ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 115 APRIL 2020 PRICELESS
magazine
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welcome
O
n 26th November 1922, the archaeologist Howard Carter became the first person in over 3,000 years to see the interior of the tomb of Tutankhamen - making a small hole in a wall with a chisel that his grandmother had given him for his 17th birthday. By then, the young Carter was already committed to the study of ancient Egypt - and it was Norfolk that inspired him. During his childhood in Swaffham, he’d accompanied his artist father on trips to nearby Didlington Hall, and while his father painted pheasants and partridges, his son became fascinated by the hall’s considerable collection of important Egyptian antiquities. The history of Didlington Hall is a fascinating one (especially since the
once-magnificent building no longer exists) and it’s one you can read about on page 26 of this month’s magazine. On being asked what was behind the small hole in the tomb’s wall, Carter famously replied that he could see “wonderful things” - and that’s a fair description of this edition. We’re looking forward to the King’s Lynn Festival, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and is rightly viewed as one of the most prestigious cultural events in the whole country. We’re enjoying some local tastes in the shape of sea bass and vodka, and we’re taking a look at the area’s literary heritage. We’ve also managed to fit in some wonderfully natural local environments, some man-made wonders, a number of unfeasibly large farm animals, an 18th-century diplomat,
some fascinating snapshots of village life from 200 years ago, and even a number of highly impressive beards. Every month it never fails to astonish us just how rich our local area is in terms of history, colourful characters, beautiful locations and forward-thinking businesses - and it’s a genuine pleasure to be able to bring that to a wider audience. We’ll see you again next month, but in the meantime don’t forget you can follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @klmagazine. Enjoy the magazine and have a very happy Easter!
Eric Secker EDITOR KL magazine
COVER IMAGE Snettisham Church by Ian Ward
meet the team
MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn
WRITER
Stephanie Lewis
KL magazine is published monthly by KL Publications Ltd. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.
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contents
7 8 14 20 26 32 40
DIARY DATES This month’s forthcoming events
45 46 52 56
YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Centre
70 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING CULTURE Looking forward to the King’s Lynn Festival A MONUMENT TO THE PAST The history of Salle’s magnificent church SEASIDE SPECIALS... The rise and rise of our local beach huts A LONG-LOST NATIONAL TREASURE The story of Didlington Hall BROADLY SPEAKING An inside look at Ranworth Broad WHEN SIZE REALLY DID MATTER Raising larger-than-life livestock
APRIL IN THE GARDEN Expert advice with Wendy Warner THE FLYING SPIES OF THE FUTURE A closer view of our local dragonflies FASHION Unveiling the new season’s collections
APRIL 2020
66 70 77 80 84 90 96 100 106 110 114
A TASTE OF SUSTAINABILITY It’s time to enjoy some sea bass FOOD AND DRINK Recipes and recommendations FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH The Wellington in Feltwell DRINK WITH A DIFFERENCE The secret of Renaissance Vodka RICHARD COBBOLD’S WORTHAM Life in a 19th century village BLIND VISION NORFOLK The new name for a famous charity LUCY’S LAW Safeguarding our cats and dogs THEN AND NOW The changing face of west Norfolk DIPLOMACY OF THE OLD SCHOOL The life of Benjamin Keene KINGED AND LYNNED A town’s history in literature MICHAEL MIDDLETON The strange power of advertising
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LETTER
O
from the Editor ver the last ten years, KL magazine has built a strong following of readers, advertisers and supporters, and in virtually every issue we’ve featured one of the very best things about Norfolk - its people, who always seem to be doing amazing things, supporting each other, and forming strong local communities. Those qualities have never been more obvious than during the events that have overtaken us over the last few
weeks. I use the word ‘overtaken’ deliberately, because a monthly magazine inevitably has to be produced in advance, which means that some of the content in this month’s issue (whether that’s a business’ opening times or a public event) is no longer accurate. In which case, I would ask for your understanding and encourage you to visit any relevant website or social media outlet for the very latest information, as that’s being updated on a daily basis. It also applies to ourselves, of course - you can follow us on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @klmagazine. One of the most encouraging things we’ve experienced over recent weeks has been the willingness of so many of you single individuals and whole companies - to offer all the help you can to see us all safely through the coming days and weeks. These unexpected and extraordinary times represent a major challenge to all of us, but by continuing to support each other we’ll be able to lessen its impact. A huge thanks to all our readers and advertisers for the way you’ve all responded - and above all, stay safe.
Eric Secker
Editor, KL magazine
Jarrold Ladies Day Fakenham Racecourse Sunday 31 May Tickets available now FakenhamRacecourse.co.uk
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Diarydates
LOCAL EVENTS IN APRIL & MAY
TAKING THE PLUNGE - CELLAR TOURS OF HOLKHAM HALL BURNHAM MARKET HORSE TRIALS The Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International offers a fantastic day out for all the family. Alongside the top-class competition, there will be over 40 shops and for the children, bungee trampolines and a range of bouncy castles. As well as Razz and Pearl who will be performing circus workshops, on Friday 10th April and Saturday 11th April. This really is a great family day out!
WHEN: Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th April, from 8am
WHERE: Sussex Farm, Burnham Market,
Take a walk back through time and peel away the layers of history in the cellars at Holkham Hall. For those who wish to discover more about how Holkham Hall worked – and works – behind the scenes (and down below) – this is the perfect tour. Whether your interest is old-fashioned food preparation and heating technology, or you have always wanted to know where that staircase goes, there is something for you. Tours last for approximately 1 1/2 hours. The route for the tour is step-free, but will include some uneven surfaces and gravel surfaces. Tickets: £25 adult, £12.50 child. Parking charge included in ticket price. To book telephone the ticket office on 01328 713111.
WHEN: Tuesdays 28th April and 26th May, 11am-12:30pm and 1:30-3pm WHERE: Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AB
PE31 8AG
DAWN CHORUS WALK AT WESTACRE ESTATE
KING’S LYNN FARMERS’ MARKET
Come along to the West Acre Dawn Chorus walk, meeting at West Acre Theatre at 6am on Sunday 26th April. The walk is free, but tea and coffee will be available at the end of the walk for a small fee. If you would like to attend please book via the Westacre Estate Office on 01760 755254 or info@westacre-estate.co.uk. Book early to avoid disappointment and please dress appropriately for the weather. WHEN: Sunday 26th April, 6am WHERE: West Acre Theatre, River Road, West Acre, Norfolk, PE32 1UA
This monthly market takes place on the second Saturday of each month from March to December, on the Saturday Market Place, or in the Minster if the weather is poor. Browse a selection of stalls selling fantastic produce like artisan gin, fruit and veg, honey, delicious pies and cakes – all made within a 50-mile radius of King’s Lynn. Enjoy a fun day out, soak up your surroundings and chat to knowledgeable traders about their goods and get tips on how to use them. WHEN: Saturday 11th April, 9am to 2pm WHERE: Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 5DQ
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“
“
Lady Fermoy fell in love with the town, and organised lunchtime concerts so that residents could enjoy professional music of the highest standard.
IMAGE: NICK RUTTER, 2015 LEFT: Lady Fermoy’s bust stands in front of her portrait in the gallery named after her ABOVE: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra led by Alexander Shelley in a performance at Cadogan Hall, London
Celebrating 70 years of outstanding culture... In the summer of 1951 Ruth, Lady Fermoy presented a week of music and art at the newly-restored Guildhall of St George in King’s Lynn an event which continues to attract world-famous performers of music and the arts. In fact, the list of artists read like a Who’s Who of the very best in their field at the time - with Benjamin Britten, Peggy Ashcroft, Peter Ustinov, Kathleen Ferrier and John Betjeman all taking part. Originally created to complement the Festival of Britain, the King’s Lynn Festival quickly achieved headline status, and the BBC Home Service even broadcast the official opening live from the Guildhall of St George, reputed to be the oldest theatre in Europe and the last in the world where Shakespeare is thought to have trodden the boards. IMAGE: EDP
F
or the last 70 years, King’s Lynn has enjoyed “nothing but the best” in terms of the arts thanks to the annual festival which attracted big audiences on its debut in 1951 and continues to be a premier event for the whole region with those words of Ruth, Lady Fermoy echoing through the decades. Lady Fermoy, a close friend and ladyin-waiting to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, single-handedly lined up the performers at the first King’s Lynn Festival, which was a week-long programme
It had fallen into a sorry state of disrepair by the time Alexander Penrose of Bradenham Hall recognised its potential and bought it to save the building from demolition - and restore it to its former grandeur. Lady Fermoy, grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, moved to King’s Lynn in 1931 as the wife of Lord Fermoy (who served the town both as a mayor and an MP) and they were among the fundraisers who made the project possible. An accomplished concert pianist, Lady Fermoy fell in love with the town, and organised lunchtime concerts by nationally-renowned musicians so that residents could enjoy professional music of the highest standard. From that inaugural festival, Lady Fermoy was determined to maintain its
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FESTIVAL 2020
ABOVE: The magnificent Guildhall hosts many of the festival’s events BELOW: Beloved soprano Lesley Garrett is one of the many famous faces to have performed at the festival
exceptionally high standards, and the King’s Lynn Festival quickly gained both national and international renown. The Queen Mother, the festival’s patron, took an active interest and her frequent visits to the event added great prestige. Her last visit, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, was to a piano recital by John Lill in St Nicholas’ Chapel during the 50th Festival in 2000. Lady Fermoy was closely involved with the festival for 25 years, earning it an enviable national reputation, and her vision was entrusted to others to stage the event. Classical music has always been a cornerstone of the programme, and the Guildhall remains the key venue at the heart of every festival - but the superb acoustics of nearby St Nicholas’ Chapel is also an important setting for bigger-scale concerts, especially by top-flight orchestras. One of the festival’s aims is to take audiences into Lynn’s wonderful historic buildings and the Minster, All Saints Church, the Town Hall and the Corn Exchange all provide the location
for a wide variety of events. The King’s Lynn Festival has also presented events and performances in venues such as Holkham Hall, Park House, Sandringham and West Acre Theatre and will be visiting the magnificent Houghton Hall for the first time this year. Following the star-studded programme of the debut festival, the event has continued to attract worldfamous names to west Norfolk over the decades, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Aled Jones, Alfie Boe and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The popular festival talks have been given by Professor Robert Winston, Andrew Graham-Dixon, Barry Cryer, Lars Tharp and Nicholas Crane. The King’s Lynn Festival has showcased talented young composers and their work, folk music, jazz and choral work - and for 30 years the international art expert Sir Geoffrey Agnew arranged exhibitions by such important artists as Monet, Turner, Canaletto and Piper. Since 1951, the King’s Lynn Festival has continued to grow and attract audiences from far and wide - and there’s now a year-round programme which sees events taking place in the spring and late autumn alongside the now two-week main event in the summer.
This year’s King’s Lynn Festival has a suitably outstanding programme for its 70th anniversary, opening on Friday 19th July with the European Union Chamber Orchestra and King’s Lynn Festival Chorus. Art critic and presenter Andrew Graham-Dixon will be giving two fascinating talks at the Guildhall of St George on Wednesday 22nd July, and Clare Teal will returns to the festival with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra on Friday 24th July at the Corn Exchange - while the Academy of Ancient Music will perform at St Nicholas’ Chapel on Saturday 25th July. The festival heads to Houghton Hall for the first time on the evening of Monday 27th July with Roberto Ruisi, while jazz fusion guitarist John Etheridge will be at the Guildhall the following evening. The festival’s Vice-President Freddy Kempf will be at the stunning Minster on Thursday 30th July and Blazin’ Fiddles will be performing at the Guildhall. The King’s Lynn Festival will close in style with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Freddy Kempf at the town’s Corn Exchange. Full details of all main and fringe events are available on the official website at www. kingslynnfestival.org.uk
Andrew Graham-Dixon
Clare Teal and Youth Jazz Orchestra 10
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ARTS & EVENTS in April Enjoy the best theatre productions from all over the world from the best seat in the house. From ballet and opera to world-class theatre, there is something for everyone. Excellent value and top-notch quality from your local cinema.
ROH LIVE: SWAN LAKE Liam Scarlett’s glorious production of Swan Lake, returns for its first revival Wednesday 1st April 7:15pm DAVID ATTENBOROUGH A LIFE ON OUR PLANET Sharing his views direct to his global audience Thursday 16th April 7:15pm ROH LIVE: CAVALLERIA RUSTICAN Two opera classics are drawn together in this wonderfully observed re-creation Tuesday 21st April 7pm ELVIS: THAT’S THE WAY IT IS To celebrate 85 years of Elvis Presley and 50 years since the film’s original 1970 release Wednesday 22nd April 6:30pm 42ND STREET - THE MUSICAL One of Broadway’s most classic and beloved tales Tuesday 28th April 7:30pm
BOX OFFICE: 01945 640000 Light Cinema, Cromwell Road, Wisbech PE14 0RG www.wisbech.lightcinemas.co.uk 12
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EVENTS IN APRIL & MAY
NT LIVE: THE WELKIN One life in the hands of 12 women. Rural Suffolk in England, 1759. As the country waits for Halley’s comet, a young woman is sentenced to hang for a heinous murder. When she claims to be pregnant, a jury of 12 matrons are taken from their housework to decide whether she’s telling the truth, or simply trying to escape the noose. With only midwife Lizzy Luke prepared to defend the girl, and a mob baying for blood outside, the matrons wrestle with their new authority, and the devil in their midst. James Macdonald (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) directs Maxine Peake (TheTheory of Everything, Funny Cow) in this bold and gripping thriller from Tony Award-nominated writer Lucy Kirkwood. Broadcast live from the National Theatre in London. Book tickets online at https://wisbech.lightcinemas. co.uk/nt-live-the-welkin WHEN: Thursday 21st May, 7pm WHERE: The Light Cinema, Cromwell Road, Wisbech, PE14 0RG
‘SUCH SWEET THUNDER’ IN AID OF SHAKESPEARE’S GUILDHALL TRUST Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn composed Such Sweet Thunder in 1957 after an invitation from the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, Ontario. The result, a dozen masterful vignettes of Shakespearean characters, became one of the most acclaimed albums in jazz. What better way to celebrate St George’s Day than by listening to Cambridge-based 16-piece jazz group ‘Harmony in Harlem’ perform Duke Ellington’s Shakespearean jazz suite on the Bard’s birthday, in his theatre at St George’s Guildhall. Tickets cost from £8 to £12.50 and you can book now at the Corn Exchange Box Office on 01553 764864
WHEN: Thursday 23rd April 7.:30pm WHERE: St George’s Guildhall, King Street, King’s Lynn,
EAST ANGLIAN GAME & COUNTRY FAIR BUTTERFLY AND WILDFLOWER WALK AT WESTACRE ESTATE Come along to West Acre Butterfly and Wildflowers walk, meeting at West Acre Theatre at 10am on Sunday 31st May. The walk is free, but tea and coffee will be available at the end of the walk for a small fee. If you would like to attend please book via the Westacre Estate Office on 01760 755254 or info@westacre-estate.co.uk Book early to avoid disappointment and please dress appropriately for the weather. WHEN: Sunday 31st May, 10am WHERE: West Acre Theatre, River Road, West Acre, Norfolk, PE32 1UA
The fourth annual fair celebrates the best of country pursuits and is packed with activities for all generations. Attractions include the forestry arena, dog agility shows, craft demonstrations and shooting competitions. Try everything from archery, ferret racing, fly fishing and donkey rides for youngsters. The fair’s country kitchen will have a great lineup of cooking workshops and demonstrations, and there will be over 350 stands where you can pick up an amazing range of products. And you can relax with a drink and snack in the onsite pub which will host live music and a BBQ on Saturday evening. Advance tickets are available now online at www.ukgamefair.co.uk or by calling 01263 735828. Adult £15, children (5-16yrs) £6 and Family (2 adults & 2 children) £40, (offer valid until midday 20/04/20) No booking fee for online orders. Under 5s are free and car parking is free for all. WHEN: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April WHERE: Euston Estate, just off the A11 at Thetford
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A monumental reminder of Norfolk’s glorious past Norfolk has the largest concentration of medieval churches in the world, and the one at Salle is a stunning reminder of the county’s hugely important place in the country’s commercial history...
N
orfolk is home to some truly magnificent churches that now seem out of all proportion to the tiny villages of which they are part. One of the most well-known of these is the church at Cawston, famed for its amazing angel roof featuring six-foot angelic figures complete with feather suits. Not so well-known is the nearby church at Salle. St Peter and St Paul dominates this isolated village of just 50 people. Salle (the name is supposed to rhyme with ‘call’) is located in the quiet Norfolk countryside roughly halfway between Norwich and Holt. Cawston is so close
that both these huge churches are almost within sight of one another. So how does such an almost forgotten place have such a magnificent church? Like many of East Anglia’s monumental churches, it was what was known as a ‘wool church’. In the late medieval era, wealthy families who made their money in the wool business spent their
money endowing churches - which increased their size or even paid for an entire building. They also paid for large numbers of masses to be said for the dead. This was a big part of religious life in pre-Reformation England – so big there were seven priests at Salle at a time when the village’s residents numbered 200. These families had survived the Black Death that had devastated England (killing a third of its population) and they were ready to show their gratitude to God and the church for their health and their intact fortunes. The church at Salle was
“Like many Norfolk churches, Salle was neglected when the medieval wool trade diminished...” built in one go between 1400 and 1450, and was financed by powerful local families including the Boleyns, the Brewes, the Mautebys, the Briggs, the Morleys, the Luces and the Kerdistons -
and some of their shields appear above the great west door. It was an accident of history that so many prosperous families were living in the same small area; they were able to pay for expensive Barnack stone to be transported from Peterborough rather than using cheap local flint, and they built a church worthy of its materials. The result is a superb example of Perpendicular architecture with a striking tower 126 feet high. The Boleyn family‘s status as patrons of Salle church has led to a surprisingly persistent myth: that Ann Boleyn is buried under an anonymous black stone in the church. After this tragic daughter of Norfolk – born at Blickling Hall – was executed at the behest of her husband Henry VIII in 1536, it was rumoured that she wasn’t buried at the parish church linked to the Tower of London, but was secretly brought to Salle and buried with the full religious ceremony Henry denied
her. It seems unlikely the story will ever be proved, as neither church will allow excavations of her reputed (or recorded) grave to be made. Like many Norfolk churches, Salle was neglected when the medieval wool trade diminished, and it was in dire condition as early as the 18th century. The church was restored in the early 20th century, but thankfully the restoration left many of its medieval features intact. The most notable are the large carved font with such a huge canopy it has to supported by a crane; the exquisite stained glass windows; and the intricately-carved bosses decorating the wooden rafters of the roof – which you might need binoculars to take a close look at. Most impressive of all are the painted panels on the rood screen. They’re about six feet high and depict the ‘four doctors’ of the church: the aints Gregory, Jerome, Augustine and Ambrose. Fortunately for the curious, Salle church is still in use as a place of worship to this day and is well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in history, architecture or the history of Norfolk.
ABOVE: The magnificent interior of Salle church, rumoured to be the final resting place of the unfortunate Anne Boleyn (right), who was born at nearby Blickling Hall 16
KLmagazine April 2020
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KLmagazine April 2020
Enjoy the very best air conditioning - all year! Keep cool in the summer, stay warm in the winter, and improve your home’s energy efficiency with the expertise of the 4 Way Group
T
he weather has always been one of the most talked-about topics in the UK - we never seem to know what we’re going to get each day, and because we’re usually unprepared, we end up either too hot or too cold. It’s during the increasingly hot spells over summer (something we’ll soon have to get used to) that we wish for air conditioning - but many people don’t realise that air conditioning units can also heat rooms. “Many homeowners, developers and businesses are now choosing air conditioning to offer year-round comfort,” says Steve Simpson of the 4 Way Group in King’s Lynn, which is the area’s leading supplier of high quality air conditioning systems. “In fact, we’ve
completed a number of domestic and commercial projects over the last few years which rely entirely on air conditioning for their heating.” And it’s difficult to see what’s not to like. The 4 Way Group designs and installs air conditioning systems that are stylish and unobtrusive and can even add value to a property. Built-in sensors can optimise energy use and room temperature distribution, and the systems even removes particles, allergens and odours to deliver healthy indoor air - all year round. The 4 Way Group is also well aware of the potential environmental impacts of air conditioning, and only supplies systems with the highest green credentials in terms of emissions, refrigerants and energy efficiencies.
“We’ve been an approved Fujitsu installer for many years now, because they’ve always been at the forefront of air conditioning,” says Steve. “As more and more customers look to save energy and money, we’re looking at helping them maximise those savings.” No one offers such a complete, experienced and professional service together with a five-year warranty on all new installations (which can usually be fitted in a single day) and all the back-up and maintenance support you need. Contact the 4 Way Group today for more details, information and a free quotation and discover how easy it is to enjoy clean and fresh air - the height of summer and the depths of winter.
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From rags to riches: the story of our beach huts They started life as a way for Victorians to enjoy a seaside holiday without exposing too much of themselves - and today they’re some of the most desirable and relatively expensive properties on the coast
T
hese charming and brightlycoloured beach huts are one of the most distinctive features of the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea and also at many of the other beautiful beaches along north Norfolk coast. They’re an integral part of the classic British seaside holiday: a place to shelter from the sun (or sometimes the rain!) and a place to pass the picnic around without getting sand in your sandwiches and pour a cup of tea from a flask out of the wind. And as everyone who’s visited Wells will know, the beach is quite a walk from the shops and cafes of the town - though you can give your feet a rest by travelling by the famous miniature railway instead. Having access to a beach hut can be a real convenience. In fact, these beach huts are in such demand that they can command extraordinarily high prices when they change hands - one was sold for £59,000 last summer. Although the north Norfolk coast hasn’t yet reached the dizzying heights of Dorset, where Hut 475 on Mudeford Spit (18x15ft, no toilet, no running water, no electricity) sold for £295,000 at the start of last year. Beach huts haven’t always been such luxury items. They evolved from the wheeled ‘bathing machines’ used by 19th-century beachgoers. The Victorians were known for their prudishness, and although their swimming costumes covered nearly every inch of their bodies, walking across the sand in them would have
ABOVE: Our famous seaside beach huts evolved from the ‘bathing machines’ the Victorians started swimming (modestly) in the sea
been considered shocking. So these huts on wheels were pushed into the waves and Victorian swimmers would launch themselves directly into the sea. From behind curtains just to be sure. The popularity of bathing machines was given royal approval when Queen Victoria had one installed on the beach at Osbourne House, her beloved holiday home on the Isle of Wight. But ordinary people didn’t have the servants necessary to wheel the hut (nor an orchestra to play ‘God Save the King’ from a nearby machine as George III did when bathing to cure his ‘madness’ so the wheeled bathing machines evolved into stationary beach huts. Initially, beach huts tended to be former fishermen’s huts, boatsheds or converted bathing machines and were considered to be quite downmarket (“holiday homes for the toiling classes”) but in the early 20th century purposebuilt ones began to spring up. Some of the very first were built on the south coast in Bournemouth in 1909, on either side of the pier. Once again royalty stepped in to cement their
reputation when George V and Queen Mary spent the day at a beach hut in Sussex during the 1930s. When World War II broke out all UK beaches were closed as part of antiinvasion measures, but their reopening in the late-1940s led to the golden age of the British beach holiday – and the humble beach hut was at the core of the renaissance. Families flocked to Britain’s beach resorts and holiday camps – and of course, to bed and breakfasts. This newly-popular way to holiday made beach huts an essential part of the experience – families who were ushered out for the day by a kindly but firm landlady needed a temporary refuge should the weather prove inclement. Beach huts became slightly forgotten with the rise of affordable package holidays in the 1960s and 70s – Brits were able to take advantage of cheaper airfares and spend their summer fortnight in a climate where the sunshine could be relied on. But recently they’ve had something of a resurgence: often part of the package provided with a luxurious holiday home. And with more of us holidaying in Britain as we look for ways to live more sustainably and cut down our carbon footprint, who knows what the future may hold for the humble beach hut?
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ABOVE: Keith and Tamsin Brown at the 25th anniversary celebrations of their business together with Tim Jennings (centre) - the couple’s very first customer is still a customer today, along with several members of his family
Celebrating 25 years of outstanding service... From the first day and the first customer, K Brown Auto Repairs has excelled in superb technical expertise and unrivalled customer care
I
n May 1995, Tim Jennings was driving his Ford Sierra when it broke down in Docking. He called Keith Brown, who’d just opened K Brown Auto Repairs in Heacham - and Keith duly recovered the car. Tim became the new company’s very first customer, and 25 years later he’s still a customer - as are his wife, his children and his in-laws. Perhaps one of the most impressive parts of that very first invoice is that in working on Tim’s car, Keith identified a loose connection to the fuel pump - and fixed it totally free of charge. It was a over-and-above commitment to customer care that’s remained at the heart of K Brown Auto Repairs over the last quarter of a century, following the business from Heacham to Hunstanton
K Brown Auto Repairs
in 2006 and to a second servicing and MOT facility in King’s Lynn in 2013. Last month, Keith and his wife Tamsin hosted a 25th anniversary celebration in Burnham Market, and were joined by just a few of the hundreds of customers who’ve been with them since 1995 including Tim Jennings himself. “Tim was our very first customer, but he has a lot in common with our most recent customer,” says Tamsin. “Right from the very beginning we wanted to change the way people thought about having their car serviced. Both Keith and I thought the industry was too male-dominated (even though almost exactly half of drivers are women), too intimidating, too secretive when it came to estimates and costs, and too poor at keeping customers up to date.” It was a refreshingly different idea
25 years ago, and that still hold true today. From the welcoming reception staff to the friendly and highly-trained mechanics themselves, K Brown Auto Repairs gives you the confidence to talk about your car in your own language. You’ll never feel embarrassed about describing a “weird noise” or a “lumpy feeling” and you’ll never worry about receiving the bill - because you’ll be kept informed and fully up to date at all times. From MOTs and regular servicing to fault finding and major repair work, your car is always safe in the hands of K Brown Auto Repairs. And that was just as true 25 years ago as it is today.
King’s Lynn Simon Scotland Road, Hardwick Ind Est Tel: 01553 763763 Hunstanton 12 King’s Lynn Road Tel: 01485 533786 www.kbrownautoskingslynn.co.uk Find us on Facebook
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William Amherst set about transforming the modest hall into a property befitting its spectacular setting...
ABOVE: The famous Amherst Papyrus was just one of the fabulous treasures in the collection at Didlington Hall near Swaffham (opposite) which set Howard Carter (below) on the road to Tutankhamen
The house of treasures that led to Tutankhamen When Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamen and saw “wonderful things” he may well have been recalling his childhood visits to a now-vanished hall near Swaffham that ignited his love of Egypt
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ocated eight miles from Swaffham, it was one of the most stately of all stately homes, attracting royalty, writers and artists, and it was one of the greatest treasure houses in England - containing rare tapestries, furniture, art, and a library of fantastically valuable books. It also played an important part in the understanding and history of Egyptian archaeology - in fact, without it Howard Carter probably wouldn’t have discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen. The loss of Didlington Hall, which was demolished in the 1950s, didn’t just have an enormous impact locally (in its heyday, the 7,000-acre estate employed over 300 people) - it also saw one of the country’s most important collections scattered to the winds, most of it being blown across the Atlantic. In the early 1850s William George Daniel-Amherst bought the estate,
taking on a large Georgian house surrounded by historic trees - the avenue of limes was already 200 years old and some of the oaks had even been mentioned in the Domesday Book. The estate also included an 800-year-old watermill, hundreds of acres of parkland, a lake dotted with islands, a dairy farm, an ancient heronry and a racecourse. Amherst set about transforming the modest hall into a property befitting this spectacular setting, planning a new Italianate-style east front and an imposing tower - but his sudden death meant his grand designs and vast estate passed to his 20-year-old son. William Amhurst Tyssen-Amherst (his wife was Mary Tyssen, heiress of nearby Foulden Hall) would serve as a local MP and eventually be made 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney, but is best remembered for his incredible collection of antiques and artifacts. He bought already-important
collections from the Leider and Lee families, brought his own purchases back from his many travels (particularly
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ABOVE: The row of statues depicting the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet alongside a wing of Didlington Hall - most are now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (below)
in Egypt), and had a passion for building a library of rare books - which included 16 complete volumes printed by William Caxton (single pages are now worth around £100,000), the Bible of Charles I, and one of the few surviving copies of the Gutenberg Bible. His collection of ancient Egyptian art grew so large that Amherst built an impressive 2,500ft² museum for it on the side of Didlington Hall, the outside of which was protected by seven
colossal statues of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. Inside, the treasures included the Amherst Papyrus, a unique though fragmented record of tomb robberies from the time of Rameses IX (the missing section of the papyrus was eventually found in 1935, hidden inside a wooden statuette in Brussels). By this time, Didlington Hall was an elaborate 80-bedroom mansion that hosted everyone from the Prince of Wales (who shot regularly on the estate) to author Rider Haggard, who was inspired by a statue in the Egyptian museum to write his classic novel She. Another regular visitor was the Swaffham-based painter of animals Samuel John Carter, who would often bring his young son Howard along with him. The boy was fascinated with the museum, and from that point on became obsessed with ancient Egypt. In fact, the Amherst family would provide Howard Carter with the necessary contacts and references for him to enter the world of Egyptology without which the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb (it was ever discovered at all) may have been very different indeed. Amherst wasn’t just a wealthy Victorian collector with little interest in the community around him, however. He built 160 cottages for the estate’s workforce, supported a number of local schools, and even paid for the
restoration of at least four local churches. But his passion for art and antiques meant that he left the running of the estate to his land agent, and therein lay its eventual ruin. When the latter committed suicide in 1906, it was discovered that he’d embezzled vast sums of money to fund a serious gambling habit and Amherst’s family finances were decimated. Most of the magnificent library had to be sold off (there was so much interest in the first sale it was reported in The New York Times) as was much of the Egyptian collection. The statues of Sekhmet ended up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Amherst Papyrus also headed to America. Perhaps the stress of the events and the loss of precious collections was too much for Lord Amherst - two further auctions were held in December 1908 and March 1909 containing over 1,000 lots, and he died just a few weeks after the first one. A year later Amherst’s daughter Mary sold the hall and its estate to Colonel Herbert Smith, who modernised the house and added a cricket pitch to the grounds. It was during his time that the estate was requisitioned by the army - it was the headquarters for the commander of the British Second Army during the D-Day landings. By the summer of 1945 however, Didlington Hall was in a very poor state. Damage and neglect during the war years made its repair uneconomic and Colonel Smith died in the same year (1949) the decision was taken to demolish it. A two-day sale in April 1950 saw the hall’s interior stripped of its marble chimneypieces, oak staircases and its decorative panelling and flooring - and a final sale two years later saw people buying up the window frames, baths, joists and doors before the demolition work began. Today, a new property sits on the site of Didlington Hall, but apart from mentions on museum labels around the world, virtually only one thing remains of this once-magnificent estate and its incredible collections - a stunning landscape in the heart of Norfolk.
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A year of growth and a century of excellence... While Citroën celebrated its 100th anniversary, Duff Morgan enjoyed a year of success and brought a new look to its King’s Lynn showroom
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xactly 100 years ago, the industrialist André Citroën produced his very first car, which boasted an impressive 1,327cc engine and could reach a top speed of 40mph. It was a huge and instant success, and within a year production of the ‘Type A’ had skyrocketed – and by making around 100 vehicles a day, Citroën became the first mass production manufacturer in Europe. It’s been a major year of celebration for the brand, but it’s also been a year to remember for Duff Morgan, whose history stretches back even further than Citroën’s. “Over the last couple of years we’ve seen an increase in sales across all our
brands and their new models, including Citroën, CUPRA and SEAT – which is currently one of the industry’s biggestgrowing manufacturers,” says General Sales Manager Martin Seal. “Our levels and standards of customer service have also increased, and once again we’ve been recognised as one of the very best Citroën dealerships in the whole of the UK.” It’s a prestigious standing reflected in the major refurbishment of Duff Morgan’s showroom in King’s Lynn – improving facilities, enhancing the customers’ experience, installing new technology such as electric car charging points, and incorporating Citroën’s new corporate identity. But in addition to celebrating the past, Duff
Morgan is also looking to the future with confidence. “This year we’re going to start selling Duff Morgan approved used vehicles, and we’re not limiting them to our core brands,” says Martin. “We’ll also be unveiling an exciting range of electric and hybrid vehicles - from SEAT’s brand new Mii to Citroën’s C5 Aircross, which will be one of the best new cars of the summer.” Whether you’re visiting for a new or used car, a commercial vehicle, a scheduled service or an MOT, Duff Morgan offers a unique experience based on an a 100-year tradition of motoring excellence. “This is the perfect time to discover everything that Duff Morgan has to offer,” says Martin. “We’ve got a fabulous new-look showroom - and some of the best cars you can drive!”
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IMAGE: DAVID TIPLING
Broadly speaking, it’s one of our natural treasures It’s one of the most beautiful and biologically-diverse locations in the whole of Norfolk, and NWT Reserves Officer Robert Morgan explains why Ranworth Broad is worth visiting at any time of the year...
IMAGE: MIKE PAGE ABOVE: The magnificent setting of Ranworth Broad is home to a remarkable range of wildlife, from great crested grebes (opposite) to Swallowtail butterflies (below)
The ferry trip takes you across Malthouse Broad, where in spring great crested grebes dance their elaborate courtship, slipping silently under water as the boat approaches. Swallows and martins hunt insects disturbed from the water’s surface, throwing themselves towards the ferry like darts before turning sharply as if surprised to find it there. A centuries-old oak stands sentinel at the beginning of the route along the boardwalk. There is ease of access for wheelchairs along the raised wooden path as it ambles through a swampy wood (actually referred to as alder carr) before opening up into reedbed and
ending at the floating thatched visitors’ centre. Those with a deeper interest in the natural world will be surprised just how much can be seen on such a short walk. The wood contains an array of flora, including impressive royal ferns. Marsh tit and Cetti’s warblers breed here, as do reed buntings and sedge warblers. On either side of the boardwalk bisecting the reedbed, colourful orchids sit among the meadowsweet, the purple loosestrife, the seven-foot tall marsh sowthistles and the decades-old tussock sedges. In late May, the picnic tables at the end of the boardwalk are as good as anywhere
KLmagazine April 2020
IMAGE: TERRY WHITTAKER
N
ot surprisingly, weekend visits from friends and family suddenly increased when I moved to Norfolk. Of course there were the trips to Holkham beach and shopping expeditions in Norwich. But by far the commonest request was to see the Broads. Having worked in wildlife conservation in the Norfolk Broads for over a decade now, I’ve become quite intimate with them - but how do you impress your guests with all that wonder and beauty on a single Saturday afternoon? The answer is quite simple, and involves a visit to Ranworth village and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s floating visitor’s centre. The village sits on the fold between Ranworth and Malthouse Broads, and has a beautiful 15th-century church, which unusually allows visitors to climb the spiralling staircase to the roof of the tower for some stunning landscape views. A country pub recommends itself pleasantly to this village scene, as does the charming shop and tea-room. A visit to Ranworth would be squandered without time spent at the NWT Broads Wildlife Centre. It can be reached by a ferry service from the public staithe or a pleasant ten minutes’ walk along Broad Road to the entrance of the reserve - either has its own appeal.
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ABOVE: The visitors’ centre at Ranworth Broad offers a wealth of history about the habitat and spectacular views of its surroundings and inhabitants
IMAGE: ELIZABETH DACK
to see the splendid swallowtail butterfly skip by. Along with the warm welcome from staff and volunteers, the first impression you’ll have on entering the Broads Wildlife Centre is the large panel windows, giving an unrestricted view of the broad. With luck you may see the incandescent electric blue of a kingfisher skimming like a jet inches above the water - and a family of otters is also frequently seen here. A little more certain sight are the common terns that arrive from sub-Saharan Africa each April. Often referred to as sea swallows, they have a passing resemblance to gulls, but are smaller and more graceful and can be seen acrobatically plunging into the broad for fish. A new tern raft (effectively a floating island covered in gravel) has cameras mounted and gives fantastic close-up views of nesting birds. The centre also has displays providing information on the history of the
Broadlands and the people and wildlife that find a home within it. The viewing gallery on the top floor provides binoculars for closer views; with coot, moorhen, grebes and grey heron often present - and with patience marsh harrier and hobby are always a possibility. A good selection of books and gifts are on sale, and if an added incentive is required, snacks, sweets and drinks are also available. From here the guided wildlife boat tours operate offering popular trips around Ranworth Broad, along the river Bure and up to Cockshoot Broad. From the guide boat you’ll see large green floating ‘curtains’, and these are part of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s ‘Tipping the Balance’ project, funded by Biffa Award’s Partnership Scheme. The aim is to improve water quality and regain Ranworth Broad’s delicate biological balance. You can learn more about this, details about visiting our reserves, and the other work undertaken by NWT at our website, which you’ll find at www.norfolkwildlifetrust. org.uk.
IMAGE: MICHELLE REEVE IMAGE: STEVE COX
“A visit to Ranworth would be squandered without time spent at the NWT Broads Wildlife Centre...”
VISITING DETAILS The NWT Broads Wildlife Centre carpark is signposted in Ranworth village, and NWT also operates an Information Centre from Easter to October at Malthouse Broad public staithe. There is limited disabled parking on Broad Road, and the reserve is free to enter all year round. Only assistance dogs are allowed on the reserve and public toilets are available at the staithe. TIPPING THE BALANCE NWT is engaged in a pioneering project at Ranworth Broad called ‘Tipping the Balance’ to manipulate the underwater ecology and restore clear water. The project, which has been made possible thanks to £500,000 funding from Biffa Award’s Partnership Scheme, will benefit the Broad’s water plants, common terns and visiting osprey. More details (including a webcam of the tern’s nest) are available in the Broads Wildlife Centre.
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Bring the outside in this summer Let Rudd Joinery create handcrafted and bespoke bifold doors for your property, and start making the most of your space
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rom our homes to hotels, bifold doors are a perfect way to manage space flexibly and enjoy living that seamlessly blends the inside and outside. Jamie Rudd and the team at Rudd Joinery are designing and producing bifold doors that combine the timeless beauty of timber with all the safety and security that modern technology can offer. “Our bespoke bifold doorsets from our Performance Bifold range can help you make a style statement and create sociable spaces,” says Jamie. “They’re an ideal way to create an open-plan area and keep the option to divide spaces, such as between a house and a conservatory during the evenings. The door stacks neatly and compactly to the side when open, so you don’t sacrifice any space.” They’re also perfect for external use – to create a natural flow from a dining room to a terrace, for example. “We use hardware from leading supplier Centor for all our doors: they invented the first
bifold door system to meet weathersealing standards,” says Jamie. “Centor are known for their smooth fingertip operation and we fit multi-point locking as standard to all our external bifold doors.” Bifold doors from Rudd Joinery don’t just operate well, they look good too. You can choose from various glazing and panel options, all manufactured in accoya wood and fully paint-finished in Teknos - a leading paint supplier - whether finished in a translucent oak finish through to a Farrow & Ball downpipe, the choice is endless. Rudd Joinery are members of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and are proud to work with their trusted suppliers and only use responsibly-sourced timbers. “It’s the most environmentally-conscious choice,” says Jamie, “It’s recyclable and creates much less waste than uPVC. It’s stronger than plastic so it’s great for large installations like bifold doors – it’s more stylish too!” You can keep that style across your whole property: Rudd Joinery’s bifold
doorsets have mouldings which are complemented across their entire product range of doors and windows. “Our elegant slim designs can be produced in configurations of up to eight panels that can be up to 1.2m wide. These doors are easy to maintain and long-lasting – we offer a 10-year warranty on all our Performance plus Bifold door range to give you complete peace of mind,” says Jamie, “We also offer the latest developments – new for 2020 are retractable insect screens and shade solutions, everything you need to prepare to enjoy the summer heat.” Call in to Rudd Joinery’s showroom near Fakenham today for a chat with the team about transforming your property with bifold doors.
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Why it’s time for a new approach to energy... For decades we’ve been warned about the effects of climate change, and Kevin Holland at The Solar Shed has a genuine (and obvious) solution
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e’re now living in a very different world, and you don’t need to have your lounge waist-deep in water to appreciate the fact. This isn’t a ‘blip’ or a natural development and it’s not alarmist - our environment is changing radically and permanently, and the truth is that we’re all going to have to accept the fact and adapt to the consequences. Today, I’ll set off for work in an all-electric car that’s been charged overnight for free, leaving behind a home with all the electricity it requires to run itself (also free of charge), and when I get home I’ve got a full tank of hot water - as well as a full battery to get me through the night. If there was a power cut, I probably wouldn’t even notice it. And neither would my wife. If anyone had proposed that scenario to me 13 years ago when I started in this industry, I would probably have laughed at them.
But the time for laughter is over. Back in 2007, while the banks were collapsing and pollution was soaring, the world waged an ‘oil war’ in the Middle East. By deploying thermal solar hot water systems on peoples homes, we could save them money, add a little resilience to their lives, reduce their need for oil, and overall get a better return than a bank offers - whilst being seen to do the right thing for the planet. Solar is and always has been a winning solution. Three years later, the UK government became the 67th country in the world to offer a feed-in tariff for the selfgeneration of electricity. The industry blossomed as supply chains opened up while we embraced a whole new way of generating energy - largely from our own roofs and gardens. This is a real grassroots change. We’ve reached the point where we can get paid for charging batteries and cars overnight - when prices go into
negative pricing on the Octopus Energy agile tariffs. Over the last few years, a lot of people have got bogged down (and disillusioned) with the complexities and cost-efficiencies of the old feed-in tariff scheme - but it’s worth noting that the systems we were installing a decade ago are 70% cheaper today. As far as the world is concerned, you have to take the long view - and reach for the nearest calculator. Make an investment of £6,000 now and you can look forward to generating as much as £800 of electricity a year for as long as the sun is in the sky. Combine that with the annual increases in fuel prices, and you’ll see why the savings people make on solar energy are growing every year. And that’s only set to continue. Today we’re installing systems for between £11,000 and £15,000 for what’s essentially your very own power station - with full automation of self
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“I’m going to turn West Norfolk into the greenest borough in England...” - Kevin Holland
ABOVE: Kevin Holland’s solar installations can be found across Norfolk on domestic and commercial properties, and he’s also consulted on a regular basis by TV and radio programmes when a specialist view on renewable energy is needed - even by household names such as Alan Titchmarsh (below)
consumption. That includes a full battery system with enough stored energy to allow most people to go from April to September and only take a few watts from the grid. And enjoying a hot bath every evening to boot! As for the environmental benefits, it’s never been clearer. This is a complete reversal of what we’ve been doing since the 18th century - hacking apart the only world we’ll ever have to burn fossil fuels that are as bad for the planet as they are for us. Over a 20-year period, the latest solar and battery systems can remove around 50,000kg C0² from the atmosphere. That’s a real statistic, and it has ramifications that go way beyond hot baths and getting to work on time. It means we have less chance of (yet) another oil war, and it means we can minimise the loss of our ice sheets - we’re already in line for a 4ft rise in
global sea levels. It also means that solar owners are making considerable cost savings, which is another story in itself. Most of our energy costs go to energy companies (obviously), but few people realise how many of them are foreign-owned. EDF Energy, E.ON and npower are all in French or German hands, and Scottish Power is actually owned by the Spanish company Iberdrola. Not surprisingly, no matter how much we pay for our energy the benefits are rarely seen in the UK. Solar power turns all that on its head. It puts power back in the hands of the people. It adds resilience to your life and it sends message that you are manning the front line in the Climate War. Solar owners are becoming ambassadors for the climate change movement, and it’s beginning to make a difference. A decade ago around 70% of our energy came from burning coal. Today, up to 50% of it is coming from wind farms and solar systems. We can’t afford to be complacent, however. The only reason we’ve turned the tide is because of people who care. They understand that we can’t afford to take this world for granted. They want a safe and sustainable future for their children. They care about local businesses. They’re more aware of where their money is going and what it’s being used for. The message is getting though, but the clock is definitely ticking. ‘Going green’ and ‘going solar’ used to be throwaway phrases - but they need to
be a way of life. The Solar Shed in Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen is a 250-year-old workshop at the bottom of the garden of a 500-year-old old house. It’s where my wife and I live, and the vast majority of its energy comes from renewable technologies. It’s a fully-functioning living example of what can be done even on the oldest of properties. I’m always happy for potential clients to visit us and see the future at first hand. Many people are amazed at how simple it is, most can hardly believe the long-term savings, and all of them are agreed that this is the way forward. It’s a great planet. Let’s try to keep it. Appointments can be made by visiting our website at www.solar-power.co.uk or Freephone 08081 261289. You’re always welcome to come and say hello on our regular appearances on the markets at Swaffham and Fakenham.
TEL: 0808 126 1289 / 07737 457208 www.solar-power.co.uk | info@thesolarshed.co.uk KLmagazine April 2020
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Innovative infrared garden heating
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Make your garden as cosy as any room in your house with outdoor heaters from Bircham Electrical
pring is officially here and the nicer weather along with it – we hope! While the sunshine can make your garden more welcoming when we have it, why not install some of the innovative electrical heaters on the market and continue enjoying your outside space in all kinds of weather? “Adding halogen or infrared heaters to a patio or terrace can make the time we spend outside more comfortable,” says Darren Goldsby, general manager of Bircham Electrical. “These heaters work by heating your body and the objects in an area, not the air, so they’re very efficient. We can fit BN Thermic
heaters, which are British-made, and their ‘Magic Lamp’ heaters have no glare and emit energy that can travel over several metres without losing intensity or being affected by draughts or breezes. And there’s no need to compromise on style – you can get different finishes to match your garden furniture or fit your aesthetic.” Bircham Electrical can supply and fit professional quality heaters that are compact enough for a domestic setting but powerful enough for a commercial one. “We can fit these heaters in businesses like cafes, pubs and more unusual venues like golf driving ranges. They’re much more convenient than gas heaters you need to refill.” says Darren. Bircham Electrical’s fully-qualified staff can visit and carry out a site survey to calculate where best to place your heaters. “Sometimes wall-mounted 4 Wymans Way Industrial Estate Fakenham NR21 8NT
heaters may be best, sometimes overhead ones,” says Darren, “it depends how you want to balance coverage with heat intensity – we can give you expert advice on that.” Because infrared heaters don’t need to build up a body of warm air they’re ideal to control by timers or even motion sensors, making them economical too. “We can install all kinds of timers,” says Darren, “You could have heat at the push of a button, then the heater switches itself off after a set period, like an outside light. Ideal for when you’ve just got out of a hot tub!” For an easy and affordable way to make your lawn, terrace or patio a comfortable place to sit after dusk or on a dull day – talk to Bircham Electrical today.
Tel: 01328 851824 Web: www.bircham-electrical.co.uk E-mail: admin@birchamelectrical.com
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The farming days when size really did matter... We tend to view 19th-century paintings of massive cows and oversize pigs as rather naive artworks now, but as Alison Gifford explains, they were accurate depictions from the early days of intensive farming
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ack in February the traditional mart took place in King’s Lynn for the 483th time, and thanks to the charter granted by Henry VIII the fun-filled event has seen everything from the town’s first experience of ‘moving pictures’ (thanks to Randall Williams’ cinematograph booth in 1897) to Frederick Savage’s innovative fairground rides during the later half of
the 19th century. Visitors to the event were in for a real treat in 1826, when a poster advertised the appearance of a “surprising large ox” - which was described as “seventeen hands high” (around 5ft 7inches), an improbable 18ft in length, and weighed an equally jaw-dropping 150 stone - which is almost 953kg. It was, as they say, a whopper. The ox in question had been bred by
Wiggenhall St Germans farmer Thomas Fuller, who put it on show at the Crown and Mitre pub on Ferry Street in King’s Lynn - although whether the animal was displayed inside or out isn’t specified. Gentlemen and “working people” presumably knew their place and how much to pay to see this awe-inspiring spectacle - because the charges were sixpence for the former and threepence for the latter.
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In the early 19th century, fat cows, massive pigs and obese sheep were prized as proof of their owners’ success in breeding for size and weight - and gentleman farmers used selective breeding to create quick-growing, heavy livestock. At the same time new intensive farming and feeding practices also produced larger animals - and
rich farmers (called ‘improvers’ after their efforts to make existing animal breeds bigger and better than ever) avidly read the latest research in the newlypublished farming magazines. They fed their cows oil cakes and turnips for a final fattening-up before slaughter, and even Prince Albert became an ‘improver’, showing off his prize pigs and cattle. The enormous animals were exhibited all over the country by their proud owners to an astonished public. This actually created a class of animal celebrities, such as the Durham Ox - who was born in March 1796 on a farm in Darlington. Even today there are many public houses named after him and his larger-than-life image was even used as a pattern for dinner plates. Even more famous was the Craven Heifer, who was bred by the Reverend William Carr in
1807. At her prime (around 1811), she stood almost 7ft tall at the shoulder and weighed an incredible 312 stone (1,981kg) - and the huge cow became a genuine superstar, touring the country and attracting admiring crowds at various agricultural shows. These exceptional animals could be sold for a considerable amount of money (the Craven Heifer was sold for the equivalent of some £13,000) but only elite breeders had the time and wealth to develop such prizes. Many aristocrats and gentlemen owned large agricultural estates, and breeding was considered a high-class pastime. Surprisingly, until agriculture became established as a semi-scientific business in the late 18th century, there weren’t any named breeds, just various types of animal that had been adapted over time to their working environment - big horses for ploughing, small ones for the coal pits, and long-haired cattle who’d adapted to the colder climates of Scotland. Until then, little or no attempt was made to manipulate the breeding of
ABOVE: This oversized ox is a typical example of the ‘improved’ livestock beeds developed by such leading agriculturalists as Thomas Coke of Holkham (above), the 1st Earl of Leicester.
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livestock for better (or more) meat, fat or wool. One local landowner who took the science of stock improvement very seriously was Thomas Coke at Holkham, a gifted agriculturalist and skilled self-publicist who transformed the surrounding estate and became famous as a cattle breeder, grass and turnip pioneer, and agricultural reformer. Britain’s population during the Industrial Revolution increased significantly, so having a secure food supply of fat animals was imperative and ‘improvement’ progressed quickly. Between 1710 and 1795, the average weight of the average British cow increased by a third. Gentlemen farmers used altruism to justify their self-promotion and plain showing-off with their mega-animals - if they could breed larger, fatter
cows (they said) then poorer farmers could eventually own them. With more meat to sell, rural communities would be more financially stable. The health and wealth of the whole country would improve. Or so went the argument. One of the experts employed when the new Board of Agriculture was established in 1793 was Charles Vancouver (two years older than his famous explorer brother George), who was engaged to write reports on the state of agriculture in a number of English counties and was described in July 1795 as “a sensible well-informed man.” Painting farm livestock reached its peak in the early nineteenth century, when prize-winning beasts were painted as trophies for their proud owners. Horses had always been depicted for their grace and elegance but for farm animals, corpulence was key. In the paintings, the cows, sheep, and pigs are massive, yet oddly supported by only four spindly legs. Sometimes, their owner is featured as well, admiring his creation. The resulting images were part advertisement, part spectacle. Local father and son artists, James and John Scraggs (who lived in Friar Street, King’s Lynn) painted and exhibited local prize livestock pictures such as the ‘Enormous Sheep’ from Wimbotsham displayed in Lynn Museum and the ‘Heifer in a Norfolk Landscape’ exhibited by the Norfolk and Norwich Society of Artists in 1816. Commissioned paintings and commercial prints often came
with information about the animal’s measurements and the owner’s breeding efforts. How true to life the pictures were is questionable as body parts were often exaggerated to emphasize the idealized animal shape. For pigs, the ideal was a football shape, whereas cattle should be as square as possible - and sheep were best when oblong. All the same, some of the portraits which look so improbable were drawn to scale and do agree with the dimensions so carefully recorded on the prints. The animals in these pictures may look ludicrous to modern eyes (and raise a number of increasingly important ethical questions) but to the gentlemen farmers of Norfolk 200 years ago, they were a visible source of pride and joy. And an extremely big one at that.
ABOVE: Norfolk’s magnificent Holkham Hal, which played a major part in the county’s agricultural past - the estate’s approach to farming remains innovative to this day. 42
KLmagazine April 2020
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KLmagazine April 2020
Animalmatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with at London Road & Hollies Vets... our Clinical Director
Jennifer Sinclair
Smallbites
The ideal recipe for healthy pets...
W
e all know the phrase ‘you are what you eat’. Not only does this apply to humans, but it also applies to our pets. At all life stages it is essential we are feeding our pets the ideal food in order to maintain and promote good health. Puppies and kittens have different requirements to adult animals in order to allow the best development of their immune system, bones and joints, and general growth. Senior pets may require either an increased or decreased calorie intake depending on their individual health status, as well as further support to their immune system, joints and brain function. Different breeds, and animals with greater energy requirements (for example working dog breeds), will also require tailored nutrition. Approximately half of all pet dogs and cats, and one third of pet rabbits suffer from obesity in the UK. Obesity can lead either directly or indirectly to a number of health problems, including osteoarthritis, heart disease, pancreatic disease, and many more. It has been estimated that obesity can
reduce a pet’s lifespan by up to 3 years depending on the breed and severity of obesity. Your veterinary surgeon or nurse can help to body condition score your pet in order to assess whether your pet is under or overweight. Then a nutrition plan can be formulated in terms of optimal diets and amounts to feed, as well as timing of feeding to reflect the animal’s metabolism and natural eating habits. We like to think about what our pets would eat naturally in the wild, and while cats are still designed to eat a high protein diet, dogs have in fact adapted to digest higher proportions of carbohydrates, fats and protein. High protein diets, if given inappropriately, can lead to incorrect mineral and nutrient ratios, which can then in turn lead to musculoskeletal and organ problems. Rabbits would naturally eat mostly grass in the wild, with a small proportion of wild plants (e.g. dandelions, nettles etc) also being eaten. Domesticated rabbits still need a similar diet to this, with the majority of their diet needing to be either grass or hay. A small amount of fresh
LONDON ROAD Hospital Walk, King’s Lynn • 01553 773168 HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market • 01366 386655
To promote the best nutrition in our pets, we are offering a discount of 50% off the first purchase of one of our veterinary life stage or prescription diets for the whole of April and May 2020. Members of our Pet Health Club can also take advantage of this offer, with the added benefit of subsequent purchases having a discount of 20% applied. We offer free clinics with a member of our nursing team in order to discuss nutrition, and find the best diet possible for your pet, call to book an appointment.
vegetables and dry food can then be used to substitute the wild plants for convenience. There are some medical conditions where a specially formulated prescription diet is really beneficial for a pet’s longevity and health. Some conditions where this is applicable include diabetes, kidney disease, urinary tract problems, gastrointestinal disorders, allergic and skin disease, and obesity among others. We would not recommend starting your pet on a prescription diet without the advice of your vet, as some pets will only require these diets in certain stages of their condition. For any advice on nutrition and correct feeding regimes, either call us or pop in to have a chat with one of our nursing team or veterinary surgeons.
info@londonroadvets.co.uk www.londonroadvets.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2020
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
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If your garden is completely surrounded by walls or fences you have a great many climbers to choose from... ABOVE: Climbing plants can be used to great effect in virtually any garden, disguising fences and walls and adding vibrant depth and height
Cover with colour and reach for the skies... Due to fencing and size constraints, many modern gardens can feel a little enclosed, but as Wendy Warner explains, it’s very easy to move to the vertical and build a living wall of colour with climbing plants
A
s gardens generally get smaller, one of the easiest ways to fit in more plants and create the illusion of greater height is by ‘clothing’ the outer edges of the garden and softening the look. Walls, fences and even hedges can be adorned with a variety of climbing plants to add vertical interest. Climbing plants or “climbers” come in many forms and varieties; some will require support along wires or trellis, and others are self-clinging. Beware of the latter if your walls have weaknesses or underlying issues such as cracks or crumbling mortar because the plants can draw further moisture out of the wall. If your garden is completely surrounded by walls or fences you have a great many climbers to choose from, as there’s something for every
aspect from deep shade to baking sun. For north or east-facing walls or fences (which receive little direct sunlight) select Hydrangea petiolaris, a deciduous, woody, self-clinging climber with white, lacy flowers in summer; Hydrangea seemannii, an evergreen with domed greenish-white flowerheads in summer; climbing ivies (note that varieties with lots of pale variegation are likely to revert to more green in deep shade); or Parthenocissus (Virginia creeper) which is fast-growing with leaves that turn to crimson before dropping in the autumn. For south-facing hot spots in sun for most of the day, choose grapevines (Vitis vinifera) which are more likely to fruit if they are in this position; Wisteria with their long racemes of blue, pink or white flowers in spring before the leaves appear; Trachelospermum or Star Jasmine (an evergreen with white,
highly scented flowers in summer) or the exotic Campsis (trumpet vine) with yellow, orange or red flowers. Climbing roses can make a wonderful display on a wall or trellis, but choose a flower colour that stands out against the background colour of the wall. If you have a very large area to cover, or you want to increase the growth into a tree or over a shed roof, select a rambling rose - but be aware these are very vigorous plants and some varieties can grow to over 30ft tall. The two biggest families of climbing plants are clematis and honeysuckle, and both of these will grow in most situations with some sun. There are different varieties of clematis which will flower throughout most of the year. Evergreen cirrhosa varieties, flower from November to February, while Clematis armandii, an evergreen with long glossy, leaves and white almond-
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scented blooms flowers from March to April - as do the alpina varieties with delicate small bell-shaped flowers. The vigorous white or pink Clematis montanas flower in late spring and can be used to quickly cover a wall, fence or hedge and can even be grown through a tree. Most of the larger flowered clematis will flower in early to mid-summer, and some, such as the ever popular ‘Nelly Moser’ with its pale pink striped flowers, will have a second flush of smaller flowers in late summer. Viticella varieties have an abundance of small flowers from July to October and can be grown through shrubs and small trees as well as on a trellis. Honeysuckles (lonicera) are a cottage garden favourite with their highly perfumed flowers, and come in deciduous or evergreen forms in a range of colours from cream through yellow to orange and red with many bicolour varieties - and then produce berries after flowering, which are loved by the birds. Certain climbers come into their own in the autumn when their leaves begin changing colour before dropping. Parthenocissus varieties (Virginia creeper or Boston ivy) with their lobed or palmate leaves will turn bright red or orange, and the ornamental vine (Vitis coignetiae) turns red, gold and orange. Both of these require a reasonable expanse of wall or fence to grow over. As well as hardy, permanent climbing plants, there are a number of annual climbers that can be grown from seed
and will flower the same year. A particular favourite are Sweet Peas with their fragrant flowers that can be brought indoors as cut flowers. Blackeyed Susan, with orange or yellow flowers with a distinct black centre, Morning Glory with blue, pink or purple saucer-shaped flowers and Purple Bell Vine will all give a spectacular show later in the summer when other flowers are starting to fade. In an ideal world, there’d be an evergreen climber that flowers all year, but it’s possible to create this effect by combining and growing different climbers together. Start with an evergreen as the base such as an ivy or even better, a blue Solanum as this also flowers. Next, choose something which will flower in the spring like an early flowering ‘alpina’ type clematis - followed by a later-flowering honeysuckle which will bloom from summer into autumn. Hopefully the next time you look into the garden and see a gap, you’ll be inspired to fill it with an attractive climber to give a beautiful backdrop to your other plants.
YOU AND YOUR GARDEN Wendy Warner is the Manager of Thaxters Garden Centre in Dersingham. You can visit the website at www.thaxters.co.uk or telephone 01485 541514. If you’d like some inspiration for your garden or have a particular issue or variety of plant you’d like Wendy to look at, please contact us at info@klmagazine.co.uk.
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DMG T mber Makers of fine quality timber products, for your home, garden or new build FENCING & GATES
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KLmagazine April 2020
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Year-round maintenance is essential for a healthy lawn and CGM Group can provide a programme to make it easy for you
f you’ve been looking out of your window and thinking that you’ll have to do a lot of work to get your lawn ready for summer, then take action now to ensure next year is different! Let CGM Group create an annual lawn care programme for you – it’s the secret to a healthy green lawn. CGM Group have 35 years of experience caring for the lawns and other grounds of west Norfolk after being founded in 1985 by Tim Glover. The company has grown to offer a comprehensive range of grounds maintenance services, and today they can provide a complete Fine Turf Lawn Care treatment service for any type and size of lawn. CGM Group’s specialist Fine Turf Department is headed up by Chris Fisher, who is fully qualified and has over 20 years’ experience maintaining fine turf for numerous discerning
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turf remains in fine condition. In addition to their annual Fine Turf Lawn Care programmes CGM Group also recommend additional mechanical treatments which will benefit the lawn’s health and appearance. These include scarification to remove unwanted matter from around the base of the grass plant; aeration which pierces the lawn to allow water, oxygen and other nutrients into the ground; re-seeding to fill in any bare patches; pest control to remove pests which feed on the root of the plant; fertiliser treatments to enrich the soil. CGM Group’s private ownership allows them the flexibility to ensure their technicians treat your lawn using the very best equipment and knowledge, which is not something a franchise could replicate. So, contact Chris on 0800 1601199 and let your lawn transformation begin.
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Wonders of nature and the future of spying... They were one of the first insects to evolve, but with climate change and micro-technology, our dragonflies face an uncertain future
D
ragonflies have been with us for over 300 million years (when they first evolved they had two-foot wingspans) and they’ve fascinated us ever since we arrived on the scene - their distinct appearance featuring on everything from ancient pottery and rock paintings to Art Nouveau jewellery. There are now about 5,000 different species of dragonfly in the order Odonata (the name is derived from the insects’ serrated teeth) which also includes damselflies - and the two
are often confused, although they’re actually very easy to tell apart. If the huge eyes are virtually touching, it’s a dragonfly. If its two sets of wings are the same size and shape, it’s a damselfly. When resting, a dragonfly holds its wings out like an airplane, whereas damselflies fold up their wings and hold them across the top of their backs. The Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society publication Dragonflies of Norfolk contains a checklist (including damselflies) of the 32 different species you can see in the county. Some of them are relatively easy to spot, but others are far more elusive. The commonest in Norfolk are the Blue-tailed Damselfly (pictured) and the Scarce Emerald
Damselfly - the paradoxical name of the latters reflecting that it was once thought to be extinct. The rarest local dragonflies include the Common Hawker (another paradoxical name!), the Downy Emerald, and the Norfolk Hawker - which can only found in eastern parts of the county and northeast Suffolk. Classified as endangered and fully protected by law, it can be distinguished (if you’re lucky enough to see one) by its startling green eyes. Last year, the State of Nature Partnership’s State of Nature 2019 report was released, and reported that the 697 terrestrial and freshwater species studies were continuing to steadily decline - and that included dragonflies. “Some of the greatest threats to dragonflies stem from changes in hydrology – the draining and drying out of wetlands, and the
“If the huge eyes are virtually touching, it’s a dragonfly. If its two sets of wings are the same size and shape, it’s a damselfly.”
ABOVE: Just a few of our dragonflies and damselflies, including the Norfolk Hawker, the Four Spot Chaser, the Azure Blue Damselfly, and (below) the Migrant Hawker
modification of watercourses,” says Dr Pam Taylor, who lives in Norfolk and is Head of Conservation at the British Dragonfly Society. “Pollution, habitat changes and increased urbanisation are also threats, and climate change is driving some dragonflies northwards. That may appear to be a favourable increase in their range, but it may have serious consequences for more northern species.” A clearer picture of the overall health of our dragonfly population will appear with the publication of the society’s State of Britain’s Dragonflies 2020, which is planned to be released during Dragonfly Week in July. Hopefully, we’ll discover they’re
in safer hands than their relatives across the Atlantic are. Two years ago, researchers in America unveiled (launched may be a more appropriate word) DragonflEye, a fully-fuctioning drone consisting of a live dragonfly wearing a backpack of electronics, sensors and solar cells. Not much was said about how the human operators would use the living drone, but it’s worth noting that during the Cold War in the 1970s the CIA started modifying dragonflies to investigate their possible use in spying. So by all means go dragonflyspotting at our local ponds, rivers and wetlands this summer and share your findings. Biological recording is hugely important (the British Dragonfly Society has over a million verified records going back to the 19th century) and anyone can do it. But just a word of warning - while you’re staring at those dragonflies, who knows who could be looking back you? For more information on dragonflies (and damselflies) and details of how to officially record your findings, please visit the British Dragonfly Society website at www.british-dragonflies. org.uk
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE THIS SPRING/SUMMER With well-priced, distinctive outdoor furniture & accessories from market leading brands.
WE’VE EXPANDED OUR SHOWROOM! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10AM- 4PM Norfolk Leisure, Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn PE33 0AX Tel 01553 811717 | Email sales@norfolkleisure.co.uk | Web www.norfolkleisure.com
Micha Jacket £79
Ontrend
Florals are always perfect for spring – give them a twist with a jungle print or this citrusy zing
A new season is a chance to add some fun to your wardrobe! We’ve said goodbye to dark mornings and big coats, let’s say hello to blue skies and breezy days out in bright colours and lighter fabrics. Keeping it practical means we’re ready to face those April showers but bold prints will keep us smiling through them.
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Just like Mum’s! Joules have shrunk the size of their best-loved women’s Harbour Top so that now little ones can enjoy it too. Crafted from the same high quality cotton and with a stylish twist she’s going to love.
Harbour Long Sleeve Jersey Top £29.95 & Luxe Kid’s Top £19 by Joules
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Jacket by The Dolcezza collection
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Sutton Bridge
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White jeans are an eternal spring classic - update them with a bold brilliant statement jacket
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Look fabulous this Spring
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Stunning New Season collections now in store FASHIONS • HANDBAGS • SHOES • LINGERIE 13 Market Place, Long Sutton | Tel: 01406 363 433 Closed all day Wednesday | www.sheilatiller.co.uk KLmagazine April 2020
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The Dubarry Baltimore £ 149
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TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk
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West Norfolk’s best kept secret
Golden Pursuit A DI VI SIO N OF LIB ID EX PH AR MA UK
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Ontrend
Layer multiple pieces in one shade - casual linen makes for a striking look that is effortless to wear
Coat Dress by Marc Aurel
SHEILA TILLER Long Sutton
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Ethical products for amazing hair... It’s a ‘green’ revolution at The Wish Salon as they switch to products that are as good for the planet as they are for your hair
T
he Wish Salon in Fincham has switched to using completely natural organic shampoos, conditioners and styling aids, and they’re urging you to come along and see the difference it could make to your hair. “We’ve been using the Monat range of products since March and I’m so impressed. I’ve been a hairdresser for 44 years and I’ve never worked with a range that is so effective,” says Chris Page the owner of the salon. “I’ve wanted to switch to natural products for some time, but I’ve never found any that could match up to traditional products: that’s all changed now with Monat.” Monat has been established as a brand in America for seven years and it is incredibly popular. Its range of products are all 100% plant-based and cruelty-free, they contain no parabens or palm oil, and they are packed with luxurious oils including the rare Abyssinian oil. “Yes, these products are expensive, but they are absolutely worth it,” says Chris. “The results I’ve
The Wish
seen are astonishing. Monat’s Capixyl blend is made from cold-pressed red clover flowers and leaves your hair fuller, shinier, more manageable and it grows faster: it even holds a style longer. And for those whose hair needs some serious help, Chris recommends a course of salon treatments of Monat’s most intensive products, supplemented by using the shampoo and conditioner at home. “Their Rejuveniqe® blend can actually re-stimulate hair growth in cases of alopecia and thinning hair – it’s common for women to suffer this after a pregnancy,” says Chris, “I’ve been treating someone who had a horseshoe-shaped area of alopecia on the back of her head, and after several months she has five inches of regrowth.” The Wish Salon is also undergoing a major refurbishment to complement the organic natural ethos it’s embracing. “I’m changing our three main areas – the reception area, the shampoo and colour area and the main
south-facing styling area – to give them a modern industrial look,” says Chris. “It’s exciting, I’m using lots of recycled materials. I have styling units that have been made from driftwood by a company in Scotland, and mirror frames made from recycled pipes. And we’re using recycled metal stairs for shelves. We’re going to have lots of plants around, it’s going to look amazing.” Chris and the small friendly team at The Wish Salon have all completed online training in the use of Monat products, so contact them today and see how they can change your hair’s life!
Norfolk House, High St, Fincham, Norfolk PE33 9EL Tel: 01366 347999 • Email: chris@thewishsalon.co.uk
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LED LIGHTING • LIGHT FIT TINGS ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
THE LIGHTING SPECIALISTS A family-run business with over 60 years experience in the supply of light bulbs and lighting to homes and businesses. Get in touch or visit our store to find out more...
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Refresh your floors this Spring
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Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ
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te c ta ini r s cl ou art sit eVi f-th -o
BEFORE
AFTER
You can never be too old for a sparkling smile With a team of professional specialists and some of the most advanced technology in the world, The Priestgate Clinic proves that age is no barrier when it comes to orthodontic and corrective treatments...
I
f you thought the field of orthodontics only applied to teenagers and was limited to fixed metal braces, you may be surprised to learn that at the Priestgate Clinic in Peterborough, Richard Cousley is treating people of all ages (from 7 to 70) to a range of highly advanced teeth-straightening techniques. As one of the UK’s leading authorities and innovators in the field (the British Dental Journal described him as being “in the vanguard of the orthodontic revolution”) Richard is perfectly placed to bring your teeth literally back into line. “Before they reach the age of 10 some children can already benefit from early intervention for bite problems and ‘ectopic’ teeth that are growing in abnormal jaw positions,” he says. “In fact, to forestall issues in later life, I think all children should have a specialist
orthodontic assessment by the time they’re 11 years old.” But a dazzling smile and a healthy mouth aren’t restricted to the younger members of the population. A large proportion of Richard’s patients are adults choosing aesthetic (toothcolouring) braces or aligners - and later-life improvements to their tooth and bite alignments. “Bone remains a dynamic tissue throughout our lives, which means orthodontic treatment is possible for older patients well into their 70s,” he says. “At the Priestgate Clinic we can accurately diagnose problems using the very latest 3D technology and advise on the wide range of treatment options open to them.” Even better news - especially for patients with severe jaw mismatches or airway restrictions - is that at the Priestgate Clinic Richard works closely alongside Clive Moss, a highly-experienced consultant oral
and maxillofacial surgeon. It means the practice can offer a complete patient-focused service that’s based on minimally-invasive treatments and successful outcomes. Working alongside two experienced general dentists, a fully-qualified hygienist, and a support team of nursing and reception staff, Richard and Clive are bringing the future of dentistry closer to home in a friendly and relaxing environment. And that’s always worth smiling about!
THE PRIESTGATE CLINIC
26 Priestgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1WG Tel: 01733 865000 • Web: www.priestgateclinic.co.uk • Email: reception@priestgateclinic.co.uk KLmagazine April 2020
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ABOVE: Sea bass is one of the most delicious fishes - especially when it’s carefully prepared and cooked to perfection
Sea bass and the secret of sustainability
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It’s the start of the season for wild sea bass – and we’re taking a look at the measures in place to protect this prized fish and suggest a delicious way to enjoy it
he first of April marks the date when commercial fishing of wild sea bass can begin for the 2020 season: during February and March it is forbidden by government regulations to catch them to protect the fish during its breeding season. These regulations are looked at closely before being set each year – in 2019 recreational fishing also began on 1st April, and this year it was allowed to begin earlier. So why is it so important to set such strict rules on the fishing of wild sea bass? Sea bass is a pelagic fish, like cod, tuna and swordfish. Pelagic means that it lives away from the bottom of the sea, and also away from the shore. Pelagic fish also tend to be larger –
sea bass is one of the smaller varieties - and more prized by fishermen and consumers alike. Its firm flesh makes it ideal for searing or baking in foil and its silvery scales add a flash of sophistication to a dinner plate. Long a species praised loudest on the continent (the French traditionally serve it whole, grilled with fennel) sea bass used to be much less popular in the UK. That is until celebrity chefs began to champion its virtues: Jamie Oliver served sea bass fillets slashed and baked on a bed of mushroom potatoes to Tony Blair and the Italian Prime Minister in 1999, and the transformation of sea bass to a restaurant and dinner party favourite began. Sales increased rapidly. Figures from the time show that sales of bass more
than trebled between 2005 and 2008, jumping from £7m to £22m. But this demand for sea bass was coming at a high price: like half of all varieties of fish at the time, sea bass were being overfished. Regulations to protect sea bass came into force across Europe in 2013, when concerns over the levels of stock started to become urgent. The European fisheries commission set targets to make all fishing sustainable by 2020, and to achieve that set limits on sea bass fishing which are reassessed annually. This year, recreational fishers could only catch and release until 29th February and after were allowed to keep no more than two fish per day, and none smaller than 42cm long.
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Baked sea bass with Mojo Verde (serves 4 people)
INGREDIENTS • 4 bass fillets • 500g potatoes • Vegetable oil
1
Cover the bottom of a baking tray with the sliced, or halved if small, potatoes, dressed with oil, salt, pepper.
2 3
Cook for about 15 mins at 200C until starting to brown.
“Long a species praised loudest on the continent sea bass used to be much less popular in the UK...” Commercial fishers must have a licence and limits are set on their catch. More and more sea bass are being farmed too, to take the pressure off the wild stocks. It’s estimated we eat ten
times as much farmed sea bass as wild: 85,000 tons a year compared to 8,700. Greece are the biggest producers of farmed sea bass as their warmer waters are ideal: they produce 60% of all stock. One place you’ll always find sea bass when it can be responsibly sourced is Gurney’s Fish Shop in Burnham Market. Gurney’s has been selling wet fish, shellfish and their own smoked fish, pates and prepared meals for around 40 years. They make the most of the amazing seafood delicacies north Norfolk is so renowned for, using locally-sourced produce whenever they can. Matt Falvey, who’s been a fishmonger for 20 years and currently manages the shop, tells us why sea bass is always a favourite with customers. “Sea bass has always had a prominent position on our fish counter and it’s always been a big seller,” he says. “Our customers enjoy it for its beautiful meaty texture and smooth flavour, and when it’s caught locally they enjoy knowing that it hasn’t travelled too far.” Recent improvements in stock management has boosted the sustainability rating, so Matt can now sell line-caught wild seabass between April and January. “They’re not caught during February and March when they’re spawning, and farmed sea bass is a very good sustainable alternative for when the wild ones are not available,” he says. “We also recommend hake as a great alternative to sea bass - it’s a similarly mild-flavoured white fish with a silky texture. It’s very versatile and it can be incorporated into a lot of the same recipes that sea bass can.”
Lay the seasoned bass fillets on top of the potatoes (you can also add a vegetable of your choice such as tomatoes, asparagus or green beans) and cook for 10 mins or until the fish is just cooked through.
Mojo Verde INGREDIENTS 8 green chillies (deseeded if you want it mild) 1 large bunch coriander 1 garlic clove Juice of 1 lemon 200ml extra virgin olive oil 1 tbs sweet wine vinegar A good pinch of salt
1
Put the coriander, chillies, garlic and half the oil in a food mixer and blend until just about smooth.
2
Then transfer to a bowl and add the remaining oil and lemon and vinegar and salt.
3 4
Check for seasoning - it needs to be sharp and tangy. Serve the sauce cold with the warm bass and potatoes.
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Arrive at 7:30pm to a flute of Tattinger Champagne
the berney
gourmet wine dinner
Call now to book: 0 13 6 6 347995
MENU Vietnamese Tiger Prawn Skewers Kim-chi, Carrot, Spring Onion, Chilli, Lime, Herb Salad Salt Cod Fritters with Saffron Aioli Salt Cod Fritters, Parsley, Saffron, Potato, Roasted Peppers
THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2020
Lobster Salad with a Fennel, Orange, Dill & Jersey Royal Potato Salad
ÂŁ65 per head
Experience our showcase of fish in association with Hatch Mansfield UK. A specialist agent in premium wines made by independent, family-owned wine producers. On offer will be a range of wine from the Louis Jadot range whose vineyard is in Burgundy, the very heart of winemaking in France.
Sit down for dinner at 8pm
Steamed Fillet of Seabass Asparagus, Broad Beans, Peas, Vermouth and Brown Shrimp Butter Sauce
Rob, our head chef will again be on hand to introduce each dish and Matthew Allen the wine expert from Hatch Mansfield will be on hand to advise you of the wines you will be experiencing. Spaces are limited so get in touch to book your table soon!
Baron Bigod Cheese Crackers, Grape Jelly, Celery, Apple Chutney
The Berney, Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF f l
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A luxury kitchen to match your luxury home
1963-2020
Celebrating 56 years of our family business
Because a kitchen is the heart of your home, it deserves just as much thought as the rest of your house. Visit Bexwell Kitchens for a kitchen individually designed around your needs • A family friendly company • Neff specialists for 47 years • Full measuring and CAD design service • All kitchens supplied rigid • 23 displays • Full installation service available
Bexwell Kitchens
Bexwell Aerodrome, Downham Market PE38 9LT Tel: 01366 382064 Open: Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 Email: bexwellkitchens@aol.com
www.bexwellkitchens.co.uk
Join us for
BOOK A TABLE NOW TO AVOID T DISSAPPOINTMEN
Spring lamb available now
EASTER SUNDAY LUNCH Choose from our three course Sunday menu, or our bar classics Spring lamb available in our Walsingham shop and to order from our Norwich market stall this Easter. Enjoy the best South Creake lamb straight from our butchers or our award winning lamb and mint pie! Walsingham
Great Bircham, King’s Lynn PE31 6RJ | Tel: 01485 578 265
www.thekingsheadcountryhotel.co.uk
Guild Street NR22 6BU t: 01328 821877
Norwich Market
Row F, 124/125, Norwich NR2 1ND t: 01603 621966
www.walsingham.co
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Roast rack of English lamb with pea purée & mint croquettes INGREDIENTS (Serves 4) 4 x 3 bone racks of lamb 1 small white onion 100g garden peas 100ml vegetable stock Mint sauce 1 serving mash potato Panko bread crumbs Egg wash Scoop of flour 1 pkt sugar snaps 150g pancetta lardons 1 pkt button mushrooms 250ml beef jus
1 Roast lamb off in a frying pan. Once coloured an even light brown, place in a pre-heated oven at 190°C for 10-12 minutes. Note, this is for medium rare. 2 Turn fryer on ready for croquettes. 3 While lamb is cooking, place a pan of boiling salted water on the heat ready for the green vegetables then prepare the mint croquettes. 4 Mix mint sauce with the mashed potato. 5 Place mixture in piping bag and pipe out croquettes. Leave to set in the fridge for 30 minutes. 6 Place the flour, egg wash and panko on separate trays. 7 Flour the croquettes then dip in the egg wash and then finish with the panko. Set the croquettes aside. 8 For the pea purée dice the onion and sauté for a couple of minutes to soften. Add the garden peas and cover with vegetable stock. Allow this to gently simmer for a good 5-8 minutes. Place in food processor and add seasoning. Once the peas are puréed, pass them through a fine sieve to remove pea pulp. Finish with a dash of cream.
9 Place the beef jus on the heat and gently warm through. Place a sauté pan on a heated oven ring and add a dash of oil. Then add the button mushrooms, pancetta lardons and silver skin onions. Cook over a medium heat until there is a good colour all round. 10 Put sugar snap and broad beans in the boiling salted water. Once they are cooked, add to your mushroom, onions and lardons. 11 Remove the lamb from the oven and allow to rest 10-15 minutes (cover with tin foil to keep warm). Start with the pea purée on the base of the plate. Drop the croquettes in the fryer until golden. Arrange the medley of veg on top of the purée. Cut the lamb into three cutlets and place on top. Arrange the croquettes around the lamb, finish with a drizzle of beef jus.
Recipe by Thornham Deli High Street, Thornham, Norfolk PE36 6LX 01485 512194 www.thornhamdeli.co.uk
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KITCHENS • BATHROOMS • TILES • BEDROOMS • PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Step into spring with a beautiful new kitchen Are you looking to revamp your kitchen or bathroom this year? Visit us to discuss your ideas and be inspired by our stunning displays at one of the area’s largest independent showrooms.
THE QUAY CENTRE OFFERS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE... We project manage your new installation from start to finish, co-ordinating all trades needed so that it’s a stress-free process Address 28-31a North End, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1PE | Tel 01945 476797 | Fax 01945 463495 | Web www.quaycentre.co.uk
New Private Function Room
Perfect for small weddings, birthdays and baby showers. Call us for more details
ABACUS MARQUEES your special event is our special event...
PLUS!
Book for Easter Sunday
Book early to avoid disappointment
Why not try our delicious Afternoon Teas
Tracey & Stuart welcome you to their newly refurbished pub beautifully set between two rivers • TRADITIONAL HOME-COOKED FOOD • GIN SHELF • AFTERNOON TEAS • B& B • TOURING CARAVAN PARK
Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals. Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories. Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements. Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:
01328 701331
01366 384040 | www.theheronstowbridge.com The Heron Stowbridge, The Causeway, Stowbridge PE34 3PP
www.abacusmarquees.co.uk Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 2YA
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Carrot, apple & raisin cake YOU WILL NEED 1x30cm cake or brownie cake tin
INGREDIENTS 450g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 10 tbsp rapeseed oil Grated zest of 2 oranges 8 tbsp orange juice 280g muscovado sugar 280g finely grated carrot 2 medium eating apples peeled, cored & grated 170g raisins 100g pumpkin seeds
1 2
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°Fan. Line a 30cm cake tin.
4
Bake for 1 hour until a skewer come out of the cake cleanly. Do not over bake as it will dry the cake.
Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the oil, orange juice and sugar.
3
Add the orange mixture to the flour along with the grated carrot and apple, orange zest, raisins and pumpkin seeds and stir until well mixed. Spoon into the prepared tin or moulds.
Recipe by Executive Chef Jules Hetherton at Strattons Hotel 4 Ash Close, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7NH 01760 723845 www.strattonshotel.com KLmagazine April 2020
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BEFORE
“Like new every time!”
AFTER
£25 off your Easter oven clean
S
ave ££s when treating yourself to a new cooker – Peter will restore your current cooker to an “as new” condition for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. Many KL magazine readers have already done just that and are now proud owners of gleaming ‘brand new’-looking cookers. With Peter being qualified to professionally clean all sizes and makes of cookers from the simple standalone cooker all the way up to a Wolf Range or a 4 oven Aga with side module – no job is too big or small.
Every eco-friendly clean is fully insured and backed by the OvenGleamers customer satisfaction guarantee and booking is simple with OvenGleamers in-house Bookings Centre. Now Easter and the Spring Bank Holidays are rapidly upon us, Peter has a super offer for KL magazine readers. He’s offering a £25 discount on all oven & hob cleans and all Range Cookers cleans when you have your oven cleaned before 30th April 2020.
Call Peter now on 01553 750455 and quote “KL April Offer”
Punctual, professional and courteous service. My oven and hob is brand spanking new every time. No odours whatsoever and super tidy! -Kim, regular customer
DID YOU KNOW PETER CLEANS... • Single and double ovens • Hobs (all sizes) • Extractors/cooker hoods • Microwaves – combi and regular • Single and double oven range cookers • Agas, Rayburns, Esses and Everhots • BBQs PETER
01553 750455 | www.ovengleamers.com peter.edge-partington@ovengleamers.com
We proudly serve Suffolk based coffee producer Paddy & Scott’s to provide you the best coffee experience, with all beans grown within their sustainable farm in Kenya
A place fit for catching up with friends or impromptu business meetings Baristas routinely trained to prepare you the perfect brew Bistro menu Hand crafted cocktails Massey Co, The DukesMarket Head Hotel, 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn PE30 1JS The Dukes Head Hotel& 5-6 Tuesday Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JS | www.dukesheadhotel.com | 01553 774996 01553 774996
www.dukesheadhotel.com
thedukesheadhotel
dukesheadhotelkingslynn
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Top tip
digestives swap the n free for a glute on’t e - you w alternativ tell the be able to ! difference
Super easy rocky road Perfect for the Easter holidays! YOU WILL NEED
1 2 3 4
Line your tin with greaseproof paper.
Spoon or spatula Microwaveable bowl 20x30cm tin Greaseproof paper
Break up the chocolate into small chunks and add them to a large microwaveable bowl, along with the butter.
INGREDIENTS 700g milk chocolate (I know it’s lots of chocolate but it’s worth it!) 70g salted butter 300g digestives 100g mini eggs 5 creme eggs Optional: sprinkles
Melt the chocolate and butter mixture in the microwave; heat for 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until fully melted.
Using your hands, break up the digestives into large chunks (roughly into quarters) and put them straight into the melted chocolate mixture, along with the mini eggs.
6
Whilst the rocky road is still warm, chop the creme eggs into quarters and press them into the top. If you’re adding sprinkles, sprinkle these over now too.
7 8
Pop the rocky road in the fridge to set for about an hour.
Using a sharp knife, cut into slices. This will make 15 huge chunks of rocky road, or cut into smaller pieces for a ‘bite-sized’ treat!
5
Gently fold the biscuits and mini eggs into the chocolate mixture. Once combined, pour all the mixture into the lined tin and even out.
Recipe by Susanna Lemon at Simply Cake Co. Open kitchen every Thursday 4.30-7.30pm: Unit 1, Hereford Way, Hardwick Narrows, King’s Lynn PE30 4JD www.simplycakeco.com KLmagazine April 2020
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the berney
COME & ENJOY OUR DELICIOUS SUNDAY ROAST Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast with us, the perfect excuse for a well-deserved treat.
VISIT US THIS EASTER Planning a get-together over the Easter bank holiday? Enjoy lunch with us and even take advantage of our beautiful rooms.
CALL TO BOOK: 01366 347995 Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF f l
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Flavour of the Month
A fitting tribute to a heroic past and a first-class approach to food
T
hey say that every pub has a story, but I doubt few can tell one quite as special as The Wellington in Feltwell. We’d been told about all the accolades and awards - this is a pub that’s been judged Gastro Pub of East Anglia (twice in fact), has received a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor every year since it opened, and has one of the best rankings on Google for any restaurant in Norfolk. The chef has been nominated for a King’s Lynn Mayor’s Business Award, the apprentice has been nominated for an Apprentice of the Year award, and the pub’s raised almost £30,000 for local charities. The good news is that The Wellington more than lives up to this glowing reputation. The pub - which dates back to 1730 and has at various times been a village store, an off licence, a wine bar and a Mexican restaurant - was given
a complete makeover seven years ago by Chris Samuels and Chris Grandison, who met at university and are known to everyone as ‘Big Chris’ and ‘Little Chris’ respectively. Although they have a considerable experience of hospitality, they’re both historians at heart (medieval history in the case of ‘Little Chris’ and modern history in the case of the bigger version) so it’s no surprise the two have used the pub as a fitting tribute to the heroes of the village’s nearby airbase - particularly the young James Ward, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in 1942 for his extraordinary bravery aboard a Wellington bomber the year previously. Yes there are plenty of wartime photographs and some fascinating memorabilia (including some of Paul Cummins’ ceramic poppies from the famous Tower of London display in 2014) but this is how all village pubs should be - where you’re instantly and immediately made to feel at home. It’s the only pub we’ve ever been to where regulars are treated to a free pint on their birthday. The Wellington is in a class of its own, and much the same could be said of its food, which is extraordinarily good. One of our starters was an incredible
confit pork belly with garlic king prawns - accompanied by a sweet sherry and pink peppercorn sauce. It was a mini ‘surf and turf’ and deserves to be a main course. Talking of which, while I enjoyed a perfect fillet of sea bream my partner devoured a wonderful Brie, bacon and cranberry burger - choosing chicken over the beef or vegetarian options Luckily, I was allowed to sample this amazing contrast of textures and delicious flavours - the juicy meat, the crispy bacon, the creamy Brie and the sweet cranberry. It someone hadn’t turned it into a brand name, you’d call it the king of burgers. Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you won’t be able to resist ordering a dessert. The sticky toffee pudding is brilliant (I’m sure neither Chris will mind me mentioning the secret ingredient of Early Grey tea in the cake mix) but for me the grand finale of the meal was the Chocolate Marquise. A dark chocolate base offset with Chantilly cream, crushed pistachios and black cherries it’s an exquisite way to finish. There’s something very special about The Wellington. It has a real sense of place, it has a deep respect for the area’s history, and it has a truly outstanding kitchen. If you’ve never visited before , you’ll excuse the touch of envy - because you’re in for a real treat.
THE WELLINGTON 27-29 High Street, Feltwell IP26 4AF Tel: 01842 828224 Web: www.feltwellington.co.uk E-mail: info@feltwellington.co.uk
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How sugar beet inspired the rebirth of vodka... The recent interest in artisan vodka shows no sign of slowing down, and had even been given a local impetus by the team at Renaissance Vodka, who’ve used an unsual ingredient to create a truly unique taste
ABOVE: When Andy Stanforth first thought about creating his own drink, he was determined to make the best-ever English vodka
T
hree years ago, in a Cambridgeshire microdistillery and after meeting Master Distiller Dr John Walters, Andy Stanforth had the notion that vodka needed revitalising. Other fashionable trends were taking over from the aroma-free spirit that is traditionally drunk neat, without ice and a zero degrees celsius. Deciding to buck the trend, Andy’s first thought was to start a Vodka Society, but this was quickly put aside in favour of creating a completely new taste. In fact, he wanted to turn ordinary cocktails into an unforgettable experience by creating the best English vodka ever. Andy’s first idea was to seek an ingredient native to East Anglia. Throughout history, vodka had been made from potatoes, wheat or rice, so Andy and John decided to use the humble sugar beet so abundant in bordering Norfolk. To produce the mash, the best natural spring water was added from a source close to Harrogate, brought up from 50m underground and naturally enriched with a balanced mineral content. Heeding the maxim that ‘less is more’ John had
recommended single distillation until eventually, tastings around the kitchen table gave this creation the thumbs up. Renaissance Vodka was launched 18 months ago with support from family and friends who still lend a hand labelling sample bottles or dipping the wax seals. Renaissance Vodka’s Creative Director and friend, the film director Vadim Jean was initially asked by Andy if he could make a film to promote the vodka. “When I tasted it I thought he’d created something really special,” he says, “and found myself becoming a partner in the business!” He talks about the processes that go into producing a premium vodka. “Renaissance Vodka is produced in batches of 500 to several thousand litres which means we’re able to take the time and care it needs to get it exactly right first time,” he says. ”Whereas mass-
produced vodka has been distilled many times to remove impurities, working with smaller batches produces a rich smooth taste from a single distillation.” Working with just the heart of the distillation, the first and last parts (the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’) are discarded and only the finest vodka remains ready for bottling. The vodka is 40% proof with a 60% water content, which is why the team searched for the best possible water they could. “The exact process is as much an art
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ABOVE: Renaissance Vodka can be drunk with nothing but an ice cube - but it also makes fabulous cocktails
as a science,” says Vadim. “Each batch is crafted to achieve its rich smooth finish. Crafting in the notes is rather like a chef creating a special dish, and it’s derived from the character of the sugar beet and in using the purest water. Renaissance Vodka can be drunk by itself with a single ice cube - but it also makes delicious cocktails!” These attributes were recognised in 2017 by one of the most highly regarded blind-tasting competitions in the world, when Renaissance Vodka won a silver ‘Outstanding’ accolade in the International Wine & Spirits Competition, which is judged by more than 400 global experts with entrants from nearly 90 different countries. Even more was to come the following year, when Renaissance Vodka was awarded the competition’s top award - the prestigious ‘Master’ accolade in the Ultra Premium Vodka Category, competing against 34 brands from some of the top producers in the world. “We were shocked and delighted in equal
measures,” says Vadim, “but earning that award showed that Andy had achieved exactly what he’d set out to do - produce the best vodka ever!” Renaissance Vodka had come a very long way in a very short time, and it’s about to hit the premier league - literally. A recent approach from Norwich City Football Club is a partnership close to the heart of sportslover and keen
hockey player Vadim. “We’re very excited at partnering with a club that has fans at its heart and is so supportive of the local community,” he says. “We’re supplying Delia’s restaurant and all the hospitality areas at Carrow Road, and recently launched a “Canaries Cocktail” in the club colours of yellow and green using passion fruit puree, apricot liqueur and cloudy apple juice.”
Renaissance Vodka also sponsored the UK premiere ‘after-party’ for The Man Who Invented Christmas at the Washington Hotel, when a bespoke cocktail called “The Christmas Carol” was created with a festive twist. Even a TV debut followed in comedy series The Rebel which starred Simon Callow and was directed by Vadim. “When we created Renaissance Vodka we always wanted to make something very special with great ingredients,” says Vadim. “We’re really excited about our promotion for this year, because it’s going to be something quite different.” Getting away from the familiar clear liquid of vodka, the distinctive wax-capped bottles with their handdrawn designs of the ingredients will now contain spirit with the baby-pink subtlety of roses. English Rose vodka has been produced with hand-picked roses harvested from a Cambridgeshire country house. “It’s a refreshing change from the classic vodka,” says Vadim. “The flavour is surprisingly complex, with the gentle burn of the alcohol being followed by the ‘Turkish Delight’ flavour of the roses.” For more news and information on the new face of vodka, please visit the website at www.renaissancevodka. com
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Delicious local fish, perfect for the Easter weekend! Cromer Crabs - now in! Local oysters & shellfish Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh & smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey
Plus! Deli counter with quality local cheeses
D NALDS NS A fresh taste of the sea
Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm
THE
Black Horse Inn CASTLE RISING
Cobra & Curry Night
Every Tuesday - £10 per person
Two for £20 Steak Night - Every Thursday
Lynn Rd, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG m 01553 631333 E /TheBlackHorseInnCastleRising
KLmagazine April 2020
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Espresso martini made with Paddy & Scott’s coffee INTRO At Massey & Co we have taken the time to source the best quality products. We’ve collaborated with Suffolk based coffee producer Paddy & Scott’s to provide a rich and fullbodied coffee experience, with all beans grown within their sustainable farm in Kenya.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED Boston cocktail shaker Coupe glass Ice
INGREDIENTS 25ml New Amsterdam Vodka 25ml Tia Maria 25ml Vanilla Syrup
Double shot of Paddy & Scott’s espresso coffee 3 coffee beans to garnish
1 2
3
Add all the wet ingredients to the Boston cocktail shaker.
Double strain over the coupe glass, then garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Fill with one large scoop of ice, seal and shake well for 15 seconds.
Recipe by Massey & Co. at The Duke’s Head Hotel 5-6 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JS 01553 774996 www.dukesheadhotel.com 82
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The magic of the movies, the comforts of home... Discover how Core Technology Projects can bring big-screen entertainment to your home with your very own bespoke cinema
T
here’s only one thing better than watching the latest blockbuster or your favourite film classic on the big screen - and that’s enjoying stunning visuals, fully-immersive sound and luxurious seats in your very own home. From their head office and demonstration suite in King’s Lynn, Core Technology Projects can design and build your ultimate home theatre - complete with 4K UHD resolution on high-definition screens up to 12ft wide, full Dolby ATMOS surround sound, and completely automated and easy-to-use controls. “It’s the perfect way to transform an unused room, spare bedroom or
grarage, and your cinema rooms can be as personalised as you want,” says managing director Jim Garrett. “There’s a huge range of different lighting options and seating arrangements to choose from - and we can manage the whole project from the initial 3D designs to the final fitting and commissioning of the system.” The face of home entertainment has never looked (or sounded) better, and you don’t have to take Jim’s word for it because his King’s Lynn offices include a fully-functioning cinema room with a 128-inch screen, fully-reclining leather chairs, soundproofed walls, a starlight ceiling, and 11 speakers - although they’re so well hidden you’ll have to ask Jim to point them out.
“The old saying that ‘seeing is believing’ has a lot of truth in it when it comes to our cinema rooms,” he says. “We’ve even had customers who were so impressed with our cinema room they’ve wanted it duplicated in their own home - although we can design a totally unique layout to suit you and your home.” There isn’t an Oscar or a BAFTA or a Palme d’Or for the Best Home Cinema Specialist at the moment, but there probably should be - and Core Technology Projects would almost certainly win it. Take your home entertainment to the next level, and contact Jim and his team today for more details and information.
1 APS House, Oldmedow Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 4JJ Tel: 01553 776413 Web: www.coretechnologyprojects.co.uk E-mail: enquiries@coretechnologyprojects.co.uk KLmagazine April 2020
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ABOVE: Local artist Sue Heaser, who’s edited Richard Cobbold’s beautiful and fascinating book Features of Wortham
An intimate portrait of a vanished world It was a lovingly-detailed and beautifully-painted gift for his wife, but Richard Cobbold’s fascinating account of daily life in the village of Wortham in 1860 is now reaching a much wider audience
I
n 1860, the rector of Wortham decided to make a very special gift for his wife Mary - a book detailing the life of the village he was the rector of for 50 years, filling it with handwritten stories about some of its more colourful characters - together with some 120 watercolour paintings of its homes, inns and other buildings. “What tales might be told in my village!” wrote Richard Cobbold. “Perhaps some may even tell tales of me!” It may have taken rather longer than he expected, but 160 years later people are talking about him and his village thanks to the publication of Features
of Wortham, which has been edited by local artist, writer and craftswoman Sue Heaser. “He wrote beautifully and movingly about the poor people, painting and describing their homes and workshops,” she says. “He paints mansions as well, but it’s the cottages and squalor he paints that give his writing and painting such an unusual angle on the norm.” Richard Cobbold was born in 1797 at Ipswich, the youngest but one of 21 children, and arrived at Wortham after a short spell as a curate in his home town. He was a typical country parson of the time, riding across the countryside with a pack of hounds and
perfecting his skills with his fishing rods and shotguns. He was also a keen writer, producing The Biography of a Victorian Village and Parson and People: Richard
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“He wrote beautifully about the poor people, painting and describing their homes and workshops” Cobbold’s Wortham and he even wrote a novel in 1845 called The History of Margaret Catchpole - loosely based on his father’s romantic interest in a village girl who worked for the family as a domestic servant and was later convicted of stealing a horse eventually escaping from prison and ending her days in an Australian penal colony. You’d have thought that such adventures were a long way from a sleepy 19th-century village, but Cobbold had a great eye for detail and the charming book he produced for his wife (and which is now in possession of the Suffolk Record Office) is an extraordinary and vibrant portrait of a specific point in time. Take, for example, the story of Judy Fuller, who lost her favourite daughter when the young girl went to fetch some water. “She was stooping to dip her pail into the pond, was seized with a swimming in the head, fell in, and was drowned,” wrote Cobbold. “Judy [her mother] kept to her and it was a beautiful sight to behold the tender love of her husband who waited upon her at all times.” Incredibly, the bereaved mother stayed in bed for the next 12 years, before getting up and carrying on with normal life as if nothing had happened. Another well-related mishap concerned John Bush of Farrow’s Cottages, who’d actually fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Returning home from paying his rent and enjoying a glass (or four) of an unspecified drink, he sat on the edge of a well, overbalanced, and fell down the 60ft hole. “Wonderful to narrate, he took no hurt,” wrote Cobbold. “He was cured of drinking by a cold water bath. His own daughter heard the rattle of the chain and woke her husband, saying somebody had tumbled down the well
Richard Cobbold
ABOVE: Originally produced as a gift for his wife in 1860, Richard Cobbold’s chronicle of his home village contains over 100 detailed watercolours and unique glimpses into the lives of its residents
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ABOVE: One of the most interesting Sue Heaser’s book is her careful matching of modernday maps with Richard Cobbold’s original paintings of Wortham and its buildings
- and so was the means of saving her father.” Happily, John Bush lived until he was 81 - although it seems he never spoke much about the famous battle in which he’d taken part. Cobbold himself played a role in one of these rural scenes, when a certain Mrs Nichols was faced with the killor-cure prospect of having her chest opened to cure her problem of “water on the chest.” Cobbold advised the woman not to
take the risk, and gave her a pint of gin - which she drank in two mouthfuls. “The water was expelled from the chest and she recovered,” Cobbold wrote rather laconically. “She is alive now, but the poor woman never came to church. She told me she dare not - that she had seen a vision which warned her not to go.” It seems there was never a dull moment in 19th-century Wortham. Cobbold writes of the demise of one Soldier Smith of Union Lane Cottages, who “was an old pensioner and his end was very remarkable.” It seems the man (whether or not he also fought at Waterloo is unknown) sat down in his wheelbarrow one day and suddenly died, but no one paid much attention to the fact for a while - it appears that his odd seating arrangements were nothing unusual. “A pedlar’s dog was the first to discover his death and would not leave him,” wrote Cobbold, “until some persons were attracted to the spot by the singular conduct of the hound who, the moment they came up, ran home after his master to Diss.” From the man who ran the village post office (who would speak for hours on any given topic) to the lady who taught local children to read and write despite being
unable to do either herself, Cobbold assembled a remarkable - and unique record of village life. He died a week after his wife in January 1877 (both are buried in the churchyard at Wortham) but the village he loved so well has now been brought back to life thanks to the work of Sue Heaser. “One of the strengths of the book is that I’ve identified every building in the paintings, which has never been done before,” she says. “Using tithe maps and 19th-century OS maps and clues in the paintings, I’ve nailed every home, every pub, every windmill and every workshop - from the blacksmith to the rat catcher.” Features of Wortham is a fascinating look at a rural world long vanished but one that is in many respects much like our own.
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Lettingbetter Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning landlords and tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director
Damien Simone
Quickfact Tenants cannot legally withhold rent in respect of repairs unless they follow the rules of Set Off.
Homes not hotels
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n this month’s article we are going to be discussing repairs for rented properties during a tenancy and defining what timescales are considered reasonable for maintenance to be completed within. Although a property’s rental value is typically more than a tenant would have to remit in monthly mortgage payments for the equivalent property one of the most significant financial advantages is that the property has to be maintained for them. This means that tenants do not experience the financial concern of a £2,000 plus invoice for a new boiler when they can least afford it, unlike landlords who have a very limited amount of time to resolve the situation and bear the cost accordingly. Rental properties are not hotels or holiday accommodation and there is a growing misconception amongst tenants about how quickly repairs should be carried out. Google has its part to play in this with a large amount of mis-information available which is often absorbed by tenants who
believe it to be true and then become frustrated when it’s not possible to successfully apply it. One such instance that we handled last month was that of a tenant inaccurately stating that the central heating boiler in their rented property needed to be replaced within 24 hours or the landlord was in breach of both the tenancy terms and the statutory repairing obligations of The landlord & Tenant Act. They even kindly provided us with a screen-shot of the website page quoting this bogus authority. Whilst not unsympathetic with the restrictive nature of having to temporarily use electric heaters and the significant inconvenience of limited hot water, all except one company that we contacted to quote for the replacement could not carry out the work for 8 days. This by virtue means that 8 days is a reasonable timescale for the repair to be carried out at this time and anything longer can be considered unreasonable. The landlord optioned the one contractor that could perform the work in half of the above time scale.
Edmonton Estates Ltd, Nelson House, Bergen Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2DE 01553 660615 • www.edmontonestates.co.uk • info@edmontonestates.co.uk
Unfortunately, this was not to the tenant’s satisfaction who was dissatisfied by this explanation and complained to the Housing Standards Department of the local council. I must say that we received excellent support from the Housing Standards Team regarding this matter as after verifying our timescales instead of pressuring our firm or the landlord they instead tried to explain to the tenant who was complaining to them repeatedly that their expectations were unrealistic. Systems for heating and hot water are always going to be of the highest priority but the reality of how quickly something can be repaired is relative to the availability of parts and labour as much as it is to the necessity of the function which it performs in the property.
Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists
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Kayleigh Wilson ACCA CTA
Taxing times for owners looking to sell An update from Stephenson Smart tax specialist Kayleigh Wilson ACCA CTA on changes that may affect you and your residential property...
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f you’re selling your main (or only) residence or currently letting your property, changes to final period exemption, letting relief and new compliance requirements mean that you may now be subject to paying an increase in capital gains tax - sooner rather than later.
selling their original home. However, from this month (April 2020) the final period will be cut to nine months - so if you do buy a new property before selling the old one, it will be important to sell within nine months to avoid a possible capital gains tax bill.
FINAL PERIOD EXEMPTION
Letting relief used to offer up to £40,000 (£80,000 for a couple who jointly own the property) for letting part (or all) of the property which is their main residence - or was their main residence at some point during their period of ownership. But under new rules, letting relief will only be available when people share occupation with a tenant. Only the period during which
Historically, final period exemption meant that you were not usually liable for capital gains tax for the last 18 months of ownership - provided you lived in the property as your main residence at some point during your period of ownership. This gave protection for people moving to a new main residence while having difficulty
LETTING RELIEF
both the owner and tenant occupy the residence will qualify for letting relief. Lettings that occurred before 6th April 2020 (which would have qualified for letting relief under the old rules) will now become taxable under the new rules only.
COMPLIANCE Any UK resident disposing of residential property from 6th April 2020 must now file a capital gains tax return and pay an estimate of the capital gains tax due within 30 days of completion. If the gain is covered by principal private residence relief, no return is due - but the calculation to confirm this will need to be done within 30 days of the sale. Failure to do so could result in a penalty being issued. Many UK residents could be caught out by these major changes, and the impact on your tax liability in relation to property transactions could be vast. Now, more than ever, it would be prudent to discuss these potential tax implications in advance with one of our highly-qualified specialists. For peace of mind and further advice, please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.
KING’S LYNN 01553 774104 FAKENHAM 01328 863318 WISBECH 01945 463383 MARCH 01354 653026 DOWNHAM MARKET 01366 384121 GREAT YARMOUTH 01493 382500 www.stephenson-smart.com
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The new sensory garden at the NNAB’s Thomas Tawell House care home
The group of visually-impaired people fr Nor folk about to climb the O2 in Lon om don
Visually-impaired Ringstead man Peter Gyton tackles the Go Ape treetop course
IMAGES: Newman Associates PR ABOVE: The Vision Norfolk team in King’s Lynn, who are using the latest technology to help the visually impaired
A new name for a 200-year-old charity The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind supports the 32,000 people in Norfolk with some form of visual impairment and is now moving forward and embracing technology as Vision Norfolk
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he Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind has had many name changes in its 200-plus years of history, and last year - as the west Norfolk centre settled into its new premises at Dundee Court on the North Lynn Trading Estate - staff began familiarising themselves with another new brand name. Vision Norfolk has a fresh modern ring to it, and it’s already being hailed as a success The change in name came about after consultation with staff, volunteers and service users made it apparent there was a need to bring the association’s profile into the 21st
century. It was recorded that many visually-impaired people, especially those newly diagnosed with sight loss, were concerned about being referred to as ‘blind’ - mainly because they don’t regard themselves as having a disability. The history of the association makes for fascinating reading, describing the improvements that have been made throughout the decades. Furthermore, it evidences the importance of understanding that the needs of those with vision impairment have to be addressed in a technological age. When Thomas Tawell founded the association in Norwich in 1805, it was to bring public awareness to the
assistance needed by people with this disability. It would be another 24 years before Charles Barbier invented a tool for ‘night writing’, a unique system of writing with dots devised for Napoleon’s soldiers to communicate safely at night. The idea later - thanks to the work of Louis Braille (who lost his sight in a childhood accident) - became the basis for the famous tactile alphabet named after him. The association received its first name change 16 years after its foundation to become the unfortunately-titled Asylum and School for the Blind. It was not until after the First World War that the government introduced
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legislation that made it a duty for local authorities to keep a register of blind and partially-sighted people and to promote their welfare. During the 1920s-30s, a movement was started to legalise the use of the white cane in traffic and this became recognised internationally. Recognising the founder of the Association, the care home Thomas Tawell House, specialising in support for people with sight loss, was opened in Norwich by Princess Alexandra in 1970. A further name change came in 1988, and the charity was known as the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind for the next 32 years. Last year, with an estimated 35,000 people in Norfolk living with some form of sight impairment, it was time to bring it up to date. Today’s technology comes in the form of ‘bump-ons’ - a name taken from the little bumps that are used to symbolize heat degrees on a cooker or microwave or denote the cycle on a washing machine. All are designed to assist in developing independent lives for the visually impaired. Talking appliances are now being introduced, with Amazon’s Alexa being
ABOVE: Visually-impaired yoga teacher Angelique Weatherby leads a class at Vision Norfolk
linked to heating, lighting and music controls, and there are smartphone and computer apps that define colour. Forever moving forward with technology, Volunteer Engagement Co-ordinator Penny Parker is happy to talk about Vision Norfolk’s most recent innovation. “Funding by the National Lottery’s Community Fund has enabled us to develop an app to support partially sighted people across the county, and we anticipate this will improve their lives by helping them to develop more independence,” she says. “Basically, it’s ABOVE: The Dereham book club for visually-impaired people meets designed to at the town’s library BELOW: A group of visually-impaired Norwich City fans from Vision Norfolk testing the dugout at Carrow Road
direct and coordinate calls between individuals requiring assistance and volunteers by circumventing the centre office. After registration, there will be a direct link between volunteers and people with sight loss. So if someone requires assistance, for whatever reason, it can be communicated directly to a local volunteer.” Talking to Penny is like experiencing a breath of fresh air as she tells her own story, demonstrating how important the first-hand understanding between coordinator and person suffering sight loss is in creating a feeling of wellbeing. “I developed the genetic disorder retinitis pigmentosa and started to lose my sight about 24 years ago,” she says. “I was introduced to the charity and kept in touch with them over the years. I jumped at this chance to develop a local base of volunteers and raise awareness to the support we can give to anyone suffering vision loss.” In her role as volunteer, Penny laughs away the feelings of doubt she experienced when on the threshold of taking a skydive to raise funds for Vision Norfolk. “It was one of those times when I needed to be the first to jump,” she says, “before I lost my nerve!” Undaunted, Penny went on to perform a bungee jump. “But that initial fear doesn’t get any less,” she says. The Vision Norfolk website at www.visionnorfolk.org.uk will be up and running soon, but in the meantime you can stay up to date on Facebook or contact the charity on 01603 573000
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Reliable transport when it really matters Whether you’re meeting a train or meeting a client, Griff Transport Solutions will get you there on time and in comfort
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riff Transport Solutions have been providing efficient and cost-effective transport to the people of west Norfolk for ten years – they bring this experience, and their dedication to exceptional customer service, to their corporate and train transport services.
CORPORATE TRANSPORT “Having a corporate transport company you can call on in the knowledge that they are totally reliable is crucial in an ever-changing business world – and that is exactly what we are,” says Simon Griffiths, the founder of the company. “We take the stress away from arranging business travel: whether you need to transport a group of shareholders between meetings or get an employee to a site, you can leave it all to us. Is your contract with a specific transport provider coming to an end? Get in touch today and we can confidently say we could beat their quote!”
Griff Transport Solutions can create a bespoke package to meet every detail of your requirements, ranging from specific pickup requests to multiple fleet vehicles arriving together. A member of the team will take you through the whole booking process; their large fleet ensures they can be extremely flexible, allowing for block bookings and changing meeting start and finish times. The fleet is made up of a range of corporate and branded vehicles which have been handselected for their professional look and luxurious feel, and the team of drivers are all friendly, professional and very familiar with the local area.
TRAIN STATION TRANSPORT
could be better than getting off the train knowing that one of Griff Transport Solutions’ spacious and comfortable vehicles is awaiting your arrival, so you can just hop in and be taken home? “We use train tracking apps so if there are any delays so we can make sure we meet you or your clients on time,” adds Simon. “We have a straightforward, no-hassle booking process that takes just minutes, leaving you to get on with your day to day – and we’ll gladly do our best to accommodate a lastminute booking.” Contact Griff Transport Solutions today to discover how they could make your business and leisure travel easier.
“We know our customers need a reliable service that will get them to the train station on time, and we are good at that,” says Simon. “Whether you’re travelling by train to an important meeting or off for a pleasurable day out, you need a stress-free start.” And at the end of a long day, what
TEXT for quote or booking: 07876366830
info@griffnorfolkltd.co.uk www.griffnorfolk.co.uk
01553 970 004
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A single answer to a world of aches and pains Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy has been helping dozens of people for over six years...
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t Free Your Body Therapy in the centre of King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly continues to use amazing new techniques to free people across west Norfolk from a life of aches and pains - and there’s no minimum requirement for treatment. These are people of all ages, from all backgrounds, and from all walks of life, and they have everything from acute neck and shoulder pain to chronic knee pain and severe limits on their mobility. Whether they put it down to old ice skating accidents, over-enthusiastic sporting activities or simply the effects of ‘old age’ these people have one thing in common - they’ve been suffering for far too long. They’ve seen doctors, they’ve seen physiotherapists; they’ve visited chiropractors and osteopaths; they’ve taken prescribed medication, they’ve had scans, and some have tried hypnosis. These are very different people with
very different problems, but they deliver the same verdict - they enjoyed virtually immediate results from their first visit to Free Your Body Therapy, being freed of many months (and in many cases several years) of pain in only a few minutes. Terry Connolly is one of the very few people in the entire world currently offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment. Moreover, he combines that with Anatomy in Motion gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems that helps with the repair and rehabilitation of past injuries and the relief of pain. Despite what his clients may think, there’s no mystical secrets or hidden magic to Terry’s treatment – he simply looks at the body and the causes of chronic pain in a completely different way. “Far too many people (including some professionals) tend to forget that the body is a complete system
that’s been designed to work as a complete system,” says Terry. “In many cases, an injury in one area will cause associated muscles and nerves to overwork, compensating for the damage - which means that lingering pain in your shoulder may actually be the result of an old knee injury you’ve probably forgotten about!” If you’re interested in freeing yourself (at last) from a life of chronic aches and pain, contact Terry today and book an appointment with Free Your Body Therapy. Like everyone we’ve featured over the years, you’ll find the instant and longlasting results hard to believe.
Old Dairy Units, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 277520 www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk
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How ‘Lucy’s Law’ offers our pets a bright future... Discover how the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk is helping safeguard the health and well-being of our favourite pets with their recently-launched PetCheck initiative
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his month new legislation comes into force to put an end to puppy and kitten farming. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk tells us more about ‘Lucy’s Law’ and their PetCheck campaign to ensure people purchase only healthy and responsibly-bred pets. In May 2019, Government passed new legislation, known as the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, which limits the sale of puppies and kittens as pets in England. The law, which comes into force
from 6th April 2020, is named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who died in 2016 after being subjected to terrible conditions on a Welsh puppy farm. Dogs like Lucy are often kept by unscrupulous breeders to produce multiple litters of puppies. The puppies are then taken from their mothers at just a few weeks’ old and advertised online or sold in pet shops. This practice causes lifelong socialisation issues for the puppy or kitten, as well as a number of preventable diseases. New owners can then experience difficulties settling the puppy or kitten in and may be faced with extortionate
vet bills that could have been avoided. The new legislation effectively puts a ban on third party sales of puppies or kittens less than six months old and ensures that puppies and kittens are born and reared in a safe environment, with their mother, and sold from their birthplace. The legislations will also deter puppy smugglers who abuse the Pet Travel Scheme to bring in underage puppies into the UK to sell for financial gain. To help people who may be thinking of getting a puppy or kitten the borough council has produced an online guide for breeders and potential pet owners. All breeders with
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licences in the area can be viewed on the website. There is also information about what to check and what questions to ask when buying your furry companion. Marie Malt, senior licensing officer at the borough council, said: “Lucy’s Law will be introduced this month. It protects young dogs and cats by stopping commercial dealers and pet shops from selling puppies or kittens unless they have bred them themselves. It means anyone buying a pet should be dealing directly with a licensed breeder and can ask to see the puppy or kitten’s mother. “Our online guide to buying a pet provides some great tips for checking that your new puppy or kitten has had the best start to their life. We have also provided a list of local licensed breeders, so people can check their credentials. “I urge people to look at our website west-norfolk.gov.uk/buyingapet for more details before they commit to buying a new puppy or kitten.” The website encourages people to really think about whether owning a puppy or kitten is right for their lifestyle and also suggests trying a rehoming centre first for pets who have yet to find their new forever home.
WHO WAS LUCY? Lucy was a beautiful and brave King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. When Lucy was rescued from a Welsh puppy farm in 2013, she was suffering. Her hips had fused together, she had a curved spine, bald patches and suffering from epilepsy after years of mistreatment. She has been kept in a cage most of her life and was no longer able
BUYING A PUPPY
to have puppies. She was rehomed by Lisa Garner, who together with vet Marc Abraham, campaigned for tirelessly for changes in the law to protect other dogs being subjected to such appalling conditions. Lucy settled into her new home and went on to enjoy a full, although rather short, life filled with happiness. She died three years later in 2016.
From October 2018 it became a requirement that a business or individual be licensed if they’re breeding more than three litters of puppies in a year or one litter or more if they meet the business test as set out by the regulations. If you’re buying from a licensed breeder their licence number should be displayed on any advert, webpage or Facebook page, and the licence should be on display at the premises. Always visit the breeder, and never agree to meet them elsewhere. View the puppy interacting with its mother and litter mates. If possible ask to see the father as well. The puppy must be microchipped before it is sold. Check the database is updated with your details, either at point of sale or as soon as possible after. Ask if the puppy has been socialised with people, their own species and other animals - and whether it has been exposed to noises and activities it’s likely to experience when you take it home. Ask to see the parents’ histories and any health test results. Certain health conditions are more common in certain breeds; these can be tested against before the parents are bred from. Always ask for a copy of the puppy’s medical records, including vaccination certificates and records of worming and flea treatment. Note that puppies cannot be sold or permanently separated from their mother before eight weeks of age. For peace of mind, ask the licence holder if they provide a puppy contract. You should of course do your own research on what breed of dog is best suited to your lifestyle. Be aware of the ongoing commitments buying a puppy entails. A good breeder will provide you with plenty of advice, and be able to answer any questions you may have about the breed. Similar advice is available online if you are considering buying a kitten.
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Time for a spring clean? It’s time for Xtraclean... There’s no better time to treat your stone and tiled floors to the professional services of Xtraclean and give them a ‘good as new’ look
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or most of the year we tend to take our floors for granted, walking all over them and only giving them a cursory brush or mop once in a while. There comes a time, however, when that’s simply not good enough. Though they look fantastic when they’re first laid, hard floors, ceramic tiles and natural stone all have a tendency to attract dust and debris, and everyday foot traffic from friends, family and pets only serves to work it into the floor’s contours and grout lines. That’s when you need to call on the amazing cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean. The good news is that all it takes to bring your floors back to their very best and give them an ‘as new’ look (in less than a day!) is a phone call to Xtraclean.
“If your stone or tiled floor has been fitted professionally it deserves an equally expert approach to cleaning,” says Martin. “For over 25 years we’ve been restoring floors all over Norfolk – using the most advanced and powerful cleaning system currently available in the UK.” Xtraclean’s highly skilled, trained and experienced technicians offer a reliable, fully-insured and friendly service (they’ll even move your furniture for you!) and following an initial survey and test of your floor they’ll get to work – breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. “Our state-of-the-art turbo ‘clean and capture’ system pressure cleans the floor using its own water supply,” says Martin, “and it even captures all the waste in the process – means you have with no mess and no fuss.” Moreover, Xtraclean doesn’t use
harmful chemicals or procedures such as grinding and resurfacing, which can actually damage the floor – and the results are truly spectacular. “These aren’t the easiest surfaces in the world to clean,” says Martin, “but our powerful system and professionalgrade products can bring even heavily-soiled floors back to their very best. And we can usually do it all in a single visit!” And Xtraclean can help you ‘lock in’ those good looks and keep them for even longer, thanks to a professional range of specialist sealing products. “To be honest, you have to see the results to believe them,” says Martin. “Just ask our customers – they can hardly believe it’s the same floor!” Get your floors back to their best today by contacting Xtraclean using the details below for extra-professional cleaning and an extra-special service.
Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk KLmagazine April 2020
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West Norfolk: Then & Now
THE CHANGING HIGH STREET... Many thanks to Mrs Cattermole of Downham Market for this charming postcard (top) of the High Street in King’s Lynn, and she’s wondering when the photograph was taken - and is also interested in what the ‘Blind and
Crippled Girls’ Floral Exhibition’ was all about. The former is easier to answer, because the tailors J Crook & Son opened their King’s Lynn branch in 1927 (it was actually the 55th branch in the country) and closed it six years later. The building had originally been home to local bookseller John Thew in the 19th century (he also published the
Lynn Advertiser) and before then it had been the home of Margaret Cooper, who was described as a “tea dealer.” The building opposite, however, has never really changed - it’s always been a central part of the town’s social life (and one of its favourite locations for eating and drinking) and has recently been given a modern makeover as The Wenn’s Chop & Ale House.
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Kim Cross SOLICITOR
How is the Good Work Plan going to affect you? As the government unveils more changes to employment law, Kim Cross of Fraser Dawbarns LLP helps you make sense of the new regulations...
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o accommodate the rise of the ‘gig’ economy, the use of zero-hours contracts, the growth of part-time working and the employment status of contractors working with a single employer, the government has launched “one of the biggest shake-ups of employment law in a generation” (the ‘Good Work Plan’) - and a number of new measures come into force on 6th April 2020. Up until now employers have had to provide a written statement of particulars of employment to all employees working for a month or more within two months of the start of their employment. This will now have to be given to ALL workers as well as employees, and not only must it be given on (or before) day one, it will now have to include: - the days of the week on which the
employee is expected to work - whether these days are variable and how any variations will be determined - the benefits the employer will provide - the duration of the probationary period and the conditions for passing - details of training entitlement and mandatory training Holiday pay is also affected. Currently, the holiday pay of workers with irregular hours is calculated by averaging the hours worked over the previous 12 weeks. The new legislation will increase the period over which holiday pay is calculated to 52 weeks. The idea behind this is to make the system fairer for seasonal workers and others whose working hours fluctuate over the course of a year. There will also be increased protection for agency workers. At the moment, certain distinctions exist which can mean an agency worker is not paid the same as a permanent employee. This situation will be abolished in April 2020, and comparable rates of pay will
then apply to all agency workers after 12 weeks of employment. There are more changes planned for the future, although they don’t have an implementation date at the moment. These include an extension of the ‘break of service’ period from one week to four, and giving all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service the right to request a stable contract of employment. Whether you’re an employer or an employee it’s very important to understand how these new employment regulations will affect you. The employment law team at Fraser Dawbarns have many years’ experience helping both employers and employees and can help you navigate the changes that the Good Work Plan will bring not just this month, but well into the future. Contact Fraser Dawbarns for help and advice on employment law or any other legal issue.
21 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com
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ABOVE: Elaborate beards and carefully-groomed facial hair are in the spotlight this month, as Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum (opposite) teams up with True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum
At the cutting edge of local social history Highlighting a collaborative project between True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum and Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum...
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or anyone who hasn’t yet had the opportunity to visit Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum (located on the Hardwick Narrows Industrial Estate in King’s Lynn) it’s well worth the trek. The museum is the passionate project of Captain Fawcett Ltd founder Richie Finney and can only be described as like walking onto a film set. Several film sets, in fact. The visitor is immersed as soon as they walk through the door, and such is the attention to detail that you half expect Sweeney Todd to spring from behind one of the Victorian barber chairs at any moment. One of the great things about social history is just how compelling it is. The collection is incredibly well presented with a veritable armoury of razors, a floor-to-ceiling wall of shaving mugs, and even a motorbike. The story behind the latter is a charitable project called
BarbersRide - the invention of a group of passionate barber and motorcycle enthusiasts - and featured a five-day UK road trip that took in some of the UK’s most famous barbering destinations: Bath, Aylesbury, Norwich, Sheffield and Lytham St Annes. This was followed by evening seminars showcasing the skills of those truly proficient in the tonsorial arts. An incredible £18,000 was raised for Make A Wish UK, which grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The reader might be surprised that any help is needed, but Captain Fawcett Ltd recently approached True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum in
King’s Lynn for curatorial advice, and the staff at the community museum suggested a collaboration. The first step was to visit the Marvellous Barbershop Museum and see the collection in situ to ascertain the scale of the task. Having worked
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“You half expect Sweeney Todd to spring from behind one of the Victorian barber chairs at any moment...” at True’s Yard for over seven years, Museum Manager Lindsey Bavin is never one to shy away from a challenge, but even she admits this was going to be a huge project! “The winter months tend to be a little quieter at True’s Yard, so I was able to spare some time, and my Deputy Manager Rebecca Rees and I popped over one evening to see the collection,” she says. “It was much larger than we originally expected, so we had to limit our assistance to 16 sessions so it didn’t impact on our True’s Yard projects.” One of the first tasks was to make some ordered sense of the museum. “It is a beautifully presented collection but there was no catalogue or interpretation for visitors,” says Lindsey. “People needs some background in order to gain understanding of the context of a collection. As a shaving history novice myself, I had the perspective of someone just walking in off the street - and that was a very useful starting point.”
In isolation, the cataloguing of a single item is quite simple, but with several thousand items all needing to be recorded, labelled and interpreted within a limited timescale it was a project enough to make many museum curators want to have a lie down in a darkened room. But Lindsey was undaunted. “It’s really fascinating getting to grips with a different collection, especially one entirely new to me,” she says. “There are some incredible gems here, such a Japanese Henkotsu razor crafted in the 1800s that utilises the same method as making samurai swords.” Due to the sheer size of the project, plenty more work is needed to be done beyond the initial 16 sessions, and Captain Fawcett Ltd is keen to gather a hardy band of volunteers to continue working with the collection researching, cataloguing, conducting guided tours, serving teas and coffees, and implementing light conservation techniques. Previous experience is useful but not
ABOVE: Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum is a fascinating trip down memory lane and includes some extremely rare razors and shaving memorabilia
necessary as training will be given, and beards are certainly not an essential requirement! For anyone interested in volunteering, there’ll be an introductory session run by Lindsey on 12th May at 10am at Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum. One fascinating offshoot of this project is a brand new temporary exhibition at True’s Yard called Fantastic Beards and Where to Find Them. Working with the collection at Captain Fawcett’s inspired Lindsey and the team at True’s Yard to take a closer look at the fabulous facial hair in their own archives, and it turned out that over the years fishermen have had some very impressive beards. This photographic exhibition is testament to that tradition and there are a host of impressive chin curtains, mutton chops and moustaches on display. The exhibition runs at True’s Yard until Saturday 25th April. If you’re interested in booking a visit or volunteering at Captain Fawcett’s Marvellous Barbershop Museum, please contact 01553 833001 or email info@captainfawcett.com for further details. To learn more about True’s Yard, please contact 01553 770479 or email info@truesyard.co.uk.
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Insuranceinsights Our monthly look at insurance issues for you and your family with the experts at Adrian Flux...
Getting your ride Bikesure ready for the new season It’s been a long hard winter but now it’s time to brush off the cobwebs and get yourself and your motorbike ready for the new biking season.
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ost bikers will have their own checklist for prepping the bike when it comes out of hibernation. Just in case you don’t, the Bikesure team have come up with their advice to help keep you running like a dream throughout the new biking season. TYRES There’s nothing more deflating than a flat. Tyres lose pressure when bikes are left to stand, especially during particularly cold winter periods. Riding with low pressure is dangerous because handling will deteriorate. Check the pressure in both tyres and at the same time check for cracks in the sidewall. Inspect the tread too. Worn tyres also affect the handling so if they are not up to the job of keeping you safe and stable on the road, get them replaced. BRAKES Inspect brake pads and check for leaks and cracks along the brake lines. Top up brake fluid and test both brakes individually. If in doubt, get a
professional to examine them. BATTERY If you’ve had the battery on a trickle charge over the winter it should be in good shape, but if you haven’t, give it the once over. If the battery hasn’t got enough oomph to start the engine, or it discharges quickly, replace it. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and that all cables are secure. OIL & FLUIDS Check the oil, petrol, brake fluid, coolant and any hydraulic fluids. Top up if necessary or, if there is dirt in them or they have broken down and discoloured during the winter, drain and replace them. It’s a good time to replace your oil filter too. ELECTRICS Test your headlamp, indicators, brake lights and horn. Replace bulbs if necessary and keep a spare set. BIKE GEAR If you’ve not worn your biking gear since the autumn don’t expect those leathers to fit. Try them on before your first ride out and replace them if
necessary. Your gloves, boots and helmet will also wear, so think about replacing them for the new biking season. While you’re at it check your breakdown kit is up to scratch. Even with these checks, you never know when you may need it. STAY SAFE Remember, your safety should be your #No1 priority. You may not have ridden for a few months so remember to take it steady, be smooth on accelerating and braking and take time to get a feel for the bike and the conditions. STAY LEGAL Before getting back out there, ensure you have a valid MOT, road tax and adequate insurance. Bikesure has been offering valuefor-money scooter and motorcycle insurance you can trust for 30 years. It is part of the King’s Lynn-based Adrian Flux insurance services group and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Visit www.bikesure.co.uk/ to find out more, or call 01553 400399 for a quote.
TEL: 01553 400399 | EMAIL: contact-us@adrianflux.co.uk WEB: www.adrianflux.co.uk
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One of the best kind of agreeable men, quite fat and easy, and of universal knowledge...
ABOVE: HMS Centurion (on the left) captures the Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Covadonga during the War of Jenkin’s Ear in 1739 – a rare diplomatic failure in the career of Benjamin Keene (opposite)
On His Majesty’s not-so secret service... Today’s European politics have nothing on life in the 18th century, when international trade deals were settled by war and conquest. Benjamin Keene of King’s Lynn preferred the diplomatic route.
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he stars must have been wonderfully aligned when Benjamin Keene was born in 1697. His family were rich, powerful and very wellconnected merchants in the thriving and important port town of King’s Lynn. It no doubt helped that the family knew their neighbour well, especially as he was the country’s Prime Minister. Sir Robert Walpole was MP for Lynn for 40 years (between 1702-42) and royal favour made him Britain’s first Prime Minister in the early 1720s. Such a remarkable rise in national politics benefited his Norfolk supporters, and the talents of young Benjamin Keene caught Walpole’s eye, who was impressed by the boy’s remarkable abilities, especially in
languages. Walpole was in the process of building a network of loyal men from west Norfolk to serve as his eyes and ears throughout Europe – including his brother Horatio, who served as ambassador to the Netherlands and then Paris. Benjamin was the eldest son of Charles Keene, who’d been mayor of King’s Lynn in 1714. His mother was Susan Rolfe of Heacham, who came from a rich and powerful landowning family. Young Ben was educated at the grammar school in the town and then the universities of Cambridge and Leyden in Holland. The Keene family household and commercial premises were located in what is now Old School Court in the town’s King Street. From the Glorious Revolution of
1688, when William and Mary were invited to claim the British throne until the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Britain rose to a dominant position among European trading empires and became the first nation to industrialise. It needed its colonies in America and the West Indies to supply a huge variety of goods for a rapidlygrowing population supported by the industrialisation of food production – and it needed those very same colonies as customers for its manufactured goods. British trade and colonisation proceeded apace. In 1700, most foreign commerce (by volume and value) was conducted with Europe, but during the 18th century British overseas trade became ‘Americanised’ – by 1800, North
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America and the West Indies received 57% of British exports and supplied 32% per cent of the country’s imports. In 1688 England and Wales had a population of only five million but within 150 years that had almost trebled to 12 million. Spain, France and Holland were also keen to colonise the rest of the world, and the Spanish already had a strong foothold in South America. There was always tension, and a continuing threat of a European war with the French and Spanish joining forces against Britain to grab the lucrative American markets. Diplomacy was needed to keep the Spanish on Britain’s side (or at least not on anyone else’s) and the man for the job was Benjamin Keene. Walpole wanted his man in place because Keene’s advice on the quality of wine was essential to the Lynn merchants whose corn ships returned to the Wash with valuable cargoes of the drink. It may seem a trivial matter in the world of international diplomacy – until you understand that Robert Walpole was in the habit of ordering 1,000 bottles of Portuguese wine at a time from Lynn merchants for Houghton Hall. At the very least, it had to be drinkable. Benjamin Keene was the British ambassador to Madrid twice (1729-39 and 1748-57), carrying out Walpole’s foreign policy of maintaining peace and promoting Britain’s trade. Unfortunately, his efforts to avoid Anglo-Spanish conflict in the Americas failed in 1739 with the outbreak of the War of Jenkin’s Ear – and Keene had to come back home. The seeds of the oddly-named conflict began with the unfortunate Captain Robert Jenkins having his ear sliced off following the boarding of his vessel by Spanish coastguards in 1731, eight years before the war began. Popular response to the incident was tepid until several years later, when opposition politicians and the British South Sea Company whipped up outrage against Spain – believing that a victorious war would improve Britain’s trading opportunities in the colonies. Even pacifist Robert Walpole couldn’t resist the clamour.
ABOVE: A map of Lisbon (looking remarkably like King’s Lynn) in the 18th century and (bottom) the ruins of the fortress at Portobelo, captured by the British during the War of Jenkins’ Ear. Below is the monument to Benjamin Keene in St. Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn
The ensuing war lasted almost a decade, and cost some 25,000 lives and the loss of almost 600 ships – and the trade position was just the same as it had been before it started, although a commission was duly formed to talk about it. During this time, Keene returned to sit in Parliament before gladly resuming his career as a diplomat, living in Lisbon during his second posting while also being the Spanish consul. He would have been familiar with the city, as along with Malaga, Oporto and Cadiz it was one of the Spanish and Portugese ports most frequented by merchants from King’s Lynn. At this time, Keene played an important role in ousting the antiBritish Marquis of Ensenada – and helping a new Spanish minister (of Irish descent) seize power. His efforts were rewarded by George II, who conferred the Order of the Bath on Keene –
an honour presented to him by the Spanish king in a special ceremony. When Sir Benjamin Keene (who never married) was about to retire to King’s Lynn he suddenly died in Madrid in 1757 aged just 60, and his ashes were brought back to his home town for interment. Walpole described him as “one of the best kind of agreeable men, quite fat and easy, and of universal knowledge” and a portrait of him after Louis Michel Van Loo, court painter to Philip V of Spain hangs to this day in Lynn’s town hall. A highly impressive marble urn which contains the ashes of Sir Benjamin Keene sits on a monumental square pedestal in the chancel of St. Nicholas’ Chapel, but the harbour scene isn’t of King’s Lynn – it depicts Lisbon, a fitting tribute to a local man who had such an influence on the European politics of his day.
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Kinged and Lynned: our local literary history Over the last 650 years, many books have featured King’s Lynn, but Ian Duckett asks whether the town has a distinct literary tradition...
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hy is there no essential King’s Lynn novel or major work of literature entwined with - to quote the poet, R.N. Currey - “this town that history could have made a city”? We can cite Margery Kempe and Elly Griffiths, but we have no Charles Dickens or John Fowles. One of the most successful poets of the 20th century was born in King’s
Lynn, but I haven’t been able to find a single reference to the town in the poetry of Ian Hamilton. In fact, it wasn’t until the new millennium that King’s Lynn had its first designated literary work - and it came from the Australian visitor Peter Porter in his small collection of poems A King’s Lynn Suite. Before Porter’s collection was published in 2000, the town had been presented in a range of aspects
or snapshots throughout its history, starting in 1351 with this passage from the first autobiography in English, The Book of Margery Kempe: “On a time, there happened to be a great fire in Lynne Bishop, which fire burnt up the Guild Hall of the Trinity, and in the same town, a hideous and grievous, full likely to have burnt the parish church dedicated in honour of Saint Margaret, a stately place and richly
honoured, and all the town as well, had there been no grace or miracle.” The famous writer, journalist and spy Daniel Defoe visited the town in 1724, and he was well aware of King’s Lynn’s rich maritime history. His Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain (1727) is very positive about Lynn, preferring it to both Norwich and Yarmouth: “It is a beautiful well built, and well situated town, at the mouth of the River Ouse, and has this particular attending it, which gives it a vast advantage in trade; namely, that there is the greatest extent of inland navigation here, of any port in England, London excepted. The reason whereof is this, that there are more navigable rivers empty themselves here into the sea, including the Washes which are branches of the same port, than at any other mouth of waters in England, except the Thames and the Humber.” Writing in her journal some 30 years later in 1769, the novelist, diarist and playwright Fanny Burney complained about the “perpetual round of constrained civilities to persons quite indifferent to us that is inevitable in a Country Town.”
of those long-forgotten merchants of It’s the first of only a few diary entries Georgian King’s Lynn. about her home town. She wrote Thomas Hood’s The Dream of about seeing the ships moored along Eugene Aram (1895) is about a teacher the River Great Ouse and hearing the at the grammar school in King’s Lynn “oaths & ribaldry of the sailors and who was arrested in 1758 for a murder porters” until she “fled back in the in Yorkshire. The last verse of the poem house, blushing” - and on watching reads as follows: a wedding party arrive and leave St “That very night, while gentle sleep Margaret’s Church within 15 minutes: The urchin eyelids kissed, “O heavens! How short a time does Two stern-faced men set out from it take to put an end to a Woman’s Lynn, liberty!” Through the cold and heavy mist: Given her significant literary output, And Eugene Aram walked between, King’s Lynn doesn’t feature as much With gyves upon his wrist.” in her work as one would have hoped. Shortly after that, there’s an Her last mention of the town is in a letter about going through her father’s manuscripts, and was written to her sister Esther on 25th November 1820. She wrote that the people of King’s Lynn (and Norfolk) were “not generally known, nor even described with circumstances that may create a running interest.” Yet, it was King’s Lynn which helped shape her as a writer, one who would inspire even greater literary names such as Jane Austen. Indeed, Virginia Woolf once said said that “Jane Austen should have laid a wreath upon the grave of Fanny Burney.” Certainly, in the elegant drawing rooms frequented by Burney’s (and Austen’s) characters certainly lurk the ABOVE: Margery Kempe and Daniel Defoe (top left) are just two echoes of the ghosts of the writers who’ve left a lasting impression on King’s Lynn
wind. Beside it on the quay a square-hewn stake Extracted from the past - a broken tooth Stained at the root - the crude support Of civic splendour in the years of grace. Explore now, as a freak tide might explore This town that history could have made a city…” In 1999, King’s Lynn finally got a dedicated work of literature in the form of A King’s Lynn Suite by Peter Porter. In ‘Invocation’ Porter echoes Currey with “here you may not escape from history” anonymous verse cited in H.J. Hillen’s and “the waters of the Wash pursuing History of the Borough of King’s Lynn King John into the history books,” and (1907) which has at its heart Burney’s even extends Currey’s analogy with “poor abused” town: “The fisher-fleet asleep in the docks “Ye ancient borough of King’s Lynn at low tide and the canning factories dead in trade but alive in sin accused.” famous for unmarried daughters, The work is rich in images of the mud and filthy tidal waters…” town. In ‘Lynn’s Languages’ there’s Born in South Africa but moving to “A Babel a Chaos, a Devilish din, The England with returning British troops at Merchants, the Markets and the Men the end of the Boer War, R.N Currey’s of King’s Lynn” and in ‘The Eighteenth 1951 poem about King’s Lynn presents Century’ George Vancouver (the “Dutch another side of the town’s story, the flavoured Lynn man”) is featured as the civic one praised by Defoe: first to look where Canada’s west coast “Just opposite the elegant Custom “might be twinned” in “Vancouver City, House duly kinged and Lynned.” So feasibly attributed to Wren In another poem we see “the dear We watched the racketting pile-driver Church or Moon Clock with Lynn High Man-shouldered into place Tide or flood mark,” and in ‘On the By greasy caps and coats with Cusp’ Porter implores the approaching pennant linings millenium to “be kind here in Norfolk Fluttering heraldic in the north-east when the sky is still touchable and demarcation of sea and land a negotiable presence.” Surely, this is a taste of what we have missed. More recently, Jim Kelly’s novel Death Toll (2011) features a grim discovery when bodies are exhumed at King’s Lynn’s cemetery and some of the action takes place at the now demolished Campbell’s Tower, and the hugely popular series of Ruth Galloway stories by Elly Griffiths often feature King’s Lynn. Notably, A Room Full of Bones (2012), which is set during Halloween and features a strange event at the town’s museum – the opening of a coffin containing the bones of a medieval bishop and the body of the museum’s curator lying beside it. A Room Full of Bones - and to a lesser extent The Chalk Pit (2017) and The Dark Angel (2018) ABOVE: Popular crime novelist Elly Griffiths, whose have helped to put King’s Lynn Ruth Galloway mysteries have helped put King’s Lynn on the modern literary map. on the literary map
“Why is it there’s no novel or major work of literature with King’s Lynn at its heart?”
Perhaps the town’s literature is significant in that what we essentially have in our literary canon is either outsiders like Defoe and Hood writing about King’s Lynn or authors from the town itself (like the Burneys and Hamilton) writing about other places and topics. We can perhaps revisit the question why is it there’s no novel or major work of literature with King’s Lynn at its heart - and pose another one: why was there no seminal literary work of/from/about the town until Porter’s was published in 2000? Even then not one by a son or daughter of Lynn - Porter was born in Brisbane and didn’t emigrate to the UK until he was 22. Even though it’s only a 16-page chapbook and was commissioned by (and for) the King’s Lynn Poetry Festival, it’s a wonderfully-drawn word picture that captures in snapshot some of the town’s historical and cultural past and present; is properly ‘kinged’ and ‘lynned’ and is at least an opening chapter in putting Lynn more properly and realistically on the literary map. Based on my talk Literary Lynn, Some Snapshots from History, at True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum in King’s Lynn in 2019.
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KING’S LYNN IS THE HOME OF
HELP THEIR CHILDREN SMILE. Scotty's Little Soldiers is the West Norfolk based national military charity supporting the children of our fallen heroes.
Visit the website for ideas on how to help or drop into the North Lynn office and say ‘hello!’
www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk
Michael Middleton’s
WildWestNorfolk
W
hen I was at school and someone was dared to do something that contained an element of danger, the brave (or foolhardy) volunteer would eagerly say they’d “risk it for a Swisskit.” Similarly, anyone missing, off sick or recently deceased was described as having “gone for a Burton.” The former was a luxurious (by 1970s standards at least) chocolate-covered wheat, nut and raisin bar, and the latter was a beer brewed in Burton-uponTrent - and it says a lot that these advertising slogans worked their ways into our childhood language. Four decades on, and advertising’s impact is probably even greater - recent research estimates that in a single hour children will see up to 12 advertisements for junk food alone. As our schoolday catchphrases prove (we also said “that’ll do nicely” to virtually anything, even though none of us was ever likely to see an American Express card in our lives) advertising works. Which is something that even marketing executives sometimes forget. At the start of the 1990s, the advertising team at Hoover had the bright idea of offering two return flights to America free with every purchase of £100 or more. Nothing wrong with that, you might think - except that at the time the flights cost £600. You guessed it - sales of Hoover’s cheapest-qualifying vacuum cleaner went through the roof. The factory went to seven-day working and had to employ extra staff to cope with demand.
The free flights campaign generated £30 million in sales for Hoover - but it also cost the company £50 million in flights and costly legal settlements with the majority of customers who never received their tickets. And if you thought there was no such thing as a free lunch, you should have been in San Francisco in April 1999. There, Martha Sanchez was testing a new colour printer with blow-ups of her restaurant’s logo, and quickly made a promotional sign to hang in the window of Casa Sanchez, promising anyone getting the restaurant’s logo tattooed on themselves a free lunch. For the rest of their life. She didn’t think anyone would be stupid enough to do it (the logo featured a small child in a sombrero sitting on a giant ear of sweetcorn in the shape of a rocket ship) but someone did. Then another man had his armpit tattooed, a woman had the logo indelibly placed on her derrière, and Thomas Judd (aged 31) had the design inked on his right calf. “Some people are doing it for the art,” he said. “I’m just doing it for the free beer and the tacos.” It was a terrific deal for the illustrated men (and women) - because since lunch at Casa Sanchez was around £6, they could recover the cost of their tattoo in less than two weeks. Martha Sanchez, however, realised she had a problem. If her (literally) branded customers took up the offer of enjoying her Mexican cuisine for the rest of their lives, it was going to cost the restaurant almost £7 million. The offer was swiftly amended, and
was strictly limited to only ten more people - who all had to thoroughly interviewed first. One of the most interesting things about advertising is that it reflects the culture (for better or worse) of the day. It’s hard to imagine that when Alcoa launched their revolutionary aluminium twist-off bottle cap (which we all take for granted today) they thought nothing of marketing it as being “so easy even a woman can open it!” - despite the fact that only a few years beforehand, women had been making tanks and bombs for the war effort. Similarly, Dr. Batty’s Asthma Cigarettes (not recommended for children under six) were said to be an “effective treatment for asthma, hay fever, foul breath, all diseases of the throat, head colds and bronchial irritations.” And if they didn’t work, you could always try Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic, which proudly boasted it “makes children and adults as fat as pigs.” In 1949, future US President Ronald Reagan advertised Chesterfield’s special Christmas cartons of 200 cigarettes, saying he was sending them to all his friends. “That’s the merriest Christmas any smoker can have!” he said. Which brings me back to vacuum cleaners. An advertisement from the 1960s showed a woman in her Christmas dress laying on the floor stroking her recently-unwrapped gift. “Christmas morning (and forever after)” ran the headline, “she’ll be happier with a Hoover.” Which I can absolutely guarantee isn’t true in the slightest - and I have the appliance-induced scar to prove it.
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