KL Magazine August 2012

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 23 AUGUST 2012 PRICELESS

magazine

NORTH & WEST NORFOLK’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

COVER IMAGE

Wells Harbour by Grant Murray

editorial 01553 601201

editor@klmagazine.co.uk

Eric Secker David Learner Ian Ward Bel Greenwood Alex Dallas Graham Murray Ann Weaver Christine Glass Michael Middleton

advertising 01553 601201 sales@klmagazine.co.uk

Laura Murray Grant Murray Nicky Secker-Bligh Becky Drew KL 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.

If you’d like to order prints of any photograph featured in KL magazine, contact us at the address below. Please note this applies only to images taken by our own photographers.

T

his mouthwatering handful of samphire was specially-picked for us by Peter McKnespiey of Cookie’s Crab Shop at Salthouse, and it’s a reminder that (at long last!) the summer seems to have finally arrived. You can read all about Peter and the lovely local delicacy that is samphire on page 36. Of course, this issue of the magazine will be hitting the shelves right in the middle of the Olympics, and though we’ll all be cheering Team GB up the medal table, we have a sneaking suspicion that local sportsfans will have at least one eye on Hunstanton for when the ITA Hunstanton Lawn Tennis tournament returns at the end of the month (see page 11). The end of the month also sees the return of the North Norfolk Music Festival, which seems to get better (and attract even bigger names) every year (see page 73).

As you’ll see from this month’s magazine, there’s so much to see and do in North and West Norfolk this summer that we could really do with some extra days in the diary – but if you decide to head for (even) sunnier climes, you may be interested to read our interview with Norwich Airport’s Andrew Bell (page 16). Have a great summer!

KL MAGAZINE

Contact us at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 601201 E-mail: features@klmagazine.co.uk Web: www.klmagazine.co.uk 4

KLmagazine August 2012

Contents

AUGUST 2012

7 & 11 WHAT’S ON Forthcoming events in West Norfolk 12-14 THE BLACK PIGS OF OXBURGH Rob Simonds helps save a rare breed 16

THE BIG INTERVIEW We talk to Norwich Airport’s Andrew Bell

19

THEN AND NOW The changing face of King’s Lynn

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16

24-26 GETTING CLOSER TO NATURE...

We visit the One Stop Nature Shop 29

PETS Help and advice with local vet Alex Dallas

30-32 WELLS HARBOUR A glorious past and a bright future 35-43 FOOD & DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 44-46 EXPLORER The stories behind our village signs

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52-54 THE CURTAIN RISES – AGAIN! New era for Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre 56

RAIL ALE David Learner visits the Railway Arms...

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BOOK REVIEWS This month’s best reads by Waterstone’s

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60-63 THE POOR OF KING’S LYNN The lives of the townsfolk 100 years ago 66-68 UNCOVERING THE PAST The King’s Lynn Archaeological Society 76-78 WORKING WONDERS IN CLAY The work of local potter Philipa Lee 81

MY KL Readers’ questions and photographs

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WILD WEST NORFOLK Michael Middleton’s lighter view of things

KLmagazine August 2012

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A TRADITIONAL PUB WITH TRADITIONAL FOOD

Great deals on great food!

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l Childrens play area l Large vegetarian choice available l Open every day l Families made most welcome l Food served 7 days a week (excluding Monday lunch)

The Angel

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AUGUST BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Tues 3 July - Sat 4 Aug OLIVER! Brian Conley stars in classic family musical £6.50 - £47.50

Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words

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Tues 7 - Sat 11 August Matthew Bourne's PLAY WITHOUT WORDS Award-winning dance drama set in 1960s Chelsea £6.50 - £36.50 Sat 25 August OPEN DAY Access all areas, activities, family fun Free Tues 28 August - Sat 15 September DIRTY DANCING Smash hit musical gives you the time of your life £6.50 - £48.50

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 6

THEATRE STREET, NORWICH NR2 1RL

KLmagazine August 2012

WHAT’S ON

August VARIOUS DATES DURING AUGUST OUTDOOR THEATRE FOR THE FAMILY Holkham Hall The beautiful setting of Holkham Hall provides the perfect backdrop for the ever-popular family entertainment programme

of outdoor theatre which takes place in the courtyard at the Estate.

Wednesday 1st: The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by the Blunderbus Theatre Company Tuesday 7th: Grimms’ Fairy

Tales by The Pantaloons Tuesday 14th: Sleeping Beauty by the Chapterhouse Theatre Company Wednesday 22nd: King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone by the Cambridge Touring Theatre Wednesday August 29th: The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny by the Quantum Theatre All performances begin at 6.15pm and you’re asked to bring your own rugs and low-level seating – and come prepared for all weathers!

Visitors can bring their own picnics or alternatively refreshments will be available from the Stables

50 YEARS AGO: Marilyn Monroe, the iconic American film actress, model and singer dies aged 36 on 5th August 1962.

Café before the performance and during the interval.

Tickets for each performance are £12 (adults), £8 (children) or £36 for a family ticket (two adults and two children).

For full details and bookings, contact Holkham Ticket Office on 01328 713111.

SATURDAY 25th to MONDAY 27th

THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS CASTLE CRAFTS Oxburgh Hall (11am-4pm) On every Thursday and Friday during August, the National Trust at Oxburgh Hall will be holding a range of castle-based activities for children. Come and make a knight, damsel or dragon hat or see how wax seals were used to secure letters in the past – and make one to take away. Normal admission, plus £1 per child per activity.

Call 01366 328258 for further information.

THURSDAY 16th MONDAY 13th to MONDAY 20th COAST BY SHIRLEY CARNT Village Hall, Brancaster (10am-4pm) This is the annual exhibition of one of Norfolk’s best known landscape painters.

Shirley Carnt has lived on the Norfolk coast for most of her life and portrays the everchanging light and big open skies of the marsh, sea and coastline she knows so well.

PUTTING WILDLIFE ON THE MAP Green Quay/The Walks, King’s Lynn (10am-1pm) Norfolk Wildlife Trust is running a free adult wildlife workshop designed to show you the basics of recording local wildlife. Although the event is free, booking is essential. For more details, contact Wildlife and Community Officer Gemma Walker on 01603 625540, and to book call 01603 598333.

Come & enjoy a real taste of ailand! ai Banquet £15.95 Tuesday–ursday

ELMHAM FESTIVAL North Elmham, nr. Dereham A thoroughly traditional village occasion for all the family. The parish church will be full of flower arrangements on the theme ‘Think Of A Number’ and the Primary School will be hosting a Memorabilia Exhibition explaining various aspects of local history. Stalls of all kinds, refreshments served all day, outside organs playing on Saturday and Sunday, Classical Music Concert on Saturday evening. Free vintage bus rides on Sunday and Monday. Free entry with lots of free parking. For more details call Susanna on 01362 668435.

FREE bottle of wine for parties of 10 with this advertisement.

Available to the end of August.

No photocopies accepted.

19 Chapel Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EG Tel: 01553 767013 Web: www.thethaiorchid.com KLmagazine August 2012

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ABOVE: Tony Cheetham, Daniel Ball, Deborah Allen and Colin Bailey of Fraser Dawbarns at their new home in the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn

A new era dawns for Fraser Dawbarns...

With a tradition of service stretching back 170 years, the legal firm of Fraser Dawbarns is now looking forward to a bright future from its newly-refurbished offices in the heart of King’s Lynn

W

hen Charles Dickens wrote about lawyers, he invoked the kind of descriptions usually reserved for the living dead. Not only that but he placed them in dimly-lit, mouldy offices, bleak rookeries and twisted buildings full of watchful, avaricious shadows.

Fortunately, things have changed considerably since the fictionalised days of Jarndyce v Jarndyce and Dickens (who spent three years working in the courts of 19th century London) would have to write a gentler story if he was to put pen to paper today. The legal practice of Fraser Dawbarns LLP in

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King’s Lynn and their new home in the town’s Tuesday Market Place would force Dicken’s jaundiced pen to produce an entirely different kind of portrait.

Solicitors Fraser Dawbarns has been around since Dickens was reporting on the Chancery courts. The company started out in 1842 when James Edward Fraser began practising in Wisbech. Dawbarns wasn’t far behind and opened its doors in 1885. The names of the legal firms changed as partners joined, left and retired over the years and they expanded through mergers and takeovers of other legal firms.

Finally, in 2008, Dawbarns – which had previously merged with Pearson in King’s Lynn and had been known as Dawbarns Pearson – merged with Fraser of March and Wisbech to become Fraser Dawbarns, two family companies with a long heritage united in law. It wasn’t the final partnership.

The company merged with Waterman Cheetham of Wisbech following this, but Fraser Dawbarns retained its name and expanded its breadth of expertise even further.

Fraser Dawbarns has reach. It can offer legal support in almost every single area of our lives and deaths. At any one time they can be working on a

KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: Built in 1768, the imposing new home of Fraser Dawbarns is one of King’s Lynn’s most iconic buildings

murder trial or a company takeover.

They have specialist lawyers able to help with divorce and family law, probate, criminal law, agricultural law, personal injury cases, civil litigation, commercial and property law, employment law and the list goes on.

The company is developing its commercial team at the Lynn Office by bringing in Daniel Ball, moving across from the March office to develop the company’s commercial legal work, including company law, commercial property, leasing and property development.

The King’s Lynn team will be led by senior partner, Colin Bailey and includes Daniel Ball, Tony Cheetham and John Aitken together with an extensive support team.

Today, the company is one of the largest in the region. It has London dimensions, with 105 staff and 14 partners; but the warmth and local knowledge of a provincial company. It values contact with its clients and the wider public.

“We’re in the Legal 500, but having said that we serve the local community and most of those who see us know our lawyers by their first names,” says Colin Bailey.

A lot of the work of the company comes through recommendation, and 60% of their caseload is from repeat business. The strong relationships developed with local people and the ethos of openness sits well with Fraser Dawbarns’ new home, a building which

KLmagazine August 2012

has always been open to the public.

The practice has recently moved into the stately old Barclays Bank building which sits overlooking Tuesday Market Place. Their new home is one of the principal listed buildings in the square.

It was constructed in 1768 for the wealthy merchant George Hogge until it was taken over by Lynn Bank (the first bank in King’s Lynn) before merging with Barclays in the late 1890s.

Banking continued to occupy the building until about a year ago, when Barclays closed the building down.

The timing was perfect.

Fraser Dawbarns had moved six times since arriving in King’s Lynn in the 1970s and had occupied some impressive heritage homes.

As far as Colin Bailey is concerned, this is the last move for some time to come. Taking on such a prestigious building in a prime position will give the company ‘a kind of kudos.’

“It will provide us with a good base for business development,” says Colin.

It is a building with plenty of space and light. The façade (added in the 1950s) has been beautifully done.

There’s an openness about the rooms that’s an invitation, and will, according to Colin, “help us provide a good quality and personal service.”

The company worked closely in cooperation with the Conservation Officer at King’s Lynn and West Borough Council. Many of the old features have been retained, such as an enormous art deco clock on the

ground floor, the cornices on the first and second floor, fireplaces and architraves. The old bank safes are still there, along with the barred gates – and underneath, the original wine cellars stretch under the marketplace, providing useful space for storage.

Fraser Dawbarns has also invested in a new state-of-the-art IT system for the building.

Fraser Dawbarns will be part of National Heritage Day on 9th September, but Colin Bailey is so proud of the building that anyone who wants to come along and take a look at other times is most welcome.

Pity Dickens isn’t available for a tour.

i

details

FRASER DAWBARNS 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com

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CONGHAM HALL

New owners, new tastes and new reasons to visit Congham Hall...

Now the fabulous setting of Congham Hall has new owners it’s the ideal time to come and try our exciting new Summer Menu, which includes delicious vegetables and herbs from our own garden.

Our 3-course evening meal is only £39.50 – including canapes, a selection of homemade bread and coffee.

You can even enjoy complimentary jug of Pimms on our terrace throughout August when you mention this advertisement!

We’re open every day to non-residents for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea – and a gentle stroll around the herb garden.

Congham Hall, Grimston King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 1AH Tel 01485 600250 E-mail info@conghamhallhotel.co.uk

www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk

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www.theclassicshedco.co.uk 10

KLmagazine August 2012

WHAT’S ON

PICTURE: WWW.HUNSTANTONLTT.CO.UK

SUNDAY 19th to SATURDAY 25th AUGUST

HUNSTANTON TENNIS WEEK The ITA Hunstanton Lawn Tennis tournament returns this month, and as usual it’s bound to attract thousands of people from all over the country and even further afield.

Apart from the tournament itself (and over 1,500 people had already entered by the beginning of last month), it’s a major social event, with many parties held around the town for all the spectators and players involved.

It’s an amazing fact that the tournament is actually the biggest in England after Wimbledon and was first inaugurated in 1920. All ages can play – from the young (Under 8 Round Robin) to the senior veterans. Although the tournament's been frustrated by rain in recent years, we've all got our fingers crossed for 2012. For more details and information, see the official website at www.hunstantonltt.co.uk or contact Chris Holt on 01485 541431.

SATURDAY 4th to SATURDAY 18th AUGUST TONY BELLARS – SELF PORTRAIT WITH FLOWERS King’s Lynn Arts Centre Tony Bellars studied at Norwich School of Art in the early 1970s, and his richly-patterned wooden surfaces reference the styles and influences of those times. His work has the quality of craft which is born out of his stylized boats, fish and birds found in Norfolk coastal galleries, but this exhibition also includes a series of facial profiles are drawn from various found images, an artist’s muse and a girl in an art gallery. The work is often humorous coupled with pathos and double entendre. This free exhibition (Tony’s third at the King’s Lynn Art Centre) aims to make you smile with a series of quirky, cartoon-like painted constructions predominantly featuring women (or stereotypical male myths of women) and combine many elements of his past and current interests.

ASSOCIATED WORKSHOP: WOOD & PAINT PORTRAITS Monday 6th August (10:00am – 1:00pm) A great opportunity to make your own wooden portrait, using Tony Bellars’ work and your own face as inspiration! Tony himself will be on hand to demonstrate simple techniques and assist you in making your very own wall hanging self portrait realised in wood and paint.

If you’d like to join in, the workshop takes place in the Fermoy Gallery and places are £12 for adults and £8 for children (no unaccompanied children, please). For more information and to book your place, contact 01553 764864.

KLmagazine August 2012

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LOCAL LIFE

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KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: It’s still a rare breed, but the future of the Large Black seems safe, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Rob Simonds (opposite)

Rob Simonds and the black pigs of Oxburgh...

It’s hard to imagine thast these pigs, happily grazing in Norfolk are rarer than the Siberian Tiger, but the breed is now in safe hands. Bel Greenwood meets Rob Simonds of Scotts Field Pork

PICTURES: BIG DOG CONSULTANCY

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t’s a shame that pigs have such poor eyesight, because the Large Black Pigs of Scotts Field Pork reside in beautiful surroundings adjacent to Oxburgh Hall. They might not appreciate the view of mature trees, but they couldn’t be happier or healthier in their home.

Watching a Large Black sow lounge in her wallow of mud or piglets playfully barging into each other as they run around their paddocks looks as natural today as it would have 200 years ago.

The piglets will grow up and spend their entire lives where they’ve been born with their peers in their family group in the same large areas.

These piglets have ample space in the KLmagazine August 2012

open air, free to graze (black pigs graze not rootle), and to range naturally, until the day they’re taken to the abattoir 22 weeks on. They look as if they belong in the landscape, so it comes as a surprise to discover that these pigs are rarer than the Siberian Tiger. There are only around 300 breeding Black sows in the UK today, and the breed is categorized as ‘vulnerable,’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Yet the Large Black was incredibly common at the beginning of the last century.

The origins of the Large Black lie in the black hogs of the 16th and 17th centuries, making it one of our oldest breeds. It was a pig much valued for the quality of its meat and its gentle nature.

In the 1870s, Mrs. Beeton didn’t stint in her praise of it for flavour, fineness of hide and disposition. In 1919, a Black Sow won ‘Supreme Champion’ at the Smithfield Show and was sold for 700 guineas (£35,000 in today’s money), an unimaginable sum of money for a sow.

The Large Black outnumbered all other breeds at that year’s Royal Show.

It wasn’t until after the Second World War, when tastes changed, that the Large Black fell out of favour.

The meat trade turned to fastgrowing white breeds with their leaner meat but lack of texture and taste and the breed went into severe decline throughout the 1960s until it hit the ‘critical’ list in 1973.

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Rob Simonds, who owns and runs Scotts Field Pork with his wife Sarah was inspired to take on the breed by his great grandfather, Dr. Andrew Kay, a Norfolk GP. In the days before the NHS, doctors often had to have a second income, and Rob’s great grandfather used to keep Large Black pigs in his orchard at Blakeney. Over time, the breed died out almost completely with just a couple kept going by old hands such as Peter Churchyard in Beccles.

The first Large Blacks Rob acquired came from a prison farm at HMP North Sea Camp near Boston in Lincolnshire five years ago. There were two and they lived at the bottom of Rob and Sarah’s garden. As the herd began to grow, Rob and Sarah moved the pigs into their neighbours’ field. It belonged to Richard and Jenny Scott, hence the name Scotts Field Pork.

It didn’t take long before they needed to expand again and this time they moved onto 20 acres of rented farmland next to Oxburgh Hall.

The Large Blacks are mated with a North American Duroc boar with the kind of behind beloved of butchers.

The Large Black is rich in intramuscular fat, which gives the pork great taste and texture – and mating with the Duroc has added in a leaner element which allows the meat to retain an unparalleled richness of flavour and yet meet the requirements of modern tastes.

In these days of increased awareness about what we eat, it is good to know that 75% of pork fat is unsaturated. The meat is flaky, easy to cook and makes brilliant crackling.

“What’s enabled us to expand the business is people’s appreciation of local food,” says Rob. “We have a unique product that is sold through

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local outlets.”

Scotts Field Pork is sold in high quality butchers, restaurants and retail outlets such as John Goddard’s Quality Butchers in Downham Market and Brown’s Kitchen at Mundford, a secret foodie destination.

Rob supplies the Bedingfield Arms in Oxborough, Bramfield Meats, Impsons of Swaffham as well as Brown and Johns, the butchers.

In May this year, Rob and Sarah invited friends and customers to join them on a farm walk to celebrate the success of the business with South West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss. The walk was a great success, not least because of the attention it drew to the value of Scotts Field Pork as a model of sustainable farming and the close-knit relationships it has developed with local clients. The success of building those networks has meant that the herd has grown from 6 to 50 sows and Rob is planning an increase in numbers up to

100 which would create not only increased amounts of great meat, but also local employment.

Out in the field, it’s a beautiful day and the sun is warming the free-draining Breckland soil. It’s the kind of soil that makes the area popular for commercial free range pig farming. These Scotts Field pigs benefit from a ‘very high health status with no routine antibiotics.’

They’re an ideal breed for other reasons too.

Large Blacks don’t get sunburn, a common problem in white breeds. They have very few disease problems and boy, are there some big ladies out there! They are well fed – so well fed that Rob has a crowd of rooks who fly in looking for any tasty leftovers in the pig pens. The pigs are unperturbed.

Nothing much is going to disturb their day.

Rob is proud of the life he’s able to give his Large Black pigs. He is proud that he has reintroduced a lost breed back to the land that used to hold them.

If they weren’t killed for meat, they simply wouldn’t exist or they would become the pet project of wealthy smallholders.

Rob’s way means the Large Black is back in business.

KLmagazine August 2012

Celebrate the great outdoors with Bearts From the best range of country clothing in East Anglia to freshly-made animal feeds and pet foods, to an extensive selection of new and used horse boxes and trailers, Bearts of Stowbridge truly is the complete country store – if we haven’t got it, you almost certainly don’t need it!

l Huge range of our own animal and pet feeds l Great selection of new and used horse boxes l Big choice of new and used trailers l Wide selection of new and used quad bikes l Specialist collection of animal supplies l e Hayloft: for all your country clothing needs

GET: DON’T FOR OVER THE LAND RSE TRIALS! HOR BURGHLEY ember 2nd 2012 – Sept August 30th

Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD tel: 01366 388151 web: www.bearts.co.uk

Hog Roast: at its very best

with all the trimmings too!

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF BRITISH!

HOGS | LAMB | BEEF | CHICKEN | TURKEY | GAMMON We supply a full range of roasting and BBQ facilities tailored to suit your needs and using locally-sourced free-range meat. We cater for weddings, corporate functions, private parties, fetes, festivals and events and also supply starters, fresh salads, potatoes and homemade desserts. We think you’ll agree we offer the best hog roast ever!

Derrick’s Delicacies Telephone: 01485 572137 | 07810 488098 E-mail: enquiries@derricksdelicacies.co.uk Website: www.derricksdelicacies.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

KLmagazine August 2012

Visit our exciting new website at www.goddardsofnorfolk.co.uk – you can place orders online and deliveries will be made by post!

READY MEALS AVAILABLE – phone for details!

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE – call 01366 388377

John’s

quality butchers

4 Wales Court, Downham Market, Norfolk Telephone: 01366 388377 E-mail: john@johnsqualitybutchers.co.uk

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PERSONALITY

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KLmagazine August 2012

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Andrew Bell Chief Executive, Norwich Airport Over 1,000 passengers pass through Norwich International Airport every day, and the smooth running of the whole operation is ultimately the responsibility of one man. KL magazine checks in and talks to Chief Executive Andrew Bell...

KL MAGAZINE: Could you give us brief overview of Norwich Airport and its work?

ANDREW BELL: The airport handles almost 450,000 passengers a year who are travelling to a wide range of UK destinations and (via Amsterdam) over 600 destinations across the world, as well as holidaymakers heading off to the sun.

Alongside providing facilities for flights to the general public, the airport is home to three major North Sea oil and gas helicopter transport companies – and over 70,000 passengers were transported off shore last year.

The airport has a thriving property portfolio which supports industryleading maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses in KLM UK Engineering and Air Livery.

The Airport is also home to a number of general aviation concerns – the largest of which is Saxonair, who operate from the new state-of-the-art Klyne Business Aviation Centre, which opened in 2011.

Last but not least, the airport owns a travel agency called Travel Norwich Airport which has branches in the terminal building and in the Castle Mall in Norwich.

KL MAGAZINE: What does your role as Chief Executive entail?

ANDREW BELL: My role covers all aspects of the business. I’m responsible for the aerodrome’s safety and the airport’s compliance with regulations set by bodies such as the CAA and the DfT. I’m also heavily involved in the commercial development of the business, including route development and property development. I also take a very active role in our customer service development.

KLmagazine August 2012

KL MAGAZINE: What does the airport have planned for the future?

ANDREW BELL: Sustainable growth built on an ever more diversified business model. The airport has terrific potential in all aspects of its business, and realising this potential is my job over the coming years. We’ll also be continuing to develop our customer service offering and our overall aim to put a little bit of the pleasure back into flying.

The new, independent Norwich Airport Passenger Action Group, which is made up of frequent fliers, is leading the charge on this and making great progress.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

ANDREW BELL: It’s lovely when a passenger writes in to recognise some excellent service they received from one of my staff when using the airport.

Another rewarding element is when aspects of the airport are recognised by other airports, or the regulatory authorities, as being one of the best in class in some of the things we do, and then being used a positive example for other airports.

are uncertain. Airlines stand to lose very significant amounts of money if routes don’t work for them, and so it’s even more difficult than usual at the moment to identify an airline willing to open new services. That said, it is possible and we have made some good steps forward.

KL MAGAZINE: What have you learned from your work?

ANDREW BELL: That everything to do with aviation is very expensive, that the ability to address a wide-ranging set of demands from all the different business activities within the Airport is essential, and finally, that not being able to please all of the people all of the time is a fact of life.

KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about West Norfolk?

ANDREW BELL: Watching the kite surfers on Hunstanton beach.

KL MAGAZINE: In your free time, how do you like to relax?

ANDREW BELL: I have two young children who keep me pretty busy when I’m not at work. I really enjoy sailing too if there’s an opportunity.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s been your greatest achievement in your two years in charge?

ANDREW BELL: Stabilising the business after a period of turbulence from 2008, and delivering solid growth since then.

Norwich is a small airport but we have to juggle the same rules and the same regulations that much bigger airports deal with.

KL MAGAZINE: Who’s your biggest inspiration?

ANDREW BELL: That’s very difficult to answer, but my children are a constant source of perspective and keep me on the straight and narrow.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

ANDREW BELL: Think before you act.

KL MAGAZINE: How has the current economic climate affected the Airport?

ANDREW BELL: The ability to deliver new routes is hampered when times

KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people...

ANDREW BELL: Despite the job I do, I don’t particularly like flying!

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“Re-training at the College was the best move I ever made...”

How the College of West Anglia helped Gareth Driscoll improve his job satisfaction and skill base...

G

areth Driscoll used to work as an emergency repair engineer, fixing cigarette kiosks that had been damaged or broken into. Due to the recession, he was made redundant, but was taken on as an apprentice at Palm Paper in King’s Lynn and now trains at the College of West Anglia to further his knowledge and gain more qualifications.

“Being an adult and out of full-time education for 12 years, it took me a while to get back into the swing of things,” he says. “The continuing change in technology also meant I had a great deal to learn, but thankfully the college tutors were there with support and advice.”

For Gareth, attending the College has made a world of difference.

“Training at the college has enabled me to gain the qualifications necessary

to be competent in tasks I’ll be facing in the future. It’s also given me the skills and confidence to be the best I can.”

For people looking to improve their current skills or with an eye on a new career, Gareth has no doubts about the value of what the College has to offer.

“To anyone thinking about studying or re-training at the College of West Anglia, I’d say it’s the best move I ever made,” he says.

“Anyone of any age should take the plunge – it’s worth every minute and the end result is something you’ll have forever. It’s a way of increasing your future opportunities and really helps to increase job satisfaction.”

The College of West Anglia offers a wide range of daytime and evening

courses (available from September) to help people like Gareth discover the simple truth that you’re never too old for education – whether you want to gain qualifications, improve your career prospects or simply learn a language.

The adult learning courses are available in a range of flexible options and programme choices that cater for individual needs and circumstances. l Gareth is just one of many people enjoying the benefits of adult learning at the College of West Anglia – for more details and information about the opportunities available to you and how to take the next step, see the College’s website at www.cwa.ac.uk/today

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18

KLmagazine August 2012

HISTORY

West Norfolk: Then and Now

1980

2012

A NEW FACE FOR THE COLLEGE...

Thanks for the College of West Anglia for the photograph at the top, which dates from the time it was known as the College of Arts and Technology (it had been re-named in 1973, having been known as the King’s Lynn Technical School since 1894). We’d love to see

some of your photographs of your days at the College if you have any!

For more photographs of how things used to be in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, contact Picture Norfolk – at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum,

Millennium Plain, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AW. We’ll be bringing you another nostalgic look at West Norfolk next month.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

To view thousands of images of Norfolk’s history visit: www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk KLmagazine August 2012

19

Student Survival Guide 10 essential items to pack...

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20

KLmagazine August 2012

A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it.

– Alfred Hitchcock

ON SCREEN

AUGUST 2012

l Ice Age 4 l Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax l The Bourne Legacy l Total Recall l Magic Mike l Brave l Snow White & The Huntsman l The Expendables 2 l Ted l Diary of a Wimpy Kid

love the movies. love the luxe.

As lavish as something from the golden days of Hollywood, The Luxe Cinema is an elegantly stylish film lover’s delight. The Luxe Lounge bar sets the mood for a social drink with friends whilst the cinema itself offers luxurious and spacious leather sofas and armchairs – including a selection of Premier Sofas with waitress service! Allowing moviegoers to sit back and relax in true style, enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee whilst watching a wide programme of mainstream, arthouse and classic films. If you love film, you’ll love Luxe.

The Luxe

Alexandra Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1HQ | tel: 01945 588808

book your tickets online: www.theluxecinema.com KLmagazine August 2012

21

ABOVE: Norfolk House in King’s Lynn, with just some of the 131 windows recently installed by Economy Windows

Putting quality first...

Celebrating 25 years of continued success in 2012, local business Economy Windows continues to go from strength to strength

I

n the June Issue of KL Magazine, we explored the first 17 years of Economy Windows. Here, we look at how the company has continued to grow and develop its reputation for top quality product and unparalleled service to its customers.

Economy Windows grew throughout the 1990s and into the new Millennium, consolidating its reputation for integrity so valued by the company’s founder, Peter Hobden. In 2007, the same year that the Queen became the longest ever ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, the company moved its Terrington St. Clements office and warehouse to Scania Way, on the Hardwick Industrial Estate, in King’s Lynn. The new premises offered space

22

for its head office, a large, light showroom and plenty of warehousing.

The company now occupied two prime positions one in Wisbech and one in central King’s Lynn and between them, the two sites employed 35 people.

In 2009, the year that the US elected Barack Obama as president, Economy Windows held a long service award ceremony. Some members of staff had been with the company in excess of 20 years. The combined experience of the staff, their loyalty and close adherence to the company’s policies and procedures is part of the reason, customers keep coming back. Some of those receiving awards included team members involved in the Norfolk House contract. Chris Ashley had been with the company 18 years, Geoff Howson,

13 years and Alan Oakes – 8 years to mention just a few. The sense of being one of the family is a strong part of the company ethos at Economy Windows.

In 2010, the year of the last General Election, Economy Windows won the ultimate accolade for its excellent service standards. It was awarded Top 100 membership of the Master Window & Conservatory Installers Association.

This is like winning an Oscar in the world of trade awards. The Top 100 register was set up by Don Waterworth to reward the most professional and reliable trades people and as a way of protecting the consumer from cowboy and rogue traders. The range of television programmes dedicated to exposing bad practice show that there is still plenty around. To achieve

KLmagazine August 2012

Y NEW CONSERVATOR SHOW SITE AND E DISTRIBUTION CENTR

CONSERVATORY SHOW PARK Elm High Road Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE14 0DG Tel: 01945 588988

Web: www.economywindows.com E-mail: mail@economy-windows.co.uk

registered Top 100 status, Economy Windows had to pass stringent service and product standards and it passed these with flying colours. The company provides high quality products, under the auspices of approved Swish Installer status including ECOtherm+ A-rated windows. A-rated windows are highly energy-efficient. Traditional doubleglazed windows will lose nearly twice as much heat as an A-rated window. An A-rated window will not only save money on heating bills but will help to reduce carbon emissions and can be manufactured to replicate the appearance of a timber framed window.

This year, in 2012, Economy Windows has launched a new distribution centre and showpark in Wisbech. The new centre on its redeveloped Wisbech site has an extensive showroom of doors, windows and associated products in a variety of colours with Economy Windows’ designers on hand to help.

The Wisbech site also has the largest collection of conservatories in the region. It has something for every taste and pocket. It can supply a small lean to or a palace of glass. It is well worth coming out for a visit and getting lost for a few hours amongst all there is to see and enjoying the kind of customer service which offers good coffee, quality information and no pressure to buy.

If there is a narrative thread running through the story of Economy Windows, it is the ethos that has been at the heart of the company’s development over the years and lies behind its relationship with customers ever since.

“If you don’t enjoy doing it, don’t do it,” says Peter Hobden, founder of the company. “Be honest and upfront and trust your staff.”

The Economy Windows story has many chapters left to write. Come along and take a look at what there is on offer, a great range of products, the industry seal of approval in installation, excellent service and the knowledge that this is a company who will never let you down.

KLmagazine August 2012

A bright new look for Norfolk House

N

orfolk House provides sheltered accommodation and is located in the conservation area of The Walks in King’s Lynn. Any renovations undertaken on the building have to take into consideration, the style of the house, planning requirements, and the needs of the residents. Economy Windows took all this into account and more when it was awarded the contract to replace 131 windows, fit fire doors and deliver an electric control entry system.

Economy Windows’ reputation was already well known to many of those living in Norfolk House.

“Many of the residents knew them, they were local and they knew of families who had contracted them to do their windows,” says Cheryl Powell, Manager of Norfolk House, who couldn’t be more satisfied with the way the work was carried out or the excellent communication.

The company felt it was vital to keep everyone informed and to elicit personal preferences from each resident which they considered alongside the council’s planning requirements for sash windows. They spent considerable time in preparation before the first fitting and a lot of thought went into the design of the windows; details such as pull handles to suit the customers requirements.

They created a schedule that took into account activities, hospital and doctor’s appointments and holidays.

This was of immense benefit to the residents.

“The whole thing has been absolutely fantastic,” says Cheryl. “They did a schedule of work for all the residents so they knew approximately when their windows would be done. It all went really well.”

Security locks were fitted on the lower windows and where necessary, the company came up with their own innovations, highlighting a black window key and lock to make them more obvious. They showed careful consideration for those with special needs or respiratory concerns. It took 28 days for the two fitting teams to complete the work and in that time, they certainly won the hearts of the residents.

“The workmanship has been excellent,” wrote Joan, “they were courteous and left everywhere very tidy. I cannot recommend Economy Windows highly enough.”

“Delighted with windows and the kindness and care of the workers,” wrote another.

The residents have lighter, brighter rooms, comfort through improved insulation, reduced noise levels, and security from their top of the range windows.

23

LOCAL LIFE

ABOVE: The natural beauty of Burnham Deepdale is now being brought even closer, thanks to the work of Richard Campey (opposite)

Getting up close and personal with nature...

Arm yourself with the latest technology and you can get closer to the natural wonders of Norfolk than ever. Bel Greenwood visits the One Stop Nature Shop in Burnham Deepdale...

A

t first it would be easy to think that the salt marshes at Burnham Deepdale are a vast, desolate and empty space but nothing could be further from the truth. They are environments teeming with movement and life. Marshes, freshwater or salt can appear to be moody worlds of sky and distance; just think what Charles Dickens did with the wild Kent marshland in Great Expectations.

Even on a bright day the sky has tones in it, a darker hue along the line of the horizon, a touch of wisp-like

24

grey overhead or an inexplicable shadow under the sun. On a day when the sky is full of clouds, wind and movement, walking on the marsh at Burnham Deepdale is like witnessing an opera of weather.

But today, the sky is still and the marsh flats roll out towards the sea in sharp definition. The tide is out and the wide fissures and creeks of tidal mud snake across the land. I take the right hand path and I am struck by the amount of birdsong rising up from the grasses, shrubs and herbs which thrive on the saltiness of the marsh, binding

the sediments, earth, sands and water together. This is samphire country and the plant can be seen poking its way up through the flats. Even the mud hums in the sun with a chorus of popping and fizzing.

The marsh is rich in pickings. Small shrimp and crabs burrowed under the surface feed an army of bird species over the seasons. The salt marshes are open all year round to grey and ringed plovers, sanderlings and oystercatchers, bar-tailed godwits, little terns, sandwich terns and dunlins, eider ducks and great-crested grebes, though some just

KLmagazine August 2012

visit in the summer. They are winter feeding grounds for grey herons, little egrets, mute swans and a host of geese, from pink-footed to brent geese sailing over from Siberia.

The marsh at Burnham Deepdale is a rich, shifting wilderness, part of the unrivalled coastal natural treasure of West and North Norfolk.

The salt marsh and other wild sites can be experienced with the help of guides through the One Stop Nature Shop at Burnham Deepdale. The shop is unique because it supplies everything a nature watcher could possibly require but alongside the selling of binoculars and telescopes is a commitment to encouraging a love of the natural world and its conservation.

The One Stop Nature Shop offers weekly guided walks over the marsh with expert ornithologist, Oliver Reville.

What is unique to these guided walks is that they are consistent and regular throughout the year and are set at a time when working families and children can take part.

They are walks designed to be open to all not just the dedicated birdwatcher. Being able to experience the walk on a regular basis gives a deeper insight into the changing face of the marsh but with a sharing of knowledge from Oliver.

Alongside the weekly Wednesday wander at 5.15pm there are other walks to other areas of natural interest at specific times during the year on a changing programme. This could be a gentle guided walk on heathland or a night wander through ancient woodland with invited guides It is best to contact the shop for details. Most walks last a couple of hours.

A couple of hours is probably the time that one could easily spend inside the shop itself, not least in conversation. Time seems to take a break on entry.

There is so much to see and the atmosphere is open and friendly. The One Stop Nature Shop was set up by Richard Campey and Bob Town in December, 2011. The two men started out as boyhood friends, fishing, birdwatching and hanging out together as teenagers in the small town of Loose near Maidstone, in Kent. Their paths diverged when Richard went off to study Zoology and Bob moved into pure sciences.

Richard went on to lead an exciting life linked to his passion for the natural world and conservation. He spent two years as a young warden on Lundy Island, a three and a half mile long birdwatcher’s Mecca located off the coast of Devon. Land on Lundy and

KLmagazine August 2012

25

ABOVE: The One Stop Nature Shop in Burnham Deepdale has everything you need to add a new dimension to your enjoyment of Norfolk’s natural wonderland

there is nothing between it and the coast of America. He left while he was still in love with the island’s isolation and returns every year. Teaching took him to Taunton but his love of conservation work drew him to the RSPB where he worked for seven years.

It was while working in conservation that he was approached to present a programme for Television South West.

This was ‘Wild about the West’, and he left when the series ended.

Richard’s love of birds has taken him on journeys all over the world from the Arctic Circle to the Middle East and he produces beautiful and breathtaking photography.

The local wilderness feeds that passion here. Out on the marsh there is much to see and photograph and the more the marshes are walked and shared, the more they are treasured.

The coastal marshes of North Norfolk have been described as the finest in

26

Great Britain. They are an accretion of age and land history. It is possible to read the creeks and salt pans, the shifting of form from East to West and take a measure of the progress of time and tide on the shape of the coast. This is a coastline that is in flux, new channels open up, a current cuts a different way and silts and deposits make a new morphology of the landscape.

The marsh walks are guided by Oliver with his expert knowledge of the environment and everything that grows and lives within it. It is a realm that calls for roaming no matter the season.

Call in at the shop which is far more than a sales outlet and book or go online. It is a point of knowledge and the gathering of conservation information.

It is the embarkation point to go out and explore the wilderness just across the road

KLmagazine August 2012

Fine properties currently available in West Norfolk

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Various stalls joining us with an array of items, increasing the variety here in the new extended Bespoke area Also we have glass blowing demonstrations New to Silverwood: Horse feed and tack shop New craft shop opening shortly Shop space and individual units available: only £9 per day!

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www.silverwoodcentre.com STORE TEAROOM 01406 365948 01406 364644

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KLmagazine August 2012

PETS

AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...

Small bites

It’s really raining cats and dogs!

W

e’ve just had some of the wettest months for years. Hopefully by the time you read this the sun will have returned and something akin to summer may be finally happening.

I know clients have expressed their dismay and frustration at the constant rain, but there’s also an interesting effect showing up amongst my canine patients. They’ve been coming in for routine visits and many have gained weight. Not just a little but quite a bit.

Just yesterday two young Springer Spaniels came in for their vaccinations and both had gained more than 10% from last year. When we discussed this it was obvious that walks were being curtailed and the usual ball-throwing sessions weren’t happening because it was constantly too wet to face.

We still tend to feed our dogs their usual amount even though their activity may be reduced. This has led to us seeing an increase in weight in some dogs, and even hyperactivity, and some destructive behaviour, as dogs are

fuelled up but frustrated.

It will change, and soon we can complain about it being too hot – and with that we’ll see the usual summer problems of grass seeds in dog’s ears and feet, pollen allergies and insect stings and bites.

We should all be aware of the dangers of dogs left in cars in hot weather, where they overheat and are unable to pant off the excess temperature and can suffer terribly.

One of the worst heatstroke cases I ever saw was a dog, not in a car, but taken for a run alongside its owner who rode on a bicycle. The dog willingly kept up to please the owner, but in temperatures of over 30 degrees it couldn’t cool itself down, and its temperature rose out of control, sadly leading to its death.

Enjoy whatever summer we get and the pleasure our pets give us, but ensure they’re safe.

And if you are worried about your dog’s weight, then call in and we can help weigh them and give you all the advice you need to help.

It’s no secret that some dogs (dare I suggest Labradors?) love their food and they can clear their entire dinner in seconds. However for some dogs this isn’t healthy, and can lead to sickness and sometimes even lead to surgical problems Some clever boffin has now come up with a dog bowl that can slow down even the greediest diner. By incorporating finger-like protrusions into the bowl the dog has to work harder and longer to consume the food. If you recognise this type of behaviour in your pet, then these bowls are available to view on our website in the dog section at makeyourpetsmile.co.uk

Your pets Downham Market has certainly had some sun this year – and Benny the beagle made the most of it (though we hear he prefers jumping into puddles!) Many thanks to Claire White for sending this photo. Don’t forget to keep sending me pictures of your pets (the funnier the better!) to Animal Matters at KL magazine, 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or you can e-mail them to editor@klmagazine.co.uk

LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn t: 01553 773168 e: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market t: 01366 386655 e: hollies@holliesvetclinic.co.uk KLmagazine August 2012

29

LOCAL LIFE

The bright future of Wells Harbour Story: Bel Greenwood Photography: Grant Murray

30

KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: The Frank-T being loaded with supplies for the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm, and Wells Harbour Master Robert Smith (below)

I

t’s true what Robert Smith, the Harbour Master of the port of Wells-Next-the-Sea says – people do like to see a busy harbour. A sizeable group of summer visitors have gathered to watch a couple of fishing boats, part of a small, resilient fleet, moored up at the quay. On the decks is the paraphernalia of winches, crates, pots and net. Sailing boats list against the wash of colour and light. Many are moored up along the wooden walkways that edge the harbour walls. Parents with their children dangle crab lines into the water, coloured plastic buckets by their side.

Amidst all the bustle, the Frank-T (a feeder vessel acquired by the Harbour Commissioners in April 2011) will shortly make its way offshore. It will be on its way to the wind farm supply vessels waiting at the Outer Harbour, built to meet the demands of the construction of the 88 wind turbines at the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm.

The Frank-T makes daily

KLmagazine August 2012

journeys with equipment, supplies and top-up food provisions. It reduces the need to use trucks on the quayside, minimising any impact on the tourist industry because Wells-Next-The-Sea is busy with leisure craft and visitors and its commercial operations.

The twin focus of the 600-yearold North Norfolk port is one that aims for harmony. It’s not just the port that is increasingly busy since the arrival of the wind farm operators Scira – the local economy is benefiting too. Wells has become a hub for the renewable energy industry and it looks as if it will be very busy for many years to come.

The Sheringham Shoal wind farm is owned equally by Statoil and Statkraft, but will be operated by the company’s joint venture company, Scira – and Wells Harbour was an easy choice for the company. The transfer time from harbour to shoal is 45 minutes, whereas to transfer from other suitable ports in the region would take two to three hours.

Wells was a good choice for

31

‘Scira’s long term operational base.’

The Harbour itself has expanded hugely to meet the servicing needs of the construction of the 88 wind turbines located between 17km and 23km offshore and their continued maintenance.

The Harbour Office now employs 14 full time staff and 5 part time employees in order to service the requirements of all its port users.

“It’s made the harbour much busier,” say Robert, “ and it has taken us back to our roots as a commercial port.”

The outer harbour has been a great success, not just for the wind farm industry but the lifeboat is housed there and the fishing boats use it, as well as visiting craft.

Leisure craft numbers are down this year but they are, he noted, down all over England due to the economic climate and the great British weather we have all been enjoying. Visitor numbers are usually very healthy with plenty of people coming from Europe, especially Holland, he added.

As for revenues, the port did shoulder a great deal of expenditure initially, “but as time goes on, we’re getting a good return,” explain Robert.

The wind farm is certainly transforming business and employment opportunities in the town.

When Scira approached the harbour commissioners about the offshore project, they came with 50 new jobs for local people in their pocket. Wells is a tourist town with lots of low-paid seasonal work, so 50 well-paid new jobs was a big boost to local employment.

For Robert Smith it was an important

32

consideration and Scira was intent on developing good relationships with key groups which it saw as essential to the smooth running of their business.

“Wells Harbour is a key partner in our supply chain,” say Scira’s Elizabeth Hancock, “and we use the harbour facilities daily to transfer our personnel to the wind farm.”

It is not just jobs directly created by Scira that means Wells is prospering and set to prosper for years to come.

All sorts of businesses are smiling.

Arthur Howell’s Butchers shop may have a calm exterior out front, but out back there’s a whirl of activity as meat is prepared and packaged. Howell’s Butchers supply many of the hotels and businesses in the town, but they’ve also been awarded the contract to supply the floating hotel ship, the Regina Baltica, which is home to 100 construction workers.

“It’s been very good news for us,” says Arthur Howells. “Every 28 days we send an articulated lorry out to Harwich, between two to four tonnes of meat and we supply cereals and 2,500 yogurts. It’s very good and every week we do top ups.”

The family business which began in 1899 tries to use local suppliers wherever possible.

“It has helped us through the winter,” he says. He had nothing but praise for Scira, saying the company went out of its way to be helpful to local businesses.

“If you’re a landlord in Sheringham or Wells, then these are happy days,” says Paul Flint, Lettings Manager of Sowerbys Estate Agents. “There’s been a huge upswing in renting. It has had an effect on the holiday cottage industry

because a lot are being rented on a long term basis because they have furniture. Demand has pushed rents up slightly.”

“It’s a brand new industry and our East Anglian patch is benefiting from it,” says Nigel Tompkins, Secretary of the North Norfolk Business Forum. “The businesses that have benefited to a huge degree are the service businesses.

Chandlery, taxi services ferrying people around, B&Bs, hotels and the housing market. There are at least another four major windfarms to be constructed that will be serviced from Wells.”

Using local businesses has been a policy the Norwegian company has pushed and now Scira is building an onshore base at Egmere contracting local businesses to design, build and support it.

At the same time that the wild winds of the North Sea are bringing benefits to Wells, nobody is forgetting the unique character of the town and the very special place that is the beautiful North Norfolk coast.

Robert Smith’s family have lived in Wells for generations and have always worked at sea. It’s a legacy that runs through his veins.

“I have worked here for 23 years, he says, “and it gets busier year on year for tourism. We live in a very special place and what we need to do is to build on that.”

Outside on the Harbour, people are still drawn in to the day to day activity of the port like moths to a flame. The sky and the old stones and the Frank-T as it pulls away towards the sea merges into the experience of being part of the history of a very special port.

KLmagazine August 2012

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Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed 7am-4pm, urs/Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm

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KLmagazine August 2012

FOOD & DRINK

Spaghetti Vongole S CHEF’S NOTE inspired masterpiece e pl m si a This is ! ns and the Italia by the sea – , I’ve been to ly Unfortunate s that ian’ restaurant countless ‘Ital g this rin re near maste come nowhe nd sa e or d it with m dish – I’ve ha w ra c rli ga h, l beac than the loca , and are a vampire sc to gh enou is recipe th w If you follo even cream! ith a w up d you’ll en to the letter, thentic ngole that’s au Spaghetti Vo y! ly tasty. Enjo and beautiful

INGREDIENTS 750g fresh baby clams 500g dried spaghetti 5 cloves garlic, chopped Flat leaf parsley, chopped 2 red chili, chopped 2 lemons Extra virgin olive oil White wine Sea salt flakes Freshly ground black pepper Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Serves: 4

METHOD 1 Place the clams in a strainer, set in a large mixing bowl, and with the clams completely submerged, run cold water over them for about 10 minutes – then remove by hand.

2 Cook the pasta until al dente and rinse until cold.

3 Place a pot of boiling salted water on to boil.

4 In a liberal amount of olive oil, sauté the garlic for about a minute and add the chilli. Once the garlic is very lightly browned, immediately transfer the contents of the pan into a large mixing bowl.

5 Wipe the pan clean, return it to the heat, and add the clams and a splash of wine. Keep the pan moving, and as soon as the clams open remove them to the bowl of garlic one at a time with some tongs.

6 Once all the clams have opened, plunge the pasta back into the water.

While it warms, place the pan back over the heat, add the clams and garlic, sprinkle with chopped parley, more olive oil if needed and another splash of wine.

7 Drain the pasta, taste the pan contents for one last final seasoning and combine everything for one last time and toss with the juice of one or two lemons, serve and garnish with a little more parsley.

8 Enjoy with crusty white bread and a chilled glass of white wine.

RECIPE: Paul Hegeman PHOTO: Jason Hamilton

KLmagazine August 2012

35

FOOD & DRINK

ABOVE: Peter McKnespiey of Cookie’s Crab Shop with some freshly-picked samphire at the salt marshes at Salthouse

A real taste of the sea: the secrets of Samphire It’s a quintessentially Norfolk delicacy, and samphire now enjoys something of a cult status among local foodies. Bel Greenwood meets veteran samphire-gatherer Peter McKnespiey for a taste...

I

’ve often thought that the thin sheets of deep green seaweed wrapped around rolls of rice in selections of sushi are very good for the soul but don’t taste of anything in particular. Maybe it’s the paucity of quantity or the method of preparation that drags the taste out of it. Even the crispy nets of seaweed served up in Chinese restaurants taste more of oil and seasoning than

36

anything else, although they do have a satisfying crunch.

There’s no such problem for our most popular, native, coastal eating plant. It isn’t really seaweed at all, but it does grow by the salt-lashed coastal zones of the North Norfolk coast.

It is unique. Samphire tastes of the sea and it is delicious.

Samphire (Salicomia) is a modestlooking plant and it really is a plant and

not a seaweed. Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall, an unreserved fan of samphire, describes it as looking like cacti with absent spines. It doesn’t get very tall and digs its roots deep into the tidal flats and salt marsh which is its home.

Now is a good time to pick this wild, edible bounty. It has a summer season which starts in mid- to late June and ends as the autumn toughens the

KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: The only secret of Samphire is where to find it – here, fresh shoots can be seen growing up through the salt marshes at Salthouse

fronds. Early in the season the fresh tips can be eaten raw. Later in the season, samphire (sometimes known locally as sea asparagus or sea-pickle) can be cooked like asparagus. In our region there’s also a trend to pickle it and it goes very well with a pint.

It’s versatile, substantial and strong – and is beloved of fishermen and coastal folk who’ve been eating samphire for centuries, and long before it got a reputation as a trendy eating experience.

Its heritage is implicit in its name.

Samphire is a corruption of ‘sampiere’, which derives from the French for Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen.

Samphire has ancient uses other than eating. Its ashes were once used to make soap and glass (hence its other name, glasswort) and there’s research into its potential use as a biodiesel, cultivated in coastal zones where other crops cannot grow – but for the moment, the location of a good bed of samphire is a well-kept secret.

It’s a very busy late lunchtime at Cookie’s Crab Shop at Salthouse, which couldn’t offer a more authentic dining experience. There’s a scattering of small tables inside and outside the shop and in a shed to the left. Nearly all the tables are full and there’s an all-round sense of satisfaction – that these diners have come along, not only for the platters of seafood, the fresh crab and lobster served with samphire but also the experience of the place.

Cookie’s Crab Shop has a kind of energy that has more to it than the fact it’s very busy. It feels good to be there, relaxed, real and down to earth and people like it.

Hanging on the wall inside are two

KLmagazine August 2012

large photographs sent by Kew Gardens after they came out some years earlier to see the plant in situ.

Peter and Suzanne, who run the family business, are both old hands at harvesting samphire. Some of Suzanne’s earliest memories are of being taken out ‘samphiring’ with her dad when she was a small child.

“It has always been here,” she says, “and it has always been a part of our diet.”

Samphire has been served up at Cookie’s Crab Shop since it first opened its doors in 1956.

The only secret to harvesting samphire is where it’s to be found.

There’s no way Peter or Suzanne are letting on. It can be dangerous to gather it.

“You’ve got to know the tides and where you are going,” says Peter. “You have to be careful and you have to respect the wildlife.”

Norfolk’s coastline is particularly tricky because the currents shift. But once out in the great stretches of salt marsh “it is lovely and peaceful.”

This year the season’s a little late because of the harsh spring and early summer.

Samphire can be bought from the shop or enjoyed on the menu.

Samphire has made it from being a well-loved local vegetable to gracing the menu at royal events – it was on the wedding menu of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Celebrity chefs love it too – Rick Stein advocates poached samphire as the perfect accompaniment to any fish dish, and the Hairy Bikers have braved the mudflats themselves (with Peter as guide) to sample and cook it.

Samphire has its own allure and draws people to try it – and once eaten, it’s not easy to forget.

There are countless recipes for samphire but maybe the best way to eat it is simply as it comes – washed thoroughly to remove any clinging sand or grit, boiled in saltless water, sprinkled with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon and eaten in the open air.

It’s a priceless Norfolk experience.

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FOOD & DRINK

RestaurantReview

The Dabbling Duck in Great Massingham may be Norfolk’s Pub of the Year, but how does it score on the food front?

L

ast year, CAMRA voted the Dabbling Duck Norfolk’s Pub of the Year – and although their judging criteria would have been somewhat different to mine (this is a food review, after all) there’s a real sense of special occasion as soon as you step through the door.

The relaxed and friendly greeting is echoed by the interior of this traditional country pub, with its book-lined walls, inviting leather sofas, large open fireplaces (even in the middle of summer they manage to look welcoming!) and wooden beam ceilings.

It’s a beautiful setting, and as we were shown to our table I couldn’t help noticing that almost all the others were reserved (always a good sign) and that other diners seemed to be truly enjoying their meals.

The menu managed the difficult act of being sophisticated without being pretentious, and after ordering our drinks (a small glass of merlot and a pint of Adnam’s Broadside) we gave it the attention it deserved. Our starters were the rather

38

unique and mouth-watering Black Pudding Scotch Egg (which came with an apple curry salsa) and the beautifully-presented (and equally tasty) Marinated Scorched Haloumi with a puttanesca salad, fresh mint and balsamic.

For mains we ordered the Grand Rump Burger with Smoked Bacon and Gruyere Cheese (served with tomato relish, coleslaw and hand-cut chips) and the vegetarian option – a Wild Mushroom, Spinach and White Truffle Linguine (served with a parmesan and pea cress salad).

Although a burger may seem an odd choice when there was so much on offer, I felt it provided an ideal basis for comparison – top marks, for example, for asking how I’d like the burger cooked. When it arrived, it had clearly been assembled with a lot of effort and care. Even better, it was absoluted packed with flavours and cooked to perfection. As for the very generouslyproportioned linguine, it was piping hot (not an easy task with pasta dishes) and was liberally full of a fantastic selection of mushrooms.

For dessert, my dining partner only had room for the (“very refreshing”) selection of ice creams and sorbet, but I decided to try the cheeseboard of Colston Bassett Somerset brie and mature farmhouse cheddar (with water biscuits, home-made chutney, grapes

and celery). It was the ideal end to a genuinely memorable meal, which – at less than £50 – offered real value for money.

If you’d like to stay a bit longer (and even after such a satisfying meal it was very tempting to try the breakfast!) the Dabbling Duck has 6 tastefullydecorated guest bedrooms, and the recently refurbished Blenheim Room is an unforgettable setting that’s available for private parties and business functions.

It was good to see an authentic children’s menu too – with six main course choices. Nice to see they weren’t simply scaled-down versions of the adult choices, and they were very reasonably priced.

Finally, if you did want to walk off your meal, you’ll find that 6 walks start from just outside the pub – there’s a map on the wall and guides are available from behind the bar.

What more could you want? Exactly.

FOOD

SERVICE

VALUE

55 55 55

THE DABBLING DUCK 11 Abbey Rd, Great Massingham Norfolk PE32 2HN Tel: 01485 520827 Web: www.thedabblingduck.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2012

CafeReview

PURE SUMMER LUXURY!

THE ULTIMATE SHARING SUNDAE Only £5.29!

T

hey say there’s nothing better than a change, so on a recent shopping trip to Fakenham we decided to eat lunch before we even got to the town – and called in to the world-famous Nature Reserve at Pensthorpe. It may sound like an odd choice for a lunch, but we’d heard some very good reports of the reserve’s Courtyard Cafe and thought we’d give it a try. The cafe is open from 9.30am–5.15pm daily, and there’s plenty of free parking (it’s also worth noting that you don’t have to pay to enter the reserve before visiting the cafe).

The Courtyard Cafe is light and airy, and (fittingly) has a very ‘natural’ feel about it. It manages to be traditional yet very contemporary – it’s notably clean, with lots of space and tables. Sadly the weather didn’t allow us to sit in the courtyard itself, where there’s plenty of outside seating with parasols, surrounded by nicely-planted beds of lavender to attract the wildlife.

Although we arrived a bit too late to sample the Pensthorpe Full English Breakfast (it sounded lovely, and is available until 11am), the special lunch menu offered six tempting options (and a children’s menu too) . There was a very attractive range of sandwiches, cakes, cheesecakes, trifle, hot and cold drinks, wines, Pensthorpe real ales and Suffolk Cyder – talk about being spoilt for choice!

I had a cream tea, which was very competitively priced (only £3.45) and comprised a sensibly-sized and very fresh fruit scone with proper clotted cream (something that many cafes fail to deliver), an individual pot of strawberry jam, and a piping hot pot of tea which offered enough for two good cups. For £8.15, my friend enjoyed a notably fresh egg and cress mayonnaise sandwich, an elderflower presse, and a generous portion of lemon crunch cake, which tasted just as good as it looked.

The staff were very friendly and smiling throughout, and we felt our lunch offered extremely good value for money.

We even managed to start our shopping trip early by browsing the extensive gift shop. Pensthorpe is wonderful for a family day out – but now I know it’s the perfect location for a really enjoyable lunch as well!

PENSTHORPE COURTYARD CAFE Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, Fakenham NR21 0LN Tel: 01328 851465 Web: www.pensthorpe.com KLmagazine August 2012

An amazing feast of chocolate fudge cake, profiteroles and chocolate crunch, layered with vanilla and chocolate flavour ice creams and chocolate flavour fudge sauce. All topped with a whip of cream and two chocolate flakes!

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Tel: 01553 772221 39

FOOD & DRINK

LocalTastes Selected by Chris Glass

W

e may not have been blessed with the perfect summer this year, but that’s no reason not to enjoy some of Norfolk’s finest ice creams. Long gone are the days when your choice was limited to vanilla, strawberry and chocolate – here are just some of the fantastic flavours out there waiting to be discovered:

APRICOT & BRANDY Lakenham Creamery, Norwich The apricots are juicy and sharp, and there’s a real hint of something stronger here. It’s a lovely combination that has a genuine home-made taste to it – and it’s delighfully creamy as well.

LIQUORICE Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream, North Tuddenham Okay, so it’s not the sort of flavour you’d normally associate with ice cream, but the addition of tangy liquorice makes for a truly memorable – and very refreshing – experience. A real treat.

SWEET SPICE & NUTMEG Lakenham Creamery, Norwich There’s a very clever mix of flavours here that combine perfectly to create a wonderful ice cream that’s ideal for an impressive dessert – serve it with some rasberries and you’ll see what I mean.

CHAMPAGNE SORBET Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream, North Tuddenham Just in case we do have a warm (and dry) summer evening this year, celebrate your one-and-only BBQ of 2012 with this luxurious sorbet. Best of all, it tastes just as good as it sounds!

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KLmagazine August 2012

Dining Out...

If you’re eating out locally, here’s a selection of great places to try...

Eat, drink & stay...

A traditional village inn, offering luxury accommodation and scrumptious meals – all freshly cooked using only the very best local produce.

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Church Road, Barton Bendish PE33 9GF Telephone: 01366 347995

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KLmagazine August 2012

Deli th rnham

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Open Daily Extensive menu Children’s play area Lovely location Plenty of parking Telephone: (01485) 512194 Email: villagedelithornham@gmail.com

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H O T E L Great Bircham, Kings Lynn PE31 6RJ Tel 01485 578265 Web www.the-kings-head-bircham.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

Mad about the aubergine

ABOVE: Aubergine Moussaka is a brilliant way to make the most of their delicate smoky flavour

A

lthough in Britain we think of it as a plump, pearshaped vegetable (it’s actually a fruit) with a shiny black exterior, aubergine comes in a wide variety of shapes, colours and sizes. Italian cooks enjoy varieties with long ones with lavender and cream streaks, some Asian varieties are the size of a grape, the seed-filled, round Thai aubergine has green stripes and is used in curries, while the pale purple Japanese and Chinese versions are beautifully long and slender. The aubergine can also be ivory-coloured and ovoid – which explains why it’s often called ‘eggplant.’

Aubergines can be bought all year round, but you’ll find they’re at their best (and cheapest) from July to September. Look for unblemished, firm, lustrous skin with a bright green stem – and the fruit should feel heavy.

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STORE: Aubergines will store well in the fridge or a cool larder for about four to six days.

PREPARE: In the past, many recipes recommended salting aubergines to reduce their bitter flavour. This isn't really necessary now, although salting does make them absorb less oil when they’re fried (see below).

To prepare, wash the skin and trim off the stalk. Slice or cut the flesh into chunks just before cooking as it tends to discolour quickly.

The humble aubergine has played a major part in many popular regional cuisines throughout the world – in French ratatouille, for example. The

slightly bland flavour of the aubergine makes it a perfect blank slate on which rich and aromatic spices and herbs can be added. Stew them gently with stock, chilli bean paste and Shaoxing wine for a classic Chinese dish with minced pork. In India, Iran and Afghanistan, aubergines are made into hot, spicy pickles to whet the appetite.

GOOD FOR: Although aubergines are fairly low in vitamins and minerals, they do contain a good amount of fibre.

GOOD IDEAS: Scatter some roast aubergine slices with grated cheddar or gruyere cheese and grill until golden and bubbly. Or cut into chunks and fry them in oil with garlic and ground cumin until golden.

Best of all, try some aubergine crisps!

Slice the fruit thinly, salt and then pat dry. Heat about 1cm of oil in a frying pan and fry the slices in batches until golden and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with salt and serve with fish or chicken. Marvellous.

KLmagazine August 2012

Ask the

EXPERT

KITCHENS | BEDROOMS | BATHROOMS | APPLIANCES | TILES

Stuck for a recipe? Can’t find an ingredient? Don’t know whether garlic should be crushed or sliced? Ask Ann, and she’ll point you in the right direction...

Q

I’ve just gone through my spice rack and found a number of herbs and spices are past their sell-by date. How long is the shelf life, and will these definitely be unusble?

A

Herbs and spices are one of the only things where the shelf life is usually a bit too long, but the best way is to open them and smell them – if they’re even slightly ‘musty’ smelling then dump them and replace. If they were in a cupboard they will have survived better than being in a spice rack in the light. I only buy very small quantities of herbs and spices as they lose their flavour so quickly. Whole spices generally fair better than their ground down versions, but both will lose their intensity over time.

Q

Once a carton of sour cream is opened, how long can you realistically keep it? I used some when doing a chilli, but I still have some left and I hate throwing things away.

A

Personally, I would throw it away after two days (depending on the date) just to be safe. I did ask a friend about this, and they said that as the cream is already soured, it won’t go sour! They claimed to have used soured cream 7 days after opening! You’ll be able to tell when it is going mouldy as it smells really nasty.

Q

When you’re making or preparing food for someone who has a food intolerance or allergy, are there any special steps you should take?

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A

A very good question that many people don’t consider. To avoid crosscontamination, you should store foods such as nuts, peanuts, flour and milk separately in closed containers. Always wash your hands thoroughly and avoid touching other foods until you’ve finished preparing the meal. Wash all the cooking equipment thoroughly with hot water and soap – and this includes worktops, chopping boards, mixing bowls, pans, cake tins, knives and utensils. If you’re using oil for cooking, don’t use oil that food has previously been cooked in.

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Q

Why are the pickles I make too salty? I go by the recipe book and soak them in brine (2oz of salt to a pint of water) for 24 hours. I wash them well, pack them in jars and use white or malt vinegar, but they’re always too salty. I have tried onions and cucumber – can I dilute the vinegar or not soak them in the brine?

A

When you next make some pickles, try using granulated salt instead of flake-type salt. I’ve also found that ordinary salt sometimes works better than ‘specialised’ pickling salt. A good tip is to place the cucumbers in ice water for at least two hours before putting them into the brine. If your house has a water softener, try using some bottled water to make the brine.

Finally, make sure you remove the ‘blossom’ end of the cucumbers completely. I hope that helps!

KLmagazine August 2012

1 St. Andrews Court, Rollesby Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4LN

Telephone: 01553 777323 43

LOCAL LIFE

K

ing George V erected this sign on the Sandringham Estate in 1912. It shows an ancient Norse morality tale, with the moral that evil cannot be appeased, it can only be conquered by self-sacrifice and faith.

It shows the Village, with Fenrir, the demon wolf fighting with Tyr, the god of war. The gods are said to have found Fenrir and tried to tame him, but he grew larger and stronger, he even broke off chains they tested his strength with.

Then a magician brought an unbreakable silken thread. Fenrir agreed to try it if one of the gods put his hand in his mouth. The wolf was tied up, was unable to get out of the thread, but bit off Tyr’s hand.

However, according to the Domesday Book, there is no wolf in the village name, which means Wylfhere’s settlement, from Wylfhere’stun. This could be an early version of Wilfred, so meaning Wilfred’s settlement.

In any case, it all adds up to a most attractive sign.

The Royal links to our local village signs...

Our humble village signs have a suprising degree of royal history behind them. President of the Village Sign Society Maureen Long looks at some of the most famous in more detail...

T

he two traditions of the Royal Family and village signs are well-connected, flourishing and will survive in East Anglia for many years to come. It was Edward VII who started the tradition of erecting a village or town sign to announce to visitors just where they’d arrived. The signs usually depict something of the past and present history of the village or town and were first erected on the Sandringham Estate with pictures depicting the village, as in Wolferton, portraying a wolf. This has been carried on enthusiastically for those coming

44

after. George V ordered further signs for the estate, these also being carved in the Alexandra School of Carving on the Estate itself. Visitors today can still see the sign that was over the School of Carving.

In May 1920, Prince Albert of York made a speech at a Royal Academy banquet, mentioning village signs.

“The development of motor travelling has brought back to our highways some of the importance which they enjoyed in the old coaching days,” he said.

“I feel sure that many of my comrade motorists would welcome the revival of

the village sign or emblem to the visitor in a strange land. The name of many of the villages would offer scope for the wit and humour of the artist. In the neighbourhood of Sandringham, village signs have been introduced with considerable success.”

The Daily Mail, hearing of the Duke’s speech, then organised a competition for the design of village signs. There were prizes of £1,000, £500, £200 and £100, and there was a small judging committee headed by the Duke himself. Remarkably, 525 entries were received and an exhibition was mounted by the Daily Mail at Australia

KLmagazine August 2012

House in the Strand in the October 1920. Twenty six entries were shortlisted, including Swaffham – although the eventual winner was St. Peters in Thanet (the Sussex villages of Mayfield and Battle came second and third respectively).

For the Coronation of George VI in 1937, three more signs were erected in Suffolk – at Kesgrave, Kettlebaston and Campsea Ashe – and these still stand today.

The Coronation of George’s daughter Queen Elizabeth II heralded another spate of signs – in Earl Soham, Fressingfield, Orford and Walberswick.

In 1977 and 1978, the Silver Jubilee saw a deluge of new signs. Suffolk WI held a competition to design a new sign, and many villages went on to produce a sign in honour of the Queen.

New signs appeared in 2000 for the Millennium, in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee, and this year will see many new signs to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The Village Sign Society produces a pack to help with planning and erecting a sign, and over 70 villages have applied for a pack so far this year.

The late Queen Mother Queen Elizabeth was another ardent supporter of village signs, and unveiled a beautiful example in Hillington on the Sandringham Estate in 1996, whilst the

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hree different signs erected by three different groups were erected here between the 1950s and 1990s, the first of which is still standing just off the Hardwick roundabout at the entrance to the town. This was made by Norfolk’s famous sign-maker, Harry Carter, in 1959, for the Business and Professional Women’s Club and had been at several different sites previously.

One side of it depicts St. Margaret, the patron saint of the village church, whilst Henry Bell, the architect who built the Custom House, is on the other. Above them is the town’s coat of arms, an ancient sailing ship, etc., A second sign which used to stand on the Gayton Road was given by the Lynn branch of the National Council of Women is now no more, whilst the third, given by the Borough Council is now ‘retired’, in the garden of their offices in Chapel Street. It features all of the waterfront buildings in a stylised way in one group: St. Margaret’s Church, St. George’s Hall, the Guildhall, Red Mount Chapel, the Custom House, St. Nicholas’ Chapel, Greyfriars Tower and the South Gate.

KLmagazine August 2012

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he bunch of lavender on the bottom of this attractive sign depicts the lavender fields and products for which Heacham is reknowned. The village is also remembered for horses, and the sign features the famous hackney breed while the other – a seahorse – represents the village’s links with the sea.

The main feature, however, is Princess Pocahontas, the daughter of a Red Indian chief, who married John Rolfe from Heacham. She caused a stir there and beyond, being presented at Court. On the sign she’s dressed in the period’s Court dress. This sign shows the village history and has thus immortalised it for new generations. The sign stands on the main road, opposite the turning to the Lavender Fields.

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his lovely two-sided sign traces most of the history of Hillington from past to present. It even features a whale, from the days when men from King’s Lynn went whaling and brought back the dead wales to retrieve the lucrative oil and blubber.

This processing gave off pungent smells, thought to offend the good people of King’s Lynn, so the business was farmed out to Hillington.

There were trains until the line was closed in 1963, and these are also featured, as well as the wayside cross, one of four which stood in the village.

Also on the sign is Berner the Bowman, to whom William the Conqueror gave the village, then called Hellingetun. There are villagers, farming products, carts and horses, and the impressive Hillington Hall gateway, once the east gate into King’s Lynn. The Queen Mother, whose friend Lady Fermoy lived in the village, unveiled the sign in 1996.

Queen went to Stowmarket, Suffolk in 2002 for part of her Jubilee Tour and unveiled one there.

This one was short-lived however, and was soon taken down. Rumour had it that no planning permission had been sought, but that it was hastily placed into the hole reserved for the town’s Christmas tree, as the Queen was coming to unveil it. It was removed swiftly. Some said it was because a letter was damaged and had to be replaced. Many Village Sign Society members rushed to see it after the unveiling and were disappointed.

However, now all is well and repeat visits have been arranged.

I hope you enjoy this small selection of local village signs and the stories

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behind them, and remember to keep your eyes open as you drive around the county (or indeed the country) to discover new signs erected for the Diamond Jubilee.

There’s certainly plenty going on this year to provide inspiration – crowns, local boats from the Canaletto-themed Thames flotilla, the visit of the Olympic flame, and even local athletes taking part in the Olympic Games.

The Village Sign Society is always pleased to hear of new signs, attend unveilings, hear your reports of these and add the signs to its ever-growing database. For more details and information, visit the Society’s website at www.villagesignsociety.org.uk.

ere is a sign erected in 2000 to celebrate the Millennium, which replaced the traditional Harry Carter sign of the 1970s. That showed Gayton’s 1820s windmill on one side and a local fair on the other. The new version is of an unusual three-armed variety by Graham Chaplin of Buxton Forge, who has done a similar one for that village.

The windmill is once more a significant feature and has actually helped to pay for the new sign. In the 1920s the mill lost its sails and became derelict, but System Three Technology moved onto the site in 1985 and generously donated £1,000 towards the cost of the village sign.

Of the three ‘arms’ of the design, one shows the windmill and a horse-drawn corn wagon, with the wagon and St. Nicholas Church on the reverse side. The village church and windmill are also shown also on the other reverse. A bright sun shines down on the lot, including the pig, sheep and a horse, denoting the agricultural side of Gayton, whilst the crown at the top refers to both the Crown Inn and (as in other Millennium signs) the second Millennium of Christ, the King of the World.

KLmagazine August 2012

Playtime In association with Youngsters World

ABOVE: The practical, good-looking and highly soughtafter iCandy Peach Blossom 2

Pink or blue – or peach?

I

n the UK today about half of expectant parents choose to find out the gender of the baby before it is born. The most often stated reasons for finding out in pregnancy are ‘planning’ and ‘why not?’ – some people want to plan for a nursery for their baby or buy clothes for a specific sex of baby, rather than wait until after the birth to find out the sex.

It's a personal issue and it’s one hotly debated.

In our baby department, there’s no doubt that gender-related items are hugely popular, and many of our mums-to-be will postpone choosing their baby items until after 20 weeks when they can be scanned to confirm the baby’s gender.

As a result, there’s now a bigger amount than ever of gender-related baby products on the market. From clothes through to prams, cots, bedding, car seats – all of these are

SPECIAL OFFER FREE Car Seat with every iCandy pushchair and carrycot – please contact us for more details and information!

KLmagazine August 2012

now available in girly pinks and purples, boyish blues and greens, and of course neutrals and blacks for those who still choose to have a surprise!

One company that’s embraced this issue is the hugely popular iCandy brand, launched in 2005 and founded on the fundamental premise of offering parents the most beautiful pushchairs in the world – pushchairs of unsurpassed quality and of innovative and cutting-edge design.

The brief for the team of British designers was to produce luxurious, award-winning products which provide parents on-trend British fashion with attention to detail, making safety, innovation and functionality key priorities.

The people at iCandy feel so passionate about their brand and the crucial service to the consumer, they’ve chosen not to sell online. With this in mind, they’ve carefully selected a

national network of retailers and international distributors who they trust to offer the most personalised experience when selecting, purchasing and enjoying the products.

The iCandy range of prams is incredibly sought after, with parents to be needing to order months in advance to guarantee delivery of their chosen product.

As well as stylish good looks and functionability, iCandy’s flagship product – the Peach 2 – is able to convert into a double mode of transport. This upgrade is achieved simply, with the addition of a Peach Blossom 2 converter – and it’s a great investment, knowing you can grow your pushchair with your growing family!

Youngsters World is one of iCandy’s authorised stockists. Visit us to see the full ‘fruity’ range of Apple, Pear, Peach, Cherry and Strawberry!

Youngsters World 112 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AQ Tel: 01553 761666 Web: www.youngstersworld.com 47

OPPOSITE: Looking forward to the future are the team at Shaun Hagen Motor Services (pictured from left to right): Stephen, Jordan, Suzanne, Shaun and Michael

Celebrating 10 years of professional service

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emember the days of September 2002? The Queen was celebrating her Golden Jubilee, Arsenal won the Premier League and the FA Cup, Tony Blackburn won a new TV show called I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and the Ford Focus became the best-selling car in the UK for the third year running.

It was also when motor mechanic Shaun Hagen decided to take the big step of running his own business.

“I really wanted to make something of my life,” he says, “and though I had the option of going into a number of partnerships I wanted to make the business a success on my own terms and by my own efforts.”

Shaun Hagen Motor Services was established, and from the beginning Shaun was determined the business built a name on honest, personal service.

“I think the personal touch is so important,” he says. “Meeting customers face to face and building a relationship with them is the real key to success.” It was an approach that proved immediately popular, and Shaun

KLmagazine August 2012

found himself employing more staff after only three months.

Today Shaun heads up an established and experienced team from a centre just outside King’s Lynn than boasts four service bays and a dedicated MOT bay. Here, they offer full service facilities and MOTs for all makes and models – which brings its own challenge.

“In motoring, the changes in technology since 2002 have been incredible,” says Shaun. “As an independent, we have to keep ourselves up to date with all new developments across all manufacturers.

Happily, we’ve got a great team here, and we continue to invest in tools and technology and in our training and knowledge base.”

Although the company offers very reasonable rates, it’s clear that the standards of service are uppermost in the minds of customers.

“People are very protective of their cars,” says Shaun, “and when they hand over their keys they’re really trusting us and our work. The fact that so much of our business comes from word of mouth speaks volumes for just how

good our service is.”

So where does Shaun Hagen go from here?

“Honest professional service always has to come first,” says Shaun. “We have the room to expand, but putting 110% effort into every job we do is the most important thing for us.”

i

details

SHAUN HAGEN MOTOR SERVICES The Workshop, Maple Road Saddlebow Industrial Estate King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3AJ Tel: 01553 826000 Fax: 01553 826001 E-mail: shaun@shaunhagen.co.uk

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Stunning jewellery – now available online too!

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Lings Country Goods for all your country pursuits

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KLmagazine August 2012

HEALTH & BEAUTY

FeetFirst

with Elizabeth Dutton

August news!

If you want to wear those special shoes but your bunion is stopping you, then you’ll be pleased to learn that this month we’re introducing a new tool which helps creates ‘pockets’ in leather shoes to accommodate hammer toes and bunions. The best news of all is that it does this without damaging the shoe! Please phone the clinic for more details.

What your feet reveal: and how to relax them!

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ur feet reveal our state of health, and often the problems we suffer with our feet relate to problems in the body.

The solution for conditions such as corns, blisters, ingrowing nails and bunions can be rectified by visiting your local foot health professional, but what happens when your problems are caused by stress, tension or illness, and you need to relax? Help is at hand – or at your feet!

Reflexology is the technique of applying gentle pressure to ‘reflex’ areas on the feet or hands to bring about a state of deep relaxation and to stimulate the body’s own healing process.

The theory behind reflexology is that organs, nerves, glands and other parts of the body are all connected to a number of reflex areas or reflex points on the feet and hands, and by stimulating these areas using a compression technique and a form of massage with your thumbs, fingers and hands, you can create a direct response

KLmagazine August 2012

on a related body area.

Reflexology is all about bringing balance, harmony and a sense of well – being to the body. During times when we find ourselves feeling “ungrounded” and our body needs equilibrium in order to keep working healthy, a light, gentle reflexology treatment can create this sense of balance.

Some of the recognised benefits of reflexology include: l Encouraging the body to heal quicker l Relieving the effects of stress l Improving the immune system

l Relieving pain l Encouraging better circulation l Improving bowel movement l Eliminating waste products from the body l Clearing the body of toxins l Promoting general relaxation If you’d like to learn more about reflexology and the benefits it can bring to you, we run a 2-day basic introduction course on the subject and techniques. Please contact us using the details below for more information.

All you need to know...

ELIZABETH DUTTON is a qualified foot health care practitioner and trainer. Elizabeth and her qualified team offer treatments from the Foot Care Centre, 4B Tower St, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EJ. For more information, details, help and advice please contact Elizabeth’s centre in King’s Lynn. You’ll find the Centre’s website at www.TheFootCareCentreKingsLynn.co.uk For details of how to train as a foot care practitioner please see the website at www.TheCollegeOfFootCarePractitioners.co.uk (note that the QR code on the right will also take you there) Finally, you can call us on 01553 768661 (clinic) or or send an e-mail to Elizabeth and her team at enquires@thefootcarecentrekingslynn.co.uk

51

LOCAL LIFE

ABOVE: They’re behind you! With the help of the stars of the Great British Seaside Special, Brian Hallard (background, left) and Paul Searle (background, right) are breathing new life into Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre (opposite)

Curtain rises on a new era for the Princess...

The end of last year were dark days indeed for the future of Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre, but today it’s in very safe hands.

Bel Greenwood talks to Brian Hallard and Paul Searle...

W

hen Brian Hallard retired from life as a producer he settled in Hunstanton. He’d led an extraordinary life, not least spending years on the road with Rocking On Heaven’s Door. He even hired the London Palladium for a night and brought the house down with a handsome profit.

In 2004, he won the Producer of the Year award from trade magazine Encore, nominated by Jim Marshall of

KLmagazine August 2012

Marshall Amplification. But it was time for a bit of peace and relaxation, and the clear blue seas off the coast of the busy resort town of Sunny Hunny.

Little did he realise that he’d be eagerly sought out, first by Richard Searle to act as Entertainments Manager at Searles Holiday Park and then by an really unexpected caller.

One morning he got a knock on his door. It was the Borough Council of West Norfolk and King’s Lynn and they wondered if he might be interested in

taking on a damsel in distress.

Brian, with plenty of chivalry running through his veins, didn’t hesitate. The damsel was really a princess it turned out, but this wasn’t any ordinary flesh and blood royal – this princess was a theatre, the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton.

The Princess Theatre, built in 1932 with the largest gable end wall of local honey-coloured carrstone in the country, had been called the Capitol Cinema until it was taken on by West

53

SUMMER STARS: Ian Larkin (above), Mike Jerome (left) and Glen M Ford (right)

Norfolk Council in 1981.

In honour of the Prince of Wales’ marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, the council re-christened the theatre The Princess. From then on until 2011, the council was subsidising the cost of running the theatre as a live venue and had decided it couldn’t afford to carry on in a climate of cuts.

It leased the theatre to C&R Cinemas (who also run the Majestic Cinema in King’s Lynn). The cinema operators reportedly wanted to produce a combination of live performances and films, but they suddenly handed back the lease and the theatre was threatened with being boarded up.

This dark scenario was taking place in the autumn of last year. In November 2011, the keys were handed back.

The theatre occupies a prominent situation in Hunstanton. It’s a graceful building in the left-hand corner of the green looking out to sea.

A building of that size and heritage taken out of action with its front covered over would have been a terrible eyesore and given completely the wrong impression of the town. It would have had an inevitable economic impact. It was a little like taking the heart out of Hunstanton.

It became important to the whole town to save the Princess Theatre.

Enter Brian and an expanding cast of knights – Paul Searle of Searles Leisure Resort, Ian Larkin, a musician and performer of International Music and Leisure, and James Johnson of James Johnson and Co Accountancy who all came together to form Hunstone Productions.

54

Together they took on the running of the theatre.

“We treated it as part of our community policy,” says Paul Searle.

“We do fundraising for local charities.

Myself and my brother are members of the Round Table and donated the bandstand to the town in memory of our grandfather.”

It was a simple step to get involved in the task of saving the Princess Theatre and joining what Brian calls the family involved in the rescue.

A lot of time was spent in negotiations, recalls Paul, and it’s a very hands-on enterprise. All the partners have been giving their expertise as well as investing equally into a pot to refurbish the theatre and the bar.

Every night the theatre has been open and at least one or two of the partners have been behind the bar.

“It’s been an interesting project,” says Paul. “I’ve certainly got to know about theatre in the last six months. We put on a comedian on Friday night. We sat and watched people smiling. Hopefully, that’s what we’ll endeavour to do – create happiness, put a bit of happiness into people’s lives.”

Putting happiness into people’s lives is definitely what’s planned now the theatre has flung open its doors again.

Inside the 472 seat theatre, the stage has the pieces of a full-scale summer set being prepared for the Great British Seaside Special.

This is a real family variety seaside show in the glorious tradition of end of the pier entertainments.

Brian is aiming for uplifting.

“We have a great theatre set and six

dancers and three comedians,” he says.

The laughter factor should be high – the new show will feature Mike Jerome, ‘International Toy Boy’ in love with larger ladies, who’s worked with big showbiz names including the Three Degrees and Neil Sedaka.

Glen M. Ford will perform the UK’s No.1 tribute act to the late Sir Norman Wisdom – he’s performed with Michael Barrymore and toured the world.

Finally, the ‘cheeky chappie’ Ian Larkin (one of the partners) will do his multi-talented instrumental comedy act. Ian has worked with Lenny Henry, Al Murray, Helen Shapiro and The Supremes among others.

Inside the theatre, the partners are busy. Paul has just arrived to sort out a technicality behind the bar. Brian, who had always dreamed of having his own theatre, is busy running the show.

It is exciting.

“You get a buzz from bringing something back to life,” Paul says.

It’s life that the Princess Theatre needs. It is a lovely, compact theatre with great views and a vibrant atmosphere. It was made for live entertainment. The theatre has launched a campaign to get people to sponsor a seat. It can make a wonderful gift and will benefit the sponsor with a plaque and 10% off ticket prices and bar consumption – but more than that, it will go towards saving a lady.

There’s much planned for the future of the Princess Theatre.

There’ll be a Christmas show with a poster design competition for schoolchildren at the end of the holidays.

There are plans for so many things – cult film weekends, art festivals, amateur dramatic productions, music nights, and comedy nights – so many entertainments just waiting in the wings.

The future of the Princess Theatre looks to be in very safe hands.

KLmagazine August 2012

e Consulting Room Richard Haywood A consultant plastic surgeon, Richard specialises in breast reconstruction surgery, micro- and cosmetic surgery including breast enlargement, nose reshaping, facelifts, skin resurfacing and tummy tucks. In addition to offering a wide range of cosmetic surgery at BMI The Sandringham Hospital in King’s Lynn, Richard also runs a Minor Lesions Clinic.

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WHAT TYPES OF LUMPS AND BUMPS CAN BE TREATED AT THE CLINIC? We can normally remove all general lumps and bumps which are under 2cm in diameter. These lumps and bumps can be cysts within the skin, small fatty lumps under the skin or commonly benign pigmented moles or skin tags.

IS THE PROCEDURE PAINFUL? The injection of the local anaesthetic does sting slightly – it’s similar to a wasp sting – but this eases off quickly within a few seconds.

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE? We can treat most patients on the spot. The procedure itself takes different lengths of time depending how large or small the lump or bump is. The vast majority of procedures take between 15-30 minutes. Most patients would be going home within an hour of the surgery. There may be some stitches which will need to be removed five to seven days after the surgery. Most wounds will be healed by a week.

WILL IT LEAVE ANY SCARS? It can take three to six months for some of the redness to start settling and for the scar to mature fully it can take up to a year.

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Cooks Furnishings Ltd 7 Guanock Place, King’s Lynn PE30 5QB web: www.cooksfurnishingsltd.co.uk tel: 01553 774991 KLmagazine August 2012

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? The cost depends on the number of lesions (lumps or bumps) to be removed. The hospital will quote you a no-obligation one-off fixed price fee. The price includes your treatment, up to two follow-up appointments and any histology if the tissue needs to be looked at under the microscope.

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55

LOCAL LIFE

ABOVE: The Railway Arms at Downham Market’s station – a true haven for commuters and lovers of real ale

All aboard in Downham for some really rail ale...

The Railway Arms at Downham Market isn’t just a handy rest stop for weary commuters. It’s a haven of good cheer and very friendly folk. David Learner pops in – and finds it hard to leave

O

n 27th October 1846 (it was a Tuesday) the railway station at Downham Market provided a welcome of sorts for its very first passengers.

Twenty years on, within the pages of Bradshaw’s Descriptive Railway Handbook, the volume’s reporter wasn’t overly generous: “In the fenny part of the country the air is not only cold,” they said, “but exceedingly damp. This place is famous for its butter and wild fowl and has an

56

ancient church and bridge”.

In those pre-electric days, when the ferrying of sheep made more money than the transportation of people, the population of Downham was just two and a half thousand. Bradshaw’s noted that the station offered the opportunity for fashionable telegraphic communication, that Market Day was on a Saturday and that... well, that sort of wrapped it up for Downham. The butter churned, the whoopers whooped and the ancient church nodded off back to sleep.

The Railway Arms and café, now occupying redundant offices and a comely ex-waiting room, have taken a duster through the place that Bradshaw could never have predicted.

A real ale pub that serves Grandma’s Weapons Grade Ginger Beer and a devastatingly succulent Stretham cider called Pickled Pig? A bacon bap at six in the morning light of a cool café? The local MP supping tea as she waits for the Westminster-bound train?

All of this is true.

Tell Bradshaw that whatever time he

KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: The welcoming interior of the Railway Arms – a true local, thanks to the efforts of landlord Ian Pinches (below)

arrives, there’s a drink and a bite that suits the hour, within reason.

Ian Pinches, landlord without tie and all-round good egg, is a man on a mission. As a regular commuter from Downham to London he started to wonder what if...

He got talking to the bloke who ran the station’s refreshment options and newsagents, who also installed the whirring model railway train that still runs its circular route close to the ceiling of the bar, and the two started to plot.

The bloke wanted to sell. Ian wanted to buy. A deal was struck.

Since September 2009, Ian and Lesley Ann have been up at lark’s cough to provide more than just a commuter stop on the way from Lynn to London.

Although it’s the café that offers the best of the income and the engaging comments from visitors who think they’ve stepped back on to the set of Brief Encounter, it’s the pub that softens and mollifies.

A full house? You could probably squeeze thirty people in at a push, but to step off the 18:49 to London and know that you’ve now got an hour before resuming your life on its trip to the capital, is to enjoy 60 heaven-sent minutes in the company of wonder.

Richard Price has been a CAMRA member since 1979. He’s found the place through the Good Beer Guide,

KLmagazine August 2012

where the Arms has lived almost since it opened. He’s gushing with adjectival praise.

“It’s friendly, it’s atmospheric, it’s warm,” he says. He’s there for the real fire, the real cider and Ian’s real goodwill, which breathes over the room like gold. Then there’s a darker note to his voice.

“I used to drink lager,” he confides, “but then I saw the light.” I swear I heard a Praise Be from somewhere.

Terry Brazier’s there to organise Thursday’s quiz: popular, emphatic and generous. The quiz is there because that’s the sort of event you’d like your local to have. There’s never a shortage of takers.

“What was the name of the Arnold Ridley play set in Far Vale railway station?”

We all know the answer to that one, but mid-sup the door on to the platform has opened and Mortimer has entered. Mortimer’s on his way to London, curiously out of place in this quaint proscenium pub. Ian greets him with a grin that engulfs. A premium drop of Elgood’s or a pint from the Humpty Dumpty Brewery in Reedham is evidently the focus of Mortimer’s attention and he taps the nearest pump.

“When’s your train?” asks Ian. “Twenty minutes,” says Mortimer.

“That’s a half then,” says Ian.

As Mortimer retreats to the fire the bar breathes out again. Over the next twenty minutes Mortimer will learn that the premises are open seven days a week but that it’s best to check times on the website at www.railwayarms.co.uk. He’ll also discover that where Downham leads, others follow: early 2012 saw the opening of the Cambridge Tap, up the line on another platform.

Finally he’ll understand that once he’s seen the train glide in on the London side he’s got around twenty seconds to down his beer, open the door and slip in to a carriage to cart him to the smoke.

“The record’s eight seconds,” says Ian, “but then he’d only just started his pint. You can’t waste real ale.”

There’s no timetable in the bar, just as there are no station announcements or music. There’s the gentle patter of conversation and amiability and a landlord who’s seen the future. And that’s chanced at a point when that same tea-drinking MP, Liz Truss, has shown that she’s not only deeply committed to the upgrading of the line to London, but also that it will happen soon. Not then, not later: even sooner than that if she gets her way. At the rail summit in December she said: “We are gunning for the 2014-19 period in the Government’s Output Specification, but we should press for the project to be delivered sooner given the focus on infrastructure.”

Ian is sanguine; Bradshaw’s Downham population has risen from 2,500 to close on 10,000. In the five years to 2009 its annual rail passenger usage rose by a third to almost 400,000 journeys.

I ask him about his plans for the future.

“World domination,” he smiles.

Richard raises his glass and the 19:50 has arrived to convert Mortimer back to reality. As I leave the Railway Arms I know that the Campaign for Real Ale has found a true companion with a bright and brimming future and that I’ve discovered the true meaning of local.

57

Books

David Learner

Hail, Caesar! So, given the weather we’ve been having so far this year, you can expect the worst. Our eighth month is named after Caesar Augustus. Now, the French for seven is sept – and that’s why our ninth month is... er, September.

I think I read that in a book.

SWEET TOOTH IAN McEWAN Solar was his last new title and it sold ecstatically well in both treebook and e-book. This softly softly cold war spy thriller with a beautiful heroine slippingly named Serena Frome has all the makings of a classically readable McEwan. As usual, trust no-one, least of all the cat. Epic.

THE NECESSARY APTITUDE PAM AYRES No apologies for returning to this title for review now that it’s due out in paperback.

Pam Ayres was never going to hold down an office job and she knew it. Her unique voice, coming all the way from the dappled Stanford in the Vale, rings out loud and clear and this luscious biography is one to give and gorge on.

Enjoy every last Oxfordshire vowel.

THE FOOTBALLER WHO COULD FLY DUNCAN HAMILTON Twice winner of the William Hill Sports Prize Hamilton takes an ordinary tale of the rites of passage and makes it his own.

This true story of growing up as a Newcastle United supporter isn’t maybe the first sports book you’d take off the shelf, but when it’s enriched by the description of a close bond created with his father it really does start to take wing.

A WANTED MAN LEE CHILD Child’s Midlands background makes him ideally suited to deft plotting, intricate writing and devil may care Bond meets Jason Bourne storytelling. Well, according to his readers on both sides of the Atlantic, that is. We’re at number seventeen in the Jack Reacher series and showing no signs of running out of bullets anytime soon.

TIMERIDERS: CITY OF SHADOWS ALEX SCARROW Overwhelmingly talented, the Scarrow brothers, Alex and Simon, and both are able, with a slumberous ease, to cross from adult to teen storytelling with the deftness of a dragonfly. Think time travel and cyborg assassins, throw in a bit of Sherlock Holmes and ensure you’re in early teen mode, and you’ll have arrived at this, book six in the series. Five others await your indulgence.

August Events THE KINGMAKER’S DAUGHTER PHILIPPA GREGORY It’s not as if she needs the publicity, Philippa, but her work has straddled all the media; she’s as comfortable on the big screen as she is in your handbag. Head back to the days of the Earl of Warwick for this one and find the tragic and compelling tale of Anne Neville and her sister Isabel, neither of whom will need to buy next year’s diary.

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Saturday

4th

When fashion designer ROBERT GREENFIELD decided to turn an ancient ruin into a sophisticated hotel for North Norfolk, nobody could have accused him of not having a sense of humour. Come and meet Robert as he signs Samphire Coast and find out why his story has already had them hooting in Holt and bellowing in the Burnhams.

DAVID LEARNER is Assistant Manager for Waterstone’s at 137 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1AU Telephone: 01553 660111

KLmagazine August 2012

Discover a new approach to overcoming trauma...

EMDR is a tried and tested method of helping people overcome traumatic events. Bel Greenwood meets two local women who are currently offering the therapy – with amazing results

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ur brains really are extraordinary processors.

They take the material of our lives, sort out the experiences and benignly file it all away during sleep. However, sometimes this process doesn’t take place as it should and we can end up constantly reliving a traumatic event perhaps years later.

Maybe we’ve lost someone close to us, been diagnosed with a serious illness or been involved in a devastating road traffic accident. Trauma could be the result of abuse, violence or witnessing violence. Many of our experiences are hidden and we may think we’ve overcome the worst – but the signs of suffering can emerge years later in sleep problems, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger or low mood. We could be living with a phobia in a constant state of hypervigilance, or be exhausted by fear.

These are all symptoms of being unable to move forward and to get on with our lives. Fortunately, there’s a therapy which can help facilitate the healing work the brain would normally undertake on its own. It’s called Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). It’s recommended as a therapy to resolve trauma in the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Together, Elizabeth Delamore, RGN RMHN and Janet Taylor, RGN RMHN

KLmagazine August 2012

have more than 30 years’ experience Francine Shapiro. It is believed the eye working as Psychiatric Nurses and movement helps to unlock the brain’s they’ve now set up a practice in this information processing system which area – Trauma Resolutions, which has been frozen due to mental trauma. specialises in offering EMDR therapy.

The results can be amazing.

They are warm, dedicated and Janet outlined the case of one passionate about what they can offer. It woman who had suffered two horrific is believed that the basis of the therapy events. She became very angry and her is replicating REM sleep. Janet and life was sliding out of control. She had Elizabeth demonstrated how this works tried a number of different therapies with two hand-held devices with without success but EMDR helped. alternate lights and soft buzzers.

“She needed a lot of sessions,” says Visualising the trauma in the mind Janet, “but she’s fine now. We have while experiencing these stimulations been quite amazed by the results.” leads to a change in the picture; it’s as if Another woman who benefited from the memory of what has happened the therapy had a phobic reaction to remains – but the pain, emotion and enclosed spaces. The EMDR was intensity has been drawn off. carried out over a couple of sessions Sessions last between an hour and an and she was able to use the London hour and a half, but the process can underground shortly afterwards and continue unconsciously for days even travel through a 10km mountain afterwards. In most counselling or tunnel in Italy. cognitive behaviour therapy, the person She wholeheartedly recommended seeking help is asked to relive and detail EMDR therapy as “there have been no the trauma over and over again. EMDR side effects, no ongoing therapy and does not ask this. nothing but a positive result.”

In the initial session a relationship of trust is developed and the nature of the need is outlined but there is no pressure to talk in detail. TRAUMA RESOLUTIONS “It’s important to feel safe Elizabeth Delamore and whatever is said is highly tel: 07810 716372 e-mail: elizabeth.delamore@traumaresolutions.ltd.uk confidential.”

Janet Taylor The therapy was developed tel: 07979 109371 over 30 years ago by e-mail: janet.taylor@traumaresolutions.ltd.uk American Psychologist Dr. Web: www.traumaresolutions.ltd.uk

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HISTORY

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KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: A fascinating exhibtion at the King’s Lynn Museum looks at the lives of the town’s working folk 100 years ago – and their families

100 years of life for the poor of King’s Lynn...

An exhibition at King’s Lynn Museum is looking at the harsh economic realities faced by past generations, and it makes for a fascinating contrast to today. Bel Greenwood discovers more...

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dwardian King’s Lynn had such a high rate of infant mortality in the ‘yards’ in the early 1900s that life expectancy was reduced to a mere 25 years. Many people lived in slums in the late 19th and early 20th century and conditions were hardly conducive to good health. In 1897 The Times reported that the people of Lynn ‘have little taste for pure water... they evidently prefer pure sewage and they like it neat.’

This remark reveals the attitudes of the author as much as the awful state of public hygiene in the town. Life was hard for the poor, and this harsh living

KLmagazine August 2012

was exacerbated by the reluctance of the local authorities to deal with the problem of sanitation.

From the 1850s, a number of Acts of Parliament were passed with the intention of improving housing and sanitation in the country, but by 1900 many of these measures still hadn’t been introduced to King’s Lynn. Local councillors were reputed not to have welcomed central government interference and were reluctant to raise the local taxes needed to fund the improvements.

In 1898, 46 people died in an outbreak of typhoid in Lynn and Gaywood. It was a tragedy that should

never have happened and it’s just one of the stories of the lives of the poor of King’s Lynn – told in photographs, newspaper extracts, documents and artefacts in a fascinating exhibition called Hard Times at Lynn Museum, which runs until January next year.

It’s easy to forget what the poor endured with courage and resilience.

There was recourse to the workhouse built on the site of the medieval St. James Chapel – until the clocktower collapsed and it was rebuilt on Extons Road. Conditions were deliberately harsh. Food was boring, and paupers were fed just enough to keep them alive. Families were separated –

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children over seven, wives and initiated by the Trussell Trust. It’s husbands all slept in separate based at the Purfleet Centre and wards and only met for a couple managed by Baptist Minister of hours on a Sunday.

Kevan Crane.

You had to be truly desperate No less than 27 different to go to the workhouse with its organisations – including the Job miserable and monotonous Centre, Citizen’s Advice Bureau labour and the stigma of and Sure Start centres – are destitution. registered to hand out vouchers However bad living conditions for an emergency three days’ were in the Yards of King’s Lynn, worth of food relief. People at least you were together – even allowed to come receive food if that togetherness was too close relief three times, and to date 687 for comfort. Many families lived in individuals have accessed help cheap, rented accommodation from the Food Bank. and insanitary slum housing.

“The main reason is benefits In True’s Yard, a family of two delay or benefits changes,” says adults and nine children lived in Kevan. “We’re meeting an awful one cottage. The parents slept lot of people who have been on the bedroom floor and the referred through Job Centres.” nine children shared a single bed.

It’s an increasing trend – there They may not have crawled were 155 people last month under the covers feeling well-fed alone. To meet that need, the either – in the 1900s, a quarter of Food Bank turns to local people, the population lived on the edge who are a generous bunch. The of starvation.

Food Bank hands out lists of Child labour was common and needed items to shoppers at ABOVE: Although it’s tempting to think scenes like this are men and women worked for different supermarkets in the a thing from the past, it’s important to remember that poverty wages. A skilled man town on different days, and local poverty is still very much with us. earned 3-4p an hour in the 1890s, people donate an item.

The borough council is a member of and by 1912 that had only risen to 6p “Considering the current climate, the West Norfolk Partnership, which (worth £1.43 in 2005). people are very generous,” Kevan says. works with neighbourhoods across the The days were long, breakfast was In just one day, volunteers at Asda city to overcome issues that affect eaten on the job and the work was hard collected some 360 kilos of food. people’s lives like health and and dangerous.

There’s no doubt there have been unemployment.

What’s most striking about the Hard huge improvements since Victorian and Better sanitary conditions has always Times exhibition are the photographs.

Edwardian times, but poverty still been a factor in improving life There’s a picture of a mother and her affects people today. expectancy – today, figures for 2007children in a filthy yard – but the apron “Poverty is a complex matter with 2009 reveal that women in the of the little girl is spotless (see page 60). many causes,” states West Norfolk borough can expect to live to 82.8 Somehow in those impossible Borough Council. “We seek to provide years and men 79.3 years. conditions, the mother of that child support to residents through a range of These days the council is active in found the energy and pride to keep her measures.

As unemployment may be promoting healthy lifestyles. Landlords child’s clothes clean. A boy labourer integral to the problem for many can’t get away with the appalling looks directly at the viewer. people, the West Norfolk Partnership is conditions of the past. The Yards were It was ‘hard times’ certainly, but working with a variety of local extensively demolished in the 1930s. people still strove to keep their dignity. organisations, businesses and There’s now social housing, housing There’s something poignant about education providers to help more benefits and help for the homeless, and looking at the photograph of a class of people into work.

The regeneration the council works closely with The boys, knowing that many of them team is also working on a variety of Purfleet Trust and Genesis Housing would have perished a few years later in initiatives to stimulate the economy.”

Association, who open their doors the First World War. The Hard Times exhibition is a during periods of severe weather to All poverty is relative, and no one can reminder of misery, exploitation and provide shelter to people sleeping deny there aren’t areas of deprivation in need – but it also underlines courage rough.

King’s Lynn today or that people aren’t and endurance.

The council estimates there are 15 currently suffering from ‘hard times,’ Poverty is still with us, but according people known to be sleeping rough in but things have changed hugely since to Kevan Crane, so is generosity and King’s Lynn, and there’s been an those Edwardian days, not least in our support – and on a community and increase of 22.8% of households attitudes. strategic level, a real determination to eligible for help under the West Norfolk Borough Council combat it. homelessness legislation, but this is in identifies five key neighbourhoods line with national statistics. which are less affluent than others, but l Hard Times: Life for the Poor 100 The workhouse closed in 1948, the the attitude of the council in addressing Years Ago is showing at Lynn Museum same year the welfare state was born. ‘socio-economic and housing issues’ until 19th January 2013. For opening People signed on for ‘dole money.’ couldn’t be more different from that of times and more information, please Last September a food bank opened the 1850s. contact the museum on 01553 775001 in King’s Lynn, part of a network

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KLmagazine August 2012

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West Norfolk Glass Ltd THE LOCAL COMPANY FOR ALL YOUR GLAZING NEEDS SINCE 1967 Hereford Way, Hardwick Narrows, King’s Lynn PE30 4JD Tel: 01553 763164 | Web: www.westnorfolkglass.co.uk

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KLmagazine August 2012

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HUNDREDS OF GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR

Simply Interiors

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f you take a walk down the High Street in King’s Lynn, keep your eyes open – because if you’re looking for flooring of any kind, you really don’t want to miss Simply Interiors. The shop front sits quietly looking out at the flow of the town and as you approach the door, hold your breath and prepare to be surprised because Simply Interiors has more to it than is at first apparent.

Simply Interiors is like a shop within a shop, within a shop. It’s like one of those upside-down houses in a coastal funfair without the rocking or a miniature Escher design for a house of carpets or a Russian doll of rooms.

One room and flight of stairs leads into another as the building extends back and up and down in a quirky arrangement of rooms stocked with a wide range of high quality flooring, including Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs), carpets and laminates. The family business which offers commercial and domestic flooring options is opening up a new level. The basement is due to become an extra display area for the quality flooring.

The old, atmospheric shop in King’s Lynn feels spacious with high ceilings and high windows which bathes the very large range of quality and affordable flooring in natural light.

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Amtico and Karndean Design flooring is stocked in a range of tones, grains and textures with up to 25 years warranty. Forbos hardwearing sheet vinyls with up to a 20 year warranty.

Sisal woven flooring from Crucial Trading and Weston Hammer is proving to be a very popular line in coastal regions as part of a life style choice, and there is a stylish collection of colours and designs from Brinton’s Fine Carpets and a strong slate of contemporary designed carpets from Lifestyle Floors.

Simply Interiors in King’s Lynn is bigger on the inside too, because it is served by Simply Interior’s head office and warehouse in Wisbech. It has 8,500 square feet of showroom area with over 50 rolls of flooring and this allows for some very competitive pricing.

Hand-in-hand with great product comes dedicated and experienced staff.

Simply Interiors is built on a strong reputation for customer service and experience. Quite simply, Simon Johnson, who owns the business, has been selling flooring since he was 12.

What he doesn’t know about commercial or domestic flooring probably hasn’t yet been discovered.

He has laid floors in vinyls, rubber flooring, laminates and carpets in hospitals, offices, schools and pubs as well as in domestic settings. He is as at

home in a local lounge as he is putting down metres of safety flooring at Heathrow Airport.

So next time you are thinking about flooring, take a trip down the High Street, keep your eyes open and step inside the intriguing layout of Simply Interiors and discover, in Simon’s own words that ‘flooring needn’t be complicated.’

The company will come out and visit you in your own home with samples and free estimates. It offers price sensitive, quality flooring, expertise and experience.

It doesn’t get much better.

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SIMPLY INTERIORS 4 High Street, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1BX Tel: 01553 777951 Web: www.simply-interiors.com E-mail: sales@simply-interiors.com

KLmagazine August 2012

HOME: ALL ON ONE GREAT HIGH STREET!

Style Kitchens

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he Style Kitchen showroom on the High Street in King’s Lynn is a gallery of quality kitchen design, modern, contemporary and traditional. The showroom is full of light and spacious enough to wander freely around a range of kitchens on display.

Style Kitchens is a company in love with design.

Style Kitchens’ first kitchen company was born in Buckinghamshire 25 years ago. Its core activity was designing and manufacturing bespoke furniture and kitchens and over two decades the company built an unrivalled reputation for quality and service. It grew to become one of the largest kitchen retailers in that county.

The company arrived at a point where it wanted to concentrate more on design and one on one interaction with clients and it sold its Buckinghamshire company before moving to Norfolk.

Gary decided he wanted to go back to the family business he started all those years ago. He now deals with every client on the design front with the help of his showroom team, and his son Matthew is in charge of every Installation.

His belief is that one of the family is in charge of the project at all times, giving

KLmagazine August 2012

the care that the client deserves.

With designs to suit all styles and budgets, Gary will come out and help to create your own unique and original kitchen and one that will meet your requirements and fit your price range.

Style Kitchen handles everything from design and project management to fitting.

The beautiful showroom shows the diversity of designs that could transform your house into the home of your dreams. The range includes the very best of the modern German kitchen world and our latest partnership with Callerton kitchens. Callerton are known only to select the very best kitchen studios in the country to supply their brand of designer kitchen and we are the first in this area to have ever been chosen.

For those of you whom want the very best you will be spoilt with our bespoke kitchens.

Last year Gary brought into one of his suppliers’ companies and is now a proud partner of one of the finest kitchen makers in the world. Our makers are based in Devises in Wiltshire home of Smallbone and Mark Wilkinsons to name but a few.

The ethos of this family company is for quality, value and service. Visit their website at www.stylek.co.uk or come

into the showroom and experience what it feels like to be surrounded by the cool elegance of top of the range, affordable, quality kitchens.

The staff are welcoming, friendly and informed. Style Kitchens offer a free no obligations quotation.

Come and join the company's ranks of satisfied customers. Visit the showroom and enjoy a delicious cappuccino while the eye enjoys the pleasures of great design.

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STYLE KITCHENS 9 High Street, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1BX Tel: 01553 767519 Web: www.stylek.co.uk

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LOCAL LIFE

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KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: The West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeology Society explore many of the area’s most fascinating sites, such as the ruins at Bawsey

Revealing the buried past of West Norfolk...

Since 1967, our very own Time Team has been painstakingly uncovering the area’s history. Bel Greenwood looks at the work of the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeological Society...

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t’s fertile find ground in Norfolk.

Layers of time are buried under the soil, as Channel 4’s Time Team discovered when they conducted the Big Dig at Bawsey around the ruins of the Norman Old Church of St James in 1998.

In that one area, the partial story of settlement began to come alive.

Everything from Saxon coins, medieval pottery, jewellery and the bones of people were excavated and their stories could begin to be pieced together. It was a dig that brought in members of the local community to help in the stripping and sifting of earth on the massive three-day endeavour.

The Time Team, however, aren’t alone in seeking to popularise archaeology – one of the major aims of

KLmagazine August 2012

the West Norfolk and King’s Lynn Archaeological Society is to involve the local community in the excitement of uncovering the past.

In this, their 45th year, they have a programme of talks, lectures, visits and opportunities for families and individuals to get involved.

Only last month, the Society worked with Norfolk County Council’s Historical Environment Service to hold a two-day community archaeology event in Kettlewell Lane Gardens, leading a training exercise in recording the medieval/post-medieval walls of the town in Kettlewell Lane.

The walls adjacent the Gaywood River survived almost intact until 1800 when the East Gate (St Catherine’s, also the location of a wayside pilgrimage

chapel) was demolished.

Through initiative such as this the Society hopes to attract and excite new generations of amateur archaeologists and increase its membership. The Kettlewell Lane event was the first of many others which have the aim of encouraging more participation.

The Society has already started to do outreach work in local museums, giving presentations to the public and inviting children to handle artefacts. They hope to organise field-walking and teach people about testing the plough soil for prehistoric stone tools, Roman or medieval pottery by shovel test pits in local medieval villages.

“We aim to get everyone interested and involved,” says Dr. Clive Bond, the Society’s Chairman. He’s convinced

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map of the region. It has been ongoing story. Shoppers might not actively involved in discovering realise it, but would probably be early 12th century pottery and interested to know that 12th and 13th an important medieval pottery century artefacts were found under production site at Pott Row, Costa Coffee and Marks and Spencer Grimston. when their sites were excavated in the Members have also 1970s and 2000s, or that the Purfleet excavated a medieval kiln at runs under the Vancouver Centre to Abbey Farm, Shouldham. this day.

Here, traces of Neolithic, King’s Lynn could be described as the Roman and early, middle and Venice of the West. Instead it‘s an late Saxon sites were historic Minster Town with its secrets n o recorded over years of locked in its walls and soil, with plenty m m arpley Co H n o fieldwork.

There’s no better of people ready and willing to uncover w o r Bar way to demonstrate how the past and add to our knowledge of one place had been occupied historic Lynn and its hinterland. continuously over millennia and generations other than that people in King’s Lynn have an looking at one farm. interest in what has been – but it’s not Add to these finds the just the distant past that interests the Bronze Age pits, the Society. There are plans to investigate prehistoric flint scatters, the the story behind a World War 2 bunker Roman pottery and the Iron that has been just a dot on the map to Age and Saxon occupations date – local residents remember it in along the West Norfolk Fenuse! This project is also in partnership edge, and it all adds up to a with True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum and hefty archaeological legacy. almost nothing is known about it.

“The area is significant King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has a because it’s the North Sea very special historic environment that the Society has been investigating since Coastal Seaboard – and European cultures often it was founded in 1967 by John arrive in East Anglia first,” Smallwood (now retired, school master says Clive Bond. “Finds have at King Edward VII High School). revealed the early onset of The Society has been busy and has farming (Neolithic), flint held many conferences with some The walls at Kettlewell Lane mines at Grimes Graves, celebrated speakers, such as Dame Dr. elaborate Roman villas, K.M. Kenyon from the Institute of and the coming of pagan Archaeology, University College Saxons, as at Spong Hill.”

London and Emeritus Professor John (Spong Hill is an early pagan AngloCollis from the University of Sheffield.

Saxon cremation cemetery at North A previous chairperson was Alan Elmham).

Carter, famous for the excavations If you’re interested in archaeology “Often people look at King’s Lynn as a section of the King’s Lynn and the history of the local area, Norman town,” he adds, “but the origins Archaeological Survey (1963-1970). new members are always welcome are far older than that.”

The Society has also added much to to the West Norfolk & King’s Lynn Communities flourished beside the historic Archaeological Society. the ‘Lynn’ (or Luna and Lena in Domesday Book of 1086) The Society organises lectures on estuarine lake of the Ouse well local archaeology, which are usually before the Norman Conquest. held once a month (on the third Medieval archaeology teaches Tuesday) at 7:30pm. During the us that trade with other summer, visits are arranged to countries was going on – with various locations of historic interest Grimston-made pottery turning in the area. up in Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and even further For more details and information, afield. see the Society’s website at: To Dr. Bond, those simple http://wnklas.greyhawk.org.uk facts and locally-made finds complement the historic Meetings for the rest of record, or as he puts it, this lecture season are “archaeology fleshes out being held at the Green e k a e history.”

South Cr l, Quay, King’s Lynn. il H e t Archaeology is part of an Bloodga 68

KLmagazine August 2012

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KLmagazine August 2012

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ABOVE: Static holiday homes such as this are changing the way people think of traditional holidays, thanks to McDonnell Caravans

A new view of holidays with McDonnell Caravans Everyone has fond memories of caravan holidays on the Norfolk coast, but those memories are a long way from the luxurious realities of today. Bel Greenwood meets Michael McDonnell...

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ost people have at least one childhood memory of a caravan holiday. In the summer of 1966 when McDonnell Caravans first sprang into life, it would have been an exciting adventure in a small, tin-thin trailer with bunk beds for the children and a fold-down table and side seats covered in a scratchy fabric which would at night convert into a mini-double bed. To fit a family of four inside required the logistical genius of a General, but despite the discomforts

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and rainy afternoons with a pack of cards and a game of Ludo, it was always somehow remembered with great fondness.

These days, caravans have come a long way. McDonnell Caravans specialise in selling new and quality used holiday caravans, offering tourers or static homes which are wagons of comfort, light and space. They benefit from stylish design with upgraded home furnishings, kitchens with fridges and ovens, bathrooms with turning space and top range fittings, luxury

bedrooms in high quality static homes and an end of the good old, bad old bunk. There is television and even wi-fi.

Alongside the development of the static holiday home or touring caravan is the redevelopment of nearly every holiday park on the beautiful West Norfolk coast. It spells the end of running to the loo block in the middle of the night or trailing towels and wash bags to a communal shower room.

Michael McDonnell, who took over running the company from his father, Martin in 1983, believes there’s KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: Michael McDonnell has been taking the family business in exciting new directions since he took over from his father in 1983

something in the caravan market for everybody.

“It’s like buying a property, it’s a location-driven purchase,” he says. In location, McDonnell Caravans couldn’t be more fortunate. The coast of West Norfolk is breathtaking. It has amazing beaches and a rich wilderness which provides unparalleled access to internationally-recognized wildlife sites.

There is high calibre entertainment, a river of arts and crafts in tucked away galleries and well-preserved, unspoilt villages to explore. This is walking, watching, wading country as well as offering the sea and all its magic.

It’s the variety of things to do and places to be in a non-commercial environment that makes the region so special.

For McDonnell Caravans it means the

area is a quality destination, and the company specialises in offering seven niche caravan parks, owner-occupied with no letting that benefit from their natural settings. The parks each have their own character – for example, Snettisham has more to offer families than Thornham, which can give owners a quiet, exclusive retreat. The parks follow the rim of the coast, and where McDonnell Caravans doesn’t run the holiday park itself, they also supply caravans and static homes to other parks in the area.

The caravan season – which used to straddle the summer months – can now last for 11 months of the year.

There’s always something to see, something to do and something to experience. Many customers come from within a two-hour drive time and

find it is a stress-free break. There is none of the misery of airport controls, battling with the railway system or lugging heavy cases from one place to another.

It is a smooth, quick drive to a place of peace and beauty, a real break and if something was to go wrong at home, or it’s necessary to head back unexpectedly, it’s only a quick drive home.

McDonnell Caravans have been around for nearly half a century and over the years they’ve developed their caravan parks to a very high standard and accumulated a high level of expertise in the advising and selling of touring caravans and static homes.

The company has developed a perfectly apt slogan: don’t just buy a caravan, buy a McDonnell caravan.

“A caravan purchase requires some thought, time and research,” says Michael McDonnell.

“Our ethos is that we want to get it right for people first time.”

He has a ‘fantastic’ team to help him.

Technical advice is on hand from factory-trained fitters, there’s a caring and knowledgeable ground staff, and loyal, highly experienced sales and admin team members.

Anyone coming to the McDonnell ‘Caravan City’ in Gayton will benefit from a high level of preparation, expertise and service.

There’s no question about the service but there is more to a caravan or static home than meets the eye. When you buy a caravan, you are also buying hope for holiday peace or pleasure.

They are a passion. Even celebrities get excited about caravans – Richard Hammond is obsessive about the little house on wheels.

Out in the swathe of static homes, lodges and touring homes, at the McDonnell Caravans showground at Gayton, Michael shows me inside a top of the range caravan holiday home with a pitched roof, dishwasher, washing machine, a double bedroom with a touch of glamour, and a lounge area with space to dance. It’s perfect – and about as far from the cramped bunk bed caravan memories of my youth as one can get.

Don’t just buy a caravan, I think. Buy a McDonnell Caravan. How true.

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McDONNELL CARAVANS Lynn Road, Gayton, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE32 1QJ Tel: 01553 636243 Web: www.mcdonnellcaravans.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2012

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S

Sandra Hohol of Norfolk Holiday Homes still hopes for some sun and is looking forward to 2013!

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here’s the sun? We’re bored with the rain now! Let’s hope the Hunstanton Tennis Tournament this month doesn’t become a washout! Summer brings so much preparation for local community events, and this year many have been cancelled due to the inclement weather. Who knows what the next few months might bring? As I’ve said before, Hunstanton and this corner of the Wash has its very own weather system – so we may be out tanning ourselves yet!

Preparation for next year has already started at Norfolk Holiday Homes.

We’re currently taking bookings for 2013 – the regulars who love their holiday home and want to make sure they get it again always contact us this early!

Our new brochure is already in its early days of being prepared. It doesn’t

seem long since the last one was released! Time flies so quickly when you have a year’s chart of holiday dates occupying a whole wall space in front of you each day!

Yes, although we have computers, we still have a full-grown availability chart measuring 6ft x 4ft on our wall with nearly 3,500 squares on it for putting holiday tenants’ names on!

Insurance updates, property updates, new properties, updating photos, website updates, checks on gas and electricity, Visit England renewals and applications (all our properties are inspected and graded) plus regular newsletters to holiday home owners with reminders... this is just the tip of the iceberg in the department for August.

Not to mention all the incoming holidaymakers and their arrangements.

chool holidays arrive and holiday homeowners along the coast start thinking about their second home. Do they need it? Do they use it as often as they thought they would? Is it the right time to sell (and don’t forget we’re an estate agents too) – or do they keep it and let it for holidays? If so, how do they go about it?

Well, we have a comprehensive, nononsense booklet available for anyone contemplating buying a second home or letting their own. I know there are a lot of questions which battle their way around prospective holiday homeowner’s heads which can give cause for concern.

That’s what Norfolk Holiday Homes are here for – and to prevent the stress of endless telephone calls, questions and paperwork, we do all that for you, and a lot more besides!

We’re happy to answer all your queries as well as help holidaymakers find their perfect holiday home. The holidaymakers also use us as an information service, and they expect telephone numbers too!

I have to say that even though the Tourist Information Office isn’t too far away, we do endeavour to oblige if we can. After all, as we’ve been here for a very long time, we do know quite a lot!

I

’ve been discussing 2013’s preparations, but this doesn’t mean we’re not taking bookings for this summer though! There are still vacancies and I’m sure there will be sun! At this time of year, the grandparents plus other relatives are planning their much needed ‘chilling out’ period in September after they’ve looked after grandchildren throughout the summer holidays.

School holidays may have ended, but holidays haven’t ended for others. It’s their beginning! Hunstanton and the coast is quite peaceful in the latter months of the year and many people prefer it this way – no rushing with kids, no arguing with kids, no stroppy teenagers, in fact very few children in the Autumn which is ideal for retired folk no matter which generation they may belong to! Things definitely slow down – and it’s a great time for everyone to relax!

Norfolk Holiday Homes 62 Westgate, Hunstanton PE36 5EL Tel 01485 534267 E-mail s.hohol@birdsnorfolkholidayhomes.co.uk Web www.norfolkholidayhomes-birds.co.uk

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KLmagazine August 2012

Preview

Christine Glass

The Doric String Quartet

A classical feast for Norfolk...

Laura Samuel

The North Norfolk Music Festival returns to the county – with new venues and a host of world-class musical talent to enjoy NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL August 22nd–September 2nd When Festival Directors Simon Rowland-Jones and Barry Cheeseman launched the North Norfolk Music Festival in 2005, they had a vision of a musical event that would encompass the whole area, presenting a range of classical concerts and associated events in a range of venues.

It was a vision that has proved enormously successful, and later this month the Festival will open its 8th year with a concert by Laura Samuel and Simon Rowland-Jones in St Mary’s Church, East Raynham – one of two new venues for 2012.

Although St Mary’s Church in South Creake is still the Festival’s main venue, the Festival will be taking place in four different churches and the Marble Hall at Holkham.

The musicians featuring in the 2012 Festival are a talented mixture of old friends and newcomers, several of them in the early stages of their careers.

KLmagazine August 2012

Returning to the Festival will be the pianists Melvyn Tan, Andrew Ball and Carole Presland, the Doric String Quartet (they’ve appeared at every festival to date!), violinist Laura Samuel, and the reigning queen of bel canto Nelly Miricioiu.

But this year will see some pretty impressive debuts as well. The Festival’s first-ever choral concert takes place on on August 29th (a fascinating programme performed by Floreat Sonus), while Festival Director Simon Rowland-Jones has composed a brand new piano trio which will be premiered on August 30th.

New Festival faces include mezzosoprano Marianne Cornetti, organist Stephen Cleobury, the Benyounes String Quartet and Ukranian pianist Alexander Romanovsky.

It’s going to be a truly memorable Festival, so make sure you enjoy at least one of the concerts – we hope to see you there! For a full Festival programme and details of how to book, please see www.northnorfolkmusicfestival.com

Melvyn Tan

Nelly Miricioiu 73

4 Way Refrigeration and the key to success...

From industrial cooling to domestic heating, King’s Lynn based business 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd continue to enjoy success – thanks largely to a commitment to quality service and support

T

hink of 4-Way Refrigeration Ltd as a person with characteristics and it could be seen as a brilliant multitasker. It has three core activities, all connected by the same fundamental technology of transferring heat from one space to another. It provides refrigeration, air-source heating and air-conditioning.

> REFRIGERATION Refrigeration has evolved from a medieval hole in the ground to intelligent, self-regulating and highly complex machines, whether for retail or domestic use. 4 Way Refrigeration

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Ltd has the professional experience to guide you to the right model or system to meet your needs. 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd don’t just turn up with a product and plug it in. They can design a system, find the right supplier, install and set up a maintenance programme and carry out repairs.

Refrigeration can have as many permutations as changes in the weather, but whatever that permutation is 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd will have come across it before and they will have the answer.

They have installed the shop floor chilled and frozen display, delicatessen, chiller and cold rooms and the

refrigeration alarm systems for Budgens in Holt, as well as Bakers and Larners Food Hall next door. The company supplies and maintains the refrigeration units in over 100 Co-operative stores regionally. On a smaller scale, 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd have supplied the British Legion in King’s Lynn and provided the temperatures perfect for Frankie and Benny’s.

Nothing is too big and nothing is too small – 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd supply corner shops and restaurants as well as supermarkets and food processors.

4 Way Refrigeration Ltd use the acme of British refrigeration manufacturing, George Barker & Co, based in Bradford

KLmagazine August 2012

and Leeds and winner of the 2009 Cooling Industry Awards.

The technology of refrigeration these days is high on energy conservation and the design enhances all aspects of the process. It is this knowledge of systems and processes that is invaluable in being able to guide customers to the right system for them.

The company can supply refrigeration across a wide spectrum of life. It is not just food and drink that needs to be kept cool. Temperature control can be vital for medical supplies and also for cooling processes in manufacturing. What would a mortuary do without refrigeration? Dentists, doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, veterinarians, all require a quality response to their refrigeration needs and the engineers ready to respond should maintenance be required.

> AIR SOURCE HEATING 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd don’t just keep things cold, they can also heat them up and save you money at the same time.

Air Source Central Heating for domestic consumers is the latest area of company development. It is an energy-efficient form of heating that can mean a saving of 70% on your bills.

It is a very green form of heating too.

It has no emissions and doesn’t require a flue. It can be fitted on an internal wall, use existing radiators or be linked up to provide under floor heating which is becoming the industry norm in new build housing.

The Noise Abatement Society loves it because it makes virtually no noise and it has been awarded a Super Quiet certificate. It can be quickly and efficiently fitted by a 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd engineer in a day with all the guarantees of being a 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd customer, reliable and excellent customer service, integrity and expertise. Air Source heating can be seen in action at 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd in King’s Lynn. > AIR CONDITIONING The third element of the 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd business is air conditioning. There was a time when to sit in the conservatory in the summer was like a Japanese endurance test because of the rising temperatures and humidity. This kind of suffering has been banished by the increase in air conditioning and 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd are expert at designing, sourcing and installing exactly what you need.

The company stocks a wide range of high quality, double A-

KLmagazine August 2012

rated ECA technologically advanced air conditioners. These days, air conditioning can operate all year round, not only in temperature control but also because they can literally clean the air with filtration functions, removing humidity, sick room odours and improving poor air quality.

There are deodorized filters which can be used to improve living and breathing conditions and therefore quality of life for asthma sufferers and others with respiratory problems. Fan speeds can be varied and units tailored to meet personal needs. New air conditioning technology can provide perfect ambient temperature and clean air liveability on a larger scale too, in a pub, restaurant or village hall.

Comfort is available at the touch of a button using infra red remote controls.

There are zero localised emissions from units that are completely safe. The slim, stylish high performance compressor converter units can be wall mounted, floor mounted or located on the ceiling. 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd can offer single split or multi split units which operate from one unit to serve semi-industrial/industrial and commercial needs.

Air conditioning units can be built into building management systems for larger buildings, whether office, care home, school or doctor’s surgeries.

Again, these units operate almost silently and have the added benefit of being able to operate like stealth parfumiers, dispensing scents like apple. They are low maintenance and flexible.

4 Way Refrigeration Ltd wears at least three hats – but with expertise, experience, fantastic customer service and top quality product with competitive rates. Go 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd and you can’t go wrong.

4 WAY REFRIGERATION LTD Unit 25, Bergen Way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG TEL: 01553 767878 E-MAIL: sales@4wayref.co.uk WEB: www.4wayref.co.uk

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ARTS

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KLmagazine August 2012

ABOVE: One of the great attractions of The Hare and the Hen is the opportunity to see creator Philipa Lee at work

Finding a treasure trove of beautiful ceramics...

The Hare and the Hen is a true workshop – shop on one side and work on the other!

Bel Greenwood visits artist Philipa Lee...

P

hilippa Lee has spent a lifetime putting things in ovens. At first it was puddings or pies when she worked as a cook in a painting school on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, but ever since then it has been pots. The act of baking has remained, even though the temperatures have changed.

It was while she was on the island that Philippa had her first taste of making pots, learning in her spare time.

She took to it like a duck to water and in her mid-twenties travelled to Croydon, even then part of the outer peripheral ring of London but probably as different from Mull as it is possible to get.

It was a huge culture shock for the

KLmagazine August 2012

young twenty-something Philippa, but her passion for art helped her to survive and she spent hours exploring and drawing in art galleries. However, it was only after moving to Wales in the long, hot summer of 1976 and joining the Towy Pottery in Carmarthenshire as an apprentice that her career really began to take shape. Philippa’s apprenticeship lasted seven years. Motherhood arrived and making pots took a back seat until she moved to East Anglia and shared a workshop space at Le Strange Old Barns in Hunstanton. Here she stayed for 16 years, harbouring a dream to have her own shop.

The Hare and The Hen is the culmination of that desire. The shop and workspace opened in April 2010 at 11 Dalegate Market in Burnham

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Deepdale. It’s a wonderful, warm, eclectic space filled with beautiful items – mainly ceramics but also prints, textiles and sculptures and most definitely with Philippa’s own work.

Her pottery and large tile works are full of humour and movement inspired by sea, coast and country. As the name of her shop implies, she has a fondness for hares and hens, for the domestic, natural world that surrounds us as much as the wilderness of West Norfolk.

On the day of my visit, she is putting the finishing touches to a long frieze of oystercatchers. The animals that live on her pottery are captured in motion, as if they’re about to leap from the jug and hurdle out of the window, or the scratching hen on an ovenproof dish is a second away from rooting up a worm.

The birds peer into still water with a liveliness that belies the hard surfaces of the glazed work. They are vivid and exciting and somehow nostalgically comforting, illustrations from a child’s richly detailed book on fields and farms.

The animals she draws have individual personalities, although they’re not crammed into clothes like those in a Beatrix Potter watercolour.

All her pottery is designed to be used.

In this, Philippa is one in a long line of craftsmen who make the utilitarian aesthetically exquisite, valuing the look of a pot as a thing of beauty, as well as

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appreciating its practical use.

It’s no surprise that she’d love to visit Charleston Farmhouse, the home of William Morris, who founded the Arts and Craft movement in 1860.

“Because I used to cook,” says Philippa, “I want everything I make to be used – while at the same time being decorative and attractive.”

Philippa is often commissioned to make pots for special occasions. She was commissioned to make a platter for the Duke of Edinburgh’s 90th birthday. It was a commission from the Duke’s Norfolk shooting pals and apparently he loved it.

“It featured boxing hares, a pheasant, English partridge and a widgeon,” she says.

Usually for a tile commission for kitchens or bathrooms, Philippa will design and draw a lifesized sketch and send it to the client so that they can put it up in situ. Only then will she begin work on the tiles. Each design is original but there are popular themes that people ask for again and again.

This often reflects the area and can be anything from beach huts to birds and there’s also a varying complexity in the design too – from a simple, line sketch with a rapid wash of colour to a very detailed, more naturalistic representation.

These days, Philippa uses an electric wheel, set up inside the shop and visitors can watch her working. It’s exciting and gives the shop a different kind of energy, because what’s on display is also being created – it’s a great opportunity to gain insight into the craft.

To Philippa, having her own shop which stocks

and sells her own work alongside that of others, is a perfect combination.

“I wanted to have my own shop and be responsible for stocking it with things that I like,” she explains.

“I’ve spent years wandering round craft shops looking at beautiful things.

The shop is satisfying that need to have beautiful things that I can sell on.”

Every year she travels to the British Crafts Trade Fair in Harrogate to look for new designers, and this research is reflected in the variety of content although most of the product is predominantly ceramics. It’s a lovely space to wander in because it’s a place that borders gallery, workshop and shop and it’s warm and welcoming – a place to pause and chat, browse and enjoy as much as anything.

There’s the pleasure of the experience of looking and it’s full of interesting finds. Inside are planters from Penny Simpson and sculptures by Julia Hulme, darker ceramic sculptures of creatures by Joe Lawrence, extraordinary pencil drawings by Nolan Stacey (so detailed and real they could be photographs), textile prints of waders and coastal birds, witty Simon Drew cards and tea towels. A large collection of secondhand naturalist books is also on sale inside the shop.

Regular visitors arrive for a chat and a host of local holidaymakers troop in and clearly enjoy the experience. The shop is definitely busy despite the economic downturn – it’s a good job Philippa is a prolific maker and that she finds there is nothing quite as pleasurable as getting hold of a squidgy wadge of wet clay.

“It gives you a sense of calm,” she says. “I feel lucky to have that skill, to be able to use my hands and have that gift.”

KLmagazine August 2012

TOT T E N H I L L

T H E A L L N E W U N I Q U E AT T O T T E N H I L L s we celebrate 10 years and the re-launch of our Tottenhill showroom, we are also expanding our Interior Design Studio into new premises on the same site. A fabulous range of on-trend sofas, furniture and accessories will complement our existing designer offering. With something to suit every budget, why not rediscover Unique at Tottenhill?

Join us on 27th September between 8am-8pm to view our new and exciting collections, to discover some exclusive offers and enjoy some very special promotions.

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By appointment to Her Majesty e Queen Pattrick & ompsons Ltd Timber Merchants

KLmagazine August 2012

My KL

e page that’s

made by KL magazine readers...

The mystery picture is a little clearer...

Last month we published this photograph from reader Dennis Crane of Hunstanton, who wondered if anyone could recognise the location or the film that was being produced at the time.

As I’m sure many have now identified, the street shown in the photograph in July’s KL Magazine is King’s Staithe Lane from the south-west. The iron bands on the corner of the building in the left foreground mark the south-east corner of Bank House.

The confusion in identification might have occured owing to the erection of the temporary weather-boarded buildings against the south facade of Granary Antiques on the north side of the lane.

DR JULIAN LITTEN E-mail This is the corner of the back of Bank House looking towards the Granaries Antique Centre in King Staithe Lane, King’s Lynn. The only film production it’s likely to show is the making of Revolution in 1985.

ALISON GIFFORD King’s Lynn Tourist Centre I’m not entirely sure what film was being produced in the picture sent to you by Dennis Crane (Revolution is the most likely candidate), but I am very interested in local locations being used in films – and I must admit I’ve never heard of a film called Children of Men being produced in King’s Lynn.

GERRY CHAPMAN Wisbech

KLmagazine August 2012

From our No.1 fan in the Lone Star state...

I was visiting relatives in King’s Lynn recently (I used to live in the town) and brought a few issues of KL Magazine back with me. I think it’s a wonderful magazine and you all do a wonderful job – keep up the great work!

Here’s a couple of my favorite photos that I took when I was there last year – one in Hunstanton and the other at Ashwicken church, where my grandparents are buried and where I sang Christmas carols in the school choir when I was younger.

Because I live in Texas, I can only pick up the magazine when I’m back in Norfolk – but I’ve got my relatives to keep copies aside for my next visit. I’m already looking forward to it! All the best from your number one fan in Texas, RACHELLE EDLUND League City, Texas USA KL magazine: Thanks for that Rachelle – and don’t forget that if you really can’t wait to get the magazine in your hands you can always read the lastest issue (and past copies) online at www.klmagazine.co.uk

CONTACT US: We’d love to hear from you! Send your letters and photographs to KL magazine at 18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW or e-mail editor@klmagazine.co.uk

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LOCAL LIFE

Michael Middleton’s

WildWestNorfolk

W

hat with all the worldclass Snail Racing (held annually at Congham) and the 50m Dash To Be First On The Bus (held daily at King’s Lynn Bus Station), you can’t help wondering if the Olympic Games could do with something a bit different to the 200m Breaststroke and the Women’s Cycling Team Sprint.

Now, I’m not suggesting we start training for Olympic Snail Racing (with the Games only lasting a couple of weeks, anything over 100m would probably be unrealistic), but spectators of Olympics past have certainly been treated to some pretty odd events.

For example, belated congratulations to American William Dickey, who won the one-and-only gold medal for Distance Plunging at the 1904 St. Louis games. It sounds a pretty fearsome sport, but it has nothing to do with jumping off tall structures. If you had ambitions of wanting to become a world-beating distance plunger, all you had to do was dive into a swimming pool and see how far you could get underwater without moving your arms or legs for 60 seconds.

It actually sounds like good fun – and me and my classmates certainly thought so when we had swimming lessons at school. None of us took up distance plunging for a living, though.

I also remember watching Tug-ofWar competitions at the village fete, and this was an Olympic event that lasted until the 1920 games in Antwerp.

Team GB was actually quite successful at rope-tugging – on the three occasions it was held, we won two golds and a silver. The fact that the

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8-man team was usually made up of London City police officers probably helped.

Our village fete was also where I first became acquainted with the odd game of croquet. Even odder is that the French thought it fit for Olympians at Paris in 1900. Well, someone in France did. They were probably the one-andonly spectator who was interested enough to buy a ticket for the event, which only managed to attract French competitiors. It did have one redeeming feature, however – it was the first Olympic event in which women participated.

An official report of the Paris Olympics later conlcuded that croquet was a game with “hardly any pretensions to athleticism” and it never appeared again.

Neither did Live Pigeon Shooting, which also appeared for the first and last time at (you guessed it) the 1900 Paris games. What were the French drinking at the turn of the 20th century? Reportedly more than 300 birds were killed in the grisly event, and organisers decided to skip live targets from then on (the London Games of 1908 featured cut-out cardboard deer for the shooting event).

And as if all that wasn’t enough from our friends over the Channel, the 1900 Paris games also featured another animal-themed event in the form of the Horse Long Jump. Honest.

Now, I know as well as anyone that horses are pretty athletic creatures, but I don’t think they’re cut out for the long jump.

The first winner of the gold

medal was Belgium’s Constant van Langendonck, whose horse Extra Dry managed to leap some 6.10 metres.

Not too shabby you might think, until you consider the world record for a human long jump is 8.95 metres.

Langendock is consequently the only winner of the gold medal for the Olympic Horse Long Jump.

My own gold medal for oddest Olympic event, however, must go to our other friends over the water, for when the organisers of the 1984 Los Angeles games introduced Solo Synchronized Swimming (think about it for a moment). Despite the absurdity of staying in sync with oneself (the event’s supporters claim the synchronization is actually with the music) the event managed to reappear at Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992.

Now, do you still think Olympic Snail Racing is a ridiculous idea?

Anyway, must dash – I’ve the Flatpack Assembly Marathon to attempt before Mrs. Middleton gets back from the shops.

KLmagazine August 2012