs were released. Now I’m hearing of babies being born in January. This was unheard of. If the weather turns really cold, mum will go off and hibernate and the babies will be left behind.” Summer 2021 has brought more small hedgehogs to Karen’s doors than usual. The smallest at 34g had to be hand reared, Karen calls them her miracle babies. “I’ve turned round some babies who are in terrible condition, it makes me feel really euphoric when this happens. It’s very rewarding once they start to pick up and recover.” Hedgehogs are usually returned to the people who brought them in for release once they have recovered or have grown big enough to survive outdoors. Karen always gives advice and makes sure a prospective release site is suitable. Sadly not all Hedgehogs make it and Karen feels a huge sense of loss each time, saying that it is heart breaking if they don’t make it. This year she has seen lots of leg injuries, these are caused by garden strimmer’s, rat traps, people using hedgehogs as footballs or hedgehogs getting their legs trapped. Four hedgehogs in Karen’s care had to have amputations.
Karen works closely with Sue Stubley from Ousden Hedgehog Hospital and together they are One of the rooms in Karen’s hospital with working on a project to microchip the hedgehogs hedgehogs under her care in individual boxes in their care so they can monitor if they return to Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 16
either hospital at any time. “I’ve learnt a lot from Sue, she’s brilliant with worms and is my go-to if I get a hedgehog in that needs more help than I can give it.” There’s a huge problem with hedgehog food being unregulated, much of the products marked as Hedgehog food is not suitable and can cause health problems. Hedgehogs should not be fed meal worms, sunflower hearts, peanuts, dried fruit and calci worms. Slugs and snails can cause worm burdens and shouldn’t be given. Karen recommends dry cat or dog food, the best option being dried kitten or puppy food. She also warns against marking hedgehogs. The markings can be picked up on night cameras which also means they can be picked up by predators. If you find a hedgehog with fleas and ticks, you must contact a rescue immediately as this is often a sign that the hedgehog has a hidden health problem such a worm burden and needs specialist help. However, if you see a hedgehog out during the day and it looks like it’s on a mission – walking with intent and in good shape, leave them alone. If you find a collapsed hedgehog, put some gloves on and pick it up, place it in a high sided box with an old towel to cover it and contact your local rescue centre. Keep the box inside to prevent flies from laying eggs on them. Place the box away from pets in a quiet area. Hedgehog fleas are specific to that species and won’t feed on humans, cats or
One of Karen’s miracle babies that she’s nursed back to health - this includes two hourly feeds
dogs. If you can see small cream-coloured flecks similar to rice the hedgehog is suffering from flystrike and needs medical attention before the maggots hatch. Karen is now fundraising for some additional blinds for the hospital and has a wish list for donations on Amazon. Karen also needs a refuse sponsor.
For More Information:
To find out more, visit ‘Karen’s Hedgehogspital’ on Facebook. The Amazon Wishlist for the Hospital is: https://amzn.to/3ADLVP6
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Thetford Garden And Allotment Club The misty mornings of October have arrived! September saw the Club hold it’s Annual Show. It was well supported with 16 entrants providing a total of 101 exhibits, some of which were of an extremely high quality. The flower arranging section saw many more entries than previously and again, some of these were super! A grand prize giving was held at the end of the afternoon attended by our Mayor and Mayoress, Mike and Corinne Brindle who presented the trophies. Two special RHS medals were on offer, the Banksian Medal for the most points in the vegetable section, which was won by our Chairman Brian Farrell. The Grenfell Medal is given for flowers and flower arranging and was won by Pat Lawrence.
When leaves start to carpet the ground an ideal opportunity to make leaf mould is presented. Leaf mould can be used as a mulch or added to the soil as a conditioner. Some leaves can take up to two years to rot down so it is better to have a separate bin for them rather than adding them to the compost heap. Leaves are best collected when damp as this aids their breakdown. Running over the leaves with the lawn mower also helps to break them down. Once rotted leaf mould is a dark, friable mixture much loved by plants. Later in the month when the frost has turned Rhubarb leaves soggy, remove any remaining leaves which could be harbouring slugs or snails to the compost heap. Weed around the crowns and feed with a little blood, fish and bone fertiliser to help prepare for the Spring harvest of delicious stems of young Rhubarb! An early variety such as Timperley Early can be ‘forced’ to produce an early crop by covering the crown with a purpose made terracotta forcer or an upturned bucket or large pot. The dark, warmer conditions inside produce pale, delicious tender stems roughly a month earlier than normal. Crowns, once forced, have to be ‘rested’ for 2-3 years and just allowed to grow on naturally to recover. Enjoy your gardening! Maggie Baldwin
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Let’s Go Outdoors Hands up if you’ve ever heard someone say, “Kids these days don’t spend any time outdoors like I did when I was young”. Statistics back this up - a National Trust study in 2018 found that children spent about half as much time playing outside as their parents did at the same age. However, one Suffolk school is bucking this trend and making the most of every inch of its outdoor spaces in order to develop its pupils’ confidence, outdoors skills, mental health and resilience. Bardwell Church of England Primary School offers extensive opportunities for ‘Outdoor Play and Learning’ (OPAL) and its pupils are loving it! OPAL is an award-winning, mentor supported school improvement programme that brings about a cultural and practical transformation of the way that play is thought about, planned for, resourced and staffed. At Bardwell, the OPAL journey has led to a total reimagining of its playground, once a fairly standard tarmac and football pitch set-up. Now it's filled with Loose Parts - these are simple items, often repurposed or recycled rather than expensive specialist items - being put into use in natural play areas. These include a Tyre Tunnel, Giant Sand Pit, Mud Pit, Sunken Hideouts, plus an Orchard, Greenhouse and Garden Area. Most playtimes are characterised by exploratory, child-led play with trained adults on hand who suggest and gently guide children with games and activitieswhen needed. The Forest School includes den-building resources, a fire pit, tree climbing and a seasonal ‘pingo’ pond. All pupils at the school take part in Forest School at least once a week and the school’s free after school clubs are mostly outdoor and all activity based. Children at Bardwell wear a colourful Active Uniform - comfortable, practical clothing and footwear that means no time is wasted getting changed out of starchy school uniform!
Children from Bardwell Primary School with their ‘Active Uniform’
Rob Francksen, Executive Head, says, “Bringing OPAL to Bardwell was an easy decision to make.Everything we stand for is underpinned by supporting children’s emotional, social and physical health. It’s staggering that 20% of a child’s school day (or 1.4 years of their school attendance) is spent during playtimes. This is such an opportunity to instil a culture of play active, engaged and stimulated children have their needs met, at large. Self-directed play and simple but effective resources enable children to develop the fundamental skills of critical thinking, sharing, exploring, problem solving plus communicating and most importantly, having fun! OPAL has been the single biggest contributor to fostering excellent pupil wellbeing. Bardwell Primary School www.bardwell.org.uk
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Moths Matter Moths are a spectacularly diverse group of insects: there are more than 2,500 species in the UK – compared to around 60 types of butterfly – and they come in all shapes, sizes, colours and patterns. A number of species are attracted to light, giving us an opportunity to see some of these fascinating animals at close quarters. Moths are a major part of our biodiversity and play a vital role in the ecosystem, affecting many other types of wildlife. For example, adult moths and the immature larval stages provide an important source of food for other insects, spiders, frogs, birds, bats and other small mammals. Many of Britain’s best-loved garden birds rely on moth and butterfly caterpillars to feed their young, with a brood of 10 Blue Tit chicks needing an estimated 1,000 caterpillars a day!
Clifden Nonpareil Moth by Dawn Balmer / BTO
one such moth in her Thetford garden: a Clifden Nonpareil. Once resident in Kent and the Norfolk Broads, this species sadly went extinct, before recolonising southern England from 2007. It is an impressively large, cryptically-patterned moth and when disturbed, it reveals striking black hindwings with a stunning pastel-blue band running across them. All in all, a fabulous not-so-mini beast to find in Thetford, and a perfect example of the exciting wildlife that can be found in your own garden!
Moths are also great indicators of a healthy environment. Sadly though, many of them are in decline, particularly here in the southern half of England. 56 species have gone extinct since the start of the First World War and around two-thirds of our commoner, larger (‘macro’) moths have declined in the last 40 years. So moths need our help, yet they still get a bad press. To debunk one common myth, the vast majority of moths do not have it in for the precious contents of wardrobes! The truth is that there are only two species of small (‘micro’) moth whose larvae can do damage to natural fibres: that’s less than 0.1% of the UK’s moth species.
If you’re interested in recording your garden wildlife, BTO’s Garden BirdWatch scheme could be for you. Whilst birds are the main focus, you can also record mammals, reptiles as well as amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies and the distinctive day-flying moth, the Hummingbird Hawkmoth. BTO has run the year-round Garden BirdWatch scheme since 1995, and thousands of people across the UK contribute their sightings each week. Gardens are really important habitats for wildlife, but we need to understand how and why populations of garden birds and other wildlife are changing, and how we can help them.
Whilst we should be concerned about the declines – and do everything we can to help by reducing the use of pesticides and providing more flowers for moths and other pollinators – there are some good-news stories, too. Some species that had become extinct are starting to recolonise from the Continent, taking advantage of the warming climate. A local wildlife enthusiast, 15 year old Bethany Wilson, was very excited to discover
To find out more, visit: www.bto.org/gbw Nick Moran, BTO
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EnAble Thetford Needs Your Help A group of volunteers called EnAble Thetford has been funded by the People’s Health Trust with money raised through local health lotteries and supported by the Royal Voluntary Service. Over the last two years they have used some of this funding to help local people access a more user-friendly transport option by subsidising a local taxi voucher scheme so that they could get out to health appointments, do their shopping and attend wellbeing activities, when other transport options, such as buses, were not practicable. This funding is running out and we are looking for local support to enable this valuable service to carry on. The group spent time engaging with residents to see what they wanted and the overriding issue that came up was the lack of a Community Transport Scheme in the town. These schemes use volunteer drivers to offer cost effective localised transport solutions to those that cannot access public transport and who cannot afford taxis. There are many of these schemes across the county but not in Thetford so ‘EnAble Thetford’ set up the taxi voucher scheme with LJ’s Taxis, the only service in Thetford to offer wheelchair accessible transport, to see if residents would use the scheme. It has been an overwhelming success with over 50 people using the scheme on a regular basis who would otherwise be house bound. Due to Covid the numbers have obviously reduced but could potentially increase significantly. One resident said: “It’s lovely to have some freedom to go where I want, when I want”.
A wheelchair accessible taxi provided by LJ’s
scheme as the support from the RVS and its funding partners comes to an end. Quite simply, without the scheme, these residents will lose this small amount of independence, the cheery contact with the taxi drivers they’ve come to know and rely on, and be unable to support local shops and businesses, nor get to health appointments. If you could support us, please contact Linda Hunter for further details. Linda Hunter Linda.Hunter@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk John Oliver October 2021 Ad.qxp_Layout 1 27/08/2021 Mobile – 07442 505603
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Community Champions Look Back At Successful Challenge Mac and Sue MacDonald are a forces couple who have always been involved with the military communities wherever they travelled. When they moved to Thetford 8 years ago, they were able to take part in local activities which included organising the monthly litter pick on the Admirals estate, which is run alongside the Residents Association. So, they thought they knew what they were doing when they were inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore to do a “100-day Litter Pick” ….… How wrong they were! Sue and Mac with fellow Wombles and their haul after a litter pick
As spring turned to summer, they found early morning picks in some of Thetford’s many beauty spots quite exhilarating, on summer solstice they even climbed the Castle mound to watch the sun peep through the clouds to start the longest day.
Sue and Mac at the start of their Captain Tom 100 Challenge outside the Black Horse Pub
Orders were placed online for high-viz jackets and a cuddly Womble mascot and they were ready to begin. The first pick on 17 April was at Tesco’s, where they were joined by residents from the Norwich Road and Cloverfield estates and some of the shop staff. 25 bags of litter were collected in just one hour that first day and the challenge was on! They tried to visit every part of town; no estate was left unpicked. Some days they were lucky enough to be joined by groups of volunteers, other days it might be one or two fellow Wombles but mostly it was just the two of them.
There were some challenging periods when they despaired at the amount of litter but this was eased by the great support they received along the way; drivers shouting from their cars or peeping their horns, to interviews on BBC Radio Norfolk and lots of people telling them they followed their daily story on Facebook. A JustGiving page was set up at the beginning of the challenge for people to sponsor the MacDonald’s and although it was never just about raising funds, a whopping £1,500.00 was raised. Half was donated to two of Thetford’s wellbeing initiatives; the Men’s Shed and the Art Cafe. Both fantastic projects supporting local residents by providing a place to meet and interesting activities to do. The remainder was spent on litter picking equipment given to those who already regularly pick, or to those who might like to try their hand at wombling. After 3 and a half months the last day arrived. Small groups litter picked their way towards the Castle Park and a total of 36 bags of rubbish were collected on that final day. Over the 100 days around 545 bags of litter were collected, which equates to approximately 2496kg (not including the items of rubbish that wouldn’t fit in a bag). To put this is context that is about the same weight as 29 average sized men or heavier than the average family car! There is such a long list of people to thank who without their help and support the challenge would have more or less impossible. Sue and Mac would like to send their thanks to them all.
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Thetford Society Returns! It was good to be able to gather at the United Reformed Church again after all the restrictions of Covid and to celebrate the re-emergence of the Thetford Society. Inevitably we were reduced in number but there was an optimistic feel to the meeting. Katie Wright, the newly appointed Heritage Officer at the Town Council, echoed that upbeat theme as she spoke of forthcoming events being planned in the town - all being held at the redecorated and easily accessible Guildhall, the Carnegie and Market Square. Plays and puppet shows, talks and heritage events, workshops and of course the splendid tea room all offer opportunities for visitors and residents alike to experience some of what Thetford Town Council is seeking to provide by exploiting the talent and creativity in the town and broadening understanding of the rich history that surrounds us. As this was the Annual General Meeting of the Society, it was necessary to appoint members to the committee, approve the financial statement and the minutes of the last meeting. Stuart Wright kindly agreed to stand again as Chairman and with his knowledge of all things Thetford and his
The Guildhall served as the backdrop for a recent performance of Holmes & Cable
position on the Town Council, the society will be kept in touch with the latest developments and challenges facing the town. We were grateful to other members of the committee who had agreed to stand again. Future meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month as usual at the URC and details of speakers will be published. The October speaker will be Andrew Tullett on “Signs of a Norfolk Summer” - a history of village signs in Norfolk . The Society is open to new members and a regular newsletter will be circulated. In the best traditions of such meetings, the evening ended with tea and coffee. Corinne Brindle
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Caring For Your Cats Hearing Ear disease is surprisingly common in pets and often results in head shaking and ear scratching, commonly accompanied by redness & discharge. Unlike the problem in people where 'ear aches' usually affect the inner and middle ear, most ear problems in pets occur in the external ear canal, where the condition is termed otitis externa (or canker). Anatomically, the outermost part of the ear is the pinna (or flap). The pinna of cats are particularly mobile, enabling them to accurately locate sounds. Both cats and dogs also use pinna position as a means of non-vocal communication. Sound is collected by the pinna and then travels down the narrow external ear canal to the ear drum, where it will pass into the middle and inner ear. In the healthy ear, the opening to the external ear canal is lined with smooth pink skin, with no evidence of any narrowing, redness or discharge. It's a good idea to check your cat's ears regularly to pick up any problems early. Virtually all otitis externa is triggered by an underlying cause which can include ear mites, which are commonly seen in puppies and kittens and are usually associated with a crusty brown discharge. Localised allergies affecting the skin lining the external ear canal are another common cause. These are often part of a more generalised allergic skin condition also affecting other body areas. Foreign bodies, such as grass awns of the meadow grasses are a particular problem in the summer months and can easily get stuck right down by the ear drum. They often present with sudden onset head shaking. In many instances of the ear problems, opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections colonise the ear canal which can both obscure diagnosis of the underlying cause and also complicate treatment.
as described above, please take them to your vet for an examination since the sooner treatment is started, the better. If left too long ear disease becomes very difficult to treat. For help or advice or if you require help with the cost of neutering, please call us on 01842 810018. Rita Thompson Breckland Cats Protection
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Past & Present
Henry Green established a stationery and newsagents shop with a a printing works at the rear in 1183. This image dates to 1935. Green’s was taken over by W Boughton in 1958, in 1960 the printing works moved but the shop continued to trade as Green’s until 1984. Generations of Thetfordians remember the thrilling toy and model departments at the back of the shop. The British Heart Foundation has since run a successful shop from the premises for many years. Past image: David Osborne Collection NMS, Present Photo: About Thetford Magazine Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 28
Black History Month October is Black History Month and Ancient House is offering a packed programme both on site and digitally to share local Black History. 27th October would have been the 150th birthday of Princess Catherine Duleep Singh, daughter of Maharajah Duleep Singh, who grew up at nearby Elveden Hall. She was a campaigner for women’s rights and secretly assisted and saved many Jewish families in Nazi Germany during Second World War. To celebrate Ancient House has a special exhibition working with Sikh historian Peter Bance and featuring a brand new painting of the Princess by Inkquisitive. The museum is also hosting a family event day on Wednesday 27th October exploring Catherine’s extraordinary life. Visitors will be able to get hands on with objects and meet costumed character as well as enjoying a family friendly trail. Online Ancient House is offering two free talks on African American freedom fighters who visited Norfolk in the 19th Century to lecture about their experiences of slavery. On 12th October there will be a talk about William Wells Brown and his play ‘The Escape’. Brown published The Escape in 1858 but its first fully-staged production wasn’t until 1971, and even today it’s somewhat obscure. On 14th October Professor Christine Kinealy, Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute and Professor of History at Quinnipiac University will speak about Benjamin Benson who lectured in Watton in the early 19th century. Benjamin Benson was born into chattel slavery on 16th December 1818 in Bermuda in the West Indies, which was part of the British Empire. He was freed when slavery was abolished in 1838 but was then re-enslaved in the United States.
Princess Catherine Duleep Singh
Island Name Rebrand Breckland Council’s Cabinet recently voted in favour of naming the parkland on Butten Island as the 'Maharajah Ranjit & Duleep Singh Park on Butten Island', in recognition of the close and highly significant connection the town has with Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of the Punjab. Duleep Singh's second son, Frederick, was also one of Thetford's most prominent benefactors, giving the town the Ancient House as well as his personal collections. This connection continues today, with Thetford remaining a prominent cultural site for the British-Punjabi community.
At the meeting, Councillors also welcomed private sector activity and investment locally, including the reopening of the former M&Co building on All of the events taking place at Ancient House Thetford’s riverside, The Mulberry REV Advert 7.qxp_Layout 1 12/05/2021 16:50 Page 1 which is being converted into can be booked here: five new river-facing units and workshops and is https://norfolk-museums.arttickets.org.uk/ due to be complete in early 2022.
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Life Is 4 Living Returns Life is 4 Living is an exercise class for older adults. Led by a fully qualified coach, Emma, the sessions can be chair based if needed. Participants need to wear loose comfortable clothes, there’s no need for special clothing, and bring a drink for during the session. Sessions are held at Fulmerston Family Church at 10:30am every Friday morning. Organiser June Lewis said, “We are delighted to be back after covid forced us to stop. We’ve put everything in place to make the session safe, and all covid guidelines and recommendations are being followed.” Many of the group find that they benefit from the exercise and the social aspect, pre covid the group also went on outings a couple of times each year and enjoyed lunches together. June is hoping to restart this element once it’s fully safe to do so. “You can just come and enjoy Emma’s sessions, or you can join in with extra activities when we have them, there’s no pressure,” June continued, “we’re a friendly bunch and Emma is superb. If you feel that you would benefit from some gentle exercise, please do get in touch. You can also enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a chat at the end of the session”.
Attendees at a recent Life Is 4 Living session in their new venue, Fulmerston Church
Life is 4 Living is a self funded group, open to anyone over 50 years who feels that they would benefit from taking part and had advice from their Doctor to take some exercise. June says that as a group we are moving forward slowly and carefully to get back into old routines, we are aware that for some going back to activities might be too soon, but we’re here to help if we can.” Life is 4 Living,10.30am every Friday morning, Fulmerston Family Church, IP24 3LF For more information contact June on 07771637821
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News From TADDS Thetford Dementia Support Group has two very important announcements this month. Firstly, we are having a brief change of venue - for Friday October 8th and Friday October 15th we will be holding our Friday morning group meetings at the Methodist Church Hall in the centre of town, this is due to our usual venue being closed for repair work. We will still be meeting at 10am until12 midday as normal and the usual tea/coffee and cake will be available. From October 22nd we will be back at Cloverfields. Our second announcement is that we are holding our memorial service and tree dedication for all the lovely souls TADDS has lost, not just in 2020 but since our group started. The memorial service will be on Saturday 2nd October at 10:30am and we invite any previous carers who would like to come along, to the service. We hope you would like to come along and if you want to book your place, please either ring us on 07542 866 519, or send us an email to taddsgroup@hotmail.com so we can include you in our celebrations.
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Craft Fairs At Barnham Village Hall Craft Fairs are back at Barnham Village Hall on Sunday 7th November and Sunday 5th December Local crafters will be selling a variety of handmade items and the December Craft Fair will have a Christmas theme! Hot and cold refreshments will be available. Admission is at 11am until 3pm. The setting up for stallholders only is from 10am. Table hire is £7 for a small table (3’ x 2’3”) and £12 for a large table, (6’ x 2’3”). In conjunction with the craft stalls there will be a ‘nearly new’ stall run by the Barnham Village Hall committee, donated items will be sold to raise funds for the hall. Items must be in good condition (no clothing, shoes, or electrical goods please). To book a table(s) for either or both Craft Fairs (no bric-a-brac or car boot stalls), or if you have suitable items to donate for the ‘nearly new’ stall please contact Jane on 01842 890718 or email: barnhamvh.sfk@btinternet.com
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Retirement Plans Derailed By The Pandemic? People approaching retirement age were amongst those who lost jobs as a result of the pandemic. Some were self-isolating for long periods due to vulnerabilities, and some are now not able or wanting to return to their previous occupations or full time work. As furlough ends, some organisations are looking to make redundancies and people may not have the same jobs to return to. Extra funding is being made available to get younger people into work, which may affect employers’ decisions about who they need to retain. State pension age has risen in the past few years, with the current retirement age being 66, rising to 67 by 2028. For women, whom the state retirement age was originally 60, there was limited time to start preparing for such a change much earlier in life. Some women have very poor entitlement to state pension, having little contribution records of their own and/or having invested in their partners’ pensions.
Pension Wise is free, confidential, and delivered by qualified IFAs. It can help people work out what’s the best way to draw down certain types of pension – only defined contribution schemes are eligible. Guidance is currently provided by telephone, but face to face services are planned to return in the New Year. Each appointment lasts around 45 minutes. There are several benefits available for those under retirement age if they are not well enough to work. We can provide advice on these benefits and also help to complete People need to be aware that they have to apply applications and process appeals. for state retirement pension, it is not granted MCP HP Advert 1 help 19/11/2018 Page 1 automatically and11.18.qxp_Layout Citizens Advice can people 09:41 Find out more visit www.cadat.org.uk or call with claims. Norfolk Wide Adviceline on 0800 144 8848.
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Trust’s Clinical Helpline Clinches National Award West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (WSFT) clinical helpline has won an award at the National Patient Experience National Awards (PENNA). The helpline launched in April 2020 following the national suspension of visiting at hospitals due to Covid-19, won the ‘Support for Caregivers, Friends & Family’ category at the awards which is run by the Patient Experience Network; a not for profit organisation that focuses on the importance of experience for patients, carers and staff. To date, the clinical helpline has taken over 40,000 calls from relatives and caregivers seeking an update on their loved-one’s care when they are unable to visit them in the hospital. The helpline team is made up of 70 staff members which include both clinical and administrative staff who are able to provide information and updates via the Trust’s digital health records seven days a week. Despite launching as a result of Covid-19, the success of the team has meant the Trust has continued with the service even after restrictions in hospitals were relaxed. Enhanced communication between the patient, families, carers and the hospital has released time for ward-based staff to remain focused on patient care. WSFT’s head of patient experience Cassia Nice said: “We are delighted to win this award. The clinical helpline was a collaboration throughout the Trust. This service offers important information and peace of mind to the loved-ones of patients who are unable to visit hospital sites due to illness, isolating or simply living far away. The feedback we have received from people who have used the service has been remarkable and I want to say thank you to every single member of this team who has gone above and beyond to offer such professional support to loved-ones in very difficult circumstances.”
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The Trust’s interim chief executive officer, Craig Black said: “Winning this award is a really great achievement and I want to extend a huge congratulations to the team who have provided a vital service throughout one of the toughest periods in NHS history. Being able to provide an update to family members and caregivers who aren’t able to be with their loved-ones physically is so important and can alleviate stress and anxiety. West Suffolk Hospital is a 430-bed hospital on the edge of Bury St Edmunds, serving a population of around 280,000 across 600 square miles.
Thetford Inner Wheel
The club was recently able to meet properly for dinner for the first time since March 2020. Summer may have been and gone but all of the enthusiasm is still there. Plans were made for meeting other club members in the area at the District Rally to be held in Titchwell next month. Speakers are being organised as well as the fundraising events. Money raised during the last few months was donated to EACH for the Nook, the Red Cross and Cancer Research UK. They each received £100. Goods are also being donated to the British Heart Foundation as this is the District Chairman’s chosen charity. Marian de Bass, Club Correspondent
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New Aesthetic Clinic Opens Jade Piggott is the proud owner of Natural Skin Aesthetics, a clinic based in Thetford. She has lived in Thetford all her life and has been a registered nurse for 5 years, practicing acute stroke nursing at West Suffolk Hospital where she still continues to nurse. Jade is currently studying for an aesthetic masters qualification with the number one training academy in the UK, Harley Academy. This is the highest standard of credentials for injectable treatments and maximises patient safety. Jade has also gained lip artistry qualifications with world reknown trainer Julie Horne to create natural beautiful lips. Natural Skin have a variety treatments to address your concerns, whether this is treating a skin concern, restoring volume, smoothing lines or beautifying a facial feature Natural Skin Jade Piggott from Natural Skin Aesthetics Aesthetics has you covered. All products used in the clinic are premium grade and sourced pigmentation with prescribed skincare and medical from reputable pharmacies to guarantee tracing clinic devices. Jade is extremely passionate about and authentication. In addition to this Jade is skin health and facial rejuvenation and always recognised as an AlumierMD medical grade aim to balance age and beauty as one. For more Natural Skin Aesthetics HP.qxp_Layout 23/09/2021 08:14 Page skin consultant and trained to treat an 1array of information visit:1 skin concerns from ageing, acne, rosacea and www.naturalskinaesthetics.co.uk “We pride ourselves on natural results with an honest transparent approach to practice”
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Annual Thomas Paine Talk Returns October sees the return of the annual Thetford’s Common Sense Club talk on Friday 15th October. Starting at 7pm in Old School, Thetford Grammar School, entrance is £2 per person. This year’s speaker is Dr Adam Lebovitz, Research Fellow, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge. His talk entitled An American in Paris: Thomas Paine and the French Revolution, will present a new view of Paine’s political activities in France, building on work being done by a rising generation of scholars in America and France. Focussing on a 200 page manuscript that Dr Lebovitz discovered in the French National Archives in 2017, which is argued to be an unknown text by Paine and one which places his beliefs in a new light. This manuscript, read alongside Paine’s other writings from the same period, highlights the vast ideological distance that separated Paine from the Jacobins. It makes clear his aversion to political violence, incursions on private property and other features of sans-culotte democracy. The talk will draw out the ways in which Paine, the great radical, republican, and revolutionary was also a kind of conservative. It concludes by addressing the differing characters of the American and French revolutions.
Thomas Paine by George Romney © Norfolk Museums Service (Ancient House)
Thetford’s Common Sense Club is a legacy from the Tom Paine 200 weekend held in 2009. This year’s talk is presented in association with The Thomas Paine society and Thetford Grammar School. Old School is the original school house where Paine studied between 1744 to 1749.
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Thetford U3A News
October’s Community Litter Picks
We recently held a social in the scout hut at Mundford Road. The idea behind it was for us all to have a relaxed get together, catch up on news, have refreshments and generally just to enjoy ourselves. A walk was arranged and many members took part in this, we were so lucky to have glorious weather plus there was also a little fun quiz for anyone who wanted to take part. We had about 60 plus members there and as it was so successful another afternoon next year will be arranged.
As usual, there are a number of community litter picks taking place across Thetford in October. If you are interested in helping to keep Thetford clean and tidy then please pop along to one of these sessions. All equipment is provided, but if you have your own then you are encouraged to take it along.
The next meeting is Thursday 28th October with Steve Robson of Fools Gold. We have been told the music is brilliant, so fingers crossed and hopefully we will have a full house. We meet at 1.45pm for a 2pm start. Meetings are free for members to attend and most meetings are also open to non-members for a donation of £2. The November meeting will be on Thursday 25th November when we have Pat Alker attending and our Christmas Party is the 9th December with our Mayor, Councillor Mike Brindle opening the festivities. We have booked the Ruby Sisters again as they were such a hit before. For further information please visit: www.u3asites.org.uk/thetford/home Or call Lesley Braund on 01842 8240744
learn, laugh, live
Saturday 2nd October, 10am - 11am Meet at Admirals Way Shops - organised by Norwich Road Residents Association Saturday 9th October 10am - 12pm Meet at Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road Free lunch provided afterwards Organised by Burrell Ward Breckland Councillors Friday 15th & Saturday 16th October, 10.30am. Meet at Cloverfield Church Car Park Organised by Cloverfield And The Willows Residents Association (CAWRA). If you are organising a community litter pick, or are passionate about litter picking locally - please get in touch with About Thetford magazine via: aboutthetfordmagazine@googlemail.com
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The Thetford Group of Amnesty International (along with other groups) has been working on the case of Azza Soliman - a women’s’ rights lawyer in Egypt. Members of the Thetford Amnesty Group have been writing letters and sending emails to various government officials for several years. Finally all the charges have been dropped, her assets have been unfrozen and her travel ban lifted. For the time being the group will continue to work on other similar cases in Egypt. Anyone interested in joining the group (that meets monthly and has a monthly action circular) should email the Secretary, Simon at: john_simong@hotmail.com
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MONEY MATTERS
EMPLOYERS LIKELY TO END UP PAYING THE LION’S SHARE OF NATIONAL INSURANCE RISE
In an environment where staff shortages are endemic, it may well be businesses which have to bear the brunt of the National Insurance rise, says Jamie Norton of Lovewell Blake.
Last month’s announcement of a hike in National Insurance rates – soon to be translated into a ‘Care Levy’ - was not really a surprise, but the way it has been implemented means that employers face a financial double whammy, and business owners potentially even a triple whammy. The headline rate of a 1.25% increase is somewhat misleading. In fact, the figure is 2.5%, divided equally between employees and employers. But when many businesses in the Thetford area are struggling to recruit and retain staff, it may be that employers feel they can’t let their staff’s wages take this hit, and may feel obliged to increase pay to cover their employees’ share, too. This is not a consequence-free move. An effective increase in payroll costs of 2.5% will either mean firms increasing prices to customers, or else difficult decisions about investing less in the business for the future. Neither option is great for the local economy. And for business owners who take their income through dividends – in other words, the entrepreneurs whose risk-taking drives the economy – there could be a third hit as well. A similar percentage rise to the taxation on dividends means that owner-managers will pay the levy for a third time on their own income. You can see the political rationale behind these decisions. Businesses don’t have votes, and the pointed lack of support for owner-managers who take their income in dividends during the Covid crisis showed how low a priority this group is in the eyes of the Chancellor.
company during the current tax year to avoid the hike in dividend tax from next April (a move which only works if doing so does not put the owner-manager into a higher tax bracket). No-one argues that the UK’s creaking social care system doesn’t need an urgent injection of resources. It is just a shame that political dogma has once again prevented a mature cross-party conversation about the best way to achieve that objective. Politicians continue to argue along party lines – and it is the already hard-pressed employers of the Thetford area who will once again be picking up the tab.
Jamie Norton is a Partner based at Lovewell Blake’s Thetford office.
Already hit by swingeing corporation tax increases announced in the Budget in April, once again employers are being asked to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the new social care levy, especially in the many sectors where staff shortages are endemic, and where even a small pay cut may result in employees hawking their scarce skills elsewhere. There is little that businesses can do about all of this, apart from plan to take profits out of their Please mention the About Thetford Magazine when responding to advertisements 39
Thetford Police Update I can’t believe that we are already in September and while we have had some very changeable weather over recent weeks, we cannot help but notice that the nights are starting to draw in earlier and this is the time of year when we start to see an increase in reports of thefts from cars, sheds and outbuildings. We can all be guilty of sometimes settling down for the evening and neglecting to check if our outbuildings, vehicles and homes are properly secure and these lapses can be seized upon by opportunist thieves taking advantage of insecure doors, windows and stealing valuables which are left out or on show in vehicles.
Check your vehicle is locked and valuables (including tools from work vehicles) are removed, shut your windows, lock your doors and check your outbuildings.
Don’t forget you can visit our webpage for lots of other crime prevention advice on many topics: The #9pmRoutine is an initiative backed by many www.norfolk.police.uk Police Forces both in the UK and abroad which seeks to encourage us all to get into the habit of completing routine security checks. By setting a reminder on your phone or your alarm for 9pm get into a routine of checking your home, vehicle and any outbuildings are secure, and valuables removed or hidden out of sight. The opportunist criminals look for an easy target. By completing Simon Long checks HP Advert 2018.qxp_Layout 13/09/2018 10:01 Page 1 the following life will be made all the1harder for criminals.
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Brandon Photographic Club It was wonderful to see so many faces, both old and new at Brandon & District Photographic Club’s first meeting since the start of 2020, held in September. October is looking exciting with two meetings planned: the first being Wednesday 6th October. Following the ‘Brandon Challenge’, we hope you will have submitted three of your best images to Tim Bridge on tim@tbridge.co.uk. On the 6th October we will then have the opportunity to look at these images and discuss their various merits before taking a vote to nominate the best image.
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Wishing Well at Brandon Country Park, photographed by a Photographic Club member
The second meeting is on 20th October and will be a talk on a photographic topic. We hope you may be inspired to come along and share your interest in photography with us. We all have a lot to learn from each other and from the experts we ask to join us from time to time. Watch out for these editorials to learn more about what we have in store as each month passes. There is always someone on hand to help with any technical questions you may have. We meet fortnightly at the Baptist Church Hall, 39 High Street, Brandon, IP27 0AQ, at 7.30pm.
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October News Update For Charles Burrell Centre Well, what a month September was! It started with a fantastic Community Day where we saw a huge turnout enjoying the sunshine, stalls, displays, games, donkeys, goats, sheep, owls, the Queen Mary Steam Engine and so much more! A huge thank you for attending if you did and to each and every stallholder and volunteer who helped make the day what it was! A special shout out to the RAF Barnham Air Cadets for their amazing job of car park marshalling. We are already planning next year’s event so pop Sunday 4th September in your diaries! Many of you know that the Engine Room café underwent an extensive refurbishment so that we could build a training kitchen. Tracy and Jon are excited to be back in the swing of things and in particular would love to hear from any school or community group that may like to run cookery skills classes or workshops. They have already had interest from a couple of the local schools but are always keen to hear from other people or groups. You’re never too old or too young to get those cooking skills under your belt – Tracy aims to make the courses she runs very hands on and practical. And of course, fun! For further info please contact Tracy on 01842 779867 or email: tracy@engineroomthetford.co.uk Over these Autumn months we are planning a few new clubs and groups in partnership with Keystone Development Trust and with generous funding from Norfolk Community Foundation so keep your eyes peeled for further details about this on our Facebook page and website. All the groups will be aiming to get people together (in a safe way of course and in line with government guidelines at the time), and connecting with each other; maybe learning a new craft, exercising, bingo or games afternoons.
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Charles Burrell Centre Team Member Bev Williams at the tombola stall on Community Day
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Thetford Parkrun Since our return, we have been pleased to have been able to continually put on events every Saturday morning for Thetford Parkrun and every Sunday morning for Breckland Leisure Centre junior parkrun. We have seen a great response from runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers, all of whom have been pleased to be back. We recently received some wonderful feedback about our free community event, which we really wanted to share: “I am always amazed that you get so many happy and friendly marshals, they are wonderful. I go to a lot of parkruns, this one is the friendliest I have been to and the marshals are so helpful and spurred me on.” “My parkrun is three laps of a field, this parkrun is beautiful and the volunteers are first class” “I don't know how I got through lockdown without my parkrun fix. The runners and marshals are just amazing.” We cannot put on parkrun without the support of our amazing volunteers, some of whom do not take part in running or walking the course, they
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come along to give something back to the local community and be part of a fun and friendly event – a massive thank you to our volunteers! I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone that uses the Priory in Thetford, for your understanding on a Saturday morning. We always remind our runners that we are on public land and that the public have right of way. Thank you for having us! I am pleased to say that each week we are seeing more people joining us for the first time. We are a friendly group and would love to welcome you to parkrun. For more information about this free event please go to our Facebook page or the website: www.parkrun.org.uk Nicholas Jones Thetford Parkrun – Event Director
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Simon Completes His ‘Freedom Ride’ On 21st May Simon John, a retired Thetford solicitor set off from Lands End to ride the length of Britain to raise both awareness of, and funds to combat Modern Slavery. Although he rode up the West of England, he spoke mostly virtually, to schools, faith groups and clubs around the UK and even to a club in Colorado. By the end of June he had spoken to over 120 groups and classes of students - and approaching 4000 people in all. Although he started in a 65mph gale at Lands End, the wind was at his back. That evening he wrote off his bike. It took him most of the next day, a Saturday to find a suitable replacement in Cornwall and when he did start, a navigational error made for a 12 mile detour back to his day’s starting point and a late supper. On Sunday he nearly drowned in a Devon deluge. He knew things were looking up on the Monday because every time it began to rain heavily, he happened to be passing a pub. The only live talk he gave was at a school in Whitchurch, Shropshire. He usually managed to meet up with his campervan support vehicle and driver as a location to give daytime talks in places with good Internet coverage. His visit to the Liverpool International Slavery Museum was a sobering highlight. It focuses on transatlantic slavery but is cleverly related to present, modern day slavery. The only serious challenges after the first three days were in the later ascents. Shap summit in the Pennines and the Drumochter Summit (1500 feet) in the Cairngorms were the longest but those on the last day in far North Eastern Scotland, south of Wick were surprisingly and repetitively steep.To date he has raised a little under £9,500 for Anti-slavery International towards a project helping people and their descendants out of indentured slavery. He arrived at his destination John O’ Groats, on 10th June.
Simon said he was particularly struck by the kindness of complete strangers: when he was completely lost or when they waived campsite fees or just randomly donated to the fund. “Although it was something of a logistical challenge, the mere cycling, for anybody of average fitness was not, even at the age of 75, an insurmountable hurdle. The scenery was glorious! I only hope those who heard from me, of the plight of our downtrodden brothers and sisters not only heard the words but act upon it. When we are all aware of what we can do to end Modern Slavery, less people will be enslaved to satisfy our consumer demands; more slaves will be freed as we are able to identify them” said Simon. Simon’s JustGiving page is at; www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ freedomride2021
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Tim Hangs Up Boots After 30 Years Tim Lovejoy moved from St Albans to Thetford in 1991 and at the recommendation of his former Hertfordshire club, joined Sporting 87 Football Club who played in the Bury St Edmunds Saturday League. Tim then played over 500 games for Sporting 87 over nearly 30 years and in all three adult teams, but he is now retiring. Tim (or ‘Digger’ as he was affectionately known by players, opposition and referees) was a combative midfielder, who later played at centre back. He was not a prolific goal scorer, but got a hat-trick against Helmsman and two goals at Hepworth and in the 1990/1991 season managed 12 over the season. One highlight was being picked for the Bury and District Representative side against the Suffolk and Ipswich League – “We won 2-0 and my Dad was there, so it was a proud moment” said Tim.
Tim and other others at the special football match
Tim amassed a total of 25 medals, getting the Player’s Player award in 1997/98 and 1999/2000 and got booked just once – “It was for dangerous play and I made no contact with a player, but it probably made up for the times I should have been booked!” Tim also went on two football mission tours with ‘Ambassadors in Sport’, firstly to Austria, then Germany and Hungary in 1991 and then to the 1994 USA World Cup. And in 2001, thanks to his brother, Tim played in a Bob Wilson Ex-Arsenal Legends Team v a Celebrity Team at Baldock – “I even signed autographs! I loved playing in local football, building relationships with opposition players. I was just a bloke called ‘Digger’, trying to play well. But there’s nowhere to hide in the heat of the competition and you just do your best, warts and all. I loved that challenge to my faith” Earlier this year, Tim received a framed shirt to “commemorate outstanding service to Sporting 87” and on Saturday July 10th, a special match took place to mark the end of Tim and another
Tim with his impressive trophy collection!
player’s careers, with lots of Tim’s ex-teammates involved. “I loved every one of the 90 minutes I played and even scored a goal! It was a special occasion and fitting end and I am deeply grateful to have played for so long. I wanted to tell a bit of my football story, as for nearly 30 years my Saturdays have usually meant driving off to play football somewhere in Suffolk. I guess some people know me as Tim from Fulmerston Church or Tim who takes part in the Thetford Player’s pantomimes, but might not know about this significant part of my life. But now you do…so thanks for reading”. Tim Lovejoy
Tim’s Fundraising Appeal On September 5th I ran the half marathon in the town where I was born – Southampton. In gratitude for my own mobility I decided to raise money towards a mobility scooter, so that the Church would have one available for people who needed one temporarily. If you would like to donate towards this fund, please e-mail me on tim@fulmerston.co.uk Or call the Church on 01842 763241.
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