KL Magazine January/February 2021

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 120 JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2021 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

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welcome

L

ast year a quarter of us made resolutions for the new year and the most popular three all focused on health and diet.

By the end of the year only 6% of people had managed to keep their promises, but at KL magazine we’d like to welcome you to 2021 and reassure you that we’ll be sticking to our resolution.

Far from giving something up, we’re resolving to continue bringing you the very best that west and north Norfolk has to offer - thanks to engaging content and stunning photography.

And we’re starting as we mean to go on with an issue that’s packed with an extraordinarily varied range of features covering a vast amount of topics.

From historic buildings to local wildlife, from classical composers to

COVER IMAGE

modern artists, and from men in boats to women in space I think you’ll agree this month’s magazine highlights just what a wonderful place this is to live and do business in.

Great Massingham is a perfect example of both. One of the area’s most picturesque villages, it graced the cover of our last issue and is now looking to the future with genuine optimism. There can be fewer places with a stronger sense of community spirit, and you can read about how the village is pulling together and helping each other on page 12 of this month’s magazine.

And moving swiftly from the most famous dinosaur in the world (Dippy will finally be coming to Norfolk later this year) we’re also taking a look at a local man who helped change the world.

After winning an essay-writing

competition on the subject of slavery when he was a student, Thomas Clarkson devoted the rest of his life to abolishing the system - and although he enjoyed the fruits of his labours during his lifetime, we’re still debating the issues he raised and the legacy of the international slave trade.

And we can’t avoid mentioning King Street in King’s Lynn (page 92) - which the famous poet Sir John Betjeman once described as being part of one of the finest walks in England. Now that’s a step in the right direction as we enter 2021.

Enjoy the magazine - and a very happy new year to you and your family.

Eric Secker EDITOR KL magazine

Roydon Common by Ian Ward

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KLmagazine January 2021

contents

6 12 18 24 28 32 38 44 49 50 KLmagazine January 2021

JANUARY 2021

58 66 72

NARFORD HALL A look at of one of Norfolk’s hidden gems BUILT ON COMMUNITY SPIRIT The past and present of Great Massingham 900 YEARS IN THE MAKING We visit the remains of Thetford Priory TO BOLDLY GO...

The story of women in space THE KL MAGAZINE QUIZ Brainteasers for the start of the year DIPPY IS ON HIS WAY Norfolk looks forward to a prehistoric guest CHANGING TIMES, CHANGING PLACES The launch of a new oral history project WINGS, KINGS AND SECRET SOCIETIES From RSPB Snettisham to Charles I YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Centre JANUARY IN THE GARDEN Expert advice with Wendy Warner

78 83 86 92

100 112 122

FASHION Starting the new year in style JESSICA MAE Turning rubbish into artwork FOOD & DRINK The best of Norfolk’s food offering FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

We interview chef Kevin Mangeolles FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH The King’s Head at Letheringsett THE ORIGINAL STAYCATION The story of a unique river journey FIT FOR A KING...

The most historic street in King’s Lynn THOMAS CLARKSON The man who changed the world RACHEL COLLIER-WILSON A profile of the popular local artist MICHAEL MIDDLETON It’s 2021 - but not as you know it

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The fascinating story of Narford Hall It’s one of Norfolk’s grandest houses, but it’s also one of its least known. Once a genuine treasure trove of history, literature and artwork, Narford Hall has a remarkable and colourful history

O

n the evening of Wednesday April 28th 1733 a devastating fire broke out in Mrs. White’s Chocolate House in Mayfair, London a building that was destined to become one of the most exclusive private clubs (still men-only in 2021) in the country.

One of the greatest casualties of the fire was the country’s largest collection of miniatures in private hands - just part of Sir Andrew Fountaine’s vast hoard art and antiquities awaiting his imminent retirement to his home at Narford Hall. In fact, so many paintings were destroyed that the ashes were carefully sifted to recover all the gold from the

incinerated mountings and frames of the artwork.

Knighted in 1699 on the basis of a speech he gave at Oxford University, Vice-Chamberlain to the Prince of Wales, successor to Isaac Newton at the Royal Mint and friend of Jonathan Swift (the author of Gulliver’s Travels) Andrew Fountaine paid as much attention to the family home as he did his vast art collection - which would take four days to auction on his death in 1753.

The magnificent property at Narford had been started by his father some 30 years earlier, and the gardens were at the cutting edge of design, comprising a wide range of trees, a specially-built lake, groves, walks, and avenues

decorated with classical details - the main south avenue ran for a mile before ending in a decorative archway.

The hall itself is an equally impressive construction, and its distinctively irregular architecture reflects the fact it represents four separate stages of building over the course of 150 years.

The property had actually been in the Fountaine family since the middle of the 14th century, and as the third son of a notable Norfolk barrister Andrew Fountaine (who was born in 1634) was at the back of the queue as far as inheritance went. While still a teenager he was sent to London to study law, and soon formed a friendship with his fellow Norfolk native John Coke - who suddenly became heir to his family’s considerable estate at Holkham on the

ABOVE: Portrait of Sir Andrew Fountaine with other men and women by William Hogarth c. 1730-1735. © The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928/Philadelphia Museum of Art

in 1753 a total of 3,327 prints were recorded in one cabinet in one of the smallest rooms... death of his older brother.

The two left their studies and travelled to France, staying there for three years - and shortly after their return in 1660 Coke took control of Holkham, employing Fountaine as chief manager of the estate. Andrew’s fortunes increased considerably over the next few years, but the sudden death of John Coke in 1671 left him looking for a new position.

By that time he was married to Sarah, the daughter of Sir Thomas Chicheley of Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire - although it may not have been the most harmonious of matches.

“A squire of unattractive habits and personality, addicted to drink and always in money difficulties,” reads a contemporary account, “Fountaine led his wife a most wretched existence.”

Financially, Andrew left Holkham 8

with enough money to build a grand home for himself, and laid the first stone at Narford on 29th June 1702.

Architectural details suggest Henry Bell of King’s Lynn (who designed the town’s Custom House and Duke’s Head Hotel) had a hand in the project, but it’s a question that’s still open to debate.

Andrew’s son (also called Andrew) was meanwhile on a three-year tour of Europe, amassing a vast art collection - in 1753 a total of 3,327 prints were recorded in one cabinet in one of the smallest rooms at Narford Hall.

He had to return to Norfolk as his father’s health failed, but he tended to prefer the cultural scene of London rather than the quieter pace of life in Norfolk. He did, however, embark on the first of two major phases of development at Narford Hall - the

former entrance hall was turned into a saloon that was once described as “the most beautiful room in England” featuring ten huge works by Giovanni Pellegrini, one of the leading Venetian painters of the early 18th century.

Andrew Fountaine surrounded the hall with highly formal gardens of enclosed spaces and geometric avenues terminated by classical eyecatchers, combining German and Dutch styles - it was, according to contemporary reports “the ultimate politically-correct garden.”

Despite being a distinctly-eligible bachelor Fountaine never married, and Narford Hall passed to the son of his niece Elizabeth - who did little to the structure but did add a stunning family portrait (possibly painted by the most famous American artist of the 18th century) that was acquired by the Tate and only went on public display for the first time four years ago.

Narford Hall experienced mixed fortunes over the following decades.

On the one hand it saw the addition of a 60-acre lake and an imposing domed entrance tower - while on the other much of its priceless contents were sold at auction.

Over 400 pieces of crockery were sold at Christie’s in June 1884 (you can see them today at the V&A and British Museum), dozens of paintings and over 800 prints went under the hammer a month later, and in June 1902 almost 1,000 books and manuscripts were sold from the hall’s extensive library.

Narford Hall has always had a rather eclectic atmosphere. A private family house to this day, it’s also now home to the Fairfax & Favor fashion brand, writing a new chapter in the story of one of Norfolk’s most interesting and little-known properties.

ABOVE: An engraving of Narford Hall produced in 1818 based on a drawing by John Preston Neale KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

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t’s been a rather unusual year for all of us and our floors haven’t escaped either. Over the last 12 months we’ve all spent so much more time in the home than usual, and all that extra foot traffic has really taken its toll. As we finally start to see some light at the end of the tunnel it’s important not to overlook your hard floors, ceramic tiles and natural stone - and give them a bright new start to 2021. It’s time to make a new year resolution and call on the amazing cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean.

And the good news is that by following the latest official guidelines Martin can bring your floors back to their very best and give them an ‘as new’ look - and can usually do it in less than a day.

“If your stone or tiled floors were fitted professionally they deserve an

equally expert approach to cleaning,” says Martin. “For over 25 years we’ve been restoring floors all over Norfolk – using the most advanced and powerful cleaning system currently available in the UK.” Xtraclean’s highly experienced technicians offer a fully-insured and friendly service (even moving your furniture for you) and following an initial survey and test they’ll get to work – breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling.

“Our state-of-the-art turbo ‘clean and capture’ system pressure cleans the floor using its own water supply,” says Martin, “and it even captures all the waste in the process – so you have no mess and no fuss.”

Xtraclean never uses harmful chemicals or procedures such as grinding and resurfacing (which can actually damage the floor) - but the

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“These aren’t the easiest surfaces in the world to clean,” says Martin, “but our powerful system and professionalgrade products can bring the heaviest-soiled floors back to their very best.”

Xtraclean can even help you ‘lock in’ those good looks specialist sealing products and keep them for even longer.

“You’ll have to see the results to believe them,” says Martin. “Just ask our customers – they can hardly believe it’s the same floor.”

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ABOVE: Great Massingham may be one of Norfolk’s most beautiful villages, but it’s also one of the most enterprising, thanks to local people such as Mark and Sally Dobby of The Dabbling Duck (below)

A perfect example of community spirit

I

Tucked away in the middle of west Norfolk you’ll find Great Massingham, a traditional country village that doesn’t just have a rich history - it has an even brighter future

t’s probably fitting that the beautiful village of Great Massingham owes its very name to a family - because you could hardly hope to find more community spirit or a more optimistic atmosphere. After the Romans left in the 5th century, a group of AngloSaxons settled in the area and the ruling family became known as Maersings after Maesron, the head of the household. The new community became known as Maersingham and the rest (as they say) is history.

An Augustinian priory existed here from at least the 11th century, and even Edward I (one of England’s greatest monarchs) visited in March 1302 on his way to Walsingham. Within a century of the Domesday report there were two churches in the village, and England’s first prime minister Robert Walpole was educated there as a young boy Although predominantly agricultural (this was one of the first areas in the country to begin raising pigs on an KLmagazine January 2021

industrial scale), Great Massingham once had a blacksmith, butcher, baker, a general store and at least five pubs – the last of which is The Dabbling Duck, itself a great example of the village’s community spirit.

Saved from redevelopment in 2006 by two local farmers, the pub is run by Mark Dobby and his wife Sally, who’ve taken the pub onto the national stage, being judged Best Pub in the 2018 Eat Norfolk Food & Drink Awards. In October it was included in The Sunday Times list of the 80 best places to stay in Britain.

Great Massingham even has its own airfield, the legacy of the RAF commandeering one of the largest farms in the village for a base during the Second World War. But don’t think that Great Massingham is all about history. It has one of the most impressive village greens in the county, several distinctive duck ponds (which may have started their lives as chalk pits), a thriving 13

which has been really well received. In a way I’ve come full circle - although I don’t ABOVE: The recently-revitalised Massingham Stores and Post make the sausages Office has also given the village The Cartshed Tearrom thanks anymore.” to the work of Mark Eldridge (above right) and the tearoom’s This sense of local manager Mel Whitmore (right) people in Massingham working for and primary school, a hugely popular serving the community is perfectly and well supported village hall, an epitomised in Mark Eldridge, who’s enterprising Historical Society and recently transformed the village shop separate Biodiversity Group. The village and launched the adjacent Cartshed has even won a CPRE Community Tearoom last August.

Open Spaces award and several Pride “I did live in a small village before in Norfolk awards for villages with a coming here,” he says, “but it didn’t population under 1,000. have anything like the feeling, It’s also home to Lings Country atmosphere and culture that Great Goods, the family-run business Massingham has. My wife Kerry and I established by John and Julia Morton instantly fell in love with the village, and which is now in its third decade.

This year will see the third anniversary although we originally planned to buy and develop a holiday home in it we the company’s Heath Farmshop, which decided to move here permanently.” offers fresh local produce to villagers It was a timely move, as the village and people in the surrounding area and shop and post office soon came up for has a special link to Massingham’s past. sale.

“My grandfather was the village With a 20-year background in retail butcher and I can remember helping and a real feel for the community to make sausages there when I was he’d just joined, Mark gradually built a child,” says John. “There’s a lot of a genuine village hub. He introduced emphasis on buying local and eating around 1,000 new products, expanded naturally these days, and since we raise the delicatessen, refurbished the shop, our own rare breed cattle and sheep it extended its opening hours and even seemed natural to open the farm shop, helped establish a mobile post office that now visits 15 different villages in the area - and quadrupled the number of people it serves within six months.

“To be honest I can’t believe how well it’s been received,” says Mark. “The feedback we’ve received from villagers has been amazing - they’ve given us so much support and they’re now friends as well as customers.”

But Mark and his team didn’t stop there.

They converted two derelict garages behind the shop into a stylish tearoom, naming it the Cartshed Tearoom after the buildings’ original use.

“It was a fantastic space, and we ABOVE: John and Julia Morton of Lings thought it would be perfect for a Country Goods in Massingham 14

tearoom,” says Mark. “It was another way of bringing the village together.”

Managed by Mel Whitmore, the Cartshed Tearoom is a delightful tearoom and serves a range of breakfasts and light lunches - the vast majority of it homemade. You can’t miss the vintage metal sign for Lyon’s Tea which dominates the space - and it was actually found in the building’s foundations during the renovation work.

It opened in August at a challenging time for the hospitality industry, but Mark says the last five months have been really positive.

“It was a very strange time for a new business to open, but it’s been fantastic,” he says. “We’ve had so much positive feedback and people are now travelling many miles to visit us. We’ve got great food and we’ve got a great team - but we probably couldn’t have done it without the support of the local community. And that’s what puts the ‘great’ into Massingham.”

If you’d like to know more about Great Massingham before your visit, please see the village’s comprehensive website at www.greatmassingham.net KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

IMAGES: PAUL TIBBS

Why 2021 is the time to solar power your life You may think there’s little you can do to tackle global climate change, but The Solar Shed can help you make a very real difference...

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ven though we’re all doing ‘our bit’ to address the growing climate emergency, you only have to watch the news to see another climaterelated disaster or unprecedented weather event. We all know we have to do something - but where on earth (literally) do we start?

That’s the main reason we set up our business more than 13 years ago - to show people there is another way.

We’re determined to turn King’s Lynn into the UK’s greenest town, and with the UN holding their Climate Conference (COP26) in the UK later this year, we want to show as many people as possible that there is another way.

It’s a way that allows us to live in a sustainable world without oil and waste. A way that takes us to a greener, cleaner and more affordable life through reduction, recycling and re-use - and the generation of our own sustainable energy. Some people

choose solar energy for their hot water, while others use it for their electricity needs. Many do both. People are now enjoying the benefits of battery storage systems, electric car-charging points, water harvesting and many other forms of renewable living technologies.

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If you’d like a closer look at how we’ve created a virtually cost-free living environment that can save the planet and save you a considerable amount of money, get in touch and we can have a chat, over the phone or video call, and when permitted, meet in person.

During a consultation we’ll show you how to transform your life with responsible energy harvesting and usage, forward-thinking fuel storage and water consumption, and futureproof food production.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be hosting a series of one-hour video sessions in association with KLimate Concern that will include a complete home energy makeover together with an interactive Q&A session.

Call on Freephone 0808 126 1289 for more details and we’ll be happy to guide you through your residential or commercial renewable energy project.

It’s time we all started looking at a brighter future and I’m looking forward to showing you that there is another way.

TEL: 0808 126 1289 / 07737 457208 www.solar-power.co.uk | info@thesolarshed.co.uk KLmagazine January 2021

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The last remains of a fascinating history Today the atmospheric ruins of Thetford Priory are a popular visitor attraction, but few people realise that this was once one of the most important religious sites in the whole country

T

he story of Thetford Priory starts with a family of poor knights in Normandy, one of whose sons joined the Norman Conquest of England. Roger Bigod may have had humble beginnings, but by the time the Domesday Book was compiled a few years later in 1086, the spoils of war saw him listed as holding six lordships in Essex, 117 in Suffolk and no less than 187 in Norfolk.

Bigod based himself at

Thetford, and on 1st September 1107 he laid the foundation stone for a new priory just outside the town’s walls. Affiliated with the great abbey at Cluny in France, it would be built on a truly magnificent scale in the rich architectural style typical of the religious order - although Roger Bigod wouldn’t live to see its completion. In fact, he died a week after laying the new priory’s foundation stone, resulting in an unseemly tugof-war over his final resting

place between the local monks and the Bishop of Norwich.

In the event, the latter had Roger’s body stolen in the middle of the night and buried in the recently-completed cathedral at Norwich.

As for Thetford Priory, it was finished 60 years

ABOVE: The extensive remains of Thetford Priory are still an impressive sight today, over 900 years since the foundation stone was laid by a knight from northern France

after Bigod’s death, and would become one of the largest and richest religious foundations in medieval East Anglia.

Following a fairly typical monastic layout, the buildings were arranged around a central cloister which was enclosed on each side by covered walkways and gave access to all the main rooms used by the monks, including the church, the dining room, the dormitory and the formal meeting chamber of the community. It was surrounded by an infirmary (which had its own cloister), the prior’s lodgings, and various buildings such as barns and stables - all enclosed by a wall with a monumental gatehouse.

Much of the cost of these extensive building works was covered by the revenue generated from a lucrative cult built around a miracle-working statue of the Virgin, and the priory became a popular destination for pilgrims. It was home to numerous relics - including part of the robe of Jesus Christ (together with part of the manger in which he was born), parts of the clothing in which Lazarus was buried (at least temporarily), rock from the tombs of Jesus and Saint John, and various relics of at least ten other saints.

According to the scant remaining records, the relics were said to have restored the speech of one person (at least) and brought two children back from the dead. It wasn’t all miracles and devotion at Thetford, however.

During the 1240s prior Stephen managed to turn the community into a house of debauchery, getting drunk and boisterous with a fellow monk called Bernard, an unnamed knight

20

and a certain Guiscard, who was described as a “clericus monstruosus” - a description which doesn’t require a great knowledge of Latin to understand.

In 1248 the prior got into an argument with a rather temperamental monk called Stephen de Charun who had recently arrived from Cluny.

Enraged by the prior’s abusive language and upset about being returned to France so swiftly, de Charun pulled out a knife and stabbed the prior to death at the door of the church.

There was even a riot at the priory in 1313 when an unruly mob forced their way into the grounds, assaulted the prior, killed a few monks inside the church and ran off with several valuable goods.

Following several periods of financial instability (despite its considerable income the priory seems to have run up equally substantial debts) Thetford Priory’s fate was sealed when it was threatened with dissolution.

The powerful 3rd Duke of Norfolk (a staunch Catholic himself) wrote to Henry VIII proposing its conversion to a college, and pointed out that it would house the tombs of both himself and the king’s illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy - but it was all to no avail. The last prior and 16 monks at Thetford Priory finally surrendered to the king’s commissioners on 16th February 1540.

The once-magnificent priory was left to the elements and the growing town’s need for building material, and there was soon little left. Although the prior’s lodging would be used as a house for another 200 years, by the 1820s even that didn’t have a roof.

Today, the extensive remains comprise the lower walls of the church and cloister, the impressive shell of the prior’s lodging, and the almostcomplete gatehouse. It may be a shadow of its former self, but Thetford Priory is still a hugely-impressive sight and a poignant reminder of one of the most tumultuous periods in our history.

You can find the remains of Thetford Priory at Water Lane in Thetford at IP24 1BB - there’s a small free car park on site. The site is generally open daily from 9am-4pm, and while most of the priory site is open, visitor access to the gatehouse is currently prohibited due to possible maintenance issues. Before planning your visit, please call 03703 331181 or see www.english-heritage. org.uk/visit/places/thetford-priory/ for the latest information and updates.

KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

Keeping you warm and safe 24/7 through winter No hot water? Heating system not working? Sudden pipe leak?

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ne of the most frustrating things for householders and tenants during 2020 was the difficulty of getting hold of a plumber or heating engineer when you most needed them - especially if you had an emergency on your hands. It was a problem that particularly affected national companies relying on remote call centres, leaving many vulnerable people waiting weeks and even months for expert help.

It wasn’t something that customers of Heacham-based Foreman & Son had to worry about, however.

Established by Stephen Foreman just over ten years ago, the company has grown into a genuinely familyrun business. Stephen’s son Cameron (who’s CENWAT, CCN1, OFTEC and domestic LPG qualified) joined the business three years later, his daughter Annaleigh oversees the BoilerCare

01485 570578 32 High Street, Heacham PE31 7EP KLmagazine January 2021

service she helped create, and her sister-in-law Sophie manages the offices in the centre of Heacham.

“This is probably the worst time of year to have a leak or suddenly be without hot water, and it’s obviously something that needs to be fixed as soon as possible,” says Annaleigh.

“That was one of the main driving forces behind our BoilerCare service because with a team of local engineers and the latest app-based technology we’re available 24 hours every day, and can be with you in a few hours.”

Largely covering west and north Norfolk, Foreman & Son is one of the very few companies in the area offering such comprehensive and reliable service - which is available in a threetiered range of packages to suit the needs of you, your family, your property and your budget. All packages include unlimited call-outs, all parts, an annual

boiler service, no excess charges and £500 off the cost of a new boiler if your current one is beyond repair.

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“People often describe me as the first British woman in space, but I was actually the first British person�

-Helen Sharman,

the first British astronaut

IMAGES: © NASA ABOVE: Astronaut Christina Koch took a remarkable selfie on the first all-woman spacewalk in October 2019, while Helen Sharman (opposite) became the first British person in space in 1991 - confirming the increasingly important role women are playing in space travel and research

Boldly going where few women have been before Think of an astronaut and you’ll probably think of a man, but as Philippa Sillis of the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society explains, women have been going into space for the last five decades

O

n July 20th 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first human being to step on the moon, giving us one of the most famous quotes of all time - “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

And the operative word was man.

Six years before Armstrong put his 9½ size boot on the surface of the moon, the Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova had become the first woman in space - but despite becoming a national heroine her pioneering journey (she orbited the Earth 48 times in three days) didn’t KLmagazine January 2021

exactly result in a flood of women reaching for the sky. In fact it would take another 20 years.

Since 1961, more animals have been into space than women. And of the 556 people who have managed to travel beyond the Earth only 11% have been female. A number of American women successfully underwent the astronaut selection process in the early 1960s, but going into space required an engineering degree and experience as a military jet test pilot - a career not available to women at the time.

All of which is rather odd, because women may actually be better suited to

space travel than men.

Women tend to be smaller and lighter than men, and consume up to 25% less calories (and less oxygen) - a vital factor to consider given the huge costs involved with space travel.

“Some of us have speculated for years that having an all-female crew would be advantageous,” says former NASA engineer and space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale. “At least certainly from the total mission-weight standpoint.”

Women also seem to suffer less from some of the more problematic physical effects of spaceflight. Research 25

suggests that men are much quicker to experience the diminished hearing and deteriorating vision associated with going into space.

In addition women have some personality traits more suited for longduration missions, and you can’t avoid the fact that any baby born in space would need the physical presence of a woman - whereas a man’s contribution could (to put it delicately) be put on ice.

It’s strange that the Americans didn’t put a woman into space until 1983 (two decades after Tereshkova) when Sally Ride joined the crew of the seventh space shuttle mission and became only the third woman to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.

Since then women from around the world have been into space - women from Canada, France, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and even the United Kingdom.

In May 1991 chemist Helen Sharman (who was only 27 at the time) became the first British woman in space when she visited the Mir space station, three years after beating 13,000 applicants who replied to a radio advertisement.

“People often describe me as the first British woman in space, but I was actually the first British person,” she once said. “It’s telling that we’d otherwise assume it would be a man.

When Tim Peake went into space in 2015, some people simply forgot about me. A man going first would be the norm, so I’m thrilled I got to upset that order.”

Philippa Sillis is Vice-Chair of the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society, which promotes astronomy for all ages across west Norfolk and she recently gave an

ABOVE: At 57 Peggy Whitson became the oldest female astronaut in space and the first woman to command the International Space Station - over 50 years since Valentina Tereshkova (bottom left) became the first woman in space

online talk on the subject of women in space.

“Originally it was thought women could only be of use in space as secretaries and telephonists,” she says, “but we’ve come a long way since then. Women have made significant contributions in space - as scientists, as astronauts and as mission leaders.”

She points to Peggy Whitson, who conducted fuel tests that will inform plans for Mars missions, Sunita Williams, who ran a marathon in space, Eileen Collins, chosen to lead the 2005 Return to Space mission after the loss of Columbia in 2003, and Kathryn Sullivan, who was part of the team that launched the Hubble Space Telescope.

“These women have proved that the sky isn’t the limit,” says Philippa. “It’s only the start.”

Returning to Neil Armstrong’s most famous moment, the first woman to go to the moon is planned to arrive there in 2024 as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

To coin a phrase, it will be a small step for a woman, and a giant leap for womankind.

And that’s a quote we can all look forward to.

If you are interested in stargazing Norfolk is perfect, having some of the darkest skies in the UK - especially around the coast.

You can find more details and information on the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society at www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk. The group generally meets twice a

26

month, and membership is only £16 a year. For more information and details, please contact Secretary Alan Gosling on 01553 774394 or Membership Secretary Leon Askew on leonaskew5@ gmail.com KLmagazine January 2021

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How well do you know the start of the year?

Named after the Roman god of beginnings, January is always full of optimism as we look forward to a new year - and here’s 21 fun questions to test your general knowledge as we enter 2021...

1 On January 1st 1785 The Daily Universal Register appeared for the first time. What’s it called today? a. The Times b. The Sunday Sport c. The Mail on Sunday d. Horse & Hound

4 What products were banned from television and radio advertising in the USA on January 2nd 1971? a. Vitamin pills b. Mini skirts c. Cigarettes d. Comic books

7 Which member of the Royal Family will celebrate their 39th birthday on January 9th? a. Prince Charles b. Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones c. Princess Anne d. Kate Middleton

2 Becoming obselete in October 2014, what were introduced on January 1st exactly 100 years ago? a. Green recycling bins b. Car tax discs c. Public telephone boxes d. Cat licences

5 What rolled off the production line at Solihull for the very last time after 68 years on January 5th 2016? a. The ‘Aztec’ chocolate bar b. The original Action Man c. Williamson’s nettle-flavoured beer d. The Land Rover Defender

3 The longest-running daily soap opera in the world began broadcasting on 1st January 1951 - what’s it called? a. Hollyoaks b. The Simpsons c. The Archers d. Coronation Street

6 On January 8th 1846, what made its way from Norwich to London? a. The first charity fun run b. A group of 314 suffragettes c. The last horse-drawn mail coach d. A convoy of 25 Centurion tanks

8 On January 10th 1929 the Belgian artist Georges Remi (using a pseudonym created by reversing his initials) published a cartoon featuring which classic character? a. Mickey Mouse b. TinTin c. Asterisk d. Spiderman

28

9 What local landmark was destroyed (and never rebuilt) on 11th January 1978 during particularly ferocious storms? a. Hunstanton Pier KLmagazine January 2021

b. King’s Lynn Lighthouse c. Thornham Castle d. Snettisham Tower 10 The great Irish writer James Joyce died on January 13th 1941, but which of these classic novels did he NOT write? a. Ulysses b. Finnegans Wake c. Great Expectations d. Dubliners 11 Who was crowned Queen of England at the age of 25 on 15th January 1559? a. Mary Tudor b. Victoria c. Eleanor of Aquitaine d. Elizabeth I 12 On January 19th 1915, Great Yarmouth became the very first place in the whole country to experience what? a. Bombs dropped from an aircraft b. A rain of small frogs c. Colour television broadcasts d. A McDonald’s restaurant 13 Who became the 35th president of the USA on January 20th 1961? a. Richard Nixon b. John F. Kennedy c. Jimmy Carter d. Lyndon B. Johnson 14 Which famous person crossed the Channel from France to open an exhibition in Norwich on January 24th 1819? a. Pablo Picasso b. Marcel Marceau c. Madame Tussaud d. Jaques Cousteau

15 Wolfgang Mozart was born on January 27th 265 years ago, but what was his middle name? a. François b. Ludwig c. Amadeus d. Heinrich 16 Released on January 27th 1956, what was the title of Elvis Presley’s first UK hit single? a. Heartbreak Hotel b. Let it Be c. Return to Sender d. Paint it Black 17 On January 28th 1989 Norwich City FC recorded their biggest-ever win in the FA Cup when they faced Sutton United in the 4th round. What was the score? a. 11-1 b. 6-2 c. 8-0 d. 3-1 18 Which famous revolutionary activist and writer was born in Theford on January 29th 1737? a. Leon Trotsky b. Thomas Paine c. Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara d. Karl Marx

20 Which famous automotive engineer designed three of the most iconic vehicles in history and died on January 30th 1951? a. Pierre Citroën b. Charles Chevrolet c. Ferdinand Porsche d. Phillip Vauxhall 21 Whose funeral was broadcast live in the BBC on 30th January 1965 and attracted the biggest audience since the coronation of the Queen 12 years earlier? a. Winston Churchill b. Charles Dickens c. Bernard ‘Monty’ Montgomery d. Edith Cavell ANSWERS The only way to receive the answers to this quiz is by joining Friends of KL magazine, so if you haven’t already registered (it’s free) please visit our website at www.klmagazine.co.uk for or call our team on 01553 601201

19 Whose head was placed on a spike outside Westminster Hall on January 30th 1661 (two years after his death) where it remained for the next 24 years? a. Henry VIII b. Sir Francis Drake c. Oliver Cromwell d. Guy Fawkes KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

A UK first from Fujitsu and the 4 Way Group...

From the centre of King’s Lynn The 4 Way Group is the first company in the country to install Fujitsu’s new air source central heating system

F

or almost 20 years the 4 Way Group has been leading the way in heating and air conditioning systems, introducing cuttingedge technology and energy-efficient solutions to self-builders, property developers and multi-property projects.

With the next decade being so important in the fight against climate change, it’s great to see the King’s Lynn based 4 Way Group becoming the very first company in the UK to start installing Fujitsu’s new WaterStage™ air-towater (ATW) central heating system.

An environmentally-friendly water heating solution that uses heat pump technology to extract heat from the outdoor air and transfer it indoors (even in subzero temperatures) it requires only 1kW of electricity to generate

3-5kW of heat energy - an incredible 400% increase.

“These new systems aren’t just incredibly energy-efficient, they’re also very environmentally friendly,” says Steve Simpson of the 4 Way Group. “They produce much less carbon dioxide than conventional gas and hydrocarbon combustion systems, they don’t emit nitrogen oxides because they don’t use burners to generate heat, and their annual running costs are much lower than other types of water heaters.”

Fujitsu’s WaterStage™ ATW systems are easy to install and maintain, and all components are built into a compact and well-designed outdoor unit and hydraulic indoor unit. What’s more,

the outdoor units can be located well away from the property (unlike similar systems from other manufacturers) so they’re very discreet and visually unobtrusive.

“They’re available in 8kW and 16kW versions with a choice of water cylinder capacities,” says Steve. “Currently Fujitsu’s WaterStage™ ATW is one of the very best ways of using clean energy to deliver heating and hot water to every room of the house - reliably, comfortably and cost-effectively.”

With a team of expert technicians, full product warranties, all the help and advice you need and a 24-hour support service, the 4 Way Group are continuing to lead the way in fully sustainable technology.

Before your next building project gets off the ground, contact the 4 Way Group for a free estimate and a look at the future of home heating.

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KLmagazine January 2021

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ABOVE: The magnificent setting of Norwich Cathedral is the perfect venue for the most famous skeleton in the world (opposite) who’s expected to make his way to Norfolk later this year

150 million years later: Dippy comes to Norfolk In its 900-year history, Norwich Cathedral has never welcomed a bigger guest. After four years on tour, the most famous dinosaur in the world will be coming to Norfolk later this year...

O

nce upon a time, an enormous vegetarian animal weighing about the same as three adult male elephants collapsed and died in a place that would eventually become know as Wyoming - in a country that would eventually become called the United States of America. We don’t know exactly how it lived, what it ate, how it interacted with its fellows, or even what colour it was - but its skeleton was destined (after the space of some 150 million years or so) to be one of the most famous in the world.

And it’s expected to arrive in Norfolk this summer.

Affectionately if rather disrespectively

KLmagazine January 2021

known as Dippy the Dinosaur, the most iconic exhibit in London’s Natural History Museum will be on display in Norwich Cathedral during the summer, almost a year after the original plans for the event. But when you’ve been around for 150 million years, you tend to take the odd delay of a year or two in your enormous stride.

Dippy made the term ‘dinosaur’ a household word and was discovered (at least one of its toe bones was) on July 4th 1899 by William Reed, working under the patronage of the fabulously wealthy industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

It was an astonishing find, and it took Pittsburgh’s Museum of Natural History

two years to construct a building big enough to house the gigantic skeleton.

By then the whole world was interested. King Edward VII was fascinated by a sketch of the bones, and Carnegie agreed to donate a cast to London’s Natural History Museum as a gift.

The 292 cast pieces of the skeleton were sent to London in 36 crates and was finally unveiled on May 12th 1905 to huge public and media interest. Over the years it’s been altered to reflect changing scientific opinion on the animal’s stance, and it was taken apart and stored in the museum’s basement to protect it from bomb damage during the Second World War - somewhat 33

ABOVE: The beautiful aisle of Norwich Cathedral is more than capable of hosting the huge remains of the world’s most famous dinosaur, marking the final venue of a tour which started in 2017

ironically since a similar cast was sent to Munich’s Paleontological Museum in 1932 and is still waiting to be displayed.

After 112 years on display (a formidable 0.00007% of the time the animal had been in existence) Dippy was removed from the Natural History Museum in early 2017 and was replaced by the 25m-long skeleton of a young blue whale called Hope. Since then, Dippy has been on tour, visiting Dorchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff and will make ‘his’ final public appearance (the Natural History Museum prefers to refer to the animal as a male) in the fabulous setting of Norwich Cathedral.

Organised by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill, Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure will give local audiences a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the most famous skeletons in the world.

“We can’t wait to finally welcome our prehistoric guest this year,” says the Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges. “Our magnificent cathedral is the perfect destination to end Dippy’s nationwide tour, which started almost four years ago - and we’re hoping it will 34

inspire visitors and foster a long-term respect for the natural world.”

The prospect of coming faceto-face with the remains of such an enormous animal (if you’re particularly tall you could probably reach Dippy’s knee) might seem intimidating, but fear not - Dippy followed a vegetarian diet and the Dean of Norwich has more pressing concerns.

“Health and safety is always the single most important factor in our planning for every event at Norwich and great care is Cathedral, taken by the whole team to ensure cathedral people enjoy their visits in way,” says the safest possible Jane. “We’ve been awarded Visit Britain’s We’re Good to Go industry standard and consumer mark as recognition that we’re following all official guideline and taking all the steps necessary steps to help ensure people’s safety.”

Dippy’s ultimate fate when the

exhibit has to leave Norfolk is still uncertain, but considering he/she/it has already been around for 150 million years the odd year or two is unlikely to make a huge amount of difference.

For the latest information and dates about Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure please visit nhm.ac.uk/ dippyontour For more details about all other forthcoming services and events at Norwich Cathedral visit www.cathedral.org.uk

KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

Insuranceinsights Our regular look at insurance issues for you and your family with the experts at Adrian Flux...

Driving in Europe? Check out the post Brexit rule changes If you’re planning on driving in Europe in the new year you should be aware of the new Green Card insurance regulations coming into force on 1st January as a result of Brexit.

F

rom the moment Big Ben rings in 2021 it will become law for motorists to carry a valid Green Card when they travel anywhere, other than Ireland, within the European Economic region.

If they are towing a trailer or caravan, you will need a separate Green Card for that too.

Despite the change in law, a recent survey by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers found only a third of those asked had heard of a Green Card and just 37% knew they would need one for driving in Europe from 1 January.

Green Cards are International Motor Insurance Certificates. They guarantee that you hold the necessary third-party motor insurance cover required for the countries you will be visiting.

The Green Card may be sent digitally but you need to print it out on paper before your journey. In years gone by

the Green Card had to be printed on green paper but that is no longer the case. However if you need to produce your document it may simplify things if you go with tradition and print yours on green paper.

The Green Card, typically valid for a maximum of 90 days (check your policy documents), will be needed by motorists travelling throughout the EEA — the European Economic Area — and some other countries such as Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.

It’s not known how individual countries will treat drivers who don’t have a Green Card, but there’s no point putting yourself at risk of delay, fines or prosecution for the sake of a bit of forward planning and a potential small cost.

You may also need an International Driving Permit (IDP) which allows you to drive in countries where a UK licence alone is not sufficient. An IDP can be obtained over the counter from the

Post Office for £5,50.

You will also need to carry your passport, driving licence and vehicle registration documents, display a GB sticker and carry a spare set of bulbs, a breathalyser, a high-vis vest for the driver and each passenger, and a first aid kit.

Getting a Green Card couldn’t be easier. Contact your insurer to get a Green Card or if you’re looking for a new policy with Green Card cover contact www.adrianflux.co.uk.

Inquiries are quicker over the phone so call 01553 400399.

Getting set for driving in Europe, there are other insurance options Adrian Flux will have for you, including peace of mind European breakdown cover from just £59 a year.

Adrian Flux, a King’s Lynn based broker providing car, household, motorbike and commercial vehicle insurance, is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

TEL: 01553 400399 | EMAIL: contact-us@adrianflux.co.uk WEB: www.adrianflux.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2021

EDQ 37

History is made when we share our stories and our memories with the rest of the world...

ABOVE: True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum in centre of King’s Lynn is embarking on an oral history project to record the ever-changing face of the town and its people through personal experience

Great Changes: be a part of your local history 2020 wasn’t the first year King’s Lynn experienced a major shift in local history. Project Officer Sophie Hobbs of True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum talks about a new project and invites you to take part...

H

istory has its eyes on you,” sings George Washington to the audiences watching the new musical Hamilton stream via the Disney+ channel from the comfort of their living rooms. When the musical was released online, the Covid-19 pandemic was sweeping across the globe, forcing international lockdowns and quarantines, and forcing people to take a step back and reflect on their priorities.

Washington was right - history watches over us and listens to everyone. History is made when we share our stories and our memories

KLmagazine January 2021

with the rest of the world. The oral tradition that’s existed since the dawn of humanity means we’re always remembered by our families and our communities.

This is something that local and social history museums have recognised for years by collecting oral history from the public. Museums have the ability to record, keep and preserve the stories that shape the narrative that gets handed down through generations.

Today history isn’t only close to home, it’s actually on the inside.

True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum in King’s Lynn is embarking on a new oral history project.

Supported by the Esmée Fairbairns Sustaining Engagement with Collections Fund with the Museums Association, the project is in reaction to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which has affected our way of life over the course of the last year.

Titled Great Change – The Last Generation the project aims to collect over 1,000 stories of change from the general public in King’s Lynn public, and focuses on two main subjects - the momentous slum clearances of the North End between 1930-69 and the Covid-19 pandemic. It hopes to reflect how the town has changed through the eyes of the people that saw it,

39

experienced it and lived through it.

In 1930 the government’s Housing Act was passed, setting universal standards for housing across the UK. Things such as indoor plumbing, electricity and heat were now mandatory - and mass renovations had to take place over the country.

Technically classed as a slum, the historic North End in King’s Lynn (home to the town’s local fishing community) became one of the targeted areas during the clearances that followed over the ensuing decades. In the next four decades whole blocks of North End houses were demolished in favour of new buildings, forcing the community to settle elsewhere and adjust to a new way of life.

Writing in a letter to Pat Midgely, the founder of True’s Yard Museum, one NorthEnder wrote: “It was the finest thing that Lynn ever possessed. Why on earth was it destroyed?”

Fifty years later in January 2020 a new virus was reported in Wuhan, China. Despite their best efforts to

40

contain the virus it quickly swept across the globe, resulting in national lockdowns, local quarantines, and rules on socialdistancing and multi-household contacts.

With education and work moving online via technologies such as Zoom, furlough schemes for employees and public buildings and visitor attractions closed, we were all told to stay inside.

In the span of just a few months, the entire population had to get used to a “new normal”.

At first the two subjects may seem at odds with each other, but there are many common themes.

In both cases, we’ve been able to explore the loss of community when neighbourhoods are forced to move out or stay inside - and we’ve also learned much about the sheer human resilience, strength and pride of the people of King’s Lynn. It’s quite remarkable how these subjects demonstrate their ability to adapt to even the greatest changes.

If there’s one thing the musical Hamilton teaches us, it concerns the power of voices and words in making history and the importance of speaking up.

In the same song, the character of George Washington also sings “you have no control - who tells your story?” but in this case he was wrong. You do.

True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum wants you to take part in the oral history project by telling your stories.

If you have memories about the North End, the Covid-19 pandemic, war, migration and change that you or your family would like to share, please get involved and be a part of history.

Stories given to True’s Yard will be kept in the True’s Yard sound archives, as a record of our local social history and used to create online and realworld exhibitions during 2021.

To take part in the project, please visit the True’s Yard website at www. truesyard.co.uk to download a DIY participation pack for you and your family, or contact the museum on 01553 771200 or e-mail project@ truesyard.co.uk or for more options.

ABOVE: The Fifth Battalion Norfolk Regiment at the rail station in King’s Lynn Station shortly after the outbreak of WWI in 1914 - many civic leaders and relatives attended to see them off KLmagazine January 2021

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Domestic abuse during the time of coronavirus...

During the pandemic, it’s been harder for people to escape domestic abuse, but as Hayes + Storr explains, help is available 24 hours a day

D

omestic abuse has surged during the pandemic, with the UN describing it as the “shadow pandemic.” Train companies in the UK are offering free travel to refuges for men, women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

And according to Victim Support, over 11,500 more people than usual accessed their services between March and November 2020.

Law firms such as ours are experiencing the usual post-Christmas rise in divorce cases that sadly we have come to expect at this time of year. It’s important to remember that anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality, or background.

In 2015, the government’s definition of domestic abuse was changed to include controlling and coercive behaviour - a subtle form of abuse that doesn’t always involve physical violence. It can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional coercion.

Perpetrators generally monitor their partners behaviour, exploit them, break down their support network, create a sense of fear, and deprive them of their autonomy - so they believe they have no alternative other than to stay with their abuser.

During the pandemic, it has been harder for people to escape their abusers but there is never a reason to put up with domestic abuse.

The government has made it clear that coronavirus restrictions do not apply if you need to leave your home to escape domestic abuse. If you are faced with immediate danger, call 999. Many kinds of domestic abuse are criminal offences, and the police can arrest, caution or charge the perpetrator.

If you do want to leave the family home, you (and your children) could stay with relatives or friends, stay in a refuge, get emergency accommodation from your local authority under the homeless persons’ law, or find private rented accommodation.

If you are in an abusive relationship, you can get legal protection by

applying for a non-molestation order to stop your partner harming or threatening you or an occupation order - which allows you to stay at home while your partner has to leave.

Further down the line, solicitors experienced in family law can advise you on getting your property back or making you the legal owner of your home, deciding who your children can live with (and who can see them) and ending your marriage or civil partnership.

Whatever you decide to do, there are many local and national organisations that can offer support. You can call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 08082 000247 or The Men’s Advice Line on 08088 010327.

And we’re always here to help. For advice on family law or any other legal matter, please call us on 01553 778900.

ZUZANNA POGORZELSKA Family Solicitor

This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice.

The Old County Court, County Court Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5EJ W: www.hayesandstorr.co.uk | E: law.kingslynn@hayes-storr.com OFFICES AT: KING’S LYNN | FAKENHAM | SWAFFHAM | HOLT | WELLS | SHERINGHAM

KLmagazine January 2021

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IMAGE: RSPB-IMAGES Andy Hay

ABOVE: A fittingly bird’s-eye view of the reserve at RSPB Snettisham, which recorded unprecedented numbers of birds towards the end of last year - including almost 150,000 knot (opposite)

How the Greylag Goose became part of history The nature reserve at RSPB Snettisham is one of the most famous in the country thanks to its natural beauty and diversity, but some of the birds that visit have their own fascinating story to tell...

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owards the end of last year, the beautiful RSPB reserve at Snettisham recorded its highest-ever number of knot, a lovely bird that undertakes one of the longest migrations of any animal in the world - all the way from the Arctic to north Norfolk, Africa, and even as far as Australia.

It was a timely reminder of the incredible wildlife we have on our doorstep but it’s another bird that will probably pique your curiosity. Say hello to the Greylag goose - a common sight across East Anglia and the Fens. In fact it’s our only native goose, and it has a

KLmagazine January 2021

rather surprising history.

The bird was often exploited for food and was prized for its feathers, which were used for pillows and quilts - and flights for arrows. Helping the weapons fly straight and true, goose feathers were the material of choice by fletchers as apart from the more expensive swan feathers were robust enough to be bound to an arrow. The feathers were also used to make quill pens in the centuries before the invention of metal nibs. The quill itself was even used from the 17th-19th centuries as a priming tube filled with gun powder to fire cannons.

But there’s another use for the Greylag’s feathers that goes back a very long time. In the Fens there existed a secret society of The Bortherhood of the Split Grey Goose Feather. Myths and legends abound, and while most of them are probably apocryphal one story is based on known facts.

After his defeat at the Battle of Naseby in the summer of 1645, King Charles I fled across Cambridgeshire and the following year saw him hiding at Snowre Hall near Downham Market.

It was here he held his last council of war. Told there was no hope of success, he decided to link up with

45

“Myths and legends abound, and while most of them are probably apocryphal one story is based on known facts...” the Scottish army (then encamped at Newark) - but he had to cross the Fens first.

They were undrained at the time, so the king needed a good guide, and was told the best man for the job was the landlord of The Silver Fleece (now The Old White Bell) at Southery – a man with the unfortunate name of Mucky Porter.

Porter has a secret weapon in the shape of a split grey goose feather.

He was in fact a member of The Brotherhood of the Split Grey Goose Feather.

Shown to another Fenman, it meant a great deal - signifying you were

in imminent need of assistance - and the other party was honour bound to help.

Mucky agreed to be the king’s guide, splitting a feather and giving one half to Charles I confirming the arrangement.

And everything went well until they got to Huntingdon and had to ford a river, the crossing being controlled by Parliamentarians.

Mucky then played ABOVE: Charles I spent some time at Snowre Hall near his trump card. Along Downham Market (above left) after his defeat at the Battle of with the king (who Naseby - helped by a member of the Brotherhood of the Split was unlikely to have Grey Goose recognised by the soldiers) he displayed his It was said that the night before the feather and the party was allowed to king’s execution an emissary went to pass unhindered.

Cromwell and placed a goose feather When Oliver Cromwell - who’d on his desk in front of Cromwell, who actually been born in Huntingdon reportedly “much disconcerted” and sat - heard about Charles I reaching up long into the night. safety by such unusual means he was The Bortherhood of the Split Grey reported to have said that it was better Goose Feather has seemed to vanish that he’d escaped than for a Fenman into historical obscurity, but reports do not to help a man with a split feather in exist of grey feathers being found in the his hand. personal effects of old Fenmen after The safety was short-lived, however. their deaths.

Eventually handed over to the As for Mucky Porter, his fortunes Parliamentary soldiers, the king was were much better than the king’s tried for high treason, found guilty and after the restoration of the monarchy executed in January 1649.

Charles II granted the landlord a significant portion of land in recognition and as a way of thanks for the time he’d helped his royal father.

It’s a fascinating story - and a reminder that there’s a lot more to all those birds at Snettisham than meets the eye.

The reserve at RSPB Snettisham is open at all times and is free to enter, but please check before your visit for the current visitor guidelines. See www. rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/ reserves-a-z/snettisham for more details.

46

KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

47

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771422 / 07769688635 KLmagazine January 2021

Animalmatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with at London Road & Hollies Vets...

Clinical Director

Sarah Colegrave

Smallbites

A fresh start for you and your pets

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e may not have enjoyed the best of years in 2020, but you’ll be pleased to learn our two pratices in King’s Lynn and Downham Market are feeling very positive and optimistic about the coming months.

For starters, we’ve recently welcomed three new and very-talented registered veterinary nurses (RVN), our practice administrator Rebecca is back after maternity leave, and we have an experienced new veterinary receptionist to support the rest of the team and help with our extended opening hours.

We’re also about to launch longer and more convenient nursing clinics to make it easier for your pets to receive the treatment they need.

One of our most exciting recent developments was the opening of our new cat ward last month. A visit to the vets can be very stressful for cats (it’s not that enjoyable for the owners) so this specially-designed space has been planned to make your feline friend(s) as comfortable and happy as possible.

We’re currently working toward

receiving gold status as a Cat Friendly Clinic. It’s a worldwide programme led by the International Society of Feline Medicine, which is the veterinary division of the charity International Cat Care. Every accredited practice promises to handle and treat cats with understanding, gentleness, and respect, and to make every effort to make the visit as stress-free as possible. As any cat owner will know, cats like peace and quiet - and they don’t like travelling away from their home.

Talking of travelling away from home, it’s also worth noting that due to our changing relationship with the EU it’s essential to check the government’s website at www.gov.uk for details of the latest guidelines for pets travelling with their owners to Europe.

Whatever the situation you should contact your vet at least four months before travelling into Europe to get the latest advice. For instance, if you have a current EU pet passport it may not be valid. A sample of your pet’s blood may have to be sent to an approved laboratory. You may have to get an

LONDON ROAD Hospital Walk, King’s Lynn • 01553 773168 HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market • 01366 386655

KLmagazine January 2021

More and more people are signing up to our Pet Health Club, which provides essential routine care and helps you become a responsible pet owner. It doesn’t just mean you can save money on the cost of treatments and services to keep your pets healthy and happy. It also allows you to budget and spread the cost of pet care across the year by paying with Direct Debit.

It’s good news for your pets and good news for you - with the chance to save up to £190 a year on routine healthcare.

Animal Health Certificate. It all sounds a bit complicated, but don’t worry - we can give you all the help and advice you need to make sure your pet enjoys a nice holiday as well.

It’s been a very unusual 12 months for all of us at the practice. We haven’t been able to socialise with each other as much (we’ve always been a very close-knit team) and we’ve really missed the close relationship we have with our clients. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back inside both practices in the very near future. As I’m sure you’ll understand, the most important thing for us is to keep you and your pets safe.

Remember that January has been designated Walk Your Pet Month, and Sunday 24th is Change a Pet’s Life Day - so make sure you play your part.

With Pet Dental Health Month coming up in February, we’ll be looking at your pets’ teeth in the next issue. In the meantime, stay safe!

info@londonroadvets.co.uk www.londonroadvets.co.uk

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

49

It’s a time for new ideas and new beginnings It’s tempting to put gardening duties on hold over winter, but as Wendy Warner explains it’s the perfect opportunity to plan ahead for the coming year and to look forward to a colourful spring

W

ith 2020 finally behind us, we can look forward to a new and exciting year in the garden.

One of the positives of last year was that many people took a greater interest in their gardens. With the combination of wonderful weather in the spring and more time at home, gardening created a boost for both our mental and physical health and overall wellbeing. This may have been as simple as growing plants from seed for the first time to major overhauls and design projects.

A great number of people are ‘fairweather gardeners’ - totally forgetting about the garden until the warmer days of spring, but there are many jobs and preparations that can (and should) be done now to get ahead.

When the weather is really dull and dismal you can stay inside and look through books and magazines or browse the internet to plan what new flowers or vegetables you’d like to grow - or get ideas for redesigning a tired area of the garden.

Personally, I love the idea of having different areas in the garden to sit at various times of the day. Position a couple of chairs or a bench so you can catch the early morning sun to have breakfast, choose a shady spot to avoid the midday sun, or near scented plants to relax with a drink in the evening.

Growing from seed can be very economical, especially if you choose perennial varieties that will come back each year - it’s a great idea if you want a large quantity of the same thing or a specific colour. Sowing seeds can begin indoors or in a heated greenhouse from February onwards depending on what varieties you choose.

Make sure all your seed trays are clean and you have enough propagator lids if required. Try using cell trays if you have the space so you have less pricking-out to do - or fibre pots which are great for the environment as there’s no waste or plastic and they can be planted directly into the ground without disturbing the roots. You’ll need a good supply of specialist seed compost – it’s always worth investing in this rather than using multi-purpose compost that can actually contain too much nutrient.

Most importantly, make sure you have plenty of labels to hand. There’s nothing worse than not being able to identify your emerging seedlings.

Summer flowering bulbs should be purchased over the next couple of KLmagazine January 2021

51

months and planted as soon as the weather warms up to give a vibrant show throughout the summer and into autumn, but remember to store them somewhere that’s frost free and away from any hungry rodents.

These include dahlias, lilies, gladioli, begonias, cannas and nerines. Dahlias are becoming much more popular again with so many different types available, from pompoms with small tight flowers to cactus-types with long, spiky petals and the huge dinner-plate varieties, to dark leaved ones with small, bright single flowers.

Nerines are the beautiful pink (white and red varieties are available) lily-like flowers that you’ll see in flower from September onwards, usually flowering in very sunny spots.

Begonias and lilies can be started off in pots in the greenhouse to give them an earlier start.

For the vegetable gardener, seed potatoes, onion sets, shallots and garlic can be bought now and you can already start chitting your seed potatoes. Again, you can use the start of the year to research the best varieties for your needs. Some are more suitable for baking, others are great for roasting, and others are perfect for salads. If you’re relatively new to gardening, 52

it’s worth asking friends and neighbours for suggestions as to what grows well in the soil in your area.

New bird nest boxes should be put up now so the birds can get used to them before they start to pair up for the season.

Existing ones should be cleaned out - but keep an eye out in case any birds are using them for roosting during the colder months Many people don’t realise that it’s important to choose the style of box for the type of birds you have in your garden. Robins need a large open entrance, while other birds such as blue tits require a small entrance hole - and sparrows like a communal box with multiple holes. They can be fussy creatures.

Also remember that the birds visiting your garden will require high energy feeds during these colder months -

together with a supply of fresh water for drinking and bathing.

On a nice day wrap up warm, take a steaming mug of hot chocolate outside, sit in the sun and survey the garden - visualising how it could look in a few months’ time.

Take a moment to look down and see if you can spot emerging bulbs.

Snowdrops and aconites will be the first to flower, shortly followed by dwarf irises, anemones and crocus.

And finally, if you’ve got some outdoor fairy lights you’ve taken down after Christmas, consider using them in the garden for the rest of the year to create a really magical feel.

YOU AND YOUR GARDEN Wendy Warner is the Manager of Thaxters Garden Centre in Dersingham. See the website at www.thaxters.co.uk or telephone 01485 541514.

KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

Keeping your loved ones safe at home this year Taking care to a new level, Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk is helping people remain independent and happy in their own home

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or the last 12 years Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk has been one of the UK’s leading provider of care in the home, helping people stay connected to their family, friends and local community in cost-effective ways that have the clients’ best interests at heart. It’s not just good news for the vast majority of people who prefer to stay in their own homes rather than move into a carehome. Their extended family (who may well be living in another part of the country) can ensure they’re safe and well on a daily basis

thanks to a comprehensive and totally secure online service.

The last 12 months has seen Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk increase staffing levels to maintain its exceptional levels of service and its truly individual and personal care.

“Building relationships has always been at the very heart of our business and we’re looking forward to building on that in 2021,” says director Tom McEwan of Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk. “Our services took on a new dimension last year as people were unable to visit relatives and vulnerable family members, but our staff have been fantastic and we’ve continued to develop very strong relationships with our clients and their relatives.”

Family has always been at the very heart of Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk (it was founded after personal and first-hand experience of poor care standards) and Tom has ensured the

company’s ethos of individual, personal and customer-focused attention is shared by everyone - from the dedicated office staff to the team of inspirational CAREGivers.

“We keep in touch with our clients on a regular basis to make sure they’re satisfied with the service we’re providing and asking if we can help in any other way,” he says. “It’s an incredible testament to our staff and CAREgivers that 100% of our clients have told us they’d recommend Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk to a friend - and to date none of our CAREgivers and none of our clients has tested positive for Covid-19.”

If you’d like more information and details on the many homecare services Home Instead Senior Care in Norfolk can offer, please contact your nearest office using the details below.

HOLT DERSINGHAM HINGHAM 01263 650983 01553 387967 01362 357974 www.homeinstead.co.uk/westnorfolk KLmagazine January 2021

55

Optifog fog-free lenses available here!

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KLmagazine January 2021

Saumya Sharma, Dentist

Why healthy gums are crucial for a healthy life Even if you have no symptoms, chances are that you’re suffering some form of gum disease, as The Priestgate Clinic explains...

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hat connects Buckingham Palace, a Grand Fir, a longlasting relationship and a healthy set of teeth?

The simple answer is that they all have a strong foundation - and as far as our teeth are concerned it means carefully maintaining supporting structures such as gums and the underlying bone.

It’s rather sobering to realise that 8 out 10 people in the UK suffer from gum or periodontal disease - and because the symptoms surface much later than those of tooth decay and cavities most of us aren’t even aware of it.

The Priestgate Clinic offers patientspecific, meticulous and all-inclusive periodontal care, involving a definitive diagnosis along with preventive, therapeutic and supportive treatment.

“Looking after the health of your gums is absolutely imperative,” says dentist Saumya Sharma, who brings over 14 years surgical experience to the clinic and has a special interest in

periodontology and implants. “Our teeth help us chew and digest food, they help our smiles, they help us talk and speak clearly, and they maintain the shape of our faces - which is a detail that isn’t emphasized enough.”

Even fewer people realise that unhealthy gums can adversely impact your general health. Periodontal disease can have a wide range of effects. Studies have shown it can influence sugar control in diabetics, affect cardiovascular disease and cause pre-term low birth weight in babies. It has been shown to have a correlation with obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive lung disease.

“I believe oral health is a mirror to our general health,” says Saumya. “Investing in your oral health can ensure longterm benefits to our overall health, social lives, careers and relationships.”

Understandably, many people are reluctant to seek periodontal treatment due to their fear of dentists or a sheer unawareness of the implications of the disease. At the Priestgate Clinic we guarantee you a warm, amicable

and evidence-based approach to periodontal care with an emphasis on educating and supporting you.

“The patient always comes first,” says Saumya. “Each patient has a history that’s completely unique to them.

Tailoring a periodontal health program that’s easy to comprehend and follow for lifelong benefit has to be our ultimate goal.”

Achieving oral health is a matter of teamwork. Working alongside two consultant specialists, two experienced dentists, a fully qualified hygienist, and a lovely support team, Saumya is fully committed to helping you achieve your oral health goals.

THE PRIESTGATE CLINIC

26 Priestgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1WG Tel: 01733 865000 • Web: www.priestgateclinic.co.uk • Email: reception@priestgateclinic.co.uk KLmagazine January 2021

57

Time to make a new year resolution with a difference whatever the weather we’re going to look our best with some of most stylish ideas from some of our favourite local boutiques

Dubarry Annestown in Hunter Brown (£299)

THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS Stowbridge

Jumper & Skirt

by Pomodoro

ALLEZ CHIC Castle Rising

KLmagazine January 2021

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Jacket & Skirt

by Pomodoro

ALLEZ CHIC Castle Rising

60

KLmagazine January 2021

AIGLE ARIAT BARBOUR BUFF CATERPILLAR

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visit our superstore with ample free parking TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk | Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD

KLmagazine January 2021

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Dubarry Longford Boot in Walnut (£379)

THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS Stowbridge

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KLmagazine January 2021

The Wish

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Sutha Aesthetics Be the best version of yourself this year Whether you’re looking to give your skin a new lease of life, add structure to your face, encourage hair re-growth or simply rejuvenate your look we have a wide range of treatments that use the very latest technology. With over 25 years’ medical experience and a clean and safe clinic in the centre of King’s Lynn, we can help you achieve perfectly-natural results - and bring out the very best in you.

Visit our website for more details of our latest treatments.

St Ann’s House, St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1LT 07506 133091 • admin@suthaaesthetics.co.uk • www.suthaaesthetics.co.uk KLmagazine January 2021

Sutha x 63

Sew & Sew Bespoke curtains and blinds for all your soft furnishing needs Handmade curtains • Swags & tails Roller blinds/verticals and venetians • Wooden blinds Roman blinds • Cushions Home measuring & design service Extensive choice of fabrics and wallpapers Give us a call, email us or visit our friendly team in store to discuss your ideas with us!

122 High Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1DD • Tel: 01553 776411 / 07920 747157 Email: sandersontina@yahoo.com | Website: www.sewandsewkingslynn.co.uk

By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn

The Fent Shop

Thank you to all of our customers for their continued support.

Our premises are COVID-19 safe, we have a one way system in place and social distancing practices in the shop.

Card payment is preferred. Our new opening hours are: 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday.

Please follow our Facebook page for the latest updates.

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41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP | T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk 64

KLmagazine January 2021

“Free Your Body Therapy takes a totally natural approach and it’s amazingly effective...”

- Claire Steele, Grimston

“On my first visit my back was really bad, but I walked out with no pain at all. It really does work as well as everyone is saying...”

- Tim Browne, Terrington St Clement

“Jane and Terry are fantastic and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough...”

- Arthur Sargeant, Long Sutton

Treat yourself to a painfree start to the year

I

Discover how Free Your Body Therapy is using revolutionary techniques to free people from years of chronic aches and pains

t’s a new year, it’s a new start, and it’s the perfect time to free yourself from those aches and pains that have been holding you back for far too long. At Free Your Body Therapy in the centre of King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly and Jane Cole use amazing new techniques to free people from a life of aches and pains - and just a few of the people they’ve helped over the last 12 months are featured above.

The increased precautions and safeguards introduced in 2020 were more than familiar to Terry and Jane because Free Your Body Therapy has always had client safety at the top of its list of priorities.

“Because of the work we do we’ve always used alcohol gels and PPE, and we’ve always wiped down high-touch areas between client appointments,” says Terry. “We’re still going above and beyond to ensure the safety

of ourselves and our clients, and if anything we’ve simply taken our precautions to another level.”

Free Your Body Therapy triages all customers before any appointment, delivering a safe, effective and clientfocused pre-screening process.

While Jane Cole specialises in sports injuries and acupuncture, Terry Connolly is one of the few people in the world currently offering P-DTR as a form of treatment. He combines that with ‘Anatomy in Motion’ gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems that helps with the repair and rehabilitation of past injuries and the relief of pain.

All his clients are simply amazed at the results and the speed at which they’re achieved, but there are no secrets here - it’s simply a case of looking at the body and the causes of pain in a completely different way.

“We’ve forgotten that the body is designed to work as a complete system,” he says. “An injury in one area will often cause nearby muscles and nerves to overwork, compensating for the damage - which means that lingering pain in your shoulder may actually be the result of an old knee injury you’ve totally forgotten about!”

There’s no need to suffer - contact Free Your Body Therapy today to book an appointment.

You’ll be in very good hands, and you’ll finally be free of pain.

Old Dairy Units, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 277520 www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2021

Jane & Terry 65

Turning our waste into artworks of beauty Our use of plastics is declining, and although it continues to cause serious environmental problems around the world, local artist Jessica Mae is giving it a stunning makeover with her re-imagined lamps

T

he famous photographer, sculptor and filmmaker Gyula Halász (better known by his pseudonym of Brassaï) was once asked about the purpose of art, and he replied that it was to “raise people to a higher level of awareness than they would otherwise attain on their own.”

It’s a view that local artist Jessica Mae would undoubtedly share, because her beautiful and naturalistic art doesn’t just look attractive - it carries a very real and very contemporary message.

Take her floral works at Barnsdale Gardens in the east Midlands for example. From a distance they look like chrysanthemens in full bloom, but get closer and you’ll see they’re actually constructed from plastic knives, forks and spoons.

Similarly, the delicate and pretty flowers in the gardens nearby started life as plastic wine glasses.

While many people take their inspiration from old masters or contemporary artists, Jessica’s came during a car drive with her family while she was still a student.

“We drove past a local landfill site and I was amazed at how much rubbish was spilling over onto the side of the road,” she says. “We all know that most of our waste goes to landfill, but I don’t think many of us realise just what that means - or what an impact it has on the environment.”

Growing up in a household where virtually nothing was thrown away and seeing her mother re-purposing things most people would have consigned to the bin, Jessica (who was studying textile design at the time) started doing some research and was truly shocked by what she found.

“I’d never heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and it was frightening,” she says. “It covers over a million square kilometres and contains about 87,000 tons of plastic - some of which is over 50 years old. Many of us throw these things away without a thought, but they never really go away - and that took my artwork in a whole new direction.”

Jessica started incorporating plastic into her work with the help of local cafes and restaurants, collecting their used bottles, cartons and cutlery - and transforming them into something eye-catching, functional. Something to be (re)used and something to spark a conversation.

“It’s incredible how many pieces of plastic a single cafe can get through in a day,” she says. “I get literally hundreds from local venues on my doorstep they’re everywhere. The hardest part is probably getting them home.”

KLmagazine January 2021

“Many of us throw these things away without a thought, but they never really go away...”

Flowers made from plastic wine glasses

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es, iv kn ic st la p om fr de a m s en em h nt sa Hanging chry forks and spoons Jessica’s craft isn’t the easiest process in the world. The plastic has to be carefully washed and cleaned, cut into manageable pieces, dyed in a variety of colours and gently heated - warm enough to be malleable, but not so hot that it melts and gives off dangerous fumes.

“I’ve tried lots of different techniques for working with plastic from heat presses to soldering irons,” says Jessica, “but I’ve found it best to treat it as another sort of fabric. You have to work within the limitations of the base material, but I get a real joy from turning something so mundane into something attractive.”

In addition to her signature lamp designs, Jessica has recently moved into jewellery, entered into a collaboration with Cambridgeshirebased Bland Design, set up a successful online shop, found a suitable showcase for her work at Todd Designs in Norwich, and taken her work onto the ethical multi-vendor website www.WastelessMarket.co.uk.

She’s now currently working on a DIY ‘workshop’ kit - which will encourage people to transform their own waste plastic into things of beauty.

“I always wanted to be a teacher and I can’t think of a more valuable way to educate people about such important issues,” says Jessica. “Exploring your creative side is so important to your mental health, and we simply can’t keep putting plastic into the ground.”

It’s astonishing to think a plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose, and a plastic bag will still be around in 1,000 years’ time.

“We’ve got to live with plastic, but it can be re-used and turned into something of beauty,” says Jessica, “and that’s the conversation I want to start.”

So is Jessica Mae an artist or an environmental activist - or can the two be combined?

“I’ve always loved animals and I’ve always loved being outdoors, so I think I was always concerned with the environment,” she says. “But I’m an artist and designer at heart, so I’m incredibly lucky to be able to combine the two.”

For more details and information about Jessica and her work please visit www.jessicamaestudio.com

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KLmagazine January 2021

Better for your home and better for the planet As we all try to save the environment, Rudd Joinery is hand crafting an ethically-sourced and locally-manufactured range of products

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hether you’re renovating your home, restoring a listed property in a conservation area, in the process of a self-build or just looking to the future, you’ll want to source the very best – not least when it comes to products that will help protect your home from the elements and do something for the environment.

For over 20 years Rudd Joinery have been working with one of nature’s most amazing products, a product that can outlive uPVC by almost double, a product that not only looks beautiful but performs to a standard that far exceeds British building standards.

It’s called timber, and there’s nothing better for your home.

“Our range is designed to meet the demands of 21st century living and

KLmagazine January 2021

manufactured on site from the highest quality FSC timber,” says Jamie Rudd.

“Our energy efficient windows and eco-friendly timber doors are easy to maintain and offer the very highest levels of security and performance.”

Timber-based window products actually have a negative global warming potential, which means that over the course of their lifetime they can actually reduce the amount of CO2e in the atmosphere - and since they’re easily maintained and repaired that environmentally-friendly benefit can last for even longer.

And it’s a safer option in other respects too.

“We’re one of the only companies in the area currently offering products that have passed the PAS24 standard for enhanced security,” says Jamie.

“We’re also a long-standing member of The British Woodworking Federation,

which is the UK’s most important trade association for the joinery industry - quality has always been our most important priority.”

Why choose aluminium or plastic (the production of which is actually harmful to the environment) when you can have a more attractive, more ethical and more locally-produced alternative?

Rudd Joinery’s collection of windows, doors, conservatories and staircases have everything you’re looking for - specially designed to suit your individual needs, and coloured to perfectly match your home Call Jamie and his highlyexperienced and fully-qualified team to talk through your ideas today. From the smallest extension to the grandest design, Rudd Joinery can help give you the home you’ve always wanted.

Good news for the planet and even better news for you.

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Enjoy our new seasonal menu

Keep up to date with us on our social media:

thedukesheadhotel

dukesheadhotelkingslynn

The Dukes Head Hotel, 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn PE30 1JS T: 01553 774996 E: reception@dukesheadhotel.com W: www.dukesheadhotel.com

Great range of wild bird food and feeders Dog Treats, toys and accessories Gift and homeware department

seed potatoes & new season seeds

Our seed potatoes are available in a range of varieties and sizes. We also supply a wide range of onion sets, shallots, garlic, rhubarb crowns and asparagus for you to grow in your garden.

Great selection of flower & vegetable seeds.

Winter clothing DON’T FORGET

summer flowering bulbs

Colourful Dahlias, Lilies, Gladioli, Begonias and Nerines 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA Tel: 01485 541514 | Web: thaxters.co.uk | Open daily 70

Garden Centre & Coffee Shop KLmagazine January 2021

WIN a meal for two & an overnight stay at The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe

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o ver the last few months our followers on social media have been enjoying a number of exclusive competitions treating them to some of Norfolk’s finest restaurants. Our latest winner was Nicky Proctor, who enjoyed a meal at The Duck Inn at Stanhoe with her husband Eddie. She was so pleased with her experience that she sent us these pictures.

“Eating is my favourite thing, so thank you so much for our amazing prize,” she said. “We had a great evening - the best food in lovely surroundings with very attentive staff. We’ll definitely be returning as soon as we can.”

The winner of our next competition will be treated to a meal for two, and overnight stay and breakfast at The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe. If you’re not following us on one of our social media channels yet (see below), there’s never been a better time to do so. Congratulations to all our winners - and let’s hope you’ll be joining them soon.

Nicky Proctor

Enjoying food at The Duck Inn

The Duck Inn

WINNER: Nicky Proctor

Socius

WINNER: Chloe Talmadge

The Old Bank

Nicky’s husband Edd

ie

WINNER: Wendy Back

The Orange Tree

WINNER: Karen Godfrey-Cook

Hunworth Bell

WINNER: Lesley Garwood

No Twenty9

WINNER: Eileen Gower

www.facebook.com/klmagazine www.instagram.com/klmagazine www.twitter.com/KLmagazine

KLmagazine January 2021

The perfect end to the perfect meal...

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Heacham Manor enters the new year in style...

One of the area’s most attractive and popular venues is celebrating a fresh look, a host of outstanding new facilities, an exciting approach to food and a genuine sense of optimism - welcome to Heacham Manor

F

or many years Heacham Manor has been the perfect location for people looking to explore the many attractions of west and north Norfolk, and it’s now embarking on a new journey with the launch of The Pavilion - a stunning new country club, meeting and events venue with a further 7 bedrooms.

It’s the latest development for the beautiful Grade II listed country house hotel, which has a fascinating history stretching back over 900 years.

Granted to a group of Cluniac monks in 1085 (the same order that built the priories at Castle Acre and Thetford)

the manor spent much of its life as the centre of a local farm, and was also home to the families of people such as the famous explorer Robin HanburyTenison and legendary cricketer Bill Edrich. In fact, the accomplished English cricketer and one-time Arsenal winger Denis Compton is said to have played an impromptu game of cricket with Edrich on the manor’s lawn.

Perhaps the most famous visitor to Heacham Manor was the native American princess Pocahontas, who visited the family home of her Heacham-born husband John Rolfe.

His family owned Heacham Hall a few hundred yards away.

Local legend has it that she planted the mulberry tree standing in the grounds of Heacham Manor with seeds brought back from America - although a Forestry Commission investigation last year into the tree’s DNA ultimately proved inconclusive.

It’s a fascinating story, but the future for Heacham Manor looks equally exciting.

The Pavilion boasts a number of spacious function rooms, bar areas and a large first-floor balcony that has stunning views over the 18-hole golf course - which was recently voted one of the top 100 golf resorts in Britain and Ireland. It faces the sea, which means

you can can sit and relax, enjoy a meal and watch one of the best sunsets in the UK. “Heacham Manor celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019, and it’s often been described as the complete country retreat,” says Paul Searle, managing director of the nearby Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton. “This new development opens a new chapter in our story, and the hotel staff are really looking forward to welcoming old friends and new guests.”

It certainly brings a contemporary touch to the hotel’s beautiful grounds, offering a versatile space that breathes elegance into any event - with a choice of function rooms (with a maximum capacity of 150 people), 52 delightful en-suite bedrooms, delicious food prepared with fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients - and even a boutique onsite spa.

“I’m really proud of the work our team has put into this project in what have been rather difficult circumstances,” says Paul. “It’s a really fantastic venue, and I know our customers are going to love it whether they’re visiting for a wedding, a corporate event or a private party.

We’ve got a stunning coastal location, brilliant food, fantastic staff and superb accommodation - to be honest, what more could you want?”

The largest and most versatile space within the venue is The Dove Suite, a self-contained facility on the hotel’s ground floor located next to an enclosed private garden.

With a relaxingly-neutral colour palette and folding acoustic doors this

KLmagazine January 2021

ABOVE: Heacham Manor’s stunning new development The Pavilion as seen from the famous golf course (top), and a look at the function lounge bar (centre) and one of the venue’s luxurious new suites (bottom)

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PICTURES: In addition to being the perfect venue for weddings, The Pavilion at Heacham Manor is also the ideal place to relax after a challenging 18 holes in the stylish new sports bar (below)

is a space you can truly make you own.

It has a private entrance, features for complete accessibility, its own bar and kitchen, a practical multi-purpose floor and an extensive patio area, extending on to the private grassed garden. The space can even be extended with marquees and has a flexible lighting system.

It’s a truly special space for very special occasions.

It’s not alone however. The charming Terrace Lounge on the first floor is ideal for medium-sized events, in a more relaxed environment. It has its own bar and of course the fabulous terrace with 180⁰ views over the golf course and the setting sun.

As for The Pavilion itself, it’s a

stunning location for duo ceremonies.

There can be few things more romantic than getting married in a graceful pagoda surrounded by a private landscaped garden with only your family and friends looking on.

And then you can look forward to the food. Under the amazing guidance of Executive Head Chef Johnnie Kidd, Heacham Manor’s passionate kitchen brigade are well versed in bringing AA Rosette catering visions to reality.

Whether you’re looking for a spectacular gala dinner or something more laid-back - or even a traditional afternoon tea - Heacham Manor takes the very best of Norfolk’s food offering and uses it in surprising and creative ways, catering for any specific dietary requirement.

Of course, one of the very best ways to enjoy

Heacham Manor’s unique form of hospitality is to stay in one of its 52 beautifully-designed rooms - whether you’re looking for a sumptuous suite for the ultimate wedding night indulgence or a flexible cottage-style space for the whole family. And now The Pavilion has added seven new lavishly-appointed rooms including three huge suites.

Heacham Manor has always been one of the loveliest venues along the Norfolk coastline, but thanks to The Pavilion it’s now bigger, better and lovelier than ever.

HUNSTANTON ROAD HEACHAM PE31 7JX

Main Reception: 01485 536030 • Mulberry Spa: 01485 579824 • Golf Pro Shop: 01485 579825 Wedding Coordinator: 07384 248 848 • Website: www.heacham-manor.co.uk 74

KLmagazine January 2021

C O S Y T E A RO OM S E T I N T H E H E A RT O F G R E AT M A S S I N G H A M

a place to enjoy breakfast, coffee & cake, lunch and afternoon teas Locally sourced ingredients | Hot food freshly cooked to order All cakes handmade on the premises Open: 9am-5pm Mon to Fri & 10am-4pm on Sat and Sun Book a table: 01485 520 272 info@thecartshedtearoom.co.uk Located behind Great Massingham Stores & Post Office: Church Lane, Great Massingham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 2HY

CURRENT OPENING TIMES: Tuesday-Friday 7am -4pm & Saturday 7am-2pm

Eat healthy this New Year with delicious local fish BRANCASTER MUSSELS

• Fresh winkles • Local shellfish • Tuna & Swordfish • Jumbo raw prawns • Wide range of fresh & smoked fish • Free range eggs & local honey • Deli counter with quality local cheeses and olives

HOMEMADE DINNERS

All cooked out this Christmas?

Let us do the work for you...

Why not try our take away dinners including fish pies, quiches, sandwiches, salads, scotch eggs, Thai fishcakes and NEW spring rolls.

All freshly made on the premises

DONALDSONS A fresh taste of the sea

Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 KLmagazine January 2021

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We’ve made our restaurant a safe place to sit in by following government guidelines

Crawfish Inn Authentic Thai Restaurant Keep up to date with us by liking us on Facebook

• Finest ingredients from Thailand

• Local cask ales to a popular range of draughts beers & extensive wine list • Takeaway service available

Tel: 01328 878313 Holt Road, Thursford, Norfolk NR21 0BJ www.crawfishinn.com Open: Tue to Sun from 6pm (open on all Bank Holidays)

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KLmagazine January 2021

Your new kitchen: designed just for you As we enter a new year it’s time to start looking forward, and at MKM in King’s Lynn there’s certainly plenty to look forward to...

T

owards the end of last year at a time when many businesses were tightening their belts and saving costs, MKM in King’s Lynn doubled the size of the showroom, completely refurbished the offices, employed new staff, and introduced a stunning collection of kitchens and bathrooms.

It was the perfect way to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, and the branch has now evolved from a traditional builder’s merchant into a complete retail-friendly environment with a brand new display suite offering a comprehensive range for all budgets, a wealth of design expertise, over 10 years of professional experience and a service that’s simply second to none.

KLmagazine January 2021

“The start of the year is traditionally the time when people start planning major home improvement projects,” says Branch Director Damian Roach.

“We’ve still got everything the building trade could want, but we’ve also got a fantastic retail-friendly range of kitchens and bathrooms - and all the design expertise you could need.”

The new showroom features an outstanding range of kitchens, and showcases a number of collections from leading British manufacturers.

“One of the most important things for us was to offer something for every taste and budget,” says Damian. “We’ve got a number of beautiful traditional designs and we’ve got plenty of exciting ideas. Whatever you’re looking for,

we’ve got a kitchen to perfectly match your needs and your budget.”

From vintage-styled taps and innovative layouts to hand-painted finishes and state-of-the-art worktops, MKM King’s Lynn offers expert guidance and advice from dedicated in-branch designers. They’ll help you every step of the way from your first ideas and 3D walkthroughs all the way through to organising your free delivery.

And although it’s part of a nationwide group with over 70 branches across the country, MKM King’s Lynn is still very much a local business, run and staffed by local people.

MKM has always had everything your home and garden is looking for - and now it’s got even more.

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The expert view from a Michelin star chef Interest in home cooking has more than doubled over the past 12 months in the UK, and at The Neptune in Old Hunstanton owner Kevin Mangeolles offers some tips on how to fall in love with food

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evin Mangeolles always knew his natural environment was the kitchen. The Michelinstar owner/chef of The Neptune in Old Hunstanton started as an apprentice at Leeds’s Dragonara Hotel in the early 1980s.

After a brief stint as Chef Poissonière at London’s famed two Michelin-starred La Tante Claire, he accepted a job as 2nd chef at Michael’s Nook Hotel in

Grasmere and was promoted to head chef only a year and a half, going on to win three AA rosettes.

After 12 years at The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight (where he won another three AA rosettes) Kevin and his wife Jacki moved to Norfolk in 2007, buying and overhauling The Neptune - which Jacki manages. True to form, Kevin soon won a further three AA rosettes in 2007 and followed that with

a Michelin star in 2008.

With an impressive repertoire of contemporary dishes that bring out the best in Norfolk’s produce, there are few people better qualified to talk about the local food scene as we enter the new year.

KL magazine: The idea of eating more seasonal food is very popular these days, so what would you recommend?

“The most impressive meal will always be something that’s been cooked with care and love” Kevin Mangeolles: They may not be the most popular vegetable in the world, but you can’t beat sprouts at this time of year. But don’t boil them. Cut the base, peel the leaves and deepfry them until they’re crisp - and then season with some cinnamon salt. Or slice them finely and cook with bacon and cream. If you treat them properly, sprouts are delicious. Another thing I’d highly recommend at this time of year is British goose. It’s lovely and rich, and it’s really worth seeking out.

KL magazine: For people who’ve never tried before, how do you cook goose?

Kevin Mangeolles: Treat it in a similar way to duck. Score the fat and rub salt into it, and put some water in the roasting pan with the goose - it will help more of the fat come out, which you can then use for amazing goosefat potatoes.

KL magazine: What’s the one ingredient you couldn’t live without?

Kevin Mangeolles: Probably salt. It’s a very simple ingredient, but it’s a vital one. Things can taste really flat without seasoning, and it brings everything to life. If you’re serious about cooking, add a little at a time and keep tasting. You should never serve food to anyone that you haven’t tasted yourself.

KL magazine: How do you cook the perfect steak?

Kevin Mangeolles: Basically with care. Take it out of the fridge an hour before cooking so it reaches room temperature and make sure your pan is really hot before you add the oil.

Remember to season the meat, and KLmagazine January 2021

ABOVE: Just one of the dishes created by Michelin star chef Kevin Mangeolles (top) of The Neptune in Old Hunstanton, who says that being a chef isn’t a job - it’s a profession

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which is why I think we’re seeing a move towards comfort food. It has nothing to do with quality, because all food is good if it’s cooked with care and you treat the ingredients with respect. It doesn’t have to be technically clever or flamboyantly artistic - comfort food is anything that makes you feel better after you’ve eaten it.

KL magazine: What’s the secret of successfully pairing wine with food?

Kevin Mangeolles: The real secret is to drink what you’re happy with. Tradition dictates you should only ever have white wine with fish, but in some cases red wine can make an ideal pairing – as can rosé. Choosing wine is a very subjective thing, so I would always recommend serving what you and your guests like best.

KL magazine: Is there any dish that you’re tired of cooking?

Kevin Mangeolles: No. Being a chef isn’t a job - it’s a profession, and you should be putting your heart and soul into your food. If I’m bored of cooking it, it won’t be on the menu.

KL magazine: What’s your favourite national dish?

once it’s in the pan, add a clove of garlic and a sprig of thyme. Your steak shouldn’t take more than 6-8 minutes (remember to turn it half way through) but then lower the heat and add 25g of butter. Spoon that over the top of the steak for the perfect finish. And let it rest a few minutes before serving.

KL magazine: What’s the best recent food trend?

Kevin Mangeolles: Food gives you a feeling of contentment and happiness that you don’t get from much else,

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Kevin Mangeolles: I can’t think of anything more quintessentially British than Sticky Toffee Pudding. A pastry chef I worked with in the Lake District moved to France and was worried that he didn’t have much experience with classic French pastry, so I suggested he cooked Sticky Toffee Pudding - and it was really well received.

people all over the world get together around a table and simply enjoy their food and each other’s company.

KL magazine: What’s the easiest meal to cook in order to impress someone?

Kevin Mangeolles: If you’re cooking to impress, the most important thing is not to overstretch yourself and stick to cooking something you’re familiar and comfortable with. The most impressive meal will always be something that’s been cooked with care and love.

KL magazine: What would your last meal be?

Kevin Mangeolles: I don’t think I’d mind as long as I could eat as much of it as possible.

THE NEPTUNE 85 Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton PE36 6HZ Tel: 01485 532122 Web: www.theneptune.co.uk E-mail: reservations@theneptune.co.uk

KL magazine: What do you think is the best cuisine in the world?

Kevin Mangeolles: I love so many countries’ different cuisines that I couldn’t pick just one, but I’m very interested in food culture and how KLmagazine January 2021

BESPOKE KITCHENS

“The end

of the extractor hood

”

Visit our showroom to view the latest revolutionary appliances from BORA and to see our stunning collection of Frederick George kitchens.

Newrooms Showroom, The Workshops, Brandon Road, Methwold IP26 4RJ 01366 727417 | www.frederickgeorgekitchens.co.uk

Grilled chicken with garlic Serves: 2

METHOD

INGREDIENTS 300g chicken breast 100g pak choi 50g sliced mushrooms 3 cloves of garlic 2 coriander root 10 black pepper corns 2 tbsp of fish sauce 2 tbsp of light soy sauce 1 tbsp of maggi sauce 1 tsp of sugar 1 tbsp of light vegetable oil ½ tbsp of chopped chilli 1 tbsp of lemon juice 1 tsp of chopped coriander

1

Make a garlic paste by pounding 2 cloves of garlic, black peppercorns and coriander root to a paste.

2

Slice chicken breast fillets into 4 thin pieces and marinade in the garlic paste, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of maggi sauce, 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for 20 minutes. Griddle grill the chicken breast for 8 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Then rest the chicken.

3

4

To make a chilli dipping sauce, mix up 2 tablespoons of fish sauce with half a tea spoon of finely chopped coriander and garlic with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

5

Serve with boiled Jasmine rice.

The Crawfish Inn is one of almost 50 local restaurants featured in the new edition of Dining Out in Norfolk. You can purchase your personal copy by visiting www.klmagazine.co.uk

Heat up a wok with ½ table spoon of vegetable oil, then cook mushrooms until they show colour.

Add pak choi and 2 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and a pinch of sugar, stir well together for 1 minute.

Recipe by Ob, Owner & Head Chef at The Crawfish Inn Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ | 01328 878313 | www.crawfishinn.com

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KLmagazine January 2021

Flavour of the Month

How the King’s Head is taking ‘pub food’ to a delicious new level

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ittle more than a hefty stone’s throw from the historic market town of Holt, the King’s Head in Letheringsett has been treating people to great food, warm welcomes and local hospitality for over 200 years.

It featured in last year’s Good Food Guide and The Good Pub Guide, was highly recommended by The Hotel Guru and Travellers’ Choice, and picked up a Best Premium Food Offer award at The Publican Awards. And then there are all the personal recommendations from people who’ve already enjoyed a meal (or stayed overnight) at The King’s Head.

Given that my partner and I live less than 10 miles away it’s somewhat embarassing to say that we only visited the pub late last year and finally discovered exactly what we’d been missing all this time.

Part of Anglian Country Inns’ award-

KLmagazine January 2021

winning locations The Kings Head is everything you could wish for in a traditional village pub. There’s a definite family-friendly atmosphere here. Toasty wood stoves, packed bookshelves, old farming implements, modern styling - and we’d only just arrived. Come in summer and you can have fun in the children-friendly garden, come for the weekend and you can stay in one of the four bespoke country-smart bedrooms.

Which are quite beautiful.

The menu was a sheer delight. We always hear about local chefs using local foods, but Head Chef Matty Adcock really is raising the bar in that respect. The menu is packed with local meats, local vegetables, local fish and local beers - but there’s plenty of surprising touches with Middle Eastern, European and African influences.

Our starters were a perfect example - a delicious smoked Staithe Smokehouse haddock tartlet with chive aioli and a rich parmesan crisp together with a Norfolk butternut squash arancini served with a fabulous maple squash purée. This is truly outstanding food, and it only got better.

My partner chose the vegan Moroccan-spiced cauliflower steak with spiced apricot couscous (and yes, it tasted every bit as good as it sounds), while I couldn’t resist Matty’s brilliant chargrilled pork chop. Cooked perfectly, it was served with a lovely

sage and onion mash, curly kale, and a fantastic barbecued apple and red wine jus. It might sound fussy and overcomplicated on the face of it, but it’s not in the least. In a word, it’s amazing.

It’s obviously pub food, but it’s not pub food as you know it. Just visit on a Friday for Fizz & Chips and you’ll see what I mean.

Although neither of us have particularly sweet teeth, we couldn’t resist the lime and blackberry cheesecake, which was topped with a hazelnut crumb. It was the perfect way to end what had been a wonderful and memorable meal.

I’m not sure what more you could ask from a traditional village pub. The location is beautiful, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the food is simply outstanding. Highly recommended.

THE KING’S HEAD Holt Road, Letheringsett NR25 7AR Tel: 01263 712691 Web: www.kingsheadnorfolk.co.uk 83

Mango & raspberry roulade with toasted almond brittle

Serves: 6-8 INGREDIENTS ALMOND BRITTLE 200g caster sugar 40g flaked almonds MERINGUE 6 egg whites 375g caster sugar 1 ½ tsp cornflour 1 ½ tsp white wine vinegar FILLING 400ml double cream 75g icing sugar 100g fresh raspberries 1 ripe mango

The Heron is one of almost 50 local restaurants featured in the new edition of Dining Out in Norfolk. You can purchase your personal copy by visiting www.klmagazine.co.uk

METHOD

1 In a dry pan add flaked almonds on medium heat lightly toast until lightly coloured remove from pan.

2 In a small saucepan add caster sugar on a medium heat allow sugar to turn a caramel colour. Do not stir this only shake if crystals form on the edge of pan you can use a pastry brush with water to rinse these off.

3 When almost a caramel colour, add almonds and pour onto a metal tray (it will come off easy when set). Leave to cool at room temperature.

This can be done day before.

4 Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks making sure bowl and whisks are clean with no water or yolks in.

5 Add sugar little at a time while whisking. Mix white wine vinegar with cornflour and mix well.

6 Pour into a tray 12x8 inch lined with greaseproof paper, level out making sure the meringue is in all the edges well.

7 Bake at 170°c for 10 mins, then turn temp down to 160°c for 10 mins.

8 While this is baking, clear a worktop and lay a tea towel down, add a layer of greaseproof on top of this, sprinkle with a little caster sugar, when meringue is cooked allow to cool enough to handle the tray. Quickly and confidently

turn the meringue out onto the tea towel and greaseproof setup, allow to cool at room temperature for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

9 Remove stone from mango and dice into 5mm, any juice keep.

10 Whip cream to soft peaks with icing sugar, add any mango juice from the mango.

11 Layer the cream onto the meringue not pressing down too hard - use 2 spoons to help even out approx. 10mm. Leave the first inch and last inch along the 8 inch side with no cream as this will become difficult to roll.

12 Tear raspberries up and sprinkle across cream, sprinkle mango dice across the cream.

13 Then from the 8 inch side use the tea towel and greaseproof to help roll start fairly tight and ease up as you roll, not forgetting to remove greaseproof and tea towel from the inside of roll - this stops the meringue breaking up too much.

Recipe by Colin Perry, Sous Chef at The Heron The Causeway, Stowbridge PE34 3PP | 01366 384040 | www.theheronstowbridge.com 84

KLmagazine January 2021

Valentine’s Day at The Heron

Enjoy a romantic dinner for two at our cosy riverside pub Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one you love with our special Valentine’s menu. And for an extra special treat why not book a night away in one of our beautiful B&B rooms.

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We look forward to seeing you soon!

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KLmagazine January 2021

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“Although the stated aim of the journey was to explore the inland waterways, the main intention was for everyone to have a jolly good time...�

ABOVE: A contemporary cameo of the 3rd Earl of Orford, who undertook a remarkable Fenland adventure in 1774, exploring the waterways of the area with an entourage of servants, sailors, carpenters and wealthy local gentry

An inland voyage: and the first ever staycation

Although the word ‘staycation’ only made its debut 18 years ago, its meaning has been with us much longer. Russell Lyon documents a remarkable local journey undertaken almost 250 years ago...

I

n addition to ‘unprecedented’, ‘challenging’, ‘furlough’ and ‘recount’, ‘staycation’ became one of the words of 2020 as we were largely confined within our own borders and had little choice but to holiday close to home.

It hasn’t taken us long to take vacations for granted (the right to a week’s annual paid holiday only became law in 1939), but we’ve been enjoying the wonders on our doorstep for much longer.

In fact, the first ‘staycation’ may well have taken place locally way back in July 1774.

It was during the reign of king George III that George Orford, 3rd Earl of KLmagazine January 2021

Orford and uncle to Horace Walpole (whose son Robert would become the first Prime Minister of Great Britain and build Houghton Hall) set sail on July 16th 1774 through the “narrow seas of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.”

The professed aim of the journey was to explore the inland waterways of the area, but the real intention was the ultimate “boy’s day out” with Lord Orford and his friends in command of four “sail of the line” boats (The Whale, The Alligator, The Shark and The Dolphin), three tenders (The Pristis, The Centaurus and The Chimera) and the protection of a gunboat with the rather

unfortunate name of The Fireaway Bumketch.

The “sail of the line” appellation was more than a bit pretentious as the main boats were little more than converted river barges - even though George Walpole was referred to as “Admiral and Commander in Chief.”

They were a motley crew of wealthy gentry, servants, sailors, carpenters and Lord Orford’s mistress - a certain Mrs Turk from his ancestral home at Houghton.

Most people who live in or around the Fens will be familiar with the brightly-painted narrow boats which chug up and down the narrow waterways in the summer months, but 87

Lord Orford’s 1774 expedition set the bar rather high - in fact, no one has managed to emulate such a feat since then.

For centuries, working barges had been coming out of King’s Lynn carrying goods to the interior of the Fens, but that was for trade and business - not pleasure.

Orford’s grand expedition set out from Brandon Creek on the Little Ouse and soon had to be somewhat ignominiously towed into the Great Ouse by a horse called Hippopotamus ridden by a young chap called Will.

The day was flat and calm. There was no wind so the sails were useless and the boats had to be pulled along again to Salters Lode at Nordelph – a distance of about 12 miles. The poor horse must have been exhausted.

The original intention was to enter the River Nene at Salters Lode, but it was low tide when they reached the lock - so everyone had to anchor until morning. They had to spend the night at the charmingly-named ‘Whore’s Nest Ferry’, which probably set the tone of the entire expedition.

Although the stated aim of the journey was to explore the inland waterways, the main intention was for everyone to have a jolly good time.

Fishing and shooting were the main activities, and Lord Orford was always putting out lines and filling heavy bags with pike, perch and eels which the voyagers used to supplement their already plentiful diet. They certainly weren’t frugal when it came to food and drink - the well-stocked Coconut Nut Victuallers storage barge saw to that.

They sailed through Outwell and Upwell and stopped outside March for lunch. Their natural progress was hampered by bridges but they’d prepared for that - the bridges were either raised by carpenters or demolished (and then rebuilt) but on some occasions they were simply charged through and smashed out of

88

ABOVE: A typical Fenland lock and (below) the River Nene at Upwell. The map below shows the extent of Whittlesea Mere around the time of Earl Orford’s grand expedition

the way.

The destination of the ‘fleet’ was Whittlesea Mere, which it reached on July 19th. At that time it was the largest lake in England outside the Lake District, being 24 miles in circumference.

However, it was also less than 7ft deep, very weedy and would only be drained in 1853 - long after the Fenland Voyage.

The jolly sailors admired the farming as they sailed along the River Nene - fat cows grazing on lush vegetation and good crops of wheat, oats, mustard seed and flax where the soil was good.

George Orford was less than complimentary about the female Fen inhabitants, describing them as “old and ugly” with the typical misogyny of the time - although he did say the town of March was very handsome.

On reaching Whittlesea Mere the real purpose of the expedition could begin.

Fishing, sailing races, gambling and carousing were the main entertainments and the makeshift ‘armada’ was a huge source of interest to locals who came in crowds to watch and marvel at the sight.

Invitations to dine were

plentiful as local dignitaries including the Bishop of Peterborough, the Duke of Manchester and Lord Sandwich (a genuine First Lord of the Admiralty) were pleased to be hosted by such distinguished guests.

Horse racing was very popular, a party ventured as far as Spalding, and they also went to the theatre in Peterborough.

It all sounds remarkably like an 18th century Pickwick Club. As a group they had many escapades and adventures (mostly due to gales) but nobody was seriously injured and after three weeks they’d had enough.

By August 6th they were back on the Little Ouse. Horse and coaches were waiting for them at Lakenheath Bridge to take them home.

It was an extraordinary journey.

A madcap venture with no expense spared, led by a man who was said to be “the most dissolute man in Europe.”

True to form, George Walpole lived the rest of his life as a playboy seeking pleasure. Eventually he had to sell the family art collection at Houghton Hall to Russia’s Catherine the Great to stave off bankruptcy, and he finally died alone and insane aged just 61.

KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

Michael Crisp Director

Ben Allen Managing Director

Welcome to 2021: time to invest in the future...

As one of the area’s most qualified chartered financial advisers, Allen Tomas & Co can help you make the most of your money Last year was obviously rather challenging for everyone, but it was also a chance to take stock and identify what was in the best interests of our business and our clients. It meant that rather than making redundancies we recruited two local people who brought new skills, talent and ideas to the company. We introduced technologies such as Zoom and Google Meet to support our telephone and (when possible) face-to-face meetings.

Our thinking has changed too, with even more focus on family protection, estate planning, tax efficiency and education on investment behaviour.

In fact, it’s remarkable how much the investment landscape has changed over the last few years.

“Investment clients are now genuinely interested in making a difference to the planet and helping future generations right now,” says

director Ben Allen. “We‘re committed to being part of the essential drive to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and we’ve re-structured our in-house portfolios accordingly to be more ethical.”

Using the “responsible” approach of independent analysts Rayner Spencer Mills Research, our portfolios are now contructed using the following criteria: SUSTAINABLE: Funds that select and include investments that genuinely contribute and benefit a global and sustainable economy IMPACT: Funds that can clearly demonstrate they’re aligned to the Global Impact Investing Networks definition of impact

responsible structural growth trends ETHICAL: Funds that apply a ‘screen’ (either positive, negative or both) that’s based on ethics or on a ‘best in sector’ approach In accordance with the FCA’s advice on climate change and ‘green finance’ we’re ensuring our clients have access to financial products and services which don’t just meet their needs and preferences - but also fulfil their wishes for a better and more ethical world.

For an initial meeting about your investment needs, please contact us using the details below - and we wish everyone a healthy and successful 2021.

THEMATIC: Funds that use macro themes to identify long-term and 6 St Nicholas Court, Church Lane, Dersingham PE31 6GZ • Tel: 01485 541998 2 Oak Street, Fakenham NR21 9DY • Tel: 01328 854706 Website: www.allentomasfinancial.co.uk Email: info@allentomasfinancial.co.uk

Allen Tomas & Co Financial Management Ltd is registered in England and Wales with number 8864562 and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with Financial Services Register number 630427 KLmagazine January 2021

91

The history of King’s Lynn in a single street It will take you about five minutes to walk the length of King Street in King’s Lynn, but in that time you’ll pass no less than 30 listed buildings and wander through over 900 years of fascinating history

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t may be less than 800ft long, but King Street - which runs from the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn to the town’s famous Custom House - is a quite extraordinary stretch of buildings steeped in history, rich in architectural styles and full of unique claims to fame. With a listed building every 26ft along the way, it’s hardly surprising that Sir John Betjeman said it was an integral part of one of the finest walks in England.

The widest street in King’s Lynn until

the building of the new London Road in 1803-06, it was originally developed in the 12th century and was the main link between the Saturday and Tuesday marketplaces - although at first there were only buildings on the eastern side, the river lapping the other side of the street.

Over the next 700 years, the fortunes of King Street followed that of the town itself as it became one of the most important ports in the country. The undeveloped west side soon featured the imposing and grand houses of

Lynn’s merchant rulers, although it also catered for the town’s ever-growing and ever-changing population of homegrown and itinerant sailors.

In fact, so much cod and herring was being imported into King’s Lynn

by Hanseatic merchants that in the 14th century the street was known as ‘Stockfish Row’ - no doubt because so many fish merchants lived there.

In 1845 there were no less than 10 pubs along this relatively short street (almost all would be closed within the next 70 years) and it was also home

1914.

And its neighbour is the famous and nationally-significant Guildhall of St George.

The Grade I listed building is the oldest and largest complete medieval guildhall in England, and there’s probably no other building in the country that has a longer dramatic pedigree the earliest recorded play performed here was staged in January 1445. An enduring tradition claims that Shakespeare himself performed on the stage, and the evidence is both growing and compelling.

Incredibly, the building was almost demolished shortly after the Second World War before farmer Alexander Penrose bought the ABOVE: The Guildhall of St George may be the last existing place building to save it for in the world where Shakespeare performed, and the nearby No.27 posterity. A campaign on King Street in King’s Lynn is probably the oldest office building led by Lady Fermoy in the country raised the money to to William & Thomas Bagge’s famous restore it and it was brewery, which was (until 1929) the last reopened by the late Queen Elizabeth, of the town’s breweries to be locallythe Queen Mother – (one of its loyal owned. It had been founded before supporters) for the first King’s Lynn 1767 and possibly as early as 1688, and Festival in 1952. It’s been a popular arts front range directly opposite The Globe and cultural centre ever since.

Hotel features an iron gate featuring At the bottom of King Street you’ll the logo of its 20th century owners find another extraordinary building Steward & Patteson. the town’s Custom House, completed The Bagges also ran the Bagge & in 1684 and the first building in Bacon’s Bank further down the street King’s Lynn to use “the grammar of at No.27 - which was later sold to classical architecture correctly” - so Everards (another family of brewers) groundbreaking that it influenced the who in turn sold it to Gurneys’ Lynn re-modelling of the town in the 18th Bank in 1861. century.

Returning to The Globe Hotel, It was built for it should be noted that its name the merchant is unlikely to have come from the Sir John Turner famous statue of Atlas on the corner whose house still of the building carrying the world exists at No.1 King on his shoulders. Originally built as a Street, close to the merchant’s house, it was first recorded Custom House and as The Globe Inn in 1650 and probably only a few minutes’ took its name from the next two walk from his properties along King Street and their other legacy to the connections with the world’s most town - the Duke’s famous playwright.

Head Hotel on the Directly next door is Shakespeare Tuesday Market House, which had started life as The Place.

Sun public house at least as early The limestoneas 1736 and was then called The cased St George’s Shakespeare’s Head until its closure in Chambers at 94

King Street is a quite extraordinary stretch of buildings steeped in history, and full of unique claims to fame...

No.27 may well be one of the finest houses in King’s Lynn, and it adjoins one of its most important. Occupied by MCP Solicitors for the last 30 years (a business that can call on over 200 years of history itself) No.28-32 includes the remains of the earliest known domestic building in King’s Lynn - dating from as far back as the 12th century. Even the ‘modern’ parts of the building are almost 500 years old, and it may well be the oldest office building in the entire country.

Acquired and restored by the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust in the late 1970s, it is normally open to the public on Heritage Open Day and strictly by appointment.

If any street can tell the history of a town, that street is King Street.

From humble Dark Age beginnings to European trading giant, and from Georgian grandeur to modern commercial life, a walk along King Street it a very literal walk through history.

KLmagazine January 2021

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floors designed for life

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Thank you We’d like to say a big thank you to all of our customers who have supported our family business in 2020 during the pandemic.

We are looking forward to the year ahead and will continue to work within the government guidelines to ensure our customers are kept safe.

COVERING WEST NORFOLK FOR OVER 47 YEARS 36 Norfolk Street, King's Lynn PE30 1AH | Tel: 01553 775203 Email: info@metriccarpets.co.uk | Web: www.metriccarpets.co.uk 96

KLmagazine January 2021

Claire Melton FCCA TEP

Looking forward to 2021 financially...

If 2020 taught us anything it’s to expect the unexpected, which is why your financial security is so important, as Stephenson Smart explains

I

think we can all agree that 2020 was a challenging year for all of us.

One thing the last 12 months have proved, however, is that the only constant is change - and that the things we perceive to be fixed and certain are not always so.

There are obviously many things we can’t control, but with the right advice and professional support, the fate of our long-term finances can be managed.

Claire Melton FCCA TEP, specialist in capital taxes, trusts, estates and probate work at Stephenson Smart has plenty of advice to help you look forward with your finances in 2021.

“As we enter 2021, we can’t take anything for granted,” she says. “We’re expecting many changes to our current tax regime in the spring budget, which is expected to be announced before the end of this tax year.”

It’s probably never been more important to review your current financial position regularly, especially with a view to pre-empting any forthcoming changes. Your income or financial situation may have also changed dramatically due to the pandemic.

Provisions that you have currently may need to be changed so you can be as prepared as possible for the future.

You need to identify your main sources of income - and clarify your income needs now and in the future.

You need to understand your financial commitments and confirm your plans and wishes for the future.

“None of us like to think about what may happen if we’re no longer here, but this last year has shown us that changes to our health can be sudden and out of our hands,” says Claire. “It’s really important to think about what will happen to your assets if the worst were to happen. Who would you be providing for - and what would be their needs?”

As a specialist in these areas, Claire is highly qualified and fully equipped to discuss these matters with you and come up with effective solutions that will give you and your loved ones financial security and peace of mind.

You can contact Claire Melton FCCA TEP at Stephenson Smart’s King’s Lynn office on 01553 774104.

Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

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KLmagazine January 2021

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KLmagazine January 2021

Employmentissues Our bi-monthly look at employment issues that concern you, with local HR experts Peter Lawrence & Rod Lee of Human Capital Department.

Making sure your HR Documentation is compliant

Employment Contracts, Handbooks and Records Happy New Year!? Unemployment levels are likely to remain high and employment relationships may be strained in the coming months as businesses battle with the challenges of the pandemic

H

uman Capital Department have seen a dramatic increase in the number of grievances and disciplinary cases in the last year, as employers and employees have struggled to adapt to the changing business environment. Firms have not always adhered to the rules when making redundancies, particularly the requirement to consult with staff and agree redundancy criteria, so it is not surprising that Employment Tribunals [ET] are now overwhelmed with claims which are always time consuming and potentially costly for firms.

As part of our Retained HR Support,

we can now offer insurance against Employment Tribunal claims, however, the best protection is to have good HR systems and processes in place. These ensure that any employee issues are addressed quickly and efficiently.

If you don’t have a written employment contract, clear HR policies & procedures [& an Employee Handbook], or simply are not sure how much holiday you have left, have a chat with your HR representative or line manager, and if they don’t know contact us!

At Human Capital Department we subscribe to a Chartered Institute of

Personnel and Development [CIPD] service called “HR Inform” which gives us access to model employment contracts, and employee policies & procedures. We also partner with an HR Software House called Breathe-HR which provides an easy and low-cost solution to managing holidays and employee records.

For a free demonstration of our HR Software or a confidential discussion about how we can help with Employment Contracts, Employment Handbook or HR Policies & Procedures get in touch today.

m 01553 401781 / 0800 246 5614 1 humancapitaldept.com k info@humancapitaldept.com KLmagazine January 2021

99

The local man who helped end slavery Thomas Clarkson was born in Wisbech and a winning entry to an essay-writing competition propelled him on a path that would consume the rest of his life and eventually result in the abolition of slavery

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e’ve heard and read a lot over the last year about our 19th century public sculptures of the great and the good - especially as we re-evaluate our judgements of what constitutes ‘great’ and what counts as ‘good’.

Standing in the centre of Wisbech and bearing a natural resemblance to the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park (it was designed by the same architect) is a monument featuring a statue of a local man called Thomas Clarkson.

This year marks the 174th anniversary of the death of this “moral steam engine” (as he was once described) and in the fight to abolish slavery it’s unlikely anyone worked harder or took more personal risks.

Born in 1760, Thomas Clarkson’s father was a priest and master of Wisbech Grammar School, who gave both his sons a particularly good education.

While his brother John would become a famous naval officer, Thomas was all due to follow in his father’s religious footsteps when he decided to enter a Latin essay-writing competition while at Cambridge University.

The subject was anne liceat invitos in servitutem dare - which translates as “is it lawful to make slaves of others against their will?”

The young Clarkson read and researched everything he could lay his hands on about slavery, and even met and interviewed people with personal experience of the global trade. His essay won first prize and it changed his life.

On his way home from London after having read his prize-winning essay in public, Clarkson had a revelation. The more he thought about it, the more he became convinced that he was dealing with far more than an academic exercise.

KLmagazine January 2021

ABOVE: A portrait of Thomas Clarkson by the Swedish artist Carl Frederik von Breda. Clarkson is naturally featured holding a pen - it was a prize-winning essay that determined the course of his life, and his writing was so accomplished it helped bring the international slave trade to an end

“A thought came into my mind that if the contents of the essay were true,” he later wrote, “it was time some person should see these calamities to their end.”

Translating his work into English, Clarkson published it as a pamphlet in 1786 with the rather unwieldy title of An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, translated from a Latin Dissertation Dissertation.

He had a natural gift for writing, encouraging Jane Austen to claim to be “in love with the author” despite the fact her family was friends with several prominent slave owners.

In May 1787, together

with 11 other men Thomas Clarkson founded the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, persuading the MP for Hull – a certain William Wilberforce – to speak for them in Parliament.

Where Clarkson was a genius with a pen, Wilberforce was a brilliant orator, and his performances would establish him as the public face of Britain’s abolition movement - even though his remarkable speeches were based on evidence gathered and supplied by Clarkson.

Not that Clarkson sat in his study consulting dusty volumes and archives.

He travelled almost 40,000 miles around Britain, finding witnesses, obtaining first-hand accounts, recording facts and figures, and putting his life in danger. When he arrived in Liverpool (one of the country’s major

101

This feature was originally produced exclusively for Friends of KL magazine, but so many of you wrote in asking for it to be shared with all our readers that we thought we really should print it.

All friends of KL magazine regularly receive special features and unique quizzes delivered straight to their Inbox. All you need is your e-mail address and you can register to join your fellow community of friends at www.klmagazine.co.uk ports for the slave trade) he narrowly escaped being murdered by sailors who’d been paid to kill him - before receiving more abuse and threats of violence and when he took his campaign to France in 1789 on the eve of the French Revolution.

When the first abolitionist bill reached Parliament in 1791 it was defeated 163-88 - a crushing blow for the antislavery activists, but something of an incentive for Thomas Clarkson. He continued travelling all over the place, giving speeches wherever he could, and helping form local abolition groups.

But the effort took its toll on his health, and after another Parliamentary bill was defeated in 1792 he took a well-earned break, marrying a woman from Bury St Edmunds and moving to the Lake District with a view to becoming a farmer.

He missed his true calling however, and returned south in 1803 to renew his campaigning efforts - which were rewarded with the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in March 1807. However, the law only applied to the commercial trade itself.

Slavery was still legal and for the rest of his life Clarkson continued to promote the anti-slavery message. Even at the age of 67 he covered some 10,000 miles and tried to encourage Parliament to bow to changing public opinion.

By 1833 it had been almost 50 years since Clarkson had written his prize-winning essay, and following a three-month debate in the House of Commons the Slavery Abolition Act was finally passed, giving all slaves in the British Empire their freedom.

At least in theory. Only children under six were truly given their freedom and all other slaves were required to work for their owners for a further six (unpaid) years - a situation Clarkson and his wife campaigned against until its end in 1838.

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Thomas Clarkson finally died aged 86 in September 1846 at his home in Playford. He’d spent virtually his entire life turning the abolition of slavery into one of the main political issues of the day, and combined engaging writing with brilliant speeches and an innovative approach to publicity to change people’s attitudes.

And to a certain extent, this man from Wisbech helped change the world.

ABOVE: Many items and artifacts from Clarkson’s life and times are displayed in the Wisbech and Fenland Museum in his home town of Wisbech

KLmagazine January 2021

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A bigger showroom, better ideas and brighter technology from Core Technology Projects in the centre of King’s Lynn

The magic of the cinema, the comfort of your home There’s no better time to discover how Core Technology Projects can bring the movies to your home with your very own bespoke cinema

C

inemas closed almost a year ago, and the few that are open are coping with social distancing, full PPE for staff, reduced film screenings, and compulsory face masks for the audience.

Despite everything there’s plenty of fabulous big-screen entertainment out there at that moment - if you haven’t seen Mank or I’m Thinking of Ending Things you really need to soon - and the new James Bond film should be with us soon, after a very long wait.

Some people haven’t missed going to the cinema however. Thanks to Core Technology Projects in the centre of King’s Lynn the magic of the movies has been brought into their own homes - with full 4K UHD resolution, crystal clear screens up to 13ft wide, full Dolby

ATMOS surround sound, completely automated and easy-to-use controls, and luxurious bespoke seating. There really is nothing like it.

“This year has really brought the importance of technology home to people,” says managing director Jim Garrett. “That’s probably why we’ve seen so much demand for our services.

People are working in virtual offices, staff are training remotely, students are learning remotely, and people are discovering the joys of having the total cinema experience in their own homes.”

That’s part of the reason Core Technology Projects has quadrupled the size of their King’s Lynn showroom, creating the best home automation experience in the area.

“We’ve always had an impressive

showroom but it’s now a lot more than that,” says Jim. “It offers people the opportunity to get hands-on with the very latest technology - from security and CCTV to gaming and entertainment. The products we now have available are truly incredible, and people are always amazed when they see just what’s possible today.”

If you want to take your viewing pleasure to the next level or discover how the latest technology can benefit your home, visit the Core Technology Projects showroom in King’s Lynn today or contact Jim and his team using the details below and discover how easy it is to enjoy all the thrills of the cinema in the comfort of your own home.

1 APS House, Oldmedow Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 4JJ Tel: 01553 776413 Web: www.coretechnologyprojects.co.uk E-mail: enquiries@coretechnologyprojects.co.uk KLmagazine January 2021

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“Over just one week in January 1905, composer Vaughan Williams collected 61 folksongs in King’s Lynn, mainly in the fisherfolk community of the North End...”

ABOVE: St Nicholas Chapel was at the very centre of the fisherfolk community in King’s Lynn, which composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (opposite) at the start of the 20th century as he visited the town and recorded a number of traditional folk songs

The history of Lynn and the sound of music For hundreds of years the North End fishing community in King’s Lynn maintained a proud cultural tradition, one that was recorded and preserved for posterity by one of England’s greatest composers

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alph Vaughan Williams is probably our most underrated composer, writing operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions (including nine symphonies) over the course of some 60 years before his death in 1958.

Strongly influenced by Tudor music and traditional English folk songs, his music ranges from the stormy and impassioned to the tranquil and mysterious.

And it also has a strong relationship with the fisherfolk of King’s Lynn.

On 6th January 1905 Vaughan

KLmagazine January 2021

Williams travelled by rail from London to Norfolk hoping to find traditional songs still being sung by local people.

England was sometimes declared by natives and foreigners alike to be a land without music - but a group of London based folk song collectors were determined to prove otherwise, and began to journey into the English provinces.

In King’s Lynn the 30-year-old Vaughan Williams was introduced to the folksingers of the closeknit fishing quarter living in the streets around the magnificent chapel of St Nicholas. This bustling and compact already historic community co-existed beside the new

docks and factories being built at the time. The ancient Fisher Fleet had been lost in the construction of the Alexandra Dock in 1869, and another harbour for their smacks had been excavated. No fewer than 180 fishing boats dependent on sail were registered at King’s Lynn in 1914 employing some 400 men. They earned a living in The Wash catching shrimps, prawns, cockles, mussels, oysters, lobsters and whelks.

Pilot Street was the ‘high street’ of the North End until it was sadly truncated by John Kennedy Road in 1963. Towards the end of the 19th century it had been home to at least 58 fishermen and their families. There 107

ABOVE: The North End of King’s Lynn has now largely disappeared along with its colourful characters (below) but its traditions survive, especially its music and songs thanks to the work of one of the country’s most highly-acclaimed composers

were also bakers, grocers, butchers and six taverns in the street. The North End was a self-sufficient part of the town that even had its own football team.

It was also compact - at True’s Yard six cottages were occupied by twenty people in 1901 – and six of them were fishermen.

Over just one week in January 1905 Vaughan Williams collected 61 folksongs in King’s Lynn, mainly in the North End. Though his principal interest when listening to the local singers was the melody, he recorded the exact words to reveal a musical legacy he described “as beautiful and vital now as it ever was”.

The young composer was greatly impressed with the songs performed by James “Duggie” Carter (then aged 61), particularly ‘The Captain’s Apprentice’ - which concerned the horrific story of a young boy on a sailing vessel who was so maltreated by the captain that he died. Its haunting tune was used

by Vaughan Williams for the opening theme of his first Norfolk Rhapsody.

Of the other folk songs Vaughan Williams heard in the town in 1905 the maritime heritage was evident. ‘On

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Board a 98’ (warship), ‘A Bold Young Sailor’ and ‘Homeward Bound’ are examples – and the history of Lynn’s fisherfolk and sailors was transmitted through this rich oral tradition.

Public houses were the community hubs of the North End and the setting for the singing of songs - which tended to express a somewhat harsh social experience. It seems certain that The Tilden Smith in Pilot Street was where Vaughan Williams heard the songs which so amazed him, sitting quietly in the corner with his notebook and a pint.

Vaughan Williams also visited families in their cottages to listen to men and women singing folk songs, but we have no details of these fascinating encounters. William Harper (18241906) lived in True’s Yard and sang eight songs for the composer, but that was probably in St James Workhouse – the composer made several trips to this large Victorian building in 1905 to listen to the songs of elderly fishermen and sailors.

Some years later Vaughan Williams gave a lecture on East Anglian folk songs during the 1952 King’s Lynn Festival. His audience at the Town Hall included the new Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

Although Vaughan Williams was now aged 80 he fondly recalled his time in King’s Lynn half a century before.

During his lecture the composer referred to the reasons

why he (and his fellow collectors of traditional folk songs) had started the campaign – largely to save this cultural heritage disappearing in the face of rapid industrialisation and the break-up of historic communities.

Two days after the lecture Sir John Barbirolli conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in a King’s Lynn Festival concert at St Nicholas Chapel. It included Vaughan Williams’ Symphony in D Major and in the programme notes John Warrack wrote: “The dominant influence in Vaughan Williams’ own art has been that of English folk song (as early as 1905 he was collecting songs at King’s Lynn), and this, with a love of English life and literature, has given birth to his finest music.”

The King’s Lynn Festival plans to include music by Vaughan Williams in its long-awaited 2022 summer programme – performed in a town which so profoundly influenced this great English composer.

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ON G R JA EE FR F F STA

FEMALE FRIENDLY

with welc oming reception s

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West Norfolk: Then & Now

CHANGING TIMES ON THE SOUTH QUAY How much can change in only half a century. The top photograph of the South Quay in King’s Lynn was taken in the mid-1960s, and although the

buildings largely remain the same the activity in the area is now totally different.

The merchants and haulage contractors have been replaced with bars and restaurants, and it’s now one of the most popular places in King’s Lynn to socialise. The overhanging gantry in the background belonged to corn merchants Gregorys & Hampson

– and you can’t fail to notice the cranes on the Boal Quay in the distance. The building dominating the left of the picture is the Grade II listed Marriott’s Warehouse, and the barges opposite it have now been replaced with the recently-restored and totally unique Baden Powell cockling boat.

We’ll taking another step back down Memory Lane in our next issue.

You can share your old photos of the area with us on social media: @klmagazine 110

KLmagazine January 2021

A new year, new website and a new bathroom...

Expertly designed and professionally installed, your new bathroom is ready at bathco today - together with all the help and advice you need

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s far as bathco is concerned, a successful home improvement project is a work of art - and that’s why the company has been passionate about managing all your bathroom design, supply, and installation needs from start to finish for the best part of 20 years.

“Whether you want a simple cloakroom or a large family bathroom, en-suite or a wet-room, we provide a unique service and individual support to our clients,” says general manager Stuart Marsden. “We’ve always been committed to providing a completely smooth process from bathroom design to product installation and beyond with our exceptional aftercare

service.”

Whether you’re looking for a cool modern design or a traditional look for a period property bathco’s sales and design team will give you all the flexibility and choice you need to achieve it. The perfect fit for your home, for your lifestyle and for your budget.

“Taking the measurements from your home and photographs of your current bathroom we can show you exactly how your new bathroom will look,” says Stuart. “We use the latest 3D modelling programs and virtual reality software to give you the full experience.”

And throughout the process your project will be managed by one of bathco’s expert project managers, who’ll ensure everything runs smoothly

- from the delivery of parts and units to the arrangement of skips and waste disposal. All you need to do is look forward to your new bathroom.

For a preview of the bathco difference, visit the newly-designed and user-friendly website at www.bathcoeu. com, which allows you to download a complete 260-page catalogue (incuding a helpful planning grid to use at home) and enables you to request a free home design appointment in the matter of seconds.

With the company’s showrooms in King’s Lynn, Dereham and Thetford now open for you to browse the stylishly displayed roomsets, there’s never been a better time to transform your bathroom. Contact Stuart and his team today using the details below.

Tel: 0330 1239 334 | Web: www.bathcoeu.com | E-mail: enquiries@bathcoeu.com KING’S LYNN: Hardwick Industrial Estate PE30 4HG | DEREHAM: 35 Yaxham Road NR19 1HD | THETFORD: Unit 1, Station Lane IP24 1ND

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The local artist who literally draws the line KL magazine catches up with Rachel Collier-Wilson, a local artist creating amazing designs and line-based work currently gracing everything from calendars and t-shirts to posters and phone cases...

KL magazine: Did you always want to be an artist?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: Absolutely. I was always the one that was ‘good at art’ at school and was fortunate to have some very encouraging teachers.

Following an Art & Design foundation course, I was accepted to the Fine Art Printmaking degree at Central Saint Martins’ School of Art in London. I never really thought of doing anything other than making art.

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KL magazine: You grew up in the Peak District, you lived in London for a while and then spent some time in New Zealand - so what brought you to Norfolk?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: It’s a fairly convoluted story. My father’s sister is buried in Cromer. She died in infancy in the 1920s while her parents (my grandparents) were on holiday, having travelled down from Stockport. My father wanted his ashes placed with his sister’s because he felt bad she’d been alone all that time, so my wife

and I visited Norfolk to carry out his wishes and we fell in love with it. The magnificent coast reminds my wife of her New Zealand home, and there’s a very vibrant cultural and artistic scene here.

KL magazine: Your work has a very distinctive line-based style - why did you take that approach rather than oils, watercolours or pastels?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I’ve always drawn and I really enjoy describing the form of shapes. I love colour, but when painting I can sometimes overwhelm KLmagazine January 2021

myself with it – too much choice and too much colour and the definition gets lost. That’s the reason I chose to do a printmaking degree rather than painting. I love the immediacy of ink so working with my hands and the craft element of printmaking really satisfies that.

KL magazine: Animals and birds are a central theme of your work - do you have a particular interest in wildlife?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I tend to draw any wildlife, and even animals that aren’t so wild - just ask my cat. I try to reach a balance of what might be of interest to other people while still satisfying myself as an artist. Birds are a favourite, especially crows - the folklore around the corvid family is truly fascinating. People frequently have a strong reaction to crows and the inky black/blue of the birds’ feathers suits my sketchy line-based work perfectly. I love to play around with their expressions creating a suggested narrative.

KL magazine: But it’s not all about crows and hares, is it?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I do occasionally make work which is more about myself. I’m an avid life drawer, and I’ll use the female form in work which addresses gender identity issues.

I like to bring the female form into the public gaze in an art setting, but it’s work that’s much more personal and only occasionally shared.

KL magazine: What’s a typical day in the studio for you like?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: To be honest I’m very eclectic in my creativity. One day I need to draw, the following day I need to paint, and the day after that I’ll want to print. Generally I’ll put together any orders for the post office run and work on commissions. I’ll work for a bit on one, leave it for contemplation and return to it another day. I don’t have a set routine at all.

KL magazine: Who would you consider to be your major artistic influences?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I love the drawings created by sculptors such as Elizabeth Frink. I visited her recent exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre at the UEA about seven times just to look at the drawings. The Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is also amazing. I like the variety of media she uses - sculpture, painting, filmmaking and installations.

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KL magazine: What are you working on at the moment?

KL magazine: Where can we see more of your work?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: Right now I’m enjoying using backgrounds taken from wallpaper and tiles. For me, making image references from the home is a way of bringing the stereotypical ‘woman’s place’ into the male-dominated art world - and it’s challenging to create something that’s accessible and hopefully successful commercially. I’m looking forward to making some larger scale pieces this year - continuing to explore my line and seeing where it takes me.

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I’m one of the artists involved with the Norwich Art Shop on the city’s Upper St Giles Street and my work is available through my website at www.creativewithline. com. I also have an Etsy store and am hoping to participate in Open Norwich events, Art Fair East and a number of exhibitions this year. And I always love an artisan fair. I love chatting with people about my creative style, influences and techniques. And crows.

Obviously.

Her common theme is the dot, whereas mine is the line.

KL magazine: Is there a particular work of your own that you’re particularly proud of - or is important to you?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I always like my most recent piece best. However, I’m very pleased with The Crow and the Orange Jug, which is based on Aesop’s fable about hard work paying off. The one work I’ll never sell is a nude that was machine-embroidered with gold thread onto an old blue deckchair.

KL magazine: If you could have any work of art in your home, what would it be?

Rachel Collier-Wilson: I would love one of Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits. She was a brilliant Mexican artist who used her art to explore questions of identity, colonialism, gender, class, and race.

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KLmagazine January 2021

Eco-friendly y Baby products Easy ways to live sustainably with a new baby At Ele and Me we have a wonderful range of products whether you’re expecting, you’re a new mum or looking for the perfect gift.

OUR TOP PICKS • Natural, precious gifts for special new babies including our bespoke new baby gift boxes • Nursery decor, including our beautiful animal heads (pictured above) • Reusable nappies, wipes and more • Soft toys and natural rubber teethers

Ele and Me, 1 Bolts Close, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1JP OPEN Mon-Sat 10am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm WEBSITE www.eleandme.com

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TheBigRead Few things are better than a good book - especially if they’re this good!

DOLLY PARTON Songteller: My Life in Lyrics

She has composed over 3,000 songs, had over 25 number ones, 44 top ten albums (a record for any artist) and has 110 singles in the charts over the course of an incredible 40 years. Overlooked for far too long because of her pop culture image, this is an extraordinary insight into one of music’s most outstanding talents. Using business archives, rare photos and fascinating memorabilia, Dolly explores 150 of her best-known songs - revealing their genesis and the personal stories behind them. You don’t have to like country and western (or Dolly!) to appreciate this - it’s a brilliant insight into one of the most underrated talents in the history of music.

TOMBLAND C J Sampson

Henry VIII has been dead for two years, the whole country is sliding into chaos, and hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake finds himself in Norwich (England’s second largest city at the time) investigating the death of a distant relative of Elizabeth I. And things are about to get worse as a huge peasant rebellion breaks out across Norfolk. Sampson’s brilliant series of books combining Tudor history and murder mystery are extraordinary (this is the seventh in the series) and it’s fascinating to read about a such important events (the backdrop to an equally thrilling plot) set in a place so close to home. It’s arguably better to start at the beginning with Dissolution, but this is a stunning standalone work in its own right.

ONE LIFE Megan Rapinoe

Rapinoe is one of the world’s most talented athletes with an Olympic gold medal and two Women’s World Cup triumphs, but she’s also become a galvanizing force for social change. Her support for the equal pay movement and her tireless activism for LGBTQ rights has earned her global support - and she ‘took the knee’ back in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality, becoming the first high-profile white athlete to do so. From suing the government over gender discrimination to famously refusing to visit the White House this is a fascinating read proving there’s a lot more to life than football.

THE MINISTRY OF TRUTH Dorian Lynskey

If any book deserves a biography of its own it’s George Orwell’s 1984, not least in these days of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ - with the novel having an impact on everything from the Booker Prize winning The Handmaid’s Tale to the reality TV show Big Brother. Lynskey explores the influences that led to this quite extraordinary book - from the Orwell’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War to his years in wartime London. Fizzing with ideas yet superbly readable, it’s the story of a book that was misread during the Cold War as anti-communist propaganda, hailed as a failed prophecy in the 1980s, and has now become frighteningly prescient. It’s a brilliant look at how fiction can influence history. And remember that 2+2 really does equal 4 - no matter what they tell you.

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KLmagazine January 2021

INTIMATIONS Zadie Smith

Thought-provoking and deeply consoling, this is a perfectly distilled set of essays focusing on the strangest year many of us have experienced from one of our wisest and most humane thinkers. Deeply personal and powerfully moving, it’s a refreshingly short (less than 100 pages) series of essays on the experiences of lockdown, providing a new guide to life in a wild, messy and unfair world. Few people are as capable of showing how we can use this crisis to imagine a better future, and the final essay may well be one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever read.

Crafted with the sharp intelligence, wit and style, this a book full of profound intimacy and tenderness - and optimism.

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB Richard Osman

Richard Osman is best known for his appearances on the popular quiz show Pointless (fittingly since it was his idea in the first place), and his engaging personality, erudite wit and talent for the offbeat shines through his debut novel.

Four elderly people in a retirement village come together to investigate a murder (in rather eccentric ways) but this isn’t a by-the-numbers whodunnit. These pensioners may have certain physical and mental issues to deal with, but together they’re a force to be reckoned with. It’s very clever, it’s sometimes sad, it’s often moving, but most of all it’s wickedly funny. It’s the perfect antidote to 2020 intelligent, witty and uplifting.

LOOK AGAIN David Bailey

He started out as a poor and dyslexic debt collector from London’s East End, but ended up revolutionising fashion and portrait photography, capturing the energy of the 1960s.

David Bailey’s story is extraordinary he became friends with Mick Jagger, hung out with the Kray brothers, got into bed with Andy Warhol, married Catherine Deneuve a month after meeting her, and made the Queen laugh. Jaw-droppingly candid and wickedy entertaining, the memoir of the iconic photographer is littered with glamour, debauchery and irresistible Swinging Sixties cool. This is a fantastically entertaining memoir by a true icon.

THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF ENGLAND James Hawes

This is the story of England as you’ve never heard it before. Three years ago, James Hawes managed to compress the complex history of Germany into a mere 240 pages, and he’s now turning his attention to his homeland in a similarly brief and captivating way. From Julius Caesar and the Norman Conquest to a global empire, world wars and Brexit, this is an England very different to the standard version.

Stubbornly independent since time immemorial, this is a brilliant examination of how our fate has always been tied to our neighbours - whether we like it or not.

There has never been a better time to understand why our country is the way it is, and there’s no better guide than this. It’s packed with energy, anecdotes and unexpected details.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSHOP

For almost 40 years, Waterstones has been championing the joy of the written word, the pleasure of the printed book, and the value of the local bookshop. We’ve really enjoyed sharing some of our favourite reads with you this month, and we’ll have some more personal recommendations for you next time. We love books and we love nothing better than introducing the best ones to new readers. Please come see us at 137-138 Norfolk Street in King’s Lynn or follow us on Facebook (Waterstones King’s Lynn) or Instagram @WaterstonesKingsLynn

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Limited edition prints for your home available now With 52 amazing photographs to choose from, there’s no better way of bringing the area’s most breathtaking landscapes and iconic buildings into your home

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ere’s your chance to showcase the many wonders of west and north Norfolk in your own home with this limited edition range of ready-to-frame prints featuring stunning images from our Head Photographer Ian Ward - one of the most acclaimed photographers in the county.

You can choose from natural landscapes such as Roydon Common and beautiful villages such as Great Massingham. If you prefer the coast you can pick your favourite location including Hunstanton, Brancaster Staithe and Wells-next-the-Sea. And if you share our love for our unique historic buildings, the choice includes 118

Oxburgh Hall, Castle Rising and the Custom House in King’s Lynn.

There are 52 different photographs to choose from but only 25 copies of each will ever be printed, so you’ll need to place your order soon.

Available in four different sizes from A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) all the way up to A0 (84.1cm x 118.9cm), the photographs are printed on high quality paper, carefully-protected in a rigid cardboard tube, and feature a discreet KL magazine signature.

It’s the ideal way to treat yourself, spoil your friends or surprise your loved ones with a unique local gift - and it’s the perfect way to celebrate the natural and man-made beauty of your home.

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For more information and ordering details, please visit www.klmagazine.co.uk/gallery/prints 120

KLmagazine January 2021

Michael Middleton’s

WildWestNorfolk

T

his is normally the time of year when most of us start wondering what the coming year will bring us - but after 2020 that seems a rather pointless exercise. There’s no telling what may (or may not) be around the corner, but one thing’s for sure - the next 12 months aren’t going to be quite like the experts told us.

Take the well-respected journal The Futurist for example, which published a paper entitled Women and the Year 2000 back in 1967. The future didn’t just seem bright - it appeared positively hairy.

“By the year 2020, it may be possible to breed intelligent species of animals such as apes,” it said, “that will be capable of performing manual labour.

Houses that don’t have a robot in the broom closet could have a live-in ape to do the cleaning and gardening chores.”

The animals wouldn’t simply be dusting your bookshelves and pruning your hedges, however. The most highly-trained simians would also be working as chauffeurs, “which might decrease the number of automobile accidents.”

Our attitudes towards our animal friends have changed significantly in the last 50 years, but the idea of chimpanzees being behind the wheel may actually be a quite sensible one - as any one of Norfolk’s road users can tell you. Even roadworthy apes wouldn’t be needed in 2021 according to Popular Mechanics, because there wouldn’t even be any roads.

In 1957 the magazine (which got

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into trouble last June for an article that provided detailed instructions on how to vandalize monuments) predicted that by 2020 roads and streets would have been replaced by a network of pneumatic tubes. In fact, the only journeys we’d have to make would be from our front door to the nearest tube - and we’d then be almost magically blown (or sucked) to our destination.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, it was an idea that if you’ll excuse the pun didn’t really go anywhere.

Not that any of us should be working by now anyway. According to a feature in a 1966 issue of TIME magazine, 2020 would mark the year when we could all sit back and catch up on our reading or binge watch that box set we’d been meaning to see for ages.

“By 2020, the machines will be producing so much that everyone will be independently wealthy,” the writer said. “With government benefits, even non-working families will have an annual income of up to $40,000.”

Allowing for half a century’s worth of inflation, that means we should all be enjoying ourselves this year with an income of £243,000 - without having to move a muscle. And with a gorilla to do the ironing and sort out the laundry.

And this 2021 sentene should be perfetly orrect aording to the rather eentri 1900 preditions of John Elfreth Watkins Jr, the urator of mehanial tehnology at the Smithsonian Institution, no less.

As you’ve probably worked out by now he said that by 2021 the alphabet would contain three fewer letters.

“There will be no C, X or Q in our

everyday alphabet,” he wrote in an article for Ladies’ Home Journal. “They will be abandoned because they’re unnecessary.”

Much the same could be said of our toes according to surgeon Dr. Richard Clement Lucas, who addressed the Royal College of Surgeons in 1911.

“The small toes are being used less and less as time goes on,” he said, “while the great toe is developing in an astonishing manner.”

Lucas predicted that by 2021 our outer toes would have disappeared altogether and that human beings would have become a one-toed race.

Having just removed one of my socks I can confirm that the good doctor’s ideas never came to pass.

The 2020 prediction that worried me the most came from Waldemar Kaempffert, who was editor of science and engineering for The New York Times in the 1920s. In addition to vigorously supporting the idea that Mars featured irrigation canals built by some unknown extra-terrestrial labourers, he also wrote that that by 2021 dining room tables would be capable of clearing themselves.

“Dining room tables will quietly swallow dishes after a meal and transfer them to a dishwasher,” he said, “which will then clean the dishes, dispose of garbage, and then stack and store eating utensils until the next mealtime.”

The main reason this concerned me was that if Mrs Middleton’s dining table could do all that she would have virtually no need for me.

Especially with all those monkeys in the garden.

KLmagazine January 2021

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