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REVEALED
Short story competition winners
Issue 180
Jodi Prenger
It’s a fine life Norwich stage beckons for star of Oliver!
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Let’s Talk is published by Archant Community Media Limited (company number 19300) and printed by William Gibbons and Sons, Willenhall, West Midlands. Archant Community Media Limited is a leading family-owned community media company based at Prospect House, Rouen Road Norwich NR1 1RE. The company is active in the fields of newspaper and magazine publishing, contracting printing, marketing, internet communications and television. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publisher. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and, while every care is taken, Archant Community Media Limited will not accept liability for loss or damage. Let’s Talk and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors Code of Practice. If you have a complaint that cannot be resolved by Let’s Talk editor Angi Kennedy (angela.kennedy@ archant.co.uk), please contact the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), c/o Halton House, 20-23 Holborn, London, EC1 2JD, or via complaints@ipso.co.uk. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk
Let's Talk September 2017
Writing competition shows readers have so much talent
T
here is a wealth of talent out there among our Let’s Talk readers as proven once again following the conclusion of our 2017 Short Story Competition, supported by Jarrold. After reading all the entries earlier this month, and there were plenty of them to keep us busy, we enjoyed meeting our talented winner Alan Davey at the Norwich-based store where he was duly presented with his £250 first prize. Alan, from Lowestoft, proved to be extremely endearing as well as an accomplished author so I’m sure you will look forward to turning to page 84 of this issue to read all about him and his winning story, called ‘The Final Score’. Congratulations also go to our two runners-up and to all the other entrants who put so much thought and work into taking part. The winner, two runners-up and nine next best stories, will be used to ensure we have a cracking short story for you in every edition until this time next year
when hopefully, we can do it all again! Another thought stuck with us here in the office this month when we were idly chatting and putting the world to right. It was July 6 and we were deep in conversation about the September issue! And as we always have to plan so far in advance, the terrible thought occurred to us that very shortly we would be planning some articles for Christmas and the New Year. That’s a scary scenario, given that neither of us had actually enjoyed a proper ‘summer’ holiday as yet … and children had not even ‘broken up’ for their long summer break. With all that sort of thinking going on, it simply made us more determined to enjoy the long (although slightly shortening now) warm, summer evenings to the full. As someone used to say in a broad Norfolk accent: ‘Make the most of them summer times cos that winter lasts a lot longer.’ Happy reading as always ...
Get in touch with us at letstalk@archant.co.uk 7HUU\ 5HGKHDG
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CONTENTS September 2017
Issue 180
FEATURES
REGULARS WELCOME An introduction to Let’s Talk
3
POSTBAG Your views in pages of letters
7-13
UPDATE News and reviews
38-39
BOOKS What’s new in print SHORT STORY WINNER Final Score by Alan R Davey
JODIE PRENGER Why ‘Shirley Valentine’ cherishes each role she plays 17-19 SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP We explore The History of Advertising Trust 21-24
62
RADIO ONE’S BIG BIRTHDAY Can you remember 50 years ago? 26-30
84-87
GRAND DAYS OUT ... The Museum of East Anglia Life 32-33
READER TRAVEL Holiday destinations
114-117
BRAIN WORKOUT Puzzles to test your brains
124-129
COMPETITIONS/OFFERS WIN A ‘LOCAL’ DVD A chance to win one of three copies of the DVD of ‘Love on a Branch Line’, much of which was filmed in Norfolk 122
HIGHTIDE FESTIVAL Aldeburgh’s arts event
FASHION A new stylish range of fashionable colours 46-49 BEAUTY What’s in store for September
GARDENING Tips for the older gardener
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Jodie Prenger
51
COOKING Kate Barmby’s delicious cake recipe 55-56
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION This month’s winning pictures from our busy readers 118-119 COMPETITION RESULTS The latest winners
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42-43
21
Advert break
123
SPOT THE PICTURE COMPETITION Sharp-eyed reader can win a prize 126 GIANT PRIZE WORDSEARCH Win a National Trust day pass
128
118
A winning picture
SUBSCRIBE TO LET’S TALK MAGAZINE. SEE PAGE 120-121 FOR DETAILS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS. 4
www.letstalk24.co.uk Jodie Prenger as Shirley Valentine
CONTENTS
HELP AND ADVICE HEALTH Keep a check on your moles
90
MORE HEALTH Sex is good for the brain!
91
WELLBEING The power of listening
93
HEARING Facts and myths about hearing aids
95
RESIDENTS’ GREAT DAY Reminiscence is vitally important
97
OSTEOPATHY Keep those knees healthy
99
104 Stag beetles loving Suffolk
COMMENTARY
OUT AND ABOUT
DOCTOR VINYL The women who love their music
MOTORING A fond look back at the Ford Transit 79-81
HARRY SECOMBE When Harry ruled the world THE LAST WORD With Neil Haverson
45
58-59
130
DIARY DATES Where to go in September
107-110
SUNNY SORRENTO A magical destination that casts its spell 112-113
NOSTALGIA AND HISTORY NATURE MEMORY LANE Archive pictures and stories
63-70
RSPB Why not go a little wild!
ANTIQUES Size matters
72-73
NATURE Extraordinary tales of migration 102-103
IT HAPPENED THEN Historical events from September 76-77
STAG BEETLES Creatures that just love Suffolk 104-105
100-101
72
An Edwardian table
112
Unmissable Italy
CONTACT US
WRITE: Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE PHONE: For all your stories, letters and Readers’ Memory Lane items call our editorial team on 01603 772464 EMAIL: letstalk@archant.co.uk Let's Talk September 2017
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HAVE YOUR SAY Modelling was a perfect way to boost actor’s income Yet again I find I am writing to you about one of the articles in your splendid magazine, I wonder how many male readers have written to you on the subject of vintage knitting patterns? Just after the war I was a young actor getting a lot more jobs in the profession than I deserved. Previously I flew small aircraft for the RAF (rather unsuccessfully). In between acting engagements, I picked up some useful pocket money as a photographer’s model. The standard fee was one and a half guineas per hour. Jobs were rarely longer than one hour. However, I got quite a lot of this work, even having to dash across London from one job to another by taxi at nine old pence per mile. If I was in funds and feeling generous I threw in a sixpence tip. This tip was received with a variety of taxi driver responses, such as “your need in greater than mine, mate” or “clean the windscreen and you can have it back!” If I went mad and gave half a crown tip I got the door opened, my case handed out and some
Richard Power displaying the clothes made from knitting patterns just after the war.
sort of a salute. There were only about three of us doing this job in London, Gordon Hale, Roger Moore and yours truly. I believe I got most of these jobs as I was usually
available. I enclose some pictures for Charlotte Philcox’s collection. RICHARD POWER Downham Market Norfolk
Are you a five-generation family just like this happy gathering? I don’t know if readers are interested in this photograph of my family? It is a five-generation photograph with my nan Audrey Wright (94) from North Walsham; on the left, me, Lynnette Archer (46); then my mum, Angela Williamson (66); my daughter, Holly Vertigan (23),
Subscribe to Let’s Talk. See page 121. Let's Talk September 2017
and my granddaughter, Madison Vertigan (eight weeks). LYNNETTE ARCHER By email Editor’s note: Do you have a five generation family? We’d love to see a photo of you all. Share your family story: email letstalk@archant.co.uk
Read previous letters at www.letstalk24.co.uk 7
Trying so hard to miss sports day
badge project and was pictured wearing the costume of a red cloak and conical hat. Since then, I have continued to study Castle Rising’s history and this year discovered my seven times great grandmother was an almshouse ‘sister’ in 1827, aged 93. Keep up the good work with Let’s Talk. Perhaps I shall find other family connections within its pages.
With reference to the letter from Geoff Billington (July issue) about why sports day was so important. Sports day may have been an important day in the school calendar, especially for those sporty families. At Sprowston First School I actually enjoyed sports day because it was seen as a ‘traditional’ board games day (inside) and fun outside. We all had our various colours and were timed. The headteacher was pretty laid back. But when it came to Framlingham Earl School, it didn’t help at all with my special needs, including dyspraxia and it was a struggle for me to make friends. Also, with my poor coordination it meant I was always the last to be picked for the football team. I only liked table tennis. I used to hate the thought of sports day. In an assembly we were all placed in various teams. I used to practically beg my mum to let me have sports day off at high school as I had a good record of attendance for the rest of the year. I tried everything. If begging and pleading failed, I pretended to be unwell. I was lucky because I managed to miss four out of five sports days at Framlingham Earl school and the one that I did attend, one of the learning support teachers turned up in the most hideous trousers, which came halfway up her legs, which both me and my friend Paul, found hilarious.
Miss S BOWMAN Whittlesey Cambridgeshire
MARCUS MOORE Sprowston Norfolk
Letter writer S Bowman recalls a visit to Trinity almshouses in the 1980s.
Learning all about great aunt Mabel thanks to Gressenhall I enjoy reading Let’s Talk and two recent articles caught my eye. A report about Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse in the January issue was illustrated with a photograph of Mabel Bowman’s statue. I believe Mabel was my great aunt. I have been visiting Gressenhall Museum since the 1990s but only learned about Mabel’s time as an inmate when in 2015 I purchased a guidebook and recognised her name. Stephen Pope from the museum supplied
newspaper cuttings about Mabel’s trips to court for theft and reports of her escape and informed me of plans for the statue. No-one in the family knows of her, but census records indicate she was my grandfather’s sister. I have no photographs of Mabel, so I cannot say if the statue bears a good resemblance to her. The March issue contained a photograph of the Trinity almshouses at Castle Rising. In the 1980s I visited the almshouses for a Girl Guides’ heritage
Email letters to: letstalk@archant.co.uk
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POSTBAG CONTACT US
WRITE: Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE PHONE: 01603 772116 EMAIL: letstalk@archant.co.uk
Aylsham WI clocks up 95 years I am a member of Aylsham WI and have details of the photograph from page 71 of the July edition of Let’s Talk. The photo is of Aylsham Evening WI as it was then known. In 1980 there were three WI groups in Aylsham, after the two more recently formed groups closed the original group which was founded in 1922, reverting to their original name of Aylsham WI. On July 6 this year we celebrated our 95th birthday. I am not able to tell you what the theme was that year but have a list of names
War menu back in 1944.
Christmas Day menu for the brave airmen Aylsham Evening WI pictured back in 1980.
of the members taking part Left to right, back row: Jean Davy, Sarah Perrett, Joan Girling, Tina Kirby, possibly Mrs Saville (sorry no first name), Vera
Kirby, Grace Morrell, Doreen Kent, Jean Craske in front of Vera, Sharon Davy, Lucy Kirby and Ethel Williamson. JUNE CLARKE By email
Golden memories of time spent riding pillion with youngsters in the sidecar My husband loved the outdoor life, being a boy scout, a scout leader, joining the Army cadet force and completing his two years of National Service before a year in Korea. We were married in 1951 and had many holidays or weekends when we would pack tents and travel on my husband’s motorcycle and pitch our tent. When our two children came along we changed the motorcycle for one with a sidecar. My brother also just had a motorcycle and he had two boys about the same ages as my two so my two would ride in the front and his two boys would ride in the back of the sidecar while my sister-in-
law and I would ride pillion on the back of the bikes. As my children grew, we exchanged the motorcycle for a van and I would take our small tent, the children having a mattress on the back of the van (would not dare to do that now) and go camping at weekends and for holidays, until my children left home and we could afford a car and a caravan. I am now on my own living in sheltered housing but I will always have my memories. I am 85 years old. Mrs VIOLET CRISP Kessingland Suffolk
I would like to follow up my article ‘Christmas Day’s Wartime Memories Remain So Vivid’ with this something the airfield museum in Debach, near Woodbridge, sent me after reading the Let’s Talk July issue. This communication was like heaven had decided to send me back extra moments of my childhood Christmas Day, 1944. Those young American heroes homeward bound on Christmas Day: ‘In fading light we heard once again, the drone of those B17 Boeing Flying Fortress bringing back the young surviving American air crews.’ Can you believe it - this is the actual menu they enjoyed. From the records held at the museum airfield: Departing on a mission to Ahrweiler, Germany, after all of the routine early calls, breakfast, briefings, kitting themselves out for a cold mission, they returned where they went through interrogation, putting flying kit away, a quick wash and change into uniform ready for their Christmas dinner that evening. TERRY BASSON By email
We are happy to receive your letters by email. Send them to letstalk@archant.co.uk and mark them ‘Letters to the editor’. Please be aware letters may be used on our website. When writing please keep your letters to a maximum of 350 words.
Let's Talk September 2017
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POSTBAG
Tony’s hard work restores old Lister agricultural engine The sterling efforts of a North Walsham machine enthusiast has brought back to full working order a 1950s Lister agricultural engine which otherwise could have been destined for the scrap yard. Tony White, of Beech Drive, got to hear about the 1.5ph petrol driven machine built in 1951, from his neighbour Richard Hawkes, whose sister-in-law Mrs Gillian Hawkes, of Mundesley Road, had kept in her garage. Her late husband John was unable to restore the machine due to ill health. Now, after three months of dedicated restoration work, the model looks and works as good as new. So the party of three met up for a working demonstration and a celebratory cuppa. Self-taught Mr White said how much he had enjoyed the challenge and job satisfaction on giving the machine a new lease of life. He had worked on similar models in recent times. Lister agricultural water/air cooled engines have been part of the farming scene since the turn of the 20th Century, powering anything from elevators, pumps and milking machines. Mrs Hawkes was delighted that her late husband John’s rescued machine, which he bought from a scrap merchant ‘for a song’ had found a new home, especially in North Walsham where the couple had lived since marrying in 1968. CHARLES THIRTLE Sheringham Norfolk
Celebrating the newly-restored Lister agricultural engine from the left are: Tony White and Gillian and Richard Hawkes.
‘Not in the churchyard, Hannah,’ is a favourite saying Reading the amusing article by Maggie Gallop about silly family sayings reminded me of the following story from Victorian times, related by a dear family friend who died in 1955 at the age of 95. When she was in her teens
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she was walking through the churchyard of her Bedfordshire village when she met the squire’s wife. Immediately she dropped a respectful curtsey only to be gently rebuked with the words: “Not in the churchyard, Hannah.”
Now, some 140 years later, if a family member does something we don’t approve of, the cry goes up: “Not in the churchyard, Hannah.” DAVID HEALEY Bedford Bedfordshire www.letstalk24.co.uk
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Let’s Talk! September 2017
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POSTBAG
Lifelong friends In a recent issue there was a letter about the 70-year friendship between two local women. That prompted some response, including a letter from Daphne Nicholls (nee Hubbard). Daphne and Eileen Guymer (nee Jarvis) were both born in November 1934 in Taverham in Norfolk and were pushed out in their prams together. They started Costessey School in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War. They enjoyed several holidays together with their children in the 1960s and ‘70s. Eileen now lives in Reepham and Daphne lives in Blofield Heath. They keep in contact every week via email or telephone and also meet up occasionally. Daphne is pictured on the right, with Eileen, happy with their wonderful friendship of more than 80 years.
A friendship of 80 years between Eileen Guymer and Daphne Nicholls.
Editor’s note: Do you have a friendship that has lasted a lifetime? We would love to hear from you - and if you have a photo
of yourself and your long-standing friend we would be delighted to share it with our readers. Send it to letstalk@archant.co.uk
Keeping fit long Clare recognised from old photo the June ago back in 1979 Inedition of I thought Let’s Talk readers might like to see this photograph of the Norwich Keep Fit Association taken in Chapelfield Park in 1979. My mother Shirley Blakeway is fourth from the left. JANINE BLAKEWAY-ELY Norwich Norfolk
Let’s Talk there was a Memory Lane photograph of two Ovington children, the picture being taken in 1987. This was a picture of five-year-old Clare Logan and 11-yearold Rossi Wynn. ROD and GRACE RUMSBY By email
WRITE TO: Let’s Talk magazine, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE
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POSTBAG
In their Sunday best in the sidecar
Monthly moan Stop complaining and enjoy the weather
Reading David Clayton’s article about motorcycles with sidecars (June edition) brought back a happy memory to me. When I was a child in the 1950s, I lived with my grandmother (in her 80s) who had a sister (in her 90s) who was a neighbour. One afternoon they decided to visit the local cemetery but had no transport so
asked her sister’s lodger for help. He put the two old ladies complete with their Sunday best hats in his motorcycle sidecar and off they went. Seeing these two in the sidecar made me and my mother laugh. It was a sight to behold. Happy days. WENDY WALKER, Gorleston, Norfolk
Sorry Matt, we should have known better Oh dear, you have done it again! A few editions ago I submitted an article on Matt Monro, pointing out his misspelt surname. On reading the article: “When the stars graced our theatres,” you will find Monro spelt as Munro. Decca decided that Terence Edward Parsons needed a different name, so ‘Matt’, taken from Matt White, an Australian who worked for the Daily Sketch, and ‘Monro’,
from Winnie’s father Monro Atwell, resulted in Matt Monro being born. In later years his name was legally changed along with his family. Constant misspelling came to irk him; it was either spelt Munro, Monroe, or even Munrowe. He said it’s easy to remember, it’s an anagram of moron! KEN JAMESON Old Catton Norfolk
Left holding the dog at the Heacham Show On page 73 of the August issue of Let’s Talk there is a Memory Lane picture of the Heacham Dog Show. The lady holding the dog foremost in the picture was Mrs Lilian Robinson, my husband’s sister, from Snettisham. CLAIR GARROD By email
We have been blessed with some excellent summer weather, brilliant sunshine and what seems to me, like endless days of top temperatures. So it’s a bit annoying to hear people keep moaning about the conditions. “Them farmers need some rain. And our garden is rock hard and the lawn is looking brown rather than green,” I overheard one woman complaining. “It’s so hot; I can’t sleep at night and during the day you can’t go outside because that’s too hot to sit in,” said another. For goodness sake! The same two women will no doubt be sounding off come a couple of months about the price of heating oil and how it’s getting cold and they have to flick the central heating switch and it’s only the end of September and summer’s aren’t like they used to be … We are obsessed with the weather. It has become more than ever a huge industry creating so-called ‘celebrities’ on television and radio. But just enjoy it and take what comes. It hasn’t really changed. I remember some cracking hot summers and some viciously cold winters when I was young. And even now we get some beautiful warm days in summer and some wretched frosts in winter. I don’t know much about climate change but it seems to me the weather falls into the category covered by the old adage: “Don’t waste time worrying and moaning about something over which you have absolutely no influence.” So that’s it. I’m out of here to top up my tan honed during the past few weeks in the garden. And while I’m at it, I’ll check the heating oil to see if I need to order some before the dismal, dank autumn nights and or cold winter days arrive. ■ Do you want to get something off your chest? Moan to the usual address by letter or email – the choice is yours.
Email letters to: letstalk@archant.co.uk Let's Talk September 2017
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$V WKH \HDUV WLFN RQ E\ I
t was the year of a Coronation, of the launch of the 999 service, the ‘thruppenny bit’, and The Dandy. We also said hello in 1937 to Neville Chamberlain as PM, the Hurricane aircraft, The Hobbit and Horatio Hornblower. And it was the year that an essential and much-loved member of my household was ‘born’. No, not a person – but a Perivale clock, made in a London factory which took its name from the Ealing suburb where it was created. And it was not alone. From 1933 to 1939, and then again from the late 1940s to the early 1960s, the Perivale Clock Manufacturing Company Ltd turned out more than half a million of them in this and similar designs. I know mine was made around 1937, because of its distinctive ‘Britannia’ trademark. They made for popular wedding gifts, which is why there must still be thousands – make that ‘tens of thousands’ - of them around. Perhaps you had one, or your parents did. I have no idea who first received mine as a gift. I’d like to think it
was appreciated and loved. But by the mid-1980s its future looked very unsure. It was in a junk shop window in a village outside Peterborough when I came across it. Judging by the dust, it had been there for some time. But I loved its simple elegance, its dark-brown case, and that spindly style of numbers that are so distinctive of the decade. It cost me all of £7.50. Not much, but it could still have been money wasted. Luckily, all it needed was a service and a clean by a proper clock repairer. When we moved back to Norfolk a couple of years later, it came with us, naturally. Every few days I wound up its movement and its chime and its tick-tick and the sweet ‘tang’ of its strike filled the house. All of these clocks could tell such stories of the houses they have graced. Happy times, sad times. The soundtrack to winter evenings of companionable silence, the counterpoint to children’s laughter, or of sombre moments of family crisis. I am at one with a friend of mine,
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, pictured in 1938, when he returned from Munich after talks with Adolf Hitler.
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Trevor Heaton salutes a member of his household that is celebrating its 80th birthday this year: his favourite clock.
Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) with her eldest daughter Princess Elizabeth (later the Queen) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
a great collector of clocks, who says that clocks are the beating heart of a house. He’s absolutely right. If it had been wound up every week of its life, and escaped household accidents or mechanical calamities, it would have ticked 2,522,880,000 times by now (give or take – I haven’t counted leap years). They are only kept going by the effort of someone taking the trouble to wind them up. So every time a clock ticks, there’s a tiny bit of you in it. But one day, it got moved by accident – and stopped. For years my clock languished on a shelf, sandwiched between discarded toys and a pile of old CDs, apparently at the end of its useful life. Then I finally got round to taking it to another clock repairer. And guess what? All it needed was another service. It was also ‘out of beat’, when the pendulum isn’t in sync. Back home, though, it still proved reluctant to run. Then I had a brainwave: YouTube. Inevitably, but still rather wonderfully, there is a video on there called ‘How to Put a Pendulum Clock Back in Beat’. www.letstalk24.co.uk
NOSTALGIA
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Every time a clock ticks, there’s a tiny bit of you in it.
The clock face: 80 years on, it’s still going strong.
It worked. It turned out all that was wrong was that the shelf was on the huh, and just needed a couple of two-pence pieces – maybe they should have been 1937 three-penny bits – under one side to level it out. All being well, I am hoping it will never stop. I love the sound of it. I love the way it ticks. I love the way it chimes, filling the house once more. I thought that starting it up again would give me sleepless nights, subconsciously waiting for those half-hour ‘strikes’. But the exact opposite is true: the sound is so comforting. And I am absurdly, ridiculously, pleased that the clock is going again. In an age when whole skips at recycling sites are filled with the disposable electrical Let's Talk September 2017
The rear of the clock showing the distinctive ‘Britannia’ trademark.
goods of today, how lovely to have something from 80 years ago that is still useful and brings such simple pleasure. So if you have one that hasn’t worked for years, don’t throw it away. Take it to a decent clock repairer. Chances are, it’ll just need cleaning and servicing because – yes, they really did build things to last in those days. Wind it up, gently set it in motion,
and stand back. There. You have brought it to life again. And in return, it has just given you back the beating heart of your home. LT The Dandy made its first appearance in 1937.
!
Do you have a favourite clock that has a special place in your heart and home? Write to us at Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE or email letstalk@archant.co.uk
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INTERVIEW
s ’ e i d o JMR\ DW
IROORZLQJ KHU GUHDP Jodie Prenger stars in Shirley Valentine at Norwich Theatre Royal in September. She tells Rachel Banham why she cherishes each role she plays and how she loves being on tour.
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s Willy Russell’s heartwarming comedy Shirley Valentine marks its 30th anniversary, Jodie Prenger is delighted to be starring in a major revival of the muchloved production. The play, which is directed by Glen Walford, is touring the country and will be at Norwich Theatre Royal from September 5 to 9. It tells the story of Shirley, a Liverpool housewife. Her children have left home and she makes chips and egg for her husband while talking to the wall. Where has her life disappeared to? Out of the blue, her best friend offers her a trip to Greece for two weeks and she secretly packs her bags. She heads for the sun and starts to see the world
Let's Talk September 2017
Jodie Prenger as Shirley Valentine.
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I just love it because the audience get so involved and they literally cheer Shirley on. in us all - it’s that kind of wanting to make something of our lives and to follow our dreams. Her dream was her ticket to Greece.” The comedy, which premiered in 1986, was adapted into an Oscarnominated film in 1989, starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti. Jodie, like many others, is a fan. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who hasn’t seen it – it’s one of those films. It’s got that really, warm northern humour in it,” she says. “It was definitely something I was really familiar with.” Jodie has worked extensively in theatre, TV and radio and, while she cherishes every job she has done, the stage holds a special place in her heart. “TV is brilliant and theatre is, and always will be, very magical.
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It’s a fine life
Jodie became a household name after landing the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s revival production of Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, after winning the BBC show I’d Do Anything in 2008. “Is it me or does time go faster as you get older?” she asks. “Half of me it feels like it was 10 years ago, half of me it feels like it was yesterday. It’s a really bizarre thing, but it just gave me everything I always dreamed of – and I think that’s why I genuinely say I’ll never take it for granted. “I always think of all those poor people who ran up their phone bills . . . I’ve got to keep working! “I’m very lucky to have worked on the projects I’ve worked on since then. It’s been brilliant. It’s a really hard industry, but it’s a brilliant industry to work in.”
There’s something about live stage . . . it just gets me really excited,” she says. “I think when you get to see something live, you really get to see the expressions, you get to have the atmosphere in the room and it’s more of an event. You go out, you probably have dinner - you don’t do that sat in front of your TV at home, do you? “And there truly is an element of theatre which is, I call it, ‘transportation machine’, because you do get to go to another time - you get to lose yourself in a production, which is why theatre is still so very popular today.” Jodie says she feels that immediate reaction from the audience more with Shirley Valentine than anything she has done before. “Because it is a one-woman show and you are literally talking to the audience - it does definitely have a feel of stand-up-esque about it, especially Willy Russell’s oneliners. “I just love it because the audience get so involved and they literally cheer Shirley on. It’s lovely and it does almost have that cult following and it’s great to know that it’s still so strong as it was 30 years ago.”
Poike/iStock/Thinkstock
- and herself - very differently. Jodie is thrilled to be working on a project that involves Willy Russell and Glen Walford. She says: “I just think what Willy did was create something that people perceive to be ordinary and the only way I can describe it is that he does make it extraordinary. I just feel that there is that Shirley Valentine in us all and it kind of resonates truly when you go to meet people at stage doors – men and women, it doesn’t matter, age, creed or whatever . . . we all get stuck in that rut. “And it’s the way that Willy Russell captures that part of our lives - where we all lead these busy lives, but do we really do what we want to do? And that’s what Shirley Valentine, I think, really expresses
Jodie Prenger loves her latest role, as Shirley Valentine, the housewife who heads to the Med to fulfil her dreams.
Jodie, who grew up in Blackpool, is looking forward to returning to East Anglia. She has performed in the region in the past, including appearing at Ipswich Regent theatre with John Barrowman as part of his tour. “I do really enjoy touring,” she says. “It’s nice to see the UK because otherwise you don’t really get a chance to see it, especially when you’re working in the West End.” Jodie has worked extensively in theatre. She played The Lady of The Lake in the Spamalot UK tour and in the West End. She also played the title role of Calamity Jane in a UK tour and toured with Andrew www.letstalk24.co.uk
INTERVIEW
I just fe❝ el that
there is th Shirley Va at lentine in us all. Lloyd Webber’s one woman show Tell Me On A Sunday. There has been a great response to Shirley Valentine on stage, yet Jodie admits she still gets a little nervous. “When you are stood out there and you are on your own and you do break through the fourth wall the most fearful thing is that they won’t come back with a response, but the response that we have had has been brilliant. “Although I still get a bit nervous, I’m not going to lie. When you do have to step out and know word for word two hours of script it is always quite daunting, but it relaxes you knowing that the audiences have Let's Talk September 2017
Shirley Vale considers a ntine of her boringway out ever yday life.
just been lovely, so I can’t really ask for more to be honest, I really can’t. “I still have a great passion for what I do and I just want it to be right. I’m very much like that. I don’t take for granted what I do. You can’t do that, especially not in this industry.” After completing the UK tour of Shirley Valentine, Jodie is due to perform in a new musical based on Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends. “You get all these jobs that you just jump at the chance to do,” she says. “I’ve liked them all. I cherish them all. “I always say I don’t want to be the richest and I don’t want to be the most famous, but I just want to
be happy. “I think being happy with what you’ve got and happy with the people that you get to work with offers far more benefits than this craze for fame which you see so much nowadays. Just enjoy it that’s what it’s all about.” LT
“Hiya wall”
■ Shirley Valentine is at Norwich Theatre Royal from September 5 to 9. For tickets, call the box office on 01603 630000 or go to the website: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk ■ Visit the Shirley Valentine website at: www.shirley-valentine.com
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www.letstalk24.co.uk
NOSTALGIA
6DYLQJ WKH VORJDQV WKDW VWLFN LQ RXU PLQGV Kate Blincoe discovers a treasure trove of adverts and finds out how an East Anglianbased trust is preserving them into the future.
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e woke up in the morning, wantin’ me breakfast, what sunflower spread do I lay on ma bread?’ while the kids had some ‘Snap, Crackle and Pop’. Then it was time to wash up, knowing that ‘hands that do dishes can feel as soft as your face’. Next, off we went to work, admiring that ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’. You might have had a snack that ‘helps you work, rest and play’, then after work unwound with ‘Probably the best lager in the world’. Did you get them all? These are just a few well known advertising slogans from the past that many of us will remember. From dawn to dusk, there is a jingle or a caption that fits the moment, all trying to get under our skin, into our heads and persuade us to part with our cash.
Colman’s mustard bath, 1907. A mustard bath was a traditional therapeutic remedy for tired stressed muscles, colds and fevers.
Some of the material stored at the History of Advertising Trust at its Raveningham Centre.
Start-rite, 1971.
Let's Talk September 2017
Let’s Talk has partnered with the History of Advertising Trust at Raveningham to bring you a new series, starting next month, in which we take a peep into the trust’s archives to find some of the classic adverts and advertising campaigns. See how many you can remember.
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Watney’s Pale Ale, 1959.
A people’s history Adverts express the mood of a time. That’s why they are incredibly valuable historical artefacts. No one can look back at ads for cigarettes from the 1950s stating that we should ‘smoke every day for healthy throats’ without a ripple of dismay. But what happens to adverts, whether print, film or even billboards, when a campaign has ended? In our fast-moving world, they can be disposed of as easily as recycling the original art work or updating computer servers. All those snapshots of another time, telling stories of the way we lived could be lost forever, just like that.
Raveningham’s treasure trove Luckily, Norfolk is home to a
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dedicated bunch of folk who are working very hard to stop that happening. In Raveningham, not far from Loddon, we have the world’s biggest archive of UK adverts. It’s a complete treasure trove of artefacts, reels of film, radio recordings, magazine clippings, proofs of adverts and, of course, a massive digital collection. The History of Advertising Trust (HAT) was established in 1976. The timing was apt – computerisation was moving apace, and switching from analogue to digital became the new standard in business. As a result, the output and reach of adverts increased at breakneck speed. HAT was created to preserve and protect adverts and (continued on page 24)
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“From dawn to dusk, there is a jingle or a caption that fits the moment, all trying to get under our skin, into our heads and persuade us to part with our cash.” www.letstalk24.co.uk
NOSTALGIA
The History of Advertising Trust team. From left to right: Alistair Moir, Jane Jarvis, Sue Staunton, Richard Powell, Eve Read, Sophie Towne, Pam Smith, Tim Day and Louise Turner.
Meet the team at the History of Advertising Trust It’s a common misperception that the HAT team spends all day watching adverts on old video tape. While that does sometimes happen as they digitise or catalogue items, this is a professional archive, and there is a lot more to the job of looking after our advertising heritage. For example, Eve Read is an assistant archivist and Butlin’s project coordinator. Her role involves cataloguing the archive collections, making them accessible to researchers and managing the Butlin’s Heritage Collection Project, alongside Sophie Towne and Louise Turner. Sophie explains: “The team works with Butlin’s to unlock the rich nostalgia associated with the brand and preserve the memories of holidays past.” Some work can be incredibly detailed. At the
moment, Louise is repackaging and cataloguing a surviving archive of photographic negatives from the early 1960s, taken at the Bognor Regis resort. Meanwhile, David Thomas, research manager, deals with all enquiries and research requests sent to HAT. These vary from providing footage for TV productions to even tracing someone’s cat in a commercial from 30 years ago! Then, on the more technical side, Tim Day, archive technician, monitors the archive’s environmental conditions, to make sure they are just right for preserving precious documents and artwork. The temperature and humidity must be carefully controlled to avoid damage. Just chatting to the team about their favourite adverts is a delight. Surely our best-
loved ads reveal lots about us as individuals? Collections manager, Alistair Moir favours the iconic ads: “If I had to name just three they would be Hovis - ‘Go on Lad’ from 2008, Levis - Creek from 1994, and Guinness – Surfers from 1999.” Meanwhile, Louise says: “I am quite a sensitive soul and so any advert which tugs at the heart strings or tells a story is always memorable to me, especially with a good soundtrack. I love the Lloyds’ adverts depicting our connection with horses, and the John Lewis adverts, particularly the snowman battling the weather to get his snowlady some gloves.” Sometimes, the ads that stick in our heads are those truly of their time, Pam Smith, housekeeper at HAT says: “The one I always remember is PG Tips Tea with the original chimps.
However now I would not like to see animals being used in this way – haven’t things changed?” Humour is often a selling point in adverts, and that is certainly the case for Les Hurn, research assistant: “My favourite ad has to be any from the ‘Should have gone to Specsavers’ campaign. The cat without a pulse at the vets is great!” Then there are always those ads that just get stuck in your head, and you can’t explain it. Sue Staunton, operations manager knows that feeling well. She says: “There is one advert that always comes to mind for me and I have no idea why! It’s the 1989/1990 milk advert, putting Accrington Stanley on the map.” The team well understands how adverts can make us laugh or cry, and truly capture the mood of the moment. ▲
Let's Talk September 2017
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NOSTALGIA significant artefacts from a massive range of companies and even government campaigns. This includes cataloguing and preservation work to the highest standards, as well as allowing access for study and research. The archive is popular for historical scene recreation, for film and drama for example. The exact adverts from the required period can be reproduced for absolute authenticity. The online portfolio can be enjoyed by all. When I visited recently, HAT had just received a collection of items from Butlin’s. This included historic uniforms, a bicycle, programmes, photographs and badges, all capturing the happy holiday camp feel of a bygone era.
Vintage equipment required Director Richard Powell showed me around, and I was amused to note the vast amount of premillennium technology, such as VHS players, Betacam tape decks and cassette tape players. It was rather like stepping back in time. This retro kit is required because an ongoing job for the trust is to transfer adverts from defunct formats to digital. Richard explains: “The trust currently holds more than three million items. Thankfully we can digitise collections or we’d be running out of space. Mind you, original artwork and artefacts will always need to be kept – they Norwich Union, 1960.
are genuinely art, and part of our cultural heritage.”
Big brands
Colman’s mustard, 1907.
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For companies large and small, the archive is a place to securely and safely protect their brand history into the future. HAT houses collections from Hovis Bakery, Vimto, KraftHeinz, ITV, Unilever and many more household names. Some date back more than a century. HAT works with brands to help bring their memories back to life. Our region’s brands feature strongly too. From Colman’s to Norwich Union, and from Robinson’s Britvic to Startrite, the heritage of such loved and locally
significant brands is being taken care of. Just looking at them is a real trip down memory lane for anyone raised in the east. We’re lucky the trust will be protecting the rich, diverse and fascinating history of advertising into the future. LT
Kate Blincoe is an author and writer, published in many regional and national magazines and newspapers. You can enjoy more adverts from the trust online at: www.hatads. org.uk
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LET THE MUSIC PLAY ON
\HDUV
RADIO ONE
First came Fab 208, followed by the pop pirates and then 50 years ago - doesn’t time fly - Radio One started broadcasting. Derek James speaks to legendary Norfolk-based DJ Keith “Cardboard Shoes” Skues, who introduced the first live music on the station.
S
itting at his home on the Norfolk Broads, where he has one of the largest private collections of records in the land, he can look back on an extraordinary broadcasting career like no other. And the joy of it is that Keith Skues is still broadcasting – tune into BBC Radio Norfolk, Radio Suffolk or the neighbouring
Radio One origina lly broadc ast on 121 4kHz mediu m wav e.
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Robin Scott, controller, (centre background) with BBC Radio One and Two DJs on the steps of All Souls Church beside Broadcasting House. (Left to right, back) Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Young, Kenny Everett, Duncan Johnson, David Rider, Dave Cash, Pete Brady and David Symonds. (Left to right, middle row) Bob Holness, Terry Wogan, Barry Alldis, Mike Lennox, Keith Skues, Chris Denning and Johnny Moran. (Left to right, front row) Peter Murray, Ed Stewart, Pete Drummond, Mike Raven, Mike Ahern and John Peel.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
ON THE RADIO
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Radio One owes its beginnings to the former pirate radio stations.
Veteran voice of radio Keith Skues, who was one of the first DJs on Radio One.
Let's Talk September 2017
Crowds of people on Great Yarmouth Beach enjoying Radio One’s visit to the town in 2009.
broken,” he says. “Other pirate stations followed, including Radio London, Radio 390, Radio City and Swinging Radio England. They proved hugely popular with listeners, pulling in millions of listeners, much to the annoyance of the BBC,” adds Keith. These pirate stations introduced a new kind of approach to radio presentation. The DJs communicated with their audience. They spoke TO them and not AT them. While the public loved the stations, the then Labour government hated them with a passion. Tony Benn, the postmaster general, said in the House of Commons: “Britain’s shores must be rid of these illegal radio stations
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stations from 10pm until 1am on Sunday nights and you will hear his golden voice. When Keith talks about a singer, group or band we love he knows what he’s talking about, because the chances are he has met them. Who else, for example, had interviewed the Everly Brothers in a linen basket at a posh London hotel while being asked to leave the building? He casts his mind back to 1967 when this pop pirate turned into a landlubber. “Radio One owes its beginnings to the former pirate radio stations. Radio Caroline had begun broadcasting in March of 1964 and for the first time in more than 40 years the BBC monopoly had been
Radio started One 24 broadc -hour asts in 1991.
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ds st wor The fir on the spoken station dio new ra And good “ were: everyone . g in morn ome to the lc e und ..W new so ” g in it c ex io One of Rad
The UK s chart h ingles a s bee aired o n Radio n since it One b you lis egan. Did te Top 40 n in to the coun on Sun tdown days? DJ David Hamilton at the Radio One Roadshow in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, in April 1976. Did you go along?
as soon as possible.” It took a while but on an act was introduced on August 14, 1967, which made it illegal for any British person to work on pirate stations, with the threat of a huge fine and
possible imprisonment. All closed except Radio Caroline. “I came ashore and was invited to audition for the BBC. My ambition had always been to work for the BBC dating back to my school
Do you remember when the Radio One FM Roadshow came to Norwich? Screaming teenagers are pictured at the Norwich Sport Village for the popular event in 1990.
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days,” says Keith. The controller of Radio One, Robin Scott, announced that “hundreds of would-be disc jockeys had been interviewed by the jobs and about 25 would go on air from September 30, 1967”. A mixture of pirates and present BBC announcers. Tony Blackburn was the first disc jockey on air. He presented the Breakfast Show and the first record he played was Flowers in the Rain by The Move. He was followed by Saturday Club presented by Keith who recalls: “I well remember being told by my producer Bill Bebb to be at the studio by 6.30am. I asked why so early and he said we needed a full rehearsal – and he wanted to see my script. On the pirates we never used scripts. We made up our announcements as we went along. The BBC was completely different.” His first show was comprised of live music, rather than records, and the guests were: The Bee Gees (the first ever live group on Radio One); Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich; Billy Fury; Truly Smith and the Johnny Arthey Band. “The Bee Gees sang www.letstalk24.co.uk
ON THE RADIO
‘You are Keith Skues, Cardboard Shoes’ How did Keith end up in Norfolk? He left the BBC to be programme and board director of Radio Hallam in Sheffield. As a reservist with the Royal Air Force he served in the Falklands and the first Gulf War. “When I returned from the Gulf I discovered I had lost my job at Hallam. The station had been taken over in my absence. I was fortunate to be able to join the RAF,” says Keith.
And so it came to be that Squadron Leader Skues arrived at RAF Marham to work alongside Ed Bullpit, now an author and historian living in Norwich, doing some public relations work. When they were invited to the opening of Radio Norfolk’s studios at King’s Lynn, a certain David Clayton couldn’t believe his eyes. “You are Keith Skues, ‘Cardboard Shoes’,” said David, the former station manager and now a popular Let’s Talk writer. “I am,” he
Let's Talk September 2017
Keith Skues at the BBC.
Annie was gale Nightin t British s r fi en the DJ wh female joined she One in Radio 0. 197
David Guetta entertains the crowds at Radio One’s Big Weekend at Earlham Park, Norwich, in 2015.
though he did manage to meet Don and Phil Everly in the Dorchester Hotel in London. “There was a linen basked outside their room so I asked them to climb into it for a chat. They did but I was asked to leave the premises!” he laughs. “I am very privileged to have been a DJ in the early days at Radio One and look back with pride at working with such a professional group of broadcasters and producers.” So, does Keith listen to Radio One nowadays? “I have to admit that I do not
listen to Radio One these days. The music has changed ... so has the presentation by DJs. I was a member of the old school, and I am more than delighted to be able to continue my style every Sunday night for the region from Radio Norfolk r re you with my What a of listening ries e weekly memo radio? Shar e Sunday to th with us at them , Prospect night alk , Let’s T Rouen Road show 1 , R e s N u lk o H orfo lk@ Skues N , h ic Norw mail letsta Me,” says e 1RE or hant.co.uk Keith. arc ▲
Massachusetts live and the following week the commercial recording had reached number six in the UK charts and on October 11 it reached the coveted number one position and remained in the charts for 17 weeks,” recalls Keith. Saturday Club was also broadcast on the BBC World Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service. The show ended at midday when Emperor Rosko took over. “I thoroughly enjoyed my debut on Radio One. I also presented other shows as well - What’s New, Radio One Club,” says Keith, who was offered a staff contract in 1970 working for Radios One and Two, presenting shows and news reading, and then took up a position as editor of the BBC Documentary Service’s The Story of Pop, introduced by Alan Freeman. This was a huge project, a 26-hour series of documentaries illustrating the history of popular music from the 1950s to the 1970s, during which he met so many of our pop heroes across the world. From Abba – very friendly – to Frank Sinatra – not so helpful! “I met him at a studio in Nashville. He told me to ‘get out’ – I think he was suing the BBC over something or other at the time,” smiles Keith. He nearly got to meet Elvis at a hotel in America – but not quite,
replied. And that was how Keith came to put his uniform away and headed back into the recording studio, this time to present shows for Radio Norfolk in 1995. “I love living in Norfolk. It is a fantastic place. I would never want to move away,” he says. Any regrets? “None at all. It’s been quite a life – and still is.” And, on behalf of all his fans and listeners, now all over the world, I would like to say.... thanks Keith and keep on
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ON THE RADIO
H
is voice was unmistakable, his enthusiasm for discovering new bands unquestionable, and his contribution to BBC Radio One – and popular music in general unforgettable. John Peel, who lived at Great Finborough, near Stowmarket, was Radio One’s longest serving DJ, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in October 2004. Throughout his career, John’s voice was synonymous with the late-night slot on Radio One. His championing of new music of all genres and his Peel Sessions, where bands played a live session, were legendary. John was one of the first DJs to give exposure to punk, reggae and hip-hop, before they crossed over into the mainstream. His widow Sheila Ravenscroft recalls: “It was so different then. John used to battle to fight his ground to play the music he played because it wasn’t mainstream, which is bizarre today because the material that he was playing is now totally mainstream. “He would be moving from different genres – starting off with music from the love and peace era in ’67 and ’68, moving on in the ‘70s to punk and what-have-you. But at each time people almost battled against what he was doing because it was new. “His slot was always late at night and he just got on with it, and I suppose that’s why he developed the reputation he had – because he just stuck to his guns.”
A Blue Plaque honouring legendary DJ John Peel has been unveiled in Great Finborough, in Suffolk, where he lived. Pictured with the plaque is his widow Sheila Ravenscroft.
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The late DJ John Peel, photographed at his home near Stowmarket, before his death in 2004.
The late John Peel, who lived in Suffolk, was one of BBC Radio One’s best-loved DJs. John’s widow, Sheila Ravenscroft, speaks to Rachel Banham.
John made his first TV appearance in 1968 on the alternative arts show How It Is, where he first met Sheila, who was a member of the studio audience. They were married for 30 years and have four children. John died suddenly on October 25, 2004, while on a working holiday in Peru. His raison d’etre, says Sheila, was music. “He felt incredibly strongly about it,” she says. “After he died they still broadcast programmes that he had prepared before we went away, because they didn’t want to waste them.” Ask Sheila what she thinks John would be doing now and she says: “I’d like to think that he would still be doing something similar, but it’s hard to know. “He would want to carry on until he died – I know he would. He was very much a BBC man and loyal to the BBC.” In June this year, a blue plaque awarded by BBC Radio Suffolk as part of BBC Music Day was unveiled at Great Finborough village hall in John’s honour. Sheila says: “He was on the
village hall committee. He and I ran the village youth club for years when we first came to live here, and so we spent a lot of time in the building. “It’s nice to see it on the village hall; I see it every day.” LT You can still read about John Peel’s work at Radio One by visiting: www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/ johnpeel LT John’s knowledge and love of music lives on through the favourite records from his vast collection of diverse musical genres: www.johnpeelarchive.com
The late John Peel and his wife Sheila, pictured at their Suffolk home in 2001, with their pet dogs Nellie and Bernard.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
Abbot’s Hall at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket.
0XVHXP EULQJV IRQG PHPRULHV IORRGLQJ EDFN In the latest of our ‘A Grand Day Out’ series highlighting local attractions ideal for a day out with the grandchildren, Rachel Banham and her family visit the Museum of East Anglian Life, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
I
t was the Ransomes Story that did it for me and Mum, bringing memories flooding back of my late dad and his workshop. As a self-employed engineer, Dad had worked with horticultural and farm machinery all his life. He would have loved this brilliant section in the William Bone Building of the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket, which spotlights the world-famous lawn mower and agricultural Ipswich company. We thought about Dad a lot as we looked at the beautiful steam traction engine and then
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learned more about the first lawn mower, power-driven mowers and Ransomes people. And it gave us the perfect opportunity to explain more to three-year-old Topsy about what Grandad did. That’s what makes this museum in Stowmarket so special. There’s something in it that we can all relate to. Whether it was memories of Dad, an insight into how rural life in our area has changed over the years or, in the case of Topsy, just pure fun, we had a great day out. A visit to the museum will doubtless bring memories flooding
WIN
Let’s Talk has a family pass to give away, for two adults and two children, to visit the Museum of East Anglian Life. Send your name, address and daytime phone number to Museum of East Anglian Life Giveaway, Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, before Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Usual Archant rules apply and the editor’s decision is final.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
A
GRAND DAY OUT
The Museum of East Anglian Life is open until October 29 from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm, and on Sundays from 11am until 4.30pm. It is open Mondays on bank holidays and school holidays from 10am to 4.30pm. Winter opening is from October 30 to March 23, 2018 for the grounds only, except by prior arrangement. Opening times then are Monday to Friday from 10am to 3.30pm. Admission is £8.25 for adults, concessions £7.15 and £4.70 for children. A family ticket (two adults) is £22 and a family ticket (one adult) is £15.40. Winter opening admission is £2.50. The museum is in Stowmarket town centre. Leave the A14 at junction 49 or 50. Sat nav: IP14 1DE, Iliffe Way. It is a 10-minute walk from Stowmarket railway station. Parking is adjacent to the museum and there is onsite parking for access needs. The Osier Café sells home-cooked meals, hot drinks and cakes. Mid Suffolk Tourist Information Centre is located in the museum shop.
Take a walk in the grounds at the museum.
Maureen Banham and happy granddaughter Topsy.
back for grandparents, and parents will learn lots too. Efforts have also been made to make the museum appeal to children and activities for youngsters are clearly labelled throughout. Whether it was finding (or hiding) the toy animals in the Ransomes Story, polishing up her letter and spelling skills in the bygone printing section or dressing up, Topsy thoroughly enjoyed herself. And there was a playground as well which, as usual, was a great hit with her. For older children, we thought the museum would be even more beneficial. Its cleverly divided sections include Home Close, Work and Play, Home Farm, and River Rat Nature Area. There’s also the Historic Hamlet, where you can see a Victorian kitchen and privy, Alton watermill and Great Moulton Let's Talk September 2017
The Burrell Traction Engine is an impressive sight.
chapel. We loved the Industrial Zone, where the Ransomes Story was located, as well as the blacksmith’s forge from Grundisburgh and the Boby building of trade and crafts. This museum is where town and country meet, and we enjoyed walking the nature trail and meeting the farm animals. We marvelled at the original clock of Stowmarket Parish Church from around 1620 and the Gaumont chrono film projector that was used at the Southwold Cinema. We were enchanted by the Letterpress Printing section, showing how things were printed in times gone by. There are 20 beautiful historic buildings to explore, including the watermill and the historic chapel. Abbot’s Hall house and gardens are stunning, and there was so much to see, read and learn
through its various displays that we can’t wait to go back. The icing on the cake was the Osier Café where Mum enjoyed a midday meal while Topsy played on the toys that had been thoughtfully placed in the outside eating area, ensuring that the little ones are occupied while the adults eat. The Museum of East Anglian Life is one of the biggest museums in Suffolk. It occupies more than 75 acres of countryside in the heart of Stowmarket. We have walked past it more times than we care to remember. We left wondering how this gem of a museum could be on our doorstep for years and yet we had never visited it? We plan to remedy that by returning as soon as we can. LT Website: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk Visitor information: 01449 612229.
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NORFOLK WI
The perils of alcohol ... it’s nothing of the sort! Maggie Gallop, vice-chairman of Norfolk Federation WI, wonders why we all like to have a drink. Cheers Maggie!
W
hat’s yours? Men drink beer, why? At what point does a teenager say: “Wow, this tastes lovely, I’ll have lots,” because whenever I’ve tried it, I have found it rather disgusting. It’s sour and I’d rather drink mud”? But, I suppose that’s true of all alcoholic beverages. When we first imbibe we find the taste unusual, but it doesn’t stop us having another. If you were to give an eight-yearold a glass of gin they would go “urghhh” and refuse to drink it. So when is it, and why is it, that we persist, until we like it. Why do we drink alcohol anyway? We say it’s a social thing, but is it? Why do we prefer to have a beer with our mates rather than a cup of tea? The vision of a teenage boy saying to his parents: “I’m popping to the cafe to have a couple of Earl Greys with Bob,” seems far-fetched. And that’s another point, if we have a cup of tea, we usually have just one, that rarely happens with the stronger stuff, does it? Do we use it as an excuse to meet our friends? Or is it the other way round, do we say we will meet a friend as an excuse to have a drink? Today the booze of choice is wine and some - like my son - can define a good wine by it’s smell (sorry, bouquet). They like the expensive stuff and claim to be able to tell the difference between a 2006 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste and a 2007. Personally I don’t believe them; it’s just showing off. Let's Talk September 2017
But why do we sometimes drink too much? It’s not that it creeps up on us unexpectedly; we are aware of what amount makes us tiddly and what makes us drunk, so why do some people always have too much? There’s nothing nice about being drunk: you feel ill, and are not even able to lay down comfortably, because the room spins. You do eventually get to sleep, but you wake up feeling even worse. This is not a WI rant about the perils of alcohol. I don’t know many WI members who would say no to a tipple. In fact one of our ‘senior’ members recently complained about the fact that our marquee at
the Royal Norfolk Show had been moved to the other side of the showground, and it was a long way for her to walk to the food hall for her 9am tipple of whisky that she procures from the stallholders. Alcohol is the root of all evil, so they say. I disagree, having tried most of what’s on offer over the years. There is nothing better than a glass of Jameson’s at the end of a busy day. Bottom’s up! LT Norfolk Federation Office: Contact 01603 624580.
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SUFFOLK WI
R
emember the day when Storm Doris battered Suffolk? It coincided with the popular ose’s TV antiques show Flog It! Marian R h b o ok. p arriving at Glemham Hall in autogra Suffolk. The BBC encourages local people to go along to the filming with items they wish to have valued and - if chosen by the experts - discuss its history and merits, maybe links to the locality and finally the opportunity to sell them at an auction house (in this case at Clarke and Simpson Auction Centre, Campsea Ash, near Hundreds of people Woodbridge). visited Glemham Hall Levington WI member Marian to get their treasures Rose enjoys watching all the valued for TV antique shows on the television programme ‘Flog It,’ and decided to take along two with presenter Paul items, not knowing their value or Martin. interest. The first of these was a 1934 map of Buckinghamshire, the other an autograph book she has had since childhood. The Flog it! team has made more than 1,000 episodes of the popular programme, with the staff skilfully guiding, in a friendly and welcoming manner - after all the visitors and their items are what makes the programme. Paul Martin is the host presenter, Ever wondered what it’s like to go behind the who Marion says “seems every bit as nice as on the telly”. scenes of a TV show? WI member Marian Rose Marion says she soon made shares her first-hand experience with Suffolk friends with others, in fact by the East Federation of WI’s trustee Kate Peacher. end of the day “we found ourselves referring to each other not by name, but more by object . . . ‘He’s the old gun’ or ‘He’s the Lovejoy scripts’,” laughs Marion. says Marion. “Jonathan Pratt was been looking for a connection Having arrived early morning, it pleased to see a porcelain figure with the football fraternity, as the soon became apparent that there group, while James Lewis was Cobbold family at Glenham has was going to be a lot of hanging clearly delighted to talk about a a long and close association with around but that enabled Marion 350-year-old Delft pot which a Ipswich Town Football Club. to see some filming of other Felixstowe fisherman had trawled Marion was asked if she was items brought to the event. She up in his nets. The fisherman willing to sell her book, and was suprised to learn how much had a wonderful Suffolk accent, the research team checked its additional work goes into such a something the producers loved!” authenticity. She was also asked short interview. There are re-takes, Marion was introduced to offto sign a contract confirming close-ups and continuity shots, screen valuers whose job it is to ownership, her willingness to sell, which when edited together make find the key pieces to film. The old along with her agreement to be the usual seamless interviews map was dismissed, however, the filmed. Then later confirmation on our TV screens. This can take autograph book which contained of the auction date and agenda for about 30 minutes per item, for what signatures of favourite entertainers further filming would be sent out will eventually be a four-minute Tom Jones, Morecambe and Wise, to participants. LT Find out what happened next for slot on the programme. and sports legend Lester Piggott, Marion with the Flog It! television “Each room we passed through plus some Ipswich Town football programme in our October issue. had a different expert filming,” players. The research team had
When Flog It! came to the hall
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UPDATE
Our monthly review of the news, issues and stories affecting you and your life – as compiled by Terry Redhead
Former Let’s Talk editor Neil Haverson presents the 1943 picture to Dave Welsh, chairman of The Spirit of Coltishall Association.
Barbara’s on parade picture from 1943 finds a perfect home with The Spirit of Coltishall In our Christmas and New Year issue we published a letter from Barbara Bradshaw of Watton. Barbara, who is 96, was a WAAF stationed at RAF Coltishall. She sent us a picture of a remembrance parade she and WAAFs from the base attended at Norwich Cathedral in 1943. Barbara was also featured with her memories of life on the RAF station during a wartime Christmas. In a postscript to her letter Barbara asked if we would pass the picture of the parade to the Coltishall Museum. Barbara’s letter was received by then Let’s Talk editor Neil
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Haverson. When he spoke to her for her Christmas memories, he promised to find a home for her photograph. There isn’t a museum at the former RAF Station, but following its closure, The Spirit of Coltishall Association was formed to keep alive the memories of the base. The RAF Air Defence Museum at the former RAF Neatishead provided space for them to set up the RAF Coltishall Memorial Rooms. Here photographs, documents and memorabilia tell the story of the base from its opening as a bomber station in 1939 to its final closure in 2007.
The rooms are staffed by volunteers from The Spirit of Coltishall Association. This was the perfect place for Barbara Bradshaw’s photograph. Neil contacted the Association who were delighted with the offer of the picture. When the museum opened for the season Neil was invited to the Memorial Rooms where he presented the photograph to chairman Dave Welsh. Barbara Bradshaw said: “I’m pleased the photograph has gone to the Spirit of Coltishall Association so it can form part of their collection of memories of the RAF Station.” www.letstalk24.co.uk
UPDATE
Winning team at Mundesley centre
Just42 just busy raising charity cash
Mundesley Medical Centre officially has a winning team after receptionist Emma Blyth scooped the customer service and retail award at the Poultec Training Achievers awards. Shortlisted from a pool of more than 3,000 students, fellow colleague general assistant Charlotte Hall, was also nominated for the apprentice progression award. The annual Poultec Training Awards ceremony was hosted at the Poultec headquarters at South Green Park, Mattishall. A spokesperson from Poultec said: “Emma is a dedicated, hardworking and diligent learner who tackles every task given with gusto. In her role Emma has demonstrated excellent customer service. She takes the utmost pride in the level of service she delivers to her patients, regularly going above and beyond to help people.” Emma joined the practice in August 2015. Charlotte joined in October 2015 as an apprentice following full-time education and has completed her studies while working at the practice. Linda Marquis, practice manager, added: “We’re really pleased for both Charlotte and Emma and they deserve to be recognised for all their hard work and achievements.” Trophies, made by Poultec students, were presented to each of the winners and each nominee received a certificate.
Recent sizzling summer weather has helped Suffolk charity Just42 raise £2,000 to support disadvantaged young people across the Suffolk coastal area. Suffolk residents turned out in force for the charity’s first events of an
Let's Talk September 2017
Burgh with homemade scones, jam and clotted cream while listening to viola ensemble The C Strings. The two events raised a total of £2,000 which will be ploughed back into Just42’s work of providing social activities,
mentoring, and sports programmes for disadvantaged young people living in the Suffolk coastal district. To find out more or to book tickets for future events visit the Just42 website, call 01394 380 992, or email info@just42.org.uk
Consultation success for area’s new trains More than 1,000 people took part in a consultation about the design of Greater Anglia’s new trains and their feedback will be used as the trains enter production. Greater Anglia is replacing every train with brand new stateof-the-art trains from 2019-2020. The train company published the initial designs of its new trains online, asking people for their views. A ‘mock-up’ of the new Stadler train, which will operate services on the mainline, regional routes and Stansted Express, was also shipped from Switzerland to its Norwich Crown Point Depot so people could get a taste of the new trains first-hand. More than 50 stakeholders from groups such as Greater Anglia’s customer panels, the Stakeholder Advisory Board, rail user groups, local authorities, chambers of commerce, local enterprise partnerships, community rail partnerships and cycling
Picture: GREATER ANGLIA
Emma and Charlotte with their tutor Sophie.
action-packed summer. The Just42 Golf Day at Seckford, saw participants enjoy a round, golf competitions and a barbecue. Two days later the charity hosted a cream tea and jazz afternoon at Looms Barn in
The Stadler FLIRT train which will replace Greater Anglia’s current stock by the end of 2020.
groups, including the Greater Anglia Cycle Forum, attended special tours. Rail passenger bodies such as Transport Focus and London Travelwatch, plus disability groups and the Department for Transport have also been consulted. Mike Kean, franchise and programmes director with Greater Anglia, said: “Our priority for the new trains was to involve the public and stakeholders fully in the design and we are pleased that extensive consultation has resulted in so much useful feedback. “We will report back
on how we’ve responded to feedback and we are looking forward to transforming train services in East Anglia. The introduction of new trains will not only transform journeys, but lead to shorter journey times, more seats and make our service more reliable, generally making our customers lives a little easier.” The £1.4 billion investment in 169 new trains will see every train fitted with free high-quality Wi-Fi, air conditioning and modern passenger information screens, in bright new carriages with comfortable new seats.
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OUT & ABOUT
HighTide comes in again at Aldeburgh The HighTide festival in Aldeburgh features world premiere plays, plus comedy, carbaret, music and star interviews, including actress Sheila Hancock and writer Michael Morpurgo. Rachel Banham reports.
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he HighTide Theatre festival is set to continue its winning formula of finding, nurturing and showcasing the country’s best new playwrights at its home in Aldeburgh, on the Suffolk coast, this year. And, for the first time, the festival is also heading to Walthamstow in London. Steven Atkinson, artistic director of HighTide Theatre, says: “This year we’re focused on what HighTide Theatre is renowned for: commissioning bold and timely plays from the best new writers. We look forward to developing and previewing these world premiere productions in our beautiful home of Aldeburgh, and then for the first time bringing the whole festival to Walthamstow, alongside showcasing work by local artists. “This new producing model for HighTide Theatre of two festivals allows us to take risks and continue to develop our productions with the input of our audiences in Aldeburgh. And then our new partnership with Waltham Forest Council and the National Theatre enables us to bring our fully formed productions all together to Greater London, where they can be seen by a wider and diverse community who would like a greater cultural provision in their area.” The programmes in both locations include three headline plays - two of which are world premieres - and a programme of comedy, cabaret, talks and music. The Suffolk festival, which is 11 years old, takes place from September 12 to 17. This year it also has a new, temporary, state-of-the-
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An artist’s impression of how the HighTide 2017 festival site will look at Aldeburgh.
art, 260-seat theatre called The Mix on Aldeburgh beach. The world premiere productions at the festival are Heroine by Nessah Muthy and comic drama Kanye The First by Sam Steiner. The programme of comedy will include Kieran Hodgson’s 2016 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award
Heroine photography by Helen Maybanks, and artwork by Rebecca Pitt.
nominated Maestro. Actress Sheila Hancock and award-winning children’s writer Michael Morpurgo will take part in ‘In Conversation’ events with author Kate Mosse. Productions will include Mobile by The Paperbirds, an intimate show that turns a caravan into a treasure trove for audiences of up to eight at a time, and a semistaged reading of Sea Fret, a paean to her native Suffolk coastline by Tallulah Brown. Other highlights include Apphia Campbells’s Black is the Color of My Voice, which is inspired by the life of Nina Simone. Meanwhile, singer, pianist and entertainer Joe Stilgoe will pay tribute to muchloved movies in Songs on Film. HighTide takes place from September 12 to 17 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and September 26 to October 8 in Walthamstow, London. To find out more and book tickets, visit the website at: www.hightide.org.uk www.letstalk24.co.uk
Let’s Talk! September 2017
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'RQŠW ZRUU\
older gardeners can still enjoy their favourite hobby We are all getting older, even us hardy gardeners. But there is no need to panic as Charlotte Philcox explains.
Hydrangeas should do well in pots. Picture: Posh Plants
G
ardeners are a hardy and determined bunch. However, despite the fact that we may be reasonably sprightly now, the inevitability of aging is a natural part of life. There’s no need to panic though, as with a bit of careful planning, many people manage to adapt and keep on gardening well into older age. It’s certainly worth starting to plan as early as you can for a fulďŹ lling, gardening future. Getting someone else to do the heavy jobs is one of the obvious answers, but not everyone can afford to do that. And ďŹ nding a good professional gardener who
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knows the difference between a weed and a wisteria can be a mineďŹ eld. Try asking around and see if anyone you know has found someone good to help them. As a rule of thumb, in this part of the country you should be paying from around ÂŁ10 an hour for the basics, to between ÂŁ15 and ÂŁ20 an hour for a qualiďŹ ed, horticulturally trained gardener. Growing in containers set at a manageable height is the usual recommendation for those who may have to contend with a reduction in mobility, or life in a smaller residence. Most plants are reasonably adaptable, as long
.
as you remember to water them regularly. Clean, used plastic milk bottles make handy watering cans, and if you still want to use the real thing, plastic watering cans are lighter than metal ones. Regular feeding will also help containerised plants, and it’s a good idea to remove the top few inches of old compost every spring, replacing it with fresh material. Soil-based composts weigh more, but are the best for containers, so for plants which are going to spend many years with their roots conďŹ ned, choose a John Innes No 3. For everyday use, John Innes No 2 will be sufďŹ cient, and can www.letstalk24.co.uk
GARDENING
Charlotte’s top tips for the older gardener
Lavender will attract butterflies and is one of the easiest scented plants to grow
be mixed with a more general multipurpose for economy. Hydrangeas should do well in pots, as will herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme and chives. Even if you are unable to use herbs for cooking, they are easy to grow, and you can let them flower to attract bees. Scented plants will add an extra dimension to a container garden too, and lavender is one of the easiest for a sunny spot, as long as the compost is free draining. The magnificently perfumed purple heliotrope can be added to a seasonal display of annual bedding plants, while in deeper containers, you could grow sweet peas on a tripod of canes. We’re always being told that raised beds are a good idea for the less mobile gardener. They’ll certainly bring things up to a manageable working height, and if constructed from sturdy wooden sleepers, will give you somewhere to sit and work from too. They aren’t cheap to make, as untreated sleepers (which won’t release toxins into the soil) can cost anything from £26-£45 each, depending on whether you choose pine or oak. As they weigh a ton, bear in mind the cost of delivery too. You’ll almost certainly have to buy in some additional topsoil and compost, so all in all, if you’re planning to go down this route, Let's Talk September 2017
it might be worth starting to plan and budget now. On the subject of how many sleepers to use, for one bed approximately 60cms high you’ll need a minimum of six, using half pieces for the ends, so that you can reach the middle of the bed without having to stretch. They should be fixed securely together with bolts or metal pins. There are many tools available to help the determined gardener. Wolf Garten make a range of lightweight implements, and many garden centres carry aluminium handled tools too. An excellent selection of British-made tools with arm support cuffs and easy-grip handles are available from Peta (01376 573476, www.peta-uk.com). Thrive, the national charity which helps people with a disability to start or continue gardening has an easy to use website (www.carryongardening. org.uk/shop/) where you can find advice and sources of recommended tools for almost every garden task. One of the most useful pieces of equipment for the maturingyet-mobile gardener is a kneeler with handles. I’ve been using one of these for years. It doubles as a seat, so when I’ve had enough of kneeling, I can turn it upside down and enjoy a well-earned rest.
1 Always ‘warm up’ by doing some simple stretching exercises before undertaking any garden tasks. 2 Wear good footwear, with a proper grip, and keep paths clear of moss, to avoid slipping. 3 It’s worth planning ahead to have gently sloping ramps and rails installed in frequently used areas of the garden, to give you more confidence as you move around. 4 Don’t overdo it (the favourite occupation of nearly every gardener). 5 Keep your hand tools together in a small flexible plastic trug, bag, tool belt or apron, so you don’t lose or fall over them. And use a larger flexible trug for gathering weeds. 6 Always keep a mobile phone close by: it doesn’t have to be switched on, but could be very useful in an emergency. 7 If borders and beds are too big to manage, small areas can be turfed over without spending too much money. Similarly, if you have too much lawn, it may be worth changing some of it for an area of gravel or paving instead. 8 You may be finding actual gardening harder, but can still enjoy the visitors to your plot. A bird bath, plus a selection of bird feeders placed within easy sight of a window can provide hours of entertainment. 9 Remember not to be dismayed by articles like this one. If you love gardening, and can still do it, get out there and enjoy it. By taking care of yourself and staying as active as you can, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have many years of gardening pleasure ahead.
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SLUG HERE
A
couple of years ago it was suggested to me that I should use my musical knowledge to give people some memories of days gone by. First of all I went to the WI head office in All Saints Green, Norwich, to ask for advice. The team there thought that the idea of bringing back some memories using old music was great. The first talk on my repertoire was ‘The Unheard Motown’. I was on pretty safe ground with this. The talk features 10 songs that are possibly Motown’s finest, followed by 10 that I thought Motown should have released or tracks it did release but just didn’t promote very well. It was strange really, the first time I did the talk I didn’t feel the nerves I was expecting, perhaps due to many years of DJing and to Dr Vinyl on BBC Radio Norfolk. What did help was the fact that some of the women were up and dancing by the time I got to play the second track. One said at the end of the talk that my passion for the subject had come across. That was good enough for me. Taking it a step further I thought the music of the 1960s and ‘70s should not be forgotten. So I researched what topped the charts every week from both decades, and turned each year into a talk. Or, I can even turn it into the best sellers of each decade. Each talk contains plenty of music, and with me doing my best Magnus Magnusson impression, odd questions are fired at the audience, asking who some artists are and what the titles are. I also actively encourage people to sing along or get up and dance! Last year Wymondham WI celebrated its 50th anniversary and decided it would like a night of music from 1966. The evening was brilliant, very well received, and this year it has taken it a step further. It decided it would like to have its own ‘Evening with the Stars’. So it has asked all the members for suggestions of their favourite songs, and has ended up with a list of some 60! Luckily one of their Let's Talk September 2017
Blondie, one of the favourites of Wymondham’s WI members.
Hats off to the ladies for loving their music Steve Burns, aka Dr Vinyl, loves using his musical expertise to stir memories in his audience. Here he pays a special tribute to the members of the WI. members, a huge Elvis fan, has a property in a quiet location where I can set up my whole disco in her garden, and play the chosen tracks. The whole idea is brilliant in my eyes. So, what have they chosen? Everything from ‘One Enchanted Evening’ to ‘The Tide Is High’ by Blondie. The range is huge, going back to the 1950s, we have music from Bill Haley, Johnnie Ray and Nat King Cole. Moving into the ‘60s there are songs from The Beatles, The Kinks and The Troggs. And, later still we
have music from Abba, Queen and Neil Diamond. I have to take my hat off to the members of Wymondham WI for coming up with this idea; it could be a good template for others to follow. LT Write to Dr Vinyl with your musical memories at: Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE or email letstalk@archant.co.uk Contact Steve on 01603 432709 or 07917 351163 for disco enquiries.
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It looks like we can experiment in the coming months with some unusual colour combination creations!
$OO WKLQJV EULJKW DQG EHDXWLIXO
The new season brings a new range of fashionable colours. Fashion editor Corinne Tuddenham-Finn asks which colour combination will you opt for this autumn. www.corinne-modelling.co.uk and Vouz!Photography
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t this time of year, I pay very close attention to the Pantone Color Palettes* that are produced after the international fashion weeks and which give a good indication of what colours we can expect to find in our shops for the next season. Led by a vivid Flame Scarlet, the colour palette for autumn/winter 2017/2018 comprises strong colours complemented by a few unpredictable shades for the seasons.
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So, which one will you choose? This particular series of colours reflected London Fashion Week and I really didn’t expect to see combinations such as Royal Lilac and Otter Brown or Lemon Curry with Bluebell. It looks like we can experiment in the coming months with some unusual colour combination creations! Source: *Pantone Color Institute
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FASHION
Flame Scarlet Such a vivid, powerful red, this strong shade leads the way and will take centre stage in our seasonal wardrobe. Insolia® by Marks & Spencer redistributes your weight away from the balls of your feet, reducing pressure and increasing ankle stability, allowing you to wear your heels comfortably all day long. Insolia® is endorsed by the UK College of Podiatrists. From daytime shopping to evening parties, these elegant heels are your staple shoe this season. Super soft suede makes these shoes extra durable. Wide fit suede stiletto court shoes Sizes: 3-8 Price: £45 www.marksandspencer.com
Toast
Toast brings a comforting, warmhearted presence to the autumn winter season. The Horseware Heritage Gilet is a stylish diamond-quilted, padded gilet with elasticated rib side panels, for a flattering and comfortable fit. Finished off with faux leather detailing and a corduroy collar, as well as featuring a warm fleece lining. It is 100% polyester Nano-tech showerproof outer. Sizes: XS to XL Price: £39.95 www.houghtoncountry.co.uk
Bluebell
This tranquil blue reflects connection and a soothing sense of peace. This floral print maxi skirt is in a flattering stretch jersey fabric with deep waistband. An easy pull-on style with a pretty floral design, it comes in a 40ins/102 cm length and is machine washable. Sizes: 10-32 Price: £22 www.jdwilliams.co.uk
Royal Lilac
An enchanting purple, Royal Lilac provides a theatrical link to the other colours in the palette.
Primrose Pink An embracing and gentle pale pink shade. Designed for a relaxed, loose fit, this pure cotton embroidered striped shirt is both light and comfortable. Stripes add a refreshing, nautical finish to an outfit. Perfect the relaxed bohemian look with this stylish embroidered design. Sizes: 6-24 Price: £27.50 www.marksandspencer.com
Let's Talk September 2017
This flashy heart swirl pendant necklace updates any outfit – looking fantastic with a simple white T-shirt. Marks & Spencer has introduced ‘Skin Kind’ jewellery which goes beyond the normal hypoallergenic standards, designed to be extra kind to sensitive skin – look out for the Skin Kind sticker on products. The necklace is 17ins and has a three-inch extender. Price: £15 www.marksandspencer.com
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FASHION
Otter
Navy Peony
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The dependable and anchoring Navy Peony is a mainstay for the season. Solid and stable, the hue takes some of the load off black as a go-to neutral. A gorgeous Together jersey tunic, exclusive to J D Williams, features front pin-tucks, a curved hem and pretty lace detail sleeves – definitely a musthave for the season! Sizes: 10-32 Price: £39 www.jdwilliams.co.uk
Lemon Curry Exotic and spicy, Lemon Curry adds a touch of piquancy to this autumn and winter’s colour story.
Copper Tan
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Let's Talk September 2017
The Per Una Cotton rich anorak with Stormwear is designed for a slim fit to follow the contours of the body (so choose your normal size). Stormwear technology keeps dry with clever water repellent technology. An adjustable waist promises extra comfort. Sizes: 8-24 Price: £79 www.marksandspencer.com
Golden Olive A staunch yet stately green, Golden Olive provides sturdiness.
An update on the classic T-shirt, this golden olive top is woven from 100% cotton with a silk trim for a contemporary, clean finish. A relaxed fit, its features include a round neck and silk detail at the side seam. A timeless wardrobe staple. Sizes: 6-16 Price: £23 www.jigsaw-online.com
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Looking for a much needed break? Spend some times with us at All Hallows where it is Pastoral... Prayerful... Peaceful... We have Guesthouse Accommodation: We are an Anglican Religious Community offering guest accommodation for retreat, rest, reflection and renewal. Visit us at our Ditchingham Convent or in Norwich, adjacent to the Shrine of Mother Julian.
Guided retreats, spiritual direction, or just a listening ear are some of the services available during your stay.
Forthcoming Quiet Days: Saturday 30th September- Holy, Good & Peaceful £12- A day exploring how can each of usenflesh this in our care for creation? Monday 2nd - Friday 6th October- Mini IGR (Individual guided retreat) £220- During these silent retreats you are helped to take the next step on your spiritual journey under the guidance of a prayer guide Residential to be held at Lavinia House. Numbers limited to 8 so book early to avoid disappointment. Saturday 2nd December-Advent Quiet Day £12 A popular preached retreat to help prepare for the Feast of the Birth of Jesus.
ALL HALLOWS CONVENT
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Ditchingham, Norfolk NR35 2DT Telephone: 01986 892749
www.all-hallows.org
Charity Reg No: 230143 www.letstalk24.co.uk
BEAUTY
BEAUTY T
here are some exciting new products hitting the beauty shelves in stores around the region this month, with well-known and loved brands venturing into pastures new. Here’s a selection that I’d highly recommend - try them and let me know what you think. Skincare brand Elemis has announced the launch of its ProCollagen Marine Oil. This addition to its Pro-Collagen range has been formulated with seed oil and a trio of seaweeds specifically chosen for its impressive marine-charged properties that support moisturisation and visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Price: £65, 15ml www.elemis.com
Now is the time to start preparing your ‘Christmas squirrel drawer’, as I call it - little presents and gifts for the family that you keep adding to, as and when you can afford it. Mr F has a passion for Jaguar cars and loves the Jaguar fragrances, so I can see this newly-launched fragrance dropping in very soon. Pace Accelerate is Jaguar’s newest
with Corinne Tuddenham-Finn www.corinnne-modelling.co.uk
Baylis and Harding is becoming a household favourite and has launched its new Great Hair Shampoo and conditioner. The range has been infused with olive oil to add intense moisture and natural shine, while the addition of black tea extract and pro-vitamin B5 strengthens and nourishes dry locks. Price: £6 Available exclusively in Lloyds Pharmacy. www.baylisandharding.com Certified organic skincare brand Éminence has launched the Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream, which is an ultra-rich moisturiser formulated to decrease dark spots and hyperpigmentation while you sleep. Ideal for normal to dry skin types, the formulation increases lightness by 24%, gently fades age and sun spots by 29% and prevents them forming in the future. Well worth a try!
Price: £48, 60ml Available online at www.theskinsmith.co.uk, as well as in salons and spas nationwide. Sainsbury’s is bringing a new ownbrand haircare range to its stores: My Hair Matters. The affordable range has been designed for individual hair types to help to provide a solution for any haircare dilemma. The ranges include Smooth and Shine, Colour Protect, Nourish and Repair and Volume Boost. Price: £1.50 www.sainsburys.co.uk
fragrance which follows the success of Jaguar Pace, inspired by the speed and the dynamic of Jaguar sports cars. Designed for a man with confidence and charisma, it is a pure, vibrant fragrance for a high-powered man! Price: £44, 100ml Available from all good department stores.
Let's Talk September 2017
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Our journey around 1890 Norfolk is coming to an end and it’s time to jump off the horse and head into the Black Boys for a spot of refreshment and reflection. Derek James invites you to join him.
S
o much has changed across Norfolk during the past 120 years but when you arrive in Aylsham, the final destination in this series, rest assured that there is still a warm welcome to be had at the dear old Black Boys. While so many public houses, hotels, shops and factories have closed and often been demolished to be replaced by bland and unsightly buildings, this historic inn overlooking the Market Place has survived and flourished, welcoming locals and visitors. Some other public houses which have escaped the demolition men have had character knocked out of them and have been given daft names. Why landlords think that will attract customers is beyond me. In the 21st Century The Black Boys Hotel remains and is a muchloved and popular public house, restaurant and B&B which is open all day and every day. A place with real history and atmosphere. It can be traced back as far as 1471 and in the early 1650s it is said that Richard Andrews opened it up as an inn but is reported to have died followed a fight with one of Oliver Cromwell’s men who was billeted there. Is it haunted? Of course. Legend has it that he was buried in the garden and his ghost has been seen lurking about. During the 18th and 19th centuries many famous people
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The Black Boys has a fascinating history.
Rush hour comes to Aylsham town centre ... in April 1963.
are recorded as having enjoyed the hospitality of the Black Boys, including Norfolk’s most famous son Horatio Nelson, Princess Victoria and Daniel Defoe. The building has played a leading role in the life of the town for hundreds of years. It is a former magistrates court, and in 1814 a ball was held there to mark the end of the Napoleonic Wars. In 1844 James Spanton bought it and sold off the entire contents, including a gig and six horses. As for the name, it is suggested it may have been named after King Charles II, who was nicknamed The
The Aylsham town sign.
Black Boy because of his black hair and swarthy complexion, or it may have had a connection with the poor black boy slaves who worked as servants to the wealthy in the 17th Century. Back to our travelling companion, Norfolk 1890, the story of 365 businesses now re-published by the Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society. At that time the Black Boys was run by Mr C Stapleton who, it was said, had considerably enhanced its popularity. The directory described Mr Stapleton as a well-known refreshment contractor who keeps a first-class www.letstalk24.co.uk
Picture: Mark Bullimore
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HERITAGE Picture: Antony Kelly
Aylsham Market Place in more recent times.
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“Legend has it that he was buried in the garden and his ghost has been seen lurking about.”
Aylsham Market Place in the early 20th Century.
The funfair in Aylsham Market Place in the early 1900s.
posting establishment. “The Black Boys Hotel possesses a capital frontage to the Market Place, and is replete with every modern convenience to ensure the comfort of guests. It comprises a good number of bedrooms, dining, drawing, smoke, coffee, commercial, stock, and billard rooms, besides suites of private rooms and a finely appointed bar,” said the directory. First class horses were always on hand and Mr Stapleton was held in high esteem by all who knew him for his courtesy and fair dealing. While in Aylsham of 1890 we should also visit Mr G W Clarke, who ran a popular drapery and outfitting establishments on Red Lion Street, while Mr G P Clarke was an ironmonger, oil and colourman, and furniture dealer on the Market
Place. GPC (as he was known) also dealt in the best of sewing machines and made a special feature of cartridge cases, wads, caps, shot and gunpowder. Then there was Henry Page, the wholesale and retail draper and grocer, wine, spirit and ale merchant who also sold clothes at his other shop. And no visit to old Aylsham would be complete without popping in to see C H Ward & Son, one of the largest and most important businesses enterprises in the town and one of the oldest. They also had large and commodious premises on the Market Place. They were general drapers, silk mercers and grocers, ale and stout merchants and much more... they were also the sole agents in
the district for Coleman’s noted Norwich ales and stout. And they produced wonderful Wincarnis, the tonic the world went to work on. Perhaps you remember it...and you can still buy it. Happy days in old Alysham, described in 1890 as an important and progressive little town, full of intelligent enterprise. And of course it still is. I give you a toast – The Black Boys and here’s to the next 100 years. LT
Let's Talk September 2017
Norfolk 1890 is edited by Philip Tolley, published by the Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society, and is on sale in book shops at £18.99. You can also click on www. norfolkia.org.uk
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LET’S GET BAKING
Enjoy a slice or two of the banana, lime and rum drizzle cake with a cup of tea.
T
his loaf cake is one of my simple favourites that is great if you have family coming over. It is an easy bake to make with your grandchildren, but in these circumstances you may prefer to leave the rum out of the recipe and drink it instead . . . only joking! It is extremely straightforward to make as I have used a quick all-in-one method and there is the added bonus that it creates very little washing up. This cake has a delicious pronounced flavour that makes it ideal for picnics and pack lunches. It freezes well either as a whole loaf or as individual slices.
There is no denying the health benefits of the banana, it is a conveniently self-packaged crescent of good things including, to mention but a few, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, potassium, fibre and carbohydrate. Not only are they a healthy option, the banana also happens to be one of the UK’s favourite fruits, but I have to admit that I have never really liked them. As a child, bananas and custard might have been a quick standby of a pudding for my mum, but I Let's Talk September 2017
Our cookery writer and former Great British Bake Off competitor Kate Barmby has a mouthwatering cake recipe for you to try.
would rather have had any other fruit than bananas in my custard. I am not a fussy eater and there are very few things I do not like eating, so I have found my dislike of this nursery favourite intensely frustrating. Consequently I have persevered at developing my relationship with them and have struck upon a revelation; I love bananas provided there is a third party involved – lime! The addition of lime brightens the flavour and cuts through the creamy sweetness of the banana making them altogether more palatable to banana loathers like me. Despite living in one of the most productive corners of the country there are some things that even the green and fertile fields of East Anglia cannot provide, among which are bananas and limes. When I do bake with these exotics
I always choose those that have been fairly traded to ensure that sustainable producers in the developing world get a better deal. Turn the page for the recipe for Kate’s delicious banana, lime and rum drizzle cake. ▲
Super banana
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Cooking with Kate Kate Barmby has a cookery series at the Richard Hughes Cookery School at The Assembly House in Norwich, with beautiful harvest bread (September 10), pretty pastry (October 21), memorable Christmas cake (December 3) and festive baking (December 16). To find out more and to book, call 01603 626402 or see the website www.richardhughescookeryschool. co.uk
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LET’S GET BAKING
Banana, lime and rum drizzle cake MAKES EIGHT GENEROUS SLICES
By Kate Barmby
Loaf cake 65g baking margarine or softened unsalted butter 180g caster sugar 2 medium eggs 225g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 50ml milk 2 medium ripe bananas, peeled and mashed with a fork Finely grated zest of 2 limes Steps 2-5 - line the cake tin.
Mash up the bananas.
Drizzle Strained juice of a large lime (approx 40ml) 15ml dark rum (optional) 50g Demerara sugar
KATE’S TOP TIPS ✶ After zesting them, heat your limes in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds to maximise the amount of juice you get out of them.
Method 1 Pre-heat the oven to 160C (fan
oven). 2 Line a 13 x 23cm (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment by standing your empty loaf tin on the centre of a rectangle of baking paper that is approximately 6cm bigger all around than your tin. 3 With a pair of scissors, cut from the corners of the baking paper to the corners of the tin at an angle of 45 degrees. 4 Then cut out a triangle at each corner by making a cut at 90 degrees from the outside edge of the paper to the corner of the tin. 5 Fold the cut paper into the loaf tin, making sure you tuck the triangles behind the straight edges. 6 Beat together all the ingredients, except those for the drizzle, for two minutes. 7 Pour the mixture into the lined tin and level the surface. 8 Bake the cake on the middle shelf of the pre-heated oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the cake is golden brown and springs back when you press it and a metal skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake. The surface of the cake will crack much like a Madeira cake. 9 Transfer the cake still in its tin on to a cooling rack and allow cake to cool until just warm to touch.
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Beat together all the ingredients except those for the drizzle.
✶ Peel and slice ripe bananas and store them in the freezer. These can be whizzed up in a food processor while still frozen with a dash of vanilla extract for a delicious dairy and sugar-free alternative to ice cream. Add the zest of a lime.
Step 7 - pour the cake mixture into the tin.
Step 10 - pour over the drizzling liquid so that it soaks into the cake.
10 Add the Demerara sugar to the
strained juice of a lime and 15ml of rum. Stir gently with a metal spoon until it forms a thick mix. You should keep some of the sugar crystals rather than dissolving them all. Insert a metal skewer to about a third of the depth of the cake several times, and then pour the lime mix over the cake while it
is still slightly warm so it soaks in a bit. Don’t do this while it is too hot, as it will just run right through and out the other side! 11 Allow the cake to stand until the juice has soaked in and the crystals remain on the surface. 12 The cake is delicious served cold with a cup of tea or slightly warm with custard for dessert. www.letstalk24.co.uk
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Let’s Talk! September 2017
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:KHQ GHDU ROG +DUU\ UXOHG WKH ZRUOG of entertainment He was the comedy star with a singing voice from the valleys. David Clayton remembers the multi-talented Sir Harry Secombe.
In 1975 Harry was photographed raising a smile at the Charity Centre in Wakes Colne, Essex.
I
’m known to disappear for a desperately long time into secondhand book shops. My wife has long since put this to her advantage for some stress-free shopping of her own, and I’m at the age where I can’t help looking shifty wherever I stand waiting in a women’s clothing department so, in a sense, we both win! My latest bookshop foray had me emerging with Harry Secombe’s two autobiographies. Fortunately, they had been combined into one, called ‘An Entertaining Life’. I love
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a good showbiz story, so sailed through Harry’s life with ease. We all know of his origins with The Goons, then his fine singing and later presenting the quasireligious programme Highway which, as I remember, had him singing on hilltops in an anorak. I always hoped he’d resort to blowing one of his trademark raspberries for some comic relief. He didn’t. Secombe was one of those entertainers who started treading the boards while serving in the Second World War. That generation
of ‘turns’ has largely disappeared now, but they were all over our variety stages after being demobbed and then, after exposure on the wireless, became major TV stars of the 1950s and ‘60s. He developed his famous raspberry when in the Forces and would often sound one off straight after telling a joke, showing the audience he was getting in the criticism first before they could! But it was as a singer in his local church where he began and his voice was a stand-by when his www.letstalk24.co.uk
SHOWBIZ NOSTALGIA
comedy didn’t work so well. “Get off with a song”, is the back-up plan for many an act – that way you’re less likely to walk off to the sound of your own feet. Secombe landed every budding comic’s ideal job by passing an audition for the Windmill Theatre where the audience were not, it must be said, buying a ticket for the laughs. He’d developed an act demonstrating how different people shaved while in the Army and this stood out well enough to get him taken on between the infamous nude tableaux. There were plenty of comics rattling off gags but Secombe wanted to be different. He was, in a sense, an alternative comedian of the time. An accidental meeting with Spike Milligan during the war cemented itself when they started working together. They met Peter Sellers and Michael Bentine and were all working on BBC Radio shows, so inevitably came up with an idea of their own. Their first series was aired through the summer of 1951 but was known originally as ‘Crazy People’. It both befuddled and bemused the BBC hierarchy, but the audience grew rapidly as they caught on to the surreal humour. Secombe’s character, Neddie Seagoon, was ever-present with his high-pitched giggle and raspberries and the legendary Goons reigned supreme for a decade. Harry Secombe was all over our early 1950s TV screens, doing comedy sketch shows often replicating aspects of The Goon Show as Milligan and Sellers popped up as his guests. He has the
Harry at The Pleasure Beach on Great Yarmouth seafront.
Let's Talk September 2017
Harry kicks off a match at the Wellesley Recreation Ground in Great Yarmouth, during his 1962 summer season in the town.
honour of being the first star with his own variety show on the new commercial ITV, two days after it launched in 1955, taking the plum slot midway through Saturday evening. All that exposure meant he filled
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He developed his famous raspberry when in the Forces and would often sound one off straight after telling a joke. the theatres, and in 1962 he came to Great Yarmouth for a busy summer season. Back in those days each theatre could pull in a big name for two shows a night and there was a camaraderie among the temporary, seasonal showbiz family. The stars would muck in with life in the town and attend fetes and civic receptions. They’d invariably rent a house in the town or in the countryside around, and Harry took a house in Caister, near the golf course. Those of us who grew up in Yarmouth through the 1960s could feel the heady atmosphere when the town was packed with holidaymakers, and driving
down Regent Road (you could then) was fraught with danger as the pavements were packed to overflowing. Reading through Harry’s story it is clear the slogging around the post-war variety theatres was the making of him, as it was for so many of his contemporaries. This was the last knockings of a way of showbiz life, as TV emptied the theatres and filled the fireside armchairs instead. The top of the bill stars and the bottom of the bill hopefuls all traipsing from town to town and surviving the indifference of the sparse Monday night audiences. I discovered, reading Harry’s life story, that he’d written a novel called ‘Twice Brightly’ which captured life at the bottom of the bill on a week’s variety show in a grim British post-war town. Life in spartan digs and the rivalries between the supporting artistes fill every chapter.
Harry Secombe attracts a large crowd of fans.
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Let’s Talk! September 2017
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BOOKS
Books of the month You can order all these books online at www.jarrold.co.uk Order line 01603 660661
Bruce Kemble-Johnson, of Jarrold, takes a look at what’s on the bookshelves. Drainage Windmills on the Broads
Suffolk Jewels: 38 Printmakers explore the county
Patrick Taylor, Polystar Press, 9781907154614, £12.95
Norfolk Jewels: 44 Printmakers explore the county
Drawing on previously published works, the author here attempts in a small volume to give a full story of mill sites in the Broads, whether lost, ruined or in fine fettle. In some earlier volumes the authors sometimes mixed up details of nearby mills and Mr Taylor here corrects these past errors where possible or gives his explanation for the error. A concise history of mills and drainage of the Broads with an extensive gazetteer follows, showing all remaining buildings/sites divided into their respective river basin, aimed at exploring these sites from the boat travellers’ viewpoint. Many of these mills are impossible to get to easily on foot and, of course, safety is paramount. An interesting look at the subject and packed with colour photographs.
Gathering personal favourites of their Norfolk and Suffolk locations, Mascot Media duo Alan and Marion once again have produced two more beautiful volumes full of East Anglian artists’ prints of the representative counties thus titled. Gathered together are locations that are the chosen artists’ favourite places and that speak to them as they create their varied works. Here is Cromer Pier,
Linescapes: Remapping and Reconnecting Britain’s Fragmented Wildlife Hugh Warwick, Square Peg, 9780224100892, £17.99 Hugh Warwick has spent more than 30 years investigating the life of the hedgehog and is
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Alan Marshall, 9780995465176
Alan Marshall, 9780995465169 £17.95 each
Daring To Drive Manal Al-Sharif, Simon and Schuster, 9781471164392, £16.99 Born in 1979 just as fundamentalism was taking hold in Saudi Arabia, Manal was brought up to be religiously conservative and this is her story about how, as she grew up, she noticed
Cley Mill, Dunwich, Shingle Street and Barsham, near Beccles, to mention just a few. Some locations are well known, others not quite on the regular tourist trail. This is a visual feast for the readers, all viewed through the artists’ eyes and infused with their personal interpretation and style of time and place. (A twin pack with both volumes will be available shortly.)
how differently women were treated and how male dominance affected her life. As a young girl she burned her brother’s boy band CDs as the music was ‘haram’, forbidden by Islamic law, and an inner questioning started to assert itself. In 2011 by getting into a vehicle and driving by herself - an act that led to her arrest and
spokesman for the British Hedgehog Society, and his book A Prickly Affair was a bestseller. He appears often in the media talking about wildlife, conservation and environment. In this volume he explores the landscape that man in Britain has created, a land of railway lines, stone walls, hedges and canals, for example. A landscape that has not been tamed or altered by human endeavour is difficult to find
imprisonment - a reluctant activist was born. A very personal, and shocking, look at what it is like for women to live in the Saudi kingdom, where personal freedom is only given within constrictions and the law of men rules with a rod of iron.
and the ecological consequences of altering the landscape has had major influences on our wildlife. Nature knows no boundaries, is free to roam where and how she wishes, but the constriction that we have placed on her is only now beginning to be understood. Hugh gives a new perspective to show how we can reconnect with nature thus helping flora and fauna flourish.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
MEMORY LANE
HAPPY CAMPERS: One of the great aspects of the Scouts and Girlguiding movements is the summer camp and for these Thetford Girl Guides it looks like the camp of August 1971 was full of fun and friendship. We’d love to hear your memories of camping with the Guides or Scouts. m16823-10.
y r o m e M ne La
In association with Kingsley Care
Let's Talk September 2017
BUY A PICTURE If you would like to buy a copy of any of the archive pictures featured on these pages which were taken by our staff through the decades, please call 01603 772449 and quote the reference number at the end of the caption. Help us to fill in the gaps in the information about these pictures - write to us at Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE, or email letstalk@archant. co.uk
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SHOP ‘TIL WE DROP: Were you among the keen shoppers to take a trip down the aisles of the new Sainsbury’s supermarket when the store was officially opened in Great Yarmouth by John Sainsbury in September 1975? Wouldn’t it be fun to see what was on the shelves that day - and how much a trolley’s worth of shopping cost! m35442-4a.
WHAT A LITTLE PEARL: We’d love to know who these mini Pearly King and Queen are - can you help? They had their photo taken at the fancy dress competition during Swaffham Carnival in September 1969. It was the year that children arrived by tractor driven carts for the fancy dress judging, a motor mower grand prix was staged and a record 5,000 people enjoyed the event. m12207-22.
JOIN IN WITH THE CHORUS: Can you help fill in the story behind this photo of Downham Market Folk Club which was taken in September 1975? m35263-28.
LOVELY LINE-UP: These seven young women wowed the crowds at the King’s Lynn August Bank Holiday gala in 1982 - do you know any of them? m5846-4a.
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MEMORY LANE
LONG AND WINDING ROAD: It was August 1991 and these brave members of Wymondham Rugby Club were preparing for an epic cycle ride to Lands End. Do you know any of the men who took part? e10869-14
LOOKING GOOD: Were you among the 500 people who attended the wine, cheese and fashion evening at Garlands in Norwich (remember the store?) in September 1969? Fashion highlights included the return of the evening cape and an evening gown in black and white polka dot ock nylon over taffeta with a red velvet bodice and leg of mutton sleeves - wow! m12345-13.
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SADDLE UP: The Spinney summer playgroup of August 1971 saw children having the chance to ride ponies and play games together. Have you any memories of summer playgrounds around the county? m16810-29.
IN SAFE HANDS: There were congratulations in September 1982 for four member of Wells Lifeguard Club who gained distinction in the Silver Cross advanced resuscitation course, one of the Royal Life Saving Society’s top awards. Barry Cox, 17, Andrew Grib, 16, Caroline Banson, 17 and Alison Smyth, 16, are pictured with other award-winning members of the team which had aided 52 people that summer. m93817-31.
EASTONS Telephone: 01603 754155 www.eastonsholidays.co.uk Your Local Door to Door Holiday & Day Excursion Specialist
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MEMORY LANE
TEDDY IS READY: Norfolk Showground was taken over by dozens of the county’s clubs and organisations in a kaleidoscope of events that entertained 10,000 people at the Town and Country Weekend in September 1982. There was everything from keep fit to clay pigeon shooting, hang gliding to horticulture - and baton twirling with a trip out for Teddy too. m94103-15a.
A PROUD MOMENT: Can you help to put names to the faces in this photo of men and women receiving long service awards at Great Yarmouth Town Hall in September 1982? We’d love to know more about the people who had put in so many years of sterling service for the borough. m93962-39.
ALL STEAMED UP: A Norfolk stubble field was the scene for a trip back in time to the days of heavy horses and steam engines at the Tunstead Rally in September 1980. Attractions included an 1898 steam engine and a steam roller used in the First World War, as well as a ploughing demonstration. But can any of our readers help identify this man who took part in the day? m74845-14.
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IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER . . . We love this study in concentration when our photographer visited Diss Infants School in September 1969 to take a picture of the new pupils. Do you know any of these youngsters, who must be aged about 50 now? m12269-26a
SMILE PLEASE: What a lovely sea of happy faces in this picture from October 1994 when New Buckenham Lower School held a reunion. Do you know anyone in this photo? j14702-14.
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MEMORY LANE
A LOTTA BOTTLE: Uncertainty surrounded the future price of a pinta in East Anglia following a court decision paving the way for a free market in milk sales in September 1994. The Eastern Daily Press illustrated the story with a picture of Noel Speak of Long’s Dairy in Gorleston, which was already reporting a drop in numbers of people having doorstep deliveries thanks to supermarkets and changing lifestyles. j14469-14.
GOING UP, GOING DOWN: Did you shop at the Rampant Horse Street branch of Woolworths in Norwich in the 1960s? Then you may remember when the store was given a smart new facelift in 1967, including the introduction of the city’s only ‘up and down’ escalator! It was also an end to the store’s counters, with goods now to be displayed on racks although customers could still hand over their purchased to be wrapped. We’d love to hear your memories of shopping there. m5897-40a
STRIKE UP THE BAND: These three musicians were part of the Watton Brass Band entertaining visitors to Heacham Fete in August 1967. Do you have any memories of the band? m5830-20.
WHO’D LIKE ANOTHER ROASTY? This picture was taken at the Duke Street Baptist Church luncheon club in September 1991 and shows the mouthwatering arrival of the roast potatoes - always a favourite with diners. Do you know anyone in the photo? e10877-8a.
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MEMORY LANE
END OF AN ERA: In September 1971, 82 years of tradition came to a close at Blyth School in Norwich when co-education came to class. Joining the Blyth girls for the first time since the school was established in Duke Street in 1889 was the first intake of boys about half the 210-strong new intake were boys and also some of those joining the sixth form, with the students coming mainly from the Jex, Earlham and Bowthorpe comprehensive secondary schools. m16878-21a.
A DIFFICULT JOB: Crowds lined Foundry Bridge in Norwich to watch the Norfolk Police frogmen preparing for a riverbed search at the Norwich Yacht Station in September 1967. The officers involved were Sgt Don Martin, Sgt John Cass, PC Peter King and PC Oliver Mantle. m5989-5a.
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SERVING UP A TREAT: Do any of our sharp-eyed readers in the west of the county recognise these King’s Lynn school dinner ladies who were presenting a cheque to the mayor in September 1980? We would love to be able to name the people in the photo - can you help? m74813-35.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBER PRIVATE VIEW EVENT
Matisse in the Studio
Royal Academy of Arts, London Saturday 9 September, 6.30pm – 9pm
Archant magazine subscribers are invited to an exclusive private view on Saturday 9 September 2017, 6:30pm - 9pm Join us at the Royal Academy of Arts for a drinks reception and private view of the unmissable exhibition, Matisse in the Studio. This sumptuous exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the artist’s personal collection of objects, as well as the paintings, sculptures and drawings it inspired. Matisse drew his collection from the far corners of
the world: Buddhist statuary from Thailand, Bamana figures from Mali, furniture and textiles from North Africa. Rarely of material value, these objects were nonetheless precious. Seen side by side with the works they influenced, they reveal how Matisse’s vision of rich and masterful energy first stemmed from the collage of patterns and rhythms which he found in the world of objects.
The evening will include a glass of wine on arrival, introduction from an RA expert and private view of the exhibition outside public opening hours.
Exclusive subscriber tickets are just £25 www.roy.ac/archantmatisse
020 7300 8090 quoting ARCHANT PRIVATE VIEW
Please have your 12 digit subscriber number to hand (you will find this on your address label above your name and address with each issue) T&Cs: Tickets are limited and subject to availability, assigned on a first come first served basis. Offer open to Archant subscribers only. Booking paid in advance and non-refundable. New subscribers welcome, please turn to the subscription page for details. Henri Matisse, Still Life with Seashell on Black Marble, 1940. Oil on canvas, 54 x 81 cm. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow. Photo © Archives H. Matisse. © Succession H. Matisse/DACS 2017. Exhibition organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in partnership with the Musée Matisse, Nice
ANTIQUES
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hen considering the relative merits of size, it is often said that good things come in small packages and small is beautiful … and in the antiques world relative size can be a major factor in determining value. In some parts of the world small examples of jewellery and objects of vertu which can be hidden and are easily transportable are often in demand. Small items of furniture that fit well into modern homes where the focus may be more minimalist are also in demand as are objects that display in smaller cabinets. Consider for example the Daum vase (lot 49) in Keys fine sale which is only two inches high and a superb example of cameo glass from a major French factory well known for its high quality output. The factory pioneered a technique of fusing layers of glass together, carving them with a design which was then covered with a further layer of glass and carved again, creating a sense of perspective and used to depict the type of winter scene very well portrayed in lot 49 which sold for £1,050.
feet long a rather large piece for a modern home, although slimmer in style than many other examples. This type of furniture has dropped back in price, but the quality of this example and the slimmer style resulted in a good price of £1,350.
Lot 1106, a Victorian credenza.
At less than half the size of the Victorian credenza, the Edwardian table, side cabinet and ladies desk all sold very well and as well as being high quality they would fit well into a modern home. The Edwardian table sold for £720 and the ladies desk for £920. Lot 1149 – sold for £720. An item of small size may also combine with other factors that determine value such as shape, decoration and rarity. Among a large collection of Lowestoft porcelain sold in the Keys sale Lot 1149, a side cabinet. were examples of where these factors combine to drive up value among dealers and collectors.
Lot 49, the Daum vase.
At the other end of the scale lot 1106 in the same sale is a high quality Victorian credenza or side cabinet in walnut with a central marquetry panel and brass inlay. It is an excellent example but at six
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Lot 1115, an Edwardian table.
An Edwardian table.
The first item was a tea bowl, about two-and-a-half-inches diameter, dating from 1790, with armorial decoration. Lowestoft tea bowls usually fetch around £100 upwards, but this example bore the arms and motto (In Deo Potero) of the Rev Lot 295, a tea bowl. Robert www.letstalk24.co.uk
ANTIQUES
Relative size can be a major factor in determining value in the world of antiques, as David Broom, our antiques expert of Keys explains.
Potter who became two small pickle dishes vicar of Lowestoft and measuring about three Rector of Kessingland inches diameter. One of in 1789. It is thought them is decorated in a that the Rev Potter very rare style and only commissioned a tea-set a handful of examples Lot 331, a Lowestoft from the factory soon are recorded. The dishes tea cup. after his appointment. sold for a hammer price of Lowestoft armorial porcelain £2,300. is rare and the local provenance Also in the sale was a small increased value with the result that Lowestoft teacup decorated in a even though damaged, the tea bowl hunting pattern which resembles sold for a hammer price of £750. some Lowry type figures on horses Rarity also drove up the price of hunting a stag. The pattern is Let's Talk September 2017
known as the Staghunt pattern and is well known on Worcester porcelain but seldom seen on Lowestoft. Its rarity on Lowestoft secured a hammer price of £300 despite being damaged.
Lot 337, two small pickle dishes.
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0DNLQJ D GHQW LQ DQRWKHU FURS RI QDPHV Our surnames expert Derek Palgrave turns his attention to the names Price, Dent and Cropley this month.
PRICE This is a very high frequency surname, especially in South Wales where it derives from ap Rhys, meaning son of Rhys. It also occurs in Ireland but to a somewhat lesser extent. There are lots of variants.
High prices Charles Price is a deputy director in the Cabinet Office; Samantha Price is a mezzosoprano based in Cardiff; and Simon Price was a prominent historian of the Greco-Roman period. Dr Thomas Price is a clinical psychologist in Sioux Falls, USA. Shop that had everything Do you remember the Frank Price Department Store in the Magdalen Street area of Norwich? This large shop which seemed to sell everything was demolished to make way for the new development of Anglia Square in 1963. The store was originally set up by Alice Jane Price - known as Granny Price - as a haberdashery in 1885. It grew to become a much-loved store with as many as 40 departments.
DENT This is another relatively high frequency surname and appears to be derived from similar sounding place names in northern England. Its distribution on the 1881 map shows the way bearers of the surname have migrated both northwards and southwards from its points of origin in Yorkshire, each bearing a variant of the
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Vincent Price.
placename - ‘Dent’ meaning hill. Within the UK the surname is very prominent in the Doncaster area, but it is most strongly represented in Australia and only slightly less so in New Zealand. Early parish records show that the surname was present over much of England by the late 16th Century.
A vowel and three consonants A well-known bearer of the surname is Susie Dent, the lexicographer on the popular TV programme ‘Countdown’. John Dent is a freelance photographer in the USA. William Dent and Son are specialist plumbers. Professor Dent is a character in a James Bond film, while Arthur Dent is one of the main characters (and last man on Earth) in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This science fiction comedy has been broadcast on TV, radio, been adapted into a feature film, computer game, stage show and
comic books. There is a website which might be of interest to anyone researching this name, which has more than 1,200 Dent references listed - see www.wikitree.com/genealogy/ DENT
CROPLEY The earliest recorded occurrences of this surname appear to have been in Soham, Cambridgeshire. Its origin seems to be topographical, the first element - crop - meaning mound or hill and the second - ley - a wood or a clearing. Optional spellings of this surname are relatively rare. In www.letstalk24.co.uk
SURNAMES All the buildings seen in this picture of Magdalen Street in Norwich, in 1960 were demolished to provide space for the flyover built in 1971. Botolph Street is seen leading off left. The facing building is a branch of Barclays Bank and behind it was the departmental store of Frank Price, whose shop ran through to the continuation of Magdalen Street just off the right hand side of the picture.
the UK 1881 Census only three obviously variant spellings were noted: Croply (three), Crabley (two) and Crapley (five). Cropley genealogy appears in detail on the Wikitree website which lists known bearers of the surname, citing individual lifetime dates and links to other members of the Cropley group of families.
Top of the crops In 1661 a John Cropley of Clerkenwell was created Baron. His son, who was MP for Shaftsbury, inherited the title but died without issue in 1713. The surname has migrated through Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Let's Talk September 2017
Yorkshire: there are currently 450 instances in Great Britain. Alex Cropley has played football for Scotland. The Rev John Cropley specialises in Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman (right) from broadcasting sermons ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’. on the web. Charles E Cropley is clerk to Peter Cropley is a solicitor in the United States Supreme Court Boston, Lincolnshire. and Arthur Cropley is professor LT Would you like Derek to look of educational psychology at the into the history of your surname? University of Hamburg. Dr David Write to him at Let’s Talk, Prospect Cropley is associate professor of House, Rouen Road, Norwich, engineering innovation at the Norfolk NR1 1RE, or email University of South Australia in letstalk@archant.co.uk Adelaide.
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Historical highlights from the month of September, compiled by Peter Sargent
Picture: MERCURY LIBRARY
1947 70 years ago In American the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was set up by the National Security Act 1947.
1957 60 years ago
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Lonnie Donegan and his Skifflers playing at the annual actors’ service at St James Church in Great Yarmouth. Picture: Nick Butcher
The Wolfenden report was published. A committee under chairman Sir John Wolfenden, which had been considering homosexuality and prostitution for several years, recommended homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence. ■ In the USA the governor of the state of Arkansas called out the State National Guard to stop a group of AfricanAmerican students enrolling at Little Rock High School. US president Eisenhower retaliated by dispatching paratroopers of the elite 101st Airborne Division to keep order and protect the “Little Rock Nine” to ensure they could enrol. ■ Householders would, in the event of nuclear attack, be well advised to keep water in their baths. So said Mr A W Kenney, radio-chemical inspector to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. He was addressing a meeting of East Anglian water engineers at Norwich City Hall. The water would be useful for ‘human needs’ and putting out small fires. In a separate announcement the government estimated we would have a fiveminute warning of atomic attack. ■ Lonnie Donegan and his skiffle group headed the final variety bill of the season at the Regal Theatre,
Great Yarmouth. Also in town was comedian Norman Wisdom. He was on hand at The Marina to crown 25-year-old dancer Toni Pendyck, from Cheshire, as that year’s Miss Battle of Britain. ■ Alderman Leach Secondary Modern School, Gorleston, was the first in the borough to get its own television set. Headmaster Mr W J Walters was presented with the 21-inch set in time for the first BBC schools programmes. Also pioneering a TV in school was Beccles County Modern.
1967 50 years ago Stormy weather in the first week of September brought trouble for Broads holidaymakers. Three cruisers were run aground and holed as strong winds and an
The BBC’s transmitting station at Tacolneston.
www.letstalk24.co.uk
HISTORY exceptionally low tide created bad conditions for hire craft. Two boats from Wroxham ran aground on stakes at Breydon Water. The Gorleston inshore rescue craft took people off and landed them at Berney Arms. In the gale-swept North Sea, 52ft cutter Theodora spent 18 hours in peril, with 14 people on board, eight of them under 21. Found by a German coaster, the ship was taken in by the new Gorleston lifeboat Khami. ■ BBC Radio took on a new form. The Light Programme split into Radio One, based on pirate Radio London, and Radio Two; the Third Programme became Radio Three, while talk radio the Home Service was renamed Radio Four. ■ The Crown Colony of Gibraltar voted in a referendum on union with Spain. A total of 44 out of 12,182 voters was in favour; 95 per cent elected to stay British. ■ Television sets showing brand new colour pictures were the main attraction at an open day held at the BBC’s transmitting station at Tacolneston, Norfolk. An estimated 6,000 people queued up to see the displays, which included two of Doctor Who’s enemies, the Daleks.
1977 40 years ago Five lads from New Catton, Norwich, had taken up the new craze for skateboarding. Dale Hartle, Stephen Warnes, John Hartle, Dale Woodbine and John Coombs included ‘Evel Knievel’type stunts in their repertoire. They told the Eastern Daily Press newspaper they hoped to hold championships on a purpose-
In Starsky and Hutch, Paul Michael Glaser starred in the role of Starsky.
Comedian Russ Abbot will be 70 on September 16.
built course. Fears were growing of children skateboarding unsupervised in Norwich car parks and subways. ■ Violent television programmes such as Starsky and Hutch and The Rockford Files were linked to teenage violence in a new report. Based on a two-year study of 13-to-16-year-old London boys, it concluded those who watched such shows were 50% more likely to commit violence than those who had not. Starsky and Hutch was a BBC Saturday night stalwart in the pre-Match of the Day slot. You could also watch The Dick Emery Show and Parkinson on a Saturday night. ■ African National Congress activist Steve Biko died in police custody in Pretoria, South Africa.
His death sparked unrest in the country. ■ Glam rocker Marc Bolan died in a car crash. The 29-year-old T-Rex frontman was a passenger in a vehicle which hit a fence post in Barnes, London. ■ Thousands of spectators lined the sea front in Lowestoft to marvel at aerobatics by the Red Arrows. The RAF’s display team was making its sixth annual visit to the Suffolk resort. ■ Freddie Laker’s Skytrain made its first flight from Gatwick to New York. The no-frills airline sold transatlantic tickets at £59 (estimated at £331 in today’s values). Laker said he was bringing “cheap travel to the people with the will to travel but not the means”. LT
Births
1947 Sep 16 Russ Abbot, comedian, Sep 17 Dame Tessa Jowell, politician, Sep 21 Stephen King, American horror story writer, Sep 27 Meat Loaf (Michael Lee Adney) rock star, pictured left, Sep 30 Marc Bolan, glam rocker, T-Rex, died 1977, pictured right.
Deaths
1937 Sep 2 Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games, born 1863; 1957 Sep 20 Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer, born 1865; 1967 Sep 1 Siegfried Sassoon, war poet, born 1886; 1977 Sep 16 Maria Callas, soprano, born 1923.
Meatloaf. Let's Talk September 2017
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www.letstalk24.co.uk
MOTORING
7KH 7UDQVLW ZRUNKRUVH WKDW©V VHUYHG XV VR ZHOO IRU WKH SDVW \HDUV Motoring writer David Clayton shares his memories of the Ford Transit and meets a real fan of the van.
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Let's Talk September 2017
Ford Transit, Fifty Years by Peter Lee.
a rare undulating route around these parts and, when empty roads permitted, would feel the need to test the brakes. This advanced version of the ‘Tranny Slalom’ had a brave soul standing up and trying to maintain his balance. I’m sure we succumbed to the odd bruise, but in the end, all we can recall as we sit around now with a beer, is hysterical laughter. It probably
stretched a law back then and would surely break one now. Sorry Officer! We loved the Transit. Not only was it perfect for a mobile disco, it was a nice van to ride in. When Ford launched it in 1965 it was different from what went before, offering car-like comfort for the driver and front passengers. However, a motoring writer who test-drove it at the time ▲
’m not proud of what I’m about to tell you, but when my old DJ mates and I get together we recall it with much mirth. Let me set the scene. Back in the day we had a Ford Transit van and in it we carried the paraphernalia of a mobile disco hither and thither across East Anglia. There were disco decks, speakers, lights and - long before the age when a DJ could put thousands of tunes in his pocket on a tiny memory stick lots of hefty record boxes. By the time we acquired it, the ‘Tranny’, as we affectionately called it, had already seen sterling service with a well-known security firm and as such, had a small oval window set at the top of one of the van’s sides. This, we assumed, was to spy on possible assailants when large sums of money were transferred. It held little purpose for us - unless heavily ‘tooled’ thieves were about to rob us of the latest T. Rex single! When empty of gear the van had a cavernous load space and, despite us having a very comfortable coach seat installed in the front, it was huge fun to ride in the back sitting on the metal floor. Do put this down to the recklessness of youth, because the general sliding about became known as the ‘Tranny Slalom’. If three or four of us were in the back, the driver would endeavour to turn late into bends, seek out
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maintained that the Transit would never catch on because it was just a bit too wide for the domestic driveways of the plumbers, electricians and builders it was aiming at. Much to the on-going stress of my mother, it just squeezed between the gateposts on our driveway with an inch to spare on each side. I became quite adept at reversing it in. She was also worried what the neighbours would think as the large van rather dwarfed the drive, garage and front garden. Transits caught on quickly and very soon were everywhere on our roads, establishing themselves as an efficient and stylish workhorse. The transverse engine saved space and was in front of the driver. Up until then, most vans had the engine pretty much beside the driver. As a mobile disco, we’d stepped up from a Bedford CA van which was noisy, as the driver and passengers sat either side of the engine compartment. In fact, we only had to remove a sloping panel between us to see it! We could certainly hear it and smell it.
In praise of the Transit
Thanks to Peter Lee who runs the main Transit enthusiasts’ website, I’ve delved back into its history and
David Clayton fondly remembers his Transit van.
it was Henry Ford Junior who had the vision to build one van for the whole European market. Up to that point, Ford in Germany was making a van and so was Ford in the UK. They were virtually competing. Until the first Transit rolled off the production line for sale in 1965, Ford had invested some eight or
The Ford Transit club’s display at an exhibition at the NEC earlier this year.
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so years getting it right. It went to great lengths, spending months watching builders load and unload stuff from lorries and vans. Researchers went around with milk delivery people noting what would make their life easier. In short, the research was thorough and more to the point, not rushed. Panels of any sort don’t take kindly to being propped at an angle, so one of the first things to be insisted on was the van had to be big enough and wide enough for a builder to lay a sheet of something eight-feet-by-four-feet flat on the floor. Peter says Ford engineers used to bomb up and down the A2 in Kent with the prototypes, piling on the test miles to check for any flaws. In the end, they handed over an embryonic Transit van to some motoring journalists who took it out but came back complaining of a thunderous roar coming from the back of the vehicle. Puzzled, the Transit boffins couldn’t replicate the problem. They invited the journos back at Ford’s expense and off they went again, this time monitored. A warm day had meant they had opened the sliding doors and once up to speed the www.letstalk24.co.uk
MOTORING
The Ford Transit club shows off its love of the van.
The iconic Ford Transit.
❝
When Ford launched it in 1965 it was different from what went before, offering carlike comfort for the driver and front passengers.
David Clayton and his mobile disco friends with the DJ equipment they used to carry in the back of the Ford Transit.
noise appeared. It was simply the air rushing into the van and having no means of escaping so the side panels were vibrating and rumbling in just the way a sound effects man would create thunder. So, three small vents were cut into the back panel on either side – problem solved. That’s how thorough the development was! Peter has 10 - yes, 10 - Transits of his own! He has one of the oldest Mk 1s from 1965 and just loves driving them. He remembers them coming out, as his Dad ran one of the largest Ford dealerships in the country and would bring all sorts of vehicles home to try out. Peter then went on to work on the Transit production line at Langley. He takes his vans to motor shows and says he should make a video booth for people to record their Transit stories - he’s heard loads.
He knows of some Scouts who took a trip round Europe in one, found themselves on the Blue Peter TV programme then, emboldened by their fame, went off to Australia in a Transit – and made it there and back! It was the favoured transport for budding bands before they had chart hits and could afford tour buses, so Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich crammed themselves into a Transit, as did The Small Faces, Elton John and Jools Holland on the way to building their pop careers. Transits have been converted into all sorts – Dormobiles, ambulances, ice cream vans and it’s pretty certain most of what we consume has found its way to us thanks to a Transit, at some time. Peter says his attachment to them is largely around the fact the
Let's Talk September 2017
Transit has provided for his family. It’s how he’s earned his living, put food on the table and a roof over his head. He’s still earning it with a splendid book and another coming out soon. All I know is, I’d still love to have my Transit – but these days, don’t ask me to stand in the back! LT Peter Lee’s ‘Ford Transit Fifty Years’ is out now and his forthcoming book ‘Ford Transit – The Making of an Icon’ is out soon. The website for all things Transit can be founds at: www.transitvanclub.co.uk If you used to own or regularly drive a Ford Transit and have a story to tell, Let’s Talk would love to hear about it. Write to Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE or email letstalk@ archant.co.uk
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CITIZENS ADVICE
What you need to know about Universal Credit The Universal Credit system is explained by Janet John, chief executive of Citizens Advice North East Suffolk. Picture: MangoStar_Studio/iStock/Thinkstock
U
niversal Credit, heralded as the single biggest change to our welfare system since its introduction around 70 years ago, is revolutionising the benefits system for all working age adults. Gone will be the need to claim a complex matrix of six different benefits, which frequently leaves people worse off in work. The dreaded tax credits will be consigned to history and in their place will be a single benefit, aimed at making work pay and which, like wages, will be paid monthly. Currently only available to single people, Universal Credit is being extended to everyone of working age. In East Anglia, this extended ‘full service’ only applies to people living in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft but is set to include the whole of Suffolk and Norfolk by September 2018. Once fully rolled out an estimated 7.2 million families in the UK will be receiving Universal Credit. Often called the ‘Lobster Pot’ - because once you’re in you can’t get out - Universal Credit makes it easier for people to make the transition into work, cope with changes in hours, or redundancy, as entitlement automatically reflects the changes in work patterns. This is good news - it gives employers and workers greater flexibility. People will be able to take short-term, part-time or irregular work, or work extra hours to meet peeks in business demands without losing out financially - saving employers the extra costs of recruiting and training new staff and the administrative burden on employers is minimal – a single report to HMRC under PAYE Let's Talk September 2017
triggers any changes needed to the employee’s Universal Credit. Landlords will not fair so well! Experience in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft demonstrates that a single payment which includes rent support has seen rent arrears escalate. Direct payments to landlords are severely restricted and, as claimants have to wait a minimum of six weeks (sometimes more than 12 weeks) before their first payment, it means tenants almost inevitably fall into rent arrears, face mounting debts and even homelessness, while causing landlords cash flow problems and the added difficulty of recovering arrears. All claims are made online, which is challenging for people with poor IT skills or for those living in areas with inadequate broadband connectivity! Work coaches at the Job Centre agree Claimant Commitments and help people
prepare for and find work. There is provision to help people with budgeting, all claims are managed online with everyone having to log into their own online account on a daily basis to record their job searches, check for updates and report changes. Universal Credit is constantly being refined as the roll-out progresses, but significant changes and further investment is needed if this much sought-after cultural change is to achieve the ultimate goal of ‘making work pay’. LT For more information or help from Citizes Advice, viwit the website www.citizensadvice.org.uk where you can also find details of your nearest office. If you are in Norfolk, you can call the Adviceline on 03444 111444 any weekday between 9.30am and 4pm or email public@ncab.org.uk
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Sponsored by
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The 2017 Let’s Talk Short Story Competition had some brilliant entries - and this year’s worthy winners and runners-up have now been chosen.
Alan R Davey (third from left) accepts his winner’s voucher from Chris Rushby, Jarrold’s head book buyer, as he is congratulated by Carole Slaughter, marketing manager of Jarrold (left) and Let’s Talk editor Angi Kennedy (right).
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very big thank you to all our readers and subscribers who entered this year’s Short Story Competition, sponsored by Jarrold. What a fabulously talented group of people you are! And what a tough job you gave our judges in selecting this year’s 12 star stories. Judging has now taken place and we are delighted to reveal the winner, second and third places and our nine runners-up, all of whose stories you will be able to enjoy during the next 12 issues of Let’s Talk. This year’s winner is Alan R Davey, of Lowestoft, with The Final Score, his moving story of a
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First World War veteran. The tale is set in Alan’s adopted home town and he explained: “Lowestoft is a wonderful town, quintessentially English, and I wanted to celebrate its history in my story as well as to mark next year being the centenary of the end of the war.” Chris Rushby, Jarrold’s head book buyer, presented Alan with his prize - a £250 voucher to spend at the Norwich store. Chris said: “We are delighted to sponsor a competition which encourages creative writing. Over the years we have had numerous talented people writing on a variety of subjects and in various styles, but always entertaining, thought-
provoking and part of that glorious tradition of East Anglia being a hotbed of writing excellence.” Taking second place in this year’s closely contested competition is Phyllis A Norrie of Holt in Norfolk, whose story The Lion of Times Square is a real tear-jerker. Third place went to An Idea Lives On by Ed Broom of Ipswich, a wellwritten tale about a surprise visitor. Phyllis and Ed both win a year’s subscription to Let’s Talk. Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up. If your story wasn’t picked this year, please don’t lose heart - start thinking of a plot and characters for your entry to the 2018 competition! www.letstalk24.co.uk
SHORT STORY WINNERS
Let's Talk September 2017
Winner of the 2017 Let’s Talk Short Story Competition, sponsored by Jarrold, is Alan R Davey with The Final Score.
Meet this year’s winner Twenty years ago Alan had two books of a family saga published which in recent years he rewrote and published as Kindle ebooks. One became a number one bestseller, and he is working on the
third in the series. You can get Alan’s Kindle ebooks, Autumn on Angel Street and Winter in Paradise Square, on the Amazon website. His paperback The Long Whales Walk was published this summer. LT
And the winners are . . . Overall winner, with a £250 voucher from sponsor Jarrold to spend at its Norwich store: The Final Score by Alan R Davey, of Lowestoft, Suffolk. Second place, winning a year’s subscription to Let’s Talk magazine: The Lion of Times Square by Phyllis A Norrie, of Holt, Norfolk. Third place, winning a year’s subscription to Let’s Talk magazine:
An Idea Lives On by Ed Broom, of Ipswich, Suffolk. The nine runners-up, in no particular order, were: Last Will and Testament of a Dying Oak, by Ernest Cooper-Bourn, of Mulbarton, Norfolk. Time to Move on by Alison Ottaway, of Salhouse, Norfolk. Tuppenny Rush by Michele Carroll, of Carlton Colville, Suffolk. The Short Story
Competition, by Hayley King, of Pakefield, Suffolk. Many Happy Returns by Sharon Ingle, of Wymondham, Norfolk. For the Love of a Dog by Maggy Chapman, of Haverhill, Suffolk. Up and Away by Jean M Dade, of Drayton, Norwich, Norfolk. Unopened Letter by Kay Hathway, of Fakenham, Norfolk. A Nice Day Out by Lynn Giles, of Little Ryburgh, Norfolk. ▲
Alan R Davey grew up in North London. His father was a selfemployed painter and decorator who suffered lung damage as a fireman during the Blitz. “Father was a brilliant tradesman but an awful businessman and would take all sorts of payments for his work,” explained Alan. “One time, in lieu of money he was given 5,000 books, so in our ramshackle, bombbattered old house we had two attic rooms stuffed full of books - and from the age of six I started to read my way through them.” His imagination was sparked by the stories he read and it wasn’t long before young Alan was writing his own tales and selling them for a penny to children in his neighbourhood! One Christmas morning, Alan woke to discover his father had borrowed money to buy him a typewriter “because he had faith in my ability to write” - that faith was to keep him going years later during his attempts at getting books published. Alan had three much older brothers. During the Second World War his brother Fred, always called Denny, volunteered into the 6th Airborne and was killed while on a reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines in August 1944. “He was almost 20 years old and he died about six months before I was born,” said Alan. “I have always felt that the only way to ‘repay’ the sacrifice Denny made is to live my own life to the full, to use what skills and abilities I have to enhance the lives of as many people as possible, and to help others make the most of their talents and opportunities.” Alan, now 72 and married to Shirley for 50 years, has had a varied and successful career, which has included running his own businesses, training as a counsellor, and living in different parts of the country before moving to Lowestoft three years ago. The couple knew the area from the 1970s when he was assistant manager of the Abbey National bank in Norwich. Writing has always been part of Alan’s life and now in retirement he is seeing success for his work - not only in our short story competition.
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The Let’s Talk winning story for 2017, by Alan R Davey, of Lowestoft, Suffolk.
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grandaded/iStock/THinkstock
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did not know that day would change my life. I woke suddenly. Instantly alert. Eyes open, but seeing nothing in the dark. Ears straining, but hearing nothing in the silence. Silence? SILENCE? Then I remembered: it was over. It had been over for nine years, eight months and 11 days; and I had survived. Physically, anyway. I knew exactly how long it had been over because I count these things; just as I knew how many tiles are in the bathroom, how many pattern repeats there are in the dining room wallpaper, and how many steps make up the main staircase. And thousands of other things I count because that is what I do to divert my mind from thinking about things I would rather forget. I knew that now I was awake I would not sleep again until late that night or early the next morning, so I began my daily routine; first by acknowledging where I was and why I was there. I was in Lowestoft, staying in Kitchener’s, the troops’ hotel named for the general whose picture pointed at us and told us our country needed us to go off and fight for our freedoms. A lot of us went, and a lot came back but some did not. Because I keep scores I knew exactly how many men from our company did not come back. I was at Kitchener’s for a short rest because Kitchener’s is a good place to be. Everyone there understands because they have seen what I have seen, and done what I have done. The first part of my routine completed, I then looked at my big pocket watch, Fred’s watch really, kept on a table by my bed.
That morning the luminous hands pointed to 6am, meaning I had slept for four hours. Next, I wound the watch with exactly 30 turns of the knurled knob. That is what Fred told me to do. Fred gave me this watch on Christmas Day, 1914, and I gave him mine. We exchanged fags, too; six to him and four to me. He enjoyed smoking mine but his were awful so I dumped them when he was not looking; I did not want to upset him even if he was a German. We had been playing football; one of those matches some say never really happened. They did, although they were not organised; just a load of blokes from each side having a kick about. Fred floored me in a tackle, then came back to apologise and to help me to get up again. He told me his name, and I told him that was my name, too. He spoke good English because he had been to university in Cambridge. He asked me if I had gone there and he laughed when I said I had, but only by coach on a day out.
We stood and smoked, talked, and watched the others play football. Fred asked me what I thought the final score would be. “About a million on each side,” I said, and he agreed. We were not talking about the football. The game ended when it was too dark to play; Fred and I shook hands, wished each other good luck, walked back to our own army, and got ready to kill each other. I do not know what happened to Fred but, every morning, when I wind his watch, I think about him and the others, and what we all went through, and I try hard to put each new day into perspective. There is a jagged groove in the back of the watch. That was put there at 7.30am on the 28th of October, 1918. I was sleeping in a forward trench until the enemy began dropping high explosive and shrapnel shells into our line. When they changed to smoke shells we knew what was going to happen but we did not expect it to happen so quickly, so we were not prepared when www.letstalk24.co.uk
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hundreds of them charged into our shattered trenches. Suddenly, I was flat on my back in the mud, and a soldier with a boy’s face and pale blue eyes was standing over me, raising his rifle to bayonet me. The boy was shaking. He looked terrified, almost as scared as me. He closed his eyes just before he thrust down, so I kicked him and twisted but his blade might still have gone through my heart if it had not been deflected across my chest and into my shoulder. The boy bulled back, stared at me, shrugged an apology, and staggered away. I looked down at my shoulder and saw raw meat and Fred’s watch which had been ripped from its place in my tunic pocket. The next thing I knew was the field doctor saying: “Stitch him up and send him to Etaples to recover.” “Not a Blighty, then?” I asked. “Not this time, Corporal. Back in 28 days.” He was wrong. The fighting stopped on my 22nd birthday; the best birthday present I ever had. The best Christmas present would always be Fred’s watch because it saved my life twice; once by deflecting the bayonet and making a potentially fatal wound one that took me away from the front, and again because while I was recovering in Etaples my entire company was annihilated when the enemy exploded a mine below our trenches.
It was ironic that a German watch had saved me from German steel and explosive, but it carried a high price; an illogical sense of guilt I could not overcome or suppress – until breakfast that morning in Kitchener’s when retired RSM ‘Toby’ Jug guessed why I looked so tired and introduced me to a cure. “Not sleeping, laddie?” he asked, and when I nodded he said one word. “Guilt?” I nodded again. “Come with me. We’ll sort that, right now.” He showed me the Lowestoft Scores; steep alleys linking the old Beach Village with the upper town’s High Street. Lighthouse Score, Mariners, Crown, Martin’s, Rant, Wilde, Malsters, Spurgeon, Herring Fishery, and more. “They’re steep, cobbled, slippery. I reckon there’s a mile of ‘em, with more’n 300 steps. Stop smoking and run the length of each Score every night before bed, laddie,” the RSM ordered. “Push yourself to run ‘em in memory of those who died, and they’ll leach the guilt out of you.” He was right. I ran the Scores that evening; up Herring, down Spurgeon, up Wilde, down Rant: - up and down until my lungs, muscles, and head burned with pain and my feet had touched every step. And I counted the steps because that is what I do. Three are 363 actual steps; exactly the number of our company’s men, originals and replacements, who did not survive the slaughter. It was an unlikely coincidence but it seemed provident. It gave running the Scores extra
credibility, some sort of higher approval and, in my mind it offered me redemption for living when so many had died. Afterwards, I slept for six hours. By the end of the week I was sleeping seven hours each night, and relaxing during the day. The problem was that I could not take the Scores with me when I left Kitchener’s, and I could not find a suitable or meaningful substitute near my home so, within weeks I slid back into cycle of sleeplessness and guilt. The solution was obvious. I moved to Lowestoft and built a good life there. I married and became a father of four and a grandfather of many more before my wife died. I continued to run the Scores as a tribute to those we had left behind, although as my need diminished and my age extended the speed and frequency reduced. As I approached 80 I just walked the route a few times each year, but always on the 11th of November to mark Armistice Day and my birthday. I always counted the number of stone steps my feet touched, one step for each man lost. Today is the 11th of November, 1988; 70 years since the First World War ended. And my 92nd birthday. This morning, at the Armistice Service, I felt lonely because the Reaper has finally caught up with most of those he missed during the slaughter. I am reasonably well, but my old German pocket watch has stopped working. Later, I am going to walk the Scores, against the caring wishes of my sons and daughters. I think this may be the last time I do it and I want to walk alone so I can talk to the ghosts who will be walking with me.
Newspaper Report. Late on the afternoon of November 11, 92-year-old Fred Patterson collapsed in the High Street after having walked each of the Lowestoft Scores. He died instantly, holding a handwritten essay titled “The Final Score” which we now print as his obituary. LT
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FUNERALS
A job that needs a special and very sensitive touch It might not be uppermost in your mind as a career choice, but working in the funeral business can be very fulfilling, as Rachael Barber, area manager of Gordon Barber Funeral Homes, explains. Photo: kzenon/iStock/Thinkstock
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ave you ever considered a job in the funeral business? Maybe not, as it isn’t always the first thing people think of when looking for work, and some assume that you would need experience or qualifications with which to get in. What you tend to find, however, is that we as funeral directors don’t always look for experience, and prefer to teach the details of the position once you have started. That way, each funeral company gets to mould their employee to deliver the levels of service that they require for their particular business. There are different roles that exist in the industry and it is fair to say that they can be a career choice which can span decades. Some roles are also met by a number of retired personnel who want to carry out a meaningful job as and when they are available. We call this type of person flexible or casual. Casual work could encompass being in an office or, for instance, assisting with the on call outof-hours’ rota. (We have to be available 24 hours of the day, 365 days of the year, so a rota is necessary to deliver the service throughout the night and across public holidays etc.) A lot of our casual workers are in the position of what we call a funeral service operative. This is a considerable role when carried out full time, however, in the casual status can be as time consuming and onerous as the individual would like. All training is provided once the successful
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applicant has started and with some companies a driving assessment can be necessary. The vehicles are, as you would expect, extremely expensive and so it’s vital that we can be confident they can be driven safely. Uniform is also provided and traditionally most funeral staff wear ‘stripes’ with herringbone waistcoats and jackets. The work is rewarding and, although challenging at times, can be arranged to suit the individual’s availability and abilities. The casual funeral service operative may be required to drive the hearse or limousine on the day of the funeral. They would be responsible for the cleanliness of that vehicle prior to its use. At the service they may be responsible for playing the music chosen by the family, or supporting
and directing the family and mourners to their appropriate seats. They would almost certainly have to help organise the flowers on the day and prior to the funeral starting, would assist with conveying the deceased into the place of service. Different funeral directors would have slight variations on this role and the duties it would encompass. Each funeral is different, so the tasks can change also. There are many qualities to bring to this role, such as punctuality, smartness, confidentiality, meticulousness and care. LT Write with your questions about funerals to Rachael Barber at Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE.
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It is very important to check your moles regularly, and especially important to get someone to help check out those on your back.
C
oncerned your mole might be cancerous? Now you can pop into your local Boots to get yours checked. Boots UK offers a mole scanning service, so you can literally get any moles or markings you’re unsure about checked while topping up on shower gel. The Mole Scanning Service is currently available in 50 Boots pharmacies across the UK.
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You need to be 18 or over, and can book an appointment online, or pop in and ask if they can fit you in. It costs £35 for the first mole/ lesion you want scanned, £15 for each additional one, and you can get up to four checked in a single consultation. It’s worth noting there are some moles they won’t check, such as ones on your genitals, or which are covered in hair or bleeding.
Consultations take place in a private room with a member of the Boots Healthcare team. They’re not dermatologists or skin cancer specialists - so they won’t be able to tell you anything about your moles, or suggest which ones might look a bit dodgy or anything like that - but they are specially trained to use the scanning equipment and talk you through the process. After a brief chat, you’ll be asked www.letstalk24.co.uk
HEALTH
to fill out a consent form and questionnaire, with details such as family history of skin cancer and whether you’ve been sunburned in the past. You’ll need to expose the area of skin where the mole or lesion is, then the consultant will take images with the scanning device - a SIAscope which is placed against the skin and emits light millimetres below the skin’s surface. Each scan produces five different types of images, to give a detailed overview of the depth, shape and colour and what’s going on beneath the surface. It’s totally painless and very quick. Boots doesn’t actually assess your moles itself. The images are sent to dermatologists at ScreenCancerUK, who specialise in using innovative tech for early cancer detection. It checks for signs of cancer and puts together a report based on your images. This will be sent to you within one to two weeks. If the scan has detected anything to suggest your mole might be malignant, a ScreenCancer nurse will contact you to discuss the next steps. You then need to followup with your own GP; the Boots service doesn’t refer you for further tests or treatment. Campaigners are working hard to get us all to be skin cancer-savvy.
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Slapping on the sun cream is vital, but keeping an eye out for early warning signs, such as a mole that changes shape or starts oozing, or stubborn ulcers and scabby patches that won’t heal, is also a big part. Rates of the disease have been rising with malignant melanoma in particular - the most serious form of the disease - soaring by 119% since the early 1990s. And although around half of malignant melanomas are currently diagnosed in over-65s, data suggests today’s 15-to-24-year-olds will be more likely than previous generations to develop the disease in their lifetime, and more people than ever are getting serious skin
cancer at a younger age. Unlike more common skin cancers, like basal cell carcinomas, malignant melanoma can spread to other organs, and kills around 2,000 people in the UK each year. But the good news is, the cancer can be cut away if it’s caught early. Slapping on the sun cream is vital, but keeping an eye out for early warning signs, such as a mole that changes shape or starts oozing, or stubborn ulcers and scabby patches that won’t heal, is also a big part. You should be familiar with the ABCDE rule? Five key things to look out for when checking moles are asymmetry (healthy moles tend to be symmetrical); border (are the edges uneven or irregular?); colour (does it look like it’s not a uniform colour throughout?); diameter (is it bigger than your other moles, or growing?); evolving (is it changing, getting darker, itchy, oozing?). Of course, you can always go straight to your GP if you’re concerned about any moles or lesions, and ask for a referral to a dermatologist if you are worried. But it is useful to know that there are services on offer that enable you to get an expert assessment at an early stage. LT For more information about the Boots UK Mole Scanning Service, visit boots.com/molescanning
,W©V WUXH KDYLQJ VH[ LV JRRG IRU WKH EUDLQ H aving more sex is good for the brains of older adults, according to a recent study. Frequent sexual activity has been linked to higher cognitive function, including memory, language skills, and spatial and visual awareness, researchers have found. A group of 73 people aged 50 to Let's Talk September 2017
83 took part in the tests measuring brain function and were also asked to complete a questionnaire about how often they were sexually active. The tests included tasks such as naming as many animals as possible or as many words beginning with a certain letter and drawing a clock face from memory.
Researchers at Coventry and Oxford universities found that the ones who had the most sex scored highest in the tests. The group who said they had sex weekly scored on average two percentage points higher than those who had it monthly and four points higher than those who never had sex. LT
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WELLBEING
A
lot of people speculate about how ‘easy’ my job as a psychotherapist is. On the surface it may look like a lot of nodding and not much else. Lots of people assume that it’s about giving advice and ‘fixing’ people. Some even think you just sit there and listen, and anyone could do it. However, listening - I mean real listening, active listening, the kind that is the most powerful - is a skill which is not easy to master. When listening to other people’s problems, we all have a tendency to rush in to relate our own version of their stories; or give advice; or placate, which is all well and good but not the best way to make people feel heard and understood. It is very difficult to quietly sit and just listen. The younger generation are particular sufferers of the ‘not listened to’. Ask any teenager if their parents understand or listen to them and 90% will say not at all! They are surrounded by adults - parents, teachers, siblings, family members - who all want to give advice, guide, direct, reprimand, criticise, when really all they need is to be listened to... really listened to... and heard. In relationships, often the woman will want a moan about a friend, or work or a problem, and the man (as men are natural fixers) will leap in with advice on how to deal with it. However, she does not necessarily need a fix (if she did she would ask), she just wants to be heard and understood. A nod and a sympathetic “Gosh, how frustrating for you. Do you want a cup of tea?” and a hug would suffice! Instead what usually happens is the man gives lots of (good) advice, which she doesn’t take, and then he refuses to listen further because he told her what to do about it and she did nothing!
Ask Amanda Jayne
I would love to hear from you and will reply to your letters which, if we print them, will remain anonymous, and your details will be treated confidentially. Write to Amanda Jayne MA MBSCP,
Let's Talk September 2017
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Listening properly is a skill to master Counsellor Amanda Jayne has some important advice to share . . . but you’ll have to listen carefully. So how can we listen better? Firstly, acquire a mental shelf on which to put your own opinions; words of advice; your own experiences etc, rather than voicing them. This is about the other person, not you. Secondly, imagine an invisible zipping up of your mouth. Listening is not speaking! Listening is just that, saying nothing until you are sure that the other person has finished what they are saying. Thirdly, try to put yourself in their shoes ... how do you imagine they are feeling in the situation they are describing? Then say it: “That sounds really frustrating/ hurtful/painful for you” or “That sounds like hard work/a
psychotherapist and counsellor, Feelgood Therapy, Room 11b, St Ann’s House, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT. Email amandajgoss@gmail.com, writing Let’s Talk in the subject line. www.eastangliacounsellingalliance.
nightmare”. Then apply the zip again. Let them respond and do not give your version or advice unless they ask for it. Fourthly, try not to pass judgement, they are describing events from their frame of reference, not yours. It feels as it feels to them, which maybe different from any reaction you may have. We are all different and have different tolerance levels. I would ask that you just try it and see what happens. That uncommunicative teen may well open up to you more than they ever have. Your partner may feel very grateful that you understand them. The hardest part of all of the above is keeping your opinions, viewpoints and experiences to yourself. It’s best to say nothing than to express any of that. Just LISTEN quietly, reflect what you think it is they are feeling ... then make them a cuppa. You won’t believe the difference this makes . . . if you can do it! LT
com/amanda_goss/ Team of professional counsellors, www.kingslynnwestnorfolkcounselling. co.uk; 01553 827689/07760 669246. Harley Street, London practice, www. harleystpsychotherapy.com
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HEARING
Hearing aids facts or myths?
Karen Finch, audiologist and managing director of The Hearing Care Centre, discusses some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding wearing hearing aids. Picture: Oticon UK
MYTH: My hearing loss is not bad enough for hearing aids.
FACT: Everyone’s hearing loss
and listening needs are different. Hearing loss often develops slowly and subtly. A good rule is that if other people around you are complaining you can’t hear, you need to have your hearing tested. By working with an audiologist, you can determine how much hearing aids will improve your hearing. MYTH: I have one ear that’s down a little, but the other one’s okay, so I don’t need any hearing aids at all. FACT: Everything is relative. Nearly all patients who believe that they have one ‘good’ ear actually have two ‘bad’ ears. When one ear is slightly better than the other, we learn to favour that ear for the phone, group conversations and so forth. It can give the illusion that ‘the better ear’ is normal when it might not be. Most types of hearing loss affect both ears fairly equally and about 90% of patients are in need of hearing aids for both ears. MYTH: My friend has two hearing aids and hates them and said I should never even try them. FACT: There are many factors that come into play when fitting hearing aids and therefore everyone’s experience is different. Every person has a different hearing loss, different size ear canals and different hearing aid technology. Hearing aid success depends on the actual hearing aids. Perhaps your friend chose a basic hearing aid that is not technologically advanced enough to suit their needs. Perhaps they have not followed up with their audiologist since the fitting and the hearing aids simply need adjustments. Please do not let another’s experience affect your actions. MYTH: I’ve heard it doesn’t matter where hearing aids are purchased as long as they’re cheap. FACT: While buying hearing Let's Talk September 2017
aids through mail order or off the internet may be less expensive, it is not advisable. By purchasing through these venues, you might be giving up the quality of care you will get by working with an audiologist. This includes things such as a qualified hearing evaluation, professional recommendations as to the most appropriate type of hearing aid, expert instruction regarding proper hearing aid usage, follow up care. MYTH: I only have trouble hearing certain sounds, so I don’t need hearing aids. FACT: If you are missing certain sounds you may have some hearing loss and with today’s digital hearing aids, audiologists are able to precisely programme the hearing aids to only provide amplification at the pitches you need allowing you to use the hearing you have remaining and boosting where you need it the most. Inability to hear some sounds - like the sounds sh, s, th and t - significantly impacts your understanding of the overall word causing the dreaded, ‘Huh?’ ‘What?’ and embarrassingly inappropriate responses to questions. ‘I only have trouble hearing women’s and children’s
voices.’ That accounts for more than half the total population. So, you’re saying you can’t hear half of the people talking to you? MYTH: Hearing aids are big, beige bananas and everyone will see I’m wearing them. FACT: Hearing aid technology changes rapidly and 20 years ago hearing aids were big and more often than not beige. Today’s hearing aids are significantly smaller and discreet (some smaller than a 5p) and are crammed full of some incredible technology to allow the user to hear clearer speech, be less bothered by background noise and overall enjoy a natural listening experience. Hearing aids now come in an infinite number of colours to match hair and skin tones, and come in a variety of styles that can be worn inside or behind the ear. LT
Karen Finch is the managing director and lead audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre. The multi-award winning, family-run company has 25 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk, with a new centre in Norwich opening in September. For more information please call 01473 230330 or visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk
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WELLBEING
A vintage day that crossed all of the generations
The beautiful old cars drew admiring comments.
Taking a trip down Memory Lane proved popular with residents as well as staff at a Kingsley Care home, as Stephen Pullinger reports. The vintage day prompted lots of memories for residents.
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intage fashion has become all the rage among young people. So a vintage fair at Kirkley Manor nursing home in Lowestoft proved a great way of bridging the generation gap and bringing young and old together. The distinctive note of Lambretta and Vespa scooters sparked all kinds of memories of the Suffolk resort’s 1960s’ heyday for many of the home’s elderly residents. But for the fair’s younger visitors, it was the striking shapes and curves of the veteran cars, so different to today’s wind-tunnel designed vehicles, which created the biggest stir. The tableau of bygone days was completed by staff and residents of the Kingsley Healthcare-run home dressing up in their 1940, ‘50s and ‘60s vintage finery for a fashion parade. Some of the outfits were kindly loaned by the Seagull Theatre in nearby Pakefield. Adding to the trip down Memory Lane was a singer reviving the sounds of the 1960s and stalls selling vintage bric-a-brac and clothing. A charity auction with all kinds of prizes donated by local businesses was conducted by Waveney councillor and professional auctioneer Stephen Ardley. Kirkley’s activities coordinator Carole Cook, who organised the event for a second year, said: “Local business were very generous with prizes. We raised £884, which will be split between Lowestoft Riding Let's Talk September 2017
Some of the colourful vintage-style costumes donned for the special day.
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Reminiscence is very important in helping people living with dementia. for the Disabled and our residents’ fund to put on extra activities.” Mrs Cook says the idea for the event’s vintage theme came from Kirkley’s residents, many of whom are living with dementia. “It is a
way of sparking precious memories from earlier times in their lives. Reminiscence is very important in helping people living with dementia.” She added: “Our vintage fair is also a great way of connecting with local people and putting our home at the heart of the community; more than 200 people of all ages, from young children to grandparents, turned up for this year’s event.” LT
Kingsley Healthcare Group Tel: 0808 2818916 kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk
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OSTEOPATHY
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he knee joint is really two joints which function together. There is the femorotibial joint, which is the weight-bearing joint between the thigh bone and the leg bone; and there is the patellofemoral joint which is the non-weight-bearing joint between the knee cap and the thigh bone. The patella can be thought of as a floating bone, embedded in the tendon of the thigh’s quadriceps muscle. It slides up and down in a groove at the end of femur. When the knee bends it slides over the exposed cartilage at the end of the femur, which protects it from direct trauma. It also increases the mechanical advantage of the quadriceps mechanism and increases the force of knee extension by 50%. Not bad for a tiny bone! Despite its mechanical advantages to limb movement, patellofemoral joint pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in all age groups. Complaints vary from just the kneecap pain to thigh pain to overall knee pain. The problem may vary from a short, acute episode of pain to one of a recurrent or chronic nature. Alongside the pain, patients may also experience crunching noises in their knee, painful catching sensations and a painful giving way of the knee. Pain is often related to overuse or a change in exercise intensity. Some activities that frequently trigger the symptoms are stair climbing, uphill running, hiking, deep knee bends, and squatting. The patient may also complain of pain with prolonged sitting in which the knees are in flexion. Sometimes the pain may be related to trauma, most frequently from falls on to the kneecap. Most commonly though, an inciting event cannot be determined. In these more chronic cases there may be a family history of anterior knee pain, in which case the shape of the kneecap or groove that the patella runs in may be hereditarily misshapen. Sometimes the Let's Talk September 2017
Keep those knees healthy and active to beat the pain The knee is such a complicated joint, and of course, one that is so important. Zuzana Tillner explains the intricacies of how it works and what may go wrong. problem may not be in the knee at all. Fallen arches of the foot or weak muscles in the hip can cause the leg to rotate so that the patella does not run up and down the centre of the groove in the femur. This is called patella tracking disorder. Sometimes children going through growth spurts may experience painful knees, which occurs as the thigh bone grows quicker than the thigh’s overlying muscle, causing too much compression of the patella against the knee. If you have pain in the front of your knee then please see an osteopath, or physiotherapist to get tailored advice specific to the cause of your patella pain. They might suggest that you temporarily decrease activities that
increase patellofemoral pressure (such as jumping, squatting, kneeling). They might suggest stretching and strengthening of the quadriceps muscle, quite often focusing on the muscle on the inner thigh. Then they might look further afield to address problems in your hip muscles, or suggest arch supports for your feet. Gentle loading activities may be initiated. Because it isn’t a weight-bearing joint, the patellofemoral joint usually responds well to the correct treatment and so is always worth seeking treatment. LT
Written by Zuzana Tillner of the Norwich Osteopathic Clinic. Call 01603 504508 or visit www. norwichosteopathicclinic.co.uk
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RSPB Pond dipping can be fun for all ages. Picture: Andy Hay.
e m i t e k a M o a little to g
wild! Sometimes the best way to find a sense of calm is to get a little wild, says Lee Cozens of the RSPB.
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hen was the last time you went wild? No, I don’t mean when you yelled at the self-service till at the supermarket, but rather when you left the modern world behind and got out into the heart of wild place? If it was some time ago, I’m not surprised if an “unexpected item in the bagging area” made your blood boil! Not having regular contact with nature is proven to be detrimental to human wellbeing. This is why, despite often feeling like my life is a spinning top, I regularly prioritise getting out in nature and letting myself fall under its spell. A recent walk around RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, started out as a half-hour fact-finding mission for a new project, but it ended
Wildlife wonder
One of the RSPB Wild Challenges is to try pond dipping. Have you ever had a go? It’s always annoyed me that this is seen as children’s activity. Why shouldn’t we have some fun too? If you have youngsters in your family, bring them along to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen to hire a kit (£2). Just make
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as an enjoyable two-hour stroll, where all ‘targets and outcomes’ were forgotten! How could I focus on work issues when I had a flock of more than 40 tits to admire, beautiful butterflies to identify, and a little water vole to watch as it gnawed through a patch of reeds? Who knew they had such bright, expressive eyes! Ambling back to the office, I realised my working day was in tatters, but I felt so relaxed that nothing seemed to touch the sides. What a gift nature offers in an often stressful world – I know I would be heading towards madness without regular top-ups. Imagine if we could pass this knowledge to the younger generation. Their lives seem so full
sure you grab the net occasionally. A magical world awaits, where the timeless drama of predator and prey is played out before you. Fearsome beetle larvae patrol the depths, injecting deadly enzymes into their victims. Dragonfly nymphs, relics of an ancient world, stalk the pond hunting
for tasty invertebrates – they will spend up to three years growing in the pond before they emerge as resplendent adults. What will you find lurking beneath the surface? It gets quite addictive to see who will bring out the best catch. A water scorpion often wins, but rarer prizes might be waiting.
■ To find out more about the RSPB visit www.rspb.org.uk ■ For information and advice on ways to give nature a home in your back gardens and communities, visit rspb.org.uk/ myplan
of anxiety and pressure. Imagine if they could tap into this endless well of peace and inspiration at difficult times? Help is at hand. The RSPB Wild Challenge is an online initiative that gives practical ideas to families to respond to the ‘call of the wild’. There are scores of ways to dive in. From easy things to do in the back garden - making a hedgehog cafe, going on a bug hunt, building a bird bath - to fantastic things to do in a wilder setting - going on a wild flower foray, sleeping under the stars, pond dipping, hunting for fabulous fungi. Activities span the four seasons and suggest fun ways to integrate the natural world into the www.letstalk24.co.uk
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Be charmed by the delightful water vole.
Time for a bug hunt. Picture: Eleanor Bentall.
Picture: Ben Andrews.
every day. If you have young people in your life, why not sign up together and work through some of these activities? It’s a great way to bond too. Next on my list is searching for animal tracks and signs -I’d love to find a stoat print and can I admit to being endlessly fascinated by droppings? Getting back to the wild is a must for all of us, of any age, but helping our youngsters discover this magical realm is perhaps the most precious gift we can give them. Have fun out there! LT For more information, visit www.rspb.org.uk/wildchallenge Let's Talk September 2017
Give nature a home with a pond With the RSPB Wild Challenge in mind, why not make it your mission this September to create your own wildlife pond? If you already have a pond, a second pond could be specifically to attract dragonflies, newts, frogs and other struggling creatures. It’s a lovely challenge and one that may become an obsession. Choose a sunny spot away from trees, incorporate at least one side with a
Making a mini-pond. Picture: Nick Cunard.
long, shallow slope; plan for a deep area in the middle and create safe corridors to the
pond (log piles, rockery, hedges) - the baby frogs will thank you in the future. Your new pond doesn’t need to be immense, as even a small pond will provide a wonderful haven for wildlife. Do a bit of research, get some help from friends and family (get those youngsters digging!) and start a journey that will have you hooked. Just wait ‘til you see your first dragonfly laying eggs!
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0HHW WKH PLQL PDUYHOV RI PLJUDWLRQ Exatrordinary migratory journeys are not just for the birds, as our nature writer Barry Madden explains.
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hen we think of migration here in the UK we think of birds. That’s understandable; birds undertake regular and sometimes spectacular journeys to and from their breeding grounds. Birds are relatively large creatures and their annual movements strike a chord in our own lives; the first swallow of spring, hearing the first cuckoo, listening to the evocative sound of skeins of wintering geese over our coastal marshes. But what about other animals - those smaller, less obvious creatures with which we share our lives? Well, it may come as a surprise to discover that many insects undertake immense journeys on a regular basis. Take, for example, the fragile butterflies we consider to be familiar garden inhabitants; painted ladies, red admirals, small tortoiseshells and the gardener’s enemy, the large (cabbage) white. They migrate too.
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The last mass appearance of painted ladies was in 2009 . . . we are due another any time soon.
A migrant hawker.
Perhaps the most spectacular of these is the lifecycle of the painted lady, whose annual appearance on our shores is entirely dependent on migration. The species is actually a resident of North Africa and migrates to populate Europe every year. However every few years something truly spectacular happens which triggers a mass dispersal northwards. The insects cross the Mediterranean and travel through southern Europe breeding as they go. Successive generations continue the northerly movement until they reach Britain sometime in early June. The numbers involved can be truly amazing, with literally millions of these beautiful insects appearing all over. But it doesn’t stop there, because they will fly steadily northwards - some reaching Iceland - before cooler weather halts their advance. Apart from being in awe that something so small and dainty can www.letstalk24.co.uk
Picture: CreativeNature_nl/iStock/Thinkstock
NATURE
Two lesser emperors.
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The painted lady makes an amazing journey.
The migrant moth, silver Y
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cross the English Channel, I think the most amazing feature of this behaviour is that butterflies that hatch in the UK will commence a migration southwards, making this salmon-coloured gem a true long distance return migrant. The last mass appearance of painted ladies was in 2009 . . . we are due another any time soon. Moths, being night flyers, are even less obvious migrants - but migrate they most certainly do. The growing band of regular moth trappers (moths are never harmed and are released the next day), look forward to the late summer and Let's Talk September 2017
autumn months when some quite spectacular catches can occur. Southerly winds can bring in strong flying Continental migrants such as convolvulus hawk-moth or even the magnificent death’s head hawk-moth. The species will attempt to breed here, but the larva pupates underground and sadly cannot survive our winters. Another more obvious immigrant from warmer climes is the hummingbird hawk-moth that is increasingly seen nectaring around our garden plants during the day. The larva of this species overwinters in cracks and crevices, and is suspected of successfully overwintering in the south of England, although numbers are still augmented every year by true migration. And, of course, that is the point of all this moving around: propagation of the species. Nothing happens by chance in the natural world; everything has a purpose. In the case of insect
They appear so delicate, yet some butterflies, moths and other insects make vast migratory journeys
migration, it is to seek out new breeding grounds, new feeding areas, new niches for expansion and colonisation. The insects are taking advantage of the shift in global climate to exploit hitherto unavailable resources. Sometimes this will lead to problems with ‘pest’ species invading crops or having undesirable effects on native plants; most times it simply enriches our biodiversity and allows us to appreciate a wider range of nature’s bounty. In every case it is a remarkable event. So next time you see a painted lady or a silver Y moth, take a closer look. These creatures were probably hatched in a foreign land, have flown across the sea to reach us without being able to feed and without a compass. Pretty impressive isn’t it? LT
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tag beetles are facing a serious decline across Europe but, says Suffolk Wildlife Trust, we are lucky to have a relatively good population in parts of Suffolk. Their falling numbers have been attributed to habitat loss and populations becoming isolated, and the species is extinct in many areas. In Britain, the beetle is mostly confined to the warmer, drier, south east of England and in Suffolk they are usually only found in the south east of the county between the rivers Deben and Stour. Stag beetle larvae depend solely on a diet of subterranean, decaying wood of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, which disappears if stumps and roots are removed after a tree or shrub has died. Suffolk Wildlife Trust, along with other organisations working to halt the decline of stag beetles, such as the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, advises that wherever possible, dead stumps are retained and additional habitat is provided by burying logs vertically in the ground to create stepping stones for stag beetles to move to new egglaying sites. This type of habitat is sometimes referred to as a ‘stag beetle pyramid’ and its creation is, says the trust, a good garden project for the winter. The male stag beetle, with its huge antler-like jaws, is our largest and most conspicuous terrestrial beetle. The females are smaller and do not have the antler-like mandibles. Both sexes have a shiny black head and thorax, while wing cases are a chestnut brown. Tracey Housley, conservation officer at the Trust, says: “Although stag beetles, particularly males, may appear scary, they will not harm you. We are very lucky to still be able to see them each summer, and should do all we can to ensure future generations get to enjoy them.” Colin Hawes has been studying stag beetles for 25 years. His work
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Suffolk proving a perfect home for
V WDJ EHHWOHV Stag beetles have a stronghold in Suffolk. Thanks to organisations like Suffolk Wildlife Trust, there’s plenty of advice about how we can help them, including a special garden project for the winter. Rachel Banham reports.
Taking a close-up view of a stag beetle, by Neil Phillips.
Stag beetle larvae live underground for several years, feeding on rotting wood. When they reach full size they build an underground cocoon, inside which they turn into an adult beetle. Often, the first sign of an emergent male, which can be up to 70mm long, is their impressive
mandibles poking from a hole in the ground. Males are most likely seen in flight on a warm summer evening between May and August as they search for a female. After mating, the female, who lacks the formidable-looking jaws of the male, searches for
underground decaying wood and tunnels downwards through the soil to lay her eggs. It can take up to five years for the stag beetle’s larvae to develop into adults. They live as adults for only a few months in the summer in order to mate.
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NATURE
Yeast is a vital food
A stag beetle. by Colin Hawes
Recent research carried out by stag beetle expert Colin Hawes has shown that stag beetles depend on yeast to complete their life cycle. Their larvae use the yeasts to help digest the decaying wood. This summer, to help gather information, Colin invited people across the county to contribute stag beetle records to an online survey hosted by the Suffolk Biological Information Service. To see the results of this year’s survey, visit: http://www. suffolkbis.org.uk/stagbeetlesurvey
A stag beetle, pictured in Ipswich by Steve Aylward. The powerful looking beetle, by Margaret Holland.
has identified significant colonies in Woodbridge, Ipswich, Hadleigh and Nayland and at a number of sites across the Felixstowe and Shotley peninsulas. Although they have a stronghold in Suffolk, we can all help stag beetles. Tracey says: “Each year we hear from children who find them at school and in their gardens. Last year we heard about a six-year-old girl who helped cordon off areas of her school field to protect emerging beetles. We need to see more stag beetle champions like her!” LT To find out how to build a stag beetle pyramid, visit: www. suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/ Let's Talk September 2017
myallotment/2014/12/05/ building-stag-beetle-pyramid LT If you are aware that a stag beetle habitat is being disturbed, please inform Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Similarly, if you know of a planning application that is likely to affect stag beetles, the trust asks that you report this. Suffolk Wildlife Trust website is at: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org There is also information about stag beetles on the People’s Trust for Endangered Species website: https://ptes.org/campaigns/stagbeetles/stag-beetle-facts/
Tracey Housley, conservation officer.
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6HSWHPEHU Diary Dates If you’ve an event which needs publicising, send details to: Diary Dates, Let’s Talk Magazine, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE or email the information (and pictures if possible) to letstalk@archant.co.uk. Please supply a telephone number and, if applicable, an email address.
August 19 Fakenham Mothers’ Union coffee morning at 42 and 44 North Park, Fakenham, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be a raffle and a bring and buy stall. Free entry. Enjoy a cup of coffee, to bring hope to families around the world this summer. Contact Ann on 01328-864537 or by email: rae43uk@yahoo.co.uk September 2 (and 9, 16, 23 and 30) Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, St Benet’s Abbey boat trip and tour, 2.15pm to 4.30pm. Boat trip from Fairhaven Garden to St Benet’s Abbey with a 45-minute guided tour. Call 01603 270449 or go to www.fairhavengarden. co.uk September 3 (and 10, 17 and 24) Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, guided canoe trail, 1.30pm to 2.30pm or 3pm to 4pm. Uncover the secret of our hidden waterways and get close to nature with a guided exploration by Free Spirit Canoe Tours. Guide is qualified instructor with more than 40 years’ experience. Life jackets and buoyancy aids supplied. Call 01603 270449 or go to www.fairhavengarden.co.uk September 3 Thornage Hall garden fete from 11.30am-4pm with a cooking demonstration by Richard Bainbridge of Benedict’s Restaurant, music from Sam Smith singers, East Coast and Cromer Gospel Choir plus farm and garden walks, barbecue, vegetable stall, arts and crafts and activities for the youngsters. Details on 01263 860305 or go to www.thornagehall. co.uk September 7-10 Friends of All Saints Church, Hemblington, Heritage Open Days for the history of the church exhibition in the church (7-9). Contacts hemblington@gmail.com/01603 715804.
Let's Talk September 2017
A work by Caroline MacKenzie.
A trail of sculptures and interesting artworks will lead visitors to an idyllic site in the Waveney Valley this summer. The fourth Waveney Valley Sculpture Trail will host the work of more than 50 artists on a three-acre site of hidden paths, romantic groves and secretive corners in a little-known site on the edge of the valley. Organised by Waveney & Blyth Arts, the event builds on the success of last year and will take place at the Raveningham Centre,
near Beccles. The Waveney Valley Sculpture Trail annually attracts thousands of visitors to see the work of artists from around the country. Many established artists such as Vanessa Pooley, Liz McGowan, Gordon Senior, Patrick Elder, Simon Griffiths and Meg Amsden will be joined by up-and-coming artists taking part for the first time. The trail will feature site-specific work, 3D constructions and sculpture throughout the site, including textile works, bronze
sculpture, ceramics and a sound installation. A programme of workshops, guided walks, and events will accompany the event, including a family day and a curator’s guided tour of the site to give people an insight into how the sculpture trail was created. The trail is open from Friday, August 18 until Sunday, September 17 and is open every day from 10am until 5pm. For more information visit www. waveneyandblytharts. com or www.facebook. com/WaveneyBlythArts
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Fairhaven Dogs Day is on September 10.
September 10 Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, Fairhaven Dog Day, 10.30am to 3.30pm. Family doggy day out with a fun dog show, agility activities, demonstrations, doggy stalls, and games for you and your four-legged friends.
There is an unforgettable evening with a global superstar in the all new production, Fast Love: A Tribute to George Michael. The show, at Chelmsford Civic Theatre on Thursday, September 21 at 7.45pm is packed with crowd pleasing anthems. You’ll be getting all your favourite songs: Careless Whisper, Freedom, Faith, Father Figure, One More Try, Outside, Jesus To A Child, I Want Your Sex, Kissing A Fool, and many more. Relive the passion, the flare, and the unique sensitivity of George Michael in an incredible concert.
Neil Sands and his wonderful West End cast are back with a brand new production of Music and Memories at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on Wednesday, September 6, at 2.30pm. There can be no doubt that
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The event raises money for local animal charities. Call 01603 270449 or go to www.fairhavengarden. co.uk September 16 Trianon Music Group is at Ipswich Corn Exchange, Grand Hall at 7.30pm with ‘Across the Pond’, a programme of popular music from the UK and USA including South Pacific, West Side Story, Fanfare for the Common Man as well as folksong arrangements from the four countries of the United Kingdom. Conducted by Emeritus Professor Chris Green. Tickets from £10.50 from 01473 433100 or 01394 283170. September 16 Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, Woodland Night Walk, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Take a journey into Fairhaven’s night-time world. Explore the stars, unlock the secret of rub light, encounter nocturnal wildlife, witness strange night phenomena and discover the magic hidden in the dark when the sun goes down. Call 01603 270449 or go to www.fairhavengarden.co.uk
Contact the box office on 01245 606505 or go to www.chelmsford. gov.uk/theatres.
music brings back so many wonderful memories and the feel-good afternoon filled with more than 60 all-time favourite songs from the 1940s through to the 1970s will have the memories flooding back. From old time sing along, to
September 17 Seraphim, directed by Vetta Wise, invites you to its fourth escorted secret spaces musical pilgrimage, to discover amazing medieval gems within Norwich, the Julian Shrine, St Helen’s Church and St George’s, Tombland. Price includes three miniconcert masterpieces by the upper voices of Seraphim, lunch at the Great Hospital’s Birkbeck Hall, refreshments and coach travel. Tickets £65. Information on 07763 527239 or tickets@seraphimvoices.uk. September 19 Norwich Writers’ Circle welcomes successful crime author Elly Griffiths as the opening speaker for its 2017-18 programme 7.30-9.30pm in the Fishergate Room, Anteros Gallery, Fye Bridge Street, Norwich. Elly wrote four books under her real name, Domenica de Rosa, before she was inspired to create forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway. In need of a ‘crime name’ she became Elly Griffiths. The evening will also see the launch the group’s first in-house writing competition for the Cooper Prize. The £5 door fee includes refreshments and raffle. For more details email norwichwriters@hotmail.co.uk
Showcasing the best of Norfolk at one of county’s most beautiful houses, the Campaign to Protect Rural England Summer Fair takes place at Wolterton Hall on Sunday, August 20. Tom Blofeld of Bewilderwood will launch the event, which runs from 10am to 4pm and is sponsored by Woodforde’s Brewery. There will be local artisan food and drink, local artists and craftmakers, artisan businesses and many other activities to keep everyone involved. Information from 01603 761660 or go to www.cprenorfolk.org.
rock and roll, 1940s’ favourites to the pop hits of the 1960s, into the ‘70s, plus some Abba and a very special flag-waving tribute to the veterans of the Armed Forces. All that will be mixed with stunning costumes, amazing
voices, and lots of laughter, this show will brighten everyone’s day and prove how special are music and memories. The performance is on Wednesday, September 6 at 2.30pm.
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DIARY DATES Street Scenes, a major one-man exhibition by Trevor Woods is at Gallery Plus, Wells, from Saturday, August 19 to Saturday, September 2. The exhibition sees north Norfolk artist Trevor Woods take a fresh look at street scenes. Street Scenes opens with an all-day preview on August 19 from 10am – 5pm and continues until September 2. Open Monday-
The Snape Proms, which began on August 1, continues throughout the month before closing on September 1. Folk, roots and world, jazz, pop, classical, family and popular classics will all be on the line-up. The classical programme includes the first Snape Proms appearances by internationally renowned sopranos Renée Fleming and Danielle de Niese (August 24 and 15) and performances by pianist Stephen Hough (August 31). The King’s Consort (August 14) plays an all Bach programme and Snape also welcomes two sensational and contrasting choirs, The Sixteen, (August 22) and the
Crafts @ Kirstead, one of the region’s largest artisan craft fairs, returns to the grounds of Homestead Nurseries over the weekend of September 9 and 10. The two-day festival showcases the talents of some of East Anglia’s finest producers and makers, all of whom will be exhibiting and selling their work. The fair includes hallmarked silver jewellery produced by Norfolk jeweller, Fiona Johnson; wooden bird-tables and garden planters made by Maurice Morris-Newton from Framingham Earl, who has previously supplied The Queen with garden furniture at Sandringham, and Michelle Daniels with a range of hand-thrown stoneware and raku. Award-winning marmalade maker, Ali Barwick from Loddon, will be selling a selection of her preserves and the Wildcraft Brewery will be on hand with its intriguing range of craft ales and
Let's Talk September 2017
Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sundays 11am-4pm. Contact 01328 711609 or visit www.gallery-plus.co.uk info@ gallery-plus.co.uk There is an exhibition and sale of work over the Bank Holiday weekend at St Margaret’s Church, Thorpe Market, from Friday, August 25 to Monday, August 28, 11am-4pm each day.
Europe’s largest gay choir, London Gay Men’s Chorus (August 28). This year, the Proms offer a striking number of symphony orchestra concerts including the London Philharmonic Orchestra (August 24), John Wilson Orchestra (August 27) and the world’s first professional black and minority ethnic symphony orchestra, Chineke! (August 29). The summer season ends in rousing style with a special live edition of BBC Radio Two’s Friday Night is Music Night, hosted by Len Goodman on September 1 Full details and online Booking: www.snapemaltings. co.uk / Box Office: 01728 687110.
spirits. Running alongside the Craft Fair on Saturday is the Canines @ Kirstead Dog Show (sponsored by K9 Capers) together with an entertaining display of Dog Agility. Entries start from 10am, and with classes ranging from Best Pedigree to The Dog the Judge Would Like to Take Home, you are sure to find an entry to suit your four-legged friend. This year, the charities benefiting are East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices – The Nook Appeal and The Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Crafts @ Kirstead, Kirstead Green, Norwich, NR15 1EE (located just off the B1332, eight miles south of Norwich) and is open both days from 10am until 4pm. Further information on 01508 520520.
Over the course of the four-day exhibition, local artist Rosalie Osborne Gibb will be exhibiting an exciting new collection of artwork in various media. While Rosalie’s art covers many diverse subjects, the Norfolk coast and countryside remain firm favourites. On Sunday and Monday, Rosalie will be joined by Nick Woolston.
St Mary’s Church in Stoke by Nayland is to become the setting for a crescendo of concerts in the final weekend of the Roman River Festival by Roman River Music. Starting with the King’s Singers on Thursday, September 28, the church will come alive with a variety of music by Mendelssohn, Bob Chilcott, Lennon and McCartney and more, all in the King’s Singer’s inimitable style. On September 29 Roman River Music’s “Festival Orchestra” comprising internationally renowned stars of classical music will join together in a world first, to perform Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, conducted by Orlando Jopling. Bach’s greatest masterpiece, Bach Mass in B Minor, will follow the line-up on Saturday, September 30. Performed on period instruments by the country’s top baroque experts, this concert will also be conducted by Jopling. Completing the weekend, on Sunday, October 1 is the Festival Finale with music by Handel, Eric Whitacre and Mozart. This event will bring together local singers and young players with acclaimed horn-player Alec Frank-Gemmil and talented conductor Frank Zielhorst. The finale will showcase Roman River Music’s education and outreach work throughout South Suffolk and North Essex. Tickets and further information can be found at romanrivermusic.org.uk
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DIARY DATES It’s your last chance to see some great gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme in Norfolk during September and October. With the combination of late flowering perennial plants and some autumn colours in shrubs and trees there is plenty to admire for garden visitors! On Sunday, September 3 Chapel Cottage and 7 Holly Close in Rougham join forces to demonstrate just how much can be packed into small gardens with everything from colourful borders to a wildlife haven and potager style vegetable gardens. Seamere at Hingham also opens on September 3 and, with the current owner retiring, this is your last opportunity to see these fabulous gardens. They border a 20-acre mere, with spectacular views over terraced lawns and thoughtfully planned features. On Sunday and Wednesday, September 10 and 13, the muchadmired gardens at High House in Shipdham are well worth a visit. This three-acre plantsman’s garden has an extensive range of perennials in themed borders, woodland gardens and pond and
G4 is delighted to be returning to the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on September 21 for the third year in a row. This new show will feature exciting songs from the brand-new album - G4 Love Songs released in February. Due to the overwhelming demand for G4, the multi-platinum selling vocal harmony group is back on the road in 2017 with special guests and trademark harmonies that wow audiences. Having reformed in 2014 the group has continued to transport its loyal following back to the
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The view at Seamere at Hingham in Norfolk.
bog areas. On October 1 Hindringham Hall has plenty of imaginative plantings with a magnificent Tudor manor house surrounded by a 12th Century moat providing one of the best sights in Norfolk. The renowned gardens at East Ruston Old Vicarage open specially for the NGS on Saturday, October 7 and there is always so much to see in the extensive 32 acres of
moment they first fell in love with G4’s trademark harmonies. The new album features songs including Your Song, Amigos Para Siempre and I’d Do Anything For Love. G4 will be joined by special guests soprano Mary-Jess (winner of the Chinese X Factor and singer of the Downton Abbey Theme), multiinstrumentalist Oli Nez, Sorrelli Strings (criticallyacclaimed string trio) and G4 Young Voices (in association with PQA Peterborough). Box office 01553 779102.
intensive gardening! Finally on Sunday, October 22 The Barn at Framlingham is opening its 14-hectare arboretum for the first time for the NGS and it provides a fitting conclusion to our garden visiting season with autumn colour among a majestic collection of fine trees. All the gardens provide lovely home-made teas and many of the gardens will have plants for sale.
Rapunzel The Musical is at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange from Thursday to Sunday, September 14-17. Let your hair down with a host of lively characters in this new musical. Sophia is desperate for a baby of her own. Her husband Karl cannot bear to see her upset any longer and realising their lonely neighbour is their last chance he begs for Gothel’s help. Gothel offers Karl a magic herb from her garden, but the price is high! Sophia and Karl will get the baby they long for but on Rapunzel’s 16th birthday she must be returned to Gothel. Years later, trapped in a
Tower, Rapunzel has grown into a beautiful and clever young woman but will she ever get out and return home? Longing for adventure and freedom and with only Viktor, the crow, for company, how will Rapunzel ever escape? Can Prince Freddie save the day or will Rapunzel never make it home? Based on the Brothers Grimm’s classic fairytale and featuring brand new toetapping songs this musical is ideal for the whole family. It is on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm and 6.30pm, on Friday at 10.30am and 6.30pm and on Sunday at 1pm and 4.30pm. For details call 01553 779102.
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Let’s Talk! September 2017
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Pictures: Derek James
Stunning sights to see at Pompeii.
6XQQ\ 6RUUHQWR FDVWV LWV PDJLFDO VSHOO DJDLQ ”Choppy Choppy” shouted Nello and off we went again, exploring the spectacular Sorrento and the beautiful Bay of Naples. Derek James enjoyed a trip from Norwich to Italy with Newmarket Travel.
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e haven’t had the opportunity to tell many of the people we know about our holiday destination ... because it turned out most of them have been there. Several times. “Did you,” they ask, “go to that wonderful little restaurant up the steps down the alleyway?” No. “And how about that incredible museum/church just off the main square?”
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No. “Did you go to Capri and up in the chair-lift to the top? YES we did. And loved it – once we got going! It seems we were visiting a place which has been a favourite and popular destination with people from across Norfolk and Suffolk for years – and many of them are “repeaters”, visiting several times. And we can see why. Sorrento and the surrounding area is a wonderful
place to visit with so much to offer. We flew out of Norwich with Bucharest Airlines – the flight out was a touch grim, with one small soft drink offered by two unfriendly cabin crew, but the return flight was better with attendants who were very helpful. The experience at Naples was actually very good. Newmarket Travel guides were there to meet us and send us on our way; it takes an hour or so to get through the traffic www.letstalk24.co.uk
TRAVEL
Mount Vesuvius on the horizon.
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A wonderful place to visit where the welcome was as warm as the weather. Walking in ancient footsteps.
and tunnels and into Sorrento. We were lucky with the weather – hot and sunny – and lucky with the hotel. There were four of us. My wife Bridgette, her sister Jane and her partner Larry. We stayed at the three-star Rivage Hotel, a few minutes’ walk from the centre of Sorrento. And it suited us down to the ground. The rooms – no balconies – were basic, comfortable and clean, with safes and televisions. We were B&B so we could eat out at the huge range of excellent restaurants every evening – and that was perfect. There was a small rooftop swimming pool at the hotel but if it’s a fly and flop holiday you are after, this is probably not for you. The staff at the hotel were very welcoming and friendly. Lovely people, nothing was too much trouble. After an excellent breakfast we had places to go, sights to see ... We had booked a day at Pompeii and a guided tour of Naples – which actually turned out to be a 30-minute wander on our own – and the tour guide was a great character I suspect some of you who have been to Sorrento will remember – Nello. Let's Talk September 2017
Thanks to Nello, our larger than life guide, we learned an awful lot more about the unique Roman city of Pompeii than we would have if we were on our own. He organised us as if he was our drill sergeant, he barked his directions so none of us was in the slightest doubt where we were going or where we were to meet up again. His orders of “Choppy, choppy” were delivered with great humour. He was a good storyteller but we all did well to keep up with him. He made the day special and we were pleased to see he was there again when we took the boat from Sorrento to captivating Capri. Travelling up to the top of Anacapri on a chair-lift is a must and, while it is an expensive island, once again our guide knew a place where we could get a cheap – and good – meal. Three courses for 14 Euros. We learned a lot about the region thanks to Nello and the rest of the time was spent exploring Sorrento. A wonderful place to visit where the welcome was as warm as the weather. The restaurants offer some wonderful food at reasonable prices and some fascinating shops. Even
I was interested in some of them – but I don’t want to see a lemon again, well perhaps a sorbet lemon. According to my wife and her sister the shops are excellent. They spent more than enough time in them. Of course, I am probably preaching to the converted. But there must be some of you reading this who have never been to Sorrento. If you are thinking about going, then Newmarket Travel offers some good value and well organised holidays. Its resort representatives and guides are friendly and efficient. Especially that Nello chap. LT
We travelled from Norwich to Sorrento with Newmarket Holidays in June. We booked two full-day excursions before we left and the total cost of the whole holiday was about £600 each. A good deal. Another Sorrento holiday is due to leave Norwich on September 16 and there are more flights from Stansted. The company also offers a range of holidays across this country and the world. Call 0330 160 7734 or visit: nor.newmarketholidays.co.uk
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Let’s Talk! September 2017
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Clearly many Let’s Talk readers are very keen photographers, because the number of pictures sent to us for the monthly readers’ photographic competition continues to grow. Here are the best of the bunch from the most recent offerings arriving in our post or via email.
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This picture of a Cromer sunset, taken in late May, while the photographer was out for a walk, earns the top rating this month for Mick Webb of Capel St Mary, near Ipswich. Mick said there were numerous other photographers on the beach on the same mission to grab a shot of the spectacular sunset.
This delightful picture of a puffin was awarded second place. It was taken in June at the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington, Yorkshire. Photographer Karen Brown said she spent a fantastic couple of days at the reserve in the hope of seeing the elusive magnificent birds and didn’t leave disappointed. It was well worth the visit said Karen, of Ipswich.
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PHOTO COMPETITION
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Richard Lay, of, Caister, Great Yarmouth, took this impressive close up of a horsefly at Upton Fen. “There seems to be a lot of these painfully biting insects this year,” he said.
Wendy Hill of Great Hockham in Norfolk loved the look of these fallen trees off the cliff near Benacre and her picture took third spot this month. Kerry Stone of Wymondham captured this colourful picture of a beautiful butterfly.
John Lincoln of Old Catton, Norwich spotted a sparrowhawk having a collared dove for Sunday lunch while he was walking near Norwich Airport.
Last month’s winner Richard Brunton, of Fakenham, took this picture during a recent holiday in Derbyshire. It was one of several sheep which were allowed to graze the sides of a disused railway cutting, in order to keep the scrub and vegetation under control. Richard liked the way this particular sheep poked its head up above the vegetation to see what was going on.
Closing date for entries for the next photo competition is Thursday, September 28, 2017. Email pictures to letstalk@ archant.co.uk or send prints to our usual address. A maximum of three entries per person. If emailing, please make sure the file size is at least one megabyte. Remember to include your name, address and daytime telephoine number. It helps if you can give us a little background information about the picture. If you would like any print pictures returned after use, please include a stamped addressed envelope. ■ View entries from previous issues by going to Galleries at www.letstalk24.co.uk
Let's Talk September 2017
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Remembering the Great Storm of 1987.
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SLUG HERE COMPETITION
WIN a DVD of classic TV ove on a Branch Line was a classic BBC sitcom of the mid-1990s, much of which was filmed in Norfolk and on the Norfolk and Suffolk border. Based on the best-selling book
by John Hadleigh, it has now been produced as a DVD by Second Sight and Let’s Talk has teamed up to offer three DVDs as prizes. The BBC produced four 50-minute episodes which were shown in June and July 1994. The entertaining and quintessentially British comedy followed the trials and tribulations of a respectable if somewhat boring civil servant, Jasper Pye played by Michael Maloney. Most of the outdoor scenes were shot at Oxborough Hall near Swaffham while the railway scenes were filmed on the North Norfolk Railway, mostly using Weybourne Station, pictured right. Desperate for a radical change and some excitement in his life, Jasper’s chance arises when he is tasked with dismantling an old government research unit in the country.
He soon finds himself seduced by life in an idyllic village in East Anglia and is beguiled by the charms of local eccentric Lord Flamborough and his three beautiful daughters. Maria Aitken stars as Lady Flamborough while inimitable comedy favourite Leslie Phillips is Lord Flamborough. The DVD was released in July, has a 12 certificate and a running time of approximately three hours and 20 minutes.
Competition entry form
Win a ‘Love on a Branch line’ DVD Let’s Talk has three copies of the DVD of Love on a Branch Line to be won. To enter, fill in the competition form provided.
NAME ................................................................................................. ADDRESS & POSTCODE...................................................................... ............................................................................................................
Answer the question below, fill in the form and send it to: Love on a Branch Line Competition, Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE, to arrive no later than Thursday, September 28. Question: Which Norfolk station was used in the making of Love on a Branch Line? Answer ......................................................
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............................................................................................................ DAYTIME TELEPHONE ........................................................................ EMAIL ................................................................................................. Normal Archant competition rules apply. The editor’s decision is final. Archant Ltd and associated companies would also like to contact you about special offers, products and services by post or phone from time to time. Please tick if you DO NOT want to be contacted by Archant or third parties. Please tick the box if you would like to be contacted by email by Archant or third parties.
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Picture: Ian Burt
sitcom filmed in Norfolk L
COMPETITION RESULTS, July edition (issue 178) Very Heath Robinson book competition
The winner of the Very Heath Robinson book was: Mrs Dana Taylor, of Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Spot the Picture
The winner of our Spot the Picture competition to win a book called ‘The People at Number 9’ was: Mrs G M Brighton, of Wymondham, Norfolk. The answer was page 59.
Easton Farm Park competition The winner of a family pass for the Easton Farm Park was: Mrs S Hallam, of Belton, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
The Grantchester DVD competition The five winners of the Grantchester DVD competition were: Mrs S King, of Colchester, Essex; Mrs Carole Willett, of Downham Market, Norfolk; G R Turner, of Epping, Essex; Mrs J Foster, of Norwich, Norfolk; and Ernest Barber, of Norwich, Norfolk. The answer was Cambridgeshire.
Giant July wordsearch competition The winner of our giant wordsearch competition to win a National Trust property admission pass was: Mrs Beryl Powley, of Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk.
Our readers are your customers. Reach them today Talk to us about advertising solutions in print and online.
Find out more: www.archanthub.co.uk/county-life Let's Talk September 2017
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Quick Crossword
ACROSS 1. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 14. 16. 17. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Silly (5) Procession (7) Desert (7) Region (5) Mail (4) Elegant (8) Row (4) Kismet (4) Saviour (8) Profit (4) Vigilant (5) Offering (7) Oriental (7) Salute (5)
Cryptic Crossword
ACROSS
DOWN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12. 13. 15. 18. 19.
Unsuitable (13) Accumulate (5) Whirlpool (4) Transmit (6) Reasonable (8) Issue (7) Diversion (13) Upset (8) Remedy (7) Defeated (6) Revile (5) Circle (4)
Scribble pad
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1. Where victims were bound 1 & 4 Ac.Hip, hip, hooray, to be punished (8-5) for instance! (5,2,5) 2. Grumbles at payments on 8. Showing concentration for tennis, maybe, before the end of the game (7) property (5) 3. Decline to produce washing 9. French names embracing the right equipment (4) standards (5) 4 & 15 Dn. Traffic arrangement 10. By gone career that gives the for the single-minded? (3-3,6) clergyman no alternative (4) 11. Young attendants required round a 5. This contains tea in a mixture of arsenic! (8) ship for sea-trips (8) 6. Confused grandee in a passion (7) 13. See 14 Across 7. Impetuous words of the doctor 14 & 13 Ac.Ideal men for producing a diagnosing measles? (4,9) source of metal (4-4) 12. No specified situation when year is 16 & 17 Ac.Take a risk and ardently out of joint (8) indulge in the game (4,4,4) 20. Water plant for southern border (5) 13. Take no direct course to the sea (7) 21. Undefined number of coppers, we 15. See 4 Down 18. Victor, losing his head, makes a shot hear, will produce the charge (7) wide of the bull (5) 22. A treacherous creature could be 19. Stirring story needing a bit of pep, I present (7) consider (4) 23. React to a sign of omission (5)
In last month’s issue, due to technical problems, the ‘Down’ clues for the cryptic crossword were incorrect, for which we apologise. For those of you who still have the grid, here are the relevant clues. Down 1. It may be a gem, but it’s very painful! (9) 2. Support hospital organization in reverse (9) 4. Drama is clearly not a serious matter (4) 5. Additional part of complex training programme (5) 6. Closely followed, being obstinate (6)
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7. Call mean (4) 9. Bear heavily on newspapers (5) 11. Idle talk with a pole for a spell of duty (5) 12. Listens in genuine practice (9) 13. Angry utterance provides a puzzle (9)
17. Remain about right, but wander (5) 19. Toboggan could kill, we hear (6) 22. Coach the retinue (5) 23. The book comes my way (4) 24. Coming out of it is quite unexpected (4)
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General Knowledge Crossword ACROSS 6. ‘The --’, 1937 novel by AJ Cronin (7) 7. County of the Republic of Ireland whose county town is Tralee (5) 9. --Thomas, English revolutionary philosopher who authored The Rights of Man (5) 10. Brownish-yellow variety of quartz used as a gemstone (7) 12. 1884 operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan which parodies Tennyson (8,3) 14. Fairy in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (11) 18. Bird such as Tyto alba with a heartshaped face (4,3) 19. Discovery or Worcester Pearmain, for example (5) 21. M.R., writer of ghost stories who died in 1936 (5) 22. Frederick, author of Peter Simple (7)
DOWN 1 and 2. 1861 novel by George Eliot (5,6) 2. See 1. 3. Standard unit of currency of Bulgaria (3) 4. Town of norther France, a suburb of Paris associated with porcelain manufacture (6) 5. Province of southern Spain traversed
by the Sierra Nevada (7) 8. In bridge, an attempt to win a trick by playing a card which is not the highest held (7) 11. ‘Shamela --’, novel by Henry Fielding (7) 13. Orange-flavoured liqueur named after a Caribbean island where it was originally made (7)
15. Bicycle for two riders (6) 16. 1987 novel by Gore Vidal (6) 17. ‘The --’, Greek epic poem describing the siege of Troy (5) 20. 1983 novel by Bernard MacLaverty (3)
Word of the month ■ Number 41 - Nostalgia
Nostalgia’s definition has changed greatly over time. Consistent with its Greek roots meaning ‘homecoming’ and ‘pain,’ nostalgia was for centuries considered a potentially debilitating and sometimes fatal condition expressing extreme homesickness. The modern view is that nostalgia is an independent and positive emotion that many experience often. Occasional nostalgia has been found to have many functions, such as to improve mood, increase social connectedness and enhance positive self-regard. Many nostalgic reflections seem to benefit those who experience them. Such benefits may lead to a chronic disposition or personality trait of ‘nostalgia proneness’.
Let's Talk September 2017
Although nostalgia is often triggered by negative feelings, it results in increasing one’s mood and heightening positive emotions, which can stem from feelings of warmth or coping resulting from nostalgic reflections. Studies led to the conclusion that the coping strategies that are likely among nostalgia prone people often lead to benefits during stressful times. Nostalgia also sometimes involves memories of people you were close to, and thus it can increase one’s sense of social support and connections. It is also triggered specifically by feelings of loneliness, but counteracts such feelings with reflections of close relationships.
Nostalgia serves as a coping mechanism and helps people to feel better about themselves. Nostalgia helps increase one’s selfesteem and meaning in life by buffering threats to well-being and also by initiating a desire to deal with problems or stress. ■ Do you have a favourite word or phrase? Write and let us know.
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Codeword
A word in time
Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. You have to work out the words in the grid, using the two letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use your skill and judgment to work out the remainder.
Anne McGowan looks at some interesting facts about dolphins. ■ Dolphins recognise and admire themselves in mirrors. ■ Dolphins have the longest memories in the animal kingdom ■ The US Navy has 75 trained dolphins to detect enemy swimmers and underwater mines. ■ The average lifespan of a dolphin is 15 years. However, some can to 50. ■ Dolphins sleep with one eye open and only one-half of a dolphin’s brain goes to sleep at a time. ■ The term “dolphin” is from the Greek delphis meaning “womb.” The term “porpoise” is from the Old French porpais which means “pork fish,” perhaps because the porpoise snout resembles the snout of a pig. ■ Dolphins use echo-location to navigate and to find food. Dolphins send out clicks that are returned from other objects in the water (just like an echo). This way a dolphin can locate food, other dolphins, predators or rocks. ■ Killing a dolphin in ancient Greece was considered sacrilegious and was punishable by death.
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Spot the picture Competition Tell us which page this image is on in this month’s magazine, and you could win a prize. This is a picture used elsewhere in this month’s Let’s Talk. Tell us which page it is on, and you could win one of our mystery book prizes. Send the correct answer to: Let’s Talk September Spot the Picture Competition, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE, before Thursday, September 28, 2017
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Puzzle 4
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Sudoku solutions Issue 178 (August)
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Don’t forget to send the whole page To enter the competition, please send this entire page (provided you’ve completed the wordsearch and filled in the details below) to: Giant Prize Wordsearch September, Let’s Talk, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RE, before Thursday, September 28, 2017. The first correct entry drawn after that date will win.
NAME .................................................................................................................................. ADDRESS & POSTCODE........................................................................................................ .............................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................
Normal Archant competition rules apply Archant Ltd and associated companies would also like to contact you about special offers, products and services by post or phone from time to time Please tick if you DO NOT want to be contacted by Archant or by third parties
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Giant Prize Wordsearch WIN: A National Trust day pass for a family of four (two adults and two children) to any property in the UK Hollywood film, Casablanca turns 75 this year, having debuted in 1942! Here are the 20 words associated with the classic film for you to find in the grid on the left-hand page. For a chance to win our prize, find all the words, highlight them in the grid and send it off to us. CONRAD VEIDT DOOLEY WILSON HEINRICH STRASSER HUMPHREY ILSA LUND
Solutions Issue 178 (August)
QUICK Across: 3 Apprehend; 8 Espy; 9 Attribute; 10 Clench; 11 Slyly; 14 Limit; 15 Ease; 16 Erode; 18 Toss; 20 Ladle; 21 Tubby; 24 Listed; 25 Companion; 26 Icon; 27 Excellent. Down: 1 Percolate; 2 Uppermost; 4 Path; 5 Rural; 6 Hobble; 7 Note; 9 Acute; 11 Story; 12 Yardstick; 13 Defendant; 17 Elfin; 19 Supple; 22 Banal; 23 Coax; 24 Loan. CRYPTIC Across: 3 Appending; 8 Ajar; 9 Party game; 10 Bakery; 11 Wager; 14 Nears; 15 Dear; 16 Sites; 18 Lads; 20 Trees; 21 Sloth; 24 Barrow; 25 Nominally; 26 Fair; 27 Red-handed. Down: 1 Carbuncle; 2 Backwards; 4 Play; 5 Extra; 6 Dogged; 7 Name; 9 Press; 11 Watch; 12 Rehearsal; 13 Crossword; 17 Stray; 19 Sleigh; 22 Train; 23 Tome; 24 Blue. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Across: 1 Bob Mathias; 7 Ankle; 8 Gallium; 10 Birthday; 11 Joad; 13 Rabbit; 15 Da Nang; 17 Laud; 18 Platypus; 21 Auberon; 22 Lorca; 23 Pretty Baby. Down: 1 Baker; 2 Blenheim; 3 Aegean; 4 Holt; 5 Arizona; 6 Barbarella; 9 Madagascar; 12 Mantilla; 14 Blubber; 16 Blenny; 19 Party; 20 Grit.
CODEWORD
1=L, 2=B, 3=O, 4=K, 5=J, 6=Z, 7=Q, 8=Y, 9=G, 10=T, 11=I, 12=V, 13=P, 14=D, 15=S, 16=E, 17=H, 18=W, 19=U, 20=F, 21=X, 22=A, 23=M, 24=N, 25=R, 26=C Let's Talk September 2017
INGRID BERGMAN LOUIS RENAULT MAX STEINER MICHAEL CURTIZ PAUL HENREID
PETER LORRE RICK BLAINE SIGNOR UGARTE VICTOR LASZLO WARNER BROS
Quiz Test your general knowledge 1 The spacecraft Messenger orbited which planet between 2011 and 2015? 2 In which English county is Tatton Park situated? 3 Golfer Rory McIlroy, pictured right. won his first of his major tournament in 2011. Which one? 4 Australian Rules football team Collingwood plays its home games at which ground? 5 An object made of what is traditionally given in the UK for the 10th wedding anniversary? 6 Which film stars James Stewart as a wheelchair bound photographer who spies on his neighbours? 7 The French Queen, Marie Antoinette, was born in which country? 8 Who published works under the pen
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name Acton Bell? 9 What would you be preparing if you were using a French Press? 10 The first English Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, was MP for which constituency?
Quiz compiled by Terry Redhead.
1 Mercury, 2 Cheshire, 3 US Open, 4 Melbourne Cricket Ground, 5 Tin, 6 Rear Window, 7 Austria, 8 Anne Bronte, 9 Coffee, 10 King’s Lynn.
AS TIME GOES BY AVALON BOGART CAFE AMERICAIN CLAUDE RAINS
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Nothing nicer than a cup of coffee and a lovely snack ... if only! There’s nothing like a lovely cup of coffee and a snack. But it’s not as easy to find as you may have thought.
by Neil Haverson Picture: palidachan/iStock/Thinkstock
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nce again I have read of the benefits of drinking coffee. The latest study says that just one cup a day extends a man’s life by three months and a woman’s by one month. Apparently coffee contains antioxidants and compounds that combat insulin resistance, lower inflammation and improve liver function. But like most things, it has to be drunk in moderation. But it’s good news for me. I enjoy my coffee. The coffee in the canteen at the Let’s Talk office is a tasty brew. I knew I’d miss my daily shots of caffeine when I retired. It’d be instant from a jar. But knowing my penchant for ‘proper’ coffee, my adoring family bought me a coffee maker as a retirement gift. It has been in almost daily use since. With my first attempts I produced some disgusting stuff as I tried to get the measures right. But rather than pour it down the drain I put on a brave face and drank it. Over the months I have honed my skills and now I can brew a decent cup. When we’re out and about, Mrs H and I have a list of regular watering holes where she can get her frothy cappuccino and I can get a fulsome Americano – served with cream. Of course, coffee has to be drunk with some form of snack, and queuing for your beverage by a cabinet full of cakes and scones lowers resistance. In smaller cafes the cakes are often home-made and that is reflected in the taste. But from the major chains I find the food can be a let-down.
The cabinet is subtly lit to make them appear appetising but when you take a bite they have a synthetic taste. The chocolate cake looks mouth-watering, but it’s been made with awful cooking chocolate with a taste that bears little resemblance to the real thing. Mind you, cakes are rarely on the Haverson menu. Mainly because Mrs H says they’re bad for me. So the chances of me finding a piece of lemon drizzle where the drizzle has a real tang of lemon are remote. Our favoured snack is a cheese scone – but even a decent one of those is hard to find. Back in the early days of Let’s Talk I complained about the problem of finding a cheesey cheese scone. We invited readers to send in their recipes. Mrs H made a selection of them and we published the best one. Incorrectly. As I recall, instead of putting one teaspoon (tps) of baking
powder, we printed one tablespoon (tbs). A reader rang in to say that he made them as a surprise for his wife. Apparently she was indeed surprised. The quality of bought cheese scones did seem to improve but recently we have noticed a marked decline. There are a couple of cafes where the cheese scones are mere shadows of their former selves. They often promise much when you see them on display, but deliver little. Split one and you discover a plain scone that has been dressed up with some crusty cheese on the outside. Sometime you can see signs of cheese inside but there’s no tang. Mrs H reckons they are saving money by using a mild cheese you can’t taste. She also maintains that the crusty looking topping can be a con. It’s not cheese but an egg wash. But the problem remains that you don’t know what it’s like until you’ve paid for it. It’s a case of hard cheese. LT
■ Read previous editions of The Last Word at www.letstalk24.co.uk
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Doreen LOVES to dance!
We call them ‘Kingsley Moments’ – happy times in a special place Happiness is a basic requirement most of us would expect our living environment to provide. However, as all of us are unique, we find comfort in different things. Therefore it’s very important that these needs are identified right from the start to provide peace of mind – that’s why all Kingsley homes have a warm and friendly community that thrives within them. We promote our core values of professionalism, security, friendship and independence in all of our homes and do not accept anything less than the highest standards of care.
Visit kingsleyhealthcare.co.uk to experience a Kingsley Moment
Brooke House: 0808 231 4320. Brooke Gardens, Brooke, Norwich, NR15 1JH. | Oaklands: 0808 231 9539. Norwich Road, Scole, Norfolk IP21 4EE. Thorp House: 0808 149 3993. Church Road, Griston, Norfolk IP25 6QA. | Spring Lodge: 0808 256 5165. Main Road, Woolverstone, Suffolk IP9 1AX. The Depperhaugh: 0808 231 9638. Chickering Road, Hoxne IP21 5BX. | Kirkley Manor: 0808 281 9008. 3 Kirkley Park Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0LQ. Lilac Lodge: 0808 231 7964. 11 Gorleston Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 3AA. | Allonsfield: 0808 278 0589. Campsea Ashe, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 0PX. Yaxley House: 0808 252 5007. Church Lane, Suffolk IP23 8BU. | Woodbridge Lodge: 0808 256 1527. 5 Burkitt Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4JJ. ■
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