ISSN 2044–7965
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ISSUE 107 AUGUST 2019 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
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welcome
N
orfolk has 90 miles of coast (and an extra three miles when the tide’s out), and August is the perfect time to enjoy it at its sun-soaked best. This month, we’re celebrating all the fun of the seaside from one end of the county to the other, starting at Hunstanton, which is preparing for this year’s Soap Box Derby – an event which was first held in the town 66 years ago. There’s a preview of next month’s race (along with some other exciting forthcoming events in the town) on page 8 of this month’s magazine. Meanwhile, over at the far eastern end of Norfolk you’ll find the equally-popular holiday resort of Great Yarmouth, where the Joyland funfair is currently celebrating its 70th birthday. The iconic snails ride has been entertaining youngsters for generations, and it’s now the only place in the world where you can experience the thrills of a ‘Virginia
Reel’ roller coaster. You can read more about the development of Joyland on page 104. Between these two towns, things are a bit more sedate along the Norfolk coast. Both Holme Dunes (page 14) and Blakeney Point (page 86) are home to nationally-important nature reserves – and offer some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of the UK. There’s a lot more to our local coastline than funfairs, rare birds, stunning scenery and soapbox karts, however. It’s also home to a true Norfolk delicacy, and this month (page 80) Morston Hall’s popular Michelin star chef and television personality Galton Blackiston is helping us understand the growing reputation of samphire as a food – and recommending the best way of enjoying it. From incredible gardens to dog shows with a difference, there are so many places to explore and things to discover
this month, but you’ll be hard pressed to match the experience of the late Gloria Davey. In 1992, during a relaxing walk in mid-Norfolk, she came across an ivycovered ruin in the middle of nowhere and ventured closer. It turned out to be the church of St. Mary’s (see page 20), which had once served the long-lost village of Houghton-on-the-Hill. Thanks to the efforts of her husband Bob (who was an awarded an MBE for his work) and a team of volunteers, it’s now one of the most important churches in East Anglia. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and we’ll see you again next month.
Eric Secker EDITOR KL magazine
COVER IMAGE
meet the team
Hunstanton Beach by Ian Ward
MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn
CONTENT MANAGER
Sarah Woonton
EDITOR
ADVERTISING
GRAPHIC DESIGN
DISTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTORS
Eric Secker
Amy Phillips Lisa Barrett
Jessica Smith Pete Tonroe
PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward
Clare Bee Sylvia Steele
contact
18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk
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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66 70 KLmagazine August 2019
DIARY DATES This month’s forthcoming events A SUMMER OF FUN IN HUNSTANTON A preview of this year’s soap box derby FROM BUTLINS TO BARN OWLS The fascinating story of Holme Dunes THE RESCUE OF ST. MARY’S The rediscovery of a national treasure THE LIFE-SAVING WORK OF THE EAAA A look at our local air ambulance service FROM SCHOLAR TO MURDERER... The gruesome legacy of Eugene Aram THE GARDENS OF BANK HOUSE A rare chance to visit a very special place AUGUST IN THE GARDEN Expert advice with Wendy Warner FASHION The latest styles from our local boutiques ONE OF NORFOLK’S FINEST WINES Fresh from the South Pickenham Estate FOOD AND DRINK Recipes and recommendations
AUGUST 2019
72 77 79 80 86 92 95 98 104 110 114
THE HERON AT STOWBRIDGE Refurbished and simply irresistible FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH The Berney at Barton Bendish A TASTE OF CASTLE RISING... The new-look Black Horse Inn A NATURAL NORFOLK DELICACY What makes samphire so special? BLAKENEY NATURE RESERVE Amazing wildlife and stunning views IT’S ALL ABOUT DOGS A show for our four-legged friends YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Centre HOME INTERIORS New ideas with a touch of the exotic ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR Celebrating 70 years of Joyland THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER A profile of local author Jan Sayer MICHAEL MIDDLETON Not so bird-brained after all... 5
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LOCAL EVENTS COMING UP IN AUGUST
CIRCUS-THEMED AFTERNOON TEA Strattons will be presenting fun-filled circus-themed afternoon teas throughout August. Indulge in unlimited tea or coffee, finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and Norfolk jam, and a selection of delicious cakes made by chef Jules at £16.50pp. You can also book in for the extra-special circus-themed afternoon tea dates on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, when you can expect all the above with additional sweet and savoury treats at £21pp. Strattons brunch club is back on Monday 26th August from 10am-2pm with a bottomless brunch option. Enjoy unlimited tea or coffee, local fruit juice, a selection of pastries and a hot dish from the menu. £18pp or add a bottomless drink for £26pp. Booking essential 01760 723845 enquiries@strattonshotel.com.
WHEN: Various dates and times (please see above for details) WHERE: Strattons, 4 Ash Close, Swaffham, PE37 7NH
SOUTH WOOTTON BEER FESTIVAL The South Wootton Beer Festival is back by popular demand for its third consecutive year. There’s fun for all the family with live music, children’s entertainment and plenty of food and drink. The two-day event is renowned for its vast selection of beers and ciders. Tickets are £2 per person and can be purchased on the day, with proceeds going to The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House, which is is committed to providing outstanding care for people in the local community living with life-shortening illnesses – and for their carers, family and friends.
WHEN: Saturday 24th/Sunday 25th August (noon-11pm) WHERE: South Wootton Green (opposite the Swan pub)
WALLS OF SOUND
There’s so much to enjoy at this traditional country fair, which was established in 1981. The two-day fair includes BASC dog events as well as lurcher, terrier and ferret shows. There are also ring displays including falconry and gun dog demonstrations plus children’s rides, a craft marquee, clay shooting, catering, bars, and much more! Admission is £12 for adults, and the event is free for children under 13. For more information and details, please go to www.fenlandfairs.com
Music lovers won’t want to miss Holkham’s first-ever Walls of Sound event – a great opportunity to pack up a picnic, put on your dancing shoes, and experience some of East Anglia’s best musical talent live on stage in the beautiful setting of Holkham’s walled garden. Enjoy the open-air summer atmosphere with eight popular local bands split over two days. Acts include Wild Boys, Bear Club and Jessie’s Ghost. There will be fabulous street food to buy and a bar too. For more information and for tickets visit www.holkham.co.uk/event/walls-of-sound. Tickets: Adults 1-day ticket £30, 2-day ticket £50. Children (aged 5-16) 1-day ticket £15, 2-day ticket £25. No under 5’s.
WHEN: Sunday 25th/Monday 26th August (8.30am-5.30pm) WHERE: Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy CB25 0AF
WHEN: Friday 23rd/Saturday 24th August (4-9pm) WHERE: The walled garden, Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB
FENLAND COUNTRY FAIR
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Sunny Hunny welcomes music and soap boxes! Hunstanton’s summer of fun doesn’t come to a stop at the end of August, as that’s only the start of a packed programme of free events organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk
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ABOVE: At the launch of this year’s Hunstanton Soap Box Derby are Andrew Searle in last year’s winning vehicle (representing race sponsors Searles) and Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds. Behind them are Pat Richardson (last year’s winner of the veterans’ race) and his grandson Oliver with their Apollo 11 kart design – Oliver is old enough to compete in the main race this year.
T
he Hunstanton Heritage Gardens stretch from The Green, through to the Esplanade Gardens, along the tops of the cliffs to the ruins of St Edmund's – and have been fantastically popular this summer hosting free events including outdoor cinema screenings, open air theatre, and lots of children’s activities throughout the school holidays. And now there’s even more to look forward to in the gardens as we head into September!
SOAP BOX DERBY 2019
The Green, Hunstanton 22nd September (10am-4.30pm) Racers arrive at 10am and the first race is at 11.30am. It’s not very often you see someone driving a bath tub with a steering wheel through the streets of west Norfolk being chased by a giant racing lemon. The return of this much-loved event ensures more craziness is on its way back to Hunstanton. First held in the town in 1953, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk revived the soap box derby in 2017, and it’s got bigger and more KLmagazine August 2019
popular each year. Families can enjoy a carnival atmosphere while watching the wacky vehicles racing, and there’s also live music and a gin tent to enjoy. There’s a new, faster, course for 2019 that starts at Greevegate, has a couple of sharp turns, and ends up on Beach Terrace Road, overlooking the sea. Patrick Richardson from Hunstanton won the veteran class last year, and has created an Apollo 11 rocket with his grandson Oliver to race around the course this year. “The new course is absolutely brilliant, much faster and much more exciting,” he says. “It’ll be a great family day out. I’m hoping they suspend the 30mph speed limit round here for the day as we’re expecting to exceed that!” Equally excited is Ed Napolitano, who’ll be racing for a hat-trick of wins following his successes of 2018 and 2017. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. “I’m pleased to see the track is similar to some of the suggestions I made to the council, and it should be faster than last year.” Entries are now open to take part in the race, and there are four categories based on the age of the driver: one for 9
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10-12 year olds, one for 13-15 year olds, one for adults aged over 16, and one for the over 65s. As well as earning a place on the podium, the top three teams in each category will receive a prize. Additionally, a ‘Concourse d’Elegance’ will be awarded to the best-looking soap box karts. “The Soap Box Derby was a wonderfully successful event in 2018, and we’re delighted it’s back this year, once again supported by Searles,” says Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, deputy leader and cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health at the borough council. “The Soap Box Derby will be a wonderful day packed with free family entertainment, so even if you’re not taking part, make sure you come along and enjoy the fun.” If you fancy entering your own soap box kart, visit the website at www.westnorfolk.gov.uk/soapboxderby for more information and details of how to sign up.
ABOVE: An aerial view of The Green in Hunstanton – one of the prettiest race tracks you could hope to compete on and the perfect venue for next month’s Hunstanton Music Festival
HUNSTANTON MUSIC FESTIVAL 7th September (11am-6pm) The Green, Hunstanton Organised by the Hunstanton & District Festival of Arts in association with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, this event is being held outside for the first time and is being headlined by The Sheringham Shantymen. Local lifeboatmen and friends formed this popular shanty singing group in 1988. They support and wear the RNLI badge on their uniform, and the only organisation outside the RNLI allowed to do so. Meanwhile, The Fried Pirates will be taking to the stage with their upbeat folk and Americana tunes, having wowed the crowd at King’s Lynn’s Folk in the Town. The Melodybeats will bring some rock, country and pop to the proceedings, the King’s Morris will be dancing, and the Springwood Big Band will be belting out big tunes. Completing the line-up will be award-
winning comedian Hilarity Jen with a selection of original songs and parodies, Steve (The Songwolf) Smith’s programme of uplifting and emotive music, and the powerful and unmissable rock vocals of Martin Day. Bring your blankets, chairs – maybe even a picnic – and grab your place on The Green for a fabulous day of musical entertainment.
HUNSTANTON HERITAGE GARDENS In June 2016, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) – now the National Lottery Heritage Fund – awarded funding towards a £1.3m project to restore and enhance Hunstanton’s Heritage Gardens, focusing on Hunstanton’s seafront gardens. Green spaces were central to the vision of the town’s founder, Henry L'Estrange Styleman Le Strange, for a purpose-built Victorian resort. The gardens are still greatly appreciated by locals as well as the many visitors to the town. This project ensured the comprehensive restoration of this important seaside park. As well as restoration and repairs to the gardens, a wide-ranging programme of activities to educate, inform and inspire existing and new audiences has been developed to encourage greater and more diverse uses of these wonderful green spaces.
FURTHER AHEAD… In October, Hunstanton will be hosting a stargazing evening, murder mystery event and kids’ Halloween. For details about these and all other events in Hunstanton Heritage Gardens please visit www.westnorfolk.gov.uk/hunstantonevents
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NATURE AND INSPIRATION 1 MAY – 29 SEPT 2019
AUGUST What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated
1st, 8th, The Great British Seaside Special 15th & •2.30pm & 7.30pm 22nd Our very own Summer Season Show is back!
Fri Marty Wilde A fantastic evening awaits as Marty and the band entertain you, 2nd which has become one of the most acclaimed shows in the country Fri 9th
SPONSORED BY
The Jersey Beats – Oh What A Night!
Stunning costumes, choreography, production and more – taking you back to this iconic era with hit song, after hit song!
Sat The Sixties Invasion as the best Sixties show touring the UK. Dig out those 10th Hailed miniskirts and paisley shirts and enjoy an evening of 60’s music
Sun The Indians Popular since the 70’s Ireland’s top show band, The Indians will 11th put a smile on your face with their unique brand of country music
Gloria Estefan Experience – Fri The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You The World’s Premier show 16th in live concert format, celebrating ‘The Queen Of Latin Pop’
Sat The Sound Of Springsteen “All the hits, in one epic night.” Experience all the best 17th hits from‘The Boss’ with this incredible band.
Fix •2.30pm Sun Little Officially voted the UK’s number one Little Mix tribute act in the 18th National Tribute Music Awards, Little Fix are coming to town!
Fri Let The Music Play – Celebration to Barry White 23rd ADirect from the USA William Hicks pays tribute to the icon
Davidson – The People Fight Back Sat Jim The people’s favourite and one of Britain’s greatest ever 24th comedians, Jim Davidson OBE telling it ‘like it is’
Sun The Barron Knights – The Final Joust by popular demand! Known as probably the most 25th Back entertaining group to come out of the 60’s and 70’s!
Sat Freedom! 19 – Wayne Dilks as George Michael International tribute artiste Wayne Dilks and his band pay tribute 31st to the late George Michael in this stunning show.
For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:
www.princesshunstanton.co.uk
or call the Box Office: 01485
532252
The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH KLmagazine August 2019
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Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting Event
The South Pickenham Estate is hosting three delightful vineyard tours & wine tasting events this summer
Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August Starting at 2pm until 4pm Tickets £10.00 per person
Please call to book a place 01760 756376
South Pickenham Estate, Home Farm, South Pickenham, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 8DZ
FENLAND COUNTRY F FA AIR STOW-CUM-QUY Y,, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Traditional Country Fair Established 1981 - www.fenlandfairs.com
Sunday 25th & Monday 26th August
Parade of Hounds
BASC Cookery
Ring Displays
BASC Dog Events Lurcher Show & TTe errier Show Sunday & Monday
(qualifier for Countryman’s W We eekly on Sunday)
British Driving Scurry
Fun Fair
Clay Shooting
Heavy Horse Show - Monday RING DISPLAY YS S: Falconry - Gun Dog Demonstrations Bee Keeping - Bygones and much more The Fenland Gundog TTe eam Event returning this year on Sunday
• Ferret Show • Rural Craft Marquee • Children’s Rides • Full Catering & Bars For further information and event listings visit: www.fenlandfairs.com
GA ATTES OPEN 8:30am to 5:30pm Admission Adults £12.50 | Children under 13 FREE Address: Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy CB25 0AF
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FORTHCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
KING’S ELY OPEN DAYS Nestled in the heart of the beautiful cathedral city of Ely, King’s Ely is an inspiringly visionary independent coeducational day and boarding school, yet one that is built on a fascinating history stretching back over 1,000 years. The school serves the academic and pastoral needs of around 1,000 boys and girls from the age of 2 through to 18, with boarders from 8 years old. The adventure of a King’s Ely education enables pupils of all ages to flourish, from the children in King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery to the young men and women in the Sixth Form.
HANSEATIC SKI RACE
King’s Ely is located just 15 minutes north of Cambridge and a short walk from Ely train station. King’s Ely also has independently-run school buses which stop at key locations around Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. Open Events for all sections of King’s Ely are being held in September and October. To book your place or for more information, please call Admissions on (01353) 660707 or visit www.kingsely.org
Formula 1, 2 and 3 water ski racing will take place over two days along the historic maritime quarter of King’s Lynn on the South Quay. Ready to rival the Diamond Race (a world-renowned water ski race in Belgium close to the Hanseatic town of Antwerp) this event will be of a high-octane nature with racing speeds of close to 100mph. Watch from the banks of the River Ouse while competitors race across the choppy water surface – and then enjoy an evening of live entertainment and fireworks.
WHEN: September and October WHERE: King’s Ely, Ely, Cambridgeshire
WHERE: Saturday 24th/Sunday 25th
CB7 4EW
August. Racing is from 10am–4pm, and fireworks will start at 10pm on the Saturday. WHERE: South Quay, King’s Lynn
CATS PROTECTION BARN DANCE
THE COMING OF AGE OF DEEPDALE FESTIVAL Across four stages for three days, Burnham Deepdale will host and support an incredible array of musical talent consisting of the best original musicians from East Anglia and beyond. Martin Carthy will be heading the bill, and there’ll be performances from local artists including Morganway, Fred’s House, Lucy Grubb, Das Fenster & The Alibis, Dove & Boweevil and The Cobbler Bob String Band. There’ll also be two very special concerts in St Mary’s Church from the Tin Heart Troubadours with the Heart Strings and the Marham Military Wives Choir. Acclaimed acts from further afield include Gentlemen of Few, Kitty Macfarlane, Man The Lifeboats (pictured above), Smith & Brewer, The Goat Roper Rodeo Band and Fran & Flora – plus many more! For the full festival programme and tickets, please go to www.deepdalefestival.co.uk. Tickets are also available from the box office on 01485 210256.
WHEN: Friday 26th to Sunday 29th September WHERE: Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale PE31 8DD
KLmagazine August 2019
Cats Protection Downham Market Adoption Centre is holding its first-ever barn dance to raise money for the cats in its care with an evening full of fun and merriment! In 2018 the adoption centre helped more than 800 cats find new homes or find their way back to their lost homes. Without the support of the public attending events such as these, we cannot carry on helping such a great number of animals. Tickets are £15pp (available from the adoption centre or by calling 01366 382311) and include hot food – and an instructor to show you the steps for each dance!
WHEN: Saturday 14th September. Doors open at 7pm for the first dance at 7.30pm
WHERE: Watlington Village Hall PE33 0HE 13
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Bitterns, butterflies, barn owls and Butlins... Shaped by both man and the elements, it’s one of the most beautiful coastal locations in Norfolk – and one of the most important in the country. We take a closer look at NWT nature reserve at Holme Dunes
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A
t first, you'd be forgiven for thinking there was little more to Holme Dunes than massive skies and windswept panoramic views. However, this beautiful corner of northwest Norfolk is home to a nationally-important nature reserve and hides a fascinating and unusually long history that goes back at least 4,000 years – to when the Bronze Age timber circle known as ‘Seahenge’ was hidden by the elements until its chance discovery in 1998. First impressions suggest a perfectly natural environment, but Holme Dunes (and its abundant wildlife) owe a considerable debt to human intervention. During the Second World War, the area was enlisted to support the war effort – existing dunes were used as a firing range, and new ones were created with bulldozers to support a small railway that carried mobile targets. Somewhat fortuitously, the associated removal of sand resulted in the creation of shallow freshwater pools, which are now home to some of Holme Dunes’ most important species. Not that anyone was thinking of wildlife conservation in the immediate post-war period. As Billy Butlin started turning holiday camps into a multimillion-pound industry, he set his sights on Holme Dunes – and plans still exist for the proposed camp’s chalets. That all changed on the night of 31st January 1952, when a catastrophic combination of winds, atmospheric pressure and high tides devastated coasts of the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland. Almost 10% of Holland’s farmland was flooded, and in northwest Norfolk the raging waters (which were up to six feet higher than normal) resulted in widespread destruction and the deaths of 80 people. It meant that Butlin’s Holme Dunes Resort was never built – and the land was eventually purchased in 1965 by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (then known as the Norfolk Naturalists Trust) which is 16
the oldest of all Britain’s 47 such trusts. Today, the NWT has almost 40,000 members and manages more than 50 nature reserves and other protected sites – and for the last 54 years at Holme has worked successfully with local landowners to create a 192hectare (470-acre) nature reserve that contains mudflats, foreshore, sand dunes and dune ‘slacks’ (the damp, low-lying areas between the dunes), scrub, pines, and both salt and freshwater marshes. This extraordinarily rich environment provides a wide range of habitats for a rich population of flora and fauna that includes natterjack toads (it’s actually Norfolk’s most important site), butterflies and dragonflies, interesting coastal plants, stripe-winged grasshoppers (once very scarce in north Norfolk), and at least 320 bird species. In fact, when it comes to native and migrating birds, the reserve at Holme Dunes is of national significance. In 1992 the very first Rüppell’s warbler ever seen in Norfolk was recorded at the reserve (it was only the fourth sighting of the bird in the whole of the UK) as was a yellow-breasted bunting – which hadn’t been seen alive in Norfolk since the days of Victorian bird collectors. And the following year the reserve witnessed the UK’s highest-ever count of a single-species wader flock, thanks to a spectacular high-tide roost of almost 200,000 knot. The wet reedbeds created by the NWT have attracted marsh harriers to the reserve, and the idea that these magnificent birds would have a winter roost at
Holme Dunes would have been unthinkable until quite recently. It’s also one of the best places in Norfolk to see barn owls – time your visit in the late afternoon and keep an eye out for them silently hunting over the grazing marshes. Holme Dunes is a fascinating example of how human activity can have a positive impact on the environment. The freshwater grazing marsh, for example, was created almost by default in the 1860s, when embankments were built to prevent the twice-daily invasion of the sea – and today it’s a critical habitat for birds such as lapwings, tufted ducks and wigeon. Having one of the UK’s most outstanding (and important) beaches on our doorstep is a very real privilege – and it’s one we should all be concerned with protecting and preserving.
KLmagazine August 2019
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WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING SA AT TURDA AY Y SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 1000 1230 Whether your child is at the start of their journey in Early Y Ye ears or entering Senior School/6th Form; WGS is a School that encourages children to Discovveer w wh ho they are re... We have a reputa*on for academic success and our teaching staff are passionate about encouraging children to discover their interests and take advantage of all the cocurricular opportuni*es that our School has to offer.
Contact our Admissions T Te eam to find out more about our Open Morning or enquire for more information about what our School can offffer your child on
01945 586 750 or email admissions@wisbechgrammar.com
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Connecting Norfolk with the 21st century...
With homes and businesses in Norfolk struggling with poor signals, Rural Broadband offers a super-fast and super-efficient service
J
ust a few weeks ago, the Local Government Association published a report that suggested that millions of people in rural England risked being 'left behind' because of poor mobile and broadband connectivity. It echoed news released earlier this year that over 25% of homes don't have fast enough broadband to cope with a family's typical internet needs. "It's a real problem for people in parts of Norfolk," says Richard Dix of Heacham-based Rural Broadband. "When you're relying on an average download speed of 1.2Mbps, it will take you 12 hours to download a
Richard Dix
two-hour Netflix film - and we've even visited some local customers who can hardly send an e-mail!" Richard and his team are currently working with the governmentsubsidised Better Broadband Scheme to provide affordable and fast connections for homes and businesses unable to access more than 2Mbps – and there are plenty of them. "We've completed over 150 installations around Norfolk under the scheme in the last six months alone," says Richard. "We're required to provide people eligible for the scheme with at least 10Mbps, but our average is 22Mbps - and it's paid for by the government." Part of the problem has been caused by more advanced communications and our increasing need for data (and the internet is being called on to provide more and more services) but Rural Broadband has a solution that’s
perfectly suited to your needs - and your location. Recently, the company has provided fast off-site broadband and wifi services to outdoor festivals and concerts, public events such as the Royal Norfolk Show and the Sandringham Flower Show (enabling stallholders to take card payments), building sites and temporary workshops. They've linked remote offices, installed reliable tracking systems on coastal reed-cutters, and helped keep over 40 boats safe on the Norfolk Broads. "It doesn’t matter how remote you are or what your broadband needs are,” says Richard. "We can connect you to the rest of the world with super-fast speeds and a super-efficient service!” Join the 21st century today by contacting Richard using the details below for a free consultation about all your broadband needs.
Unit 1, Marea Farm, School Rd, Heacham PE31 7DH
Tel: 01485 572253 / 07786 887750 www.ruralbroadband.co.uk KLmagazine August 2019
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“
- Sue Gattuso Secretary of the Friends of St Mary’s and manager of Swaffham Museum
“
One of the biggest problems facing the church is maintaining a balance between welcoming the public and protecting the paintings
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ABOVE: The extraordinary east wall in the church of St. Mary’s, which once served the lost village of Houghton-on-the-Hill. Some of the paintings are almost 1,000 years old and there is nothing quite like them anywhere else in the whole country
The amazing rediscovery of a national treasure... Today it’s one of the most important churches in East Anglia, attracting visitors and academics from all over the world, but it was only discovered by chance during a WI walk over 27 years ago
F
ollowing a pleasant Women’s Institute ramble around the fields to the southeast of Swaffham in 1992, an excited Gloria Davey phoned her friend Delna Barrett. "She said I'd never believe what she'd discovered, and at first I thought she'd simply bought something unusual," says Delna. "But my husband and I drove over from King's Lynn and she was right - we didn't believe it." Gloria had come across a monumental pile of ivy and brambles in the middle of nowhere, a mound with the distinct outline of a church. She pushed through the overgrowth and entered the abandoned church of St. Mary's, which had once served the long-lost village of Houghton-onKLmagazine August 2019
the-Hill. But Gloria wasn't the first visitor since the last recorded baptism in the 1930s a pentagram had been painted on the floor of the aisle, and several inverted crosses had been carved into the plaster of the walls. Gloria also told her husband Bob about her discovery, and he resolved to remove every trace of the desecration. A former superintendent for the Water Board, Bob Davey was church warden at nearby South Pickenham - and he immediately set about clearing the churchyard and arranging a purification service among the ruins. It was the start of a remarkable endeavour that would take Bob over 20 years and result in the uncovering of one of the most important early
churches in East Anglia. It was a story that would make national headlines and see three visits by HRH Prince Charles who would award Bob an MBE for his work in 2006. Perhaps the most amazing discovery of all came when restoration work turned to the walls that had been damaged by a bomb that had been dropped nearby by a German Zeppelin towards the end of the First World War. While inspecting the cracked plaster, a section fell off and revealed an area of painting. It was a revelation that would eventually result in the incredible discovery of the earliest-known largesystem wall paintings in England. Sue Gattuso is Secretary of the Friends of St Mary's and the manager of Swaffham Museum, and has spent years 21
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researching the history of the church. "There are actually a number of painted layers here," she says, pointing to the extraordinary east wall. "You can see parts of an inscription from the 16th century, and the remains of a design from the 14th century - but the base layer is the most important. The eyes of the figures are definitely Anglo-Saxon, so they probably date to around 1090." The paintings continue to astound experts and academics, but Sue thinks the origins of the church may be even older. There was definitely a Roman villa close by, and the exterior of St. Mary's features Roman tiles and foundations. A Roman ring was found just outside the churchyard and there's a distinctly Roman arch at the top of the nave. "There's a very real possibility this site could have started life as a Roman bath house," says Sue, "but we'll need a professional excavation and research to know for sure." For now, the efforts of Sue and the church trustees are focused on preserving the invaluable wall paintings. Last month, a team from Cambridgebased Tobit Curteis Associates (who specialise in the conservation of wall paintings and environmental deterioration in historic buildings) began monitoring St. Mary's to determine whether the paintings are fading or if the cracks in the walls are widening. "One of the biggest problems facing the future of the church is maintaining a balance between welcoming the public and protecting the paintings," says Sue. "This would make a fantastic venue for concerts and services, but the environmental impact of the resulting heat and condensation may be too great a price to pay." St. Mary's undoubtedly has more secrets to reveal. Remnants of a nowvanished south aisle may contain one of the final resting places of Robert de
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Neville - the adulterer's head was buried in Yorkshire - but the current discrepancy between the 12th century stones and 11th century bones needs clearing up. As does the mysterious burial in the part of the churchyard never visited by the sun. Here, the skeleton of an old woman with her neck "expertly broken" was found buried face-down and
weighted down with stones. Although it's tempting to think the unfortunate woman was executed as a witch, only a thorough archaeological examination could reveal the truth. Although St. Mary's is still consecrated, it has no parish - which means that the most recent interments are of people closely associated with the restoration and care of the church. After her death in 2005, Gloria Davey now rests in the churchyard which she (re)discovered, and although Bob's failing health now prevents him visiting the church he spent so long bringing back to life, it would be a fitting final resting place for a man whose determination and commitment helped bring a national treasure to light. St. Mary's is open from 2-4pm every day during the summer and from 24pm at weekends over the winter months. The church is entirely reliant on donations and is always in need of volunteers - especially as guides. For more details, please visit the website at www.houghtonstmarys.co.uk or send e-mail houghtonstmary@gmail.com.
ABOVE: Pictured in 2011, Bob Davey was awarded with an MBE for his incredible work on St. Mary’s. At centre left, Sue Gattuso (left) talks with Delna Barrett, who visited the abandoned church with Bob’s wife Gloria shortly after its (re)discovery KLmagazine August 2019
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Why choosing the right builder is so important...
If you’re planning to improve your home, you need to ensure your builder is more than up to the task, as RGR Developments explains
L
ast year, some 45,000 people called Citizens Advice seeking help with builder-related problems, and the Federation of Master Builders estimated that the price of ‘cowboy’ contractors letting customers down is currently costing the UK economy around £10 billion a year. Whether you’re looking for a simple kitchen or bathroom refit or a complete new build or loft conversion, choosing the right builder is one of the most important steps in the whole process. “There’s a lot of construction work around at the moment, and although plenty of people are claiming to be builders, that’s simply not the case,” says Ryan Rix of RGR Developments. “You need to be asking the right questions. No reputable builder will be afraid to show you their previous work and let you speak to their customers. If they’re not prepared to do that then you need to be wondering why.” All RGR Developments’ customers are more than happy to share their
experiences – and even their customers’ neighbours are happy to talk about the minimal impact RGR Developments has on site. Moreover, RGR Developments constantly posts online updates and photographs to keep customers informed at all times and up to date on the project’s progress. “One of the most essential things you should do is also one of the easiest,” says Gary New. “Meet your builder for a cup of tea and chat about the project. It really helps you get a ‘feel’ for the company, and if you’re not completely comfortable and confident then you need to keep looking.” Another crucial element concerns quotations and estimates. Although keeping costs down will be one of your main priorities, check whether the ‘cheapest’ quote is only the most attractive one because it doesn’t include jobs such as tiling and flooring. “When we estimate a project, we work from the plans and we cost everything on the
drawings,” says Ryan, “and any modifications during the build are fully priced and agreed before the work starts. Our customers never see the word ‘extras’ on their bills.” That’s just one of the reasons why RGR Developments has built such a strong reputation around Norfolk for work of an exceptionally high standard completed efficiently, on time, and on budget. From single-storey extensions to complete renovations, contact RGR Developments today for a professional look at your project. And you can stop worrying about finding the right builder – because you’ve already found them.
8 Mill Road, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen King’s Lynn PE34 3BZ | Tel: 07921 910651 /
07817 941897 | Web: www.rgrdevelopments.co.uk | Email: info@rgrdevelopments.co.uk
KLmagazine August 2019
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Better by design and fitted to perfection... From a vast choice of beautiful styles to an incredible level of customer service, Bathco have the kitchen or bathroom you’re looking for
W
hen you're embarking on a home improvement project or renovation you're faced with a number of pressures - the worry of getting the design wrong, the struggle to find reliable and professional installers, and the stress of ensuring you purchase exactly the correct materials. They're pressures you can well do without, which is why more and more people are discovering why it makes so much sense to treat your home to a fully-fitted kitchen or bathroom by Bathco. The business was founded in January 2002 by Managing Director Stuart Gardner supplying bathrooms to retail and trade customers, and its commitment to putting exceptional service at the top of its priorities was a
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winning formula. Today, Bathco is still privately owned with a genuine familyrun atmosphere - and fully-fitted, 100% project managed installations now form 70% of the company's business. In fact, in recent years, Bathco has even developed its own high quality product ranges for the UK - including Carino, Modello, e:thos and Hydrowall - all confirming Bathco's reputation for superb design and outstanding quality. You can see these amazing products for yourself at Bathco's three showrooms in Kings Lynn, Dereham and Thetford - which showcase over 100 displays from traditional looks for period properties to contemporary styles for a fresh modern look. "Actually, our showrooms are the perfect place to start on your Bathco journey," says General Manager Stuart Marsden. "You won't just find all the
inspiration you need to start turning your dreams into reality, you'll also have the opportunity to meet our friendly and knowledgeable design and sales teams - who'll talk you through your needs, explain the various options, and help you achieve exactly what you're looking for." Following that, Bathco will arrange an appointment for a free no-obligation home survey, taking accurate dimensions and identifying any technical issues such as building works, plumbing, carpentry, electrics, and wall and floor finishes. From there, specialist design software will use photographs of your existing room to experiment with different designs, layouts and configurations, all of which can be shown to you in full 360o 3D - it's a brilliant way of ensuring you make the right decision, choose KLmagazine August 2019
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the right fixtures and fittings, and takes all the guesswork out of visualising. "Once we've designed the perfect room for you, we'll fully cost the project using a special matrix system that takes account of every fitting and every item of labour," says Stuart. "It's really reassuring for people to know exactly how much the project is going to cost and not have to worry about any hidden extras." Bathco's installation teams have built a strong reputation over the years for first-class work - they'll cover all adjacent surfaces with dust sheets and remain on site (with a project manager regularly monitoriing progress) until the project is finished to your complete satisfaction. "That's probably one of our greatest strengths," says Stuart. "Constant communication between the customer, the project manager and the installation team at every stage of the project is something we're exceptionally good at." And the installation doesn't just leave you with a fantastic new look for your home - you'll also receive Bathco's comprehensive product warranties (which range from five years to a lifetime) and a special 1-year guarantee for all workmanship. "What we want most of all is to give people the room of their dreams," says Stuart, "but that never gets in the way of delivering a world-class standard of customer service. We're really proud of being a genuine market leader, and we'll continue delivering that quality on a local basis." If you want to discover how Bathco can transform your home, please visit one of our showrooms or contact us using the details below for more information.
I N C LUD E D I N YO UR BATHC O BATHRO O M • No-obligation home design survey • 3D plans and virtual reality design • Outstanding value for money • Optional competitive finance plans • Expert help and advice • Complete project management service • Huge selection of products and finishes • Quality guarantee • Comprehensive aftercare service
KING'S LYNN: 20-21 Denney Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King's Lynn PE30 4HG DEREHAM: 35 Yaxham Road, Dereham NR19 1HD
THETFORD: Unit 1, Station Lane, Thetford IP24 1ND
Tel: 0330 1239 334 | Web: www.bathcoeu.com | E-mail: enquiries@bathcoeu.com KLmagazine August 2019
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The East Anglian Air Ambulance currently attends nearly 3,000 missions a year across East Anglia, with 40% of them taking place in Norfolk...
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“ IMAGE: PERFECT POSE PHOTOGRAPHY
A mission to save lives every minute, every day
ABOVE: The two helicopters of the EAAA each carry a pilot, a doctor and a critical care paramedic – and can be anywhere in East Anglia within 25 minutes
After almost 20 years of life-saving service, the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is now planning to help save more lives by becoming the first 24/7 helicopter service in the East of England...
T
he East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is a helicopter emergency medical service that covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire – and one that’s been dispatched to over 25,000 life-saving missions in the region since its launch in 2000. The EAAA currently attends nearly 3,000 missions a year across East Anglia, with 40% of them taking place in Norfolk. The air ambulance can be tasked to assist the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) with any type of life-threatening or life-changing incident which might require advanced medical care, equipment or a quick transfer to the most appropriate hospital. This community-funded service
KLmagazine August 2019
currently has two helicopters operating in the region, each carrying a doctor and a critical care paramedic – and they can be anywhere in East Anglia within 25 minutes. The charity receives no regular government funding and relies almost entirely on public support to keep its two helicopters flying and saving lives across the region. Every mission costs the charity approximately £3,500, and on average the EAAA can be tasked with eight missions a day from its two bases in Norwich and Cambridge. Six months ago, the EAAA raised its sights even higher, announcing a plan to become a full 24/7 helicopter service by the end of 2020 – the first service in the East of England to do so. Currently there’s a seven-hour gap from midnight to 7am in the East of
England where no helicopter coverage is available if needed, and research shows there’s a significant night-time need for critical care by air ambulance during that period. By flying around the clock, the charity estimates it could be dispatched to up to 600 more missions a year, saving hundreds more lives – but in order to develop and deliver the service 24 hours a day by helicopter, the EAAA will need to raise an additional £1 million each year on top of the £12 million they already need to remain airborne. The EAAA firmly believes that the time of day shouldn’t dictate what type of emergency medical services are available, which is why they’re so passionate about becoming the first 24/7 air ambulance by helicopter in the East of England by 2020.
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IMAGE: EAAA
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HOW THE EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE SAVED THE LIFE OF
IMAGE: PERFECT POSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Steve Jones
IMAGE: EAAA
HOW YOU CAN HELP...
REGULAR GIVING: by donating £7 a month you can make a significant contribution to helping EAAA become a 24/7 service by the end of next year. Visit the website at www.mission247.co.uk for more details. TAKE ON A CHALLENGE: This year, the EAAA is launching Trek 24, which takes place on Sunday 8th September. It’s a brand new 24-mile or 24K walking challenge along the north Norfolk coast finishing at Holkham Hall designed to help raise additional funds needed to fulfil the 24/7 mission. Registration for the event closes on 31st August – or you can visit www.eaaa.org.uk for details of other challenges, events and findraising opportunities.
VOLUNTEER: Volunteers are a huge part of the EAAA operation, from regularly helping to monitor collection boxes in local communities to sporadic help at events. There are plenty of different ways you can volunteer to help the EAAA save lives, and they’re mostly suitable for people of all ages. You can find out more by visiting the website at www.eaaa.org.uk.
THE CHAIN OF SURVIVAL... Every year, approximately 12,000 people in the East of England suffer a cardiac arrest whilst at home, work or play. Surprisingly, the EAAA now attends more cardiac arrests than any other type of emergency – even more than road traffic collisions. Many lives can be saved each year by the combination of early
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bystander CPR and defibrillation, advanced rapid critical care at the scene followed by a quick transfer to hospital. This is why the EAAA is committed to increasing the number of people in the region who are first-aid-trained to help save lives by activating the ‘chain of survival’ before emergency services arrive. To achieve this, the charity now offers completely free one-hour community basic life support training for adults and for schools. So far this year, EAAA staff have trained over 700 adults and almost 3,000 schoolchildren, taking a huge step toward reaching their training goals. To find out what EAAA first aid training opportunities are available (or coming up) in your area, please visit the website at www.eaaa.org.uk
In June 2018, Steve Jones was riding his motorcycle in Norfolk when he overtook a car which turned into his path, catapulting him from his motorbike, sending him head-first through a brick wall, and coming to rest in a ditch filled with water. When the EAAA Anglia One crew arrived 21 minutes later, the ditch was filled with Steve’s blood and he was still unconscious. Doctor Peter Temesvari and Critical Care Paramedics Simeon Tomlinson and Sam Sweeney knew they had to get Steve out quickly. Steve had suffered such a traumatic head injury that no one thought he would survive. He was sedated and intubated at the scene so the crew could take control of his breathing, and he was flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital as soon as he was stable. Steve remained at Addenbrooke’s for the next 10 weeks and went on to make an incredible recovery. Three months after the accident, he visited the Norwich base to thank the EAAA team and the EEAST land paramedics who were also at the scene. Thanks to the care Steve received at the scene and his quick transfer to a major trauma unit, he had no lasting effects from his injuries and was soon able to finish his PhD in Software Engineering and continue living a normal life.
KLmagazine August 2019
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KLmagazine August 2019
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Opening up a new world of barn conversions...
Virtually any redundant farm building can now be transformed into a stunning modern home, as Studio 11 Architecture explains...
Y
ou don’t have to drive too far in East Anglia to ďŹ nd redundant farm buildings which would make stunning barn conversions, even though the 'barns' themselves may be less than 30 years old. For the team at Studio 11 Architecture they're dream projects to work on, and for the landowner or farmer they're the perfect way to transform a disused building into a valuable asset - but traditionally it's taken several years and the patience of a saint to get them through the planning process. "That all changed when the government introduced new regulations to ease the pressures on housing in rural areas," says Kris Baxter of Studio 11 Architecture. "It is known as Class Q permitted development and allows for the conversion of redundant
agricultural buildings without the need to go through the full planning permission process." Updated last year, the new rules opened up a whole new world of possibilities for barn conversions, enabling people to convert unused and unwanted structures into stunning contemporary homes. "The possibilities are very exciting, but there are still plenty of restrictions on what you can and can't do," says Kris. "But that's where we come in!" In approaching any type of barn conversion (whether under the Class Q rules or the full planning process), Studio 11 Architecture works closely with local authorities and planning oďŹƒcers to ensure the project meets the necessary criteria and complies with the current Building Regulations - and then puts the talents of the design team
to work. "These are really interesting projects to work on," says associate Johnathon Gower. "Traditional barns are often constrained by narrow ceiling heights and tight windows, but more modern agricultural buildings are the opposite. All that steel work and big spaces give designers the perfect canvas on which to create something really interesting." Studio 11 Architecture has a proven track record of successful building projects across Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. For a free consultation about your plans and further information of how to bring them to life, please contact the team at Studio 11 Architecture today.
Norfolk Studio: Holkham Studios, Longlands, Holkham Estate NR23 1SH Telephone: 01328 854110 Email: design@studio11architecture.co.uk Website: www.studio11architecture.co.uk KLmagazine August 2019
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KLmagazine August 2019
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More style, more quality, and lots more choice...
Add a completely individual touch to your home with Rudd Joinery’s handcrafted high-performance windows, doors and conservatories
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ver the last 30 years, Rudd Joinery has worked across Norfolk on countless home improvement projects, offering a complete design, manufacturing and installation service for a stunning range of handcrafted timber windows, doors, staircases and conservatories offering superior quality. There's no such thing as a 'typical' example of the company's work because every single job is totally individual, made precisely to customer preferences. "There's no reason windows and doors have to be boring, so we offer customers as much choice in as many different ways as possible," says Jamie Rudd. "Whether you've got a major renovation project or a complete new build on your hands, choosing the right windows and doors can make a world of difference."In addition to a comprehensive range of styles and designs, Rudd Joinery also offers a wide selection of different
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opening configurations and over 50 different handles. The choice even extends to the glass itself - from highperforming double and triple glazing to acoustic glazing that can help with sound reduction, and even specially-designed double glazing for heritage properties with frames that can normally only hold single-glazed units. And for the perfect finish, you can choose from a virtually limitless collection of colours from leading paint specialist Teknos, who can match to all the leading brands such as Farrow & Ball, Little Green Paint Co and Dulux to name but a few, One colour they all have in common, however, is green - because Rudd Joinery uses paints that are kinder to the environment: water-based, leadfree, and made to comply with European VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emission standards. But it's not just the paint that's eco-
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KLmagazine August 2019
friendly. All Rudd Joinery products are crafted from responsibly-sourced and FSCcertified timber (some of which even has a negative carbon footprint!) that has several advantages over PVC-u alternatives - good news in the continuing fight against plastics. "Our timber frames and products are perfectly natural and can actually be more durable than their PVC-u equivalents," says Jamie. "In fact, they can last longer and be 35% cheaper - without using plastics or hazardous materials." And Rudd Joinery is one of the very few companies in the area offering frames that have passed the new PAS24 standard for improved security, a feature which is becoming required for new-build properties. If you're looking to improve your home or are currently planning a building project, contact Rudd Joinery today for a completely new look at your windows and doors.
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The schoolteacher who hid a deadly secret He may have been a notable academic with a promising future, but when Eugene Aram was arrested at his King’s Lynn school in 1758 he found himself in the history books for another reason entirely...
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n February 1758, King's Lynn Grammar School welcomed its new usher (second schoolmaster), who'd been appointed following the recent dismissal - for unknown reasons - of John Birkes. The school itself was housed in the 14th-century Charnel Chapel on the Saturday Market Place adjacent to the church of St. Margaret's, and the new teacher was a certain Eugene Aram, who came to the school with very impressive qualifications. Although he'd been born to humble parents in 1704 at Ramsgill in Yorkshire, the young Eugene's love of reading meant that while confined to bed after a bout of smallpox he was able to teach himself mathematics, poetry, history and the classics. He had a particular talent for languages (he also taught himself Syrian and Arabic), and his great ambition - one he was never to realise - was to be called A Comparative Lexicon of the English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Celtic Languages. In fact, Aram was something of a pioneer when it came to the study of languages. He realised that Celtic was related to other European languages, something that wouldn't become officially recognised for another 100 years - and was correct in disputing the accepted view that Latin was derived from Greek. At first, he seemed something of an academic coup for King's Lynn. But there was a lot more to Eugene Aram than met the eye. Back in his home town of Knaresborough, he'd left behind a wife, seven children, and a cloud of suspicion that had been following him around the country for 14 years. Back in 1744, Aram had become embroiled in a local scandal when a shoemaker called Daniel Clark suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a considerable amount of debt and a variety of valuable goods that hadn't been paid for. As one of his closest friends, Aram had been questioned about the activities of the swindling shoemaker but could shed no light on his current whereabouts. The discovery of some of the goods in his garden may have been a little compromising, but Aram said that Clark himself had left them there, and with no evidence to suggest otherwise, the official enquiries ended there. Despite a considerable 'no questions asked' reward for any information, it seemed that Clark had simply vanished off the face of the earth - but as Eugene Aram suddenly started to clear his own debts, people started talking. In fact, Aram became the subject of so
KLmagazine August 2019
ABOVE: The old King’s Lynn Grammar School occupied the top floor of this now-vanished building, and employed (albeit briefly) Eugene Aram (opposite), who was arrested at the school for an old murder in Yorkshire just a few weeks after starting work there in 1758
much gossip he left Yorkshire (together with his wife and children) to take up a variety of teaching jobs around the country - eventually arriving in Norfolk. But if Eugene Aram thought a teaching post in King's Lynn could put the affair behind him, he was sorely mistaken. In the very same month he started work (February 1758) a workman in his hometown was digging for stone to supply a nearby lime kiln and uncovered a human arm bone and part of a leg bone. Digging further, he revealed a whole skeleton. As far as the Knaresborough police were concerned, no one had gone missing for around 60 years - but the police had never forgotten about the strange disappearance of Daniel Clark. They went to see Mrs. Aram, who'd long held the suspicion that her husband knew far more about the matter than he'd said. Indeed, the woman was convinced her estranged husband had actually murdered the man. When other witnesses confirmed Daniel Clark was last seen alive in the company of Eugene Aram, constables John Barker and Francis Moore were sent south to King's Lynn. On arriving at the school, they asked the new schoolmaster if he knew of Knaresborough or had ever heard of Daniel Clark - both of which Aram initially denied. He was arrested on
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“It was extremely unlikely that a man of such education and academic standing as himself would be involved in murder...” the spot. Throughout the journey back to Yorkshire, Aram protested his innocence. Yes, he admitted to having known Daniel Clark, but he had no connection with the shoemaker's fraudulent activity and had no idea what had happened to him. As far as he was concerned, he hadn't seen Clark since February 1744 - and no, it wasn't true that he'd tried to get a number of people to say that they had. Circumstantial it may have been, but the evidence against Aram was compelling, and his three-day trial for murder started on 3rd August 1759. When the opportunity arrived for the accused to defend himself, Aram preferred to give his evidence in the form of a prepared statement. "I have never seen a court but this, and I am wholly unacquainted with the law and judiciary proceedings," he read. "I fear I shall be so little capable of speaking with propriety that it exceeds all my hope if I shall be able to speak at all." Despite his misgivings, he managed to speak quite well. He pointed out it was extremely unlikely a man of such education and academic standing as himself would be involved in murder. He questioned the lack of motive (claiming to be more interested in study than material wealth) and disputed the notion that Daniel Clark was even dead. He gave a number of examples of other 'suspicious' skeletons that had been dug up recently, but had actually been in the ground for many years - a skeleton unearthed at Woburn Abbey in 1744, still had some flesh on the bones
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that showed evidence of knife cuts but it had been underground for at least 200 years. "Almost every place contains such remains," he told the court. "In fields, in hills, in highway sides and in commons lie frequent and unsuspecting bones." Indeed, his home town of Knaresborough was once home to a military garrison - there were probably skeletons all over the place. Trying to identify them, he said, was an attempt to "determine what was indeterminable." Moreover, he gave several examples of people who had disappeared before in suspicious circumstances - only to reappear alive and well many years later. Coming as it did 134 years before anyone had heard of fingerprints, 150 years before anyone could identify different blood types, and over 200 years before someone would be convicted on the basis on DNA evidence, disputing the bones in evidence appeared to be a valid argument. Where was the proof that Daniel Clark was dead? Where was the proof that these were his bones? And where was the proof that Aram had anything to do with either? Unfortunately for the learned schoolmaster, however, the jury weren't convinced. They found him guilty, and didn't even have to leave the court to do so. In the week or so before his execution, Aram wrote an account of his life - concentrating on his academic achievements and the books he'd read, and leaving out any reference to the events that would ensure his place in the history books. Eugene Aram was hanged in York on 16th August 1759, the day after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, and his body was hung in chains in Knaresborough Forest. When the forest was enclosed 20 years later, the scaffold was bought by a local carpenter who used it for the renovation of the nearby Brewer's Arms - by which time the skeleton of Eugene Aram had disappeared. Apart from his skull, that is, which had been acquired by the doctor James Inglis, who studied it and published a report detailing his findings in 1838 hoping to boost the reputation of the pseudo-science of phrenology, which claimed that moral and intellectual character was reflected in the shape of the head. Finally, 234 years after his death, Eugene Aram came back to King's Lynn - his skull was gifted to the museum now known as Stories of Lynn in 1993
by the Royal College of Surgeons. You can see it there, a few feet from where the school once stood, alongside a skull fragment believed to be from victim Daniel Clark and a small pillbox made of the wood from the gallows on which Aram was hanged. A remarkable footnote to this admittedly grim story is that as a student of Greek, Eugene Aram would have been more than familiar with the concept of nemesis and the idea of divine retribution. When he arrived at King's Lynn Grammar School at the very same time the remains of Daniel Clark were being dug up in Yorkshire, did it ever cross his mind that his new school - at which he'd be arrested within weeks - was located in a building whose original purpose was to house the bones of the dead?
ABOVE: The story of Eugene Aram even made the front page of The Washington Times’ magazine section, while his skull (below) was given to a museum in King’s Lynn over 200 years after his execution
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you require, you only need to pay for the cover you need when you’re learning. Policies can be taken out on a month-by-month basis, so you only pay for the cover you need before passing your test. If you want to get extra experience behind the wheel of another vehicle, policies can be arranged on either your own car or a policy in your name on a parent or friend’s car. Importantly, if unfortunately anything was to happen while driving their vehicle, it will not affect the no claims bonus of car owner's insurance either. When it’s time to celebrate the Lplates coming off, it couldn’t be easier to upgrade your policy either. Flux will already have all your details so it will be a very quick and seamless process. Not only do they have a panel of 40 insurers to go to, thus saving you the hassle of having to shop around, the period you spent with learner driver insurance can
contribute towards your no claims discount. Once you’ve passed, there’s then the option of installing a Black Box - which can save drivers up to 65% off their next renewal. Telematics are becoming more popular as young and inexperienced drivers try to find cheaper cover and it helps insurers determine the premium on how you drive as an individual, not how your peer group drives. An app called Fluxscore monitors how your driving is impacting your premium so not only does it save you money it can help improve your driving ability and safety. Adrian Flux Insurance Services, which has more than 40 years’ experience, is based in King’s Lynn and will not be found on price comparison websites. Our best best deals are available over the telephone. Call us now for a free, no-obligation quote.
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KLmagazine August 2019
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A different approach to your accounting needs... Claire Melton FCCA TEP of Stephenson Smart explains how the local team of accountants and tax advisors can help you and your business
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or over 100 years, Stephenson Smart has been providing individually-tailored advice to private and commercial clients with a comprehensive range of personal finance, business accounting and taxation services – whether you're looking for payroll, bookkeeping and VAT or specialist advice on succession planning, probate or ATOL reporting. Stephenson Smart are also fully registered auditors. "I think the real difference with Stephenson Smart is that we're very approachable and avoid confusing people with legislation and complex calculations. We’re always working hard to help you make the most of your current and future financial position," says Claire Melton FCCA TEP, the company's newest director. "We
understand the local economy, we know the local community, and we're very familiar with how the local business environment works." With over 100 dedicated staff spread across six offices covering the whole of Norfolk and parts of Cambridgshire, that personal approach extends to director level - where all six directors have different ages, specialisms and locations. All have worked their way up through the company, five of the six starting as trainees at the firm – where they’ve helped develop its services and expand its areas of expertise. "It's unusual to find this amount of in-depth experience at a local level," says Claire. "Not many firms can boast of having Chartered Tax Advisors and a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, who are
recognised internationally as proven experts in their field." This is a very different approach to your accounting and tax planning needs – one that puts you, your family and your business first and offers genuinely independent advice that’s in your best interests. If you’re looking for a professional, dependable and approachable team to work with you in a friendly and proactive environment, contact Stephenson Smart today using the details below.
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KLmagazine August 2019
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A rare opportunity to explore a special garden It’s one of the most amazing private gardens in the area, but you only have two opportunities to see it every year. Part of the National Garden Scheme, it’s time for you to discover the garden at Bank House
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lthough it’s a little unfair to describe the Norfolk Fens as a desert, this wide expanse of wheat, barley and sugar beet is probably the last place you’d expect to find an oasis of flowers, shrubs and trees in a range of growing conditions from damp shade to dry gravel. But on the outskirts of Marshland St James, nestled against the bank of the Middle Level Main Drain, you'll find the exuberant and established private twoacre gardens of Bank House. Owners Teresa Lovick and Andrew Stephens moved to Bank House back in KLmagazine August 2019
2011 and started working on the garden immediately, and within seven years were asked by the National Garden Scheme (NGS) whether they'd be interested in opening their garden to the public for charity. It is the most westerly NGS garden to be open in Norfolk, and the public can visit twice a year - at Whitsun, when the irises, primulas and roses are at their best, and at the end of August when the dahlias, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and sunflowers put on a spectacular show. It's a remarkable achievement, but it's one that wasn't done overnight. "It's such a big garden that we had to
do it in sections," says Teresa. "To a certain extent we were dictated to by existing trees and shrubs, so we kept the healthy ones and incorporated them into the overall design." The couple then had to pay particular attention to the growing conditions as the garden had areas of deep shade as well as full sun, and combined boggy sections with areas of poor soil. "We obviously wanted to choose our favourite plants, but sometimes the growing conditions simply weren't right," says Andrew. "For example, this is the first garden in which we've been able to grow Iris sibirica and astrantia, 43
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ABOVE: The beautiful gardens at Bank House on the outskirts of Marshland St James are the most westerly in Norfolk to be opened as part of the National Garden Scheme, and have taken owners Teresa and Andrew Stephens nine years to grow and develop
which both need permanently damp soil. However, because some garden areas are in full sun all day we're also able to grow Iris germanica which thrives in dry soil - and roses, which love heavy clay!" The couple even found the space to have an ornamental grass garden, which is at its best in late summer. "Over the last eight years we've put in thousands of bulbs and plants (mostly grown from seed) to ensure we have
44
year-round interest," says Teresa. "We do all the work ourselves with no help. It's a real labour of love!" This isn't just gardening for gardening's sake, however. Andrew and Teresa had a definite plan in mind, and their greatest achievement must be in the creation of a planted environment that looks perfectly natural. "We wanted the garden to take you on a journey through a series of rooms," says Andrew. "No matter what the weather conditions or the time of year, we wanted to ensure there was always somewhere to sit and enjoy a lovely view." Today, meandering paths take visitors through the garden via a cleverlyplanned trail of ornamental grass garden, bog garden, pond area, flowerfilled cottage garden, formal lawn, mixed borders, cutting garden, small orchard and vegetable plot. There are plenty of enchanting spots in the sun (and shade) for visitors to sit and take in the view while enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake, while the mix of patios, terraces and picturesque secret spaces provide perfect environments for visitors to admire the profusion of rich scents and
vibrant colours. Keen gardeners will undoubtedly find the garden at Bank House a source of inspiration - and will make the most of the opportunity to purchase a selection of items for their own gardens. The proceeds from the Open Garden are donated to charities supported by the National Garden Scheme, and last year over £2,500 was raised at Bank House. Overall in 2018, the 3,500 private gardens participating in the National Garden Scheme raised a record £3.1 million for nursing and caring charities in the UK including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson's UK, and the MS Society. Andrew and Teresa are looking forward to welcoming visitors to their open garden at Bank House under the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 25th August between 10am-4pm. You’ll find Andrew and Teresa’s garden at Bank House, Middle Drove, Marshland St James PE14 8JT. Entry is £4.50 (free for children). For more details and information, please visit www.ngs.org.uk/find-agarden/garden/34028
KLmagazine August 2019
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KLmagazine August 2019
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“There's virtually no area of agriculture that we haven’t worked on”
A complete service for agricultural customers...
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How Bircham Electrical is helping local farmers across Norfolk
recent report in the Financial Times highlighted how much agriculture now relies on modern technology, and how that trend is set to continue over coming years. It's something that didn't come as news to Darren Goldsby, the General Manager of Bircham Electrical. "We're obviously based in a largely rural area and have been working with local farmers for over 20 years," he says. "Due to the demands of legislation, insurance companies and modern productivity, a professional and responsible approach to a farm's power supply and electrical systems has probably never been so important." The company has recently completed a major installation on a farm in the King's Lynn area for a longstanding customer which involved the
creation of a new workshop/office with a sprayer bay and external storage areas. In little more than a month, Bircham Electrical installed over a mile of armoured cable, more than 60m of cable tray, and fitted LED lighting externally and internally for increased energy efficencies and improved working conditions – and meeting 18th Edition wiring regulations ensured a safer working environment "In many ways this is typical of the new-build work we do on local farms," says Darren, "but we also carry out work on agricultural buildings that haven't been looked at for 20 or 30 years!" In addition to the frequent change of use for buildings in modern farming, both the NICEIC and IET Guidance Note 3 recommend agricultural installations be tested every three years. “Many farmers store machinery at the end of harvest and expect it to work perfectly the following year,” says Darren. “We service and maintain lots of grain stores and other equipment
before the relevant harvest, so there's never been a greater need for the expertise and experience of Bircham Electrical!” From the addition of RCD protection to complete re-wires, having a safe and reliable electrical installation has become an essential requirement for farms, and there's virtually no area of agriculture that Darren and his team haven’t worked on. From ensuring correct lighting levels are maintained in chicken sheds to installing modern control panels for potato graders, Bircham Electrical is helping local farmers become more energy efficient, safer, and more productive - with all work meeting the stringent criteria demanded from a full member of NICEIC. For a more reliable and fullyguaranteed electrical service for your farm (and any associated rental properties), contact Bircham Electrical today for more details and further information.
4 Wymans Way, Industrial Estate, Fakenham NR21 8NT Tel: 01328 851824 Web: www.bircham-electrical.co.uk E-mail: admin@birchamelectrical.com KLmagazine August 2019
BIRCHAM ELECTRICAL 47
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KLmagazine August 2019
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Kieren Cross PARTNER
Private Clients and Agriculture
Keeping it in the family... Agricultural succession planning is crucial to the future of the family farm, as Kieren Cross of Fraser Dawbarns LLP explains
O
ne of the biggest worries in the agricultural industry is effective planning for the next generation to take over the farm. A recent survey has said it is the biggest concern for 15% of farmers and that 60% of them had made no provision at all for succession. Another survey of young farmers put that figure as high as 70%. Younger farmers tend not to bring succession up with their parents because they don’t want to cause embarrassment or offence. However, the conversation is important if everyone is serious about protecting the farm through the generations. It’s important to understand that succession planning isn’t just about retirement and inheritance, but about putting a plan in place for the continued success of the business – which takes into account short-term
goals and the longer-term vision for the farm. To start, you should draw up a list of the farm’s assets and have a discussion with all family members who are involved, along with a solicitor and an accountant. Professionals tend to keep the meeting more business-focussed and less emotional. Having everyone together also reduces professional expenses as the same conversation doesn’t need to be had multiple times. Clients often want advice for when some of the children have worked on the farm and plan to continue the business after their parents’ retirement – but other children have chosen different careers. Treating farming and non-farming children fairly does not mean equally, and succession planning allows you to lay out how all family members will benefit so everyone is informed. Having the correct documentation in place helps everyone know where they stand, which can make a handover to the next generation a smoother and less fraught process. Key documents
would be wills for each family member, LPAs where appropriate, and partnership or shareholder agreements. It’s worth noting that children who’ve given up most of their lives to work in a family business for low pay on the promise they’ll inherit the farm will usually benefit in court if it’s felt that an inheritance treats them unfairly. Guest v Guest and Davies v Davies (which is often referred to as ‘Cowshed Cinderella’) are both examples of this. The actual handover is a key moment in succession planning, with 16% of farmers believing the next generation doesn’t have the right skills and experience to take over the running of the business – so we strongly recommend building the training of the next generation into your plan. There’s a lot to consider (much of it outside the scope of this article) and a solicitor specialising in agricultural law can help you plan for your farm’s success for years to come.
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
KLmagazine August 2019
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How your garden can help save the world... If the alarming decline of bees and other pollinators around the world continues, it will have dire consequences for every single one of us. Wendy Warner explains how your garden can help reverse the trend
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he major decline of bees and other pollinators has been well documented in the press and on television in recent years. Some 35 UK bee species are threatened with extinction, and the rest are facing serious threats. There are many factors contributing to this alarming decline, including changes in farming methods, commercial use of pesticides, climatic change and greater urbanisation resulting in smaller gardens and open spaces. As gardeners, we can help by growing plants and creating an environment to attract these beneficial insects and start to reverse this trend. It’s a vital effort – without pollinators, our food production and gardens would be severely affected, as many plants require these insects to transfer pollen from one flower to another in order to set fruits and seeds. When pollinators are mentioned, bees usually spring to mind, but there are many other pollinating insects. Of the bees there are honey bees, bumblebees and solitary bees, in addition to butterflies by day and moths from dusk onwards, as well as hoverflies, flies, and beetles – and all of them are doing their bit to pollinate our crops. It’s suggested that there are now more pollinators in our gardens than in the agricultural land surrounding them. There are various ways in which we can support these vital pollinators in the garden. The Royal Horticultural Society currently has a ‘Plants for Pollinators’ initiative to help gardeners easily identify nectar- and pollen-rich plants that will encourage these insects back into your garden. There is a comprehensive list of suitable plants available online, or you can look for the bee ‘Plants for Pollinators’ logo on seeds, bulbs and many plants in our garden centre. Although wildflowers are the most natural source of pollen and nectar attracting our native insects, many garden flowers are also suitable.
KLmagazine August 2019
PICTURES: Although we generally only think of pollinators such as bees and butterflies over summer, planting winter flowers in your garden such as hellebores and snowdrops (above left) can be vital to their survival
Try to avoid plants with double or multi-petalled flowers, opting for those with single, open flowers. Try also to have flowers available throughout the whole year. In winter, snowdrops, aconites, crocus, hellebores and the wonderfully scented Sarcococca (sweet box) will all encourage pollinators on a sunny day. Throughout the spring there are numerous options, especially the blossom of fruit and ornamental trees such as apples and cherries, aubretia and flowering currants. Summer is the peak season, with buddlejas and verbenas (particularly loved by
butterflies), lavenders, foxgloves, scabious and salvias attracting bees – and night-scented flowers such as tobacco plants, evening primrose and honeysuckle being irresistible for moths. In the autumn, anemones, ivies and echinaceas will all be flowering. As well as flowers rich in pollen and nectar, other plants provide food for caterpillars, creating a valuable food source, so if you can choose correctly, you may get butterflies breeding in your garden. There are specific host plants for different varieties of butterfly: Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas and Peacock butterflies all like stinging nettles, Holly Blues like (unsurprisingly!) holly and ivy, and many meadow butterflies like bird’s foot trefoil and various grasses. Also, some butterflies and caterpillars overwinter and will happily shelter in thickets of ivy or similar hedges or bushes. Whenever possible, you should avoid using pesticides – although if that’s impossible, then follow instructions and spray late in the day when there are less insects about. And never spray open flowers. 51
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ABOVE: Since they bloom late in the season, asters can help bees stock up on energy before winter sets in. Weeds can also be useful for pollinators – stinging nettles are a valuable food source for insects such as these Peacock caterpillars (bottom)
“Without pollinators, our food production and gardens would be severely affected...”
Alternatively, you can use organic pesticides or biological controls. Attempt to prevent and reduce pests and diseases in the first place by good cultivation – making sure you’re growing plants in the right places and giving them the correct care so as not to stress and weaken the plants and make them vulnerable. Good garden hygiene and housekeeping (clearing away any old, diseased leaves at the end of the season or pruning back and disposing of any heavily-infested new growth) will hopefully result in less pests and diseases, resulting in a reduced need for using pesticides. Regular dead-heading will naturally encourage the plants to produce more flowers, and remember that some pests can actually be beneficial to the pollinators – such as hoverfly larvae which eat aphids. Also, try to provide nest sites and water for bees and other 52
insects. With the right choices of plants, it’s possible to attract over 20 species of butterflies into your garden. Butterfly Conservation offers some great tips on encouraging butterflies into your garden and is currently running the Big Butterfly Count, which runs until 11th August. It’s a nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of the environment and it’s very easy to take part. Full details can be found at www.bigbutterflycount.org. As well as all the good these pollinators do for the environment, they’re also amazing to watch in the garden. If you study them closely, you’ll see the considerable efforts they go to to collect pollen and nectar. My personal favourite was seeing a Hummingbird Hawk Moth on Verbena bonariensis a few years ago. If you’re a keen photographer with a macro lens, these insects will reward you with some great shots – or if you have a smartphone with a slow-motion camera setting, try experimenting when you see bees, butterflies or hoverflies on your flowers this summer. Give some thought to our pollinators, and you won’t just be helping your garden. In a very real sense, you’ll be helping the future of the world. What could be better?
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. KLmagazine August 2019
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KLmagazine August 2019
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“It’s amazing to be free of headaches or to walk the dog without any pain. This has made such a big difference to my life...” – Judith Goodge, King’s Lynn
“I’m so relieved to be free of pain after so long...” How Free Your Body Therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains, with treatments from acupuncture to P–DTR
A
t Free Your Body Therapy in King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly and Jane Cole are using a range of proven techniques to free people from a life of aches and pains: people like Judith Goodge from King’s Lynn. "About 10 years ago I developed a lot of pain in my neck, shoulders and across the top of my chest," she says. "I saw doctors, I had 10 sessions of physiotherapy, I took painkillers and I had two sessions of cortisone injections - but nothing seemed to work. I thought I'd have to live with it." It even became painful for Judith to sleep, but then her husband visited Free Your Body Therapy and told her exactly how effective Terry and Jane’s treatments can be. While Terry Connolly is one of the only people in the world offering P-DTR as a form of treatment (a method of helping with the repair and rehabilitation of past injuries and the
relief of pain), Jane is a qualified acupuncturist for sports injuries, and it’s the perfect complement to her many other pain-relieving treatments. “Acupuncture has been used successfully for over 2,000 years and is an ideal way to treat sports injuries, shoulders, knees and backs," she says. "It's not really an ‘alternative’ treatment anymore, and even the NHS recommends it. People can usually expect significant improvements within a few sessions.” That’s something Judith is more than happy to confirm. "I'm usually terrified of needles,” she says, “but this was actually a real pleasure." Jane employed a combination of acupuncture, sports massage and sports tape to realign Judith's muscles and ensure she maintained a correct posture to help the pain from recurring. "Apart from being a totally
painless form of therapy, acupuncture has a range of benefits," says Jane. "It relaxes muscles, encourages blood flow, and promotes healing. It's also perfect for people unable to have intensive sports massage or Microcurrent therapy." For Judith, the results were virtually instantaneous. "On the night after my first session, I don't think I've ever slept so well," she says. "I'm so relieved to be free of pain after so long, and it's simply amazing to be free of headaches or to be able to walk the dog without any pain. This has made such a big difference to my life."
Old Dairy Units, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 277520 www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk
KLmagazine August 2019
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It’s holiday season and time for you – and your wardrobe – to relax! You can take it easy without sacrificing your style in these casual pieces. Whether you’re heading for Norfolk’s stunning beaches or peaceful countryside, you’ll be looking your laid-back best.
Juliette linen top by Joules
Ernest Doe
Littleport & Fakenham
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The Dubarry Glanmire £379
THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS Stowbridge
These waterproof leather country boots combine form with function, and are the perfect finishing touch to your country clothing look.
KLmagazine August 2019
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Styletip
Try a classic combination of a shirt and jeans but in lighter, brighter colours for summer – a look to take you anywhere
Harlyn Shirt £69.95 and the Canterbury 5 pocket jean £89.95 by Schoffel
Lings Country Goods
Great Massingham
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TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www w..bear ts.co.uk KLmagazine August 2019
| Br riighton Mill, Stow Br riidge, K Kiing’s L Ly ynn PE34 3PD 59
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Jewellery by Kit Heath
DAVID AUKER JEWELLERY King’s Lynn
Ontrend
Adding a delicate, feminine necklace or bracelet is the perfect way to give a safari look a twist of understated elegance
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KLmagazine August 2019
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Multi Coloured Paisley Print Shirt by Erfo
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Chunky-soled sandals give a futuristic edge to this breezy outfit – practical and right up-to-date!
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“
I have never wanted to chase youth, just look fresher. This treatment is incredible. My skin feels more plump and nourished. I have been so blown away with the results.
- Sarah, client
”
An injectable boost for younger looking skin...
E
The Rejuvenation Room in King’s Lynn is now offering an anti-aging treatment that’s taken the beauty world by storm!
veryone seems to be searching for the answer to younger looking skin. If you’ve tried every anti-wrinkle cream under the sun and it isn’t working, but you don’t like the thought of cosmetic surgery or injecting a dermal filler, you may feel like you’ve drawn a blank. However, a new treatment called Profhilo is now available, which has been dubbed a ‘tweakment’ and has received as much media attention as it has awards. In fact, since The Times called it “the anti-wrinkle treatment of 2019” the beauty world has been going mad for it! Profhilo is now available at The Rejuvenation Room in King’s Lynn, and owner Tracey Travis can’t recommend it highly enough. “It’s an absolutely fantastic treatment for
people who simply want to reduce their wrinkles and give their skin a nice glow without anything too drastic,” says the advanced nurse practitioner and prescriber. “It gives your skin a significant hydration boost and it’s a bit like an injectable moisturiser.” Profhilo is made from hyaluronic acid and can help skin that’s losing its elasticity and firmness. Injected below the surface of the skin, it disperses quickly and reacts with the tissue to instantly boost hydration. As we get older our skin produces less collagen and elastin, and Profhilo encourages your body to produce more. The treatment is injected (usually to the face and neck) and two treatments are recommended with a month in between to really see and feel the difference. Treatments are then ideally repeated around 6-9 months later to maintain results. Those who are a little
squeamish about injections are bound to be wondering whether it’s painful? “It’s a little ‘nippy’ while the actual treatment is taking place,” says Tracey, “but you won’t feel any pain afterwards. In fact, a lot of people say their skin feels lovely almost immediately afterwards – much firmer and tighter.” Tracey and her daughter Maddy Gaskins are always happy to talk through the treatment so you can decide for yourself whether the ‘tweakment’ is right for you. Call or e-mail them now to book your free consultation.
No.4 Hair and Beauty, 4 High Street, King’s Lynn | Tel: 07774799936 Email: info@therejuvenationroom.co.uk | Facebook: @rejuvenatekingslynn KLmagazine August 2019
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Feetfirst Tips and advice with local expert
Elizabeth Dutton from The Foot Care Centre
Feetfacts
TOUCH THE TOES TEST You can do a test at home to check the sensitivity (or feeling) in your feet. Sensitivity is one way in which your body alerts you to other problems. Contact us for more information
Respect your feet
Foot care is essential for everyone, but it’s particularly important for the elderly, diabetic and for those with poor circulation, as Elizabeth Dutton of The Foot Care Centre explains…
F
eet are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body, yet most people tend to neglect them. People living with diabetes often have damage to the nerve and blood supply of their feet. Poor circulation increases as you get older. The symptoms of nerve damage include numbness, loss of feeling, tingling, burning sensations or pain. Those with impaired blood supply may find they have pain at rest, especially at night, pain in the calf whilst walking and feet that feel cold to the touch. Every year thousands of people have toes, feet and even legs amputated because of diabetes-related foot problems. Most of these could have been prevented by proper footcare.
HYGIENE Wash your feet daily with mild soap and tepid
The Foot Care Centre KLmagazine August 2019
water, but do not soak them. If you have severe diabetes do not add anything to the water. Dry feet carefully, especially between the toes (if you struggle to get down to your feet, use a hair dryer on a low setting) – as this is where germs such as athlete’s foot can easily breed. Use a soft towel and a gentle blotting action to dry the feet. Avoid talcum powder between the toes, instead use an astringent type lotion that dries on contact with the skin (check with your GP or Foot Care Practitioner if you are not sure). Get into the habit of examining your feet daily for any cuts, cracks, abrasions, corns or hard skin - any of which can lead to infection. If any of these are present, bathe with a mild antiseptic, apply a sterile dressing and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Corns and callouses are caused by
Klenz Sanitise and deodorise your shoes for £2 per pair. Call us for more details
pressure and rubbing from footwear and are a source of infection which may go undetected because of the hard skin covering, especially in those cases where nerve damage is present, as the pain may not be felt. It is essential they are properly treated otherwise serious damage may occur. Toenails must be cut and filed regularly to avoid sharp edges digging into the surrounding skin. Avoid stockings, tights or socks that are too tight as these may restrict circulation, but also avoid hosiery that is too loose as this can wrinkle and irritate the skin. Shoes need to be well fitted with soft uppers without seams. Check shoes regularly for grit or other small objects that might have worked their way into the shoe.
01553 768661 | Email: enquiries@thefootcarecentrekingslynn.co.uk 4b Tower Street, King's Lynn PE30 1EJ | www.thefootcarecentrekingslynn.co.uk
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Producing one of Norfolk’s finest wines... It started as a private enterprise, but South Pickenham Vineyard is now producing around 3,500 bottles of wine a year, which is growing in reputation and being enjoyed across the country
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I
ABOVE: The vineyard on the South Pickenham Estate grows varieties of grape specially suited to the location, which Assistant Estate Manager Simon Kroon (below) describes as being particularly good for producing high quality wine
t seems we’re becoming a nation of wine lovers. But compared to many other parts of the world, we produce little wine of our own. In the past, this may have been due to the climate, but there are signs that times (as well as the climate) are changing, and more and more English wines are being produced. The east of England is an area which is up and coming in wine production, and one such producer is South Pickenham Vineyard, situated in midNorfolk’s Breckland region close to the market town of Swaffham. As part of the South Pickenham Estate, the vineyard is a relatively small enterprise, but is already making a name for itself. South Pickenham Estate, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, is a large estate of 7,500 acres, and includes areas of carefully managed woodland, farmland dedicated to organic farming (including a herd of beef cattle) and a vineyard, which currently covers six acres. The vineyard on this family-owned estate was originally planted in the 1980s for private consumption, but in 2010 was turned into a small commercial enterprise and now produces between 3,500 and 4,000 bottles per year. Simon Kroon, Assistant Estate Manager, explains why the area is ideal for vine growing. “The site chosen for the vines is a south-facing slope,” he says, “with deep free-draining sandy soils on a chalk base, which is very good for growing grapes.” Simon further explains that the KLmagazine August 2019
original vines were planted in the Geneva double-curtain style, whereby the vines are planted in a double row up to a height of 1.5 metres. This allows not only for easier picking when harvesting the grapes, but also, because of the height, can prevent frosts ruining the crop. “The downside of course is that it’s very labour intensive!” says Simon. Simon started as Head Forester in 2000, but was promoted in 2005 to Assistant Estate Manager. The vineyard is one of his responsibilities – not only growing the grapes, but also choosing what blends they put together. The original grapes planted in the 1980s were German varieties, including MüllerThurgau, Seyval Blanc, Schönburger and Huxelrebe, but in 2012 some were replaced by Chardonnay and Bacchus, as they are varieties which better suit the local soil composition, and are more resistant to fungal disease, the biggest issue with grape growing. Although Simon is in charge of the whole process, he takes advice from other English vineyard owners, and also from a wine consultant from Tuscany, who visits from Italy a couple of times a year. His advice is particularly useful, especially with regard to pruning and how to get the best from the vines. The production year begins in February with winter pruning, a
fairly drastic process which involves cutting back all the previous year’s growth to two buds on each spur. There’s also an element of training and shaping the future plant. In the spring, the shoots are thinned out to leave two shoots per spur; this is done by estate staff who have all been trained by the Italian consultant. In early summer, lateral shoots are removed and excess growth is trimmed off to leave the strongest shoots. Some
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“The harvest can yield up to seven tons of grapes, which will produce up to 4,000 bottles a year of wine...” leaves around the grapes are cut off, thus allowing sunlight and air in to bring energy back into the plant. This process can carry on until harvest, which usually occurs in late September or early October. The harvest can yield between five and seven tons of grapes, which will produce up to 4,000 bottles a year of sparkling and still wine. Once harvested, the grapes are taken to Chilford Hall Vineyard for bottling. As a larger business, Chilford Hall makes wines for several smaller vineyards, and produces all of the wines for South Pickenham Vineyard. “Mark Barnes, the Winery Manager, does a fantastic job making wines for us, both still and sparkling.” says Simon. “He produces both types of wine, which involves two very different processes. He always consults us before making the decision on the process, and it works very well.” As a relatively small producer, South Pickenham wines are sold through local restaurants, pubs and farm shops, as well as from the estate itself. They supply No. Twenty9 in Burnham Market, and also Jikoni, a restaurant in London which specialises in food from Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. Sparkling wine is South Pickenham‘s main focus and they now produce more sparkling wine than they do still wine. Simon is very proud that the current wine they are selling, a 2015 Brut sparkling wine, won a bronze award at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards. For a small producer, this is a tremendous achievement in an increasingly competitive world. For more information about South Pickenham wines and to find out about vineyard tours, please see the website at www.southpickenham.co.uk 68
ABOVE: Although it was originally planted as a private enterprise in the 1980s, the vineyard on the South Pickenham Estate is now a thriving commercial enterprise, producing up to 4,000 bottles of fine wine every year KLmagazine August 2019
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TIMBERS COUNTRY LODGE
Meet, drink, dine, celebrattee, staayy & en njjoy
DISHES FROM OUR NEW SNACK MENU
A unique Grade II listed barn complex located in the beau%ful Norfolk Countryside • Fantas%c restaurant with frequently changing menus • Comfortable bar & lounge area (dogs welcome) • 46 rooms including a 6 person log cabin • Licensed wedding venue with marquee recep%on area
R E S TA U R A N T | RO O M S | E V E N T S
Lynn Road, Fincham, King's Lynn PE33 9HE | 01366 347747 | %mberscountrylodge.co.uk
C O A C H I N G
A wonderful and unusual venue. Relaxed and friendly, for chilled out drinks. Private venue or room hire available. Perfect for: Wedding reception Wake Fancy hen doo or other celebrations
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For reservations please call: 01760 723244
c ret Our se d n e k e e w il b a r is co c k ta & S a t ri open F pm! fr o m 6
www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk 21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA
KLmagazine August 2019
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Som tum
Thai papaya salad INGREDIENTS Serves 1
1 long red chilli 1 clove of garlic 3 tbsp of fish sauce 3 tbsp of lime juice 1 tbsp of palm sugar 300g of green papaya (shredded) 100g of carrots (shredded) 3 dwarf beans cut into 3 1 tbsp of roasted peanuts 2 tomatoes cut in to 4 1 tbsp of dried shrimp (optional)
1 2
Put the chilli and garlic into a mortar and roughly crush them.
Add beans and tomatoes then gently bang away until they all start to break up. Pour in the fish sauce, lime juice and palm sugar, and using a spoon keep stirring the mixture until the palm sugar dissolves.
3
Add the papaya and carrots, gently bang them together for around 2-3 minutes. Put in the peanuts and dried shrimp then mix them all up again and then serve on its own or with sticky rice.
WINE MATCH The wine I would choose for this dish is Vina Esmeralda (Spain) which can be found in a majority of supermarkets. This wine is a mixture of the two most Asian food friendly grapes, GewĂźrztraminer and Moscatel.
Siropas Rangphet (O.B)
OWNER & CHEF AT THE CRAWFISH INN Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ Tel: 01328 878313 Web: www.crawfishinn.com 70
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Why your kitchen will never be the same again
A
Say hello to the future of cooking in the world’s very best kitchens...
t the German Connection in Burnham Market and Ely, you'll find some of the best kitchens in the world, featuring incredible standards of quality, engineering and manufacturing - and a host of innovative design features. In addition to two of the most prestigious and highly-respected brands in the business - Nolte Küchen and Bauformat - you'll also find the very latest kitchen appliances from major manufacturers such as Siemens and NEFF. And there's never been a better time to discover them, as The German Connection is currently running two promotions (on kitchens and
appliances) that qualify eligible purchases for either a new Quooker Fusion tap with 3-litre tank or the stunning new Amazon Echo Show - the latter of which is about to revolutionise the way we use our kitchens. While the advantages of the Quooker are well understood: dispensing hot, cold and boiling water from a single tap, it's about to become even more innovative - as The German Connection becomes one of the first places in the country to offer the latest version, which will also provide chilled filtered and sparkling water. The Amazon Echo Show, however, takes kitchen functionality to a new level entirely. "The introduction of smart technology to the kitchen is really phenomenal," says Robert Howlett. "All our ovens are now WiFi-enabled,
and thanks to the Home Connect app, you can finally take total control and get your kitchen to work for you!" You can literally tell your oven to turn on (or off) even if you're not at home, and the extractor will work accordingly. Provide it with a recipe and your oven will cook the food to perfection, precisely changing temperatures and cooking times. "And this is only the beginning," says Robert. "Imagine being able to access a camera inside your fridge while you're shopping to check on what you've got stored, or having your coffee machine let you know the water filter needs replacing. It’s incredible - and it’s a lot of fun.” If you’d like to treat your home to the kitchen of the future, visit The German Connection today for a complete design to installation service that’s second to none. And for some of the best kitchens in the world.
5-7 Foundry Place, Burnham Market, King's Lynn PE31 8LG Unit 3A, Stretham Station Road, Wilburton, Ely CB6 3QD 01328 738309 | www.thegermanconnection.co.uk KLmagazine August 2019
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The Heron
A year after Tracey and Stuart Elflett opened the doors of the newly refurbished The Heron, the couple are celebrating a successful year for the stunning pub in Stowbridge...
T
he Heron pub is perfectly located between two rivers – the River Great Ouse and New Cut, meaning that it’s particularly picturesque, with stunning views whichever way you look. The building itself started life as a farmhouse before being converted into a hotel and pub, but it had become a little tired and dated. Tracey and Stuart Elflett were regulars to their local pub and last year they decided to buy it! The couple gave The Heron a complete transformation, with 72
stunning results, and opened its doors on 22nd August 2018. A year on, Tracey reflects on a whirlwind twelve months. “It’s been a lot of work and we’ve completely lived and breathed this pub, but it’s been very worthwhile,” says Tracey. “It’s been more than we could ever have imagined.” Since its opening, Tracey and Stuart have completely refurbished the restaurant, they’ve introduced two boutique bed-and-breakfast rooms and they’ve installed a stunning oak decking area that overlooks the river.
The outdoor seating area offers the perfect setting to sit and relax with a drink and watch boats pass by. “We’ve been busy from the get-go,” says Tracey. “Almost as soon as we opened people started booking in for Christmas day, which was brilliant, and that day we served 64 people in total.” Tracey is already taking bookings for this Christmas and they are planning to extend the restaurant before December, so they will be able to accommodate even more people. The Heron also holds Christmas party nights from the last Friday in November. KLmagazine August 2019
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There’s something for everyone all year round with regular live music and karaoke nights - but most importantly, whether you visit day or night, there is always a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, there’s always good quality food and there’s always a great selection of drinks including a choice of over 40 gins, quality beer, wine and other spirits and a vast selection of cocktails. The Heron serves traditional pub food, as well as specials, all to an excellent standard, thanks to head chef David Plumb and his sous-chef Colin Perry. “David is an absolute perfectionist when it comes to his food and we get a lot of compliments about his dishes,” says Tracey. “We’re lucky to have him and Colin. They are such a great team and work really well together, as well as being good mates. They are like the Ant and Dec of The Heron!” There’s a real family feel when you enter The Heron which is largely down to Tracey and Stuart’s management. For them it is a family affair and even their 12-year-old daughter Erin spends time in the restaurant. “I’m fastidious about customer service,” says Tracey. “Whatever the customers want, they should have. We always do our best to accommodate different wants and needs. It’s important to me that coming to The Heron is always a lovely experience.” People travel from all over the county to enjoy The Heron, and even further. There are five touring caravan sites with electrical hook-ups, as well as the B&B rooms, and boats can moor up outside the pub. After a busy first year, Tracey and
Stuart are finally able to enjoy the fruits of their labour. “I love nothing more than sitting outside my pub with a glass of wine, looking over the river,” says Tracey. “It makes it all so worthwhile.”
STARTERS
Prawn and Crayfish Cocktail served with mixed leaves, Marie Rose sauce and buttered malt crunch bloomer
Breaded Brie Wedges with sunblush tomato and cranberry relish, and a dressed salad
Salmon, Haddock and Dill Fishcakes with dressed salad and homemade tartare sauce
MAINS
Fish and Chips beer battered haddock, skin-on chips, garden peas and homemade tartare sauce
Steak and Ale Pie encased in puff pastry, served with carrots, peas and gravy, and with chips or new potatoes
Roast Chicken Supreme
Dates for the diary AT THE HERON
SUN 25TH AUgUST
On the MENU
FRI 16TH AUgUST
served with tender-stem broccoli, crushed buttery new potatoes and a Stilton sauce
DESSERTS
Chocolate Brownie served warm with cherry compote and vanilla ice cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding served with toffee sauce
Vanilla Crème Brûlée
The Heron’s 1st Birthday BBQ and live music from 7pm Everyone who buys a drink over £2.50 will get a free hot dog or burger
Karoke Night Sing the night away! From 9pm
with fresh berries and shortbread crumb
TO BOOK Please call 01366 384040
For more details and information, please call 01366 384040
KLmagazine August 2019
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MEET the Chef Talking with The Heron’s Head Chef David Plumb KL magazine: How did you come to be a chef?
David Plumb: When I was a teenager, we had to do work experience and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. One of the only placements left to choose from was at the Old Mill Restaurant in Upwell, so I ended up working in the kitchen there. I enjoyed it more than I expected, and at the end of my work experience they offered me a part-time job, which I accepted. I then went to the College of West Anglia (then known as NORCAT) and did a catering course, and my career has progressed from there.
KL magazine: So, you fell into being a chef. Do you find it fulfilling? David Plumb: I love it. My dad always used to say that “if you find a job you enjoy, you’ll never have to work again.” I never understood what he meant until I got into catering.
KL magazine: How would you describe the food at The Heron?
David Plumb: It’s traditional pub grub. It’s of high quality with everything freshly made and we serve decent size portions. People come in and they know what to expect. We do specials as well which gives me the opportunity to try new things and be a little more creative. We find our specials are really popular.
KL magazine: Where do you get your inspiration from for new dishes?
David Plumb: I look on Instagram, websites and keep an eye on what other chefs are doing. I never copy a dish, though – I look at it and then add my own twist.
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TOP: Head chef David Plumb (left) with sous-chef Colin Perry (right)
KL magazine: Who’s your culinary inspiration?
KL magazine: What couldn’t you live without in your kitchen?
met him a few times and really admire him. I love the way he takes simple dishes but adapts them to make them more interesting.
Perry. We worked together at Timbers Country Lodge before we came to The Heron and we complement each other really well. He’s great at desserts and I prefer savoury dishes, so we’re the perfect team.
David Plumb: Gordon Ramsay. I’ve
KL magazine: If you had to recommend just one dish at The Heron, what would it be?
David Plumb: It would have to be the fish and chips. The haddock is deliciously fresh and we cook it in a beer batter to make it extra special. It’s so popular with our customers.
KL magazine: Is there anything you don’t like cooking? David Plumb: I’m not as happy preparing desserts. I find I get all sticky – and I hate having sticky hands!
David Plumb: My sous-chef Colin
KL magazine: If you were going out for a meal and weren’t allowed to choose The Heron, where would you go? David Plumb: I’d go out for breakfast at Liquor & Loaded in King’s Lynn. Their breakfasts are amazing!
David Plumb KLmagazine August 2019
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ANGELO & CLAUDIA INVITE YOU TO THEIR MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
• Fresh traditional dishes • Daily specials • Themed evenings • Italian and Mediterranean food
TEL: 01366 858283 45 high street, downham market www.giardinidinaxos.co.uk
Y OWN DELICIOUS COME AND TRY OUR VER
BRANDED COFFEE!
Coffees from around the world | T Teeas | Homemade cakes
31 High Stree et, Hunstanton 01485 535559 Find us on Facebook
KLmagazine August 2019
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ORIENT TA AL PA P ALACE
Authentic Mexican food
Open Tuesday to Saturday 12 noon -10pm Book a table via our social media or give us a call
CHINESE REST TA AURANT Pe
Cuisine
Choose as many dishes as you want from the à la carte menu and they'll be freshly cooked to order - all for one set price!
2255 1 Railway Road, King’s Lynn | 01553 762277
nn, PE33 0NP 5pm-10:30pm co.uk
AUGUST 26TH 4PM-7PM Don’t miss the beautiful talented Fiona this August. Joining us for the first time on our patio. Come and enjoy the cocktails and m u s i c w h i l e re l a x i n g o n t h e patio or soak up some sun i n t h e g a rd e n . B r i n g t h e whole family.
Great Bircham, King’s Lynn PE31 6RJ | T Te el: 01485 578 265
www.thekingsheadcountryhotel.co.uk
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Flavour of the month
The Berney: truly delicious food in a truly idyllic setting...
T
his delightful pub is tucked away in the quiet village of Barton Bendish between Downham Market and Swaffham, but once you’ve found it, you’re sure to want to return. As we approached The Berney (formally known as The Berney Arms) the first thing that struck us were the beautiful gardens in which the pub sits. There’s open space and seating both at the front and the rear of the pub, and I was impressed with how well the gardens have been maintained, with lots of gorgeous flowers to enjoy. The back garden has a children’s play area, and it’s not just any play area – it has a special play tower designed to resemble the village church of St Mary’s. As we entered the pub we were instantly greeted with a smile and immediately felt welcome and at ease with our surroundings. The refurbished pub is under the new management of
KLmagazine August 2019
Phil Lance, who’s overseen a recent rebranding – it has a lovely fresh feel, but it’s also exactly what you’d expect of a traditional country pub. The wine list is excellent, but the eclectic range of gins is amazing, ranging from international brands to very local spirits – three of them produced within a few minutes of the pub itself! The attention to detail is also highly impressive. I particularly liked the fact that every table has its own vase with fresh flowers (presumably picked from the lovely garden). First impressions were all good, and when we saw the menu we were delighted even further. Head chef Caroline Lepoidevin brings a wealth of experience from working in restaurants in London, and she’s put together an impressive selection of upmarket traditional pub food, but also an à la carte menu for the evening. “We want the pub to appeal to someone who wants to take their grandmother out for a quiet lunch, or if they want a party to celebrate her 70th birthday,” said Kyle Hewitt, the assistant manager. “We’re very family friendly and try to offer something for everyone.” We certainly weren’t disappointed when the food came out. For starter I had a delicious estate game terrine with house pickle, sourdough and onion chutney, while my friend enjoyed pan-
seared scallops with a white truffle roast celeriac risotto and chorizo crisps – it was delightfully creamy and satisfying. For mains my friend had succulent honey glazed duck breast, while I enjoyed a lovely lamb rump – both dishes came with all the trimmings and were absolutely first class. “We’re closely linked to the Barton estate, so we are lucky to be able to get our game and vegetables from them,” explained Kyle. For dessert we were recommended the coconut panna cotta served with mango purée – it was lovely and refreshing, and the perfect end to an exceptional meal. I will definitely return to this delightful pub - and now I know it also has eight beautiful and very stylish boutique bedrooms, I might even make a weekend of it next time!
THE BERNEY Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF Tel: 01366 347995 E www.facebook.com/theberney 77
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SHOP
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ST G E O R G E ’ S D I S T I L L E RY TO U R S & TA S T I N G One of Norfolk On Nor olk’ s top visit is totor attr tt ac actio t ons S T G EO R G E ’ S TO U R 1 H O U R TO U R Daily from 10am, every hour £12.50 per adult; £5 under 18’s (Booking not required)
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The welcome return of a traditional family pub
What better way to spend your summer than enjoying a meal or a drink at The Black Horse Inn in the idyllic setting of Castle Rising...
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astle Rising is one of Norfolk’s most picturesque villages and is home to the ruins of one of England’s most famous and beautiful medieval castles. And just a stone’s throw away from the castle at the heart of this stunning village is The Black Horse Inn. For many years the pub sat empty, which was a shame given its prime location. But, thankfully, the doors of The Black Horse Inn reopened last October, after Harry Sutton took on the running of the pub.
“It’s so good to have The Black Horse Inn back on the map,” he says. “It’s a pub that so many people are familiar with and it holds many memories.” For Harry, becoming the landlord of The Black Horse Inn is a dream come true. He’s the fourth generation publican in his family, and running a pub is clearly in his blood. “For me the most important thing was to create a welcoming atmosphere for people of any age, where they can relax and enjoy their spare time and eat quality food in a lovely setting,” says Harry. “Children are welcome, as are dogs in certain areas - in fact, there’s something for everyone.” Since opening last year, Harry has refurbished the pub, giving it a stylish and classy interior and he has enjoyed welcoming old customers and new, with it being ideal for people wanting food or a drink after a country walk or a visit to the castle, or for people celebrating a special occasion. “We’ve had a fantastic response since we opened last October. I’m delighted with the feedback we’ve
THE BLACK HORSE INN KLmagazine August 2019
had from our customers and I look forward to welcoming new visitors,” says Harry. The Black Horse Inn is a gastro pub serving traditional pub classics, but also offers tantalising dishes on the specials menu. Harry has recently taken on a highly experienced head chef, Jamie Long, who previously worked at Congham Hall, to deliver a streamlined and stylish menu. “We’re lucky to have a great chef who is really passionate about food,” says Harry. “We focus on quality over quantity and all our food is fresh.” At this time of year, there’s no better way to enjoy the delicious food than in the pub’s large beer garden, taking in the stunning views of the village and the famous castle. Although if the weather turns, there’s plenty of space inside, with two dining rooms, as well as the bar area. So, whatever the weather, it’s a great time to rediscover The Black Horse Inn. The Black Horse Inn is open seven days a week and food is served 12-3pm and 6pm-9pm on weekdays, 12-9pm on Saturdays and 12-8pm on Sundays.
Lynn Road, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG | 01553 631333 Open 7 days a week | www.theblackhorseinncastlerising.co.uk
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On the trail of a truly natural Norfolk delicacy
PICTURE: Chef Galton Blackiston (pictured left) picks samphire locally and serves it in his restaurant at Morston Hall throughout the summer
KL magazine talks to chef Galton Blackiston about how to pick, how to cook, and how to enjoy the taste sensation that’s found in abundance on the marshes and mudflats of north Norfolk over summer...
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amphire is a wild edible plant that locals on the north Norfolk coast have been foraging and enjoying for centuries. While botanists might refer to it as salicornia europaea it’s popular name derives from ‘sampiere’ – a corruption of the French Saint Pierre (Saint Peter), the patron saint of fishermen. Long after it was mentioned in Shakespeare’s King Lear it’s become a delicacy that can be enjoyed in top restaurants over the country, including the perfectly located Morston Hall on the north Norfolk coast, which is owned by Michelin star chef Galton KLmagazine August 2019
Blackiston. We caught up with Galton to find out more about the salty vegetable sensation!
KL magazine: Let’s get this out of the way first – what’s the correct way to pronounce ‘samphire’?
Galton Blackiston: It’s ‘sam-fer’, and definitely not ‘sam-fire’ – so many people get it wrong!
KL magazine: Why is the north Norfolk coastline such a good place for finding samphire? Galton Blackiston: Samphire grows
on salt marshes and mudflats. It grows wherever it’s tidal. The environment on the north Norfolk coast is perfect for samphire, which is why we have it in abundance and why we’re so well known for it.
KL magazine: When can we expect to see samphire? Galton Blackiston: It’s all down to
weather conditions, but usually it will appear towards the end of June or early July and it will be around until the end of August. At the beginning of the season samphire is very tender, but if you leave 81
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it a month or so the central stem becomes quite woody, so it’s best at the beginning of the summer. You can still enjoy it later in the summer - but you might just have to cut it down more.
KL magazine: How do you pick samphire?
Galton Blackiston: That’s actually quite a contentious issue. I was brought up to pull samphire from the ground by the root. If you visit any of the little stall holders along the north Norfolk coast with samphire for sale, they’ll all tell you it’s picked up by the root. I talked about this once on television with James Martin on his Saturday Kitchen television show and I received complaints about why I was advocating samphire being picked by the root – because lots of people believed it should be cut! However, I’ll always pick samphire up by the root, and so will Norfolk locals!
KL magazine: Is there a skill to picking samphire?
Galton Blackiston: Not at all. It’s very
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easy to pull it from the root, and you can pick bunches and bunches of it. All you have to remember is to wash it thoroughly after it’s been picked, because it is likely to be muddy.
KL magazine: How long does samphire last once it’s been picked?
minute in boiling water. Then drain it and cover it with butter.
KL magazine: How do you think samphire is best served? Galton Blackiston: During the
recommend keeping it more than 24 hours, because it will lose its flavour. It needs to be enjoyed fresh. It should be kept in the fridge between picking it and cooking it.
summer we serve samphire at Morston Hall and it’s generally served with fish. It makes a lovely garnish. A few sprigs can also be added to a beurre blanc sauce. As the season goes on, a good way of preserving it is to pickle it. It goes really nicely with a ploughman’s lunch or a salad.
KL magazine: How do you cook samphire?
KL magazine: Are there any health benefits to eating samphire?
and discard the root. When cooking, I believe the simplest way is best and as a general rule any vegetable (and samphire is classed as a sea vegetable) that grows above the ground should be plunged into simmering or boiling water, and any vegetable that grows under the ground should be brought up to the boil. I wouldn’t put salt in the water because samphire is already quite salty. It’s best to be cooked briefly for about a
and minerals and there’s lots of iron in there, so all round it’s a really good vegetable to eat.
Galton Blackiston: I wouldn’t
Galton Blackiston: Firstly cut it down
Galton Blackiston: It’s rich in vitamins
KL magazine: How would you describe the flavour?
Galton Blackiston: It’s salty, and if it’s cooked correctly it has a nice crunch to it – and it has a lovely coastal flavour. It’s a seasonal gem.
KLmagazine August 2019
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Last few weeks of our local
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KLmagazine August 2019
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@thedownhamtandoori KLmagazine August 2019
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Eric’s cod fishcake INGREDIENTS 500g cod (we use the trim from portioning the loins) 500g Maris Piper potato 1 litre milk 1 litre water Salt, to taste Parsley, 1 bunch (leaves picked) Flour Eggs Dried breadcrumbs for pané
with parsley salt
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To make the parsley salt, firstly place the picked parsley leaves on a baking tray, and in a low heated oven, dried these out until crisp and fragile. Alternatively, tightly clingfilm a plate, place the parsley leaves flat down and microwave for 30-40 seconds. (Be careful, the plate and leaves will become very hot).. Remove the leaves and once they cool, they will become crisp.
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Blitz the dried parsley with the salt. Store in an air-tight container for later use. Peel and boil the potatoes, once cooked, strain and roughly mash them.
Place the cod trim into a large pan, cover with the milk and water, and gently bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Do not boil. Simmer this for a few minutes. Once the fish is cooked, strain and add this to the rough mash.
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Gently mix together, and season with salt to taste. Weigh into 130g portions, mould into your desired shape and chill.
Once cooled, lightly dust in flour, then into the egg mix and then into the dried breadcrumbs.
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Deep fry at 180°c in vegetable oil until golden brown, and season with the parsley salt. Serve.
Eric Snaith
OWNER AT ERIC’S FISH & CHIPS
Thornham: Drove Orchards, Thornham Road PE36 6LS Tel: 01485 525886 Holt: 4 Fish Hill NR25 6BD Tel: 01263 800900 www.ericsfishandchips.com KLmagazine August 2019
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Spectacular wildlife and stunning views Lead Ranger for the Norfolk Coast and Broads Team at Blakeney Natural Nature Reserve Stephen Prowse talks about one of North Norfolk’s most iconic natural landmarks and its wildlife...
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any years before the National Trust acquired Blakeney Point, it had already been recognised as a special place for both its flora and fauna, in particular the tern colonies – but also as the haunt of rare breeding and migrant birds. It became a popular haunt of ‘gentleman gunners’ who shot the rarities and collected their eggs for display cabinets, whilst the locals took them for food. In response to this uncontrolled slaughter, in 1901 the Blakeney and Cley Wild Bird Protection Society created a bird sanctuary and appointed the first ‘watcher’ or warden. In 1910, the owner of Blakeney Point, the 6th Baron Calthorpe, leased the land to University College London (UCL), who also purchased the Old Lifeboat House. When the baron died
later that year, Blakeney Point was put up for sale. In 1912, a public appeal initiated by Charles Rothschild and organised by UCL’s Professor Oliver and Dr Sidney Long enabled the purchase of Blakeney Point, which was then donated to the National Trust. UCL established a research centre at the Old Lifeboat House, where Oliver and his colleagues pioneered the scientific study of Blakeney Point. The college still has strong links to the Point with groups of students annually spending a week studying aspects of the Point’s ecology. In the reserve’s early years, the distinctive blue lifeboat house was still used to house the Blakeney Lifeboat service, but by 1922 it became too difficult to launch the lifeboat due to the shifting shingle and sand dunes in front of the building.
The National Trust then acquired the building to use as accommodation for their warden to live on the Point. So, for over 90 years, apart for brief interludes during the two world wars, it has housed the Blakeney Point watchers, then wardens and now the ranger team – and provided a welcome to 1,000s of visitors to the Point. In recognition of its international importance for its rare habitats and breeding seabirds, the Point was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1954, and incorporated into the 7,700-hectare (19,000-acre) North Norfolk Coast SSSI in 1986. The larger area is now additionally protected through Natura 2000, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar listings, IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) and is part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Point
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PICTURES: In the early years of the nature reserve at Blakeney Point, the distinctive blue lifeboat house (below) used to house the local lifeboat service, but by 1922 the shifting shingle and sand dunes made it difficult to use, so it went on to provide accommodation for the reserve’s wardens and rangers.
became a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in 1994, and became part of a North Norfolk Biosphere Reserve in 1976. The wildlife on the Point is as varied as it is unpredictable. The breeding season is well and truly over now, but if you visit this month terns and gulls moulting into their winter plumage may still be fishing offshore or loafing on Far Point. The early arrival of autumn migrants (warblers, wheatears and flycatchers) may also bring something rarer. The shingle spit has a fading tapestry of flowers; yellows of horned poppies and bird’s foot trefoil, reds of the sorrel and docks, the glaucous greys of the sea kale and purple velvet flowers of the sea pea. Look for lesser marsh and mottled grasshoppers among the flowers and the brilliant orange of the small copper butterfly – which is no bigger than your thumbnail. Larger and more impressive, you may find the last of the year’s darkgreen fritillary butterflies sipping nectar from the blue flowers of devil’s-bit scabious or sea holly. September brings cooler days, and if
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weather conditions are right, a ‘fall’ of 1,000s of migrant birds, robins, thrushes and chats. Tired and lost in the fog on an easterly wind, they literally fall out of the sky. Butterflies too may be heading south to avoid the cold, red admirals and large whites providing a spectacle of migration. The harbour mud hosts migrant waders from the arctic, where the spangled golden plover, rufous godwits and ‘tortoiseshell’ turnstones mingle with the more familiar oystercatchers, redshank and curlew. On the Point, the common seals still bask on the shingle whilst their cousins, the larger grey seals, begin to increase in numbers prior to their winter pupping. At this time of year, seals are best viewed by boat from Morston. The end of the point, Far Point, is a sanctuary area closed all season to prevent disturbance to seals and the breeding seabirds. The management of Blakeney Natural Nature Reserve is largely one of nonintervention, allowing the natural processes of wind and wave to create a
dynamic and ever-changing landscape. The Trust tries to minimise impacts of visitor pressures by providing boardwalks and clearing flotsam and jetsam from the marshes and beaches. Whilst habitats look after themselves, some of the vulnerable species that Blakeney is famous for need our care. For birds like sandwich terns and ringed plover and avocet that nest on shingle, measures include seasonal access and dog restrictions, fencing signage and extensive monitoring. An amazing army of volunteer wardens protect the little terns in summer and seals in winter and talk to our visitors about them. It’s incredible that Blakeney Point was the first nature reserve in Norfolk and the second in the National Trust, and since 1912 the reserve has more than doubled in size and continues to grow. The Trust will continue to protect the special landscape and conservation interest for future generations to enjoy. KLmagazine August 2019
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Bring your floors back to their best this summer
It’s time to treat your stone and tiled floors to the UK’s most advanced cleaning system and the professional services of Xtraclean
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ummer may be the most enjoyable part of the year, but it's not such good news for your stone, tiled and solid wood floors. Children are home for the school holidays, doors are kept open, people are wandering in out of the garden all day, and pets generally don't think about wiping their feet before coming in from the outside. Coping with weeks of grass stains, grime and dirt is a full-time job for your floors, and by the time it's worked its way into crevices and grout lines, you'll be needing a lot more than a mop and some off-the-shelf cleaning products to being them back to their best. You'll need to call on the expert services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean. “Natural stone and wood floors look fantastic when they're first laid, but it's
difficult to keep that ‘as new’ look forever,” says Martin. “If your floors have been professionally fitted they really deserve an equally expert approach to cleaning – and that’s where Xtraclean comes in.” For over 25 years now, Martin and his team have been treating floors across Norfolk to the most advanced and powerful cleaning system currently available in the UK. “Stone floors aren’t the easiest surfaces in the world to clean,” says Martin, “but our powerful system and professional-grade products can bring heavily-soiled floors back to their very best. And we can usually do it all in a single visit!” 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, they'll get to work, breaking
down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. "Our state-of-the-art turbo “clean and capture” system then pressure cleans the floor using its own water supply – and it captures all the waste in the process," says Martin. "Without using invasive and harmful procedures such as grinding and resurfacing which can actually damage your floor the results are truly spectacular." And Xtraclean can even help you 'lock in' and keep those good looks for even longer, thanks to a range of specialist sealing products. “To be honest, you have to see the results to believe them,” says Martin. “Just ask our customers – you'll hardly believe it's the same floor!” Get your floors back to their best by contacting Xtraclean today for an extra-professional and 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
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ABOVE: Our four-legged friends will be taking centre stage at the All About Dogs show later this month, but there’s plenty for all other members of the family to enjoy as well
It’s all about dogs, but it’s fun for all the family... Frustrated with visiting shows that offered something for all members of the family apart from the four-legged ones, a group of dog lovers decided to create a show that was dedicated to man’s best friend
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ften described by visitors as ‘Disneyland for dogs’, an annual event that appeals to dog lovers everywhere is returning to the Royal Norfolk Showground on Sunday 25th and Monday 26th August. All About Dogs is a two-day event for dogs and their owners where the focus is firmly on fun. It was created in 2010 by Aztec Events, a family-owned business. Matthew Upson, director of Aztec Events is happy to explain the inspiration behind the show. “We were running a garden show at the Royal Norfolk Showground and found that our family dogs didn’t have much to do while we were all busy,” he KLmagazine August 2019
says. “We’re a family of dog lovers, and most of our staff also own dogs, so we know that what our pets need is a chance to socialise and have fun, and so we created this show that is literally all about dogs! There’s so much to do for dogs, their owners, and spectators too. All About Dogs is packed full of world-class arena displays, activities to have a go at, live music, and the chance to spoil your dog at our trade stands.” In the main arena All About Dogs is delighted to welcome back Lucy Heath and Trip Hazard, the 2016 Britain’s Got Talent finalists. “We love seeing Lucy and Trip perform at our shows,” says Matthew. “Lucy not only has a background with
Britain’s Got Talent, but Lucy also competes at Crufts and runs her own dog training classes. She brings some amazing performances to the main arena with Trip and some of her other dogs too. And her up-close performance on the main stage isn’t to be missed.” Lucy will also be offering some oneon-one sessions after her main arena performances to give visitors some tips and advice on heelwork to music. Also returning this year by popular demand are the PADS Dog Display Team with their informative obedience display, and the Conquest K9 Display Team. “Conquest K9 always deliver a 93
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“Every year we ensure there’s something for all dogs and their owners the show gets better every year...” thrilling and informative performance in the main arena,” says Matthew. “Their display is fast-paced, with agility, criminal work, six-foot scale, control work and more. We’ve worked with the team for years at the All About Dogs Show, and we always enjoy their performances.” As always, there are a huge range of have-a-go activities for your dog to try. Join the ACES team to see if your dog can get the fastest time at lure racing or hurdles; try the obstacle course with a prize for the fastest dog each hour; K9 aqua sports are fun and a chance to get great action shots of your dog diving into the water; get tips from professional dog groomers; and Skeyton K9 Dog Training will be hosting this year's free Kennel Club Good Citizens Dog Scheme Bronze level testing. And for dogs – and owners – that feel the competitive urge, there are the Fun Dog Shows. There are four shows, two for all breeds, one for large dogs and one for small dogs, with a variety of classes. Maybe your dog wouldn’t cut it at Crufts, but with classes like Best
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Fancy Dress, Waggiest Tail, Best Rescue or Best Golden Oldie, there’s sure to be one that will give them a chance to shine! Every dog that wins a rosette during the weekend will be invited to take part in the ‘Best of the Best’ finale show for free. New to the show for 2019 are Hoopers – a low-impact sport using hoops, barrels and tunnels that is perfect for even older retired dogs, and Insta-Pooch, where up to a dozen canine influencers will meet their fans! Also new is the Dog and Duck Show: trained – and untrained – sheep dogs herd ducks in this display that entertains, but also teaches about
common dog behaviour issues and about how these can be resolved. “We’re really excited to be introducing the Dog & Duck Show to this year’s show,” says Matthew. “It’s a really fun and entertaining performance but also quite educational too, so it’s well worth a look.” All About Dogs takes place on Sunday 25th August and Bank Holiday Monday 26th August at the Royal Norfolk Showground in Easton, just outside Norwich. For more details, information and ticket prices (parking is free), please see the website www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk/norfolk
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Animalmatters
Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with our Clinical at London Road & Hollies Vets... Director
Jennifer Sinclair
Smallbites INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY August 8th
It’s international cat day this month and we would like to remind our customers that Jen has an advanced certificate in feline medicine and she runs a cat-only clinic every Monday afternoon.
Watch out for summer hazards
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o it seems summer is finally upon us, and thank goodness for that! But with the warmer, drier weather, a new risk has arrived for pet owners to watch out for, that we as vets see during these months every year. We think of this time of year as ‘grass seed’ season, where pets venturing outside will unexpectedly fall victim to painful injuries having just rubbed up against grasses, getting the barbed grass awns attached to their fur. Grass awns or seeds are unique in their shape in that they are often barbed, and once caught in an animal’s fur will move in a forwards direction due to the movement of the fur or body part, and therefore not fall out on their own. Common areas that grass seeds will get stuck are between the toes, where they may then enter through the skin and track up the foot under the skin, in the ears, in the nose, in the mouth or gums,
and in or around the eyes. The severity of the symptoms seen depend on how quickly the grass awn is left in place, as they can become incredibly tricky to find, and all that may show on a pet is a small wound or a swelling that causes pain or discomfort. One patient of ours who knows all too well the discomfort that can be caused by a grass awn is Brandy, who came in recently with some lameness in one leg. Upon inspection it was noted that lameness was localised to the foot, with discomfort around the toes. Luckily for Brandy, the inciting cause was spotted before it could cause too much of a problem, and was promptly removed before it could cause a nasty tract under the skin! Many of you will also remember Alex Dallas, the former owner of the practice. While we all love to see Alex’s beautiful Flat Coated Retriever, Bella, she also had to visit us recently to have
LONDON ROAD Hospital Walk, King’s Lynn • 01553 773168 HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market • 01366 386655
KLmagazine August 2019
a grass awn removed from her ear. You will be pleased to know both Brandy and Bella are much more comfortable now they have had these grassy additions removed! While you cannot fully protect your dog from coming into contact with grass awns, if your dog or cat does go into areas that are particularly grassy, for example when out on walks, it is worthwhile at this time of year to inspect the eyes, ears and feet for any signs of any unwanted additions to their fur. Animals with long fur are particularly at risk as they will be more prone to getting plant material caught in their hair coat. If you are concerned your pet has any signs of discomfort, or you are worried your pet has a grass seed caught somewhere, do not hesitate to get in touch.
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Why air conditioning is officially the way forward
The 4 Way Group explains why a recent report highlighted the growing need for environmentally-friendly air conditioning systems...
J
ust a couple of weeks ago, the government's advisory Committee on Climate Change (CCC) warned that we're now facing a "get real" moment over global warming. One of the most important parts of the CCC's report (which made national headlines) was that in facing a continuing rise in temperature, we need to be paying much more attention to ensuring the places in which we live and work can adapt in energy-efficient and sustainable ways - whether that's in newly-built family homes, modern warehouses, hospitals and commercial and retail environments. The answer over the next few years will almost certainly be an evergrowing reliance on air conditioning. "We really need to stop thinking of air conditioning as a luxury," says Steve Simpson of the 4 Way Group, which
has been designing and installing high quality air conditioning systems for over 20 years now. "We're not too far away from the time when air conditioning will be fitted as standard in all newbuild properties and buildings." The 4 Way Group is already looking to the future, supplying state-of-the-art systems specially designed to have as little impact on the environment as possible. "We're now designing and installing air conditioning that actually cuts down on electricity usage and conserves energy," says Steve, "and we're also using products that use the new refrigerant R32, which has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) that's almost two-thirds smaller than some of its more ozone-depleting alternatives." In fact, some of the 4 Way Group's latest air conditioning units from Fujitsu
are some of the most energy-efficient products currently available anywhere in the world, offering a Coefficient of Performance (CoP) rating of up to 4.71 - which equates to a hugely impressive A+++ rating! Air conditioning isn’t just good for the planet, however. A professionally designed, installed and maintained system circulates and filters the air, removing pollutants and mould, which means the cleaner air can have health benefits for people who suffer from allergies and asthma. For a breath of fresh air for your home, for your place of work or for your new-build property (and an air conditioning system that can be fitted in a single day) contact the 4 Way Group today for more details, information and a free quotation.
t 01553 767878 w www.4waygroup.co.uk e sales@4waygroup.co.uk Recognised and accredited throughout the industry:
KLmagazine August 2019
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O
ur homes are becoming smarter, and the UK home technology market continues to see unprecedented growth – mainly due to the appeal of home cinemas. Just a few weeks ago, a survey by the international trade association CEDIA revealed that home cinema installations over the last year are up by 10% - and that's only the tip of the iceberg. "The current demand for smart technology in every room of the home is amazing," says Core Technology Projects' managing director Jim Garrett. "Even architects and developers are now looking at ways of building it into
their plans." You can see (and hear) the home of the future for yourself at Core Technology Projects' special Open Day on Friday 13th September at their King's Lynn showroom. In addition to the experience of a stunning fully-equipped home cinema with a 128-inch screen, there'll be demonstrations of the very latest media rooms, outdoor entertainment systems, integrated home control systems, audio systems, home networking products and security systems. "We can help you understand the potential of smart technology for the home, and show you what it's capable
of," says Jim. "We can advise you on the best way of integrating it - and how to make the most of it!" It's not all about the technology itself, however. The highly-experienced team at Core Technology Projects offers a complete service from initial design and first fix works to installation and final commissioning. If you'd like to see how your home could become a lot smarter or plan to incorporate the latest technology in your next building project, don't miss Core Technology Projects' Open Day on 13th September. Contact Jim and him team now 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
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ABOVE: Joyland opened in 1949 after engineer Horace Cole designed the famous snails ride. He was inspired by his wife Daisy Wilson, who came from a well-known travelling family.
Providing all the fun of the fair since 1949
As Joyland in Great Yarmouth celebrates its 70th year, KL magazine looks at how the funfair started and why its colourful snails are still thriving today and thrilling new generations of visitors...
F
unfairs are popular all over the world, but 70 years ago, static funfairs in particular were few and far between. In fact, when Horace Cole decided to set up a funfair called Joyland in Great Yarmouth in 1949, it was considered a rather novel idea. Horace was an engineering entrepreneur with his own company based in Steam Lane in Great Yarmouth when he designed a funfair ride consisting of colourful snails. You’ll almost certainly know exactly what we’re referring to, because these snails have gone on to become world famous, have been enjoyed by generations, and are still at Joyland today!
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But what inspired Horace to design funfair rides for children just a few years after the end of the Second World War? Well, as fate would have it, Horace’s wife Daisy Wilson came from a wellknown travelling family. “It was the perfect meeting of minds,” says Michael Cole, Horace and Daisy’s grandson. “With my grandmother’s showman background and my grandfather’s engineering expertise, together they came up with Joyland.” Horace went on to design more rides for Joyland including the Tyrolean Tubs, Neptune’s Kingdom and Noah’s Ark. The snails ride and the Tyrolean Tubs are still present at the funfair today and are famous around the world. In fact, the Tyrolean Tubs ride is notable as the
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“No one is too old to come to Joyland! It’s fun for any age.” only ‘Virginia Reel’ roller coaster still in operation in the world, and was awarded a plaque from the National Roller Coaster Association of the USA in the 1990s, recognising the historical significance of the ride. “Back in the late 1940s there were very few places aimed specifically at young children,” says Michael. “Grandfather wanted to put smiles on children’s faces.” Well he certainly did! And Joyland has continued to make generations of children smile for the last 70 years. Nowadays, there are funfairs all over the country and indeed the world, but few are as legendary as Great Yarmouth’s Joyland. Perhaps the secret of Joyland’s success is that it has remained in the Cole family for all these years. Frank Cole was Horace’s eldest son and ran the park from the beginning, until he sadly passed away in 1973. It was passed on to his brother Rueben, who was by this time also in charge of the family’s engineering company. Daisy and Horace had also passed away by then. In the late 1980s, Rueben had died and Joyland passed to the third generation of Coles - Michael (Frank’s son), Margaret (Rueben’s daughter) and David (Henry’s son) who are still in charge today. Michael’s eldest son, Michael Jnr, joined the business last year, making it the fourth generation. “We’re really proud to be keeping Joyland going in Horace’s memory,” says Michael (Snr). “As a child of about eight years old, I spent all my holidays working at Joyland. I remember my dad teaching me how to run the snails and the tubs. I did the same with my son – it’s quite a nostalgic thing.” Michael, his son Michael Jnr and his cousin David are qualified engineers (taking after Horace) and take pride in keeping the rides in good condition. “In the winter months, when Joyland is closed, we take all the rides and everything is stripped right back down KLmagazine August 2019
ABOVE: Joyland has been putting smiles on faces for 70 years. Perhaps the secret of its success is the fact it has remained in the Cole family for all these years. The Tyrolean Tubs (pictured above in the centre) was awarded a plaque from the National Roller Coaster Association of the USA in the 1990s, recognising the historical significance of the ride. 105
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ABOVE: The snails ride is world famous and has been at Joyland since the very beginning - and still exists today.
to the bare bones for thorough checks. We inspect everything, replace parts and repaint the rides to keep them in good condition,” says Michael. “Our rides are for children so it’s our responsibility to keep them safe.” But Joyland isn’t only for children. “No one is too old to come to Joyland!” says Michael. “It’s fun for any age. One of the best things about being here for so many years is that lots of people who visited the funfair as children with their parents now bring their own children – and sometimes even their grandchildren!” Joyland is still as popular as it was when it opened 70 years ago and that may be because as well as keeping the popular snails and Tyrolean Tubs, the 106
Coles have also been careful to move with the times. They’ve achieved this by introducing rides referencing television shows such as Bob the Builder, Barney & Friends, The Magic Roundabout and much more. Adapting to the changing interests in society has meant Joyland has lived on for many years, but it has kept its original atmosphere, which is why people travel from far and wide to visit. Next to the funfair is an American diner, which is also run by Michael and his family, and it’s an area they’re keen to expand. The 1950s style of the diner lets the public have a taste of what it may have been like to live in that time period, as well as giving them the opportunity to enjoy delicious food. “We try to ensure there’s something for everyone,” says Michael. “My
grandfather opened Joyland because he wanted to put smiles on faces, and that’s what we continue to do. It’s always been a lot of fun for the young – and that includes the young at heart!”
KLmagazine August 2019
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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 The most common cause of a tenancy deposit dispute in the private rented property sector is cleaning, according to the latest data from the Tenant Deposit Scheme (TDS).
Hitting a brick wall...
I
n this month’s edition we are going to be looking at a specific deposit dispute that recently went to adjudication and the unexpected result. During the course of my career within the lettings industry I have had the opportunity of using all three of the main deposit schemes and subsequently had the benefit of understanding the mechanics of each one prior to starting Edmonton Estates. It was based on my own working experience that I decided that the firm’s primary source of deposit protection would be via the My Deposits scheme. I felt that the ability to retain deposits in a second client account within the firm and offer quicker repayments to tenants in return for early settlement regarding damages was the best way forward. This served us well with over 3 years passing before our first deposit dispute was officially adjudicated on. As the company has grown, inevitably more deposits disputes have arisen. Unfortunately, due to the original
government thinking behind the deposit protection legislation there is no cost to the tenants for raising a dispute. This means that no matter how much validation we can provide as to why a retention has been made it costs the tenant nothing to argue the case regardless of their lack of justification. We have an enviable track record when it comes to our administration of deposit disputes via the adjudication process with all except one of them being settled within 95% of the full claim value. So, what did we get caught out on I hear you ask? Unbelievably a brick wall that was knocked down with a car, yes really! We had tenants in a property that drove through the pillar of the front garden wall parking their car. Instead of informing us to arrange the repair they had a try at it themselves which produced an abstract-looking mess of more cement than bricks. Fast forward 3 months to the end of the tenancy and the best quote for dismantling our modern art wall and
Edmonton Estates Ltd, Nelson House, Bergen Way, King's Lynn PE30 2DE 01553 660615 www.edmontonestates.co.uk info@edmontonestates.co.uk
KLmagazine August 2019
rebuilding it correctly is £592 which we sought to recover from the tenant’s deposit. The tenants disputed the value of the claim and everything was reported and filed for adjudication. Like most people I believe would (including the local planning authority) I consider a wall to be a permanent structure. Apparently though the Case Examiner deemed that it would be betterment for the landlord to receive the full cost of the rebuild element of the invoice and reduced this by 30%. Stunned didn’t come close to describing the reaction in the office to this decision, and since then any similar incidents are now processed through the offending vehicle’s insurer with much better results.
Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists
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Writing a new chapter in a glittering career...
B
orn just off Loke Road in King’s Lynn, Jan Sayer was always interested in the theatre, appearing on stage at the town’s famous Guildhall from an early age. Exchanging acting, singing and dancing for the technical side of theatrical production saw her travel halfway across the world for a fascinating career at Sydney Opera House. Having now returned to her home town, Jan is devoting her efforts to her lifelong love of writing – and between editing her fourth book and researching her fifth she found time to talk to KL magazine about her life and work.
KL magazine: How did you go from performing at the Guildhall in King's Lynn to becoming a stage manager at Sydney Opera House? 110
Jan Sayer has stage-managed Olympic Games, helped produce performances at Sydney Opera House, and rubbed shoulders with ex-Presidents of the USA and she’s now working on her fourth book Jan Sayer: When I left school I went to university to study drama and was lucky enough to go to Bretton Hall in Yorkshire, which is now part of Leeds University. It specialised in innovative courses in design, music and the visual and performance arts, and was an extraordinary place. It produced actors such as Mark Gatiss and Colin Welland, playwrights such as John Godber, and probably half of the BBC television’s children's department! I think it left its mark on all its students, and from there I moved to London and started working in theatre.
production?
KL magazine: Why did you make the move from performing to
Jan Sayer: While I was in London someone told me that women couldn't do lighting, which to
me was like throwing down the gauntlet. I took up the challenge, and had a theatrical lighting job within six months.
KL magazine: It sounds like theatre was still a man's world back then...
Jan Sayer: In many ways it was, but many women's theatre companies were on the rise, and it was a very creative and productive environment if you were a woman. I soon moved into stage management, taking a number of productions around Europe and working as a technical consultant for the National Student Drama Festival. It was a fabulous time, and I made lots of friends – and some contacts who soon became very useful on the other side of the world. KL magazine: Why did you leave all that to go to Australia?
Jan Sayer: It was actually a relationship that took me there in 1988, and thanks to some of my connections I was lucky enough to be offered a KLmagazine August 2019
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ABOVE: The iconic Sydney Opera House, where Jan Sayer enjoyed a stage management career before returning to England and devoting herself full-time to writing poetry and novels
stage management job at Sydney Opera House – which was incredibly interesting, but very demanding physically. I worked on everything from opera and drama to school concerts and jazz, and I met everyone from Hillary Clinton to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, but I must admit I was rather taken with Mrs. Clinton’s husband. They were a lovely couple, but Bill really was Mr. Charisma. I think the most surprising thing was to discover these world famous people were so generous and kind-hearted, although they were usually frightened of going on stage!
KL magazine: You were then part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games...
Jan Sayer: I was offered a job as a producer, which was incredibly lucrative but was one of the most terrifying things I've ever done in my life. I was assigned the badminton events (strangely enough I had a relative in the Canadian team!) and had to produce it like a theatrical performance, coordinating announcers, sound operators, scripting the 'show' and supervising the medal ceremonies. Actually, that was the most nervewracking part – ensuring that you played the correct national anthem in front of a worldwide audience. There were 28 countries in the badminton competition, and I think only about three of the national anthems were recognisable. There was so much KLmagazine August 2019
pressure that I remember bursting into tears after the first match! I learned a lot about all sorts of things that have never been of any use again, but I also made many friends who are still friends today.
KL magazine: You then had a slight change of direction, didn't you?
Jan Sayer: I studied for a business qualification and worked for Jonathan Ward, one of Australia’s most prominent fashion designers - which was stress on another level entirely! and then went to Sydney University as the Executive Assistant to the head of the school of literature. It was then that I finally had some spare time (something that’s unheard of in the theatrical world) to concentrate on my writing. KL magazine: So you’d already been writing for a while?
Jan Sayer: I'd always written to a certain extent, and can remember writing a play based (very closely!) on the plot of Double Indemnity when I was about nine years old. Throughout my career I'd been working with scripts or 'scripting' a production, so the concepts of plotting and narrative were very natural to me. My first book was a collection of poetry called Richard and Other Lovers: Poems 1980-2017, although some of the poems were much older than that, and the experience of working on that encouraged me to write my first novel.
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“You tend to find that characters walk into books when you don’t expect them to...”
KL magazine: Which turned out to be The University Cat. Where did that come from?
Jan Sayer: Although the title character is a super-intelligent, welleducated Siamese cat and the book is best described as speculative fiction, virtually everyone in it is based on real people and real experiences. I loved writing it, and the people who inspired the characters loved seeing themselves in another world. KL magazine: Why did you decide to publish under the pen name Jessika Jenvieve? Jan Sayer: Mostly because it was so
liberating. I’m sure George Orwell (Eric Blair) and Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) would agree. It's rather like wearing a mask in that it seems to give you so much freedom and you become less self-conscious about your work. The name was easy - I simply took it from a character I'd created for an online game.
KL magazine: Was it those early successes that encouraged your return to England?
(published in 2017) is a very black comedy. In fact, I think I hate every character in it! None of them have any redeeming features and I don't know where they came from. As a writer, you tend to find that - characters will walk into books when you don't expect them to. Or don't particularly want them to. I like to think of the book as the whodunnit that you'll never solve, and it's a very funny book - although it probably doesn't sound like it!
KL magazine: When can we expect to read your next book?
Jan Sayer: Exposure will be my longest novel to date and I'm currently in the process of reediting it, so I'm expecting it to be finished in the early autumn. It's set in Novia Scotia and starts with a mysterious and rather alarming discovery in a back garden. I don't want to give too much away, so let's just say it's about obsession and about people getting what they deserve. Almost, anyway. KL magazine: And you're already working on the book after that...
Jan Sayer: It's tentatively called The Touchmark, and will be a historical crime story set in King's Lynn. It was inspired by my discovery of my family name on a ledger stone close to the altar in St Nicholas’ Chapel. I then started researching the life of Edmund Reynolds, who died in 1719 aged 47. He was a craftsman who worked in pewter (the ‘touchmark’ would have been a kind of hallmark for him) and he had
two wives – one of whom was an heiress. Finding out about his life and his family has been a really extraordinary journey, and it's going to be a lot of fun to write.
KL magazine: When you're not writing your own books, what do you like to read? Jan Sayer: I read all the time, but my favourite books are the major classics. I read all of Jane Austen's work once a year because it's so elegant and clever, and I love Charles Dickens because of his wit and his incredible characters. One of my favourite modern authors is Terry Pratchett again because it's such clever writing. I’ve recently discovered audiobooks, which means I may finally be able to get through James Joyce’s Ulysses!
KL magazine: What advice would you give someone who wanted to become a writer? Jan Sayer: Don't let anyone tell you
that you can't and just go ahead and do it. Use some pen and paper, sit at a computer, record yourself speaking whatever you're most comfortable with. They say that everyone has got a novel in them. Try it, don’t give up, and you'll probably find you've got more than one novel in you! For the latest news on Jan, her current work and details of how to buy her previous books, please visit the website at www.jessikajenvieve.com
Jan Sayer: Around 2015 I realised that if I wanted to take writing seriously I’d have to leave Sydney and stop working full-time. So I decided to 'come home' to King's Lynn - even though apart from a brief visit in 2000 it had been 30 years since I'd spent any time in the town. KL magazine: Did relocating (or returning) to the other side of the world affect your work?
Jan Sayer: I'm not sure if it was coincidence or not, but when I returned to England my writing got darker, and Relatively Accidental
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ABOVE: Jan Sayer in St. Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn at the ledger stone marking the 1719 burial of Edmund Reynolds – which has provided the inspiration for her next book
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WildWestNorfolk
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ecently, Mrs Middleton has become something like the famous old woman who lived in a shoe, becoming surrogate mother to a brood of incessantly singing children. In fact, she's rapidly turning into a north Norfolk cross between Dr Dolittle and Maria von Trapp. Currently, our family includes at least four blackbirds (Mrs Middleton can actually tell them apart), a family of blue tits, countless sparrows and a goldfinch or two. They all have their own 'feeding stations' containing food that's carefully selected according to their preferences (a courtesy rarely extended to myself) and they even have a few bathing facilities to choose from. However, there are times when this picture postcard existence is suddenly transformed into a veritable war zone. Mrs Middleton will be happily at work in the kitchen, preparing yet another variation of sweet potato and courgette risotto (a variation that will inevitably have 'taste' as its least important criterion) when she'll suddenly grab the nearest tea towel and run out of the kitchen into the back garden. In what appears to be some strange magical rite dating back to pagan times, she'll run round in circles waving her tea towel above her head before a stony-faced return to the graduallycongealing arborio. And she'll do this several times before dinner is ready to be chiselled apart and served. Apart from yours truly, the biggest problem in Mrs Middleton's world at the moment is pigeons. Like all the birds in our garden they have two legs, two wings, two beady eyes, a tendency to make irritating noises, and they're treated to an enviably rich and varied 114
diet. I don't see the problem. "I don’t like them," she says. "There's something wrong with them." It’s an odd reaction to an animal with whom we've had a love/hate relationship for at least 6,500 years – since pigeons were carved (in both a decorative and culinary sense) in modern-day Iraq. In fact, when Charles Darwin wrote The Variations of Animals and Plants Under Domestication in 1868 he devoted two entire chapters to pigeons – while cats and dogs had to share a single chapter between them. Pigeons have been studied relentlessly ever since, possibly because they're almost embarrassingly easy to catch. In 1995, pigeons were found to be able to tell apart the paintings of Monet and Picasso. By 2016 it was proved that the birds could identify around 50 different words – and a year later scientists discovered they could understand the concepts of time and space. Pigeons are better at multitasking than we are, they're as good as doctors at identifying cancers, and they’re now considered one of the most intelligent birds on the planet And they can find their way home from 1,300 miles away. And no one really knows how. For years, researchers have been trying to trick them. Denying them any visual clues (transporting them in a dark box) didn't work. Neither did fitting them with clouded contact lenses. Denying them any sense of smell didn't work. Thinking they relied on magnetic clues or could backtrack the journey they’d just travelled, researchers transported them in revolving boxes. That didn't work either. The secret may have been finally and
inadvertently revealed thanks to the great pigeon disaster of 1997. To celebrate the centenary of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association in June of that year, 60,000 British birds were released in the French town of Nantes around 6.30am – but very few of them ever returned to their roosts. By 11am most of them would have been over the English Channel – at exactly the same time Concorde passed by on its supersonic way to New York. The only pigeons that did return home were the slowest in the group so it was thought they missed the plane’s sonic boom which probably threw out the pigeons’ mysterious navigation system. Pigeons are still making the news, however. Just two months ago, a grandmother in Bath was fined £150 for feeding part of a sausage roll to a pigeon, and last September a woman in New York attacked a security guard with a bag containing a pigeon (she was charged with two counts of attempted wounding). And last December the authorities in Cádiz promised to remove 5,000 pigeons from the city centre after complaints they were menacing tourists. Ringed and treated to health check-ups, the birds are being taken 375 miles away to an unfortunate town called Riba-Roja de Túria. Since pigeons can return home from three times that distance, I don't think the residents of Riba-Roja de Túria will be grumbling for too long. The Spanish will have to take the pigeons around 1,100 miles to be finally rid of them. And rather worryingly, the distance between King's Lynn and Cádiz is 1,167 miles. I haven’t told Mrs Middleton yet. KLmagazine August 2019
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