ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 79 APRIL 2017 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE St Marys, Appleton 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 Jessica Smith CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Malcolm Kennedy Stephanie Lewis Richard Parr Sylvia Steele Wendy Warner
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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pring has finally sprung, and it’s time to look forward to getting out and about and exploring everything this beautiful county has to offer. To keep you busy, three events this month are a fabulous curtain-raiser to all the treats be enjoying over the next few months. For starters, the Barefoot Estates Burnham Market International Horse Trials take place from 13th-15th April, and is always a great day out for the family. Yes, the top class competition is exciting, but there are also plenty of local shops and stalls and more than enough activites to keep the children happy. The East Anglian Game & Country Fair is always the first big country show of the year, and this month’s celebration of everything Norfolk (22nd-23rd) will look even better, thanks to its relocation to the beautiful Euston Estate just off the A11 at Thetford. You’ll find a preview of this year’s fair on page 8. And at the end of the month (April 30th) King’s Lynn will once again host the Great East Anglia Run – and this year GEAR is being staged by Run For All in partnership with the Asda Foundation. The charity Run For All has a remarkable story and truly inspirational woman behind it, and you can read about it on page 28. Plenty to celebrate, then, but also celebrating in April are the members of the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus (see page 16), which is 40 years old this month and will be marking their anniversary with a celebratory ‘Forte for Forty’ concert on April 8th in the beautiful and wonderfully acoustic setting of St Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn. Finally, spare a thought or two for Hunstanton’s Michael Kennedy. Today he’ll have walked from his home down to the shoreline and moved a few stones from the beach to the base of the cliffs. Not only is it something he does every day, it’s something he’s done every day for the last 20 years. And if you think this has something to do with the traditional way to start this month, you need to turn to page 88. Enjoy the magazine and have a wonderful Easter! KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine April 2017
Contents
APRIL 2017
52
28
44 88 KLmagazine April 2017
98
6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
52-54 APRIL IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner
8-10 A CELEBRATION OF NORFOLK LIFE This year’s East Anglian Game & Country Fair
60-62 ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS Hiring a motorhome from Greentrees
14 KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE A feast of sparkling shows for April
64-71 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
16-18 KING’S LYNN FESTIVAL CHORUS Celebrating 40 years of dulcet tones
72-80 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
20 SPRING BUDGET REVIEW The expert view of Stephenson Smart
78 RESTAURANT REVIEW KL magazine visits The Crawfish Inn
22-24 PARK HOUSE HOTEL Looking forward to a year of big anniversaries
82-84 MAKING GRANOLA GREAT A healthier, tastier way to start the day
28-30 THE GREAT EAST ANGLIA RUN Get on your marks for this year’s event
88-90 A ONE-MAN MISSION IN ROCK The story of Hunstanton’s Michael Kennedy
35 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas
94-96 KING’S LYNN ROWING CLUB Richard Parr takes to the local waterways
36-38 THE BUILDING OF KING’S LYNN With architects Desmond and Richard Waite
98-100 A RIGHT ROYAL ROMANCE Allan Coleby on the first Windsors
42 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
102-104 A SIGN OF THE TIMES The return of King’s Lynn’s town sign
44-46 KING’S LYNN TOWN GUIDES Four decades of promoting the town’s heritage
106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON On the trail of Norfolk’s wilder wildlife
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SPECIALIST VALUATION DAYS
WE WISH TO BUY, IF YOU WISH TO SELL Thursday 4th May: King’s Lynn Town Hall, Saturday Market Place PE30 5DQ (10am-2pm) Monday 8th May: The Waveney House Hotel, Puddingmoor, Beccles NR34 9PL (10am-2pm) Friday 12th May: The Virginia Court Hotel, Cliff Avenue, Cromer NR27 0AN (11am-3pm)
F R E E E X P E RT VA L UAT I O N S O F : Antiques, Coins, Stamps, Banknotes, Watches, Gold, Silver, Postcards, Cigarette-Cards, Medals & Militaria, Clocks, Pens, Scientific Instruments, Pre-1900 Documents/Books & Maps, Jewellery, Swords, Bayonets, Firearms,Vintage Toys, Comics, Pre-1960 Sports Programmes & Tickets. No appointment necessary. Free valuations. No obligation. Cash purchase offers and auction consignments are available.
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KLmagazine April 2017
Wednesday 19th - Saturday 22nd
KLODS PRESENT: HAIRSPRAY THE BROADWAY MUSICAL Guildhall Theatre, King’s Lynn Art Centre, King’s Lynn PE30 1HA (7:30pm, Saturday Matinee 2:30pm) It's 1962 and change is in the air in Baltimore, and the lovable plus size teen Tracy Tumblad has only one desire - to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracey is transformed from a social outcast to a sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heart-throb Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network. Tracy has the help of her best friend Penny and her big hearted mother to show the world that all it takes to make a dream come true is a toe-tapping beat and a little HAIRSPRAY. This family friendly musical is piled high with laughter, romance and deliciously tuneful songs. Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Directed by Sarah-Jane Brennock and musical directors Emma Small and James DeSilva. Based on the new line cinema film written and directed by John Waters. To book tickets call the box office on 01553 764864 or visit www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk.
Friday 28th
CHARITY GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME Dobbies Garden Centre, Campbell’s Meadow, Hardwick Road, King’s Lynn PE30 4WQ (6pm-8:30pm) Dobbies and Trinity Rotary Club are hosting a charity gardeners’ questions event at Dobbies. Gardening experts will be on hand to answer questions from the audience. The panel consists of Martin Woods, Head Gardener of the Sandringham Estate, Sally Jarrett, Horticultural Assessor College of West Anglia and Caroline Bishop and Cynthia Smith, Horticultural Experts from Dobbies. Tickets cost £10 including wine, finger buffet and tea/coffee. There will be a raffle with many prizes as well. Net proceeds from the night will be divided between Dobbies chosen charity for the evening, Teenage Cancer Trust and Trinity Rotary Charities. To book tickets call 01553 840592 or visit www.trinityrotarykingslynn.co.uk. KLmagazine April 2017
Friday 14th – Monday 17th
Wave splash - Val Philpot
April
WNAA: SPRING EXHIBITION - COAST III Thornham Village Hall, Thornham, Hunstanton PE36 6LX. A149 Coast Road between Thornham and Holme (Open daily from 10am – 5pm) Now in their 16th year, the members of the West Norfolk Artists Association invite you to join them again at Thornham for their Spring Exhibition “COAST III”. With over 100 works of art, both traditional and contemporary, inspired by the coastal theme, this is an exhibition you should not miss. Paintings, textiles, sculptures, photographs, installations and surprises! For further information please contact chairman John Walker on 01485 520590 or visit the website www.westnorfolkartists.org. Admission to this event is free.
Thursday 13th - Saturday 15th
BAREFOOT ESTATES BURNHAM MARKET INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS Sussex Farm, Burnham Market PE31 8AG Easter weekend signals the Burnham Market horse trials, which each year brings many of the best event riders in the world to North Norfolk. An established pre-Badminton fixture, these top riders bring some of their top horses to contest the big classes, providing a great opportunity for a spot of autograph hunting. This year there will be the added draw of camel racing to entertain spectators on the Saturday, organised by, and in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambula nce. For more information on what's on, visit www.musketeer.co.uk. The above picture shows British number one Oliver Townend, last year’s winner. Oliver has won the big class at Burnham Market a remarkable nine times since 2007.
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TOM JONES LIVE
SUNDAY 23 JULY
HOLKHAM HALL NORFOLK
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3 0 A P R I L – 2 6 O C TO B E R 2 0 1 7 Explore the grounds of Houghton Hall, encounter new works by Turner Prize-winning artist, Richard Long, alongside Houghton’s permanent sculpture collection, and unleash your family’s creativity.
Enjoy a picnic in our beautiful grounds
The
Coach & Horses Dersingham
Easter Sunday Lunch Served 12-3pm, Sunday 16th April Choice of 3 roasts available from £10.95 in addition to our Sunday menu.
New Spring Menus From 1st April, view them on our website. Serving food Sunday evenings, 5-8pm from 1st April
St George’s Day - 23rd April Sunday lunch served 12-3pm Good Ole Fashioned Sing-a-long with Jenny Beake 4pm Special offers on English ales & spirits ‘English Classics’ menu served 5-8pm 1 course £8.95 - 2 courses £11.95
Explore the Sculpture Trails
Discover more at houghtonhall.com
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIVE NATION
www.thecoachpub.com | 01485 540391 77 Manor Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6LN
KLmagazine April 2017
Coming soon...
Friday 12th May
MARBLE HALL CONCERT: AILYN PÉREZ - SOPRANO, GARY MATTHEWMAN - PIANO Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB (7pm) Enjoy chamber music and opera at its finest in the perfect setting of the Marble Hall at Holkham. An evening of songs by de Falla, Turina, Fauré and others, together with a selection of opera arias. Ailyn comes to Norfolk between singing Violetta in La traviata at the Staatsoper unter den Linden, Berlin and the Teatro alla Scala, Milan. “Her voice has a distinctive timbre with plaintive richness and a youthful bloom” - The New York Times. She won the coveted Richard Tucker Award in 2012, joining an illustrious roster of the greatest American singers who have received this award. Ailyn Perez and Gary Matthewman gave their first recital together in the summer of 2016. Tickets are £35 and includes a glass of champagne in the Saloon during the interval and an opportunity to view some of the other state rooms in the Hall. To book call the ticket office on 01328 713111 or visit the website www.holkham.co.uk.
Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st May
CROMER AND SHERINGHAM CRAB AND LOBSTER FESTIVAL Evington Gardens, Cromer NR27 9HT & Lifeboat Plain, Sheringham NR26 8BG A lively weekend celebration of two fine North Norfolk coastal towns, Cromer & Sheringham. Historically great rivals, but now joining together for its 8th year to create a friendly and entertaining weekend event. The festival is dedicated to promoting our local seafaring heritage and active fishing community. The small boats launch from the beach and brave the North sea in all weathers to bring home delicious crabs and lobsters for your delectation! With a full programme of activities and events in both towns - it’s a packed weekend! The festival is run entirely by volunteers from both towns, their aim is to make each Crab & Lobster Festival successful, memorable, fun, entertaining and informative. Funds raised go to support local charities and good causes, and to create future festival events. For more information on what’s going on at the festival and when, visit the website www.crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk. KLmagazine April 2017
Saturday 13th May
EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE SPRING SWING BALL The Great Barn, Knights Hill Hotel, Kings Lynn PE30 3HQ (7pm for 7:30pm start, carriages at midnight) Join EAAA for a fantastic night of music, food and dance at the Knights Hill Hotel. With music from The King-Size Papas, come and enjoy a three course meal with a free glass of fizz on arrival. This black tie event is set to be full of swing and dance. A ‘money can’t buy’ auction and raffle will take place on the night, with a set of generous prizes to be won. Go and let your hair down at the glamorous ball, all while raising money to keep their lifesaving medical teams working across East Anglia. Tickets are £45 per person or £400 for a table of ten. Contact Leanne to book on 01733 367209 or email leanne.tyers@eaaa.org.uk. For more information visit the website www.eaaa.org.uk.
Saturday 13th May
YEAR 7 TASTER DAY Wisbech Grammar School, 47 North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JX Wisbech Grammar School is delighted to welcome prospective pupils and parents to it’s Year 7 Taster Day. The event is designed to give children currently in Year 5 a taste of life in the Senior School in readiness for admission in September 2018. Children attending the Year 7 Taster Day will enjoy a variety of activities, including building and launching rockets in the DT workshop, solving a forensic crime scene in one of the many science laboratories, making pizzas in the Food & Nutrition kitchen, and exploring the School grounds for the outdoor Maths trail. Parents will have the opportunity to take a pupilguided tour of the 34 acre site and meet pupils and staff. They will learn about the School’s specialist teaching, small class sizes, first class sports facilities and wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer. There will also be information available on how to apply for the School’s Scholarship and Bursary schemes and the Elite Sports Performance Programme. To find out more or to register for the School’s Open Events please contact the Admissions Team on 01945 586 750 or email: Admissions@WisbechGrammar.com. 13
PICTURES: EAST ANGLIAN GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR
What’s On
ABOVE: The beautiful Euston Estate is this year’s new setting for the East Anglian Game and Country Fair, which takes place later this month.
Two days of country life and a fabulous new venue This month, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair will offer visitors two days packed with all the things that make life in Norfolk so special. KL magazine gets a preview of this year’s event
F
or the last 14 years, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair has served as a fabulous curtain-raiser to the region’s country shows and festivals, and this year takes place against a stunning new backdrop thanks to the Duke and Duchess of Grafton – the beautiful Euston Estate, just off the A11 at Thetford. "My family and I are delighted to be hosting the East Anglian Game and Country Fair this year,” says Henry FitzRoy, 12th Duke of Grafton. “The park and grounds offer a particularly attractive setting for events of this kind. It’s a great day out for the family, it
KLmagazine April 2017
showcases the very best in country pursuits, and we hope we can help the fair continue growing from strength to strength." The breathtaking venue means that all the popular events of the fair have been retained, but it also offers the space and freedom to invite new attractions and the opportunity to evolve and develop the show further. On the equestrian front, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair will feature the exhilharating display competitions of the Mounted Games Association of Great Britain and the exciting, fast and skillful British Scurry & Trials Driving Championships – where
ponies of all shapes and sizes take on a timed obstacle course made from cones, temporary barriers, flags, arches and ramps. Whether you call him the ‘horse whisperer’ or the ‘magic man’ (he’s been called both and prefers ‘horseman’) Gary Witheford returns to the fair this year, demonstrating how to break horses in less than half an hour and successfully address any number of equine behavioural problems. The fair also features Sion Davies Farrier Services, a chance to see the expert work of a farrier so well respected he’s won the prestigious award of the Freedom of The City of
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What’s On
London. And regular visitors to the fair will need no reminding that the thrilling UK Horseboarding Arena Demonstrations have to be seen to be believed. Dogs are another four-legged essential component of local life, and the Mid-Norfolk Gundog Club will give you a fascinating insight into 30 years’ worth of training and competitions – it’s amazing to see some of the best gundogs and handlers in the region in action. Similarly, the Falconry Village will appeal to everyone from nature lovers to practicing falconers. In addition to lure-swinging competitions and talks on hunting, Ye Olde Redtail Falconry Display brings the ancient art to the modern age with a comprehensive and thrilling display. Ray and Wendy Aliker have been giving professional displays for some 30 years, and they present one of the most sought-after and exciting displays on the indoor and outdoor circuit, filled with audience participation. And ‘having a go’ is one of the most enjoyable parts of the fair. There are too many events to choose from (you’ll have a difficult job fitting them all into one day) but clay shooting, taking a Landrover over the 4x4 course, learning some survival techniques from Fenland Bushcraft and taking part in their brilliant ‘Pigeon Plucking’ competitions are hard to beat. Don’t forget that all members of the family can take part in
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the fair – even dogs have a fabulous day thanks to the fun-filled agility and jumping competitions. Of course, all this activity is hungry (and thirsty) work. The Game Fair Country Kitchen has a great new lineup for 2017 with a variety of cookery workshops and demonstrations from a selection of local chefs including Chris Coubrough, Arthur Howell, James Conway, and Andy Snowling – and the busy food hall features a wide variety of exhibitors, promoting a genuine taste of Norfolk to sample, enjoy and purchase. The on-site Dog & Duck pub will also be treating thirsty visitors to some fabulous locally-brewed beers and drinks – and some live entertainment. The East Anglian Game & Country Fair includes around 350 shopping stands with a wide variety of locallydesigned and manufactured products covering everything from fashion and footwear to gun makers, eco products, fishing products and home improvements. Children always have a fantastic time at the fair, whether they’re taking part in countryside and craft activities or meeting animals such as alpacas and donkey rides. And their futures are in safe hands thanks to the fair’s Educational Zone, in which some of the area’s best independent schools give visitors a unique opportunity to meet staff and pupils and discuss their child’s education in a friendly and informal
environment. For 14 years, the East Anglian Game and Country Fair has been treating families to the best of Norfolk – from traditional country pursuits to contemporary businesses and food producers. This year is no different – except it’s bigger and better than ever and in a breathtaking new setting.
THE EAST ANGLIAN GAME & COUNTRY FAIR 2017 Euston Estate, Suffolk IP24 2QP Saturday 22nd-Sunday 23rd April Discounted advance tickets: (available until 17th April) £14 adults, £5 children (5-16), £38 families (2x adults and 3x children). Under 5’s and parking is free Membership tickets, gift packages, camping weekend tickets, experience days and lunches can be booked online by visiting www.ukgamefair.co.uk or by calling 01263 735828 for more information.
KLmagazine April 2017
Year 7 Taster Day Saturday 13 May 9.30-15.00
Join us for our Year 7 Taster Day, designed to give children currently in Year 5 a taste of life in the Senior School in readiness for admission in September 2018 Tours of the school grounds are also available for parents To register or to find out more, please contact the Admissions Team: 01945 586750 Admissions@WisbechGrammar.com WisbechGrammar.com
/WisbechGrammar
@WisbechGrammar
What’s On
Amazing shows this April! Spring has lots to offer at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange and in April there really is something for all ages. MR BLOOM’S NURSERY – LIVE! Tuesday 11 April | 1.30pm Bring your ‘tiddlers’ along to join Mr Bloom and the Veggies on their first ever live tour! They’re busily getting the allotment ready for a very special visit from a member of the Royal family. So why don’t you, pop along and say ‘ello’ too for a right-royal knees up.
ICONIC – THE SHOW
CREED’S CROSS
Friday 21 April | 7.30pm A cast of amazing singers, dancers, and musicians deliver some of the most recognisable music ever! Hits from movie greats such as Kill Bill, Batman, Pulp Fiction, Purple Rain, Bond and Mad Max are featured including tracks from Queen, AC/DC, Tina Turner and Prince to name but a few. All teamed up with an incredible stage set and fantastic special effects. It’s a show that will blow you away.
The Celtic Journey Thursday 27 April | 7.30pm Creeds Cross, The Celtic Journey is an extraordinary live show of song and dance. A tribute to the music of Ireland, documenting the worldwide journey of the Celtic influence across the globe. The show will immerse you in an evening of all that is magical and invigorating about the Celtic tradition of music and dance.
BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
NAOMI’S WILD & SCARY Wednesday 12 April | 2.30pm Join Naomi as she brings alive some of her most exciting wildlife experiences from the far flung corners of the world and introduces you to some of the most fierce and frightening animals she met along the way! The show is suitable for kids of all ages and guarantees a great time for the whole family. Age guideline 5+.
Monday 24 & Tuesday 25 April Nightly 7.30pm, Tue matinee 2.30pm Forget feel good, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is FEEL GREAT! Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a cast of phenomenally talented actors and musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to fame, to his final legendary performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Featuring two terrific hours of the greatest songs ever written, including That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, Johnny B. Goode, Raining In My Heart, Everyday, Shout and many many more, this show is just Peggy Sue-perb!
For the full programme of what’s in store at the Corn Exchange, pick up a copy of our new brochure out now or check out the ‘what’s on’ page of our website.
Tickets for all shows are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornexchange
KLmagazine February 2017
@klcornexchange
Alive Corn Exchange
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PICTURES: KING’S LYNN FESTIVAL CHORUS
Local Life
ABOVE: The five founder members of King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. From left to right are Diana Braithwaite, Sue Stewart, Andrew Stewart, David Wagstaff and Ann Peppitt. Oppposite is the chorus’ Musical Director Tom Appleton (left) with pianist and accompanist Chris Brown.
Celebrating four decades of dulcet local tones... In 1977 the newly-formed King’s Lynn Festival Chorus performed Mozart’s famous Mass, and forty years later the chorus is about to celebrate with a special anniversary concert, as Clare Bee discovers
K
ing’s Lynn Festival Chorus means forty years of friendship, hard work, fun and, above all, inspirational music making, leaving me with some incredible memories – and no desire to stop singing just yet!” This comment, from one of the original members of King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, sums up in a nutshell what the chorus means to its 100 members. This year the chorus is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and at one of the events to mark this occasion, it will be performing Mozart’s Mass in C during the town’s summer Festival; the very same work the inaugural Festival Chorus sang at its inception in 1977. Formed in the Silver Jubilee year to
KLmagazine April 2017
perform alongside the visiting orchestra of St Martin-in-the-Fields for that year’s festival, the chorus is still the event’s resident choir, whilst at the same time performing numerous other concerts throughout the year – and sometimes joining forces with other musicians across the region. Since those early days, the chorus has evolved and changed, but five of the founder members are still proud to sing with it. The chorus has flourished under various Musical Directors, and each one has brought his own style. As its first MD, Roy Whittingham was a prime instigator of the chorus as an independent organisation. Other influential MDs include Derek Oldfield, who gave the chorus invaluable singing
experience alongside his Iceni Orchestra, and John Jordan, who, as organist at King’s Lynn Minister (then the church of St Margaret’s), brought a wealth of sacred music with him. From 2001, the chorus was led by Michael Kibblewhite, one of the most notable choral conductors in the country, and with him started the tradition of annual tours to Europe. Amongst other places, the chorus has sung in the incredible Great Mosque of Córdoba in Spain, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, Italy, and St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice. Current Musical Director Tom Appleton joined in 2010 and since then has steered the chorus in his own inimitable, enthusiastic style. Born in
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Local Life
ABOVE: The King’s Lynn Festival Chorus rehearsing in the glorious setting of the town’s St Nicholas Chapel, which will host the chorus’ celebratory Forte for Forty concert this month
Norfolk, Tom sang as a choral scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral and as a baritone in the world-renowned Monteverdi Choir. Bringing his own interpretations to old and new repertoire pieces, he’s keen for the chorus under his watch to experience a wide variety of musical works and has brought in many soloists to sing alongside the chorus. There are many reasons why Tom’s so passionate about King’s Lynn Festival Chorus. “Over the last 40 years, King’s Lynn Festival Chorus has meant a lot to many people,” he says. “It’s the greatest honour to be able to say I’ve helped a tiny bit with that in recent years. He’s also very aware that the singers are normal people; people bound together by a common goal, and who feel other members of the chorus are like family members. “They come to challenge and express themselves,” says Tom. “They come to learn new skills, to meet new people, to escape, to rekindle old memories and make new ones.” These were the thoughts that set Tom on the path leading up to the chorus’ celebration concert on April 8th. Wanting to involve members of the chorus in the decision about the concert repertoire, he asked for suggestions. Among those he received was one simply suggesting a piece to remember those who no longer sing with the chorus. “That idea didn’t just strike a chord but a whole symphony with me!” Tom laughs. The result is that one of the final
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pieces in this month’s ‘Forte for Forty’ concert is Ruht Wohl, a work by Johann Sebastian Bach (the title means ‘rest well’) that will form a fitting tribute to those no longer here. “The whole concert is a celebration of the commitment so many have given to music making in King’s Lynn, over such a long time,” says Tom. Veronica Hutchby is the current Chairman of the chorus, and she echoes those thoughts. “The problems of everyday life take a back seat and the challenge and pure joy of singing takes over,” she says. “We keep turning up every Monday for rehearsals for the sheer love of it – and for the wonderful supportive friendships we make along the way.” There have been so many memorable moments for King’s Lynn Festival Chorus in the last 40 years. As well as the European tours, there have been several occasions when the chorus has joined forces with other choirs, most notably the performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.8, the Symphony of a Thousand – when they joined with three other choirs and two orchestras to bring this amazing work to an audience of nearly 2,000 at the Norfolk Showground just outside Norwich. Later this year, the chorus has been invited to join the Cambridge City Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s 9th ‘Choral’ Symphony, with its well known Ode to Joy. At the most recent concert in December, the chorus had the privilege of performing Handel’s Messiah with
the renowned Dame Emma Kirkby to a packed St Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn. The lengthy applause and standing ovation made all the hard work worthwhile. And with its excellent acoustics and refurbished heating, the chapel is the favourite and often appropriate venue for the chorus’ concerts. “To reach forty years is quite a milestone,” says Veronica. “It shows that a relatively small town can produce a fine, talented, and enthusiastic choir.” The enthusiasm that every member feels will continue throughout this year and beyond, bringing new challenges and experiences. Every singer has a contribution to make, and as the celebrations continue throughout the year, those who’ve been part of this journey will never be far from everyone’s thoughts.
The celebratory concert ‘Forte for Forty’ is on April 8th at St Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn. Musical pieces will range from the Anvil Chorus to Zadok the Priest, and include spirituals, Russian, German, baroque and contemporary pieces from the 16th to the 20th century. Tickets are available from King’s Lynn Corn Exchange.
KLmagazine April 2017
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ABOVE: At the start of last month, Philip Hammond presented his first budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer in belligerent form – but while he may have been smiling, how are his plans going to affect local people and local businesses?
Setting the stage for Britain’s global future... Following Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first – and last – Spring Budget to the House of Commons, Claire Melton FCCA TEP of Stephenson Smart looks at how it’s likely to affect you and your financial future espite revealing upgraded forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility, the Chancellor announced he would adhere to the government’s new fiscal plan, with the stated aim of preparing Britain for a ‘global future’. UK economic growth is now expected to reach 2% this year, before falling to 1.6% in 2018. Public sector net borrowing has been revised down to £51.7bn for 2016/17 and £58.3bn for 2017/18. With Brexit approaching, the Chancellor announced a number of significant measures for UK businesses. These include a £435m package for firms
D
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in England affected by the business rates revaluation, with a cap on rate rises for those losing existing business rates relief and a £300m local authority ‘hardship fund’. As the government’s flagship Making Tax Digital initiative draws closer, there was also some good news for smaller firms, with the announcement that unincorporated businesses and landlords with turnover below the VAT registration threshold will have until 2019 to prepare for quarterly reporting. However, a less welcome measure for the self-employed will see the main rate of Class 4 national insurance
contributions (NICs) increasing to 10% in April 2018 and 11% in April 2019. Meanwhile, shareholders and directors of small private firms will see a significant reduction in the tax-free dividend allowance, which will fall from £5,000 to £2,000 in April 2018. Keen to address the UK skills gap, the Chancellor announced the introduction of new ‘T-Levels’ for 16-19 year olds studying technical subjects from autumn 2019, as well as funding for 110 new free schools. The Chancellor also confirmed previously announced measures for individuals, including the introduction of
KLmagazine April 2017
the new Tax-Free Childcare scheme, a three-year NS&I Investment Bond and the new Lifetime ISA. Alcohol duties will increase in line with inflation, while duty on tobacco will increase by 2% above RPI inflation. The main rate of the new Soft Drinks Industry Levy, or ‘sugar tax’, will be set at 18p per litre. Under the Chancellor’s new timetable, the next Budget will be held in the autumn, followed by a Spring ‘statement’ in 2018. Below you’ll find a summary of the main points of the Chancellor’s speech, but if you’re unsure how much of an impact these will have on you, your family or your business, don’t hesitate to contact us at any of the offices listed below. Stephenson Smart is a proudly local firm of Chartered Accountants, established for over 100 years, and we offer a wide range of professional taxation and business advisory services to an equally wide range of businesses and individuals. For a free, no-obligation initial meeting to explore how we can help you make the most of your finances, Stephenson Smart are only a phone call away.
April 2018 and 11% in April 2019. The increases, applying to earnings between £8,060 and £43,000, will raise £145m a year by 2021-22 at an average cost of 60p a week to those affected. All Class 4 earnings above £43,000 will continue to be taxed at 2% while those below £8,060 will pay nothing. l Class 2 National Insurance, a separate flat rate contribution paid by selfemployed workers making a profit of more than £5,965 a year, is to be scrapped as planned in April 2018. l Tax-free personal allowances will be raised to £11,500 this year, as a step towards the target of £12,500 by 2020. l From April 2018, the total amount of dividends that company directors and shareholders can receive tax-free will fall from £5,000 to £2,000. l The government’s landmark Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is due to be implemented between 2018 and 2020, with the stated aim of creating a ‘transparent and accessible tax system fit for the digital age’. By 2020 most businesses, self-
l The government will provide support for businesses facing significant increases in bills following the business rates revaluation due to take effect in England from April 2017. This includes: – support for small businesses losing Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) to limit increases in their bills to the greater of £600 or the real terms transitional relief cap for small businesses. This means no small business that is coming out of SBRR will pay more than £600 more in business rates than they did in 2016/17; and – providing English local authorities with funding to support £300m of discretionary relief, to allow them to provide support to individual ‘hard cases’ in their local area. The government will also introduce a £1,000 business rate discount for public houses with a rateable value of up to £100,000, subject to state aid limits for businesses with multiple properties, for one year from 1 April 2017. l The main rate of Class 4 National Insurance contributions for the selfemployed to increase from 9% to 10% in
KLmagazine April 2017
l The chancellor confirmed the rate of the NS&I Investment Bond announced at Autumn Statement 2016. The Investment Bond will offer a rate of 2.2% over a term of three years and will be available for 12 months from April 2017. The Bond will be open to everyone aged 16 and over, subject to a minimum investment limit of £100 and a maximum investment limit of £3,000. a Tax App provides Our FREE mobile eful us of ge ran a , rates s. reminder of key tax on cti fun d several tax tax calculators, an id – dro An d an S iO th It’s available on bo art Tax’ simply search ‘Sm
ILLUSTRATION: J McHUGH
SPRING BUDGET 2017: KEY MEASURES
employed individuals and landlords will be required to use software or apps to keep digital business records, and to make regular updates regarding their income tax, VAT and NICs online. The chancellor announced a one year deferral from the mandating of MTD for unincorporated businesses and landlords with turnovers below the VAT registration threshold. They will now be required to start using the new digital service from April 2019. The government will also consult on the design aspects of the tax administration system, including interest and penalties, with the aim of adopting a consistent approach across taxes.
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PICTURES: PARK HOUSE HOTEL / PAUL TIBBS
Local Life
ABOVE: The glorious setting of Park House Hotel on the Sandringham Estate, which this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the arrival of its first guests and the centenary of the birth of its founder.
A year of anniversaries at Park House Hotel It was best known as the home of royalty and the birthplace of Princess Diana until one of England’s greatest war heroes turned Park House into a unique hotel specialising in holidays for the disabled
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lthough it has stood on the Sandringham Estate for over 150 years, there may never have been such a momentous year as 2017 in the life of the Victorian country house of Park House. Now a hotel supporting disabled guests and their carers as they enjoy a holiday or period of respite in beautiful and peaceful surroundings, Park House will be remembering no less than three important anniversaries this year. The very first guests arrived at Park House Hotel exactly 30 years ago, and it’s now 100 years since the birth of Leonard Cheshire VC, the remarkable man who founded the charity of which
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the hotel is part. And on a more sombre note 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, who was born at the house and spent her childhood years there. It’s a landmark year for a fully equipped and award-winning hotel that’s unique in having the facilities and an in-house team to provide care for disabled people, increasing their life choices and sense of independence. Park House was built in 1863 at the request of the future King Edward VII, who lived there while Sandringham House was being refurbished. It was later used by a number of Royal retainers, guests and distinguished visitors to the Estate until it was used as
a ‘tied’ house by Lord Althorp (John Spencer) and his wife Frances in 1955. After six years the couple’s fourth child was born in the house; a daughter they named Diana Frances Spencer. Following the departure of the Spencers in the early 1970s, Park House stood largely empty apart from occasional visitors to the Royal Shoot until in 1982 the Queen offered it to the charity of which she was – and still is – patron, the Leonard Cheshire Foundation (now Leonard Cheshire Disability). The 66-year-old man who founded the charity and after whom it had been named was a post-war philanthropist with a truly fascinating background.
KLmagazine April 2017
KLmagazine April 2017
PICTURES: LEONARDCHESHIRE.ORG/CAMERAPRESS/GETTY
As a student in Oxford, Leonard Cheshire had walked to Paris for a bet, and later became the youngest group captain in the RAF, eventually leading the legendary 617 ‘Dambusters’ squadron. At the end of the Second World War he was the British observer of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki, and he ended his military career as the most highly-decorated bomber pilot of the war – being one of the very few people awarded the Victoria Cross whilst alive. The war took its toll, however. Recovering from its physical and emotional effects, Leonard realised he was one of the lucky ones and determined to make the world a better place by helping others less fortunate than himself. Shortly afterwards, a local hospital contacted him and asked if a terminally ill acquaintance could live with Leonard, an event which started a lifetime of humanitarian work with disabled people and the 1948 foundation of the charity known today as Leonard Cheshire Disability. Ten years later he married Sue Ryder, who had herself founded a charity in her name the previous year – and the couple’s children still support Park House Hotel today. The transformation from neglected house to fully-equipped hotel with facilities for the disabled didn’t happen overnight, however. Once the Queen’s offer of Park House had been accepted, the charity launched a nationwide appeal to raise the necessary £1.6 million for its refurbishment and conversion. It was a challenging target, but one that looked considerably more achievable with the unexpected arrival of a £250,000 cheque issued on the command of the Sultan of Brunei. Interestingly, during the renovation work Princess Diana asked if she could have an old window that was waiting to be thrown away – it had been removed from the entrance hallway and its frame contained hundreds of scribbles and phone numbers she’d written there as a youngster when it had been her home. After four years work, the first guests arrived at Park House Hotel in March 1987 and it was officially opened by the Queen in July of that year. Today Leonard Cheshire Disability has some 200 services in the UK (and sites around the world) but Park House Hotel is unique to the charity – pioneering in terms of facilities and approach from the outset, it remains the organisation’s only hotel. For disabled guests and their carers or companions, Park House Hotel is a
PICTURES: One of the rooms at Park House Hotel (top), which was the creation of Leonard Cheshire (above), who had devoted his life to the disabled since the end of the Second World War. Above left is the care community he established at his Hampshire home of Le Court in 1953. Park House was the birthplace of Princess Diana, pictured here outside the front door in her childhood.
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Local Life
truly wonderful setting. Surrounded by mature trees and encircled by woodland walks, the rear of the hotel offers lovely views of the Sandringham Cricket Club pitch and the field that hosts the Estate’s hugely-popular annual Flower Show. The house’s large air-conditioned and climate controlled conservatory is the perfect place to relax, and the grounds include a beautiful sensory garden built to celebrate the hotel’s 25th anniversary and a swimming pool that was originally built for the young Spencer children. The hotel and its grounds are fully accessible, and the guest rooms include specialist features and equipment such as profiling beds, wet rooms and tracking hoists. Of course, specialist equipment isn’t the only need of guests staying at Park House Hotel, and its in-house care team can provide all the support and help they require; discreet and unobtrusive personal assistance is on hand 24 hours a day. Whether guests require full nursing care or simply a helping hand getting in and out of bed, the hotel’s senior care team can assist in the drawing up of individual care plans. The hotel is regularly inspected and audited by Care Quality Commission and its most recent CQC Report judged it ‘good’ (performing well and meeting expectations) in every department.
Much of the success of Park House Hotel is the result of the tireless work of The Companions of Park House, a charity established to help enrich the experiences of the hotel’s guests. It does so through a busy calender of fundraising initiatives, and a lively programme of regular events at the hotel, from barbecues and quiz nights to cookery demonstrations and fashion shows – to which members of the public wishing to support Park House Hotel are invited. The 30th anniversary of the hotel’s opening will be marked with a garden party celebration and the creation of a
new bar/lounge area for guests to enjoy, while the centenary of Leonard Cheshire’s birth is being commemorated by a newly designed garden complete with a speciallycommissioned weathervane featuring (appropriately enough) a Lancaster bomber. As Park House Hotel enters a new chapter in its long and care-focused life, visit the hotel’s website or follow it on Facebook or Twitter (see below) for details of its holidays and forthcoming events to help ensure that chapter is a successful, inspirational and rewarding one.
PARK HOUSE HOTEL Sandringham, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE35 6EH Tel: 01485 543000 Website: www.parkhousehotel.org.uk E-mail: parkinfo@leonardcheshire.org Facebook: parkhousehotel Twitter: LCDParkHouse
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KLmagazine April 2017
Both Leonard Cheshire Disability (no: 218186) and The Companions of Park House (no: 1079509) are registered charities
ABOVE: Guests at Park House Hotel enjoy a wide range of fully-accessible facilities and an in-house care team. The hotel’s restaurant (right) is also open to non-residents for lunches and dinner with prior booking.
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KLmagazine April 2017
Who’s to blame when there’s no one to blame? Solicitor Emma Stearman of Fraser Dawbarns explains why it may be time to consider changing the law to allow for ‘no fault’ divorces in the UK... ast year Judge Robin Tolson QC refused to grant the divorce petition of Mrs Tini Owens of Worcestershire after concluding her allegations of unreasonable behaviour were simply “of the kind to be expected in marriage.” It was an extraordinary decision, and one that may well be overturned any day soon, as Mrs Owen’s appeal against the decision was heard by the Court of Appeal earlier this year – on February 14th no less! The original decision left Mrs Owens locked into a loveless marriage, and it renewed the debate about whether our current matrimonial laws should be reformed to allow for ‘no-fault’ divorces. Sadly, it’s a fact of life that relationships do break down and marriages do fail, but it comes as a shock for many people to learn that ‘irreconcilable differences’ are not grounds for divorce. For a divorce to be granted, it’s necessary to prove the marriage has broken down irretrievably by citing one of five facts – and most of them require one of the couple in
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KLmagazine April 2017
question to take the blame; for adultery, for unreasonable behaviour or for desertion (which is extremely rare). If neither party is willing to become the one ‘at fault’ then the couple will have to rely on the other grounds for divorce –either a 2-year separation (which still requires the consent of the respondent) or a 5-year separation, which requires no consent. It can be a frustrating situation, and as most divorces involve the resolution of issues relating to children, property and finances, this focus on who’s to blame can turn initially amicable break-ups into hostile (and costly) arguments. However, it’s important to note that decisions regarding financial settlements and contact arrangements with children are completely independent from these matters; in evaluating them, the court has no interest in who’s divorcing who or who’s to blame for the marriage failing. For that reason, taking the blame should be seen as a means to an end – a relatively simple and very effective way to allow for the dissolution of the marriage. In fact, in recent research by
Resolution (the former Solicitors Family Law Association) 27% of fault-based divorcees said that the alleged ‘fault’ wasn’t actually true – but was the easiest option available to them. It’s a situation that’s far from ideal, but it’s unlikely to change soon, despite the widespread support for ‘no-fault’ divorce within the judiciary. On 13th October 2015, Richard Bacon MP (South Norfolk) introduced a NoFault Divorce Bill to the House of Commons, providing for divorces without either party having to satisfy the court of any facts other than the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Although it did receive its first reading, any further (or future) progress of the Bill was ended by the closing of the 2015-16 session of Parliament. At Fraser Dawbarns, our specialist family law team has considerable experience in divorce cases, and we understand what an upsetting, emotional and stressful time it can be. That’s why we go to great lengths to minimise litigation and ensure you go through the process with the minimum of acrimony. And when it comes to deciding who ‘takes the blame’ (and what for) we always work sensitively and compassionately. As for Mrs Owens, you should note this is a very unusual case and that very few divorces are defended – and even fewer are successfully defended. If you do consider defending a divorce petition based on this case, you really should consult a family lawyer first. To find out how we can help you through this difficult time, contact us 01553 666633 or e-mail me at emmastearman@fraserdawbarns.com
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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PICTURES: RUN FOR ALL
Local Life
ABOVE: The inspirational Jane Tomlinson CBE, who despite suffering from terminal cancer completed the London Marathon three times, the London Triathlon twice, the New York Marathon once, cycled 4,200 miles across the United States and raised £1.85 million for charity. Her lasting legacy Run For All is staging this month’s GEAR in King’s Lynn.
Why this year’s GEAR is more special than ever For more than a decade, GEAR has been one of the area’s sporting showcases but this year’s event will be extra special, thanks to the legacy of a truly remarkable woman, as Clare Bee discovers...
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once again this spring, the keen runners of West Norfolk will be pounding the streets of King’s Lynn to raise money for their favourite charities. This year, the GEAR 10k run will be held on Sunday April 30th, and is the newest event to be added to the ever popular Asda Foundation 10K series. In partnership with Alive Leisure, Bespak and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (together with many local business sponsors) GEAR has become very much part of the town’s calendar. The popular event started in 2006, and was the brainchild of Paul Brandon, who was then Borough Mayor and KLmagazine April 2017
Chair of West Norfolk Sports Council. His idea was to stage a running or cycling event to highlight the historic buildings of King’s Lynn – as well as introducing people to the newly refurbished shopping centre. After considering a half marathon, the more favoured distance of 10k was decided upon, and work began to stage the event – another local man, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, being approached to help with the organisation. As an athlete who’d been instrumental in starting up Ryston Runners, Ian set about designing the two-lap course, which (in its first year at least) started and finished at The Walks. Although a resounding success, this course wasn’t ideal, so Ian (who’d
become Race Director from the beginning) sought an alternative route, devising a one-lap course which took runners out along the riverbank and started and finished in the historic Tuesday Market Place. Since 2007, this has become the official course. This year GEAR is being staged by Run For All in partnership with the Asda Foundation. As the charitable arm of the supermarket giant, the Foundation has a budget from its parent company for charity and community events and has taken on the support of all the 10k runs across the country organised by Run For All. As for Run For All, it’s the lasting legacy of amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson, who began 29
Local Life
LEFT: David Blackmore of Gaywood with his medal after completing GEAR last year; the West Ham fan was running to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund and was appropriately given the number 1966
competing in a series of endurance events after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 aged only 36. With the devastating news that she had a mere six months to live, Jane made the decision to experience as much as she could in the time she had left and set her sights on running a marathon. By starting small and running 5k and 10k runs, Jane was able to build herself up, until she finally ran her first London Marathon in April 2002, becoming the first person to do so while undergoing chemotherapy. Jane continued to compete in an amazing series of endurance events, raising money on the way. After taking part in the London Marathon again in 2003, she competed in the Iron Man Challenge in November 2004; an incredibly tough event which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a full marathon. With her amazing and seemingly endless reserves of determination and courage, Jane continued to compete in incredibly challenging events, with the aim of making memories for herself and her family. Over seven extraordinary years, she achieved what most people would struggle to do in a lifetime – and raised £1.85 million for charity. Jane’s final event was an epic 4,200 mile bike ride across America from San Francisco to New York, taking over 10 weeks to complete and accompanied
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at various points by her husband, her children and other supporters. Over the years, Jane’s fundraising had seen money go to many different charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support and several children’s charities – but the money raised by Jane’s bike ride helped the foundation of Run For All. She wanted to use the funds to encourage as many people as possible to get out and achieve something for themselves and for others. With the launch of Run For All in January 2007, some 10,000 people signed up in just two weeks and the first 10k run was held in Jane’s home town of Leeds in June of that year. Although very ill by then, Jane was able to be there and set all the runners off on what was to be her final public event – but the beginning of a lasting legacy. Jane died in September 2007, having seen her final wish come to fruition, and since then Run For All has snowballed. Inspired by Jane’s legacy, it has now become one of the country’s biggest not-for-profit event companies, and 10k runs have been rolled out across many areas of the UK. King’s Lynn’s GEAR is the latest addition to the charity’s calendar, which this year is proudly supporting ten 10k runs – and although all the entry fees go to Run For All, individual runners can
raise money for the charity of their choice. Also new for this year’s GEAR is a corporate challenge aimed at the business community, with the idea of encouraging people working together to go out and do something together, whilst also raising money. And alongside the main 10k run, Bespak’s sponsored Mini Gear will again be taking place. This 1.2 mile fun run is open to all ages and abilities (it’s not just for children!) and is held before the main event, again starting and finishing in the Tuesday Market Place, and with a minimum age of just six years old. Now in its 12th year, GEAR has become an integral part of West Norfolk’s spring events. With local support and with the national charity Run For All publicising and promoting it, GEAR is on the perfect footing to run and run for many years to come.
This year’s GEAR takes place on Sunday 30th April, starting (and finishing) on the Tuesday Marke tPlace in King’s Lynn. The mini-GEAR race will start at 10am, while the main event will begin at 10.45am. For full details and more information, please see the website at www.grandeastangliarun.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2017
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For more great PCP deals like these, visit our website or come in for a chat today... Call us: 01553 630052 | Visit us: Leziate Drove, Pott Row, King’s Lynn PE32 1DD | Open 7 days a week Web: www.sandles.co.uk | Email us: sales@sandles.co.uk | Follow us: @SandlesCars KLmagazine April 2017
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KLmagazine April 2017
“
at the body Just by looking n make what differently, you ca possible at first seems im ... actually happen
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Your Body Therapy
“I don’t understand how it works, but it certainly does!” Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains mentioned it to her doctor, who suggested she give it a try. “I didn't know quite what to expect, but I didn’t think there was any harm in it,” she says. “I now look back and think it’s one of the best things I’ve done!” Terry Connolly is one of the very few people in the entire world currently offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment, combining that with Anatomy in Motion gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems, helping with the repair and rehabilitation of injuries and the relief of pain. After only a few sessions, Ann was largely free of her back pain and is now a firm believer in the effectiveness of Terry’s techniques. “My lower back has really It’s a very enjoyable improved, and Terry’s now working treatment and my lower on my upper back,” she says. “It’s a back has really improved. very enjoyable treatment, and though Visiting Terry is one of I don’t understand how it works it the best things I’ve done! certainly does work. I don’t have a ANN BETTS problem getting out of bed now!” Setchey
rom Free Your Body Therapy in the centre of 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 Ann Betts of Setchey, for example, who’d experienced significant and prolonged pain in her back after spending 35 years transporting heavy mail sacks on foot and bike as a postwoman. “I just put it down to general wear and tear, but I was in a lot of pain,” she says. “Sometimes it was really difficult to simply get out of bed.” Ann first came across Terry Connolly and his local success stories in an issue of KL magazine, and then met a friend who had experienced Free Your Body Therapy at first hand. Initially hesitant, Ann finally
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KLmagazine April 2017
”
For Terry, there’s no great secret and no hidden magic to this treatment – it’s simply a case of looking at the body and the causes of chronic pain in a completely different way. “All I’m doing is reminding the body how it’s supposed to work!” he says. “One of the main cause of Ann’s back problems was a broken big toe! That seriously affected her gait, which had a knock-on effect on her back and shoulders – which were overcompensating to help the foot injury. Basically, I’m remobilising the body.” If you’re interested in freeing yourself from a life of chronic aches and pain, contact Terry today and book an appointment with Free Your Body Therapy for an initial assessment and consultation.
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KLmagazine April 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 A
s the weather warms up we start to see the return of our old foes - fleas and ticks! Did you know that there is an easy oral treatment available for dogs? One small meaty flavoured treat and your dog will be flea and tick free for a month! There is also a great all in one flea, tick and worm spot-on treatment available for cats, which is a doddle to use! If you'd like more information pop in to see us or give us a call on 01553 773168 or 01366 386655.
It does happen to a vet! L ast month marked my 35th year of working at London Road, I started at the practice in 1982! As with any such milestone it leads you to reminiscing about the years that have gone by. I was discussing with some of my younger colleagues about how technology has developed over those 35 years and how this has affected the life of an on-call veterinarian. My early career pre-dated the days of mobile phones and broadband and at that time I spent much of my time on farm visits. With the huge advances in modern technology, contacting a vet who out on a call nowadays is as straight forward as ringing their mobile phone or firing off a quick email. 35 years ago, however, neither of these were an option! Our cars were equipped with radio transmitters and had large aerials on the roof. If I was out on a visit and the practice received a call from another farmer needing assistance I would receive the ‘Lynn Base to Lynn Vet1’ call and be sent on my way!
Often clients often need assistance out of hours, nowadays all emergency calls are diverted to our emergency messaging service who send a text message to our out of hours’ mobile phone which is kept by the on-call vet. The on-call vet is then able to ring the client straightaway, whether they are at the practice or grabbing a cuppa at home. When I first started doing night duties 35 years ago all emergency calls would be diverted to my home phone, and I would respond to them from there. If a call came in when I was already out on a visit my dedicated wife would answer and then have to contact me via the radio. Often the signal wasn’t up to much and I would receive a crackly message, meaning I had to borrow the nearest farmers landline and call my wife back! Whilst the radios had their uses they weren’t always of assistance, as I found out to my peril one night! Driving back from a farm visit I rounded a bend in the road and encountered two sheep in
front of me, swerving to avoid them I clipped the verge and my Toyota was flipped on to its roof. After skidding down the road on the roof for a hundred yards it came to a stop and I emerged, thankfully, unscathed. Thinking I’d better inform someone of my ordeal I went to summon my trusty radio, only to realise that the large aerial was now flattened underneath my car, rendering it useless! I’m pleased to say that, unlike the aerial, the ewes were completely unharmed by my spectacular appearance!
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 April 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: The recent qualification of architects Daniel Wallage (left) and Darren French (right) means that the practice of Richard Waite (standing) can boast the talents of four RIBA architects – including Richard’s father Desmond (seated), who has played a significant role in preserving and improving the built environment of King’s Lynn for six decades
Lifting the face of King’s Lynn for 60 years Since Desmond Waite arrived in Norfolk at the end of the 1950s his architectural practice has made an indelible impression on the local area – a tradition being continued by his architect son Richard...
D
esmond Waite has just finished a drawing of a beautifully-proportioned townhouse. The 90-yearold architect’s work is aesthetically appealing, architecturally robust, and sits perfectly among the historic fabric of the buildings surrounding it. But to be honest that’s only to be expected, for Desmond Waite has had an enormous impact on the face of King’s Lynn for the last six decades. In 1959 the newly-qualified architect
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drove past the nearly-completed tower of Campbells’ soup factory and entered King’s Lynn for the first time, accompanied by his wife and children. He was about to start work for a local architectural practice and he only intended to stay for a couple of years. As it turned out, he never left. Today, Desmond has finally retired but he’s still willing to help and bring his incredible experience and knowledge to help the practice of his son Richard – which now includes two newly-qualified architects who’ll be
seeing the practice safely into the future. It’s fair to say that few local businesses have made quite as much of a long-lasting impression on King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, having completed some 7,000 projects from public buildings to flats, from pubs to royal buildings, from churches to iconic landmarks, and from award-winning new build properties to state-of-the-art commercial facilities. When Desmond Waite arrived in the town at the end of the 1950s, it was to
KLmagazine April 2017
take up the role of chief assistant to architect Harold Marsh, whose practice was in the town’s King Street. An exuberant and likeable man, Harold suddenly and very sadly died only a few months later. His friends then helped Desmond raise the funds needed to save the practice (renamed Marsh & Waite) and while Desmond worked on completing current projects, finding new clients, managing a woodland estate and a number of local charities, his wife Gloria took on the finances and management of the office. The couple also fully immersed themselves in civic life. Desmond joined the King’s Lynn Civic Society (of which he’s now President), the Chamber of Trade and the Round Table, and became Clerk to the Trustees of the Trinity Hospital Almshouses at Castle Rising, a responsibility he’d hold for the next 50 years. He also helped maximise the sale of the Gaywood Poor Fuel Allotments land – which enabled the building of the King’s Lynn bypass. On a smaller scale, the practice completed the regeneration of The Eagle pub in the town’s Norfolk Street, which had been bombed during the Second World War, and finished the
KLmagazine April 2017
ABOVE: This development of 14 apartments in Priory Road, Downham Market was designed by Richard Waite's architectural practice and won three awards at the Mayor's Design Awards in 2016, including Best Small Residential Group and the Overall Gold Award. The Custom House in King’s Lynn (above left) has possibly never looked better, thanks to a major refurbishment by the practice – which has a long tradition of working with heritage buildings.
rebuilding of The Guinea Pig in East Grinstead. In fact, Desmond and his son Richard would eventually go on to complete preparatory sketch schemes for 50 pub regenerations in Manchester! Desmond became (“somehow” he rather modestly claims) something of an expert in the regeneration of almshouses. Appointed Panel Architect for the National Association of Almshouses, his practice dealt with about 50 groups throughout Norfolk, work that led to him becoming Diocesan Surveyor for at least 50 of the county’s churches and rectories. A founder member of the Conservation Areas Advisory Panel (on which he served for 34 years), Desmond joined the executive committee of the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust (KLPT) which restored Thoresby College and led to
one of his most important projects. Desmond took on 30-33 Bridge Street in King’s Lynn, a row of four listed but derelict cottages – and was asked by the Trust to save them from demolition. Beautifully and sympathetically restored (see pictures below), the cottages are still very much a family affair, and include a fantastic apartment (where Desmond now lives), his daughter Karen’s Lynn Academy of Dancing, and his son Richard’s own architectural practice. Desmond’s growing reputation then led to him being invited to produce drawings for a farmhouse development on the Sandringham Estate. The project was so well received that he became the official Architectural Advisor to the Sandringham Estate, a position he retained for 35 years. He extended a retreat deep in the Estate, attended Buckingham Palace for a design briefing, and was appointed to regenerate Amner Hall in 1971 for a member of the Royal Family. Shortly
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Local Life
ABOVE: The Old Court House at Burnham Market, designed by Richard Waite and winner of the Large Scale New Build Properties category at the Mayor’s Design Awards in 2016. Also featured here are some of the practice’s preparatory sketches for a proposed riverside development in King’s Lynn, a residential property on the North Norfolk coast, and (below) the acclaimed Visitor Centre on the Sandringham Estate.
before handing over the reins to his son Richard, he designed several extensions to the cafe, a new souvenir shop, and the new Visitor Centre and Tearooms, on which both father and son worked. For his marvellous work on the Estate, in 1994 Desmond was honoured by being appointed Member of The Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for personal services to the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace. As the town expanded and grew towards the end of the 20th century, Desmond continued to have a considerable impact on King’s Lynn. He was asked by an ex-Mayor of London to design 70,000ft2 of offices intended for the new ‘Borough’ council offices – but although he obtained planning permission the site was cleared and it remains to be developed today. It is, in fact, the car park on Chapel Street, and today Desmond works with the Civic Society on debating the proposed demolitions of listed buildings in conservation areas. As Desmond oversaw the total regeneration of East Winch Hall, designed a Norfolk country house for a Midlands-based businessman and extended both The Golden Lion in Hunstanton and the much-loved Antonio’s wine bar in King’s Lynn, his son Richard (a self-confessed natural architect) had been studying himself. In
fact, as a student he’d toured America with a friend called Ken Shuttleworth, who’d later find eternal fame in the concept of 30 St Mary Axe in London – the famous ‘gherkin’ building. Once Richard had qualified, father and son ran parallel architectural practices, and although Desmond took a well-deserved step back when he reached 65, he played an important role in building his son’s practice, designing buildings such as the Corona site infill cottages on All Saints Street, the distinctive corner building on Baker Lane (an architectural challenge in itself when the Chief Executive of English Heritage lives opposite!) and an awardwinning development of apartments in Downham Market. Richard’s practice also continued the family tradition of preserving historically important buildings, caring for over 50 churches, and designing distinctive new houses – and only last year completed a major repair and redecoration project on the Custom House in King’s Lynn. The architectural practice of Richard C.F. Waite has very deep roots in both the town and countryside, and is about to celebrate its 36th anniversary – but this is no ordinary birthday celebration. For the practice is also celebrating the recent graduation of its two staff members who’ve worked in the practice since leaving school. Darren
French and Daniel Wallage have worked throughout their academic career and have now finished the gruelling qualifying process that enables them to use the exclusive title of ‘architect’ and the suffix of ‘RIBA’ as members of the Royal Institute of British Architects. While Desmond and Richard may be happier with Rotring pens and drawing boards, the more technologically-savvy Darren and Daniel will be able to move the practice safely and successfully through the 21st century. Desmond and Richard Waite have played a hugely significant and very real part in the evolution of King’s Lynn into the heritage-packed, commerciallymodern and architecturally-rich town it is today. Few (if any) local companies can boast no less than four qualified architects under its roof, and few other towns can be so assured that the future of their built environment is in very safe hands indeed.
Richard C.F. Waite RIBA Dip Arc (Leics) AABC 34 Bridge Street, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5AB telephone | 01553 772656 website | www.rcfwaite.co.uk email | architect@rcfwaite.co.uk The former Corona site on All Saints Street, King’s Lynn 38
KLmagazine April 2017
KLmagazine April 2017
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KLmagazine April 2017
The energy efficient future of commercial buildings... W
Trust the 4 Way Group for a totally professional and cutting edge solution hen logistic and warehousing specialist Knowles Transport recently purchased and refurbished their huge new logistics centre in Wisbech (comprising around 500,000ft2), energy conservation and sustainability were at the forefront of the company’s plans – and so were the King’s Lynn based 4 Way group of companies. The 4 Way group is committed to using the very latest technology to minimise the environmental impact of heating and lighting – maximising efficiencies and using renewable energy sources to future-proof buildings at both a domestic and commercial level. Now nearing completion, the Knowles Transport base centre at Wisbech has
4 WAY
benefitted from all the expertise and experience of the 4 Way group – from complete heating, ventilation and lighting systems to plumbing and electrics in the new office suites. The site has CCTV with remote log in, a private 500KVa transformer for the centre’s current and future electrical requirements, and a specially-designed 50Kw solar panel system. The 4 Way group also designed and installed a state-of-the-art cabling system for all data and telecommunication needs. It offers superfast data-transfer speeds and because 4 Way are Nexanscertified installers it also carries a 25-year warranty. At all times, the focus (by both Knowles Transport and the 4 Way Group) has been
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to ensure a low-energy installation throughout, and that includes ‘smart’ metering to ensure the buildings don’t use more electricity than they need to. Caring for the environment really is worth it – because thanks to the ECA allowance, investments in energyefficient products can be offset against corporation tax. “We even take the worries of project managing away for you,” says the 4 Way group’s Steve Simpson. “We do all the designs and costings, and we’ll offer you all the help and advice you need to make the most of the technology.”. To discover how your business premises can benefit from improved energy-efficiencies, contact the 4 Way group for more details and information. 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
Recognised and accredited throughout the industry: KLmagazine April 2017
41
West Norfolk: Then and Now
1959
2017
FARES... Thanks to Tracy Flowers for sending us this old image of Tower Street in King’s Lynn, which has always been an interesting street to wander down, and 60 years ago you could have looked forward to wools, decorating supplies and whatever weird and wonderful
things ZOO sold. If you know, please let us know. One thing’s for certain; you won’t see many cars driving down the street today! 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 42
KLmagazine April 2017
FROM THIS.. .
TO THIS...
Take your office furniture to a hand-crafted level... Individually designed and beautifully unique pieces made to work for you! hether you’re looking to give your offices a distinctive and individual new look or want to add a touch of natural luxury to your home study, you need look no further than the expert design and exceptional hand-made craftsmanship of Bespoke Pine n Oak. From the company’s recentlyopened showroom just outside King’s Lynn, Kevin Berry and Carl Ingram are taking office furniture to another level; creating outstanding tailor-made furniture from responsibly-sourced solid oak and pine. And all to exacting standards by using the very finest traditions of craftsmanship. From free-standing desks to built-in
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office suites and from walls of shelving to single bookcases, Bespoke Pine n Oak can give you the working environment that works for you. “The real beauty of genuinely bespoke furniture is that it’s perfectly suited to older properties that can present problems for off-the-shelf furniture,” says Kevin Berry. “Even if you have got sloped ceilings, odd angles, quirky alcoves and uneven walls you can still have the furniture you’ve been looking for – because we’ll literally make it fit perfectly!” And although this furniture is made in the traditional way, it can be as contemporary as you want, and can easily accommodate the very latest
technology – from removable back panels for accessing sockets, and cleverly-placed cutouts for hiding cabling. However you see your office or home study, if you can draw it then Bespoke Pine n Oak can make it; but you don’t even have to put pencil to paper – all you need is the idea and they’ll do all the rest! With plenty of parking right outside the door, an unrivalled choice of high quality furniture ready to take away, a true commitment to customer care and a truly bespoke service that’s second to none, there’s simply never been a better time to discover the unique experience of Bespoke Pine n Oak.
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KLmagazine April 2017
Unit 1, Hamlin Way Hardwick Narrows Estate King’s Lynn PE30 4NG Telephone: 01553 277515
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Local Life
Life begins at 40 for the new town guides... As the King’s Lynn Town Guides celebrate their 40th anniversary, a new generation of guides are about to help locals and visitors explore the unique heritage of this wonderful Norfolk town.
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or four decades, the King’s Lynn Town Guides have been giving people a unique insight into the history, architecture and character of the Hanseatic market town. To continue the good work, a new generation of nine newly-trained guides are joining the established ranks and will be taking their turn leading guided walks around Lynn’s historic landmarks this Spring. “It all started with a small band of enthusiastic people who formed the first group of town guides back in 1977”, explains Vice-Chair Doreen Leventhall. “During the 1960s and 70s there’d been a growing recognition of the importance of Lynn’s historic buildings. Largely down to the hard work of the Civic Society and King’s
KLmagazine April 2017
Lynn Preservation Trust, King’s Lynn was rapidly gaining a reputation as a place worth visiting.” In 1976 the East Anglian Tourist Board decided the town needed its own tour guides and approached Lady Evershed, the then Chairman of the King’s Lynn Preservation Trust. She suggested the idea to her friend Diana Bullock (who was well known for her love of King’s Lynn and its history) who put together a training course with her fellow history enthusiasts Michael Begley and Father Bridge, the rector of All Saints’ Church. “The first group of guides trained hard for four months before 11 of them passed their exam and formed the first Town Guides,” says Doreen. “They were awarded their Blue Badges by the Tourist Board, and of these first eleven,
Vic Saunders is still guiding and three of them are now Patrons of the Guides, and still very much involved.” While the main objective of the Town Guides is to provide guided tours, the guides themselves are united by a common fondness for King’s Lynn and an enthusiasm they wish to share with others to raise the profile of the town amongst the wider population. One of the most important spin-offs of their work is the money raised for good causes. “All the Guides are unpaid volunteers who give their time freely,” says Chairman Bob Price. “And all the money collected for our walks is used to further the conservation and promotion of town.” This service is recognised in an
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Local Life annual ceremony in the Town Hall and is a regular feature in the King’s Lynn calendar as the Guides donate the proceeds from their Town Walks to local heritage organisations; this year alone, the Guides donated £4,000 to seven local organisations. “The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust is very grateful to the Town Guides for their continued support of the Trust’s work of rescuing and caring for some of the town’s key historic buildings,” says the Trust’s Chair Nick Balaam. “The Guides play a vital role in helping visitors appreciate Lynn’s truly wonderful collection of buildings.” It’s a sentiment echoed by Tim Clayton of the King’s Lynn Worfolk Boat Trust, who says they’re delighted with the generous support of the Guides. “The Town Guides donation will help us complete installation of the engine on the Baden Powell,” says Tim. “This will allow passengers to be taken up and down the river and hear about Lynn’s maritime past, present and future.” The Guides have also helped to enable a second edition of the children’s book King’s Lynn and the Hanseatic League, which was first published by the Marriott's Warehouse Trust in 2015. “The first edition was presented to every Year 5 pupil within King’s Lynn with the aim of engaging children with their local history, encouraging them to explore the town and discover more about its past,” says the Trust’s Project Manager Rebecca Rees. “Thanks to the help of the Guides, we’re now going to be able to present free copies of the book to the libraries of primary schools within the rest of the Borough.” For people wishing to experience one of the walks for themselves (and help
support good local causes) there are plenty of options. “There are a number of ways people can enjoy one of the guided walks,” says the Guides’ Publicity Officer Ivor Rowlands “The walks last approximately 1½ hours, though they can take longer depending on the level of interaction and detail our guests require. There’s so much information to get across it can be quite a challenge to keep the tours under 2 hours!” All the Guides’ regular walks take place from May to October on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 2pm outside the Town Hall in the Saturday Market Place and finishing in the Tuesday Market Place. The first regular walk of this year takes place at 2pm on Tuesday 2nd May. New for 2017 are morning walks on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 11am. “This is specifically aimed at weekend visitors who may want to familiarise themselves with the town in the morning,” says Ivor, “and after that they can spend the afternoon re-visiting some of the town’s attractions in more depth.” Throughout June and July the Guides will be holding a series of Monday evening walks that take more specialist themes such as The Darker Side of Lynn or Hanseatic Lynn, and during the King’s Lynn Festival there’ll be a number of additional specialist walks. The Guides are also more happy to take privately-arranged group walks. These can be tailored to suit any theme or length and are available all year round. Last year, groups ranged from private individuals and couples to a large group of 30 French schoolchildren. “If you can’t make one of our
scheduled walks and would like to get a group of people together,” says Ivor, “a private tour may be the ideal way to show off the town for corporate or family events. We’ve even had local companies use private tours as part of a team-building event, talking a Historic Walk in the early afternoon followed by dinner in one of Lynn’s excellent restaurants.”
SPECIAL WALKS 2017 MONDAY EVENING WALKS 5 June: The Darker Side of Lynn 12 June: South Lynn 19 June: The North End (1100-present) 26 June: Historic Lynn 3 July: Maritime Trail 10 July: Gaywood Walk 17 July: Betjeman Walk FESTIVAL WALKS 19 July: The Darker Side of Lynn 20 July: King’s Lynn at War and Peace 26 July: Religious Lynn 27 July: Robert Walpole’s Lynn 1702- 42 FREE WALKS 30th April: Get to know your Town 21st May: Two free 1-hour Hanse walks on Heritage Sunday (am and pm) FURTHER DETAILS Prices: £5 adults, £4 concessions, £1 children. Contact King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre for special accessibility requirements. Tickets for all walks can be purchased in advance or on the day of walk (subject to availability). Contact the King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre at the Custom House in King’s Lynn for further information. You can contact them in person, call 01553 763044 or e-mail kings-lynn.tic@west-norfolk.gov.uk
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KLmagazine April 2017
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KLmagazine April 2017
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HOMEhints in association with FRIMSTONE LTD
The Frimstone guide to using sand and gravel... Help and advice on choosing the high quality aggregate you need RIMSTONE can trace its roots back almost 100 years, but its high quality aggregates to trade and domestic customers have been around for a lot longer than that. Our local sands and gravels were deposited from glacial systems and ice sheets over 125,000 years ago – an environment similar features to conditions in northern Scandinavia today. At FRIMSTONE our process is an equally natural one, washing and screening the complex and varying
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geologies we extract from our quarries. Nature performs a lot of this work herself, so we’re never able to change the colour of the sand or the broken nature of the stone left behind by the glaciers However, FRIMSTONE‘s modern-day plants can cleanse the sands of dirt by adding polymers that allow it to be washed during the process to produce very high quality and consistent local materials reflecting the great and variable geology of Norfolk. Our plants receive the ‘as dug’
materials and use high-pressure water and screens to segregate the sandy fines from the coarser gravels. Both are then treated separately, with the sands being washed with polymers and then separated through cyclones into various grades. After that they pass across dewatering screens that capture any free water for recycling back into the wash process. The gravels are then washed and agitated in a water bath with steel blades before they are segregated by various sizing screens.
KLmagazine April 2017
The blended materials are then mixed for customers and left in bays waiting to be collected or delivered. It’s generally agreed that the optimum size of the gravel needed for laying decorative aggregates on driveways is 20mm. Many people do use 10mm gravel, but it tends to get stuck in tyre treads and scatters about a bit, so it does cost more in regular maintenance and upkeep. As for how much sand or gravel you’ll need when you’re laying a foundation for a garden shed or patio or building a pathway through your garden, you can always carefully work out a calculation based on length x wide x depth – but it’s a lot easier (and quicker!) to visit the FRIMSTONE website and let our easyto-use gravel calculator do all the hard work for you. The handy table below summarises the range of materials available from all FRIMSTONE sites along with the ‘proper’ and ‘local’ name – but for any more help and advice, please call our excellent customer service team on 01366 388900 or visit the FRIMSTONE website. GRADE
TYPE
NAME
LOCAL NAME
USE
Sands
Building Sand Plastering Sand Concrete Sand
Soft Mixed Sharp
Brick Mortar Plaster mixes Pre mix concrete
Gravels
6mm Gravel 10mm Gravel 14mm Gravel 20mm Gravel 40mm Gravel Cobbles
Grit Pea shingle 14mm shingle 20mm shingle 40mm shingle Rejects
Block paving, decorative borders and pathways Pre mix concrete, drainage and paths Drive ways Pre mix concrete, drainage and driveways Decorative features around borders and heavy drains Decorative features, wall sets, and hard trench support
Blends
10mm Ballast 20mm Ballast 20-5mm Gravel
10mm Ballast 20mm Ballast Concrete shingle
Pre mixed materials for concrete (just add cement) Pre mixed materials for concrete (just add cement) Concrete Mixes
Fine Coarse Small
Large Med Coarse
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KLmagazine April 2017
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in April
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KLmagazine April 2017
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Now Doris has gone, be prepared for her sister... Reduce the risk and dangers of spring storms with Heritage Tree Specialists
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e can traditionally expect April to bring its fair share of showers, storms and high winds with it, but hopefully conditions over the next few weeks won’t be as fearsome as they were at the end of February; when ‘Doris’ swept across the county and took a number of trees with it. “I think we took more calls about windblown trees in those few days than at any other time since we started the business,” says Dan Ashton of Heritage Tree Specialists. “The only good thing was the time of year it happened, as the trees weren’t in leaf. Otherwise the situation could have been a lot worse.” In addition to fatally affecting the trees themselves, storms and high winds can cause them to fall on fences and oil tanks, damage property and even cause serious injury and death. With many years experience, plenty of local knowledge and a wealth of specialist equipment,
KLmagazine April 2017
the team at Heritage Tree Specialists offers a range of professional services to help you deal with windblown trees – and minimise the risk of it happening in the first place. For trees that have toppled (and the more dangerous ones that are unstable but still standing), Heritage Tree Specialists will safely dismantle them using specially-designed lowering devices from top to bottom (even grinding out the stump) – and can access the most awkward of locations thanks to their narrow-access machinery. They’ll take all the branches, trunk sections and roots away to be recycled – although you can keep the woodchips and firewood for your own use if you wish to. Prevention is better than cure, of course, so to minimise the risks stormy weather presents to your trees, Heritage Tree Specialists can either thin and reduce the crown of the tree, a practice which also decreases its wind resistance. “We might typically recommend a thinning or overall
reduction to the crown,” says Dan. ”This balances the branching evenly, reduces the weight and allows more wind to pass freely through the crown – with the added bonus that the tree will have a more attractive shape following the treatment.” Large, mature trees are often those most prone to wind damage. Even when covered by a Tree Preservation Order, these trees may benefit from tree surgery to minimise the risk of limb or whole tree failure. Contact Heritage Tree Specialists now for free written quotations and recommendations and all the help and advice you need – because if April’s showers live to their name, it’s best to be prepared.
information
Heritage Tree Specialists Willow Farm Industrial Units, Lynn Road, Saddlebow, King’s Lynn PE34 3AR Tel: 01553 617008 Web: www.heritagetreespecialists.co.uk E-mail: info@heritagetreespecialists.co.uk
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Gardening
ABOVE: In a busy month for gardeners, don’t forget to give your lawn some attention to prepare it for the summer months – and at last it’s time to rid of the brown flowerheads from your Hydrangeas (opposite) to bring out the best in them.
April in the garden: it’s all about preparation... Although our gardens have only just started springing into life, there’s already plenty of work to be done. But as Wendy Warner explains, a little extra effort now can repay you tenfold
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pril is a busy month in the garden; we’ve already been tempted outside by the early Spring bulbs of crocus, iris and early flowering narcissi and daffodils, but the weather is still cold and the ground often too wet to be able to carry out much work enjoyably. Once the clocks have changed and there’s more light in the evenings to be able to potter after work, we’ll realise just how much needs to be done in the garden! If you didn’t get round to tidying up perennial plants and grasses in the autumn, you need to make this a priority. When cutting back, be careful that new shoots aren’t already starting
KLmagazine April 2017
to emerge. For this reason, with some plants (especially grasses) it’s often better to pull the old leaves away from the base rather than cutting with secateurs. Shrubs such as Buddleias will benefit from being cut back hard now as they grow very quickly – and the new growth will be flowering within a couple of months, attracting beautiful butterflies into your garden. At long last you can now get rid of the brown flowerheads from Hydrangeas; they’ll have protected the plant throughout the winter (and looked quite architectural with a covering of frost) but should now be cut off just above the first strong, healthy pair of buds below the faded
bloom. This is also the time to feed Hydrangeas as well as Rhododendrons, Camellias and other acid-loving plants with an Ericaceous feed or Sulphate of Iron. Other established shrubs and trees can be top-dressed with a feed of bonemeal or fish, blood and bone. As the weather warms and the flowers of bulbs such as daffodils and tulips begin to fade, remove the dead flowerheads before they start to set seed; this will encourage bigger and better flowers next year. But don’t be tempted to cut back the leaves – these should be left to die down naturally as they’ll feed the bulbs ready for flowering next year. These leaves can be pulled away from the bulbs once
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Gardening
ABOVE: Your gladioli won’t be flowering for a while yet, but if you plant them at different times throughout the next two months you’ll be able to enjoy their beautiful flowers for a longer period of time.
they’ve turned yellow and softened. As the Spring-flowering bulbs come to an end, it’s time to plant Summerflowering varieties such as dahlias, lilies, gladioli and nerines. Plant gladioli in succession throughout April and May and you’ll be able to enjoy their flowers for a longer period of time. There are a huge range of perennials or cottage garden plants available for planting now. They don’t look much in their pots at the moment as they’re only just breaking through the soil, but will become spectacular flowering size plants within a couple of months and give a great show throughout the summer. Being perennial means although they die down in the winter, they’ll come up year-after-year. They’re therefore a very cost-effective way of introducing lots of colour into your garden, and it’s advisable to plant in odd numbers if you want to create a natural look. Remember to put plant supports alongside taller growing plants when you put them in so they’ll grow through them and not get damaged in the wind. And if we get a damp spell,
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get ready to protect new shoots from slugs and snails with copper rings, slug pellets or organic wool pellets. If your lawn hasn’t fared well during the winter, now’s the time to give it some attention. Moss and weeds will compete with the grass for moisture and nutrients, so try to get rid of them as quickly as possible, as well as feeding the grass. If you have both weeds and
moss, a granular lawn product containing feeding, weed control and moss control ingredients such as Evergreen Complete 4-in-1 can be applied by hand or with a spreader, depending on the area of grass to be treated. Where weeds are prevalent (but no moss) use a lawn weedkiller. Be very careful to select a “lawn” weedkiller – as any other weedkiller will also kill your grass! If moss is your primary trouble, lawn sand or a specific mosskiller with lawn food can be used. Once you’ve rid your lawn of these problems, you may find you have some bare patches which can then be reseeded – using a fast acting lawn seed or a specific lawn repair mix which has seed and a slow release feed. If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid these problems you can feed your lawn with a granular feed such as Evergreen Extreme Green which will strengthen the grass and prepare it for the hotter, drier, summer conditions. As we get towards Easter, the first of the hanging basket and bedding plants will be on sale. If you have a greenhouse or conservatory, buy them now to ensure you get the varieties you want, but don’t be tempted to plant them outside just yet – we may still get frosts! They’ll need to be hardened off by putting them outside during the day and bringing them in at night. Most of all, April is a time to enjoy your garden and remember that the preparation you do now will reward you tenfold in the coming months. Wendy Warner is Manager of Thaxters Garden Centre at 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham PE31 6NA. Visit the website at www.thaxters.co.uk or telephone 01485 541514. NEXT MONTH: choosing and planting up your summer hanging baskets and containers.
KLmagazine April 2017
OPEN WEEKDAYS 8am- 4pm OPEN SATURDAYS 8am - 1pm
Quality plants at wholesale prices EVERYONE WELCOME A wide selection of plants and trees available grown and sourced from our nursery
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Inspiring and distinctive outdoor furniture and accessories
Exciting and unique new products now available
Visit our showroom Open 7 days a week 10am - 4pm Norfolk Leisure, Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn PE33 0AX Tel: 01553 811717 | Email: sales@norfolkleisure.co.uk | Web: www.norfolkleisure.com
PART OF THE L ANDSCAPE FOR GENERATIONS
Your best lawn ever thanks to Doubleday! As our attention turns to the garden, Doubleday has all the help, advice and high quality products you need for the perfect lawn... ith the approach of spring it’s the perfect time to get the expert local team at Doubleday on your side and give your garden the treatment it deserves – with the latest technology from John Deere. “We’ve been official local dealers for John Deere for over 30 years now," says Doubleday’s Roy Pickett, “and their lawn tractors are the ultimate in lawn maintenance. They’ve been designed to offer convenience, comfort and performance – and you’ll enjoy the ride just as much as the fuel-efficient engines!” Ranging from the new X380 with its automotive-style cruise control and
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enhanced instrument display to the flagship X590 (below) with its electronic fuel injection and iTorque Power system, the range delivers outstanding results – and what’s more, Doubleday offers a comprehensive, hassle-free, and bumper-to-bumper 4-year warranty* on all 300 and 500 series riding mowers. It means Doubleday can help you achieve simply stunning lawns – whatever size your garden, and whatever effect you’re looking for. Offering all the help and advice you need, Doubleday’s back-up and support services are second to none, and the parts and maintenance teams are totally committed to serving the needs
* 4-year warranty valid for 48 months or 300 hours (whichever is sooner) on the X300 series and for 48 months or 500 hours (whichever is sooner) on the X500 series.
KLmagazine April 2017
of both the home gardener and the agricultural customer. “I think that’s key to the whole Doubleday experience,” says Roy. “Because we’ve always been a familyrun business, we’ve always been a very family-friendly business too. It’s about lifestyles rather than machines. We’ve always concentrated on the personal touch and we’ve always offered a truly local and truly individual service.” Doubleday has been part of the landscape for generations – and that experience can help ensure your lawn has never looked better!
DOUBLEDAY PART OF THE LANDSCAPE FOR GENERATIONS
information Doubleday King’s Lynn, Lynn Road, St Germans, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3EU Tel: 01553 617666 Web: www.doubledaygroup.co.uk
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HAMLIN WAY, KING'S LYNN PE30 4NG t: 01553 761161
www.benefers.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2017
Nick Osborne (left) and Nick Drew of IBA Insurance Services in King’s Lynn
Local insurance services for local farmers from IBA Professional face-to-face solutions with your best interests at heart nsurance plays a major role in the life of a farmer. At the end of February, the storm ‘Doris’ led to over 1,000 claims from farmers who were still counting the costs of storm ‘Desmond’ in December 2015. Add to that the financial pressures of insuring buildings and machinery, protecting the business from crime and personal injury and you can understand why farmers need an insurance service that has their best interests at heart. Based in the centre of King’s Lynn, IBA Insurance Services has over 40 years combined experience in working with local farmers; dealing with everything from smallholdings to estates and in every field from arable and dairy farming to diversification.
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“The insurance market for farmers has really opened up recently,” says IBA’s Director Nick Osborne (below). “Today, there are lots of different insurance companies who specialise in meeting the needs of the farming community, and because we work for our customers rather than a single provider we’re able to source the best and the most costeffective policies for individual farmers and their farms.” Farming is, of course, the area’s most traditional industry, and farmers are still a traditional breed; preferring face-to-face personal service and the minimum of paperwork. And as a totally independent and local insurance broker, that’s at the heart of everything IBA does. “What I like most about working for an insurance broker rather than an insurance company is that it enables me to better meet the needs of local farmers,” says IBA’s Nick Drew, who has
almost 25 years experience working with local farmers and was previously local Group Secretary for the National Farmers Union. “It lets me deal with farmers on a personal, friendly basis and it helps me offer them choices that are individually tailored to suit their business.” And when it comes to claims, you’ll find IBA handles them efficiently and effectively, taking most of the pressures off your shoulders and always prioritising your (and your farm’s) best interests. For a more personal, more local and more professional look at farming insurance, contact IBA Insurance Services today for an initial chat about your needs.
Osborne House, 111 High Street, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1DA 01553 770112 www.ibainsurance.co.uk enquiries@ibainsurance.co.uk IBA Insurance Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No.311163
KLmagazine April 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: The Eldiss Autoquest 155 motorhome offers a wonderful new dimension to family holidays, being easy to drive and packed with great ideas and comfortable furnishings
A luxurious way to enjoy life on the open road... Thanks to Greentrees CaravanStore in Dereham there’s a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors with all the family, as Malcolm Kennedy discovers with a weekend in a motorhome
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ast month, my wife and I decided to spend a long weekend exploring the county to the east of us; visiting the Norfolk Broads on our way to the north Norfolk coast and then returning to our home in Hunstanton via what must be one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the whole country. However, instead of arranging a number of B&B and restaurant bookings we decided to ‘do it ourselves’ and hire a motorhome; with a view of taking one further afield for two weeks later in the
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year. And the good news is that in addition to having one of the best coastlines in the whole country, Norfolk also has one of its best caravan and motorhome specialists in the shape of Greentrees CaravanStore at Dereham. Not only is the choice and the quality of the vehicles amazing, but the staff were incredibly good at addressing my initial concerns that my first experience of driving a motorhome was going to be around the less-than-straight roads of Norfolk. Greentrees genuinely left no stone
unturned; from explaining the insurance (which was covered in the hire charge) to giving us a complete tour of the vehicle and demonstrating how everything worked. If we had any questions they answered them; and in addition to several helpful step-by-step guides we were given a number of QR codes. If we did need any advice while ‘on tour’, we could scan these with our phones to see a video of Neil Greentree himself, who’s widely recognised as one of the UK’s foremost experts on caravans and motorhomes.
KLmagazine April 2017
ABOVE: The interior of the Eldiss Autoquest 155 is big and roomy, and it’s also extremely comfortable – especially the fixed double bed at the rear (left) with its OZIO mattress
So, welcome to our home for the weekend – the Eldiss Autoquest 155 (right). British built and the winner of several awards, it’s one of the bestselling motorhome ranges of all time, and it’s easy to see why. Eldiss also manufactures touring caravans and you can see that influence at work here, as the motorhome follows the classic caravan layout; a parallel lounge seating, rear fixed bed and corner washroom - all achieved on a floorplan that’s just over 7m long. For people used to caravans and looking to experience a motorhome it’s ideal as they’ll already know how well this layout works.
KLmagazine April 2017
But there’s more. The vehicle includes a pair of forward-facing travel seats with 3-point seatbelts that stow in the lounge’s seat boxes when not in use. It means you can take other family members away with you rather than just invite them as overnight guests; perfect for children or grandchildren. They’ll be well catered for too, thanks to the spacious make-up double bed across the lounge. We were immediately impressed by the interior of the motorhome, which is cleverly planned to provide a line of sight from the driver’s cab all the way to the rear, making the living area feel wide and open. The high quality furnishings all help create a very welcoming ambience. Given the length of the vehicle I was slightly wary about taking it onto the open road at first, but there was very little to worry about. It was very stable all weekend, and the Peugeot Boxer 2.2 HDi Turbo Diesel engine (producing 130bhp) is more than enough to handle the 3,500kg fullyladen weight. Norfolk’s not particularly well known for its hills, of course, but the motorhome had no
problems on the inclines we did come across, and the six-speed gearbox was easy to work. Visibility from the raised driving position was excellent, and happily the handling was very precise, the power steering taking all the hard work out of manoeuvring at low speeds. The lounge area is a really sociable place (plenty of space for four people), and it’s even better and bigger when you rotate the cab seats and open up the area. Downlighters at each end of the seat benches and under the overhead lockers offered four reading positions, which was great in the evening when I read the newspaper on one sofa and my wife got stuck into her book on the other. There’s plenty of light in the daytime too, thanks to two large
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Local Life
ABOVE: The Eldiss Autoquest 155 is a genuine home-from-home that contains everything you could need for a wonderful holiday – from a spacious lounge area (above) to a fully-equipped and well planned kitchen (below)
windows on either side of the lounge. The motorhome was warmer than we expected too. The 4kW Whale heating system is a great space saver and runs on both gas and electricity, meaning it’s always warm and cosy. The quiet ‘nighttime’ setting was another great touch. When it was time for meals, I simply retrieved the folding-leaf table from the wardrobe and positioned it in the gangway, which still left plenty of room to sit down to eat – while my wife busied herself at the kitchen. She was really impressed – it was actually better equipped and easier to work in than our eldest daughter’s flat when she first moved to London! It had three gas burners, a separate oven and grill, a 95-litre refrigerator with a separate freezer compartment, and a good-sized oblong sink. One feature we really liked was the handy worktop extension that pulled out from above the fridge; ideal for resting plates on while serving food. When we finally settled down to enjoy our evenings in front of one of the most advanced TV satellite systems currently available, we realised that in our rush to start the weekend we’d forgotten to ask the lady at Greentrees for the TV switch! The result? We actually spent the evenings in each other’s company and finally spent some real time together. Then it was time for bed, and the fixed double bed at the rear was wonderful. I have to admit that the luxurious OZIO Coolsoft mattress was probably better
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(and more comfortable) than our own mattress at home! There were thoughtful touches such as reading lights and handy shelves for stowing essentials like glasses and mobiles; and although we were on our own, we did like the fact that the two sleeping spaces can be separated by a partition that pulls across from the foot of the rear bed. There was a huge amount of storage space, and to be honest we wished we taken more clothes; the large wardrobe at the foot of the fixed bed had two hanging rails and a generous shelf underneath. To be honest, I hadn’t been expecting a great deal from the washroom but I was really impressed by the way it did everything you’d expect from a visit to the bathroom! The swingout sink was a great idea as it freed up more space, and the bi-fold door separating the toilet and sink area from the shower was brilliant at keeping all the water spray contained. And that’s useful as the 100-litre freshwater tank is big enough for 2½ showers! We had a wonderful and thoroughly relaxing weekend, and when we reluctantly returned the motorhome to Greentrees we actually thanked the lady for our mix-up over the TV switch. Instead of watching the television we’d managed to spend some very valuable time together. Our motorhome cost £335 to hire for the weekend. There’s no limit to the length of hire in the UK and you can even take it abroad for a maximum of 30 days.
KLmagazine April 2017
At Greentrees, the great outdoors is even greater Take your next holiday to a new level – with everything you need from the country’s best caravan and motorhome specialists... t’s exactly 50 years since Keith Greentree started Greentree Caravans in Dereham, and today his son Neil oversees a highly-respected operation that covers nearly three acres and is almost certainly the best caravan and motorhome centre in the entire country. It’s not just because Greentrees has over 100 new and used vehicles on site from the top manufacturers in the UK, and it’s not because of the highlyexperienced sales and support team on hand to offer friendly and informative advice – and go the extra mile. It’s not because of the comprehensive range of accessories and parts, and not even because Greentrees is currently the only dealer in the UK to offer caravan towing courses – which are especially popular with women caravanners! The main reason Greentrees has
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KLmagazine April 2017
enjoyed five decades of success is its continued commitment to high quality and first-class customer care. It means the unrivalled Greentrees service is always there when you need it most. In addition to having an onsite fully-equipped 4-bay workshop, its CoachWorks centre is the biggest single dedicated bodyshop in the whole of East Anglia, with a 4strong team of technicians working constantly to ensure your pride and joy keeps in top condition. What’s more, work will soon begin on a unique 20-bay technical centre; doubling the size of the Dereham centre and taking Greentrees’ state-of-the-art
service to another level entirely. It’s not surprising that dedicated caravan and motorhome enthusiasts travel from all over the country to Norfolk for the Greentrees experience! And for people yet to discover the joys of exploring the countryside the Greentrees way (you don’t know what you’re missing!) the company’s HireMe Leisure division, which was founded eight years ago, offers novices the perfect and perfectly worry-free way to hire and safely take to the road in one of three luxurious caravans and three motorhomes. Thanks to Greentrees, the great outdoors has never been greater!
Adventure House, Hurn Road, Dereham Business Park, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1WD t: 01362 696434 e: sales@greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk w: www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk
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fashion Fashion
It’s a new season, which means it’s literally time to spring into style with new colours and new designs for the more fashion-conscious among us. Town or countryside, day or night, the best of our local boutiques are packed with great looks this Spring... 64
Blouse (£19.99), Trousers (£22.99), Boots (£29.99) by New Look QUEENSGATE SHOPPING CENTRE | Peterborough 01733 311666 KLmagazine April 2017
OutďŹ t by Monari SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 KLmagazine April 2017
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Fashion
Harper Jacket by Jack Murphy (£64) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 66
KLmagazine April 2017
Antique Silver
& Precious
Jewellery A wide selection available. We purchase pre-owned items and oer a full professional valuation service by a registered NAJ valuer on our premises.
Tim Clayton Jewellery Ltd Traditional Family Jewellers. Established 1975 www.timclaytonjewellery.com | 21-23 Chapel Street, King’s Lynn | tel: 01553 772329
KLmagazine April 2017
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Fashion
Gunthorpe Fleece Gilet in Navy by Schoffel (£149.95) LINGS COUNTRY GOODS | Great Massingham 01485 520828 68
KLmagazine April 2017
DI SC OV E R OUR
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125 Norfolk St, King’s Lynn PE30 1AP Tel: 01553 770536 www.davidaukerjewellery.co.uk
THE PERFECT MARQUEE FOR YOUR EVENT
Whatever the style, size or function
Contact us for free quotations & advice Tel: 01366 324292 /royalmarquees.co.uk
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Derma Vida
CREATING BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Gayton Road Health & Surgical Centre, King’s Lynn info@dermavida.co.uk | www.dermavida.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2017
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Fashion
Blouse by Great Plains (£65) GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 70
KLmagazine April 2017
s stunnin g new season style
TEL: 01366 388151 | Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk
Morton ATV
Tel: 01406 364600
all terrain and utility terrain vehicles
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New and used vehicles and equipment • Fertiliser spreaders • Mowers • Sprayers & much more. Servicing is available on all vehicles and mowers with Honda and Briggs & Stratton engines.
Lings Country Goods
for all your country pursuits
Heath Farm, Great Massingham PE32 2HJ www.lingscountrygoods.co.uk www.mortonatv.com | Tel: 01485 520828
KLmagazine April 2017
A complete range of professional dental services including: • 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
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THAI ROYALE KIN G’S LYN N Traditional Thai Restaurant & Takeaway Gluten-free & vegetarian dishes available Free delivery within 3 miles (minimum order £15) 10% discount on collected orders
Reservations & takeaway orders: 01553 760299 Open: Tue to Sun 5pm-10pm
strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and café deli
boutique luxurious classic contemporary heart of norfolk award winning restaurant afternoon tea cocoes café deli self catering Luxury without sacrifice to the environment ash close swaffham norfolk pe37 7nh 01760 723845 enquiries@strattonshotel.com www.strattonshotel.com
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Open Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 KLmagazine April 2017
Food & Drink
Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS For the Fish 1 Seabass fillet 1 egg Potato starch A pinch of salt A pinch of pepper Oil for shallow fry For the Curry 1 stick lemongrass 10 whole dried chili 2 fresh birdeye chili ½ tsp curry powder ½ shallot 2 slices galangal ginger 2 tbsp oil 3 tbsp coconut milk ½ cup water A pinch of salt A pinch of sugar For the Garnish 3 cherry tomatoes 2 Bird’s Eye chili Mint leaves KLmagazine April 2017
Malaysian Fish Curry METHOD 1 Preparing the fish: Cut fillet into strips and season. Dip fish into whisked egg and coat lightly with flour. 2 Shallow fry until crispy golden brown then put aside. 3 Blend the lemongrass, whole dried chili, Bird’s Eye chili, curry powder, shallot and ginger together. 4 Heat pan with oil and cook the blended ingredients for 1 minute, then place on a low heat.
5 Add the water, coconut milk and the pinch salt and sugar until boiled then simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes. 6 Serve the curry into a bowl then stack the fish in the centre. Garnish with the chili and mint leaves.
Recipe by Pearl River John Kennedy Road, King's Lynn PE30 2AA Tel: 01553 773288 Web: www.pearlriverkingslynn.co.uk 73
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The fun starts here! Our kids’ parties are sure to make any special occasion memorable! Your party will include: • Dedicated party host • Play at Brewers Fayre facilities • Kids meal + dessert + drink • Party bag and balloon for everyone • Birthday child goes absolutely FREE! • Party organiser kit including card, invitations and thank you cards Parties are priced at £8.99 contact us for more details!
Sunday lunch | Afternoon teas | Dining for non-residents | Private gatherings
Knights Hill Hotel & Spa South Wootton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ T: 01553 675566 E: reception@knightshill.co.uk
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Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk
Tel: 01553 772221 74
Relax and unwind with fine food and drink in a cosy country pub unction room for Special rates for hiring ourr Fbusiness event o that special occasion Bar • Pub • Restaurant • Gardens Accommodation • Function Room 71 Manor Rd, Dersingham PE31 6LN Tel: 01485 540768 | www.feathersdersingham.com
KLmagazine April 2017
Food & Drink
Sirloin Steak with Béarnaise sauce Serves: 2 INGREDIENTS 2x250g Sirloin Steaks Olive oil Salt and pepper For the Béarnaise sauce 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 ½ tbsp. of finely chopped tarragon 15g of finely chopped shallots 5 peppercorns, crushed 2 egg yolks 125g clarified butter cooled 1 tbsp of finely chopped flat leaf parsley Juice of ¼ lemon Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD 1 Heat a griddle or frying pan until it is smoking hot. 2 Brush the steak with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 3 Put the steak on the griddle/frying and cook; for rare 1 ½ minutes each side; medium-rare 2 minutes each side; medium 2 ¼ minutes each side; medium-well 2 ½ 3 minutes each side (these timings are based on a sirloin steak 2cm thick. Cooking time will vary depending of the thickness or how hot the pan is). 4 Once cooked, place on a warm plate and allow to rest for 3 minutes in a warm place before serving. 5 Add the vinegar, two thirds of the tarragon, shallots and peppercorns into a small pan and reduce by half on a low heat. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
CHEF’S T
IP! Resting yo ur steak is as important as cooking it as this will all ow the ste ak to relax and therefore be as tender as possible.
6 When the vinegar mixture is cold, add the egg yolk and 1 ½ tbsp of cold water in the pan and return to a low heat whisking continuously. Make sure the whisk gets into all areas of the pan. As you whisk, gradually increase the heat. The sauce will emulsify. This will take about 4-6 minutes important not to allow the temperature to get hotter than 65°c or the sauce will spilt. 7 Turn off the heat and whisk in the clarified butter, a little at a time. 8 Season with salt and pepper and sieve into another pan. Stir in the rest of the tarragon, parsley and lemon juice. Check seasoning once again. 9 Place your steak on a warm plate and pour over the sauce.
Recipe by Bowers Butchers 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn PE30 4PR Tel: 01553 773845 Web: www.bowersbutchers.com KLmagazine April 2017
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Food & Drink
Serves: 1-2 INGREDIENTS 1 chicken breast cut into strips 1 tomato cut into quarters 5 sliced closed cup mushrooms half an onion, sliced 1 chopped spring onion 200ml coconut milk 100ml water 5 slices of galangal 1 stem of lemongrass, cut into 30mm pieces 3 to 4 Kaffir lime leaves 1 tbsp of fish sauce 1 tbsp of lime juice 1 tsp of sugar pinch of salt a few coriander leaves 76
Tom Kha Gai (Chicken and Coconut Soup) METHOD 1 Combine the water and coconut milk and bring to the boil, then add the galangal, lime leaves and lemon grass. 2 Add the chicken and bring the broth to the boil again, simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
5 Simmer for a few minutes and add the spring onions. 6 The soup should taste slightly sour, adjust seasoning to personal preference. 7 Serve with a few coriander leaves scattered on the surface and enjoy!
3 Add the tomato, onion and mushrooms and simmer until softened.
Recipe by Thai Royale 4 Season with the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar and salt, then stir the soup.
77 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn Tel: 01553 760299 KLmagazine April 2017
Truly extraordinary kitchens for truly exceptional homes Designed, hand-crafted and expertly fitted by Jem Lake Kitchens... our years ago, Jeremy Lake decided he wanted to put his own identity on his work; he’d started in the business of finely-crafted handmade kitchens when he was only 17 and had spent some 20 years manufacturing all the beautifullybespoke cabinetry for Kitchens Etc, combining traditional skills with modern techniques. The result was Jem Lake Kitchens, and Jeremy now oversees a team of highly skilled and professional craftsmen whose joinery skills are put to amazing effect in their creation of simply stunning interiors and exquisite attention to detail. Following an initial visit and
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consultation, every single commission is individually designed (with no design fee), crafted in-house to your specific needs, and fitted to perfection by the very same people who built it. With a showroom in Burnham Market and a huge workshop in King’s Lynn, Jem Lake Kitchens has the room to work on the most ambitious projects –and the experience to bring them to life. All that quality (and all that talent) isn’t restricted to kitchens either – over the past few years, they’ve created distinctive boot rooms and gun rooms,
bedrooms and bathrooms, studies and wine cellars; all characterised by an unmistakable style and an emphasis on quality. Using a wide range of carefully-selected and responsibly-sourced timbers, high quality veneers and eye-catching painted finishes, Jem Lake Kitchens can turn your dream interiors into extraordinary rooms of quite outstanding beauty. For an initial visit and no-obligation consultation about your individual requirements, please contact Jem Lake Kitchens using the details below.
Jem Lake Kitchens No 55 e Townhouse, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8HD T: 07557 674334 W: www.jemlakekitchens.co.uk E: jem@jemlakekitchens.co.uk KLmagazine April 2017
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RNLI
CHARITY DAY
THURSDAY 11 MAY
N OW U N D E R
N E W OW N E R S H
IP
COFFEE MORNING 10am-12 noon
Enjoy a hot drink with a slice of cake and try your S\JR VU [OL YHMÃ…L All contributions to Hunstanton RNLI
QUIZ EVENING from 7.30pm
‰ WLY WLYZVU PUJS\KLZ TLHS ‹ )VVRPUN LZZLU[PHS
We would like to thank you for all your support over the past 5 years Wishing new owners Gary & Stella every success
Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6HH Tel: 01485 533486 www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk Email: mail@caleyhallhotel.co.uk
Main Tel: 01553 775 668 Ë Ample Parking 4AQ Ro ad , C 34 lenchwarton, King’s Lynn PE
rd Winning Inn Swaffham’s Double Awa
Call to Book 01760 72 3 2 44 We are a lovely 17th century Coaching Inn serving local, seasonal and fresh food in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Copper Horse Our fabulous cocktail bar and relaxed fine dining restaurant. Open Fri and Sat evenings.
Pub Menu Taking bookings for Easter Sunday lunch. Tapas is back on Thursdays!
21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk
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KLmagazine April 2017
Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A KL magazine reader visits The Crawfish Inn for a memorable taste of authentic Thai cuisine...
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lthough Thai cuisine may be a relatively newcomer to the Norfolk dining scene, The Crawfish Inn – located at Thursford between Fakenham and Holt –is steeped in local tradition. This charming pub (to coin a phrase it’s the only public house in the village) was originally built back in 1883 and it’s still warmly welcoming local drinkers today. But for the last 13 years, The Crawfish has been treating the area to a truly authentic taste of Thai food thanks to the amazing work of Siropas Rangphet and his wife – although by the time you leave the restaurant, his gracious manner and enthusiasm for serving good food will have you addressing him as ‘OB’. The restaurant itself has a very friendly atmosphere. You’re left in no doubt that this is still very much a village pub, and you won’t be distracted by exotic furnishings, glittering ornamentation and the sounds of eastern music. At The Crawfish, the food speaks for itself – and it says a great deal. For OB, there’s no great secret to successful Thai food; all it takes is the quality of the ingredients and the authenticity of the recipes, and The Crawfish has mastered both. OB imports his herbs and spices from Thailand, the meat is sourced from the pub’s local farmers, and the recipes have been handed down through OB’s family for generations. For people unused to the subtleties and nuances of Thai food, he’s a superb host (when he’s not in the kitchen KLmagazine April 2017
himself) and OB’s more than happy to explain unfamiliar dishes and recommend specific meals to suit varying tastes. To start, we ordered the Satay and the Thai spare ribs. The former comprised lovely strips of lean chicken breasts marinated in Thai spices and charcoalgrilled on bamboo sticks; slightly sweet, gently spicy and delicately tangy thanks to the addition of fresh tamarind. The spare ribs were wonderful too; extremely tender pork (and plenty of it) with very little fat and a beautiful coating of honey, soy sauce and sweet chilli. For our mains, I happily followed OB’s recommendation of the Penang Chicken curry, which is sweeter, richer and creamier than the more commonly-known red and green Thai curries. It’s a hard dish to get right as well, but the use of fresh kaffir lime leaves really brought the dish to life – and there was just enough spice to avoid overpowering the crunchy green beans or the flavoursome chicken. My partner had selected the mixed seafood with Thai chilli paste, a wonderful combination of king prawns, squid, mussels and cod fillet all stir fried with vegetables. It was a fabulous main course, delivering a touch of sweetness, saltiness and tanginess in equal measures, together with a sauce that was just thick enough to hold the various ingredients together. Accompanying these, we ordered the steamed jasmine rice (OB explaining it would help us enjoy the tastes of the
rest of the food) together with the Pad Thai, which was a marvellous combination of rice stick noodles stir fried with pork, egg, beansprouts, peanuts and spring onion. It was full of contrasting flavours, the lemon juice and chilli adding a genuine edge to the gentler tastes. Thanks to OB and his staff, we were treated to a truly enjoyable meal in lovely surroundings – and were even impressed with the extensive wine list, from which we took an exceptional South African Merlot. The Crawfish Inn offers the perfect introduction to everything that Thai food can be when it’s done well. And when it’s run by people thoughtful enough to name one of their dishes after the restaurant’s very first customer, you know you’re in for something rather special.
FOOD
10
SERVICE
8
VALUE
9
THE CRAWFISH INN Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ Telephone: 01328 878313 Web: www.crawfishinn.com 79
Food & Drink
Linguini with Clams and Smoked Bacon Serves: 6 Preparation: 10 mins Cooking: 25 mins INGREDIENTS A dozen clams 8oz linguini A handful of parsley, chopped 1-2 garlic cloves, finely sliced A chili or two, finely sliced 1-2 slices smoked bacon cut into strips ¼ cup of white wine A dash of olive oil
METHOD 1 Rinse and scrub the clam shells individually to get rid of any stubborn grit from the outside.
4 Add the clams, wine and half the parsley, cover and turn down the heat. Let the clams steam and simmer until they open – which will take between 510 minutes.
2 Set a large pan of gently salted water (this is a naturally salty meal, so go light on the salt here) on the boil and cook the pasta until al dente – around 6-7 minutes should be fine. Don’t worry if it’s ready before the clams, just drain it and set aside until you need it later.
5 Add the cooked pasta and remaining parsley and gently stir through to mix well for a minute or so. Serve with a simple green salad with a classic vinaigrette – and enjoy!
3 In your widest pan that has a lid, heat the olive oil over a high heat. Add the bacon, garlic, and chili and fry for a couple of minutes until the bacon starts to colour.
WINE MATCH The natural answer is to drink the same wine you used to cook the clams with. Here’s hoping you chose a Muscadet, Vouvray or Pinot Grigio as they’re glorious combinations. If you like though, a pilsner will be just as welcome here.
Recipe by Barnes and Hoggetts 80
KLmagazine April 2017
CARPETS
STONE FLOORS UPHOLSTERY
Extra professional spring cleaning – with Xtraclean! Enjoy a fresh new look with the extra-local and extra-friendly cleaning service
W
e all look forward to giving our homes a bright new look to welcome in the spring, but it’s inevitable that eventually your best cleaning efforts simply won’t be good enough to free your floors, carpets and upholstery from years of daily use and restore them to that ‘as new’ condition. “That’s when people are often tempted to hire cleaning equipment for themselves,” says Xtraclean’s Martin King. “But without an understanding of how different fabrics and surfaces react to cleaning and without any technical experience, it can be a risky venture – and the results can be very upsetting and extremely costly.” Martin founded Xtraclean 22 years ago, and the Swaffham-based company are true experts in cleaning carpets, upholstery and stone floors.
Their professional and friendly service covers East Anglia with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your home looking its very best. Indeed, Xtraclean’s truck-mounted cleaning system (which uses its own water supply) enables it to offer one of the most up-to-date and effective services in the whole country. “One of the most important steps in the whole process takes place before we even start cleaning,” explains Martin. “We thoroughly check and examine the condition of all surfaces to ensure they’re treated with the correct products at the right temperatures – and if they need any pre-cleaning treatment.” By using professional products
specially developed for specific materials, Xtraclean leaves you with a home that’s perfectly safe for children and animals – and the optional addition of special protection can keep mould, mildew and harmful bacterias to a minimum for even longer. “Applying a protector or sealant increases the life expectancy of furnishings and floors,” says Martin, “but if people decide against having their carpets and floors protected, we’ll still give them expert advice on post-cleaning care.” For an extra reliable, extra professional and extra friendly service that’s also fully-insured, Xtraclean is the obvious answer to your cleaning needs. Contact Martin and his local-based team today and give your home the look it deserves this spring!
Xtraclean Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2017
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Food & Drink
ABOVE: Bonallack Great Granola is available in nine different flavours – all made in a small Norfolk village and all offering a great tasting and healthy way to start the day.
The local woman who’s making granola great Most of us are happy to buy ready-made food even if it’s not quite to our tastes. However, one Norfolk woman thought she could do better and she was right, as Sylvia Steele discovers...
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ix years ago, from her rectory kitchen in a small Norfolk village, Sara Stocks resolved to produce the ultimate homemade luxury granola, and she’s more than happy to explain how her interest in this nutritional breakfast cereal began. “I discovered granola whilst living in America where my husband’s job had taken us,” she says. “I found ginger to be very popular there, but I didn’t like the amount of sugar in the products.” When she returned to England, Sara
KLmagazine April 2017
was determined to create a granola she liked. “Obsession is the only way to describe it!” she says. “I set out to produce my own luxury granola, but it took time to establish the taste I was seeking. I wanted it less sweet and more chunky, with an overwhelming taste of whole seeds and toasted nuts.” Of course, granola has been around a great deal longer than the current trend in healthy lifestyles; the cereal having been classed a healthy breakfast back in 1863 – when most morning
tastebuds favoured meat. Called Granula, it wasn’t particularly tasty or easy to eat; comprising of dense bran nuggets that had to be soaked overnight before they were even edible. James Caleb Jackson’s new breakfast food wasn’t destined to last in this unappealing format forever. In 1887 John Kellogg (a devotee of healthy food) created a biscuit of oats, wheat and cornmeal. He called it Granula until he was informed he was infringing Jackson’s brand name. Kellogg’s solution was simple, if a
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Food & Drink
little cheeky – he re-named his biscuit Granola. Healthy foods have remained with us ever since, Sara describes the granola we know today as a breakfast and snack food consisting of rolled oats, nuts and fruit, relying on honey or brown sugar for sweetness. “Once all the ingredients are mixed,” she says, “we then bake it until it’s crisp, toasted and golden.” At the start of her business venture, Sara took her granola to the food hall at Creake Abbey and was encouraged by the reactions of customers; since then she’s turned her homely kitchen into a production line and seen her product become a true artisan brand. Always a devoted supporter of local charities, Sara has provided the food for the Norfolk Superhero Challenge for four years, but still admits to a sense of euphoria at the unexpected ‘hit’ of her product at the Thornage Hall Norfolk Christmas Fair in November 2015. It led to a transformation of her workspace. “I started with small amounts, but I’m
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now working with batches of 40kgs a time,” she says. “By March 2016 I’d outgrown the oven and our family kitchen and decided to move the production to a craft bakery in a nearby village. Much to the relief of my four children!” Putting her new kitchen to the test, Sara produced 1,600 granola energy bars for cyclists at the Peddle Norfolk event at Holkham Hall – and the overwhelming response to them saw Sara producing granola bars as a breakfast snack. Combining her own formula and her natural instincts, Sara’s brand – Bonallack Great Granola – is produced in a number of tantalising fusions, using flavours that complement each other perfectly. “I think the most popular are the fullflavoured Original bars with lots of dried fruit, whole hazelnuts and cashews,” she says, “but for people who prefer a granola without raisins, there’s a lovely combination of apple, cinnamon and cranberry.”
It’s not all about granola though. Sara’s Bircher Muesli offers a high-fibre and low-sugar breakfast option that simply needs the addition of yoghurt and apple juice to keep you going until lunchtime. It’s another healthy start to the day that’s been around for a while. It was the brainchild of Swiss doctor and nutritionist Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who opened a sanatorium called Vital Force in 1897, promoting a meal comprising oats, fruit and nuts. Back in Norfolk, Sara’s Bonallack Great Granola (she gave the brand her maiden name) has been awarded no less than 12 Great Taste awards since its launch, and the business now has outlets in specialist delis from London to Newcastle, four stockists in Scotland, and a nationawide distribution network online. Encouraged by praiseworthy product reviews, Sara continues to manage tasting sessions and is moving her tasty (and healthy) creations steadily forward in an increasingly trendy market. So what’s the secret? “We control our ingredients and preparation very carefully at home in North Norfolk,” says Sara. “The secret is to cook lots of nuts, fruit and seeds in a way that brings out their depth of flavour and giving them a low sugar content. It all adds up to a healthy breakfast that needn’t be tasteless and gives granola that vital crunch. I’m satisfied that at last I have found the ultimate luxury granola. I just had to make it myself!” For more details of Sara’s products and details of local stockists, please see www.greatgranola.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2017
K I T C H E N S • B AT H R O O M S • T I L E S
BEDROOMS • PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Stand out from the crowd with a bathroom
from the Quay Centre
A B I G NA M E BR
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Experts in designing and installing beautiful kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms to suit all tastes and budgets • Free design and survey • Trade & new build accounts available • Supply only or full installation service
Address 28-31a North End, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1PE | Tel 01945 476797 | Fax 01945 463495 | Web www.quaycentre.co.uk
Crawfish Inn
Stockists of Yare Valley Oils Norfolk farm grown rapeseed oil
Thai Restaurant & Bar seaf
oodwe
ek.co.uk
Packed with fresh ideas for a very happy Easter!
Traditional Bangkok Thai Cuisine Local Real Ales Extensive Wine List Takeaway Service Fully Air Conditioned Backing British Farming
Call 01328 878313 for reservations Open: Tues-Sun from 6pm Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ
KLmagazine April 2017
/crawfishinn
www.crawfishinn.co.uk
New season crabs Local oysters & shellfish Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh and smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey
Plus! Deli counter with quality local cheeses
D NALDS NS A fresh taste of the sea
Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm
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Book Reviews
A pick of good books for spring It doesn’t matter whether you’re headed for Hunstanton or Hawaii for Easter, it’s the perfect chance to relax with a great book
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pringtime is something of a strange time in the book world — with most publishing houses waiting to publish their big-name ‘marquee’ books in the summer, coinciding with the family holidays and looking towards reading-filled days with a schedule of weighty novels and contenders for the end-of-year literary awards. It’s a particularly odd situation as the spring is the real season of pleasure reading, when most of us have a longawaited amount of longer days and free time to make a dent in our reading lists and take a new discovery or two to the coast, devouring it over beachside drinks and freshly-shucked oysters. The Easter break is precious enough as it is, and when you are given a
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priceless opportunity to relax with a book, you can’t afford to take something lacklustre and dull with you. Luckily, publishers know this as well, and that’s why they roll out a handful of their most thrilling titles as the clocks change, providing readers with a few genuine gems to fill the hours. This is the season for action, adventure, romance and fantasy (the ideal ingredients for any trip to the Norfolk coast!) but it’s also a time for some stellar novels and non-fiction – sparkling pearls of serious literature to cut through all the springtime frolics. If you’ve already planned your break and got your wardrobe all sorted – but haven’t yet decided on your reading matter, here’s a small selection of this spring’s most promising titles.
THE PAST Tessa Hadley In her sixth book, Tessa Hadley brings together a complex, intertwined cast to examine the fallout from a single, three-week family reunion. A trio of sisters and their brother gather at a tumbledown Devon rectory that’s served as the family’s bolt-hole for several generations. Now beyond repair, the bittersweet sense of endings forces a series of familial revelations that tangibly drags the past into the present. Hugely enjoyable, keenly intelligent and gently humourous, this is a brilliantly-written and clever study of families and their enduring capacity for splintering. KLmagazine April 2017
SKYFARING: A JOURNEY WITH A PILOT Mark Vanhoenacker A very timely real for those brave enough to endure the perils of the pound, several hours of dubious in-flight entertainment, and slightly dubious food. Written by a 747 pilot and admitted ‘flight romantic’, Skyfaring avoids the usual fate of aviation books – which tend to be aimed squarely at the control tower enthusiasts. A wondeful look at the wonders of flight, Vanhoenacker’s book bridges the gap between hard (but utterly absorbing) fact and a genuinely fine ear for language, eloquently presenting what is ultimately a meditation on a rather extraordinary but invisible pursuit. In-flight entertainment has never been so entertaining. LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE Jessica Knoll The ideal novel for when you finally step off the airplane has to be Jessica Knoll’s searingly confident debut thriller. TifAni FaNelli is a successful woman from New York living a seemingly pitch-perfect existence. Consenting to a documentary, however, unpicks the seams of her challenging past, laying bare a world of almost absolute deception. A combination of ‘Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Gone Girl’ this is a highly original thriller that takes what we think we know, and then twists it. Several times.
VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH: THE ACCIDENTAL PIRATES Claire Fayers Sure to keep children quiet is Claire Fayers’ wildly adventurous tale that sidesteps the usual clichés of books for younger readers. Brine Seaborne is a 12-year-old girl with an unknown past. Found alone in a rowboat as a child, with a shard of the rare starshell needed for spellcasting, she’s spent every day since then housekeeping for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice. But then she finds herself in the path of a legendary pirate ship. If she’s lucky, she may find out who her parents are. If not, she may be eaten by sea monsters. A brilliant adventure.
WOLF HOLLOW Lauren Wolk When something is compared to Harper Lee’s magisterial To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt, especially if it’s a debut novel. Lauren Wolk has, however, written a superficially simple tale of small-town allegiances and betrayal that masks a complex picture of moral uncertainty and the sliding nature of right and wrong. Although aimed at the ‘young adult’ market, Wolf Hollow is powerful, poignant and lyrical. It’s full of suspense, and it’s beautifully written. It’s an unforgettable story. THE GRADUATE Charles Webb Summer is a great time for reading all those classics you’ve never got round to enjoying. The Graduate is one of those books that seems destined to lie in the shadow of the film it spawned, which is a shame. The book deserves rather more, being a clear-eyed social document that was more about the transition of the 1950s to the 60s than the Nixon-tinged fantasy of the film. Webb’s most recent book (almost ten years ago) was a sequel, but it’s best avoided. The Graduate is a magnificent novel. KLmagazine April 2017
SOMME: INTO THE BREACH Hugh Sebag-Montefiore Published to commemorates the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, noted military historian Hugh Sebag-Montefiore shows that by focusing on stories of the front line, acts of heroism and moments of terror and triumph we can counter, and even change, familiar narratives. Rescuing from history the many forgotten heroes whose bravery has been long overlooked, and giving voice to their bereaved relatives at home, Sebag-Montefiore reveals the Somme campaign in all its glory – as well as its misery. Although there’s a little too much ‘armchair general’ in parts, this is a marvellous account of the Somme that shows there are many meaningful ways to define a battle when seen through the eyes of those who actually lived it. 87
PICTURES: IAN WARD / SUPPLIED / GEOFFC955 / DIAPORAMA
Local Life
ABOVE: Michael Kennedy in his ‘personal gymnasium’ adding rocks to his impromptu sea wall at Hunstanton. Over the last 20 years, he’s spent over 11,000 hours shifting some 300 tons of stone from one part of the beach to another.
Protecting Hunstanton’s cliffs –stone by stone To some he’s a local hero and to others he’s one of the dullest men in Britain, but as Richard Parr discovers, Michael Kennedy’s one-man mission to save the cliffs of Hunstanton is remarkable...
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hen Michael Kennedy retired and felt he wasn’t getting enough exercise, he left his detached bungalow a few hundred yards from the iconic cliff face at Hunstanton and lifted a few rocks, which he then threw against the base of the cliffs. It became a regular practice which turned into a habit, eventually becoming something of an obsession that’s lasted for over 20 years. No surprises that Michael is a muchloved local character, known affectionally as Fred Flintstone, The Rock Man, and the King Canute of West Norfolk. Everything he collects is placed into piles at the foot of the cliffs; larger rocks go at the bottom for stability and the smaller ones are placed at the top.
KLmagazine April 2017
There’s method in Michael’s mission, which also includes picking up rubbish and creating a spotless, stone-free sandy beach for holidaymakers to enjoy. Now 79, he’s been shifting the rocks for two hours every morning apart from Saturdays; when he prefers to watch football. He’s a Chelsea fan, by the way. In that time, he’s ‘worked’ for over 11,000 hours moving hundreds of thousands of stones weighing around 300 tons in total. Gradually, stone by stone, Michael’s actually managed to build a wall that does an excellent job of protecting Hunstanton’s famous redand-white striped cliffs. By 2013, the wall had reached a height of 10ft before the tidal surge that wrought havoc and destruction along the Norfolk coastline washed most of
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Local Life
ABOVE: Michael Kennedy with another rock to add to his current wall protecting the cliifs at Hunstanton – the first had reached a height of 10ft before the tidal surge of 2013 washed most of it away, two years after the photograph below was taken.
his hard work away. It would have been a crushing blow to most people. Michael simply started again the next day. He remains undeterred and had pledged to carry on his one-man crusade against nature until he’s 100. Michael’s daily efforts have resulted in holidaymakers asking to have their picture taken next to him and he’s become something of a celebrity; he’s appeared on the BBC’s Countryfile and also got an honourable mention in Leland Carlson’s 2015 book Dull Men of Great Britain. He’s pleased with the rare distinction, but he doesn’t not necessarily agree with the book’s title. “I wouldn’t say this was dull at all,” he says. “I always get a buzz because my wall gets bigger and higher every day. How can you get bored with that?” Michael worked as a mechanical engineer for London Underground for 30 years before he retired to Hunstanton, and says he’s always
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enjoyed the chance to make the most of nature above ground. “Before I started lifting stones I used to love walking to Old Hunstanton, but I felt that wasn’t enough physical
exercise for me – but I wanted to keep outdoors,” he says. “You‘re breathing in lovely fresh air all the time, but in London there are cars and exhaust fumes and smoke all over the place.” It seems nothing can dampen Michael’s enthusiasm for his seemingly never-ending task. In all weathers, in all seasons, and despite the ravages of tidal surges, you’ll find him at the base of the cliffs adding more stones to his ever-growing monument to patience. Whenever asked if there’s a point to all this effort, Michael’s ready with an answer. “I’m doing my bit to protect the cliffs from coastal erosion,” he says. “The base is made of carrstone and it’s quite weak. When the high tide comes in, the water bashes against the stones and rocks instead of the cliffs – so they’ll hopefully still be here long after I’m gone!” Most people, however, do see the point. “They tell me I’m doing a fantastic job,” he says, “and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction.” Michael will celebrate his 80th birthday in June, but he has no intention of hanging up his sturdy pair of walking boots just yet. “I’m determined to be building this wall when I’m 100,” he says. “But I think by then I won’t be able to do six days a week. I’ll probably just do four.” There are, however, signs that his advancing years aren’t the biggest obstacle in Michael’s path as he may be becoming a victim of his own success; the number of stones on the beach has dwindled significantly in recent years. “It’s really baffling,” he says. “Usually the stones just come in with the sea every year – but this year we haven’t had any.”
KLmagazine April 2017
Brighter ideas for the brighter days... Enjoy the sun and keep your eyes healthy and safe with Hunstanton EyeCare!
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lthough spring is only just here, the open skies of the Norfolk coast means we usually reach for the sunspecs long before it’s time to pack for your summer holidays. Although you’ll be well aware of the dangers prolonged UV exposure poses to your skin, you may not be so familiar with the risks it can expose your eyes to. It’s important to remember that our eyes are constantly exposed to UV light regardless of the weather conditions, and that’s why we take care to ensure your spectacle lenses provide adequate protection through Eye-Sun Protection Factor ratings. They work in much the same way as the SPF in sun creams; an E-SPF rating of 25 means your eyes receive 25 times less UV exposure than unprotected eyes. Light-adaptive photochromic lenses
(better known by their trade name Transitions) have come a long way since they were first introduced, and at Hunstanton EyeCare we offer the seventh generation of these versatile lenses, available in single vision, bifocal and varifocal options. They have an E-SPF of 25 and can be anti-reflection coated for stunning visual performance. The Signature VII lenses are perfect for everyday use, while the Xtractive versions are more suited for those who are very light sensitive. They work exceptionally well, but you may find a separate pair of sunspecs useful while driving, as windscreens tend to absorb much of the UV light they react to. At Hunstanton Eyecare we carry a large selection of sunspecs all year round, and the lenses can be dyed with the tint, colour and density of your choice. The tints are
specially treated to give 100% protection against the harmful UV rays – and they don't alter your perception of colour. Another great way of cutting out glare (and protecting your eyes) is through the use of polarising lenses, which have an ESPF of 50+ and are perfect for eliminating the reflected glare from wet roads and the sea-reflected sun. There’s nothing better than enjoying a sunny day – especially when you do it safely. Contact us now for all your optical needs; we look forward to seeing you! ANNETTE BALL FBDO (Hons) LVA Dispensing Optician and Low Vision Practitioner
44 Church Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5HD
PART OF EYECARE NORFOLK, TRADING AS HUNSTANTON EYECARE AND CROMER EYECARE KLmagazine April 2017
Web: www.hunstantoneyecare.co.uk Tel: 01485 532326 E-mail: info@eyecarenorfolk.co.uk Open: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, 2-5pm | Saturdays 8am-1pm fb.me/www.hunstantoneyecare.co.uk 91
JON CHAMBERS WINDOWS
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48 Bergen Way, North Lynn Ind Est PE30 2JG Tel: (01553) 762749
2-4 Northgate Precinct, High Street PE36 6EA Tel: (01485) 534965
www.kingsoakkitchens.co.uk
KLmagazine April 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 Pamela Simone
Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists
QUI CK FAC TS If you rent out a property which was previously your principle residence you qualify for lettings relief which can be worth up to £40 000 per owner upon realising a capital gain on the sale.
Interest(ed) in paying too much tax
E
dmonton Estates director Pamela Simone looks at the options to avoid the new mortgage interest restriction on landlords for Buy-To-Let properties which comes into force this month. From 6th April this year Section 24 of The Finance Act (2015) restricts the percentage of tax relief available to Buy-To-Let Landlords on their mortgage interest payments. This is a phased abolition of tax relief which starts at 25% for the 2017/18 tax year and will increase by the same amount for each consecutive year until 2021 when it reaches 100%, effectively meaning that no relief remains. There are several ways to reduce the impact of these changes depending on individual circumstances. The most accessible option for new landlords is the formation of a limited company or, for existing landlords’
incorporation. By doing this it is the company which is engaging in the borrowing. Alternatively, the directors may obtain personal finance and introduce these funds into the company. If the company owners incur personal borrowings tax relief may be available on the interest paid providing the loan is used wholly or exclusively for its’ business purposes. In either instance, it would be the company that own’s the property and the new legislation imposes no sanctions against the interest on company borrowings being offset against tax. The timing of the mortgage interest tax relief restriction coincides with the Government’s cuts to corporation tax to 19% in 2017 and 18% in 2020 further enhancing the attractiveness of landlords’ incorporating their property business into a limited company.
Other options to consider would be the possibility of re-mortgaging on a fixed rate deal which could provide a substantial saving considering interest rates are currently low. Multi property landlords may be prompted to reassess their holdings, with a view to selling off one property to reduce the borrowings on the remainder of their portfolio. The sales market is particularly buoyant locally at this time, seemingly fuelled by government incentives for first time buyers. Section 24 of the Finance Act (2015) is one of the most significant changes to taxation of the private rental sector since the mid-1990s’ when Buy-To-Let investment first established itself. If you are affected by the issues raised here it would be prudent to make an appointment with your accountant or financial advisor for advice.
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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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
ABOVE: Members of the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club putting their backs into it in one of the club’s purpose-built St Ayles Skiffs
The friendly local crew welcoming you aboard... It’s a wonderful way to explore the area’s waterways and it’s good for your health and your social life. Richard Parr takes to the water and says hello to the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club
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or most of us, the only contact we have with rowing is watching the annual University Boat Race, watching the teams from Oxford and Cambridge battling their way along a four-mile stretch of the Thames between Putney and Mortlake. By the time you’re reading this, the 2017 race will be over (it’s on April 2nd) but some local viewers who would have watched it with more than passing interest would have been the members of the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club. These men and women rowers don’t just watch rowing – they actively take part in the sport themselves, taking their oars and boats onto the River
KLmagazine April 2017
Great Ouse and at Denver and the inland waters beyond. The University Boat Race has been going since 1829, making the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club a veritable toddler as it was only established three years ago. Depsite that, it now boasts a membership of 26 men and women, and there’s plenty of room for anyone who fancies trying their hand at the sport. Club President Bob Panrucker is a lifelong sailor with a genuine love of the water, and he speaks enthusiastically about the club and the benefits of membership. Retired from the world of project management, Bob says he’s been delighted to see the club grow
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and how much its members enjoy the activities and friendship they share. “Probably the greatest single thing about our club,” he says, “is that members are always having fun!” Rowing is considered a great way to develop personal fitness as it’s a low impact, full-body exercise that works every muscle group. King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club specialises in the building and rowing of St Ayles Skiffs, four-oared rowing boats first designed by Iain Oughtred for the Scottish Fisheries Museum in 2009. Club members row regularly on the River Great Ouse in King’s Lynn, the more rural branch of the river at Saddlebow on the outskirts of the town, and at a private lake at Narborough. They also take part in occasional away-days when they travel to events at locations further afield. Membership is open to everyone, whether their interest is in rowing or in simply learning about about the basics of boatbuilding. Yes, you can train and row and learn to cox, or you can help build the vessels in the club’s own workshop on the North Lynn Industrial Estate. The club has been given valuable support from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, something Bob is greatly appreciative of.
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“The Borough Council has helped us enormously,” he says. “They’ve given us financial support and they’ve allowed us to use an empty unit at North Lynn as our workshop.” The club has also been given significant backing from grant-aiding bodies such as the Norfolk Community Foundation (£2,500), the National Lottery (£6,500) and Sport England (£7,900). “The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk is delighted to assist this Club which could do so much to revitalise the historic waterfront at Lynn,” says Councillor Alistair Beales. “It offers plenty of fun opportunities for those interested in learning boatbuilding techniques, for rowers and for spectators.” King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club was founded by three fellow rowing enthusiasts who spent a year in the TS Vancouver headquarters along the town’s South Quay building a St Ayles Skiff, which was given a ceremonial launch by the town’s Mayor and Mayoress in the presence of Sir Henry Bellingham MP. Bob is keen to get young people more involved in the club and would like to see its recent link-up with the College of West Anglia repeated. “We currently have a membership of 26 and I’d really like to see that rise to
around 30,” he says. “About 70% of us are men, so we could do with some more women rowers as well!” New members are advised to try a couple of sessions with the club to give them time to decide if they like the sport – and if the club likes them! “All new members receive comprehensive training on every aspect of the sport with safety being of the highest importance,” says Bob. “All new members will be given a warm welcome and every assistance from more experienced members – and they’ll also have a lot of fun!” For more information on the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club and for details of how you can join the club, you can contact Bob Panrucker on 07803 164883 or by visiting the club’s website at www.klcrc.club
KLmagazine April 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: The glorious setting of Sandringham House, the setting for Allan Coleby’s new book documenting the lives of George V and Queen Mary (above right)
Retelling the local story of a truly royal romance The reign of George V saw a radical transformation of the world’s political landscape, but as Sylvia Steele learns from local author Allan Coleby, it was also a love story spread over 40 years...
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hey were gardeners, farm labourers and household servants of the Royal Household at Sandringham; and they were the men who made up Company E in the 5th Territorial Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1914. Under the command of Captain Frank Beck, Land Agent to HM King George V, they took up arms and left their Norfolk estate homes for an unknown destination. Not France or the Western Front, but a small peninsula in Northern Turkey; Gallipoli. It was whilst collating information on the Gallipoli campaign for a local magazine, and paying particular
KLmagazine April 2017
attention to the effects of World War I on the Sandringham area, Dersinghambased writer Allan Coleby became enthused with another story that was emerging – that of King George V and Queen Mary. That enthusiasm has now resulted in the publication of Allan’s book The First Windsors, which explores the lifetime of King George V during a period of great political unrest in Britain and the threat of war. The book (described as a ‘docudrama’) takes the reader on an historical journey from the later years of Queen Victoria’s reign, through the romance of George and Mary and their early married
years until (with the death of his father Edward VII) the couple are thrown into the glare of publicity and their idyllic lives are changed forever. “I’d collected a mass of information during my study on the local effects of World War I, but the lives of these two almost romantic figures seemed to be a story worthy of being told,” says Allan. “Aspects of their characters emerged that fascinated me. I began to like George more and more, finding him to be a quiet man with a lot of affection for his country and his workers and very cognisant with the threat war presented to the nation.” As the narrative unfolds it concentrates
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Local Life
ABOVE: The wedding of Prince George, Duke of York to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck on July 6th 1893, after which the new Duke and Duchess of York lived in York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate (below) – a modest house for royalty, but a favourite of George’s.
on the role the King plays in discussions and strategies with government ministers – both in this country and Europe – whilst interweaving the couple’s personal tragedies and lifestyles against the ever-increasing menace of war. The course of World War I runs throughout the book, describing its impact not only on this country’s monarchy, but also on the lives of King George’s own cousins, the heads of state of Germany and Russia. Three months after the declaration of war on 4th August 1914, King George was making his first visit to troops in Ypres. This, we learn through the pages of Allan’s book, is to be the first of two further visits to the front line, one of them with Queen Mary; the King insisting it was what the people expected of their monarch. Queen Mary (we are told) “does her duty as she sees it, her first priority being sacrificing everything to George’s needs and peace of mind” – her ubiquitous fashion style of toque hat, coiffure and parasol giving her an austere appearance and making her instantly recognisable. “Far from being the stern figure often portrayed, Mary shone through my research as being compassionate; always working tirelessly with her husband to raise the morale of the British people,” says Allan. “Far from being aloof, when war broke out she immediately set about helping women with her Needlework Guild and Relief Clothing Guild; she later launched the Queen’s Work for Women Fund, providing work instead of charity for unemployed women – and earning their steadfast respect.”
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King George (a sailor at heart, according to Allan) always preferred the homely atmosphere of York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, with its small intimate rooms; and he was quite content for his mother, the Dowager Queen Alexandra to continue her occupancy of the ‘big house.’ When a chance remark questioning the patriotism of the monarchs (because of their Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ancestry) was overheard at a dinner party, an affronted King George immediately sought a name that would satisfy the
public. After much deliberation, and in conference with his private secretary Lord Stamfordham, ‘Windsor’ was adopted. A natural born scribbler of stories, Allan studied English at Nottingham University before becoming a teacher in the North Midlands and Humberside areas. His initial venture into publishing was two prize-winning short stories which he followed with his first novel Only Us. Allan’s no stranger to the lanes and byways of Sandringham and the surrounding area, having spent many holidays in the area with his wife Val. When retirement beckoned from his position as Project Manager at NCS Pearson, the couple looked no further than the Norfolk coast, where they could indulge their interests of walking, wildlife and birdwatching. Searching out the history of George and Mary led them from the well-tended cottage gardens grouped around the church of West Newton to the quiet lanes of Wolferton with the church of St. Peter, backing onto marshland and the coast beyond. They took in the pristine stud at Anmer, the farms and water tower of Appleton, and explored the grounds surrounding York Cottage, the lake and Sandringham House itself. These are areas that Allan describes as being totally unchanging, every element steeped in the royal history he has so brilliantly and atmospherically brought to life. The First Windsors: a docudrama of a 20th century Royal Relationship by Allan Coleby (Arena Books Ltd) is now available from all good bookshops.
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ABOVE: Work progresses on the King’s Lynn town sign, which is being restored and repaired by Harry Overton (far right) at his workshop just outside the town. It will soon be looking as good as it did when it was last restored, back in 2011 (opposite).
Restoring a sign of the times for King’s Lynn... The beautiful sign welcoming visitors to King’s Lynn will soon be returning to its home, and it will look better than ever. Stephanie Lewis takes a closer look at the locally-undertaken restoration work
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orfolk is famous for its town and village signs, and visitors to King’s Lynn may wonder why such an important and beautiful town doesn’t appear to have one. Of course, local residents know that King’s Lynn does indeed have such a sign, but it had to be removed from its home on the South Gate roundabout to be repaired. But now, after a painstaking process of repair and restoration, it’s shortly to be returned to its original site, ready to welcome travellers once again. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk was forced to remove the sign after noticing it had become significantly damaged by the weather –
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and commissioned master traditional signwriters, modern signmakers and artistic decorators Harry H Overton & Co. to carry out the restoration work. “I’m delighted our sign will soon be back in its place at the gateway to our beautiful town,” says Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, deputy leader of the borough council and cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health. “It’s been away a while, but repairing something so important needed to be done slowly and with great care.” Elizabeth also points out that it’s not the first time the sign has been in need of some TLC. “I’d like to thank local artist Helena Anderson, who previously repaired the
sign,” she says. “Her work meant the sign could stand in place for a good few years, but unfortunately the depredations of time and weather meant it needed major repairs. Carved timber looks wonderful, but it’s also very delicate, and over time we do have to intervene to ensure it lasts as long as possible.” The restoration process began by completely stripping back the sign, and removing all the layers of paint that had been previously applied. It took two weeks, with a final sanding removing any traces of paint or primer. The next step was to assess the condition of the sign. A few areas of rot were found, and in several spots the
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PICTURES: IAN WARD / HARRY OVERTON / SUPPLIED / IAN BURT
Local Life
Local Life
wood was soft and naturally degrading. Removing the paint also revealed a previous repair that had been made to the base of the sign; an oak block had been added that needed carving into the existing sign to form an invisible repair. The sign was then scrubbed to remove any chemical residue and dried slowly in an 8-12oc atmosphere for another two weeks to remove any traces of moisture. It was then immersed in a spirit-based solution of fungicide and pesticide, and left to dry naturally for a further ten days. This carefully-controlled drying process reveals any previously undetected soft or rotted areas of wood, and although some were found, they were straightforward to repair. All areas of rot were treated and built up, and the soft areas hardened and refilled. Work then moved on to re-carving the sign’s dragon that had been previously repaired with a plain oak block. One side of the town sign depicts the patron saint of King’s Lynn St Margaret of Antioch defeating the devil in the form of a dragon. Harry Overton carved the block into the part of the dragon that was missing, and then aged the carving to hide his modern addition to the sign. The other side of the sign depicts Henry Bell, architect of the town’s famed Custom House and once mayor of King’s Lynn. The shields and scrolls at the top of the sign were found to be in need of total replacement. The shield depicts
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the town’s arms, with the pelican crest Lynn adopted in the 18th century sitting atop it. The scrolls read In Principio Erat Verbum (‘in the beginning was the word’) and a specialist firm was commissioned to carve the new versions. Once the new shields and scrolls had been fitted and the glue had dried, the painting could finally begin. Three coats of aluminium primer and two of undercoat were added before the top coats and enamel decorations. Once these have dried, the sign will be complete and ready to face the weather once again. One interesting discovery made during the restoration of the sign was new evidence it had been carved by Harry Carter. Carter was an art and woodwork teacher at Hamond’s Grammar School in Swaffham and he carved many of Norfolk’s town and village signs. In fact, the first sign he carved was Swaffham’s famous ‘pedlar’ sign, depicting the legendary figure of John Chapman. By the time Harry Carter died in 1983, he had carved over 200 signs. “Once I stripped back all the paint, I discovered Harry Carter’s name carved into the wood –it was hidden under too many layers of paint to be seen until this restoration process was started,” says Harry Overton. “But now the sign has been completely restored and repainted the name can clearly be seen. It’s great to be able to see this evidence that he did indeed carve the King’s Lynn town sign, and that it fits into a real Norfolk tradition.” Indeed, the tradition of carved and painted signs began in Norfolk after Edward VII suggested they would aid motorists and provide an interesting feature on the Sandringham estate. Their popularity duly spread across other counties when Prince Albert, Duke of York, gave a speech promoting their use to the Royal Academy in 1920.
Many village signs were removed during World War II, to prevent invading forces using them to navigate by, and they began to be replaced in the 1950s and 60s. Today, however, they’re making something of a renaissance. You’ll see signs in most Norfolk towns and villages; made of metal or wood, celebrating important historic events or unique local features. Whether a hundred years old or brand new, they all inspire local pride and a sense of belonging – and King’s Lynn’s town sign is scheduled to be returned to its home on the South Gate roundabout this spring. PICTURES: The King’s Lynn sign in Harry Overton’s workshop. It will soon return to its home on the South Gate roundabout, where artist Helena Anderson and Mayor Colin Sampson unveiled the most recent restoration back in July 2011 (below).
KLmagazine April 2017
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The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
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always think it’s nice to do something a bit different when you plan your next holiday, and there’s nothing quite like exploring new places and cultures. But there’s an awful lot to explore and discover on our own doorsteps, and a new company in Norfolk is about to start taking people on some very exciting journeys indeed. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Old Ploy Safari Ltd. Based in a couple of converted barns just outside King’s Lynn, the company has been set up by Richard Ploy; a fascinating (and slightly eccentric) man to whom I was introduced by a friend a few weeks ago. Richard was born in Nuneaton, but he’s been living in Norfolk for the last five years after a glittering career as a writer, television presenter, researcher and lecturer – he’s given talks everywhere from the Natural History Museum to Oxford University. But what makes him slightly more interesting than your average academic celebrity is that Richard is a cyptozoologist; someone who studies animals and other creatures that have yet to be accepted by science as real. About 25 years ago, Richard Ploy went to Thailand to research the naga (a giant crested snake) and he didn’t return to the UK for a decade. He went to Sumatra on the trail of the uprightwalking ape known as the orang-pendek, skipped over to Mongolia for the fearsome creature called the Mongolian Death Worm (don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds) and then spent three years in Guyana researching the semi-aquatic water tiger. After travelling the world and spending four years leading expeditions 106
in Tasmania looking at the Tasmanian Wolf (thylacine), Richard decided it was time to stop following the tracks of strange animals in far-flung locations; and although he chose to settle down in Norfolk, he certainly had no intention of hanging up his explorer’s boots. And that’s where the idea of Old Ploy Safari came in. For Richard is now offering people the chance to join him on local safaris (on a 1- or 2-week basis) that are half holiday and half cyptozoological expedition. The ‘old’ part of the company’s name derives from the fact that Richard is everything you’d expect from a Victorian explorer; a big bushy beard, a very cultured and poetic way of talking and a habit of dressing rather extravagantly. He doesn’t expect his guests and fellow travellers to follow suit, however – although he does recommend you take walking boots. If you’re interested in joining Richard on an Old Ploy Safari you’ll have to book early (as Fred Pontin used to say) as his expedition vehicles limit the numbers on each holiday to 20 people; but those lucky people can look forward to some amazing local adventures. Richard is planning trips to Cromer and other locations on the Norfolk coast to gather data concerning the fearsome hound known as Black Shuck (and to confirm the measurements of some recently-discovered footprints) and he’ll be taking to the water in the summer with his state-of-the-art cameras to get the Barton Broad crocodile on film for the first time. Close to home, Old Ploy Safari will be spending two weeks in King’s Lynn photographing the flightless bird known locally as the Chickcharney, and
in August they’ll be (literally) on the tracks of the Beast of Downham Market. This big cat (some people claim it’s a puma) has been spotted a number of times over the last few years, and Richard even managed to photograph it in 2015 (see image below). Birdlovers shouldn’t miss the chance to spend a week in the woods around Sandringham hoping for a glimpse of the ivory-billed woodpecker (West Norfolk is thought to be one of the last three habitats in the world for this elusive bird); while Richard’s only trip outside Norfolk takes place in October, when you’ll be able to help him document the feeding habits of the legendary Ghost Deer in Wisbech. Thanks to Old Ploy Safari, local holidays will never be quite the same again, and I’m already packing my binoculars. Richard’s first safari takes place at the end of this month and will be on the lookout for the Horsey Point Hoop Snake, which made the news last year when it injured a number of seals in the area. Of course, it won't have escaped lovers of anagrams that the launch of Old Ploy Safari at the start of this month was anything but fortuitous.
KLmagazine April 2017