ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 77 FEBRUARY 2017 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE St. Benet’s Abbey by Ian Ward
meet the team MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Murray MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward PROMOTION Nicola Back ADVERTISING Errol Bartlett Jessica Smith CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Charlotte Niemiec Richard Parr Paul Richards Sylvia Steele
contact 18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk KL magazine is published monthly by KL Publications Ltd. The magazine cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and KL magazine takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.
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n February 1477, Margery Brews wrote to her fiancé John Paston from her home in north Norfolk. Describing John as her “right well-beloved valentine” Margery told him that she was “not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.” The letter is probably the oldest surviving love letter in the English language, and comes from the largest collection of private correspondence from 15th century England. As Valentine’s Day approaches it seems only fitting to take a closer look at the remarkable Paston Letters, which offer a unique glimpse into the personal lives of a Norfolk family over 500 years ago. You can read more about them on page 80 of this month’s magazine. We’re also taking a contrasting look at two photographers; while Norfolk’s Peter Baker has spent the last few years documenting abandoned locations everywhere from West Raynham to Chernobyl, Peter Akehurst was one of the most outstanding fashion photographers of the 1960s and he’s now preparing a new exhibition in Swaffham later this month. Also preparing for an exhibition – his first solo show in the UK in fact – is the fascinating artist herman de vries, whose work will be appearing at the new GroundWork gallery in King’s Lynn next month. It’s a significant coup for the town as the Dutch-born artist was one of the pioneers of ‘ecological’ art, a growing and very relevant genre in today’s world. And as we get ready to welcome some highly-acclaimed writers and novelists for next month’s King’s Lynn Fiction Festival, it’s good to see the area’s remaining true to its literary traditions. Thomas the Tank Engine, for example, is a worldwide phenomenon, much loved (even today) by millions of children – but it may come as a surprise to learn that around half the original books were written near Wisbech and were inspired by the local railways. We’ve had a lot of fun putting this month’s magazine together, and we hope you enjoy reading it. See you again next month! KL MAGAZINE
KLmagazine February 2017
Contents
FEBRUARY 2017
60
24
32 48 KLmagazine February 2017
90
6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
78 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
8-10 A LITERARY FEAST COMES TO TOWN A preview of the King’s Lynn Fiction Festival
60-62 THE SWEETER SIDE OF LIFE The delicious story of the Chocolate Deli
14 KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE Live music, comedy and half-term fun
64-73 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
16-18 SILVER SCREEN, GOLDEN AGE... The story of the Majestic Cinema
71 RESTAURANT REVIEW KL magazine visits Market Bistro in King’s Lynn
24-26 WHERE TIME STANDS STILL Tracing the history of St Benet’s Abbey
74-76 THE TUESDAY MARKET PLACE Paul Richards looks back at Lynn’s history
29 GETTING READY FOR SPRING Help and advice with Heritage Tree Specialists
77 CHANGES TO INHERITANCE TAX... Help and advice from Fraser Dawbarns
32-34 A HISTORY OF LIGHT AND COLOUR Ely Cathedral’s Stained Glass Museum
80-82 ONE FAMILY IN TIME A look at the famous Paston Letters
39 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas
86-88 A PIONEER OF ECOLOGICAL ART Artist herman de vries comes to King’s Lynn
40-42 WORKING WITH SPIRITS We talk to local medium Sheila James
90-92 ON THE TRACKS OF AN ICON... The local links of Thomas the Tank Engine
48-50 THE CHANGING FACE OF FASHION With fashion photographer Peter Akehurst
94-96 IMAGES OF LOST WORLDS The work of local photographer Peter Baker
52-59 WEDDINGS Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON Watch out, there’s a detector van about...
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Energy Courage Integrity
King’s Ely Spring Tour Events in February
Independent School Girls and Boys, 1-18 years Day and Boarding
Contact us to book your place 01353 660707 admissions@kingsely.org w w w.kingsely.org @Kings_Ely
BE SEEN. BE SAFE. KEEP YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN SAFE THIS WINTER High Visibility clothing available now Jackets • Vest • Trousers • Waterproofs
STRATFORDS Tel 01553 772043 6
Email: info@stratfords.com 17-19 Hamburg way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2ND
KLmagazine February 2017
February
Saturday 4th
SHAKESPEARE'S STANDUP St Nicholas' Chapel, St Ann's Street, King's Lynn PE30 1NH (7:30pm, doors open at 6.30pm) What happens when the greatest comedian in the world and the greatest playwright in history have a fight? Here's your chance to find out! In 1600 Will Kempe the comedian and Will Shakespeare the writer fell out over Kempe's ideas for a comedy part in Hamlet. To show Shakespeare the true nature of comedy Kempe walked out of his office in the Globe and morris danced from London to Norwich in nine days! To commemorate Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, join multi award-winning comedian Tim FitzHigham for wild morris dancing, near death, arrest and injury as he takes on the challenge of the greatest stand-up comedian in history - Will Kempe. Recommended for ages ten to 100! Prices for tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions and can be bought on the door. For more information and to book a ticket visit the website www.visitchurches.co.uk.
Tuesday 28th
A MATTER OF IMPRESSION King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place PE30 1JW (7:30pm) Designed for small and intimate spaces the Sardovillian production aims to grant front row experiences where audiences get up close and personal with the company’s trademark performances that are highly physical, intellectually endearing and emotionally charged. Sardoville offer a repertoire-esque performance combining two choreographic works in a single sitting. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Luca Silvestrini brings his trademark expose comedic style in a brand new work that will accompany a reworking of Sardoville’s 2015 piece; Impressed Upon. The show is a thrilling combination of dynamic, virtuosic physical theatre with a humorous spin on life and people. Accessible dance theatre at its best. For more information and to book tickets visit the website www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk or call the box office on 01553 764864. Tickets start from £10.
KLmagazine February 2017
Thursday 9th
BEHIND THE SCENES WARDEN'S WALK AT RSPB TITCHWELL MARSH Titchwell, King's Lynn PE31 8BB (1pm) With warmer weather potentially on the increase during both summer and winter months, our wetland areas need to maintain habitat productivity for future breeding birds and other animals. This walk will take you behind the scenes with the warden to visit areas of the reserve not normally accessible in February. You will be given an overview of the RSPB’s plans to future proof the reserve against the impacts of climate change and learn more about wetland management. Booking is essential, entry is £10 per person (£2 discount for RSPB members). For more information visit the website www.rspb.org.uk or call 01485 210779.
Friday 24th
SPRING TOUR EVENTS King’s Ely, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EW KING’S Ely – two words that define a lifetime of opportunity when it comes to your child’s education. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful cathedral city of Ely, King’s Ely is an historic yet inspiringly visionary independent school for pupils aged 1 to 18. The adventure of a King’s Ely education enables pupils of all ages to flourish, from the toddlers in King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery to the young men and women in the Sixth Form. Whether a student shines in a classroom or lab, on a stage, on a pitch or on a mountainside, the school promises an abundance of opportunity for personal development. Spring Tour Events are being held at King’s Ely Junior and King’s Ely Senior on Friday, February 24th. To book your place, please call Admissions on (01353) 660707 or visit www.kingsely.org.
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KLmagazine February 2017
Coming soon...
Saturday 4th March
PARKRUN Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB (9am) Do you enjoy running or fancy getting fit this Spring? Why not challenge yourself at one of Holkham Hall’s parkruns. Held every Saturday morning at 9am, these 5km timed runs are open to anyone, whatever your age, pace or abilities - plus it’s free to join! All you need to do is register online before your first run and you’re ready to go! Parkruns are held up and down the country and are organised entirely by volunteers, if this is something you’re interested in helping with please email holkhamhelpers@parkrun.com for more information or visit the website www.parkrun.org.uk/holkham/.
Opens Friday 10th March
‘ON THE STONY PATH’ WORKS BY HERMAN DE VRIES Groundwork Gallery, 17 Purfleet Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1ER Herman de vries has collected special stones from around the world for many years which are assembled as an installation. Originally trained as a scientist and long interested in the environment, he studies and presents the world’s resources in his art, with curiosity and experiment and precision. He lives deep in a forest in southern Germany, steeped in its peaceful seclusion and constantly aware of its natural resources. He was the artist chosen to represent the Netherlands for the 2015 Venice Biennale. This is his first solo exhibition in the UK. Its title is a tribute to Little Sparta, Ian Hamilton Finlay’s great artwork garden in Scotland. For more information about the exhibition visit the website www.groundworkgallery.com.
Friday 17th March
COFFEE CONCERT: HANNAH MORGAN (OBOE) AND DANIEL KING SMITH (PIANO) King’s Lynn Town Hall, Saturday Market Place PE30 5DQ (11am) Programme as follows: Delius Two Interludes from Fennimore & Gerda, Poulenc Sonata for oboe & piano, Dring Italian Dance, 3 Song Transcriptions: Schubert Nacht und Traume D.827, C Schumann Die Gute Nacht, Vaughan Williams Orpheus with his Lute, Silvestrini Hôtel des Roches Noires à Trouville, Marcello Concerto in D minor, Mascagni Intermezzo Cavaleria Rusticana. Hannah Morgan, studied with Melanie Ragge at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated in 2013 with First Class Honours. Hannah is the recipient of numerous prizes, including the Hattori Foundation Senior Award, Leila Bull Oboe Prize and 1st Prize at the Third International Barbirolli Competition. Daniel also studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he won prizes for chamber music and his extensive concerto repertoire has led to many concerto performances in the UK and around Europe including the Royal Festival Hall. Tickets are £13, and £7 for under 18s. To book a ticket or to find out more visit the website www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk or call the box office on 01553 764864. KLmagazine February 2017
Sunday 26th March
MOTHERING SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA Peckover House, North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1JR (2pm-4:30pm) The perfect setting for a Mother’s Day treat for all of the family. Experience a special afternoon tea served in the Reed Barn Tea Room, situated in the beautiful historic surroundings of Peckover House. Why not take a walk around the beautiful Georgian Town house itself and picturesque walled gardens. Booking is essential, tickets are £14.95 for adults and £6.50 for children. For more information visit the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01945 583463 for booking details.
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‘Chains of Sand’ is about identity and truth. It asks not what is the truth, but is there a truth, and whose truth is it? – Jemma Wayne
What’s On
A feast of fictional treats returns to King’s Lynn... Next month, a host of well-known writers will be treating the area to a weekend of thought-provoking events. Clare Bee talks to co-founder Tony Ellis about the King’s Lynn Fiction Festival.
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wice a year for the last two decades, King’s Lynn has been treated to a weekend of fiction and poetry that’s attracted some of the most critically acclaimed writers in the world. Next month the King’s Lynn Fiction Festival will be held over the weekend of March 10th-12th, and will feature (among many others) Louis de Bernières, author of the hugelysuccessful Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Carol Birch, who was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2011. The King’s Lynn Literature Festivals (which include both the fiction and poetry weekends) were the brainchild of local man and consultant solicitor Tony Ellis.
KLmagazine February 2017
It all started when Tony was on the board of directors of the summer Music Festival in the 1970s, when literature was very much part of the programme. Poets including Andrew Motion and Peter Porter took part and it proved very popular with festivalgoers. Other well known writers (including Miles Kington and Beryl Bainbridge) also made the journey to West Norfolk, but when the famous novelist and writer George MacBeth moved to the area and met Tony, the idea for a dedicated writer’s festival really took off. “I’d been toying with the idea of a literature festival for some time,” he says, “so I got together with George in 1984 and we decided to put on a poetry festival.”
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What’s On
ABOVE: Appearing at next month’s King’s Lynn Fiction Festival will be such acclaimed writers as (from top to bottom) Louis de Bernières, Rachel Hore and Stephen Jarvis
George had been a producer of programmes on poetry on the BBC’s Third Programme before moving to Norfolk, and his contacts and Tony’s plans came together with King’s Lynn’s first poetry weekend in 1985. Tony was able to enlist the help of novelist and academic Malcolm Bradbury, who was the first Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. His passion for his craft led to the UEA becoming the first university in the country to offer a course on creative writing, a course that has since helped launched the careers of many best-selling and highly respected writers. Between them, Malcolm and Tony presented the first King’s Lynn Fiction Festival in March 1989. George MacBeth died in 1992 and Malcolm Bradbury died in 2000, but they were very supportive in those early days and were instrumental in getting both the fiction and poetry festivals fully integrated into the town’s calendar.
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Since the beginning, both festivals have continued on very much the same lines, with a group of writers or poets persuaded to stay all weekend. “We meet them at the station in King’s Lynn,” says Tony, with a twinkle in his eye. “Sometimes with bagpipes and always with champagne – they love it!” The weekends follow a similar pattern, in that on the Friday afternoon, the guest writers visit local schools and discuss literature, helping children write their own poetry or prose or read passages of their work. There follows an evening event on the Friday, three events on the Saturday and two on the Sunday. “We always get good audiences and people really enjoy it,” says Tony. “There’s plenty of opportunity for everyone to chat to the writers about their work and get to know them.” The events are held in the grand setting of the town hall in King’s Lynn, and there are usually two writers per session, reading from their own work
and discussing it with each other and the audience. For the writers themselves, who normally spend most of their time on their own, it can be a refreshing change. For the less well known, it’s a chance to meet some more experienced writers and forge links they may not have had otherwise. “Several writers have come back to me and said how helpful the weekend has been,” says Tony. Indeed, sometimes he’s even been approached by new writers looking for avenues to get their work before an audience. Of course, running events like this doesn’t come cheap. Over the years, the King’s Lynn Literature Festivals had benefitted from grants from the Arts Council, but this sadly came to an end in 2000. Fortunately, the author Beryl Bainbridge stepped in just in time to save the day. She’d always been a great supporter and attended many times, and on winning one of her many awards very kindly donated some funds just at the time when the Arts Council withdrew their grant. This year, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has offered a grant, which will help enormously. Fundraising takes place over the weekend, and a raffle is held. All the writers are asked to write a short piece in a book which is then raffled. For one lucky winner, it’s a unique prize. This year, while he was visiting Venice, Tony bought a book which was specially made in one of the small Venetian bookshops, so it will be a very special prize indeed. Tony is very keen to stress that he’s only one part of a hardworking team who work tirelessly to put together these festivals. Local people Viv Scott, Rob Elwes, Andrew Williams, William Kerkham and Ed Tonkyn all give their time to bring about these wonderful weekends. This year gives us another unique opportunity to see and hear writers of international repute alongside new and upcoming authors. In addition to Louis de Bernières and Carol Birch, next month’s festival will also inlcude Yvvette Edwards, Robert Edric, Jemma Wayne, D J Taylor, Rachel Hore and Stephen Jarvis. The King’s Lynn Fiction Festival 2017 takes place next month over the weekend of 10th-12th March. Tickets for all events are £8.50, available in advance or on the door. For more details and to book tickets, please call 01553 691661 (office hours), e-mail enquiries@lynnlitfests.com or visit the website at www.lynnlitfests.com KLmagazine February 2017
Fantastic February Shows! February at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange features live music, comedy and a great children’s show for the Half Term. THE NOISE NEXT DOOR: UPROAR! Friday 3rd February Witness the astonishing comedy sensation LIVE! The Noise Next Door are causing a commotion with their fourth nationwide tour - an anarchic evening of side-splitting jokes, jawdropping characters, and mind-blowing songs. Join the quickest wits in comedy as they transform audience suggestions into a fantastic, fresh new entertainment experience.
THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Tuesday 14th February Performing the greatest songs from right across the Alphabet of Rock, The Classic Rock Show’s world class band powers through classic rock’s finest moments, from AC/DC and Aerosmith to Eric Clapton, The Eagles, ELO, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meatloaf and Queen to The Who, Zeppelin, ZZ Top and everything in between, performed with note-fornote precision that truly brings the original iconic and era defining recordings back to life on stage, with a huge sound and light show to match.
YOU WIN AGAIN Friday 17th February Following its West End debut, immerse yourself into the brother’s hits through the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. This spectacular production tells the
incredible story of The Bee Gees in an all new musical experience. Take a musical journey through all your favourite songs, including Night Fever, Stayin' Alive, More Than A Woman, You Should Be Dancing, Jive Talkin' and many more!
THE ELVIS YEARS Saturday 18th February An outstanding musical production which brings to the stage the incredible and compelling story of the King of rock ‘n’ roll - Elvis Presley. With a top line-up of actormusicians, multiple costume changes and nostalgic film footage, this glittering production charts the musical and emotional highs and lows of Elvis’ amazing journey from poor truck-driving teenager from Tupelo, Mississippi through the army, Hollywood and finally the legendary Las Vegas concerts.
Tickets are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornexchange
@klcornexchange
Alive Corn Exchange
What’s On
Half term fun at Alive Leisure We have some great activities to keep children entertained this Half Term. Alive Corn Exchange CIRQUE DU HILARIOUS Wednesday 15 February Clive and Danny’s madcap hilarious humour and lunacy manages to cross all ages from Children, Teenagers, Mums, Dads and Grandparents! This is seriously the funniest show you will ever see, don’t miss it! Clive and Danny are actually father and son and along with the rest of the team will have you in tears of laughter from start to finish.
Alive Lynnsport 01553 818001 Activities include Holiday and Breakfast clubs every day! Tennis Camps, plus Mini Camp Chaos, Tumble Teds, Trampolining, Junior Gymnastics, Roller Skating, Table Tennis, Indoor Adventure Play and Gladiator Challenge.
Alive St James Pool 01553 764888 Acitivies include Swimming Crash Courses and Family Fun sessions.
Alive Oasis 01485 534227 Acitivies include Fun Castle Challenge, Junior Fitness, Table Tennis, Runaround Games, Junior Circuits, Parachute Games, Benchball, Arts and Crafts, Swimming Family Fun sessions and Swimming Crash Courses. Plus the chance to enrol on a National Pool Lifeguard qualification course.
Alive Downham Leisure 01366 386868 Activities include Holiday Clubs, Junior Fitness, Archery, Roller Skating, plus Swimming Family Fun sessions and Swimming Crash Courses.
Carnival Pool Parties Saturday 18 February Come and swim in our carnivalthemed, coloured pools with fun floats and inflatables. St James Pool: Noon1pm & 4-5pm | Downham Leisure: Noon-1pm & 4.30-5.30pm | Oasis: 1-2pm & 5-6pm. Booking is essential as maximum numbers apply.
For the full programme of what’s on this Half Term at the Alive Leisure venues, pick up a copy of our Half Term brochure out now or check out the website www.aliveleisure.co.uk
PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
ABOVE: Although film reels are now a thing of the past, the Majestic Cinema in King’s Lynn remains true to the spirit of the cinemagoing, with a beautiful building, a host of period features, a warm atmosphere and a passion for film
Celebrating 89 years of the silver screen... From sound to colour, from 3D to digital and streamed live opera, the Majestic Cinema in King’s Lynn has seen them all. Clare Bee looks at how this much-loved cinema is embracing the digital age
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trip to the cinema is always an enjoyable experience, whether we go to be amused, enthralled, educated or frightened, but it’s always a place to put aside our everyday lives for a short time. The experience at King’s Lynn’s Majestic Cinema is that little bit different, as, alongside the films, the building itself is of great interest. A fine example of an early 20th century building, featuring Art Deco stained glass and other original features, it opened to the public on May 23rd 1928, and was originally used for shows and dancing, housing one twotier screen and a ballroom. The larger theatre was later divided into two screens and the ballroom only closed in 1977 to provide a third screen – people KLmagazine February 2017
still ask about it. The Majestic is a Grade ll listed building and also features a clock tower, a circle of Zodiac signs in the ceiling of screen one, the old original stage in screen two and a bouncy spring-layered floor in screen three, a legacy from its days as a ballroom. The entrance floor still has the original tiles, and in two of the stained glass panels, the date 1928 is clearly visible. As an independent cinema, the Majestic prides itself on being a friendly place for all filmgoers, and always shows new releases on the day they’re released – and sometimes even earlier. With up to seven films released every week, the cinema can choose which ones to show and for how long. Owner Paul Jervis is keen to invest
and improve the building and plans are in the pipeline; the area behind the building could offer 100 more seats and there’s potential for another screen eventually. “The demand’s certainly there,” says General Manager Tom Cundy. “In the summer we could do with six or seven screens, but three screens are mostly enough.” The cinema also owns the shop next door, and Tom hopes a new entrance to the cinema could be made there to improve access. He’s very aware that as a listed building, entry to the cinema is very difficult for some customers. Ramp access isn’t possible even at the front, due to the steep steps, and wheelchair users have to be admitted through a door at the back of the building. And once inside, with no lifts, access
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Local Life to all screens is again difficult. “We do what we can,” explains Tom. “We try to swap films around so that wheelchair users can see any film.” Tom has been at the Majestic for five years, following three years as a Red Coat at holiday parks and a spell at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton, which was also owned by Paul Jervis. When he decided to sell the Princess Theatre to concentrate on the Majestic, he invited Tom to become his Manager, an opportunity the latter jumped at. “I’ve always been a fan of film,” he says, “and the job itself is really enjoyable, especially if you love film. There’s a new one every week! People come to get away from ‘real’ life and are always happy to be here.” Things have, however, changed over the years. Not long ago, films would arrive at cinemas on several reels and would need splicing together; now they’re digital and just need loading into the projector at the beginning of the day. They arrive pre-loaded with advertisements relevant to the particular film and are very reliable. “We have had some breakdowns,” says Tom, “but only a very few times. There’s no danger of the film breaking anymore!” The Majestic is also trialling some innovative ideas to offer a film experience to those who might not have been able to come before. After consulting the West Norfolk Branch of the National Autistic Society, the cinema now has autistic-friendly screenings. The lights are dimmed but left on, the sound is lower and the doors are kept open, and any child with any form of disability can attend with his or her carer. These usually tend to be animated films, and the ticket price is a very reasonable £3, with the parent or carer admitted for free. In fact, since the entrance price was dropped to £4 across the board two years ago, numbers have steadily risen. “The price is what we think it should be,” explains Tom. “The cinema is lovely and we feel it’s a fair price. Of course there’ll always be some people who’d prefer it to be more modern, but judging by admissions, we’ve made the right decision.” Other improvements are planned for the near future; the ladies’ toilets have already been refurbished and the men’s will be finished by Easter. Those upstairs will also be improved, as will the bar area. There’s plenty of space to offer weekend birthday parties, and the Majestic also has plans for more charity screenings. When Beauty and the Beast was
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ABOVE: The Majestic Cinema in King’s Lynn still features the ornate mosaic floor (top left) that greeted guests to the opening in 1928, who enjoyed a screening of the silent version of Ben Hur (bottom right), which had been made three years previously. Judging by the film poster advertising The House in the Square, the black and white photograph was taken in 1951 when it was part of the ABC Cinemas chain.
shown recently, it raised over £2,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The cinema also takes part in King’s Lynn’s Heritage Day, when visitors have the chance to explore the building in more details and learn about its history. “We want to keep improving,” says Tom. “We want to spend some time and money on the building and refurbish it. We have a beautiful listed building in the centre of town, and we want to keep people coming in. Customer focus is very important.” So next time you visit the Majestic
Cinema, take a few moments to look up and down. The stained glass is still exquisite, and highly unusual in a building used day in, day out, the way the Majestic is. This beautiful building is part of our town’s history and we need to protect it for future generations. For details of current films, prices and other information please go to www.majestic-cinema.co.uk. To see footage of the opening night in 1928, go to You Tube and look for ‘Majestic Cinema opened at King’s Lynn.’
KLmagazine February 2017
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We are a local firm of solicitors and our professional lawyers can offer you specialist legal advice and make sure your needs are met. We are experienced in; Conveyancing, family, residential and commercial lease, debt recovery, litigation, wills and probate, and personal injury, contract and professional negligence and dispute matters. We can often offer fixed fees so you know where you stand on costs and an introductory 1/2 hour free of charge.
Contact us Staveley, Johnson & Procter Solicitors Waverley House, 37 Greevegate, Hunstanton, PE36 6AB Telephone: 01485 532662 Fax: 01485 534802 DX: 95250 Hunstanton info@sjpsolicitors.co.uk Solicitors acting in the North Norfolk area, including King’s Lynn and Norwich
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Helping you plan for a better retirement How Independent Financial Adviser Kate Trendell can help you with your retirement planning...
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first met Tony in the summer of 2015. He was in his mid 50’s and had worked hard building a stable home for his family. Now that his children had left home and were financially independent, Tony was concerned that he and his wife, Sue, faced their biggest challenge yet; retirement. “Kate”, he said, “Retirement is supposed to be an exciting time and something to look forward to, but I haven’t got a clue if we’ll have enough money to see us through. No one tells you what you’re supposed to do when you reach this point. I really need some help.”
I had seen Tony and Sue’s predicament time and time again. What they needed was clarity and a plan, so I asked them to tell me what arrangements they had in place. “I’ve got some pensions and a couple of Cash ISAs,” Tony said, “but I have no idea if they’re going to be enough when we retire.”
ISAs could be used to draw an income to reduce the couple’s tax burden... I reassured him that I could help him and Sue build a solid financial plan to meet their needs. Two weeks later, I explained that the most important thing was to make their
money work hard for them. “Firstly,” I told them, “we need to make things easier to manage, by moving these into one place. We also need to consider flexibility for retirement, to meet your circumstances as they change.” I also pointed out that pensions received tax relief and grow more quickly, whereas ISAs could be used to draw an income to reduce the couple’s tax burden. “I like the sound of that,” said Tony. “Great! Then we need to fund your ISA allowances each year and continue to save into pensions. This will build your wealth to achieve your goals. We need to review this financial plan to check you are on track. With my help, that is what we will do”.
Build your wealth to achieve your goals... “Kate, this is exactly what we needed,” said Tony. “Someone to make things clear and simple for us. I’m actually really excited about our retirement now!”
Contact Kate to help you structure a retirement plan – please e-mail ktrendell@barnsher.co.uk or call her on 07739 339663.
Barnes & Sherwood Professional Advisers Office: West Winch, Norfolk PE33 0PW Contact: Kate Trendell Mobile: 07739 339663 E-mail: ktrendell@barnsher.co.uk Barnes & Sherwood Professional Advisers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 547997 KLmagazine February 2017
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KLmagazine February 2017
FIONA GUTTERIDGE
MARK HOPPE
DEAN STANNARD
A personal approach to local business insurance Get the professional team at Swinton Commercial on your side... he insurance needs of the commercial world can be a highly complex field – and the requirements of factories and motor dealers are very different to those of shops and property owners. At Swinton Commercial, we’ve always believed there’s only one way to ensure your premises and staff, stock and liabilities, equipment and vehicles are cost-effectively protected – and that’s by going the extra mile in getting to know you and your business. That’s why our experienced team of customer relationship managers – Fiona Gutteridge, Dean Stannard and Mark Hoppe – will work with you to find the protection you need, without compromising on price! “As customer relationship managers, we like to visit our commercial clients personally, as we believe that’s the best way to understand how an individual business operates and the insurance risks it could face,” says Fiona. “And while we understand that this isn’t
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always possible, we aim to meet our commercial customers face to face when we can, as we believe that by building a personal relationship, we can specifically tailor their policies so they have all the protection they need.” This personal and face-to-face approach means that you will have dedicated contacts to deal with your needs, whether it’s for general enquiries, claims or your policy renewal. Fiona and her colleagues work by phone and e-mail – and can respond quickly, as your trading circumstances (and your insurance needs) change. “I think it’s our people and their dedication to our customers that make the biggest difference,” says Fiona. “We don’t believe in boundaries or barriers – we simply believe in understanding your
business so that we can recommend the right cover for you, to ensure that you are protected when you need it most.” And that’s why businesses from all over the UK trust Swinton Commercial to help protect them. Advance have used Sw inton Commercial since 2011, and over this period our insurance requirements have changed considerably. Fiona and her team are on hand to offer advice and assistance, whether it be for a qui ck query or to assess our business nee ds when our policy is due for renew al. The King’s Lynn team are friendly and efficient, and nothing is ever too mu ch trouble. I would highly recommend Sw inton to other local businesses.
– ROB HIGH (Compan Advance Engineering y Director) (UK) Ltd 28 Railway Road, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1NF Tel: 01553 817850 E-mail: fiona.gutteridge@swinton.co.uk Web: www.swinton.co.uk
Swinton Group Limited, registered in England number 756681 whose registered office is at: Swinton House, 6 Great Marlborough Street, Manchester, M1 5SW. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
KLmagazine February 2017
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
ABOVE: Any view of the much-photographed and painted ruins of St. Benet’s Abbey gives rise to the obvious question – who would ever build a windmill in the middle of an abbey?
A corner of Norfolk where time stands still... It managed to survive the Dissolution of the Monasteries, helped create the Norfolk Broads, and it still a place of worship. Sylvia Steele looks back at the fascinating history of St. Benet’s Abbey
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pproached by boat along the River Bure there’s a profound feeling of peace over the isolated marshland with the ruined abbey of St Benet’s. Now home only to an abundance of wildlife, there’s little left of what was once a bustling community, but what remains offers an intriguing step back into the past. An initial glimpse of the iconic remains might well be followed by a hesitant double-take as the almost bizarre picture of a mill tower, seemingly encased in the ruined gatehouse,
KLmagazine February 2017
prompts the obvious question; who would build a windmill inside an abbey? The explanation goes back to the early 18th century when the land surrounding the Abbey was drained and a precinct ditch used as a drainage channel; a drainage mill was erected, later replaced by a new mill. Possibly because of financial constraints, the windmill’s round tower was built onto the front of the gatehouse on the foundations of the Abbey. At a time when little thought was given to the preservation of our historic buildings, the second storey of the
gatehouse was then removed to accommodate the mill sails – which were blown away in a storm in 1863. The exact origins of St. Benet’s Abbey are shrouded in mystery, but it’s known to have been at the peak of its wealth by the 12th century – when large-scale peat cutting by the monks enabled it to acquire all the rights as well as the services of the peasants. Although never the most influential monastery in England, it nevertheless bears the distinction of being the lone survivor of the Dissolution of Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII.
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Local Life
ABOVE: From the interior of St. Benet’s you can clearly see how the 18th century mill was built into the fabric of the ruined abbey. Top right is a reconstruction by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust of how the abbey complex probably looked in its heyday.
At the end of the 15th century and into the 16th century, records were already showing that things weren’t going well at the Abbey, with debts, irregularities and an abandonment of the commitment to religious life. Many of the buildings were in a dilapidated state and the community had shrunk to only 16 monks and an abbot in residence. The site was found to be utterly ruined, and by 1575 most of the buildings had been pulled down and the land leased to farmers. One remaining building (believed to be the abbot’s lodging) was leased to a fisherman. Unfortunately, at the end of the 19th century, this dwelling was destroyed by fire. Some records suggest paradoxically that St. Benet’s poverty may have influenced its survival, perhaps aided by the death in 1536 of Bishop Nyx of Norwich and the King’s choice to replace him with Abbot William Rugge of St. Benet’s. Endorsed as Bishop of Norwich, Rugge was required to continue as Abbot and use the Abbey’s limited coffers to finance his bishopric. When the subsequent flooding of the pits made peat difficult to excavate, the diggings were abandoned and a multitude of broad, shallow lakes covered the area – creating what is today known as the Norfolk Broads. At the turn of the 19th/20th centuries with the Broads being discovered as a
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recreational area, the mill was still in use as a drainage mill, and with the ruined abbey gatehouse it became a much photographed feature of Norfolk landscape. Technically still retaining the title Abbot of St. Benet’s, the Bishop of Norwich holds an annual Ecumenical Service here on the first Sunday in August. Arriving by wherry along the River Bure, he leads the procession through the meadow to a small hillock where a plain wooden cross symbolises the position of the church’s high altar. Carved into the Sandringham oak donated by HM Queen Elizabeth in August 1987 is a single word; Peace. In 1915 St. Benet’s became one of Britain’s first Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and the importance of the historic site was recognised at last. Its maintenance and conservation was giving cause for misgivings, however, until the Norfolk Archaeological Trust bought most of the precinct in 2002 and in 2004 the site of the gatehouse too; thus bringing an iconic place of Norfolk history under one ownership, whilst the diocese retains the ruined church. Under the auspices of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust and substantially funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, much vital conservation work has been carried out to control erosion of the riverbank caused by the wash of passing
boats. A new interpretation scheme provides the history of the abbey and public moorings for visitors give access to the site, which attracts more than 30,000 visitors a year. During the project over 40 workshops and day schools were provided and about 200 volunteers took part. A Friends of St. Benet’s group was launched in 2014 to preserve the heritage of the site with heritage open days. The Group also focuses on volunteer activities and holds guided tours from May to the end of September on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Access to the site is available via a footpath from nearby Ludham or by boat with frequent trips on Sundays throughout April to October from Fairhaven Water Gardens at South Walsham. Situated in the depths of Broadland formed by the industrious monks’ peat diggings, away from roads and settlements and surrounded by the renowned Norfolk skies, St. Benet’s is an atmospheric place in which to simply enjoy the peace of times past. Whether providing the backdrop to a burnt orange sunset or hiding in the river’s early morning mist, the abbey’s evocative ruins have provided a favourite spot for photographers and artists for over 200 years.
KLmagazine February 2017
HOMEhints
in association with FRIMSTONE LTD
Taking a closer look at limestone... An expert guide to using Frimstone’s limestone aggregates in and around your home imestone is one of the most beautiful of all the natural stones, and has several qualities that help deliver exceptional performance and value in a broad range of applications – from filler and base courses to landscaping and footpaths. For starters it’s extremely durable and wear-resistant, and is around 6% lighter than granite aggregates or gravel – which contributes to a higher spread rate. Generally, you can expect limestone to offer 5-10% more coverage for the equivalent volume of granite, which can in turn offer a cost benefit depending on how much you’re using. FRIMSTONE currently offers two types of limestone aggregate. Carboniferous limestone originates in Derbyshire, and is brought to the area via FRIMSTONE's two railheads. It is suitable
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for any ground and strong enough for virtually any job – you can make concrete from it, for example – which makes it the more preferable option for building works where strength is more important than good looks. As you might expect, Lincolnshire limestone is sourced closer to home, which means it’s slightly cheaper than the Carboniferous type. It’s also slightly softer, which means it’s the better choice when aesthetics are more important than strength, but Lincolnshire limestone should be used with caution in wet or boggy areas as it tends to be more permeable. For more information and technical details on FRIMSTONE's limestone products and how to make the most of them on your next project, please contact your nearest FRIMSTONE centre.
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GOOD FOR... Limestone is the perfect dressing for driveways, footpaths and borders alike. It’s a solution that requires little maintenance, and its neutral (and natural) colouring ensures it blends well into a wide range of settings. FRIMSTONE can help you select the right product for the right job – while Lincolnshire limestone works well on a footpath, you’d need the relatively harder Carboniferous limestone for a road. ADVANTAGES... Although the grading of FRIMSTONE‘s granite and limestone products is identical, limestone can be easier to work with thanks to its ‘softer’ composition. It’s very versatile and its permeablilty makes it ideal for maintaining a natural water flow. TOP TIP... Limestone is particularly good scattered in garden borders and planted areas as plants will benefit from its reflective qualities – and its chemical properties and high calcium content can actually raise the Ph level of your soil. AVAILABILITY... Both Lincolnshire and Carboniferous limestone are available from all FRIMSTONE centres in a range of different sizes. A handy aggregate calculator is available on the FRIMSTONE website, and our dedicated customer services team can give you all the help and advice you need on 01366 388900.
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KLmagazine February 2017
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KLmagazine February 2017
The best way to get your garden ready for spring... A complete range of professional services from Heritage Tree Specialists
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lthough winter is still very much with us, now’s the time to plan ahead in the garden and start preparing for the arrival of Spring – it’s better for your trees, better for your hedges, and it’s a lot easier with the professional services of Heritage Tree Specialists. At this time of year, Heritage Tree Specialists are busy reducing and restoring trees and preparing for the year ahead, and there are plenty of things for you to consider over the next few weeks. For instance, at the moment it’s the ideal time for unsightly STUMPS AND SURFACE ROOTS to be ground out of lawned areas in order to prepare the ground for seeding in mid-spring. Using specialist easy-access equipment, Heritage Tree Specialists can make light work of the toughest stumps. This is also one of your last chances to REDUCE TREES AND HEDGES while avoiding disturbing nesting birds through the spring; especially when working within dense foliage where nests are often hard to identify. As your trees are currently in their dormancy, February is the perfect
KLmagazine February 2017
opportunity to MOVE SHRUBS AND YOUNG TREES or to plant new ones – certainly while bare-root specimens are still available. Heritage Tree Specialists can supply and establish a wide variety of trees in a range of sizes from 1m to semi-mature trees over 4m in height. And don’t forget your fruit trees either. This month is your final opportunity to PRUNE APPLE AND PEAR TREES, particularly as winter pruning promotes growth; done correctly, the trees should recover well and will ultimately increase in productivity. Remember that
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a regular (and preferably annual) light prune is far better for the health of the tree. Finally, even though we’ll shortly be saying goodbye to winter, now is the best time of the year to take advantage of Heritage Tree Specialists’ stock of high quality PART-SEASONED FIREWOOD. Available now at reduced cost, it will help you avoid shortages of seasoned logs next winter – and could save you a considerable amount of money! As your local tree professionals with a friendly, committed and fully-qualified team, and a proven track record of successful large and small-scale projects, Heritage Tree Specialists are available to provide free written quotations and recommendations to homeowners throughout west Norfolk.
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KLmagazine February 2017
Make the most of your plans with air source heating... Why the right way is 4 Way for sustainable and energy-efficient homes he beginning of the year is when the majority of self-build projects start getting off the ground, which means it’s the ideal time to contact 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd about air source heating – as the best way of getting the maximum benefits from the technology is to get it right from the start. Starting with the architect’s drawings and plans, 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd can design, install and commission a system that makes the most of your layout; maximising performance, meeting all current building regulations, and offering considerable savings on future fuel costs. “It’s easy to understand why air source heating is ticking more and more boxes
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4 WAY
for local self-builders,” says Steve Simpson of 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd. “When choosing which heating system to opt for in a building project, SAP ratings, financial implications, high quality products and professional installation standards are all important considerations – and our air source heating systems more than meet all those needs.” Typically, air source heat pumps are between 30-50% more cost-effective to run than traditional heating alternatives, capable of outputting more than three times as much heat energy as the electricity they take to run – reducing heating costs, fulfilling today’s demands
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for energy efficiencies, and offering a renewable heating alternative that provides an element of future-proofing to a project. And don’t forget that by contacting 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd at the early stages of the project can help you integrate your air source heating with underfloor heating and PV panels – for an even more comfortable, more controllable, and more cost- and energy-effective hot water and heating system. With a proven track record of successful (and award-winning) projects for local self-builders, the right way to take advantage of air source heating is definitely the 4 Way – contact us today! Unit 25, Bergen Way North Lynn Industrial Estate King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2JG t: 01553 767878 w: www.4wayref.co.uk e: sales@4wayref.co.uk
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KLmagazine February 2017
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PICTURES: © THE STAINED GLASS MUSEUM
Local Life
ABOVE: The Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral offers visitors the opportunity to see the history of stained glass up close, including pieces such as Noli me tangere (opposite), designed by John Hardman Powell and made by Hardman & Co in 1852; the company (which closed in 2008) was one of the world's leading manufacturers of stained glass.
A celebration of 800 years of light and colour From religious scenes to modern art, from gambling monkeys to English kings, the Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral is a truly glittering wonder of craftsmanship, as Clare Bee discovers...
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igh above the nave of Ely Cathedral, in the south triforium and accessed by 40 stone steps, is the glittering gem that is the UK’s only Stained Glass Museum. This beautiful gallery of colour and light, which really does have the ‘wow’ factor, contains the only national collection of stained glass, and has exhibits dating from 1200 to the present day. Founded in 1972, the museum came into being due to the numbers of churches closing at the time and the need to rescue the stained glass windows from the redundant buildings.
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A group of dedicated people, including one of the canons from Ely Cathedral, established a trust with the aim of rescuing the glass and raising awareness of this literally fragile heritage which was under threat from destruction. It therefore seemed appropriate to site the museum in Ely Cathedral, and it’s been there ever since. Originally housed in the north triforium, the museum opened to the public in 1979. However, more space became available in the opposite upper level in the south triforium of the cathedral, and after a 25th Anniversary
appeal, the museum was refitted and everything painstakingly transported across a specially built ‘bridge’. The current display, with a breathtaking collection spanning over 800 years, opened in its present home in 2000. The earliest examples on display date from 1210 and 1220, and are remarkable in both their quality and condition. The older of the two windows came from the medieval cathedral in Soissons in France, and depicts a monumental figure wearing a crown and jewelled robe; it’s possibly the image of a royal saint or an Old Testament king. The
KLmagazine February 2017
ABOVE: Part of the collection at The Stained Glass Museum, this remarkable Dutch window depicting monkeys playing cards dates from the 17th century, although the border was added around a century later.
window was probably removed in the early 19th century during revolutionary wars and found its way into private collections. The other piece from the 13th century is of a ‘grisaille’ (a type of simple glazing in shades of grey); a stained glass panel of three interlocking circles. Jasmine Allen, who has been the Curator at the museum for four years, and her small team have worked hard to create a permanent display of over 125 stained glass panels in the gallery, and all are displayed at eye level, allowing visitors a rare close encounter with these magnificent pieces of stained glass. The bulk of the collection comes from Victorian windows and contains over 1,000 stained glass panels from both secular and religious buildings. Although stained glass is normally associated with churches and cathedrals, it’s also found in hospitals or private houses – and even pubs! The majority of works in the collection in the museum have been bought by the museum or donated. “ “What we don’t own, however, is supplemented through loans,” explains Jasmine. “Some come from the V&A (the Victoria and Albert Museum in London) or from the Royal Collection. We work closely with these organisations, and have a wide range of glass, from full scale windows to small panels.” The stained glass panes which are on
KLmagazine February 2017
PICTURES: © THE STAINED GLASS MUSEUM
Local Life
permanent display in the museum are set out chronologically, taking the visitor on a journey through the centuries. It’s carefully thought out, and even has small sections of very large windows, enabling the visitor to marvel at the incredible quality of the stained glass when viewed close up. It’s possible to see the work at very close quarters, highlighting the skill of the craftsmen and artists who created them. There’s a wide variety of styles, and although the majority of subject matter is religious, there’s much more to see, ranging from a large portrait of King George III (a copy in glass of the portrait painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1780) to smaller panels depicting monkeys dancing and playing the harp to fairies and angels. Other religions are also included, with some stained glass windows which were originally in synagogues. The museum also holds many temporary exhibitions. Contemporary glass artists from all over the UK bring in more visitors and pre-booked tours are increasing in number. There’s an ongoing programme of hands-on workshops where individuals can try painting on glass, learn leading and glazing skills, or having a go at fused glass art. A new position of Learning Officer has also been created, who will engage with schools, encouraging visits to the museum for children or going out to talk to schools, teaching children about the art of stained glass and its place in our heritage. The museum is largely self-funded,
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with the majority of its income coming from paying visitors, shop sales and workshops. It does receive some small grants, but Jasmine and her team are always looking at ways to keep this unique museum going. Fortunately, visitor numbers have been increasing year on year, with 2016 bringing in their highest number of paying visitors to date. “We always want to be able to do more,” says Jasmine, “and we’ve just received sample copies of our new gallery guide. It’s very beautiful and more informative than the previous one.” The guide, Highlights from the Collection, takes the reader on a chronological journey through the collection, and is full of photographs and information about the panels on display as well as some of those in store. “This is quite a unique and inspiring place to work,” says Jasmine, “and it’s amazing to be hidden up here in parts of the building that people can’t see!” Set in one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring buildings in the country, and offering visitors the chance to see these wonderful stained glass windows at very close quarters, this hidden local gem offers a unique insight into the history of stained glass, and is very well worth a visit. The Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral is a registered charity. It’s open to the public seven days a week all year round. For more information and details, please see the website at www.stainedglassmuseum.com
ABOVE: Two kings that show the breadth of the collection at The Stained Glass Museum. At top is a 1793 window showing George III by James and Margaret Eglington Pearson (originally from Windsor Castle), while the window showing an unknown king above dates to around 1210 and originates from Soissons Cathedral in France.
KLmagazine February 2017
R E N OW N E D F O R
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KLmagazine February 2017
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MR & MRS BOWLER Wisbech
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NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED: ONLY PAY ON INSTALLATION! outstanding service they’ve received. Mr and Mrs Thompson of Downham Market, for example, only had their 30-year-old windows replaced a few weeks ago, but they’re already thrilled with their new windows. “They’re absolutely brilliant,” says Mrs Thompson. “We had suffered with condensation for years, and it’s so nice not to have to wipe down all the windows in the morning. I can honestly say it feels a lot warmer and we love the way they’ve been fitted and finished. We really are over the moon with them and we’re so pleased we chose ECOnomy Windows to do the work.” Similarly, Mrs and Mrs Bowler of Wisbech have recently replaced all the windows in their bungalow with new triple-glazed units. “We actually wanted to have triple glazing for better sound insulation,” says Mrs Bowler. “We’d used ECOnomy Windows a few years ago for some patio doors and we didn’t think twice
about using them again. Their customer service is brilliant, and they’re always willing to help whenever you phone them up.” As for the windows themselves, the couple couldn’t be happier. “We’re very, very pleased with them,” says Mrs Bowler. “We can’t hear the traffic any more, we don’t have any more problems with condensation, they’re very good at keeping the home warm – and best of all they look lovely from the inside and out!” Over in Hunstanton, Mr and Mrs Mayner have been enjoying ECOnomy Windows’ new tripleglazed units for slightly longer, but they’re equally happy with the results. “What really impressed us was all the technical help and advice we received from ECOnomy Windows, which was always in our best interests rather than their own,” says Mr Mayner. “The windows look fantastic, the
MR JOHN MAYNER Hunstanton
house is a lot quieter, and we can tell it’s taking less time to warm up. For the excellent job ECOnomy Windows did and the service they gave us, I know we definitely picked the best company in the area and I’d have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone.” ECOnomy Windows has always put customer care at the top of the list. In addition to the multiple benefits of the most advanced windows on the market today, you can look forward to no high pressure sales techniques and you’ll never be asked for a deposit – only paying when your new windows are fitted. The company’s own PAYE installation teams has an outstanding reputation for first-class service, from their attention to detail to the care they take with your home – and an insurance-backed guarantee will give you extra peace of mind for many years to come. For a closer look at the new generation of windows and to discover more about how they can benefit your home and your energy costs all year round, contact ECOnomy Windows now for full details and information.
CONSERVATORY SHOW PARK OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK! Elm High Road, Wisbech, Cambs PE14 0DG Tel: 01945 588988 / 01553 777088 Web: www.economy-windows.co.uk E-mail: mail@economy-windows.co.uk
NO DEPOSIT! YOU ONLY PAY ON INSTALLATION!
JOBS FOR THE GARDEN
Lamb Bottle Feeding Starts Feb Half Term
in February
Large Indoor Play Area Barista Coffee & Delicious Cakes
Buy seed potatoes and start chitting ready for planting Keep feeding the birds
Lots of Friendly Animals
Sow seeds in the greenhouse Plant hedging (bare root hedging available) Buy perennials ready for planting Prune apple and pear trees
Family Farm Fun
Pedal Tractor Trail
Sow broad beans, carrots, hardy peas and parsnips outside in soil warmed by cloches Plant fruit trees and bushes Buy summer flowering bulbs ready for planting
GJL ANIMAL FEEDS Clipbush Business Park, Fakenham
Clean patios using cleaners such as Patio Magic
Visit Thaxters for everything you’ll need for your garden...
and don’t forget to visit our coffee shop for a relaxing slice of cake or scone! NOW IN S TOCK! Large selectio n of
seed potatoes New season Summer flow s seeds ering bulbs Wild bird ca re
Garden Centre & Coffee Shop 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514
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YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL & PET FEED STORE Feed, supplements & accessories for your... Alpaca, Budgie, Canary, Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Chinchilla, Cockatiel, Dog, Donkey, Duck, Ferret, Finch, Fish, Gerbil, Goose, Guinea Pig, Goat, Hamster, Horse, Llama, Mouse, Parrot, Pheasant, Pig, Quail, Rabbit, Rat, Sheep, Turkey or Wild Bird.
OPEN: MON- FRI 8:30 - 17:00 SATURDAY 8:30 - 12:30
01328 851351
gjlanimalfeeds.co.uk KLmagazine February 2017
Pets
AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...
SMALL BITES S
howing your pet the love this Valentines Day? Why not consider signing them up to our Pet Health Plans and ensure that they have everything they need to be fit and healthy all year round! Pet Health Plans allow you to spread the cost of essential preventative healthcare for your pet in to a monthly payment. Pop in or give us a call on 01553 773168 or 01366 386655 to find out more.
Show your pets you love them too! I
t’s February already which means that it’s almost Valentine’s Day for us humans, but why not factor our pets in to the celebrations too? Our pets love us unconditionally so surely they should feel the love too! Whilst we may find one of the easiest ways to show our pets some love is to give them extra treats, this can have a detrimental effect on their health. Just like with us humans, weight gain can lead to a variety of health problems. Loving our pets means having the discipline to not give in and give them those extra goodies, in order to protect their health. But worry not! There are plenty of other ways you can show your pets you care! We’ve been chatting amongst ourselves here at London Road and The Hollies about how we like to show our pets we care. Amongst us dog owners one of
the most popular suggestions was a long walk, with the chance to explore a new place. We’re so lucky with the countryside we have around us, so why not head out for a walk somewhere you and your dog haven’t been before and enjoy exploring together. Extra time spent with your pet is a great way to show your love for them. You could spend some time grooming them, most pets will enjoy this and it’s a great way to bond with them. Most pets love attention, I know our two border terriers will do anything for an extra smooch before bed! No one knows your pet better than you do, so give them that extra chin scratch or belly rub that they enjoy so much. Studies have also shown that spending time stroking your pets can reduce your own stress levels! This month could also be a good time to make sure that our pets
are up to date with their vaccinations, and flea and worm treatments. It’s also a good time to check their teeth and see if they need a brush or a bit of extra attention. So, remember this Valentine’s Day, showing our pets some love is not all about giving them extra treats and food; give them praise and affection, play new games and enjoy spending time together and they’ll return the love unconditionally!
London Road Vets
@LondonRoadVets
www.makeyourpetsmile.co.uk
LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn telephone: 01553 773168 e-mail: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market telephone: 01366 386655 e-mail: info@holliesvetclinic.co.uk
KLmagazine February 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: A recent psychic supper hosted by local medium Sheila James (opposite), who’s spent over 70 years communicating with spirits and helping people around the world from all walks of life.
A lifetime of working with the world of spirits Humans have been fascinated with contacting the dead for thousands of years, but mediums are still poorly understood by most people. KL magazine talks to Sheila James about her work...
I
t’s been criticised, ridiculed and disparaged, and attempts have been made to scientifically invalidate it, but it’s a huge comfort to millions of people around the world and is now a recognised religion. It’s also something that Florence James – Shelia to everyone who knows her (it’s her middle name) – has been practicing for over 70 years. Sheila is, and always has been, a medium (“an extralarge medium!” she jokes at her home in Clenchwarton) and she has no doubts about her life mission. “I help whoever I can, wherever I can, and whenever I can,” she says.
KLmagazine February 2017
Spiritualism is far more popular than you may believe. A couple of generations ago, there were around 250,000 practising spiritualists and 2,000 spiritualist societies in the UK; and even today there are over 350 spiritualist churches around the country. One of eight children, Sheila was born in the East End of London in September 1940 at the start of the Blitz. “I was actually born under my grandfather’s best dining table,” she says. “Bombs were dropping all over the city and the doctor got blown off his bike. My father went out to find him and ended up in prison for the night because you
weren’t supposed to out on your bike after the air raid sirens sounded!” As a child, Sheila joined the Girls Life Brigade (the Christian youth organisation founded in 1893), playing the snare drum in the band and enjoying a traditional Church of England upbringing. “My father was the organist for our local chapel,” she remembers, “and I loved going to Sunday School. I loved singing hymns. I was just like any other child at the time. My father always wanted someone to follow him in his church work, but I don’t think he had mediumship in mind!” She originally wanted to be a
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Local Life
We all have our own beliefs, and that’s exactly how it should be. I’m not going to criticise anyone’s religion or faith or what they believe in because that’s not up to me... veterinarian, and on leaving school found herself working on a local farm – until she got blood poisoning after being bitten by a boar. After a stint behind the pharmacy counter at Boots, she then spent five years with a manufacturer of wooden toys in Bond Street, London before working in a garage delivering cars and trucks around the city. Moving to Lincolnshire, she worked for a linen hire company and even spent time welding cage wheels for tractors before entering nursing, working at the Fleet Hospital in Holbeach (the former workhouse is now a development of town houses and apartments). She worked for social services before finally moving to Clenchwarton in 1982 – although her love of helping people means that she’s now an active member of the local gardening club and wives group as well as being Chairperson of both the village hall and the village council. Amidst all this activity, you may be wondering, how did Sheila become (or even find the time to become) a medium? The answer’s very simple; she’s always been one. “It started when I was about two years old,” she says. “I kept seeing things and I remember my grandmother saying ‘oh, she’s talking to people again’; sometimes they were related to me and at other times they were just spirits who needed some help.” Sheila’s keen to point out that there’s nothing particularly special or unique about her talent. “Everybody has the gift, although eight out of ten people don’t use it,” she says. “It’s usually around the age of five when you either use it or lose it. Some people don’t want to use it and some people are frightened of it; it depends on their religion and their family.” Sheila’s certainly used her gift. Undertaking both a foundation course and a more advanced course in mediumship, she then completed an ordination course and became a minister for the Christian Spiritualist church – where she now performs christenings, weddings and funerals. She’s also done
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readings in no less than 36 different countries around the world. “Many people don’t realise there is such a thing as the spiritualist church,” she says. “Even though spiritualism has been around since the 1700s we had to wait until the Witchcraft Act of 1735 was repealed in 1951 before it was finally recognised as a religion.” Much of Sheila’s mediumship involves what she describes as ‘rescue work’, helping spirits move on to a higher plane – and it’s something that draws over 100 people to the regular ‘psychic suppers’ she organises throughout the year. Featuring up to 14 mediums and offering all participants a private reading, each supper also raises around £500 for a range of different local charities. “People come because they’d like to connect with someone or would like to hear from someone who’s passed,” she says. “It helps people settle themselves, overcome problems they might be having, or clear their minds about something that’s bothering them. And I never ask questions – I simply give people the messages I’m given.”
Perhaps surprisingly, Sheila’s experienced very little resistance to her work over the years. “I did have one local charity refuse the money we’d raised for them because they didn’t agree with what mediums did,” she says, “but I’ve always had a great relationship with my local vicar and he doesn’t have a problem with what I do. He does his thing and I do mine.” It’s an admirably open attitude, but then that’s Sheila all over. “We all have our own beliefs, and that’s exactly how it should be,” she says. “I’m not going to criticise anyone’s religion or faith or what they believe in because that’s not up to me. There are only two certainties in this world – one is that you’re born, and the other is you’ll pass. The rest of life is what you make it.” Sheila’s next psychic supper takes place on Saturday March 18th at Clenchwarton Village Hall on Black Horse Road, Clenchwarton PE34 4DN. Tickets are £15, which includes supper, refreshments and a private reading. For more information and to book your place, please call 01553 766284.
KLmagazine February 2017
Burnham Market Pine
The local denture service that's better by smiles!
& Painted
Natural, painted & reclaimed pine furniture We can make to any size or specification and paint any colour to suit your style and budget... • Waxed • Hand / spray painted • Distressed • We can also re-paint your own home/garden furniture
Tel: 01328 738009 / 07917 202529
Station Garage, Creake Road, Burnham Market PE31 8EA
Open Tues-Sun | www.burnham-market-pine.co.uk
KLmagazine February 2017
Offering while-you-wait repairs for cracked or broken dentures – usually within the hour.
If something’s getting in the way of your smile, contact James Asman at Hunstanton Dental Laboratory for a friendly, professional, and confidenceboosting local service in a relaxing and friendly environment.
t: 01485 533388 e: j.asman@yahoo.co.uk 9a High Street, Hunstanton PE36 5AB
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Tel: 01406 364600
NEW TS PATIEN E! M O C L WE
DV
A complete range of professional dental services including:
Derma Vida
• Cosmetic dentistry • Orthodontics • Dental implants • Sedation • General dental care • Facial treatments Contact us for a no-obligation chat to discuss your needs info@thespiredental.co.uk www.thespiredental.co.uk 7 Market Street, Long Sutton, Spalding PE12 9DD
The Fent Shop By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn
Largest selection of fabrics in West & North Norfolk
Dress Fabrics Curtain Fabrics Craft Fabrics Net Curtains Knitting Wool Haberdashery
Tel: 01553 772943
44
41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DP
T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk KLmagazine February 2017
Expert local eyecare for you and your family A comprehensive range of optical services from Hunstanton EyeCare
H
unstanton EyeCare is a familyowned opticians which has been providing specialist eyecare services to patients in and around Hunstanton for more than 40 years. Together with a sister branch along the coast at Cromer (which opened some 15 years ago) it’s one of the longest established independent registered opticians in the region. The business was founded by director Ian Leach, who together with his wife Beverley has been instrumental in developing the best quality eyecare services for people throughout Norfolk. “In keeping with our values, we combine traditional customer service with the most up-to-date technology and skills,” he says. “Together these
ensure our patients receive a first class caring experience with the right solutions for their optical needs.” That means you’ll find a huge range of frames and lenses, from designer brands such as Ray-Ban and Emporio Armani to specialist glasses for sports and safety purposes. You’ll find a comprehensive range of services from retinal photography field screening to contact lenses and tailor-made plans to help you with the costs of top quality eyecare. You can also be assured of high quality personal service during every stage of the process, from your initial consultation and examination through to the selection of the eyewear and dedicated aftercare that’s best for you. And it’s always good to know that all Hunstanton EyeCare’s optometrists and opticians, contact lens specialists and
low vision practitioners are fully qualified and registered; and they’re assisted by a friendly team of trained support staff. For a brighter look at eyecare for you and your family, contact us using the details below or pop in to see us in the centre of Hunstanton. We’ll always be pleased to see you – after all, that’s what we’re here for!
44 Church Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5HD Tel: 01485 532326 E-mail: info@eyecarenorfolk.co.uk Open: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, 2-5pm | Saturdays 8am-1pm PART OF EYECARE NORFOLK, TRADING AS HUNSTANTON EYECARE AND CROMER EYECARE KLmagazine February 2017
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roses are red, violets are blue, dubarry boots or joules wellies for you...
o prices try e v suit e t! pocke TEL: 01366 388151 | Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk
Lings Country Goods for all your country pursuits
Adult Superstore
For all your Valentines goodies
We aim to please Wide range of top brand country clothing • BARBOUR • DUBARRY • MUSTO • SCHÖFFEL • LE CHAMEAU • WRENDALE TOGGI • HUCKLECOTE • DEERHUNTER • SEELAND • PAMPEANO Also stocking guns, ammunition & shooting accessories
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all terrain and utility terrain vehicles Heath Farm, Great Massingham PE32 2HJ www.lingscountrygoods.co.uk www.mortonatv.com | Tel: 01485 520828
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- Christian Grey
Now stocking our
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OF GREY collection
Unit 2 Beveridge Way, Hardwick Narrows, Kings Lynn, PE30 4NB TEL: 01553 776242 | OPEN: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm
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KLmagazine February 2017
“
at the body Just by looking make what n differently, you ca possible at first seems im ... pp actually ha en
e TERRY CONNOLLY Fre
”
Your Body Therapy
“Thanks to Terry, my pain has now reduced by 80%...” Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains and was compromising my mobility,” he says. “I was having difficulty climbing stairs and I was in a lot of pain at night.” It was then that Michael’s wife read about Terry in an issue of KL magazine and suggested he give it a try. Terry Connolly is one of the very few people in the entire world offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment, combining that with Anatomy in Motion gait therapy – a cuttingedge method of correcting postural problems, helping with the repair and rehabilitation of injuries and the relief of pain. “I have the upmost respect for the medical profession and I’m not really a great believer in ‘alternative’ treatments,” says Michael. “But I didn’t want to resort to surgery – I think it’s always better to I’ve no idea what Terry stick with what you were given in the does, but it certainly first place!” works. My pain has After only three sessions with Terry, been reduced by about Michael now admits to being 80% – with no surgery! something of a convert. MICHAEL THOMAS “I’ve no idea what he does, but it Hunstanton
t Free Your Body Therapy in King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly continues to use a range of new treatment techniques to free people from a life of chronic aches and pains – people like Michael Thomas of Hunstanton, for example, who’d experienced significant pain in his knee for many years after tearing a cartilage whilst playing rugby for West Norfolk. “At the time I was advised to have surgery and was told I may never play rugby again,” he says. "But I didn’t – and I was playing rugby two weeks later!” Eventually retiring aged 79 and successfully overcoming a bout of cancer, Michael’s thoughts finally turned to his long-suffering knee. “It was becoming increasingly painful
A
“
KLmagazine February 2017
”
certainly works,” he says. “It’s not invasive, but my pain has been reduced by about 80% . I can put plenty of weight on my knee now and I no longer get pain at night.” For Terry, there’s no secret and no magic to this treatment – it’s simply a case of looking at the body in a completely different way. “All I’m doing is reminding the body how it’s supposed to work!” he says. “There’s a lot of science behind it, but essentially it’s a case of re-training muscles that are either working too hard – or not enough.” If you’re interested in freeing yourself from a life of chronic aches and pain, contact Terry today and book an appointment for an initial assessment and consultation.
information
The Fitness Studios Old Dairy Units, Austin Street, King’s Lynn Tel: 01553 277520 Web: www.fitnesskingslynn.co.uk www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk
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PICTURES: PETER AKEHURST
Fashion
ABOVE: A typically striking fashion shoot by Peter Akehurst, featuring the Austrian actress Eve Rueber-Staier, who was crowned Miss World in 1969. Peter’s 1966 portrait of Chrissie Shrimpton (opposite) is now in the National Portrait Gallery
Through the lens: the changing face of fashion A new exhibition in Swaffham will shortly be celebrating the work of one of the most outstanding fashion photographers of the swinging 1960s. Charlotte Niemiec talks to Peter Akehurst...
F
ew photographers can boast James Stewart, Sophia Loren, Freddie Mercury and Michael Parkinson in their portfolio, but West Norfolk’s Peter Akehurst snapped them all in their heyday. One of the UK’s most prolific and successful fashion photographers in the 1950s and 60s, he’d managed to gain a considerable reputation when he was still in his teens. With a passion for photography and the moving image, Peter started out at a press agency near London’s Fleet Street. Back then, competition was tough. “Fifty years ago when I was in the industry,” he says, “there were about 2,000 fashion photographers in London
KLmagazine February 2017
alone. Today, I think that figure is well below 100.” With a Vanity Fair centrespread and commissions to cover the Paris Collections under his belt before his 20th birthday, Peter moved to the famous John French studio and became the globally-acclaimed David Bailey’s first ever assistant. In the mid60s, he worked on the weekly glossy London Life magazine, which aimed to capture the lifestyle and mood of the ‘swinging sixties’ in London. During his time with the magazine, he photographed an impressive number of famous people. But the lifestyle was gruelling, Peter says, hopping in and out of taxis working 12-hour shifts to cover
up to 10 different jobs a day. He quit in Christmas 1966; just in time, too, as staff returning to their desks in the new year were told the magazine was closing with immediate effect. After this, he was approached by Lord David Puttnam to work on a new publishing venture, where he shared the famous Sunday Times studio with Lord Snowdon. Here, he worked with actors such as John Gielgud, Rod Steiger, James Stewart, David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave. At the same time, he was writing music, getting involved with show business management and working with stars such as Harry Secombe, Anita Harris, Shirley Bassey,
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Fashion and lost 20 years’ worth of precious negatives,” he says. “Sadly, none were ever found.” Peter’s son, however, persuaded him to gather together the remaining images and exhibit them for the public. Peter found and repaired a number of photographs and negatives, reprinting what he could, and these can be seen at a new exhibition in Swaffham later this month. These days, Peter is writing a drama trilogy and developing a documentary series on fashion and culture. “Ask me who I’d most like to photograph today and the first people that come to mind are the great models I’ve worked with in the past,” he says. “Models such as Moyra Swan and Sue Nadkarni. The whole world of imagery is now running on pop culture and is very celebrity-based, which doesn’t really interest me at all. I’ve always been interested in the real women of the world, especially those with a hidden beauty. That’s why I’m now looking to create an unusual book using only the women of Norfolk.”
Liza Minnelli and Sammy Davis Junior. Later, Peter built his own studio and created major beauty campaigns for famous brands such as Avon, Revlon and Estée Lauder, together with editorial features for glossy magazines. His photographic style is to keep his subjects as natural as possible. “I don’t shoot digital and will never use Photoshop,” he says. “I only shoot on film as it gives the true natural image. I’m sure that’s partly the reason why fashion has lost a lot of its class compared to the original elegance of past years. Of course, the digital world is much faster now and it’s great quality – but to me it’s an unreal quality.” Peter moved away from still photography to moving imagery in the 1980s. “Moving from stills to film was very easy,” he says. “In 1982, the stills work was very sparse and, on the spur of the moment, I had an idea for a TV series
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and started writing it. It sounds easy, but in fact it took five years of hard work to get it on TV. However, it was an instant success and it ran for 18 years.” The TV series in question was none other than Go Fishing, featuring one of Britain’s best loved fishermen, John Wilson. As a producer and director in his own right, Peter also built up an impressive client list on commercials for British Airways, Procter & Gamble and others. He looks back fondly on both parts of his career. “They were great times in my life,” he says. “I just loved making memorable images and I always will. It was a magical time to work with creative people such as editorial writers, film actors, singers and producers, and creating my own TV series.” But disaster struck in the late 70s. “While I was on holiday in the south of France, I had a break-in at my studio
PICTURES: PETER AKEHURST
ABOVE: Peter Akehurst’s portrait of model Grace Coddington was taken for a Vanity Fair editorial in 1961 and is now in the National Portrait Gallery. After her modelling career, Coddington spent 19 years as Photo Editor with British Vogue and only left her position as Creative Director at American Vogue last year. At right is an image by Peter from a 1975 review of the latest contemporary styles in swimwear.
Peter’s exhibition Some Moments in Time 1961-1982 will be held at The Hayes Gallery in Swaffham from 21st February to 1st April.
KLmagazine February 2017
Weddings
Fashion
No one said planning a wedding was easy, but whether you’re looking for the perfect venue, the ideal florist, an imaginative wedding cake or an innovative approach to your jewellery you’ll find plenty of inspiration on the following pages. And, of course, the best of our local boutiques will help you enjoy the big day in true style... 52
Image from Norfolk Brides Magazine. Shoot curated by Dalia Courridge Photographer: Esther Wild Model: Libby Gray MUA: Amanda Steed Hair Stylist: Nicola Playford Fashion Stylist: Abi Gray Location: The Wharf Academy Norwich Plants: Event House
'Alexandra' by Charlotte Balbier (£1395) & floral crown by Libby Ferris Flowers THE BOTTOM DRAWER BRIDAL BOUTIQUE | King’s Lynn 01553 773667 KLmagazine February 2017
Fashion
Outfit by John Charles CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 54
KLmagazine February 2017
ABACUS MARQUEES your special event is our special event...
Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals. Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories. Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements. Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:
01328 701331
www.abacusmarquees.co.uk
Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn PE32 2YA
AA Rosette Restaurant
New Season Wedding Outfits Now Available at
The perfect venue for your winter wedding Visit www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk/weddings/ for more information or call to arrange a viewing Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6HH Tel: 01485 533486 Email: mail@caleyhallhotel.co.uk
KLmagazine February 2017
Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge
S i ze s 1 0 - 2 6 | O pe n in g ti m es 9a m - 5p m C l os ed We d n e sd a ys & S un d a y s Te l : 0 1 40 6 3 5 09 61
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Fashion
Wedding suit collection available to hire GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 56
KLmagazine February 2017
125 NORFOLK STREET, KING’S LYNN PE30 1AP | 01553 770536 | WWW.DAVIDAUKERJEWELLERY.CO.UK
rd Winning Inn Swaffham’s Double Awa
Call to Book 01760 723 244
We are a lovely 17th century Coaching Inn serving local, seasonal and fresh food in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We have a beautiful, unusual and unique setting that could host your special event. Pub, Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Georgian style Ballroom, Courtyard.. You can hire the whole site for your wedding or special occasion or one of our function rooms.
21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk KLmagazine February 2017
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Fashion
Outfit by Condici (was £675 now £350) SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 58
KLmagazine February 2017
Sheila Tiller
EXCLUSIVE LADIES FASHION & SHOES EST. 1978
CONDICI
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Stockists of contemporary fashions, handbags, shoes, accessories & lingerie Fashions: 13 Market Place, Long Sutton Tel: 01406 363 433 Shoes: 7 Market Place, Long Sutton Tel: 01406 364 128
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35 Goodwins Road, King’s Lynn. PE30 5QX
www.stuarthousehotel.co.uk
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PICTURES: THE CHOCOLATE DELI
Food & Drink
ABOVE: One of Dale Skipper’s guiding principles for The Chocolate Deli (which she founded a decade ago) is that chocolate should look every bit as good as it tastes. Originally trained in ceramics, Dale is always finding or inventing new ways to use chocolate.
Enjoying a local taste of the art of chocolate... When Dale Skipper struggled to find work in ceramics, she poured all her creative skills into the art of making chocolate – and she’s never looked back since. Sylvia Steele visits The Chocolate Deli.
A
small disc of chocolate, a nugget of inspiration and a belief in her own designs have helped Dale Skipper become one of the most individual chocolatiers in Norfolk – if not the whole country. In a workshop in Wells-next-the-Sea, where the tantalising aroma and variety of sweet treats rival something out of Willy Wonka’s factory, you’ll find The Chocolate Deli, which Dale created some ten years ago. But her route to success was a rather unusual one. “I left the College of West Anglia with a degree in ceramics but after finding it difficult to obtain a job in the field, I joined Kinnerton Chocolates where I learned the art of chocolate making and decoration,” she remembers. “The chocolate making and the ceramics sort
KLmagazine February 2017
of collided, making me look at design in a different way.” “Whereas most people go down the route of catering college, I’ve done it through ceramics by making and using my own moulds. I was constantly looking ahead towards starting my own business, but firstly I needed to explore what people liked (or didn’t) and decide what style I was going to follow.” To gauge customers’ reactions to her chocolate designs, she began selling through local farmers’ markets, soon discovering that customers are now less satisfied with a quick chocolate fix. “Like buying a good wine, people seek the right chocolate and are more interested in understanding chocolate’s flavour notes and its origins, particularly if they are using it in cooking,” says Dale. “For example, Granada is a spice island,
so you get spicy fruity notes whereas Cuban is more earthy and smoky. No two chocolates are the same.” Proof of just how far her design work had come arrived in 2012, when Dale was suddenly under the celebrity spotlight after a client commissioned her to make something exciting for American singer and songwriter Katy Perry’s birthday. “It was an exciting project,” says Dale, “and I designed a 2½ft tall chocolate sculpture with ‘over the top’ candy canes, cup cakes with a sparkly Katy and a big red shoe on top.” Another commission followed in 2013 to make ‘after show’ treats for Damien Hirst at the Brit Awards, the year he designed the Scull Award, and Dale produced miniature skulls of 67% single-origin dark chocolate from
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Food & Drink
Grenada plus others in milk and white chocolate. “Of course, it’s amazing to be asked to create something for the Brits as you get to be part of such a massive thing,” she says. “When I was subsequently asked to create a good luck charm for Emili Sandi‘s dressing room that was flamboyant and could be personalised, I produced a bouquet of chocolate lollies and it worked beautifully.” In the face of much competition, Dale is naturally proud of her success, especially its homegrown aspect. “Usually it is the London chocolate makers that get all the attention,” she says, “but people are now getting a taste of what Norfolk has to offer!” Not before time either. Norfolk’s earliest chocolate was poured in the late 1800s when Albert Caley started Caley’s Chocolates in Norwich – and Caley’s Dark Marching Chocolate Bars were sent to soldiers on the front during World War One. However, large-scale chocolate production stopped in the city in the late 1990s when the Nestlé factory closed. Of course, Valentine’s Day and chocolates go hand in hand, but it’s not 62
the busiest time of the year for The Chocolate Deli. “It’s definitely Easter!” says Dale. “Last year we produced Easter eggs in lovely moulds based on an old Victorian style and also traditional eggs with crosses, for many of our local customers are churchgoers. We produced one egg for Holkham Hall that was 3ft high and was raffled for ‘Ellie’s Love’ a local charity supporting cystic fibrosis. From January onwards we make and decorate more than 1,500 eggs by hand. It goes absolutely bonkers.” Valentine’s Day does come a close second, of course, with workshops for customers to make and decorate their own heart-shaped chocolates. “We believe chocolate should not only taste good it should look great too,” says Dale. “Whether it’s making your own lollies with cocoa butter transfers, or creating your own chocolate bar, you’ll soon be able to master the basics.” These workshops have encouraged Dale to incorporate a shop into the Wells unit where customers can observe the work that goes into making and decorating, and she explains what
The Chocolate Deli is on Guild Street, Little Walsingham. For a taste of Dale’s amazing creations and details of her chocolate-making workshops, please see www.thechocolatedeli.co.uk
PICTURES: THE CHOCOLATE DELI
ABOVE: Although Dale Skipper made a series of miniature chocolate skulls for Damien Hirst’s after-show party at the 2013 Brit Awards, her Chocolate Deli at Little Walsingham now crafts (to order) these incredibly sculpted solid chocolate skulls that weigh around 2½ kilos. People have even used them on top of their wedding cakes!
goes into producing the perfect chocolate. “The tempering process is essential for making glossy, smooth, evenly coloured coating,” she says. “It’s what produces a crisp satisfying snap when you bite into it and prevents the dull greyish colour and waxy texture that happens when cocoa fat separates. We use two tempering machines and the temperature varies with different chocolate from bittersweet/dark requiring higher temperature than milk or white chocolates.” The process that darkens colour and lightens flavour is still known as ‘dutching’ after the Dutch chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten who invented the cocoa press in 1828, revolutionising chocolate making. By the 17th century chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe; believed to have nutritious, medicinal and even aphrodisiacal properties. Casanova, it is rumoured, was especially fond of it. It remained the privilege of the rich for many years, but although that’s all changed now. Dale’s Chocolate Deli has now even introduced its own hot chocolate, made to the customer’s partiality, be it Mexican, Venezuelan or any other variety stocked. “The plan is to introduce our own range of hot chocolate providing the same selection that exists for tea or coffee lovers,” she says. “I feel my job is to educate people into trying new tastes and to love them. It’s the best job in the world!”
ABOVE: A detail of the flamboyant birthday cake Dale created for the American singer Katy Perry in 2012.
KLmagazine February 2017
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KLmagazine February 2017
Food & Drink
rk Loin of Po g & Cookin Chorizo
at Available Bowers Butchers
Loin of Pork
with a Chorizo, Spinach and Chick Pea Stuffing Serves: 4-6 INGREDIENTS 1.75kg loin of pork, boned 500g baby spinach leaves olive oil 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 50g shallots, finely chopped 100g tinned chickpeas, drained 100g toasted pine nuts 250g cooking chorizo, skin removed, 200g savoy cabbage, cored and finely shredded 800g tinned butter beans, drained 50g finely chopped streaky bacon 50g chopped shallots 1 tsp finely chopped thyme 100ml dry white wine Knob of butter Salt and pepper
KLmagazine February 2017
METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 200°c/400°f/gas mark 6 2 To prepare the stuffing, wash the spinach leaves under cold running water and drain. In a hot, large pan add a little olive oil, then the garlic and shallots. Keep moving for about 30 seconds. Add the spinach, season with salt and pepper and cook for a minute or so until the spinach has wilted down. Drain in a colander to remove any excess liquid. Add to a food processor, along with the pine nuts and chickpeas. Use the pulse setting and blend so you have coursetextured mixture. 3 With a sharp knife score the skin of the pork. Lay out the loin of pork skin side down. Spread the spinach mixture all over the meat, then in the centre pack in the chorizo. Roll the pork over and tie it with butcher’s string. Pat the skin dry and rub in a generous amount of salt. Place on a roasting tray and
cook in a preheated oven for 2 hours and the skin is crisp and a rich golden colour. When cooked, allow to rest in a warm place for 15 minutes before carving. 4 In a pan on a medium heat, add the knob of butter, fry the bacon for 2-3 minutes, then add the shallots and thyme and cook for a further minute. Add the cabbage, mix well and add wine. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes. Add the butter beans and warm through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5 To serve, spoon some of the butter bean mixture onto a warm plate and top with slices of the stuffed pork.
Recipe by Bowers Butchers 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn PE30 4PR Tel: 01553 773845 Web: www.bowersbutchers.com
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KLmagazine February 2017
Food & Drink
Chocolate Peanut Butter Petits Fours Makes: 20 INGREDIENTS 100g smooth peanut butter 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp icing sugar, sifted ½ tsp vanilla extract Coarse sea salt 250g 70% dark chocolate, roughly chopped Salted peanuts for decoration, chopped
METHOD 1 Line a 20 hole mini muffin tin with petits fours cases. In a small bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, icing sugar, vanilla and a large pinch of salt until combined. Roll into 20 equal-size balls, flatten a little to a diameter slightly smaller than your muffin cases. Freeze on a tray line with baking parchment for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the chocolate. 2 Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a bowl of barely simmering water (make sure that the bowl doesn’t touch the water), or in a mircrowave,
melting in short bursts and stirring well between each one; remove from heat and set aside to cool briefly. 3 Spoon a teaspoon of the chocolate into each case, swirling each one to ensure it reaches the edges. Carefully put one frozen peanut butter disc in each case, on top of the chocolate. Divide the remaining chocolate between the cases then tap the tin so the chocolate settles in an even layer, sprinkle evenly with the crushed salted peanuts. Leave to harden at room temperature. They will keep in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe by Jules Hetherton Head Chef at Strattons Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Tel: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.co.uk KLmagazine February 2017
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KLmagazine February 2017
PICTURE COURTESY OF ERIC SNAITH, TITCHWELL MANOR
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KLmagazine February 2017
Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A KL magazine reader visits Market Bistro in King’s Lynn– one of the best restraurants in the world...
I
n 2016, when Condé Nast Traveler decided to produce a list of the 200 best restaurants in the world, they assembled a formidable jury of chefs, food writers and seasoned travellers. In the event, English restaurants only featured 14 times in the list, and 13 of those were in London. The exception was Market Bistro in King’s Lynn, a huge testament to the work of Richard and Lucy Golding, who’ve run this unpretentious and friendly restaurant in the centre of town for the last eight years. It’s even more of an accolade when you consider that Richard has no formal training as a chef! It’s a lovely and intimate dining space, but despite the 17th century beams and open fireplace, this is definitely a contemporary restaurant with a genuine passion for local food; Market Bistro sources all ingredients from within a 40-mile radius. They only use sustainably-caught or organically-farmed fish, they grow their own vegetables, and they bake their own bread every day. Not surprising then, that we jumped at the chance to enjoy an evening at Market Bistro after hearing such great things about the restaurant. From the refreshingly pared-down menu (which prefers to let the food speak for itself) I opted to start with the mackerel fillet, a beautifully-cooked and wonderfully tasty opener that made the most of the fresh fish with some delicately-flavoured
KLmagazine February 2017
beetroot, mustard and a lovely fennel tea. My partner chose the unassumingly-named ‘beetroot’ which was actually a mouthwatering (and visually quite stunning) assembly of heritage beet with a walnut praline and a gentle scattering of goat’s cheese. For the main event I selected the Fruit Pig rare breed pork, from which I expected much as it hails from the only traditional breeds butchery in East Anglia supported by both the British Pig Association and the Rare Breed Survival Trust. It certainly didn’t disappoint, being slow cooked to perfection and working marvellously well with the accompanying (and very clever) breaded squash and bacon terrine. While the touches of apple and vanilla may have appeared at first to be purely decorative, they really added some perfectly complementary taste to an exquisite dish. My partner, meanwhile was treated to the equally masterful local partridge, a generous portion of which was served with red cabbage, parsnip and (much to her pleasant surprise) pickled blackberry. I must confess that I couldn’t help testing the matching of partride and blackberry for myself, and it was an inspired touch, the sweetness of the latter enhancing the richness of the former. Happily, Richard’s inventiveness and obvious love for beautiful food beautifully presented carried through to the desserts. My pork had
been so incredible that I chose to stay on the savoury side and enjoyed a carefullyplanned cheese board of four quite excellent cheeses – particularly the Blue Monday, the deservedly award-winning creation of Blur bassist Alex James. The accompanying biscuits were lovely, the truffle honey was a sheer delight, and the chutney was outstanding. My partner decided to finish with ‘chocolate’ which turned out to be a sweet feast comprising a rich dark chocolate parfait offset by a marvellous kirsch ice cream and a handful of flavour-packed cherries. Lucy Golding was supremely welcoming and friendly throughout, and gave us a valuable insight into the creation and provenance of this exceptional meal – and we only wished we could have thanked her husband in person. Richard was, however, still busy in the kitchen, doing quite incredible things with local ingredients and creating wonderful food that looks fabulous and tastes amazing.
FOOD
10
SERVICE
9
VALUE
9
MARKET BISTRO 11 Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 5DQ Telephone: 01553 771483 Web: www.marketbistro.co.uk 71
West Norfolk: Then and Now
1925
2017
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DETAIL... Thanks to CHRIS CLARKE for sending this photograph of the Globe Hotel in King’s Lynn, which is vaguely dated to 1925. The exterior of this Grade II listed building (it was first recorded as the Globe Inn in 1650) hasn’t changed much over the years, but the traffic
passing by it certainly has. You won’t find many horse-drawn carriages waiting outside today! Do you know when the original picture was taken? You can enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s history on the website at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk or by visiting the Norfolk Heritage Centre at
the Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich (or your local studies library). We’ll be taking another look back in time at the local area next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 72
KLmagazine February 2017
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Thanks for a truly faultless service: for your care and , attention, for your hardworking , courteous and meticulous staff and for making our floors look every bit as good as the day they were first laid!
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With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, XtraClean can give your floors a new lease of life ver the winter months, your floors take more than their usual share of punishment – leaving your beautiful slate, limestone and natural stone floors looking as bleak as the weather outside. Eventually, it will take more than a mop to bring your floors back to life and you’ll need the professional services of Swaffham-based Xtraclean. “As deposits gradually build up on your floors over the winter, traditional cleaning methods and chemicals will become increasingly ineffective,” says XtraClean’s Martin King. “Thanks to our revolutionary floor cleaning system, we can restore heavily-soiled stone floors, tiles and grout to ‘as-new’ brilliance – and we can do it in a single visit too!”
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For over 20 years, XtraClean has been offering a professional, friendly and fullyinsured service that covers the whole county with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking their very best. Following an initial survey and testing of your floors, Martin and his team will get to work (they’ll even move the furniture for you!) by breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. XtraClean’s amazing turbocleaning capture system then thoroughly pressure cleans the floor – capturing all waste in the process. The results are spectacular, and are achieved without invasive procedures such as grinding and resurfacing. “Once the floor has been cleaned we
professionally seal it for added protection and to help retain its good looks for longer,” says Martin. ”We can even re-polish and buff highly-honed stone floors if required!” Martin and his team also have a wealth of experience in cleaning everything from outdoor terraces to paths and patios – meaning all your floors can have a fresh new look for the new year. “We use the most advanced technology and the most professional products on the market today,” says Martin, “and the results really do speak for themselves.” Start the new year the Xtraclean way and give your floors the look they deserve – contact Martin and his locallybased team today for an extra professional and extra reliable service!
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KLmagazine February 2017
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PICTURES: TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM
History
ABOVE: Crowds gather in the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn on August 19th 1889 for a picnic for the town’s fishermen and their wives at Ringstead Downs given by local businessman Richard Catleugh.
The beautification of Lynn’s market place... It’s one of the most impressive urban spaces in England, and reflects the mercantile power of King’s Lynn. Paul Richards looks at the 18th century renaissance of the town’s Tuesday Market Place
I
n the Tuesday Market Place (which received its contemporary architectural stamp in the century after 1680) King’s Lynn is fortunate to possess one of the most impressive urban spaces in England, admired by countless visitors from home and abroad. It’s a fascinating story that begins with John and Charles Turner, two of Lynn’s merchant rulers who believed the town’s image could be greatly enhanced by classical buildings,
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described around 1700 as “modern and handsome.” They had the vision to commission the esteemed Henry Bell as architect, and through his work for the Turners, King’s Lynn acquired two of the most architecturally-sophisticated commercial buildings in England; the Merchants’ Exchange (today’s Custom House) and a new Market Cross. The Tuesday Market Place was (and remains) Lynn’s foremost business and social hub. If foreign and homeland
traders were to be attracted to the perfectly classical and stone Merchants’ Exchange (opened by the Purfleet in 1685), then more needed to be done. A superior coaching inn on the Tuesday Market Place to replace ‘The Gryffen’ was particularly desirable. The Duke’s Head (named after the Duke of York) was surely designed by Bell for the Turners and opened in 1686 for merchants “resorting to the Exchange.” It’s an imposing threestoried classical building in brick, of
KLmagazine February 2017
ABOVE: A portrait of Sir John Turner by John Closterman (1660-1711). Turner was one of the visionary merchants behind the tranformation of the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn.
Dutch appearance, but rendered by 1800. There were parlours and a dining room, with a music gallery for upper class assemblies as well as a ‘Cock Room’ for fighting cockerels. It also functioned as a business venue, with ship auctions and later accommodating a bank. Sir Robert Walpole represented King’s Lynn in 17 Parliaments between 1702-1742 and the Duke’s Head was his local political headquarters. The Duke’s Head Inn must have made a dramatic impact on a town where traditional timber-framed buildings still prevailed. So, too, did the fine classical mansion Bell almost certainly designed for Charles Turner (built in 1703) in the southwest corner of the market place. It was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1768 and quickly replaced by another large classical house in brick erected by George Hogge. In 1891 it was occupied by Barclays Bank, but more recently has become the home of solicitors Fraser Dawbarns. Though the façade of this grand merchant house was rebuilt in the 1950s, its Georgian western elevation is visible from Common Staith Square. The illustrious French aristocrat La Rochefoucald visited Lynn in 1784 and wrote in his journal: “The market place is large and handsome and there are some fine buildings looking onto it, among these Mr Hogge’s House, which is certainly a large and beautiful building.” His mansion was a centre of
KLmagazine February 2017
ABOVE: The changing face of the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn – from the grand open space at the start of the 19th century (top) to the hive of activity it was a century later (centre), with the classical house built by George Hogge in the background. The image at the bottom was produced as a postcard in 1994 – before the Duke’s Head was repainted!
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History
ABOVE: The elegant Market Cross, designed by Henry Bell and erected by subscription in 1707-10. It was a hub of commercial and social activity until its demolition in 1830. Below is a 1950 view of the northeast corner of the Tuesday Market Place – The Victory pub closed in 1961
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King’s Lynn was a market town and port transformed by classical architecture in the decades after 1680, contributing hugely to its exceptional and arresting historic built environment. The Merchants’ Exchange began that modernisation process and retains its significance in England’s architectural history. Eighteenth century houses in the riverside streets like Clifton House are important too, but the Tuesday Market Place showcased Renaissance Lynn. Sadly, Bell’s Market Cross is no more – but how the square would benefit from a rebuilding! Visible to all incoming ships, its dome symbolised
Lynn’s financial ‘wallop’, and reflected civic pride as well as the town’s place in England’s premier urban league. Another dominant classical building overlooking the Tuesday Market Place is the Corn Exchange, topped with the goddess Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Once a thriving venue for merchants and farmers every Tuesday, it’s Victorian, opening in January 1855. This large brick structure with a grand stone façade demanded the removal of the Market House of 1830 which, in turn, had replaced the Angel Inn, whose customers were hardly angelic. But that’s another story!
PICTURES: TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM
hospitality for Lynn’s merchant and professional classes during the February Mart and associated theatre season at St George’s Guildhall. A similar reputation was attached to the main townhouse of the Bagge family on ‘Market Hill’; it was remodelled in fashionable classical style in 1725 and extended in 1806 – today’s Bishop’s Lynn House. In March 1812 William Bagge gave such a splendid supper and ball to his friends here that “the marketplace was illuminated by the brilliance of the light within.” Sir Robert Walpole and the Turners were the principal subscribers for the erection of Bell’s most elegant classical building; the Market Cross, which adorned the Tuesday Market Place until demolition in 1830. It was an octagonal structure in stone with a wooden dome and a first floor balcony supported by 16 columns. Radiating from it were timber stalls for butchers and North End fish vendors. The Market Cross served as both a meeting place for Lynn’s merchant rulers and gave some shelter to market traders; the square was one big open air supermarket five days a week, Tuesday being the day when thousands of country folk came to town. Poultry, eggs, butter, fish and fruit were bought and sold, as well as livestock. Feeding townspeople was the essential role of Lynn’s markets Monday to Saturday (when the Saturday Market Place was used).
KLmagazine February 2017
Big changes ahead for inheritance tax Making sense of the new residence nil-rate band with solicitor James Palmer of Fraser Dawbarns
D
uring the 2015 General Election campaign, the Conservative Party committed to “bring the family home out of inheritance tax for all but the richest” – a simple pledge, but a complex outcome. The current inheritance tax rules are relatively straightforward. Each person has an allowance (the ‘Nil Rate Band’) of £325,000; if your estate is valued under this amount there is no inheritance tax to pay. If it is greater, then any value over £325,000 is taxed at 40%. The Nil Rate Band is also transferrable between spouses/civil partners. As such, if one spouse dies and leaves their whole estate to the other, the surviving spouse’s estate will benefit from both Nil Rate Bands on their death. It was thought that the Government would simply raise the current Nil Rate Band to fulfil their election promise. Instead, they introduced the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB), which will come into effect on April 6th 2017. The RNRB will supplement the current Nil Rate Band, which will remain in
KLmagazine February 2017
place, and it could mean that from this April an estate benefits from an additional £100,000 inheritance tax allowance. This figure is due to increase by £25,000 every year until 2020, where it will reach its intended limit of £175,000. However, in order to benefit from the RNRB certain conditions have to be met. Firstly, you’ll have to own your own property. Further, you must have lived in that property as your main home at some point before your death. As such, if you don’t own your own home you will not benefit from the RNRB. Secondly, the property must be inherited by a direct descendant (e.g. children, grandchildren, stepchildren). As such, if you have no children of your own, or if you don’t want your children to inherit your property, your estate would not be able to use the RNRB. Thirdly, there are limitations surrounding estates exceeding £2 million. If this is the case, the RNRB will be reduced by £1 for every £2 over that £2 million.
The RNRB will be transferable between spouses/civil partners, in the same way the current Nil Rate Band is. Therefore, if a husband and wife leave everything to each other on the first of their deaths, before leaving their estate to their children on the second of their deaths, they could benefit from two Nil Rate Bands and two RNRBs. This could mean a combined inheritance tax allowance of £1 million after April 2020. However, it’s clear that the RNRB will be limited to benefitting spouses/civil partners who have their own children and own their own homes. There are certain pitfalls to be wary of, even if you could potentially benefit from the RNRB. For example, if you’re an unmarried couple and you leave your estate to your partner first and foremost, your estate would not benefit from the RNRB. Further, a wide range of trusts would prevent an estate benefitting from the RNRB. Given the complexity of the RNRB it’s essential for you to review your will and get the relevant advice regarding your estate to ensure you benefit from the new relief if possible. For over 170 years, Fraser Dawbarns has been serving generations of local people with a friendly, approachable and high quality legal service. With over 100 staff over our King’s Lynn, Wisbech, Downham Market and March offices we’re perfectly placed to give you all the help and advice you need in the face of changing rules and ever more complex issues. For a professional review of your will(s), please feel free to contact either myself or one of my colleagues at JAMES PALMER Fraser Dawbarns Solicitor, Private Client today.
FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com
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www.klearvuaerials.com 55 Lynn Road, Terrington St Clement, King’s Lynn PE34 4JU KLmagazine February 2017
Letting Better Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning Landlords and Tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director Damien Simone
Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists
QUI CK FAC TS Statistics from MyDeposits show that 23% of all deposit disputes relate to inadequate cleaning by the outgoing tenant.
Deposits & Disputes T his month we explain the most often misunderstood and incorrectly applied terms when proposing deductions from a tenant’s deposit. Firstly, it is important to remember that the ownership of the tenancy deposit remains with the tenant and it is the landlord’s (or agents) responsibility to justify any proposed deductions. To make a successful claim this process starts before the tenants move in to the property when a full and thorough inventory and schedule of condition should be made. These are the main pieces of evidence that will support your claim as they detail the condition of your property prior to the tenants’ occupation. When the tenants leave it will be the comparison of these initial documents against the present condition that the check-out report will be produced from. When proposing deductions from a tenant’s deposit landlords need to understand that they are not entitled to betterment. This is the official term
applied to the instance whereby the restitution that you gain from a tenant in respect of repairs or dilapidations exceeds the value of the landlord’s loss, resulting in the landlord having effectively profited from the tenants’ actions or lack thereof. Betterment is not legally permitted and deposit adjudicators strictly scrutinise all of the claim evidence to prevent this from occurring. To avoid betterment the calculations for deductions relating to items that require renewal or replacement must be apportioned in relation to the loss in years of the anticipated serviceable life of the item. For example, if a tenant moves into a property with brand new carpets which subsequently require replacement when they leave after only 2 years a charge for the replacement cost must be reduced by the percentage equivalent of the years used. For example if the expected serviceable term was 5 years and a replacement was required after 2 it would only be possible to charge the
tenants for the loss of 3 years use – which would be 60% of the value for a like-for-like replacement. Lastly, do not rely on having writtenin a list of specific terms concerning the return of your property. Adding additional terms to a tenancy agreement is a specialised area and should only be carried out by suitably qualified letting agents or solicitors. The Office of Fair Trading has strict regulations concerning what constitutes unfair contract terms within a tenancy agreement and even the location within the agreement of certain terms is prescribed. At Edmonton Estates we believe that the check-in and check-out process form part of fundamental duties to our landlords which is why we do not make any additional charges for these reports or for administering to a deposit claim. If you would like any help or advice regarding how to make a successful claim from a former tenant’s deposit please contact us on 01553 660615.
Edmonton Estates Ltd, St Ann’s House, 18 St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT 01553 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk
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History
ABOVE: A 19th-century view of the ruins of Caistor Castle near Great Yarmouth. The 15th-century ‘castle’ was built for the prominent Fastolf family, but passed to the Pastons, who occupied it for the next century. The castle is currently home to the largest private collection of motor vehicles in Britain, which is housed in a purpose-built museum and includes many fine and rare vintage and sports cars.
A unique look into the life of a Norfolk family... One of the largest archives of private correspondence from 15th century England, the fascinating Paston Letters contain everything from shopping lists to love letters, as Richard Parr discovers.
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rokering deals, managing staff, fighting lawsuits; tasks such as these are all part of the daily challenges faced by today’s top executives. Yet back in 15th century Norfolk, these tasks fell to Margaret Paston, largely because her family owned land. The exchange of letters between Margaret and her lawyer husband John Paston often read like the scripts of modern soap operas with stories of the dramas (and often pretty unpleasant
KLmagazine February 2017
dramas) that resulted from the social turmoil and violence of the times. The Paston name comes from the village of the same name, which lies about four miles from North Walsham. According to historians, the story of the Pastons is a fascinating and compelling tale of a family on the make in the wake of the Black Death. They show first-hand testimony of the social benefits the plague brought to the peasantry, the chaotic effects of the Wars of the Roses on the general
populace, and the individual impact the Black Death could have on a family. The Paston story is one of visionary gamblers willing to stake all on massive throws of the dice and to fight for what they want with all the tenaciousness of terriers, be it against the carping of villagers of their home or the overweening power of the local lord. Many of the properties the family lived in still survive to this day, as do the institutions of which they became benefactors.
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History
ABOVE: This seemingly unremarkable letter written between Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston around 1477 is actually a unique treasure – it’s the oldest documented love letter in English.
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1,000 papers, the Paston Letters comprise the correspondence of members of the Paston family and others connected with them between 1422 and 1509. Although originally preserved as evidence for impending lawsuits, they offer us an invaluable, vivid and unique glimpse into 15th century life. In 1735 the bulk of the collection, which was then at Oxnead (just southeast of Aylsham), was acquired from the executors of William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth by the Norfolk antiquary Francis Blomefield. Following his death, many of the letters came into the possession of John Fenn of East Dereham, who edited a selection of the letters which were published in London in 1787. The first two-volume edition of 500 copies sold out within a week and such a literary sensation that Fenn published two further volumes two years later.
PICTURE: NORFOLK MUSEUMS SERVICE
In fact, it’s fascinating to realise that despite the Paston family rising from humble peasant beginnings, their impact on Norfolk became so great that even today there’s an old saying that goes “there was never a Paston poor, a Heydon a coward or a Cornwallis a fool.” Centuries after the letters were written, those that remain in the collections of leading universities provide an often graphic and revealing insight into the social structure of the times. Margaret Paston, born Margaret Maultby, came to these responsibilities through her marriage to John Paston, a lawyer and son of the well-to-do landowner. The Paston family, having recently emerged from the upper segment of the peasantry, was eager to increase its landholdings and rise in society – but simply holding onto their estates proved to be a challenge . The Pastons lived through a time of social turmoil and violence. They were sued, threatened and bullied over the years by those who wanted their holdings. Throughout the Pastons’ married life, John Paston was frequently called away to London on business for his law practice. As a result, Margaret was left to run the estates, settle rent disputes and defend their manors against takeovers – something she did admirably well. While John was away, he exchanged letters with his wife frequently, often discussing the everyday business of running estates, as well as local political matters – which centuries later would provide historians with detailed insights into the life of the times. Sometimes the letters read like a medieval soap opera, as when they tell of the secret marriage of one daughter to the family’s bailiff and the marriage of another daughter to the son of her father’s rival. Part of a collection of more than
A collection of Fenn’s papers is preserved in the Norfolk Record Office, including correspondence with his publisher, financial accounts, and many of the letters Fenn had been sent congratulating him on his book – and on the knighthood bestowed on him by King George III. By the end of the 18th century the original Paston manuscipts had disappeared, but the bulk of them were rediscovered over the next century. The majority of the Paston Letters are now housed in the British Library, with smaller groups of ‘strays’ in other institutions including the Bodleian Library and Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1872 James Gardiner published the first volume of a new edition, and work he completed with six further volumes in 1904. In fact, Gardiner’s 1904 edition remained the standard version of the Paston Letters until the 1970s when Norman Davis published a new twopart edition, which was reprinted in 2004 for the Early English Text Society; the third part was published the following year, edited by Richard Beadle and Colin Richmond. Today, the edition by Davis, Beadle and Richmond is now considered the definitive work of published reference on the Paston Letters. For more information about the Paston Letters, you can contact the Norfolk Records Office on 01603 222599 at the Archive Centre located next to County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DQ.
ABOVE: Far from being a modern ‘hidden objects’ game, The Paston Treasure is one of Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery’s rarest and most famous paintings. It was painted by an unknown Dutch artist at Oxnead Hall around 1670 and portrays some of the treasures collected by the Paston family over the years. The objects are now dispersed around the world, but the painting has always stayed in Norfolk.
KLmagazine February 2017
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KLmagazine February 2017
Clive Dodds and Claire Melton of Stephenson Smart
Tax planning: from the cradle to the grave Recent changes to the law resulted in Stephenson Smart becoming the first accountancy firm in the region licensed to carry out probate work. Here’s what it means to you and your family... n 2014, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) was made the approved regulator and licensing authority for probate and ABS (Alternative Business Structures), a move that opened the marketplace to the consumer for legal services work. The following February, Stephenson Smart were confirmed as the very first accountancy firm in East Anglia to be licensed by the ICAEW to carry out probate work. It’s a fitting endorsement of the high professional standards and comprehensive services offered by the local firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors, which was established over 100 years ago and has six offices throughout Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. It also meant that Stephenson Smart could now offer enhanced support to its clients by assisting them with the administration of estates, dealing with the application for Grant of Representation and handling all aspects of Inheritance Tax. This month sees the second anniversary of Stephenson Smart becoming regulated to offer clients reserved legal services, and a very busy two years it’s been. In that time, Stephenson Smart has
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KLmagazine February 2017
helped many of its clients administer estates, obtaining grants of probate and letters of representation, and dealing with asset holders and beneficiaries of the estate to value, collect and distribute the assets. “This new service we’ve been able to offer both existing and new clients has been very well received,” says Clive Dodds, Head of Legal Services and Senior Partner of Stephenson Smart. “The general deregulation of probate has assisted the general public in so far as it’s now an open market, which has impacted upon the level of fees charged for probate services.” It’s also meant that Stephenson Smart can offer clients a more complete service, as Authorised Individual Claire Melton explains. “It’s been a privilege to help our clients through difficult times when we’ve often
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Other artists work with mechanical things. I work with nature. I wish to transmit an increased awareness of what nature presents and what our primary reality is...
Local Arts
ABOVE: Part of the exhibition to be all ways to be in the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2015, in which the Germanborn artist herman de vries explored the physical and natural surroundings of the city of Venice. The remarkable artist is holding his first solo exhibition in the UK in King’s Lynn later this month.
The naturally artistic world of herman de vries As one of the pioneers of ‘ecological’ art holds his first solo show in the UK, Charlotte Niemiec talks to GroundWork Gallery’s Dr Veronica Sekules about the importance of herman de vries
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ew of us could imagine continuing our life’s work at 85 years old, but for Dutch artist herman de vries, the work never stops. He’s still producing art and exhibiting at ever more prestigious locations around the world, and with a growing popular understanding of the importance of his work King’s Lynn’s GroundWork gallery is next in line to showcase his remarkable talent. Born in 1931, herman trained as a horticulturalist and natural scientist, but began drawing and painting in the mid1950s, becoming involved in the abstract ‘Zero’ movement in the
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Netherlands. The movement focused on ‘a zone of silence and of pure possibilities for a new beginning.’ Its founders argued that art should be void of colour, emotion and individual expression – herman’s contribution included his collection of white paintings and white books, released towards the end of the 1950s. He was also actively involved in the exhibitions and publications of the Zero movement on an international level. In the 1970s, herman – who prefers not to capitalise his name to “avoid hierarchy” – moved to Eschenau in the beautiful Black Forest region of Germany. Here, he began making his
famous earth samples, in which he collected over 8,000 different earth samples and rubbed them against paper. A breathtaking project spanning several decades of his life, the resulting colours of each sample are all different, demonstrating the diversity of the earth we take for granted each day. They’ve since been compiled into a book, which will be available to view or purchase at the gallery in King’s Lynn next month. It was also at Eschenau that herman began to create his “garden diaries,” which catalogue the different flowers and plants his garden yielded each year. herman’s Fibonacci-esque style seeks to present the natural world in a very
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Local Arts
ABOVE: The work twigs from the trees (2003) is a typical example of how herman de vries utilises natural found objects to create thoughtprovoking exhibits. The artist’s iconic installation of 12 stones collected from around the world on oak wood columns (below) will be on show at the GroundWork gallery in King’s Lynn as part of his first solo exhibition in the UK.
structured and orderly way. For example, in one work he lines up rose stems so they appear almost as a forest, but set on a white background. The detail of the piece draws attention to the subtleties of nature, demanding we stop and focus on the details. His work, he says, seeks to question the relationship between nature and culture. Other examples of his art include the rearrangement and structure of seeds, leaves or even text – creating order out of chaos. GroundWork gallery director Veronica Sekules says his draw towards this style of art was an amalgamation of his scientific and spiritual beliefs, as “herman likes to live in tune with nature.” It was this philosophy that spurred him to design the popular tree museum project in The Netherlands. This features 500 different trees planted
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in the suburbs of The Hague, aiming “to restore nature to the lives of city dwellers.” In 2015, he was selected as the representative for the Dutch pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Italy – a big break for him. The Biennale, which has been running since 1895, hosts the work of contemporary visual artists from around the world and runs for several months every two years. As a result, Veronica says, “herman became a bigger figure virtually overnight and is now looking forward to a major show in Lyon, France.” Works by de vries are included in museum collections around the world, and last year he took part in the retrospective Zero exhibitions at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. “My samples of soil from all over the world are turned into areas of colour to
show many different colours the soil, over which one normally walks without thinking, can have,” said herman of his work at the Biennale. “mustard yellow, red, white or green... I wish to transmit an increased awareness of what nature presents and what our primary reality is.” Veronica, who’s focusing on displaying ecological work at the new gallery opposite King’s Lynn’s iconic Custom House, invited herman to exhibit. “I wanted to continue the theme of nature, wood and ecological art,” she says, “and herman seemed the perfect fit.” An enthusiastic herman called the next day to accept her offer to exhibit at what will be his very first solo show in the UK. The exhibition, which runs from March 10th until June 29th, will be held downstairs in the GroundWork gallery on Purfleet Street, King’s Lynn. Upstairs, Veronica intends to showcase complementary art with a natural theme. Next up at the gallery will be works by Tom Baskeyfield and Mario Popham’s “Shaped by Stone” project, and the extraordinary stone-themed works of Sibylle Eimermacher. These include rubbings, photographs and manipulations of stone. For details, see www.groundworkgallery.com
KLmagazine February 2017
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Caring for your environment
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Local Life
ABOVE: Over the last 70 years Thomas the Tank Engine has become a worldwide phenomenon, but few people realise that half the original books were written by creator Rev Wilbert Awdry at the vicarage in Emneth, near Wisbech
On the local tracks of Thomas the Tank Engine In 1953 a new vicar arrived at Emneth, but the Rev Wilbert Awdry was no ordinary clergyman. As Richard Parr explains, he was also the creator of one of the world’s most popular fictional characters
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t’s a worldwide children’s favourite and the tales of Thomas the Tank Engine and his engine friends have continued to attract new generations of young readers since they first appeared in the late 1940s. Its phenomenal success has seen it reach the TV screen with former Beatle Ringo Starr as its famous narrator, and it’s made the big screen with a feature film starring Peter Fonda and Alec Baldwin.
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But what’s not so well known is that Thomas’ clergyman creator, the Reverend Wilbert Awdry, wrote 13 of the stories whilst serving as vicar of St Edmund’s Church at Emneth, near Wisbech. The Rev Awdry and his family lived at what is now known as the Old Vicarage at Emneth between the years 1953-1965. There’s a permanent reminder in the church of the Rev Awdry and his Thomas the Tank Engine stories, in the
form of a beautiful stained glass window set in a diamond shape. The colourful window was funded by the Rev Awdry’s family, and according to present vicar Rev Dawn Mason, it’s much admired by Thomas enthusiasts who visit the church from all over the country. “There’s a real fondness here for Rev Awdry,” she says, “and people love to come and see the vicarage where some of the stories were written.”
KLmagazine February 2017
ABOVE: The creator of Thomas the Tank Engine Rev Wilbert Awdry at the vicarage in Emneth with his wife Margaret and children Victoria, Christopher (for whom the stories were originally written) and Hilary
Dawn tells a lovely story of one afternoon when the bell ringers were invited for afternoon tea at the vicarage, sitting at a table on which a model railway was laid out. “When the ringers wanted sugar for their tea,” she says, “Wilbert would send the sugar cubes around the table to them in one of the engine trucks!” It’s remarkable to consider that if the Rev Awdry’s two-year-old son Christopher hadn’t been suffering from measles, the hugely successful series of
stories may never have seen the light of day. To help his son recover, Awdry told him stories he made up himself, telling of the adventures of engines Edward, Henry and Gordon – and because Christopher demanded to hear them again and again, the vicar started writing them down. Sensing the stories could have wider appeal, his wife Margaret sent the scribbled words to a literary agent – and the rest, as they say, is history. Wilbert Awdry, who was an avid railway enthusiast as well as a clergyman, wrote his first book The Three Railway Engines in 1945 – and since then his railway series has sold more than 200 million copies. The stories of Thomas and his friends became a cultural phenomenon, and continues to enthrall millions of children all over the world to this day. In the early stories, the blue-fronted
Thomas was invariably shown puffing through a purple landscape of hills that was inspired by the countryside around the Talyllyn Railway in North Wales which the Rev Awdry had helped preserve. However, more than a dozen of the books were written against the billiardboard landscape of the Fenland countryside. For 12 years, the real Thomas’ home was in the loft of the vicarage located close to the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border. It was in 1953, with seven books already published, that the Rev Awdry and his family moved to Emneth. The story goes that for the Rev Awdry one of the main attractions of the job was the vicarage itself – a three-storey brick and slate house dating from 1850. “It was a big house with a large drawing room that was seldom used,” Awdry’s daughter Veronica later recalled. “It had a large large dining
LEFT: The cover of the very first ‘Thomas’ book (far left), which was published in 1945 – although it didn’t actually feature Thomas himself. The popular blue engine first appeared the following year in the second book in the series, called (fittingly enough) Thomas the Tank Engine. At left is Awdry’s own sketch of how he envisioned Thomas.
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Local Life
ABOVE: The Rev Wilbert Awdry (left) inspecting a setup during the production of the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends television series in the early 1980s. Producer Britt Allcroft, who created the show, is at right. The programme eventually ran to 479 episodes over 20 series.
room that was equally seldom used, a study for father, five bedrooms, a kitchen and a scullery with back stairs, and – best of all! – three attic rooms at the very top of the house.” Awdry made a deal with his children; while Veronica and her sister Hilary could have one attic room as a playroom, he would use the other two for his model railway. Holes were cut into the walls in order for the trains to pass from one loft room to another. Over the following 12 years, Awdry spent so much time in his loft he had a bell installed so his wife could summon him at mealtimes. Between taking church services and parish visits, he set about constructing a complex railway based on the layout at Barrow-in-Furness, which employed complex signalling methods. “Unfortunately, when I tried to operate it from the the room where the station was,” he later said, “something invariably went wrong and suddenly out of sight you’d hear a clonk and a crash.” Gradually, the landscape around Emneth crept into the Thomas books. By the time the 16th book Branch Line
Engines was published in 1965, many of the scenes were in flat countryside. Some of the stone houses that featured in the earlier stories had given way to red brick, just like the vicarage at Emneth. Toby the Train was based on the small engines that used to run around the nearby Wisbech docks, and the rail buses that appeared in later books were inspired by the lightweight trains of the Wisbech and Upwell railway. Edward, driver Charlie and his fireman Sam were all based on real people who used to work at the railway. In later Thomas books, Dr Beeching’s infamous railway cuts began to influence the adventures, with Bertie the Bus taking over the branch line services. Much to Awdry’s sadness, Emneth suffered badly from the closures. In addition to the Wisbech and Upwell line, the main line to Wisbech was closed, leaving the town without a rail service at all. It all proved too much for Awdry, and in 1965 with the Beeching closures at their peak (600 miles of track was closed that year) he retired and moved
to Stroud, where he was happy to be able to catch a train to London. Despite the decline of the railways, he continued to write, and his 26th and final book Tramway Engines appeared in 1972 – although it was set in 1962. Awdry was made an MBE in 1996 but sadly died the following year, aged 85. In June 2011, it was celebration time in Emneth as hundreds of Thomas fans gathered to mark the 100th birthday of the man who created Thomas the Tank stories. To mark the centenary a blue plaque was unveiled at his former home at the Old Vicarage. It was fitting that Awdry’s daughter Veronica travelled from Devon (where she lives) to her former home at Emneth to help unveil the plaque. Like the success of the Harry Potter stories, there was a tremendously successful spin-off of Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, with the engines and other pieces associated with the stories found in toy shops all over the world. It’s been calculated that a ‘Thomas’ toy (or one representing his friends) is sold somewhere in the world every two seconds which is a staggering statistic. Although it’s mostly adults who remember Ringo Starr as the narrator of the TV series, other famous faces have also read the stories on the small screen – including Pierce Brosnan and former Brookside and Coronation Street star Mark Moraghan. As for Thomas ‘himself’ he’s based on the Billington 62 Class 0-6-OT locomotive, and is painted blue after the North Western Railway colours. Thomas the Tank Engine isn’t just popular in the UK and America – he’s also very big in Japan, where the little engine’s adventures are so loved he even has his own theme park!
RIGHT: Awdry makes a very brief cameo appearance in the 2015 animated film Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure. At far right is a detail from the memorial stained glass window in the church of St Mary Magdalene in Rodborough. Partly designed by Awdry himself and only completed after his death, it shows him (bottom right) shutting the door on Thomas and friends forever.
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PICTURES: © DAVID BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY
Local Arts
ABOVE: Norfolk photographer David Baker’s view of abandoned residential blocks in Pripyat, Ukraine, which once housed some 43,000 people before a catastrophic accident at Chernobyl’s nuclear reactor No.4 (visible in the background). Since 1986, these residential tower blocks inside the exclusion zone have only seen the footfall of soldiers, thieves, military personnel a very small proportion of visitors.
David Baker’s haunting images of a lost world... From abandoned hospitals to derelict nuclear bunkers, from ruined manors to empty cities, David Baker photographs places few of us will ever see. KL magazine talks to him about his work.
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o place is ever really empty. No matter how derelict, how rundown, how deserted, places retain echos of the people who lived and worked there. Even the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine, which won’t be safe for human life again for another 20,000 years, has a life of its own – in the everyday objects left by the people forced to leave the area 30 years ago. Local photographer David Baker had travelled across Norfolk and the rest of Europe documenting fascinating – and often very secret – locations and
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bringing some of these lost histories back to life. KL MAGAZINE: How did this all begin? DAVID BAKER: My love of exploring and visiting places that were ‘off limits’ started at a young age, and carried with me through adulthood where my career in photography began. I shared it with friends and eventually met my partner that way. Our love of exploration continues to drive our passion for documentation, and as our children are getting older they are showing a keen interest in photography too and exploring the world themselves.
KL: What drew you to photography in the first place? DB: I’ve often been asked which came first – photography or exploration. Being in an abandoned place is humbling; what went before us is a memory to those who were there, and photography became a way of capturing a piece of history for those who would never get to see it. Many of these places are left to ruin or demolition without a thought to preserve the history in any form, which is incredibly sad. Although it started as photography, it soon moved onto the KLmagazine February 2017
Local Arts location first – and photography was just being a method of capturing the experience. KL: How would you define a documentary photographer? DB: A documentary photographer creates an image based on reality for the preservation of the moment or the education of others. It’s a photographer who takes the opportunity to capture something very real and as honest to the location or situation as possible. KL: How do you obtain access to these locations, several of which are former military and/or secret sites? DB: This is always a controversial subject. We always seek permission from the landowner, and though we’ve sometimes been unanswered we’ve never been turned down. Locations are found by researching history, which starts the breadcrumb trail. You pick a genre and start researching, and you’ll find you’re never more than a stone’s throw from some amazing places or historic location. If there’s a location of particular historical importance, or one under imminent threat of damage or demolition, we’ll enter a location – but only if a natural way presents itself.
ABOVE: Bessingham Manor in north Norfolk before its recent restoration. In the 1970s it had been the lavishly-decorated house of WWII fighter pilot Robert Gamble and his glamorous Swedish wife, the artist Mary l’Anson.
KL: What are you primarily looking for when you visit a new site? DB: My primary objective is to match the historical research to the location. For example, we had researched that a former tuberculosis sanatorium in France had its own radio station run by its patients – and we actually found that room, with radio equipment inside. It was amazing. My second objective is to capture the location photographically, ensuring the photographs are matched against the layout or scheme of the building. KL: Although your work can be seen as art, it does have a purpose – so how do you balance the aesthetics with the historical integrity? DB: I’m looking for the continual theme that presents itself. It could be symmetry or colour or lavish decoration. These buildings always had a purpose, whether industrial, medical or otherwise – and that, along with the lives that occupied the space, is the essence I try to capture in my images. Often I know of the history and look for certain details, and other times I don’t – I find a lot of historical clues on site and use images of those to piece together the history once I leave. I think the balance is a fine one, and by keeping my images and post-processing as honest as possible, the true documentation is made.
KLmagazine February 2017
ABOVE: The abandoned Officers Mess at RAF West Raynham, which closed in 1994, and a view inside the TB sanatorium at Mundesley (below), which was one of the first private tuberculosis sanatoria and the first large one built in England.
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Local Arts TB had also stood. The difficulties of this project is exhausting the lines for research which have come naturally to an end for other locations. KL: What’s been your favourite location – and why? DB: NGTE Pyestock, easily! This huge location was built for the development and testing of gas turbines and jet engines for use in aircraft and naval vessels. Pyestock, which is sadly now demolished, represented the UK’s industrial contribution that supported the defences of this country during that time – and also the age before computerisation streamlined manufacturing and testing. I suspect I’ll never see anything like it again in my lifetime.
KL: Other than your own online galleries, where else has your work appeared? DB: I still can’t get over seeing my work out in the wider world; it’s a really, really humbling feeling to see the moments I capture being enjoyed by others. I’ve had images published in books collaborating with other photographers, and others have become book covers. I’ve worked alongside events companies with promotional artwork, historical publications and computer game designers for photorealistic scenery. My partner and I watched a film a few months ago, and one of my images had been used in the titles. It was without my knowledge, but it was flattering all the same. KL: Presumably, you’d advise against people picking up their cameras and entering abandoned buildings as and when they feel like it? DB: We’re naturally curious and natural explorers, but abandoned places come with lots of risk. Not only are these places unstable, but many contain harmful chemicals or asbestos. It’s not something I’d advise doing without thought and preparation, and I wouldn’t advise going alone. You need to understand how long the building has been empty for, what it was used for, and if there’s any known structural damage. Don’t be reckless is one piece of advice you should listen to. KL: Your images of the area around Chernobyl are truly haunting – how did that come about?
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DB: Chernobyl was a personal ambition combined with a story of curiosity and hope. Would you believe that the apples from outside the former firestation in the centre of Pripyat are cleaner than those we picked in Kiev, Ukraine? It shows a pure example of how time corrects man-made problems. I was also interested in meeting former residents of Pripyat and hearing their stories. I think we take way too much for granted and this journey confirmed my thinking. Pripyat/Chernobyl is a place of beauty, care and sacrifice – my journey there gave me a harsh life lesson which has stuck with me ever since. KL: What’s been the most difficult project you’ve worked on to date? DB: The most difficult has been – and continues to be – the historical documentation of TB Sanatoriums across Europe. Not because of the photography, as these buildings are naturally very photogenic. It’s due to the entanglement of medical development within that time period. Each location we’ve visited to date is still in the processes of research and it came about accidentally. Whilst researching a sanatorium in the UK, we discovered a link between that and another in France, with a UK doctor sharing practices via post and an important written method not reaching the French hospital for many years. Once we began to look at the staff of each hospital, we found a greater connection which had eventually lead to a cure for TB. We’d stood in the corridors, where over a hundred years ago a doctor working to find a cure for
KL: What are you working on at the moment? DB: Aside from the never-ending TB Sanatorium project, I’ve reduced the number of photographic projects I run simultaneously in favour of supporting new and emerging documentary photographers. The importance of continuing to respectfully record the past begins with the education and collaboration with those in the present. For more information and details on David Baker and his work, see www.davidbakerphotography.com
PICTURES: © DAVID BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY
ABOVE: In rural France, the 17th century Chateau des Singes 17th is slowing degrading yet remains amazingly charming and beautiful. The internals provide some memory of how it was in its glory days.
KL: If you could photograph any site in the world, what would it be? DB: Hang So’n Ðoòng on the LoasVietnam border. It’s the world’s largest cave passage and is available to be guided through for a limited amount of people per year. I’d really love to see this place before commercialism through mass tourism takes hold.
KLmagazine February 2017
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The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
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xactly 65 years ago this month, the Post Office started using detector vans to track down users of unlicensed television sets. At the time, you could only watch one channel (BBC1 of course) and then only in black and white, but the BBC was concerned people were evading the £2 licence fee and watching their televisions for free. At a time when the general public had little experience of technology and George Orwell’s 1984 was less than five years old, the idea of all-seeing, allknowing vehicles being able to ‘see’ into your home was accepted at face value. And it worked. I wasn’t around quite that long ago, but a few decades later I can clearly remember neighbours knocking on each other’s doors in the early evening saying there was a detector van just up the road; prompting about half the street to suddenly turn their television sets off in the middle of Some Mothers Do 'Ave ‘Em. People would make a cup of tea, peep out the window, and wait for the dreaded vehicle to disappear before announcing the all-clear, whereupon everyone would go back to watching Michael Crawford hanging onto the back of a bus. On roller skates. Until recently, I thought that TV detector vans were a thing of my relatively-innocent past, but it seems they’re still very much with us. From last September (so hopefully you’ll all be aware of it now) you’ve needed a TV licence to watch or download BBC programmes ‘on demand’ as well as those broadcast live on the BBC iPlayer; and plans are afoot to update detector vans to enusure we all have one. A licence that is, not a van. 98
There are, however, plenty of people who think detector vans have always been a myth; not that they exist in the first place (though I must admit I haven’t seen one since I was a youngster) but that they were ever able to actually detect anything. It’s a belief supported by the fact there isn’t a single documented case in British legal history in which so-called ‘detection evidence’ from vans has been used to prosecute a licence fee evader, a fact confirmed by the BBC six years ago in response to a Freedom of Information request. Now, given that roughly 4,000 people are prosecuted for licence fee evasion every week, the usefulness of detector vans in tracking down these offenders is highly debatable. The BBC has always been a bit secretive about the vans. Actually, the corporation has always been extremely secretive about them. They’ve continually refused to say how many of the vehicles it owns, explain how they work, who operates them, and where they are used. However, if you can lay your hands on the archives of the Post Office Vehicle Club (POVC) you’ll find details of every single TV detector van that was in operation between 1952 and 2002, when the Royal Mail (who’d been in charge of licence enforcement all that time) lost the contract to Capita. The amazing fact is that despite their all-seeing and all-knowing reputation, there were never more than 20 detector vans or so at any one time – across the whole country. This would appear to confirm the suspicions that detector vans always were — and almost certainly still are — largely a propaganda tool.
Another slightly odd thing about the vans is that despite the fact they’ve been with us for 65 years, the world of detector vans seems to be one of the most closest-guarded secrets in the country. Just visit your local bookshop and look at all the memoirs revealing hidden truths and the ‘real’ story – by people ranging from politicians to spies, from business people to members of the SAS, from driving instructors to chefs. Everyone seems to be willing to lift the lid on their life these days and everyone else seems interested in reading it. You would imagine that a book about life in the TV licence detection squad in the 1960s (or 70s or 80s) would be quite interesting, reasonably exciting and packed with amusing anecdotes. So why has no engineer, no designer, no driver or no enforcement officer ever told their story? Maybe that’s because there is no ‘real’ story to be told. No, the BBC has (and probably always had) far better ways of catching TV licence evaders than a handful of ‘men in black’ running around the country in a van with a dummy aerial on the top of it. You’ve been warned.
KLmagazine February 2017