Just Wroxham & Coltishall

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Tracey Bagshaw Editor editor@justregional.co.uk

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Just Wroxham & Coltishall

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Norfolk, NR11 6ET

from the editor

Hello! I’m not sure you could call June “flaming” this year – well, it isn’t as I type this – but when summer comes, there are few places in Norfolk better to be than here.

One of the big attractions is our waterways, and one of our popular boating companies, Richardsons, has built a new welcome centre for guests at Wroxham Marina. You can see more on page 13 (that’s marina manager Jason Everson on the cover).

And being on the Broads, we have some quite rare conditions for agriculture. There’s a new project going on which could mean a new future for our wetlands. Turn to page 7 to see more.

Of course, where there’s water, there’s mud. But the youngsters from Coltishall Primary (pictured) went to seek out more for a very special run to raise money to help fight cancer. See what that’s all about on pages 10 and 11. I hope you enjoy the magazine and I will see you next month.

Next edition

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Wroxham & Coltishall

WHB TWINNING ASSOCIATION

It is only two months now until our twinning visit to La Pommeraye and Montjean-surLoire, and currently we have a party of 47 –a mixture of old and new members and our biggest group ever, I think.

There is a possibility of a few more joining in, various other commitments permitting. We are all looking forward to the excellent hospitality which we always receive, our visit to Monet’s Gardens en route and the varied excursions in our lovely Loire twinned region.

We are hoping to fit in one or two social occasions before then, weather permitting: a garden party at one of our members’ houses has been volunteered and we have a definite social evening booked on Friday, July 28, at Robert and Margaret’s in Wroxham, where we will also give out final details to our twinning visit travellers. Unfortunately we don’t think we have enough boat-owning members now to host our annual flotilla and it is getting more difficult to find places to raft up.

Book Club is continuing on Zoom with our far-flung participants but we must try to get together this summer.

April was Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion, Christine’s choice, and May was Mal’s choice of Still Life by Sarah Winman, both fairly universally enjoyed. t For more information please contact us, via Peter, on 01603 782733 or peter_c_milsted@talk21.com

Come and join the ladies that lunch

The Horning Ladies Lunch Club are about to hold their last lunch of the season and are issuing their usual invitation for anyone to join them.

The members meet for a two-course lunch and good company from October to June and lots have made new friends as a result.

They also have a guest speaker, who is different each month.

Call Tricia Elson on 07931 301606 or email her at ladieslunchclub@btinternet.com for more information.

WrOxHAm BUrE VALLEY rOTArY CLUB

A busy May, with more to come

We have just come to the end of one of our busiest months of the year, combining a number of local community activities and a major fundraising event.

We started in early May on the Coronation Bank Holiday Monday with an organised litter pick around Hoveton, where we were pleased to be joined by members of Hoveton Parish Council and members of the public.

On May 10, we were delighted to be able to run our schools Technology Tournament at Broadland High School in Hoveton. This involved teams competing to solve a technology problem and build a working solution.

Some 15 teams of four-to-six pupils took part, all competing at basic level this year. After a three-year gap because of covid-19, the tournament once again proved highly successful with all teams participating well.

Grateful thanks to headmaster Matthew Sprake and all at Broadland High School for hosting the contest, and special thanks to Oyster Yachts who sponsored the competition, providing materials and prizes. This was followed on May 14 by assisting at the Meet the Farmer Day at Wroxham Barns, where we helped with stewarding and tractor rides and also manned the barbecue.

Two weeks later we were manning the entrance gates at the Strumpshaw Steam Fair.

July 1 is the start of the new Rotary year, when incoming president Kelvin Dore takes over from Robin Baines.

Last but by no means least, we are expecting our Classic Car Show to continue to grow and be even bigger and better than last year’s.

This takes place on September 10 at Wroxham Barns.

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Wroxham & Coltishall

New plans for our wetlands

Around 45 volunteers and staff from the Broads Authority headed to a muddy field in Horsey on a series of beautiful spring mornings to plant a new reedbed, as part of a project looking into natural water cleaning and future wetland farming.

The planting is part of an experiment to see how crops such as reeds for thatching and reedmace for materials including insulation fibre can be grown in the wetlands of the Broads National Park.

The end goal of the project is to find out whether these plants offer potential income for farmers, as well as assessing how well the crops perform at cleaning our rivers.

They planted 12,400 reed and reedmace plug plants over five days in April, working with the Horsey Estate, Broads IDB, the Environment Agency and Anglian Water on the study, which is at the cutting edge of a farming method known as paludiculture (wetland farming) and is the only project of its kind in this region.

The wetlands of East Anglia and the Broads have been drained for agriculture and grazing for centuries, releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases. One of the best ways to retain carbon in the soil is maintain a water table within 10-30cm of the soil surface, locking carbon dioxide in the soil.

Wetland crops could help farming in

the Broads to become more sustainable and generate other sources of income. Reedmace is a versatile plant with many potential uses as a sustainable material, including for clothing, insulation boards, cavity wall insulation, potting compost alternatives and compostable plates.

For example, using a plant-based puffer jacket insulation reduces petroleum by 70pc in every jacket and can save 40kg of carbon dioxide.

staff Laura Middleton and Tom Barrett get digging, while volunteer Mike Jackson plants.

The project was Mick Noble’s second time volunteering with the authority. He said: “I’ve worked in the building trade my whole life, most of which was inside, and I like wildlife, so it’s nice to be outside on a sunny day.

“I’ve got a boat and a kayak and I love the Broads – it’s my happy place, you learn lots doing volunteering and get to give something back.”

The wetland farming site will now be carefully monitored to see how the plants, carbon stored in the soil and water quality respond over time.

Wroxham & Coltishall

WORKING TOGETHER: Broads Authority

Help to save more lives like Mark’s

A camping holiday with family and friends could have ended in tragedy for a Norfolk man after he became seriously ill.

Mark, 46, a type 1 diabetic, was taken ill during the morning and his wife promptly called an ambulance to the Suffolk campsite where they were staying.

His condition improved after a glucose drip was administered, but he continued to suffer with a severe headache.

Later that day, having decided to take the children to Southwold beach, Mark experienced a number of seizures and collapsed.

A 999 call was issued, and a volunteer critical care team from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS), worked alongside paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service to assess and treat him. They stabilised his condition before requesting an air ambulance to provide further treatment and a rapid transfer to hospital.

A team from East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) soon arrived and, working alongside SARS, undertook further specialist interventions to keep Mark stable before airlifting him to hospital. He was diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage, taken into intensive care and later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

In total, four different emergency services were involved in Mark’s care, and their

teamwork meant that he received quick, expert care and spent less than a week in hospital.

Dave Killingback, critical care paramedic at EAAA, who helped to treat Mark, said: “Without the generosity of local people, we simply wouldn’t be here to help in situations like this when we’re needed to deliver critical care and help get people to hospital.”

An EAAA spokesperson added: “East Anglian Air Ambulance is a charity

providing lifesaving critical care 24 hours-aday, 365 days-a-year by air and road.

“Armed with state-of-the art equipment, our crews can deliver advanced life-saving care on-scene, giving the patient the best chance of recovery.

“Gifts in wills fund one in four of our missions. They mean that we can be there for future generations, keeping even more families together.

“Together we save lives.”

t See more at www.eaaa.org.uk/wills

Wroxham & Coltishall

THANK YOU: Mark and his family meet Doctor Jim from the EAAA.

Wroxham & Coltishall

Go wild to boost your wellbeing

Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Greener NHS programme at NHS England are encouraging people to go wild for wellbeing this month by participating in the UK’s biggest nature challenge – 30 Days Wild.

The month-long initiative invites people of all ages to connect with nature in an easy and accessible way every day.

Evidence shows that people who connect with nature every day are more resilient, experience less social isolation and loneliness, and have better all-round health and happiness.

As part of the 75th birthday celebrations, the Greener NHS programme is partnering with The Wildlife Trusts to shine a light on the great work of staff from across the NHS who have created, maintain and make the best use of green spaces for the benefit of patients, staff and the environment.

To mark the halfway point of the challenge, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is offering free entry to the Cley Marshes nature reserve for everyone during the weekend of June 17 and 18.

Mudlarks raise

Getting muddy and having fun helped youngsters from Coltishall Primary to raise money to help fight cancer.

The Year 3 children from Hazel Class joined thousands of children for the Pretty Muddy Kids Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research – a 5km run negotiating muddy obstacles at the Norfolk Showground.

The youngsters, aged seven and eight, set off dressed in pink and navy outfits –but they didn’t stay clean for long!

Thanks to the heavy rain there was plenty of mud to go around – added to be hoses, water pistols and shovels filled with mud.

After a very cold and tough run, all the children were thrilled to cross the finish line and receive their medals, and were all so proud of the money that they had raised.

Over the past couple of years, members of staff at the school and a family in Hazel Class have been affected by a cancer diagnosis.

The children wanted to do something to show their support, and what better way than getting muddy with their classmates?

They set up a fundraising page with a target of £870, which was smashed, ending up with a total of £5,375,

Class teacher Sara Ward, who was at the event, said: “I am proud beyond words! Tears were shed. There was no better way

to spend a Saturday morning – watching these absolute diamonds dig deep, in chilly conditions, all to help others in need.”

A parent of one of the children taking part added: “Seeing the children so passionate about fundraising has been inspirational. Every donation that came in made my child’s face light up and helped them see the importance of their efforts.

“The race was hard due to the cold weather and them being soaked through, but thinking of the sponsors and those the money would help spurred the children on.”

Norfolk Quay heading is a family run business based in the heart of the Broads. Our experienced team have been installing quay heading and boardwalks throughout the Broads for many years.

At Norfolk Quay heading we are able to accommodate all individual needs. And regardless of access we are able to transport all the materials and machinery to your property via the waterways on our barge.

cash for cancer

WHERE THERE’S MUCK... Children, teachers and supporters after the Muddy Kids Race for Life at the Norfolk Showground. They smashed their fundraising target!

Quality, choice, service.

This is the last report of my Lionistic year and I hope that you have found them informative. I will be handing over the reins to Mick Holden at the end of June and wish him all the best for his year in office. In May, along with several of our members, I joined Peter Howe and other members of Hoveton Parish Council to plant a tree donated by our club to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III (pictured).

May also saw our successful craft fair, and our next one will be on October 8.

Planning continues apace for our charity village fete, which is being held on August 6 at Hoveton Village Hall and Playing Field from 10am until 4pm and will include classic cars, a Jaguar cockpit and a dog agility team. Stall booking forms can be downloaded from www. wroxhamandhovetonlions.org

President Terry Vout

Wroxham & Coltishall

WrOXHAM & HOVETON LIONS

Wroxham & Coltishall

A welcome by the waterside

A Broads day-boat hire hub has launched a new welcome experience for its visitors.

Richardson’s has unveiled a smart new reception building at its Wroxham marina, which is home to a fleet of 44 boats that can be hired from one to eight hours.

Company chief executive Greg Munford said: “Our team, led by our marina manager Jason Everson, provide top quality customer service to visitors on their arrival, so we wanted a building to match.”

The reception in The Rhond is where hirers are greeted, are kitted out with life-jackets and sign their paperwork –which includes confirmation of their safety briefings – before being taken to their boats. The craft are a mix of diesel and electric craft, including cruisers with an onboard toilet.

Customers can enjoy gentle river trips to popular locations ranging from Horning and Coltishall to Barton Broad, depending on the length of hire, before turning for home.

Greg added: “Day boats are often people’s first taste of a Broads boating trip, and some come back to have a full week at our boating holidays operation.

“Most of our customers are from within a two-and-a-half-hour drive time. Some are first timers, while others have previously discovered the Broads and the wonder of the National Park, and like to return time and time again.”

Richardson’s has been running day boats at Wroxham for more than eight years, having acquired the Fineway and then the George C Smith yards. It plugged a gap in the market for the company which is the largest boating holidays operator on the Broads with a 213-strong fleet based at Stalham.

The company’s boat-hiring operation began in 1944 when Robert Richardson bought a single cruiser.

Now the company has a broad portfolio of boating and holiday businesses in the Broads, Hemsby and Lowestoft, ranging from holiday parks and family entertainment centres employing 185 people across eight venues.

Greg said the boom in UK holidays after the covid-19 pandemic was continuing to provide good business and Richardson’s reinvested its profits for future development – which this winter included remodelling

the reception at the Stalham marina and reopening a Marina café which is open to all.

t Find out more at www. richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk

Wroxham & Coltishall

BUILDING: Will and Mark outside the reception centre.

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north norfolk vikings swimming club

big success for a small club

North Norfolk Viking swimmers Mia Turner and Anna Thurston won medals for the first time in a triangular gala involving the host club Dereham Otters and Norwich Swan. They were members of a team of nine younger swimmers taking part.

Mia took gold when she touched in 39.58 in a finger-tip finish in the 50m freestyle, beating 12 other 11-year-olds.

Mia has been with the club only a short while and has recently been promoted from the club’s development squad.

Anna left with two medals in her very first gala. She first achieved a time of 48.81 in the 50m backstroke for bronze and then went one better in the 10-year-old event, with a well-earned silver for 50m butterfly in 1.00.11.

There were silver linings, too, for 11-yearold Layla Calaby – who just out-touched Anna in 47.49 on the 50m backstroke – Milly Edridge, aged nine, in 2.06.35 in her 100m freestyle, and 12-year-old team captain Leona Scott, when she hit the pad in 42.61 in the 50m freestyle.

Another Viking who has just been promoted to the main squad from the development squad and continues to improve is Isabelle Bird.

The 11-year-old achieved a bronze in the 50m breaststroke, in a time of 1.00.38.

Leonardo Jones was just outside the medals but the 11-year-old swam well, achieving two fourth places.

Another first-timer, nine-year-old Clemmie Dent, swam in three events without blemish and 10-year-old Heidi Davison rose to the challenge by participating in four events.

Afterwards, a Viking spokesman said: “We are the smallest club in Norfolk, yet we can

WELL

DONE: Vikings swimmers at the gala where they scooped several medals.

produce excellent results. There is a lovely atmosphere within the club at the moment which has generated a positive work ethic. This is enabling more swimmers to participate fully and succeed as they do.”

t Vikings train at the Victory Pool, North Walsham, and at Sheringham Reef. To join, e-mail them for a free try-out at info@norfolkvikings.co.uk

John Holden

Wroxham & Coltishall

Max size 6ft x 6ft.

NORTH WALSHAM RUGBY CLUB with PAUL MORSE

The season ends on a high

There was a buoyant mood throughout the club at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.

Not only did the Vikings retain their hard-won National 2 East status, a second successive promotion took the Raiders into Eastern Counties 1, the Warriors (3rd XV) played more regularly and were also promoted, whilst the Youth, Valkyries and Minis all had enjoyable successful seasons.

There were some farewells, too, including to the coaching duo of James Knight and Ryan Oakes – the former to further his career at Gresham’s School, the latter moving to Australia.

Both have been at Scottow a long time, starting out in the Youth and the Minis, and will be sorely missed. The new director of rugby will be announced shortly.

“Challenging… learnt a lot… squad can be very proud, kept improving,” were Ryan’s first thoughts on the Vikings’ season, finishing 12th in the 14-team league. That improvement was evident in the points gathered – 15 in the first half of the season, including three victories; and 28 in the second, winning five.

The step up in standards in the higher league was as big as expected. There were fewer mistakes – and those that were made were ruthlessly punished – a faster pace and quicker decision making. “You couldn’t afford any part of your game to be malfunctioning,” said Ryan.

After losing just 10 matches in three seasons, they found themselves in a relegation fight alongside Rochford, Sevenoaks and Westcliff. Key to their success was doing the double over all three, to add to victories over Henley and Guernsey.

Season over, it was time for the player awards.

Matt Hodgson, who had another outstanding campaign and could clearly grace the game at a higher level, won Vikings Player of the Year and George

AWARDS AND FAREWELLS:

Ryan Oakes and James Knight, who have left the club, with past president Dave Horne and director Al Hepburn. George Loose (below) was voted Young Player of the Year.

Loose won the Young Player award. Billy Tait was the Raiders Player of the Year with Archie Stimpson named the George Howard Youth Player.

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