17 - River Reminiscences

The Tales from the River project is involving young The Tales from the River project is involving young people and adults in collecting and celebrating people and adults in collecting and celebrating stories and media about swimming and other stories and media about swimming and other watery activities in, on or by the Thetford and watery activities in, on or by the Thetford and Brecks rivers and other waters. People brought Brecks rivers and other waters. People brought photos and recorded their oral histories at a photos and recorded their oral histories at a drop-in held at Thetford Library in May. Everything drop-in held at Thetford Library in May. Everything will be compiled to present in exhibitions, films and will be compiled to present in exhibitions, films and storytelling, to publish extracts on the website and storytelling, to publish extracts on the website and in displays, and later to archive it at the County in displays, and later to archive it at the County Record Office.Record Office. Contact the team if you’d like to tell us your Contact the team if you’d like to tell us your memories about having fun in or by the Brecks memories about having fun in or by the Brecks rivers, or if you have any photos, films or other info rivers, or if you have any photos, films or other info you would like to share with us. For more info visit: you would like to share with us. For more info visit:

https://tinyurl.com/TalesRiverStoriesShare https://tinyurl.com/TalesRiverStoriesShare

The project is part of The Brecks Fen Edge and The project is part of The Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme supported Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Here are some stories collected so far:Here are some stories collected so far: Julie Angus: “… on a Julie Angus: “… on a winters day when there winters day when there was snow, and they was snow, and they used to let this stuff out used to let this stuff out (from Smedley’s canning (from Smedley’s canning factory), peas and bean factory), peas and bean and they’d smell, and and they’d smell, and we used to paddle in the we used to paddle in the culvert, and it was really hot culvert, and it was really hot so you warmed your feet up, so you warmed your feet up, but by the time you dressed but by the time you dressed again you were frozen.”again you were frozen.” George Angus: “… and the colours, the colours George Angus: “… and the colours, the colours would be different depending on what they were would be different depending on what they were canning that day. If it was beetroot it would be canning that day. If it was beetroot it would be red, if it was peas it would be green, well khaki, red, if it was peas it would be green, well khaki, and if it was carrots, orange? And did it go into the and if it was carrots, orange? And did it go into the river? It can’t have been that polluted as there was river? It can’t have been that polluted as there was abundant fish…”abundant fish…” Talking about Barnham Common, George added: “During the school holidays that’s where everybody went, whole families would take their picnics and spend the whole day up there. At the Iron Bridges it was always nice and shallow, but very clear water because it ran very fast. And there was hundred of little tiddlers and we’d go down with our jam jars with a piece of string round it. We had a jam jar that has a neck on it, tie the string around there and you’d throw it. You had to be very careful because if you threw it in too hard, it would hit the bottom and break. And you got in the stream, and you’d wait for a tiddler to come and pull it out, take it home. They never survived.” Chris Thacker: (Downstream of the canning factory) “… if you were fishing, you’d go and look what discharges they were giving, whether that was peas, or bits of strawberries, or whatever discharge it was coming out in the river, you’d go back to the greengrocers and buy whatever that was for bait. They used to like the peas, that was the main thing to fish with, dace, chub…”

Visitors have their reminiscences collected at the Tales From the River event at Thetford Library

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Discussing the iron bridges area, Chris added: Discussing the iron bridges area, Chris added: “And that used to be good for catching chub there, “And that used to be good for catching chub there, and if you caught a half decent sized fish, an older and if you caught a half decent sized fish, an older lady who lived in St Giles Lane (Miss Cracknell), lady who lived in St Giles Lane (Miss Cracknell), would always give you sixpence for it to feed her would always give you sixpence for it to feed her cat on.”cat on.”

Barbara Pritchard: “… our sons’ Barbara Pritchard: “… our sons’ baby bath, cream on the inside baby bath, cream on the inside and green on the outside and green on the outside (Thetford Pulpware). In 1974 our (Thetford Pulpware). In 1974 our then 5 year old eldest son had then 5 year old eldest son had wanted to know what would wanted to know what would (and what would not!) hold his (and what would not!) hold his weight in water! So we tested weight in water! So we tested the baby bath in the Little the baby bath in the Little Ouse on Barnham Common, Ouse on Barnham Common, a lovely spot where we also a lovely spot where we also used to paddle and swim. If used to paddle and swim. If he sat perfectly still it did just he sat perfectly still it did just about float.” about float.” Adrian Bibby: “Chap used Adrian Bibby: “Chap used to dive off the top of the to dive off the top of the (bathing) sheds into the (bathing) sheds into the pool. You’re talking about, pool. You’re talking about, what, 6/7ft and that’s off the roof. what, 6/7ft and that’s off the roof. Wouldn’t do it myself. The chap on the gate, Wouldn’t do it myself. The chap on the gate, Rocky Stead, he was one of the people that done Rocky Stead, he was one of the people that done

it but there was one or two others that are mad enough.” For more info and to submit your own stories, please visit:

https://tinyurl.com/

TalesRiverStoriesShare

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Although, for many, August and September is Although, for many, August and September is holiday time - our many groups are still going holiday time - our many groups are still going strong. The successful Open Day in July has strong. The successful Open Day in July has added new members to the u3a groups with added new members to the u3a groups with some new ones starting up. These include 10 some new ones starting up. These include 10 pin bowling, arts, crafts, Mah-jong, Pickleballpin bowling, arts, crafts, Mah-jong, Pickleball and sailing with great interest already beingand sailing with great interest already being shown in these new groups by members.shown in these new groups by members. The speaker for our 22nd of September monthly The speaker for our 22nd of September monthly talk, which takes place at the Carnegie at 2pm, talk, which takes place at the Carnegie at 2pm, is Charlie Haylock. Charlie is one of Suffolk’sis Charlie Haylock. Charlie is one of Suffolk’s leading entertainers. His informative and hilariousleading entertainers. His informative and hilarious one-man shows are legendary in the countyone-man shows are legendary in the county and his books have all been best sellers. Charlieand his books have all been best sellers. Charlie Charley (left) with Ralph Fiennes. can reduce audiences to tears of laughter with can reduce audiences to tears of laughter with Picture by Larry Horricks / NETFLIX © 2021 his story telling as anyone who has seen his “An his story telling as anyone who has seen his “An talk by this local character! It’s free admission for Eccentric Look at Suffolk” and “An Eccentric Look Eccentric Look at Suffolk” and “An Eccentric Look u3a members, non-members £2 at the door. at the Countryside” will tell you. Charlie is not just at the Countryside” will tell you. Charlie is not just a master of Suffolk dialect, he has the ability to a master of Suffolk dialect, he has the ability to Meanwhile, the holiday group members had speak in a variety of English dialects which is all speak in a variety of English dialects which is all a great 5 days on their Northumberland trip in the more interesting because he understands how the more interesting because he understands how August. The u3a attracts retired and semi-retired each one is produced. Charlie was the specialist each one is produced. Charlie was the specialist persons from every walk of life. Its mantra of vocal coach who helped Ralph Fiennes to speak vocal coach who helped Ralph Fiennes to speak ‘learn, laugh, live and enjoy’ offers interesting the local Suffolk accent in the film ‘The Dig’. If you haven’t seen the film then it’s well worth doing so MCP HP Advert 11.18.qxp_Layout 1 19/11/2018 09:41 Page 1the local Suffolk accent in the film ‘The Dig’. If you haven’t seen the film then it’s well worth doing so MCP HP Advert 11.18.qxp_Layout 1 19/11/2018 09:41 Page 1 activities and a friendly new social life. To find out more about Thetford u3a give us a call. before attending what should be an entertaining before attending what should be an entertaining Rob Butler (07990 905891)

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