ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 86 NOVEMBER 2017 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE Fireworks over King’s Lynn by Ian Ward
meet the team MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward PROMOTION Nicola Back ADVERTISING Jessica Smith CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Linda Drury Kevin Holland 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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lthough the start of Advent is still a month away (it actually begins on Sunday December 3rd), the festive season is now very much upon us. Forty years after its debut as a small scale carol concert in a an old farm building, the first performance of the Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2017 takes place on 8th November – and creator John Cushing talks about its success and popularity on page 30 of this month’s magazine. Meanwhile, Oxburgh Hall starts its festive celebrations this year with early Christmas lunches served from November 8th – and you can read more about their plans for the season on page 26. Meanwhile, Ely Cathedral’s hugely popular Christmas Gift and Food Fair takes place on November 17th-18th (see page 16 for details), while over in King’s Lynn the festivities begin with the big Christmas Lights Switch On on November 26th (see page 20). So there’s plenty for you to explore this month – and if you are the adventurous type don’t miss the opportunity to hear Benedict Allen talk at St. George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn on November 21st. If you thought the age of great explorers was long gone and the world is now more than familiar, Benedict will have you thinking again. He’s made the first outside contact with three threatened indigenous peoples and has travelled for longer alone in rainforests than anyone else alive. He’s the only person known to have crossed the full width of the vast Gobi Desert (with only camels for company) and made the first documented journey of the length of the Namib Desert. He’s also the only person known to have crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest. Before his talk on his recent search for the elusive birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea with the BBC’s Security Correspondent Frank Gardener, Benedict found time to talk about just what it takes to boldly go where no man has gone before – and you can read his interview on page 106. It’s time to celebrate – so enjoy the magazine and we’ll see you again next month! KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine November 2017
Contents
NOVEMBER 2017
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20
48 KLmagazine November 2017
106
6-12 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
56-58 NORFOLK’S BUDDING TALENT... The garden design work of Tamara Bridge
8-10 REMBRANDT IN NORFOLK A celebration of the original old master...
62-69 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
14 ALIVE CORN EXCHANGE Fabulous shows and fun-filled activities
72-74 PUDD’ENG Enjoying a taste of tradition with pudd’Eng
16-18 THE MAGIC OF ELY CATHEDRAL A beautiful setting for Christmas celebrations
76-85 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
20-23 CHRISTMAS IN KING’S LYNN Shopping, Santa, and the big Switch On
82 RESTAURANT REVIEW A visit to The Ship Hotel at Brancaster
26-28 FESTIVITIES AT OXBURGH HALL A season of joy in the famous family home
90-92 THE LIFE OF MARGERY KEMPE A look at King’s Lynn medieval visionary
30-32 THE GREATEST-EVER XMAS SHOW Inside the Thursford Christmas Spectacular
94-96 RIDING THE WAVE OF THE EAGRE Kevin Holland on a rare natural phenomenon
40-42 HENRY LE STRANGE IN BRONZE Remembering the man who built Hunstanton
100-102 NINE DECADES OF FELLOWSHIP The work of King’s Lynn Round Table 54
48-50 NOVEMBER IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner
106-108 THE LAST GREAT EXPLORER... Benedict Allen journeys to King’s Lynn
52 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
110-112 THE ART OF TIME AND PLACE The work of Norfolk artist Janice Alamanou
54 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas
106 MICHAEL MIDDLETON On the inventiveness of the fairer sex...
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Sunday 19th WEDDING FAYRE The Red Barn, College Lane, South Runcton, King’s Lynn PE33 0EX (10:30am-3pm) The Red Barn’s well-established independent Wedding Fayre is held twice a year and is back this November. If you are looking for any vendor for your wedding or event, from hen do’s to honeymoon and everything in between, pay them a visit – even just for a bit of inspiration! There will be free parking, free food, live music and exhibitors include photographers, florists, caterers, bar licensees, entertainers, cake makers, formal dress hire, wedding dresses, mother of the bride outfits, transport and much more! Make sure to fill out the online form to register - saving time on the day, securing yourself a free show bag and giving you the change to win a prize. Visit the website www.theredbarnnorfolk.co.uk/wedding-fayre for more information and to register.
Friday 24th
BLACK FRIDAY Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough PE1 1NT (8am-8pm, parking is free after 5:30pm) For the past few years, Black Friday has seen incredible bargains with up to 80% off in some retailers in the regional shopping centre, and this year is set to be just as competitive. Brands such as John Lewis, Topshop, River Island, Body Shop and more are expected to take part, but details of their discounts are kept a closely-guarded secret until nearer the date. Also, with many stores extending their sales across the weekend, the ‘Black Friday Weekend’ gives more shoppers the chance to get their hands on a pre-Christmas bargain. Yankee Candle has been newly opened in Queensgate Shopping Centre and Smiggle and Joules are set to open before Christmas! Keep an eye out on the Queensgate social media pages for the latest updates leading up to and throughout Black Friday.
KLmagazine November 2017
© Keith Powell
© Lightening photography
November
Saturday 4th – Saturday 11th WEST NORFOLK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION: AUTUMN EXHIBITION The Fermoy Gallery (situated in the courtyard at rear of theatre) King Street PE30 1HA (10am-4pm daily, including Sunday) The members of the WNAA will be on hand to welcome friends, old and new to their Autumn Exhibition. The artworks on show will be as varied as ever, including paintings, prints, textiles, mosaics and glass, ceramics, sculpture and photography, and always that extra 3D surprise! No restriction on theme this year so be prepared for the unexpected. Come on, beat the winter blues and join them! Further details are available from Chairman John Walker on 01485 520590 or visit the website westnorfolkartists.org. Admission is free.
28th October - 14th December
GLASS LIGHT PAINT & CLAY, OBJECTS FROM THE GRAHAM COOLEY COLLECTION Peterborough Museum and City Gallery, Priestgate, PE1 1LF (Open 10am-5pm Tues to Sun) Peterborough Museum and City Gallery present Glass, Light, Paint & Clay, an expansive display of artworks by four outstanding British artists, from the Graham Cooley Collection. Including works by Sam Herman, pioneer of the Studio Glass movement, Bernard Rooke, prolific lighting design ceramicist, Duncan Clarke, landscape painter and environmentalist and sculptor John Maltby, whose works can be found in the V&A’s collection. Previous exhibitions from Cooley’s collection include Forma Hungarica, Alla Moda and Caithness Glass: Loch, Heather & Peat, all of which were shown at King’s Lynn Arts Centre.
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WINTER WONDERLAN D Now open daily 8am-6pm
The Magic of
Christmas
NEW THEMES. GREAT GIF TS AMA ZIN G LIGHTS
MOAT ROAD NURSERY A family‐run, independent garden centre
Real Christmas Trees & Wreaths arriving late November
Wreaths & freshly cut flowers also available
Open up until Christmas Eve!
COFFEE SHOP Offering cakes, lunches and Sunday roasts Open: 9am-4:30pm
Garden Centre & Coffee Shop www.thaxters.co.uk | 01485 541514 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514
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One of the biggest displays of real Christmas Trees in West Norfolk!
Moat Rd, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn, PE34 4PN Tel: 01553 828723 | Open: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4
KLmagazine November 2017
November & future events...
November - December
CHRISTMAS IS COMING The King William IV Country Inn & Restaurant, Heacham Road, Sedgeford, Hunstanton PE36 5LU The King William IV Country Inn & Restaurant in Sedgeford has a very special early Christmas present for you – an exclusive photographic exhibition of Norfolk and other mysterious places by celebrated local photographer David Morris. Delight in a hearty, home-cooked family meal in the gallery restaurant while admiring the stunning photographic works adorning the walls. Plus, it’s not too late to book your festive meal. If you would like to celebrate in true King Will style, bookings are still being taken for the two or three course pre-Christmas party menu, priced £18.95 and £23.95 per person (available Friday 1st to Tuesday 26th December, excluding Sunday lunch and Christmas Day). Crackers will be provided, so don’t forget to wear your party hat! To book, call 01485 571765 or visit www.thekingwilliamsedgeford.co.uk.
Sunday 3rd & Sunday 10th December
CHRISTMAS CRAFT WORKSHOP - A NATURAL CHRISTMAS Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB (10:30am-12noon & 1pm-2:30pm) Families, get creative and into the Christmas spirit! Join Holkham Hall’s festive workshop and make some decorations to take away using a combination of natural materials including berries, twigs, pinecones, greenery and moss. You can even add a spot of Christmas sparkle too! Please be aware that, weather permitting, there will be a short walk at the start of the session to collect some materials from Holkham park. This session is suitable for children aged 3 and above. Tickets are £5 per child. Pre-booking is essential, and adult supervision is required. There is a parking charge of £3 in Holkham park which is redeemable on purchases of £12 or more in our courtyard café or gift shop. For more information and to book tickets visit the website www.holkham.co.uk/events/whats-on. KLmagazine November 2017
Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd December
DEEPDALE CHRISTMAS MARKET Dalegate Market and St Mary’s Church, Burnham Deepdale (10am to 5pm on all three days) Deepdale Christmas Market is a wonderful celebration of the festive season on the beautiful North Norfolk Coast. Dalegate Market, Deepdale Backpackers & Camping and St Mary’s Church welcome over 120 local artisans and producers to the little coastal village of Burnham Deepdale, creating one of the East of England’s largest festive markets in a tiny village of just 30 permanent residents. Old favourites like Candi’s Chutney, James Buttifant’s penguins, Marsh Pig, Nelson & Norfolk Tea Company, Breckland Orchard, Cushion Cottage, Gourmet Brownies, Ollands Farm Foods, Boo Boutique, Norfolk Brewhouse, Bringing The Outside In, Holkham Forge, Lilac Nurseries and Reclaimed Time will be returning with their wonderful produce. As always, entrance is FREE to the event, so no emptying your pockets before the shopping begins. For more details on the event please visit the website www.deepdalechristmasmarket.co.uk.
Saturday 16th December INDOOR CHRISTMAS MARKET The Dabbling Duck, 11 Abbey Road, Great Massingham PE32 2HN Visit The Dabbling Duck on Saturday December 16th and enjoy their first Christmas Market. There will be lots of stalls from Christmas edibles to fabulous last minute gifts (see list of stall holders on our advert). To warm up we'll be serving our homemade apple cider and mulled wine or have a delicious hot chocolate, laced with cream, marshmallows and perhaps your favourite tipple! The pizza oven will be fired up and ready to go and the wok hot for the street food. Don't miss the Great Massingham school children singing carols to really get you in the spirit. Raffle proceeds will be donated to their Playground Improvement Fund.
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PICTURE: NATIONAL GALLERIES SCOTLAND
What’s On
ABOVE: Detail from Rembrandt’s A Woman in Bed (painted around 1647) which forms part of a major exhibition of the artist’s work at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, focusing on his fascination with printmaking – from biblical scenes to self-portraits (opposite)
A celebration of one of the greatest-ever artists Norwich is home to the fourth most important collections of Rembrandt etchings in the country – now exhibited as a group for the first time in 30 years, they’re the centrepiece of a new exhibition
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embrandt is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in the history of art, and you’d be forgiven for thinking Norfolk is an unlikely place to find him. But you’d be wrong. London art dealer Percy Moore Turner spent part of his life in Norwich, and was a great believer in the importance of museums and public access to great art. On his death in 1950 he bequeathed some 93 Rembrandt etchings to Norwich Castle Museum – giving the county the fourth
KLmagazine November 2017
most important collection in the country after the British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum. They now form the core of a major exhibition that runs at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery until January 7th, 2018. Rembrandt: Lightening the Darkness focuses on one of the less well-known aspects of the artist’s output; his fascination with printmaking, and in particular his use of the medium to explore innovative tonal gradations to produce evocative images of the Dutch landscape,
dramatic biblical scenes and many introspective self-portraits. Few people today know that during his lifetime, Rembrandt was as famed for his etchings as for his paintings. In Britain, for example, he was far better known as a printmaker. The exhibition is being jointly curated by Dr Francesca Vanke, Keeper of Art and Curator of Decorative Art, and Dr Giorgia Bottinelli, Curator of Historic Art, both of Norwich Castle Museum. “This is the first time our extraordinary collection of Rembrandt etchings have been exhibited as a 9
ABOVE: A detail from The Three Trees, a Rembrandt etching created in 1643, and (below) The Angel preventing Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac – a chalk drawing the artist produced around 1634
group for more than 30 years,” says Francesca Vanke. “The exhibition demonstrates how Rembrandt’s handling of light and darkness, expressed purely through the medium of black lines and the white space around them, was unsurpassed.” Rembrandt’s preoccupation with light and shade can be seen throughout his work, as exemplified by specially selected additional works which complement the prints. Three oil paintings: A Woman in Bed from the National Galleries of Scotland, Christ and St Mary Magdalen at the Tomb from the Royal Collection and Anna and the Blind Tobit from the National Gallery have been generously loaned to Norwich for this exhibition. The British Museum has also loaned the striking chalk and wash drawing – The Angel preventing Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac – together with four prints. It is highly unlikely these works have ever been exhibited together before. “By comparing prints with a chosen group of paintings and drawings,” explains Giorgia Bottinelli, “we’re showing how physical and metaphorical light and darkness meet and combine in Rembrandt’s work in all media – creating narratives that communicate to the viewer across time.”
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The process of etching has been used in printmaking since the Middle Ages and is achieved by drawing a picture with a needle onto a metal plate covered with a waxy ground. The plate is then dipped in acid, which bites into the lines created by the artist. Rembrandt was highly skilled in etching, as well as other related techniques of engraving and drypoint – and as such is credited as being one of the world’s most renowned and innovative printmakers. The exhibition includes 83 etchings from Norwich Castle’s Rembrandt collection, and the subjects cover the whole range of his oeuvre; including self-portraits, portraits of friends and family (among them a particularly lovely study of Rembrandt’s mother), biblical scenes and landscapes, as well as genre and nude studies. Each print vividly reveals Rembrandt’s outstanding ability to capture the nuances of light and shade. Enigmatic figures emerge from evocative darkened backgrounds, night is subtly differentiated from shadow, while narrative and emotion are heightened by contrasts and perfectly added highlights. Unlike many artists Rembrandt printed the plates himself and often reworked them – as can be seen from comparing different states of the same
subject. As such, printmaking to him was a constantly evolving art. In addition he was perpetually experimenting, often employing different acids and using hatching lines of varying thickness, bitten to depths of various degrees, in his attempts to achieve greater tonal effects. Different papers, as well as oatmeal and vellum, were also a means to create further gradations in texture and contrast. Rembrandt treated print-making as an artistic medium in its own right, rather than merely a means of the mass reproduction of existing works, as had been the case up to this point. The Rembrandt: Lightening the Darkness exhibition includes a print room guiding visitors through the printmaking process, while original copper etching plates from the Norwich School of artists drawn from the Norwich Castle collections also illuminate this fascinating process. “Visitors from the area and further afield will relish this beautiful exhibition by one of the most important and bestloved artists in European history,” says Margaret Dewsbury, Chair of Norfolk County Council’s Communities Committee. “The exhibition presents a rare opportunity to view at close range this outstanding but until now little known collection – and is another example of the cultural riches Norwich has to offer.” Rembrandt: Lightening the Darkness is showing at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery until Sunday, 7th January 2018. For more details, opening times and ticket prices, please call 01603 495897 or visit the website at www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
PICTURE: TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM
PICTURE: NORFOLK MUSEUMS SERVICE
What’s On
KLmagazine November 2017
NOVEMBER What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated
Fri 3rd
Totally Tina
International acclaimed and award-winning tribute revue show to the Queen of Rock, Tina Turner
Sat Legends of American Country Show No 1 Country music returns for another fantastic 4th Europe's night of toe tapping Country classics
Sat Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers Promising to be a unique voyage back to the 1970s, 11th bringing back all the thrill and excitement of Rollermania!
Thurs Follies Live from the National Theatre, London•7pm Sondheim’s legendary musical is staged for the first 16th Stephen time at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas Fri The South Continuing to celebrate classic Beautiful South songs along 17th with songs from The South's debut album 'Sweet Refrains’ Sat The Super Sonic 70’s Show Join the band in their travelling 70’s time machine, 18th back to the days when pop really was at its peak!
Sun The Stylistics *LAST FEW SEATS REMAINING* One of the most iconic and best selling soul groups in history, 19th recognisable for hits such as ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’
Fri Peter Andre - My Life Story Hear Peter talk about his career to date with Q&A’s plus a 24th special guest (TBA on the night), in aid of Save the Children Sat Frankie Dettori The winner of over 3000 races hosts an evening of humour, 25th anecdotes and chat in his own inimitable style
Wed Holly At Christmas Buddy Holly & The Cricketers Guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and 29th starring some of the finest actor-musicians in the UK
For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:
www.princesshunstanton.co.uk
or call the Box Office: 01485
532252
The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH KLmagazine November 2017
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What’s On
Awesome shows this Autumn November may be chilly, but the Corn Exchange’s sizzling show line up will definitely warm you up! LIVE ON MARS – A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE Saturday 4 November A bold new stage production celebrating iconic pop hero David Bowie; his music, artistry, style and showmanship... Influenced by Bowie’s legendary concert performances, LIVE ON MARS fuses sound and vision to portray the essence of Bowie, his alter egos and creative muses, with stunning big screen visuals and animation. Featuring the electrifying vocals and uncanny likeness of singer and lifelong Bowie fan Alex Thomas, with a handpicked world-class band, and covering the Bowie back-catalogue from Space Oddity to Let’s Dance and everything in between, LIVE ON MARS is sure to become the definitive musical tribute that all generations of Bowie fans have been waiting for.
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A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Thursday 9 November Be part of the magic as A Night of Dirty Dancing returns to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. No film has captured the hearts of a generation like Dirty Dancing. Relive the Passion, the Romance & Joy of the Cult Classic and celebrate the music of one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time. Be part of the glorious summer of ‘63 and experience all your favourite songs such as She’s Like The Wind, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Hey Baby, Wipe-out, Hungry Eyes, and of course the Oscar Winning (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. So put down that watermelon and get your tickets for A Night of Dirty Dancing: The Ultimate Tribute Show. *Please note this show is not affiliated with ‘Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage’ currently on tour in the UK and worldwide.
KLmagazine October 2017
RAY MEARS – BORN TO GO WILD Friday 10 November From a very young age Ray discovered the joys of exploring the Wilderness, the most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet. His fascination with this environment that has not been modified by civilized human activity has greatly shaped his life. Ray will take you on a journey that he deeply values for cultural, spiritual, moral and aesthetic reasons and explain why he believes these are vital for the human spirit and creativity. Ray Mears’s new tour is spectacular. Learn how to make fire without all the modern devices and there’s a look behind the scenes at the making of his TV show about Australia. A serious master class in both survival and nature.
VAMPIRES ROCK Friday 24 November Steve Steinman has ramped up the vamp in this spectacular sequel to the phenomenally successful Vampires Rock. This Rock-tastic, Hilarious, Musical Concert lives up to its rocking reputation. A tongue in cheek storyline, spellbinding cast, guitar gods and sexy vampettes take you on a ride through some of the greatest classic rock anthems ever! Including tracks from Queen, AC/DC, Meat Loaf, Journey, Guns n Roses and many more. With just the right amount of fun and humour this night of mischief and mayhem will leave you up on your feet and roaring with laughter!
SOMEONE LIKE YOU – THE ADELE SONGBOOK Saturday 25 November Touring UK theatres for the very first time, Someone Like You (The Adele Songbook) is an immaculate celebration of one of our generation’s finest singer-songwriters. Hand-picked by Adele herself on Graham Norton’s BBC ADELE Special, the outstanding Katie Markham has the show-stopping voice and captivating charisma to deliver all your favourite Adele hits in an enthralling concert performance.
The show faithfully recreates the magic of the three record-breaking albums 19, 21 and 25 - including Chasing Pavements, Make You Feel My Love, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like You, Hello, Rolling In The Deep and the multi-million seller Skyfall.
BRITAIN’S GOT MAGIC Sunday 26 November Reaching the Live Finals of Britain’s Got Talent 2016, prepare to experience the sensational magic of Christian Lee, who is an award winning comedy magician. With over 40 million and counting YouTube Hits worldwide, Christian has been crowned various prestigious awards over the years; He is a member of the Inner Magic Circle and performs magic ranging from close up tricks to illusions and full stage productions. With his tongue in cheek humour Christian is currently leading the way with his unique style and wacky performances and has been dubbed the ‘King of Comedy Magic’ by Time Out. Featuring some of the most exciting names in magic and variety in the UK, this is a show suitable for the whole family…...bring the kids as well. So, watch closely as Christian Lee and more conjure you to an evening of magic and humour. Don’t forget to book tickets to this year’s GIANT of a Panto...
JACK & THE BEANSTALK From 8 – 31 December! Join intrepid Jack on the adventure of a lifetime as he scampers boldly up the beanstalk to do battle with Giant Blunderbore. Does Dame Trott finally get her man? Can Simple Simon work out which end of the cow needs milking? Will Clarabelle remember her dance mooo-ves!?!
Tickets are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornex-
@klcornexchange KLmagazine October 2017
@klcornexchange
@klcornexchange
Alive Corn Exchange
Alive Corn Exchange 15
Local Life
Enjoying the magic of Christmas at Ely Cathedral Christmas is a time of gladness and celebration, a time when families and friends gather together for worship and merriment – and there’s no finer place to gather than Ely Cathedral
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uilt in 1083, Ely Cathedral is widely acknowledged as one of the finest medieval buildings in the whole of Europe – and over its long history it’s been a dynamic and daily witness to the presence of God in the world. Around 250,000 visitors enjoy the magnificent architecture and enriching atmosphere every year, and the festive season offers the perfect opportunity to discover everything Ely Cathedral has to offer –and more. In addition to Christmas services and concerts, you’ll find special events, gift shopping, festive refreshments, guided tours and
KLmagazine November 2017
the chance to admire the Cathedral’s spectacular and famous Christmas tree, which stands magnificently decorated under the central octagonal tower. The season starts with Ely Cathedral’s hugely successful Christmas Gift and Food Fair, which takes place later this month on 17th and 18th November. The event is now in its 6th year, and is widely acknowledged as one of East Anglia’s most exceptional Christmas shopping experiences. This year the Fair will have a very appealing selection of new trade stalls alongside some of the most popular exhibitors from previous years. Whether you’[re looking for a special gift, some
distinctive homeware and accessories, or some seasonal local produce, you’ll be truly spoilt for choice. A fascinating programme of live demonstrations will be taking place throughout the two days, including festive cake decorating and seasonal floral arrangements. On Saturday 18th November there’ll also be plenty of attractions for the whole family, including a traditional carousel plus some very special elves with their friendly reindeer. And when you do want a break from all the excitement, don’t miss the heated Café Marquee, which provides the perfect spot to sit down and enjoy some delicious festive fayre.
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Local Life
Even after the Fair, Ely Cathedral will still have plenty to offer Christmas shoppers. Its specially-themed Christmas Gift Shop (open seven days a week) has a complete range of seasonal merchandise including gifts, festive tableware, decorations and cards – some of which is also available to buy online. Shortly after the Christmas Gift and Food Fair, Ely Cathedral will become the setting for a remarkable light display inspired by the Star of Bethlehem. Kindly sponsored by The Friends of Ely Cathedral, this is only the second time this unique installation has been on public display in the UK. Created by media artist and computer programmer Jayson Haebic, the design is made of a transparent screen which projects an abstract image and uses the latest technology and laser beams to create the impression of a magnificent star hovering above the Nave of the Cathedral. From 28th November until 25th January, visitors to the Cathedral will be able to engage with the installation by controlling the shape and colour of the star via an iPad at ground level. More lights and colours will be gracing the Cathedral on 10th December, when the Big Christmas Tree Switch-on Service starts at 5.15pm. The Cathedral’s tree is the biggest, most spectacular Christmas tree in Ely, and this popular event is designed for 18
young children and families to celebrate the festive season with song and prayer, and concludes with the blessing of the tree; it’s also a great opportunity (once the lights are switched on!) for a fabulous family photo. Of course, at the centre of the Cathedral’s activities is worship, and over the festive period it will be hosting a number of special services, concerts and events to mark this most holy time in the Christian calendar. Just one of the highlights is the Advent Procession with carols on 3rd December, one of the most memorable, moving and popular services in the Cathedral’s calendar. Compline takes place every Tuesday in December, and on 22nd December at 7.30pm the Cathedral holds its traditional carol concert ‘Hark! The Herald,’ followed shortly afterwards by the Christmas services of Midnight Mass and a Christmas Day Evensong with carols. You can still enjoy carols and readings with a special service on New Year’s Eve, which is supported (as in previous years) by members of the Ely Cathedral Octagon Singers along with a number of local singers. All this activity is hungry (and thirsty) work, so don’t forget to take advantage of the Cathedral's cosy and friendly Refectory Café, which is the ideal place for lunch and light refreshments –
including home-made scones and delicious mince pies. And for a leisurely lunch or afternoon tea, the Almonry Restaurant is the perfect setting. In an enviable position overlooking the Cathedral, it boasts a 13th century vaulted undercroft where you can enjoy locally sourced and home cooked food throughout the festive season. It’s also open every Friday and Saturday night for evening dining – and can even be booked as a private hire venue for your Christmas celebrations. Christmas is always a very special time of year – and at Ely Cathedral is also very magical. Ely Cathedral is open from 7am daily including Christmas Day, and will be open from 8am from 26th-31st December. All events and timings are subject to change, and some are ticketed events. For details and information, see www.elycathedral.org
KLmagazine November 2017
TREES WREATHS GARLANDS TABLE DECORATIONS LUXURY PRE-LIT DECORATIONS
Norfolk Leisure now selling ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES & DECORATIONS Available to take away immediately at heavily reduced prices direct from the importer SHOWROOM NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Norfolk Leisure, Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn, PE33 0AX
Tel: 01553 811717 |Email: christmas@norfolkleisure.co.uk |Web: www.norfolkleisure.com
The countdown to Christmas starts here... On November 26th, King’s Lynn will start counting off the days to Christmas with the big light switch-on and the launch of Santa’s grotto – but this year there’s even more to look forward to
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ith the town gearing up to turn on the festive lights later this month, the Christmas countdown is now officially on and there are plenty of reasons to discover King’s Lynn ahead of the big day. Over the next few weeks there’ll be festive late-night shopping events, an enchanting Christmas market, the return of the popular Bauble Trail, and no run-up to Christmas would be complete without Santa Claus himself jetting in to meet children in his grotto.
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But all these follow one of the biggest events in the King’s Lynn calendar – the Christmas Lights switch on that promises to be a whole afternoon of festive fun. Starting at 12 noon on November 26th, there’ll be street entertainers, a glitter bar and face-painters, music and family-focused activities, plus the chance for children to have a chat with their favourite princesses and princes – and Father Christmas too as he officially launches his Christmas grotto. From 2pm the Tuesday Market Place will be abuzz with live entertainment as
the main stage opens to host a selection of special guests and live entertainment, with some top local bands including The Fascinettes, who’ll be performing some great Christmas soul classics! There'll also be activities, entertainment and fun for all the family and from 4pm the prince and princesses (together with Santa) will head to the Tuesday Market Place stage to join the stars of this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at the Alive Corn Exchange, to get everyone well and truly in the Christmas spirit ahead
KLmagazine October 2017
Local Life
PICTURES: VANCOUVER QUARTER
of the countdown shortly after 4.30pm. Speaking of the pantomime, tickets are still available for the those wishing to join intrepid Jack and his magic beans on the adventure of a lifetime as he scampers boldly up the beanstalk to do battle with the giant Blunderbore. Does Dame Trott finally get her man? Can Simple Simon work out which end of the cow needs milking? And will Clarabelle ever remember her dance mooo-ves? Performances run from Friday 8th December to Sunday 31st December, including a relaxed autism-friendly performance on Wednesday 20th December and a signed performance on Wednesday 27th December. This year, Late Night Shopping launches on November 30th and coincides with free parking after 3pm in the Borough Council’s town centre Pay & Display car parks. Please note that although parking will be free after 3pm, tickets must still be taken from parking meters and displayed. The offer excludes the multi-storey pay-on-foot car park at St James, and full details can be found by visiting the website at www.discoverkingslynn.com. Stores around the town centre will remain open until 8pm and will be accompanied by festive street entertainers, music and activities for all the family to enjoy on all the remaining Thursdays leading up to Christmas. A new event on the King’s Lynn Christmas calendar is a local makers market on December 7th that will see some 60 traders all around the town selling a whole range of Norfolk handmade wares – perfect for finding unique locally-produced presents for all the family. The market will complement retailers in King’s Lynn who are gearing up to help bring the
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Local Life
On December 10th, there will be a town-wide Bauble Trail for families to take part in, picking up a goodie bag on completion as well as the opportunity to win a very special prize ahead of Christmas! Father Christmas will be visiting King’s Lynn every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday right up to Christmas – albeit he’ll be leaving the town a bit earlier on Christmas Eve to get back to the North Pole to finalise everything and check on those cheeky elves! Father Christmas’ grotto will be situated within the Vancouver Quarter shopping centre and bookings need to be made via their website but move fast as these appointments are snapped up quickly. The grotto is free for children to attend – but donations
will be welcomed and all money collected will be distributed to local charities in the New Year. This year is set to be the biggest countdown to Christmas that King’s Lynn has ever seen. With so much to see and so much to do as the big day draws closer, there’ll never be a better time to shop local.
PICTURES: VANCOUVER QUARTER
town to life this Christmas. With more than 200 independent businesses in the town centre, there’s also a strong line up of high street brands including Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Boots, alongside River Island, Primark and Next. Meanwhile, over at the Vancouver Quarter shopping centre, there’s 58 stores including Sainsbury’s, TK Maxx, and New Look – as well as an assortment of independent fashion, gift and lifestyle stores. And whilst you’re browsing all the shops in King’s Lynn, why not treat yourself to a hot chocolate or mulled wine at one of the fantastic coffee shops, bars and restaurants in the town? Or perhaps plan your shopping to include a lunch or dinner at one of the superb restaurants – because as we all know, Christmas shopping can be very hungry work!
www.discoverkingslynn.com
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KLmagazine November 2017
Local Life
A romantic setting for a real family Christmas A family home for some 500 years, Oxburgh Hall is one of the National Trust’s most romantic properties – and over the coming weeks it will form the perfect backdrop to your festive celebrations
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o one forgets their first sight of Oxburgh Hall – the 15th-century moated manor house is one of the most romantic buildings in the area – and it never ceases to look its most charming during the festive period. From Secret Tudor Music to wreath-making workshops and from early Christmas lunches to Santa Claus himself, there are plenty of reasons to visit Oxburgh over the coming weeks. Built in 1482 by the Catholic Bedingfeld family, Oxburgh Hall is
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home to 500 years of history, and it reflects the turbulent times it’s been through – with hidden doors, a secret priest’s hole, and commanding (and spectacular) rooftop views. Much of what we admire today was created by the Victorian 6th Baronet in the 19th century; the superb Gothic interiors, the beautiful and colourful wallpapers, and the ornate architectural additions that reflect a romantic view of Oxburgh’s medieval past. Oxburgh Hall’s important collections include historically-important
KLmagazine November 2017
embroideries worked by Mary, Queen of Scots, and had they not been brought to Oxburgh Hall by Mary Browne shortly after her marriage to Sir Richard Bedingfeld they’d have been destroyed in a disastrous fire at Cowdray House in Sussex in 1793. In fact, the survival of Oxburgh Hall itself is an achievement, having survived a dreadful fire during the Civil War, periods of near dereliction and even a threat of demolition. But although it was built during the Wars of the Roses, Oxburgh was never intended to be a castle but a family home – and it retains a warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere to this day. And since getting together with your family and loved ones to celebrate the return of light to the world is the true meaning of Christmas, Oxburgh Hall is the perfect festive destination. BEAT THE CHRISTMAS RUSH... It’s always one of the busiest times of year, so take the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Christmas before anyone else by enjoying a special three-course lunch in Oxburgh Hall’s festive tearoom. From November 8th until December 14th (Wednesdays and Thursdays only), you can treat your and your family to a traditional roast turkey lunch with all the trimmings (a vegetarian option is available) followed by a choice of two seasonal desserts and tea and coffees to follow. The early Christmas lunches (£19.95 per person) will be served between 12.45pm and 3pm, but as places are limited, it’s well worth booking ahead to ensure you don’t miss out. Especially as you’ll have the chance to do some Christmas shopping in Oxburgh Hall’s giftshop without all the crowds – and the grounds will be open to diners for a relaxing stroll before or after lunch. SECRET TUDOR MUSIC... During the Reformation, the Bedingfeld family would have had to conceal their Catholic faith – a situation that gave rise to ‘secret’ music composed to be performed intimately in households such as Oxburgh Hall during masses – delivered by priests who occasionally had to find refuge in priest holes like the one in the hall’s King’s Room. Composed by people such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis (generally considered one of England’s greatest ever composers) this moving choral music is truly inspiring and will be performed together with several favourite carols in the perfect setting of Oxburgh’s candle-lit family chapel on Saturday November 25th. The concert will be performed by
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Local Life
Eboracum Baroque, a group of young professional singers and instrumentalists that perform across the UK and Europe, specialising in the performance of Baroque music on period instruments. In fact, when the event was originally announced it generated so much interest that Eboracum Baroque have now added a second performance – a shorter one from 4pm-5pm (tickets are £10) before the evening concert from 6pm-8pm (tickets are £15), and Oxburgh Hall’s tearoom will be open for pre-performance and intermission hot and cold drinks and light snacks. It promises to be a unique Advent celebration, and booking your tickets is essential. WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS... It’s the perfect way to bring at touch of Oxburgh Hall to your home – or create a unique gift for someone. On Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December from 10am-4pm you can join the hall’s Gardener and volunteers for a day and discover your creative talents in making a Christmas wreath. The wreaths will be based on a metal ring, which will be completely covered in moss and built up with greenery collected from the Oxburgh Hall estate before being finished off with decorative Christmas items, all ready to be hung on a door. Decorative items will be available at the workshops, but you’re more than welcome to bring your own decorations or special items
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to personalise your wreath. The workshops are £45 per person and include refreshments on arrival, a light lunch and refreshments in the afternoon. All you’ll need to remember is an apron and secateurs – and to book your place before the limited spaces are all taken. CHRISTMAS AT OXBURGH HALL... On the weekends of December 9th10th and 16th-17th from 11am-4pm, you’re invited to enjoy the festive splendor of Oxburgh Hall’s ground floor rooms and the family chapel dressed for the 6th Baronet’s Victorian Christmas. All the family will enjoy uncovering the history of Christmas traditions, enjoying the Christmas music and admiring the artistry and beauty of the floral displays. And as the sun sets, the enchanting outdoor lighting will illuminate this breathtaking setting with a genuinely magical touch.
SANTA’S ON HIS WAY... Father Christmas will have a special grotto at Oxburgh Hall before his round-the-world adventure on Christmas Eve, and children will be able to visit him and tell him their secret Christmas wishes on the weekends of December 9th-10th and 16th-17th from 11am-4.30pm. There’ll be child-friendly craft activities to keep the excitement going, and all children will take home a present to remember the occasion. Visiting Father Christmas at Oxburgh Hall is £8 per child and is suitable for children up to 10 years of age. It’s Christmas and it’s Oxburgh Hall and it’s the most magical festive combination you could wish for. To book, call 03442 491895, or for more information call Oxburgh Hall on 01366 328258 – or visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall
KLmagazine November 2017
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The magic of Thursford is the wonder of Christmas This month sees the opening of the 2017 Thursford Christmas Spectacular, an event that draws thousands of people to Norfolk ever year – thanks to the show’s inspirational creator John Cushing
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owards the end of 1977, John Cushing was wondering how he could attract winter visitors to the museum of steam engines, organs and fairground attractions his father had founded in the early 70s. He’d become Managing Director of the Thursford Collection the previous year, and few people seemed interested in carousels and agricultural vehicles in the middle of December. What they were interested in, however, was the approaching festive season. Despite having no formal musical or theatrical training (though he had produced a school pantomime while at Gresham’s in Holt when he was 12)
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John decided to hold a carol concert, and even managed to pursuade a small group of choral singers from King’s College in Cambridge to appear. On Christmas Eve 1977, some 500 people turned up to the old farm shed the concert was held in and sang along with the famous choristers, leaving Thursford full of festive cheer. But John wasn’t entirely happy. “I felt very disappointed when that first concert was over,” he says, “and I was convinced I could have done better. So the following year I produced two carol concerts featuring two schools, and that turned into six the following year. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Over the course of the last 40 years, John’s humble carol concert has become the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, the country’s (and possibly Europe’s) largest Christmas show – and for thousands of people every year the show’s first performance is the sign that Christmas has finally arrived. For seven weeks from November 8th, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular (together with the childfocused and fun-filled Santa’s Magical Journey) will entertain around 200,000 people to a genuine festive extravaganza, the 130ft stage hosting a choir of around 60, over 20 dancers, thousands of costumes and no less than two full orchestras. And unusually
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in this day and age, all the music and all the singing is live. Even after four decades, John’s enthusiasm for the show is almost boundless. “I’d describe the show as a fastmoving and non-stop mix of dance, music, singing, humour, variety and colour,” he says. “It’s a three-hour spectacle that takes audiences on a magical journey they never thought possible.” And if you thought those audiences were predominantly local, you’d be wrong. Around three quarters of people watching the Thursford Christmas Spectacular come from outside East Anglia; coming down from Scotland, coming up from Cornwall, and even coming from as far away as America and Australia. “That seems incredible to me,” says John. “We’re in a little village in Norfolk with a population of less than 100. It’s simply amazing to think that so many people travel so far and make such an effort to see the show.” The show’s success has a significant impact outside of the songs and dances as well. Audiences coming from far away will stay, eat and shop in Norfolk, and it’s been estimated the Thursford Christmas Spectacular brings around £10 million into the local economy. “That’s a terrific achievement,” says John, “and it’s a one we’re very proud of.” At that first carol concert in 1977 there were 10 people on stage and this year there’ll be more than 130; its planning and production now far beyond the capabilities of a single individual. “Even though I’m helped by a brilliant and very talented production team, it’s still a massive undertaking,” says John. KLmagazine November 2017
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“That’s why we start planning the show in March – it has to be finished by the start of June for the Casting Director to start holding the auditions!” And after 40 years, you might expect John to be used to planning the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, but that still doesn’t mean it’s easy. “Even after all those shows, the moment I sit down with a blank sheet of paper in front of me can be very challenging,” he says. “It probably doesn’t help that I’ll already be thinking of the first night’s performance!” Inspiration for the new show comes from John’s vast collection of Christmas music CDs and his library of
books written about Christmas. He’ll see things on TV or read something in the newspaper. He’ll also learn from the previous year’s show, going to as many performances as possible to pick up on little details of lighting or sound. He’ll ask the cast and musicians for ideas, and he’s always listening to how the audience reacts. With a touch of true festive magic, John still manages to surprise people every year while delivering the Thursford Christmas Spectacular they’ve come to know and love; and that’s the show’s great secret. Consequently, details of the new show are closely guarded – and though it’s
only a few days before the opening performance on November 8th, John is unwilling to give too much away. “Every year the lighting is better, the sound is better and the costumes are better – so people can expect the best show ever,” he says. “I can say that we’ve got 85 pieces of music and much of it is completely new. We’ve got seven major dance routines and some really spectacular set-pieces. We’ve even got some penguins!” And if you thought that sounded a far cry from Christmas, you couldn’t be more wrong. The true message of Christmas runs throughout the show and is even present in the more secular musical numbers. “The whole reason I started the show in the first place is that I love Christmas,” John says. “It’s very important for me to have God on my side, and that’s why I always have the show blessed before the first performance. We all need to appreciate our God-given gifts for singing, dancing, playing music and entertaining people." So how will John feel around 10pm on December 23rd, when the building empties in 25 minutes after 77 performances in seven weeks and the curtain comes down for another year? “It will be a contradiction of feelings really,” he says. “I’ll be elated that everything’s gone so well and people have enjoyed it so much –but you can’t help feeling a little sad that an entire year’s work has come to an end.” And what does the man who’s filled hundreds of thousands of people with festive spirit and who heralds in the festive season just as successfully as Santa do then? “I’ll go to the pub and have a little drink!” he laughs. “Then I’ll join my family for supper and we’ll start celebrating Christmas in the traditional way. Even though it’s on my mind virtually every day of the year, I always look forward to it.”
THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR 2017 Thursford Collection, Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 0AS 8th November to 23rd December Performances at 2pm and 7pm Tickets are available from the Booking Office on 01328 878477 (9am-4pm Monday to Friday) or can be bought online from the website at www.thursford.com
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KLmagazine November 2017
Putting service back into financial services... For the last 15 years, Ring Associates has been providing sound and independent financial advice to the local community, taking an ethical approach to business, as founder Simon Ring explains
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ast month Ring Associates celebrated its 15th anniversary, but the company's origins – and the basis of its remarkable success – actually date back to the start of the 1990s. At that time, Simon Ring was a experienced independent financial advisor who was determined to stick to his principles. “I’ve always been passionate about people taking and receiving quality financial advice,” he says. “In fact, I spent 30 years defending the word ‘independent’ when I probably should have spent 30 years defending the word ‘advice.’” It’s a very important distinction, and
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one that Simon is always keen to emphasise. “The most important thing to us is that we’re advisers,” he says. “It’s so important to remember that this is the financial services industry – it’s not the financial sales industry.” In an industry that was tending to put sales targets ahead of sound advice, Simon grew increasingly frustrated – but then got a call that changed his life. A local man called Gerry Bocking was being made redundant and needed advice on his payout and the lump sum from his pension. He contacted Simon and was so impressed with the advice he received and the way he was able to invest his money that he referred eight
of his fellow soon-to-be redundant workers to Simon, seven of whom eventually became his clients. Simon never looked back, and when a sudden difference of opinion led to him leaving the company he was working for – Simon remembers it was at precisely 9.31am on 18th October 2002 – Ring Associates was born. “I wanted to create a respected and ethical business that delivered advice to client outcomes in a new modern way,” he says, “using technology as much as possible to achieve financial solutions that represented real value for money. And I was looking forward to having a small business without the stresses of a large workforce!”
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to financial planning, one that builds secure financial frameworks that enable people to achieve their goals and get what they want from their lives. That can range from investment planning and management to risk analysis and asset allocation, from cash-flow pension forecasting to mortgages and trust planning. And it’s all underpinned by a team of truly professional advisers who share Simon’s values of integrity, care and accountability. It’s a traditional way of doing ABOVE: A few members of the Ring Associates team including business, but (clockwise from top left); Business Development Manager Mark Juniper, then it’s fair to Managing Director Simon Ring, Director Tim Gilbert and new mortgage say that Ring advisor Tom Murray Associates has Although he started in Hunstanton always been about tradition. Simon with just three staff, Simon’s approach himself is a great lover of local history, to financial advice was an immediately and it’s not surprising his company has successful one. found homes in the Counting House in Today Ring Associates has 43 staff, King’s Lynn (part of today’s Bank House) 6,000 clients, has arranged over 1,000 and the town’s historic 7a King Street mortgages (worth over £180 million in (from 2008) before moving to a listed total), manages almost 50 company building on the corner of the Tuesday pension schemes and 40 smaller selfadministered schemes, and recently the company’s client funds under management passed the £¼ billion mark. “All this success has been achieved by a growing workforce or professional, qualified and dedicated people who’ve helped create and maintain a family atmosphere,” says Simon. “We often call ourselves the Ring Associates Family, and we’ve supported each other through many personal tragedies and sad times.” At the heart of Ring Associates is a personal and very individual approach
Market Place in April 2015. Since then (two years in which the size of company has almost doubled) Ring Associates has taken great care to sensitively renovate the beautiful building and now happily open it for local events whenever possible. “I'm truly passionate about this town – it’s a fantastic place and it’s got a fantastic history,” says Simon. “Our restoration of the building is just part of our commitment to the local community – which includes sponsoring local sports teams, supporting local charity organisations, and promoting financial education in local schools.” The past 15 years have shown Simon his belief that the financial services industry should be driven by advice rather than sales was a true one – and one that people appreciated, and it’s tempting to ask him about his own future. “The success of Ring Associates hasn’t been down to one or two individuals,” he says. “It’s down to teamwork and the creation of a set of values that carries through our ethics and ethos from start to finish. When I do finally pass on the control of this business I know I’ll be passing on a business that will continue for generations.” Whatever stage of life you're at – starting a family or nearing retirement – Ring Associates can help you make the most of your assets, enabling you to make those all-important life-changing decisions with confidence and securing the future you want. Simon Ring puts it perfectly. “We help you take control of your finances,” he says, “so you can take control of your life.”
11-12 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN TEL: 01553 777600 WEB: www.ringassociates.co.uk E-MAIL: enquiries@ringassociates.co.uk Ring Associates Ltd is registered in England No. 04569784 Ring Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 418829
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Love doesn’t cost a thing... ...and with professional advice it shouldn’t oving in with a partner, deciding to buy a home together or planning a wedding is an exciting time for any relationship. Not surprisingly, important legal issues can often be overlooked in the heady stages of new love, and whilst ‘prenuptial agreement’ may not seem an obvious topic for a candlelit dinner, many couples are now sensibly discussing these issues before taking the next big steps in their lives. If you can’t talk about these issues now, what happens should they arise in the future? If you are planning a new relationship then you should know where you and your partner stand in all situations, and what you can do to make your position secure if the relationship comes to an end. A prenuptial agreement (prenup) is a contract that a couple signs before getting married, to set out what happens to their finances in case of divorce or separation. They are not currently legally enforceable, although The Law Commission has
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recommended they become so, as long as the couple and their children are properly looked after. For now, they provide a contract for divorce courts to consider when splitting assets. Prenups have recently become popular with parents who’ve helped with a property purchase for their offspring and future son/daughter in-law, and want to protect their investment. A prenup details if proceeds from the sale of a property, for example, are to be shared or kept separate should the marriage end. In cases of dispute, it can be used as evidence as to the parties’ intentions, and the documents are normally upheld by a court if felt fair and reasonable. It’s important the documents are drafted in a certain manner, with a minimum 21 clear days before the marriage, with full and frank financial disclosure attached in schedules – and both parties should take separate independent legal advice. The documents can be produced by anyone who has set a date for marriage or within a year of the intended date. They will take your own personal circumstances into account and
can be completed relatively quickly. Although not as common, postnuptial agreements are produced after the marriage, and the court can give these greater weight because of that fact. Many couples choose to enter into these agreements if their circumstances change after marriage – the birth of a child, for example, or a joint business venture. They can also be used to simply reaffirm an existing prenup. Of course, some couples are happy living together and remaining unmarried. For them, there exists an arrangement called a Cohabitation Agreement. This sets out in detail who owns what, who pays for what, and what might happen if the parties separate. Although it may appear outdated today, unmarried cohabiting couples don’t have the same rights as those who decide to enter into a marriage or civil partnership. ‘Common law marriage’ doesn’t exist, but by the time people realise this it’s often too late. Problems can occur if a relationship breaks down or if a partner dies, leaving one of the parties without legal protection. It’s a very good idea to make a Will at the same time as a Cohabitation Agreement, as your partner will have no automatic right to a share of your assets if you die. Whether it’s a second relationship or a wish to protect wealth before entering marriage, these contracts are becoming more and more popular, with good reason. It might seem difficult to justify the additional expense, especially if you’re planning a wedding, but making sensible decisions now could save you both thousands in the future. This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice. If you want to know more about arranging any of the documents detailed in this article, contact me on 01328 863231 or email rob.colwell@hayes-storr.com
ROB COLWELL Associate Hayes + Storr
Hayes + Storr Solicitors The Old County Court, County Court Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5EJ Web: www.hayesandstorr.co.uk E-mail: law.kingslynn@hayes-storr.com Offices at: King’s Lynn | Hunstanton | Fakenham | Swaffham | Holt | Wells | Sheringham
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the firm’s probate, estate and administration work – the legal and financial process which happens after someone has died. Whether you chose to carry out the probate and estate administration process yourself, or instruct Stephenson Smart to do the work for you, the application is still the same and involves the following steps: – finding the will – applying for the grant of representation – administering the estate – preparing the estate accounts – distributing the assets to the beneficiaries of the estate
Stephenson Smart appoint new partner The local chartered accountants and business advisors welcome Claire Melton FCCA TEP to the management team tephenson Smart is very proud of its highly skilled and qualified team, and it’s a team that’s grown in an exciting new direction with the recent appointment as partner of Claire Melton – who joined the company straight from college 20 years ago. In fact, that long service is a sign of just how experienced Stephenson Smart’s management team is – of the company’s seven partners, no less than six started with the firm as trainees, went on to qualify and become managers before being appointed partners. Claire joins Clive Dodds, Michael Andrews and Nigel Ward in King’s Lynn; Martyn Benstead in Fakenham; Chris Goad in Wisbech, March and Downham Market; and Henry Pettitt at Great Yarmouth – and is the company’s first female partner in its 100+ years history. A Certified Accountant and STEP qualified trust and estate practitioner, Claire joins a team of Chartered Accountants, Certified Accountants,
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Accounting Technicians, and Chartered Tax Advisors – with a wealth of expertise and professional experience in every office. “One of our great strengths is that we all work together to offer a comprehensive service to our clients,” says Claire. “They can call on us at any time for assistance and support no matter what stage of their personal or business life they’re at – and the relationships we build will serve a client throughout their lifetime.” With a varied and long-standing portfolio of clients, Claire also looks after
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A grant isn’t always necessary and depends on the estate’s assets. “We recently helped a family who’d gathered the information about the estate at the date of death themselves, apply for probate,” says Claire. “They needed our assistance to complete the necessary forms to apply and receive probate before dealing with the administration of the estate – and the costs to the family were far less than they expected.” Stephenson Smart also recently carried out the entire process for an estate which attracted several IHT reliefs. “The executors were expecting a large IHT bill but this wasn’t the case given the agricultural and business nature of the estate,” says Claire. “The reliefs just had to be claimed correctly with HM Revenue & Customs.” Stephenson Smart are happy to fulfil the role of executors, a service offered to clients looking for the peace of mind that when the time does unfortunately come they will take care of the entire process in a professional and cost-conscious manner. “As your accountants, Stephenson Smart can help you implement effective financial strategies on both a personal and professional level,” says Claire. “For more information and a free initial consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us.”
KING’S LYNN 01553 774104
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Local Life
ABOVE: Sculptor Alan Herriot’s statue of Henry le Strange on Hunstanton’s green is in the perfect setting – the visionary Victorian looking over (at long last) the seaside resort he dreamed about creating in the 1840s
Remembering the man who created Hunstanton In the mid 19th century, Henry le Strange had the vision of a new seaside resort on the coastline of west Norfolk. Richard Parr looks at the life of the man now memorialised in a life-size bronze statue
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he Victorian entrepreneur who had the vision of building a thriving seaside resort in west Norfolk to rival Brighton and ended up creating Hunstanton has now been celebrated with a life-size bronze statue. The imposing figure of Henry Styleman le Strange now stands on the town’s famous Green, proudly looking out to sea as he surveys the hustle and bustle of activity in the resort he was motivational in creating during the mid19th century. Without the vision, enthusiasm and determination of le Strange, Sunny Hunny as it’s affectionately known
KLmagazine November 2017
wouldn’t be the popular seaside town it is today, attracting thousands of holidaymakers and day-trippers every summer. Le Strange, a nobleman reputed to be a kind landlord, considerate master to his employees, liberal patron and generous benefactor to Hunstanton, is a name on the lips of many townsfolk. Hunstanton resident and Civic Society member Brian Holmes was the man behind the idea of a £40,000 statue to celebrate the significant contribution le Strange made to the development of Hunstanton as a resort. Businessman William Searle raised £12,00 from donations towards the
costs of the statue and there was a £20,000 grant from the Lottery-funded Hunstanton Heritage Gardens project – with a further £8,000 coming from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. The statue, which has been put up at the town side of the Green which slopes down to the promenade and sea, depicts le Strange as a Victorian gentleman resplendent in a welltailored suit, and was designed and made by artist Alan Herriot – one of Scotland’s most successful figurative sculptors and someone who’s no stranger to west Norfolk. Last year he produced the statue of King John that
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Local Life
ABOVE: A rare early drawing of the plans for what would become Hunstanton, captioned “a birds-eye view of the proposed sunbathing village on St. Edmunds near Lynn” – the idea that Henry le Strange (left) never lived to see completed
now stands in the centre of King’s Lynn. “It’s a great honour for the le Strange family to have the founder of Hunstanton recognised in this way,” says Michael Meakin from the le Strange Estate. “The statue is a permanent reminder of the man whose vision created the town.” In her memoirs, Henry le Strange’s eldest daughter Ina wrote that during her childhood the family enjoyed using a small fishing lodge on the marshes to the north of Heacham, a favourite location for them during the summer. “There was not a building of any sort between Hunstanton lighthouse and Heacham village,” she wrote. “So empty was that long stretch of shore that father and Mr Charles Bagot, who often stayed with the family at Hunstanton Hall, used to walk over the new Park and fields in a beeline down to the shore and bathe before breakfast in the summer and not see a soul.” In 1840 le Strange could see the potential of this charming corner of his Estate. It has a picturesque coastline with a favourable aspect facing towards the Wash, bracing sea-air and a plentiful supply of fresh fish and shellfish. In addition, there were colourful cliffs
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at the northern end graduating to sand dunes in the south, fringed by a sandy beach dotted with rocks. He considered such a location could well be as attractive to visitors as the increasingly fashionable seaside watering-places found elsewhere on the British coastline. But he also realised such visitors coming to Hunstanton would need accommodation. His search ended in a sloping grassy meadow running down to the sea where the cliffs met the dunes, and he decided the site would be the centre of the new seaside town; which was originally called St Edmunds in honour of the saint whose chapel stood nearby. Henry began his great venture by engaging one of the leading architects of the day, and on March 24th 1840 paid £21 for the plan of a proposed hotel from Decimus Burton. One of the founding Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Burton’s works include Hyde Park, London Zoo and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew – and his proposed hotel was to be the first building in le Style’s new town. The rest, as they say, is history. Records showed that a number of
visitors started staying at the New Inn (its name was later changed to the Golden Lion Hotel) and a certain Madame Jo was engaged to sing to them on Saturday nights. Local publicity recorded that “the porch of the Golden Lion was which in the evening was crowded with visitors – sometimes as many as a dozen!” The development of Hunstanton was greatly assisted by the extension of the East Anglian Railway from King’s Lynn to the resort, and investment grew after the purchase of Sandringham House by Edward Prince of Wales in 1862. Le Strange gave chunks of his own land for the construction of the railway line and wayside stations and persuaded other landowners along the route to be equally generous. The fruits of le Strange's vision, however, were not to be his to enjoy. He died suddenly on July 27th 1862 just as his ideas for a new town were becoming a reality. Its future development – and its success – was left in the hands of other designers and architects. But the town has never forgotten its founding father, whose bronze-cast gaze now (at last) overlooks the town he created.
KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
Letting Better Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning Landlords and Tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director Damien Simone
Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists
QUI CK FAC TS Sub-letting social housing is a criminal offence whereas it is only a civil one in the private rented sector.
Your Secret Sub-Tenants
T
he issue of subletting by tenants has been around virtually as long as the private rented sector itself and continues to this day to be one of the biggest concerns faced by landlords after non-payment of rent. Whether done covertly or with your consent unless it is arranged and documented correctly as a landlord you run the risk of your property’s insurance being invalidated and inheriting an implied tenancy with someone that you may struggle to remove from the property. The long standing rent a room scheme allows for up to £7,500 of tax free income to be derived from a room (or sometimes the whole floor) of a property being sublet. This allowance applies to both owner occupiers and tenants alike the latter of the two often using the supplementary income to assist with their main rental outgoing to the landlord. On the surface this seems like an excellent opportunity to supplement your income providing you don’t mind sharing your home with a stranger.
There is now however a newer trend which is threatening the stability of the private rental sector in the UK. Airbnb has become one of the most successful examples of peer to peer selling platforms. For those who aren’t familiar with it, Airbnb was founded in August 2008 and based in the United States. It is an online market place that enables people to list and search for holiday or temporary accommodation for a small processing fee. Since April 2017 new tax regulations have meant individuals letting their homes don’t have to declare or pay tax on the first £1,000 of income. If more than this amount is earned then a tax return would have to be submitted but on the surface this seems like an excellent opportunity to supplement your income. However, there are people who are using the opportunities presented by Airbnb to produce a lifestyle supporting level of income by taking out conventional assured shorthold tenancies on normal properties and
then “recycling” these homes as serviced holiday and short-term accommodation. This is a growing problem in many parts of the country including our own local area which has a well-supported tourist industry. With few exceptions all professionally issued tenancy agreements contain clauses against sub-letting. It’s presence in writing isn’t enough to stop tenants who pursue this as a career and enforcement and the direct route for enforcing the clause which is via Section 8 may not be the most effective compared to some other alternative options depending on the individual circumstances. If sub-letting is a subject that you are concerned about with your rental property and you would like some practical advice on how best to handle it why not contact our office and discuss your concerns with one of our friendly team. All our advice is free and we would be delighted to hear from you.
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
KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
This is a perfect example of how versatile air source heating is. The development includes a range of properties, and every one of them will be able to enjoy the system’s many advantages... JOHN OAKES (Site Manager) Golden Pheasant Drive, Snettisham
Air source isn’t just a modern and fully controllable heating system. It’s fully sustainable, it’s cleaner and it’s cheaper to run. It really is the way of the future... RICHARD KNIGHT Richard Knight Homes Ltd
To be honest, I wouldn’t consider using any other form of heating in my properties – the running costs and energy efficiencies of air source heating are in a class of their own... JEREMY CLARKE J. Clarke Builders
Air source heating: the choice of local builders... T he range of quality air source heating solutions available from 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd represents a major step forward in energy-efficient climate control, utilising free heat from the environment rather than generating it solely from traditional fuel sources such as gas, oil or LPG. For the end user, the benefits of air source heating are clear – low running and maintenance costs, low noise levels, reduced energy consumption, and the fact that the system’s performance is unaffected by cooler weather, making it ideal for providing low-cost heat and hot water all year round whatever the weather. Choosing air source heating from 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd is also becoming the choice of local builders. “Air source heating needs no gas supply, no flues and no ventilation,” explains 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd’s Steve Simpson. “It doesn’t need extensive ground works either, which makes it a truly cost-effective installation for all local building projects – from larger developments to self-build projects.”
KLmagazine November 2017
One of the most attractive features of air source heating is that the system delivers a 30%-50% reduction in CO2 emissions, which is reassuring for environmentally-conscious domestic customers, but is further good news for builders as well. “Current building regulations do contain clear targets for reducing CO2 emissions, and all new buildings have to comply with them,” explains Steve. “From the builder’s point of view, the fact that our air source heat pumps meet – and actually exceed – those targets makes them a really attractive solution. The installation of air source heating can also help achieve a Level 3
rating in the Code for Sustainable Homes – which in turn adds value to the property.” And by installing air source heating in conjunction with PV solutions and underfloor heating – also offered by 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd – local builders can ensure their properties offer even higher cost savings and CO2 reductions, making them even more attractive to prospective purchasers. For a high-quality, professional service from a local company with a proven track record of working successfully with local builders, choose 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd – and contact us today for more details.
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Gardening
ABOVE: Different birds prefer different foods and have varying preferences for the way they feed. A range of foods and feeders can attract all sorts of species to your garden – including that most iconic of winter birds, the robin (opposite)
Bringing the birds into your garden this winter... Birds are incredibly resourceful creatures, but even nature needs a helping hand now and again. Wendy Warner explains how to care for your garden birds over winter and give them a head start for spring
A
s the weather gets colder and the days shorten, the appeal of the garden can decline too. Overall, the summer colours will have faded although there may be some vibrant specks of colour left in your hedges, trees and shrubs. As well as catching your eye, these will be spotted by our feathered friends too. Don’t be surprised if the birds haven’t been very visible in your garden for the last few weeks; you’ve probably noticed the abundance of berries, hips, seeds and other goodies in the hedgerows this autumn – and birds will always go for these natural sources first. By growing holly, pyracantha, cotoneaster, hawthorn, crab apples and dog roses in
KLmagazine November 2017
the garden you can create your own natural supply of food to encourage the birds, but once the temperature drops don’t expect to admire the berries for long; they’ll soon be consumed! There are many ways you can help garden birds during the winter months as insects die or go into hibernation and many plants lose their berries. Try to have several feeding sites around the garden to prevent overcrowding of one location, and site them near shrubs or a hedge to give protection. Be aware that different birds have varying feeding habits; whilst many birds will happily use a feeder, others prefer a bird table or ground feeder. Put food out regularly so birds include you on their daily feeding routes – and
position your feeders so you can enjoy watching the birds from your house. If you want to get up close and personal with the birds, try a window feeder which attaches to the glass with suction pads. Experiment with small amounts of different seeds and mixes until you find the ones most popular with your birds. Generally, members of the tit family will feed on seed blends, sunflower hearts, peanuts and mealworms from a hanging feeder. Greenfinches will enjoy seed mixes, sunflower hearts or black sunflower seeds, as will goldfinches – which are also particularly partial to niger seed, which needs a special feeder with smaller holes as the seed is so fine. Chaffinches will eat from the
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Gardening
ABOVE: If you feed your garden birds with whole peanuts, remember to put them inside a feeder with a reasonably fine mesh as the whole nuts can cause birds to choke. Don’t forget that your birds will need water in winter too (below) – to drink and to keep their wings clean, which helps them stay warm
ground or bird table and choose seed, mealworms and peanut bites – these are finely chopped peanuts, as peanuts should never be given whole unless they’re in a feeder due to the fact they can cause birds to choke. Blackbirds enjoy fruit and berries as well as most seed mixes and robins are lovers of mealworms, fruit and sunflower hearts – both birds preferring ground feeders or the bird table. As the weather gets colder (and also during the breeding season) the birds will need higher energy foods which generally contain a higher fat content. This is supplied naturally with peanuts and sunflower hearts, but also with suet; which can be in the form of fat balls, suet feast cakes, logs, filled coconut shells or flavoured suet treats. The latter are pellets of suet which can be fed from a mesh peanut feeder, mixed with seed in a feeder or scattered on a birdtable or the ground. If you’re concerned that smaller birds are missing out as larger birds such as starlings are dominating the feeders, invest in caged feeders where the feeder is suspended inside an outer
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mesh, allowing smaller birds inside. These are available as seed, peanuts and suet ball feeders or you can get a separate cage that will fit over existing feeders and is generally squirrel-proof too. If you are bothered by squirrels (or cats for that matter) consider a feeding station, which is a metal pole with hooks to hang feeders from and usually has a feeding tray and water dish attached. Birds will also eat kitchen scraps such as cooked potatoes or rice, grated cheese, fruit cake, biscuit crumbs, old fruit and suet. Don’t use cooking fat with meat juices as this can be too sticky for the birds’ feathers. If you have fruit bushes in the garden or go for an autumn countryside walk, pick the remaining berries that might not be quite good enough for human consumption and freeze them for a treat for the birds in the depths of winter. Windfall apples are also great and may even attract migrant visitors such as redwings and fieldfares. I’ve noticed the birds in my garden are adapting their feeding habits and can be quite cunning. The jackdaws or
starlings will arrive and frantically attack the seed feeders creating a pendulum action which sends seed flying everywhere – somehow the jackdaws manage to perch on the rung of the feeder and keep flapping at the same time! Closely behind them are the wood pigeons, collared doves and dunnocks, which will make the most of this aerial action and clean up everything on the ground under the feeders. If you do have problems with seed falling and seedlings growing below your feeders, choose a ‘no grow’ mix which contains no germinating seeds or husks. Birds also need fresh water, too, not only for drinking but bathing as well. Even in winter, water is vital for birds to bathe in order to keep their feathers in pristine condition; helping them keep warm through the cold nights. Also, regularly clean your feeders to help reduce the spread of disease and the build up of toxins. Remove any stale food and clean with water and a mild disinfectant, leaving to dry thoroughly. Put out small quantities of food regularly, and don’t allow food to get mouldy, as some moulds can cause respiratory problems in birds. Now is the perfect time to be stocking up on birdfeed and feeders to keep our feathered friends well nourished throughout the colder months. By providing food for the birds you’ll be rewarded with the continuous joy of watching birds in your garden throughout the year, whilst making a huge difference to endangered species, helping them thrive and continue to breed successfully. 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
KLmagazine November 2017
www.doubledaygroup.co.uk
The perfect Christmas gift for your little farmer! Our brilliant range of tractors & toys
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ased just outside King's Lynn at Wiggenhall St Germans, the friendly, local service of Doubleday like to offer our younger (and our young at heart) customers something - especially at Christmas! The Doubleday Christmas Collection includes a fantastic selection of model vehicles from ride-on tractors to the new 24 volt six wheel gator - as well as clothing for all ages, soft toys, jigsaws, games and fun items specially designed to add a Doubleday smile to the festivities!
Call in now to see more or contact us for details of our build-up service - and don't forget we offer FREE storage until Christmas to avoid spoiling the big surprise!
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Lynn Road, Wiggenhall St Germans PE34 3EU King’s Lynn 01553 617666 Holbeach 01406 540261 Swineshead 01205 822440
West Norfolk: Then and Now
1935
2017
CHANGES IN CHAPEL STREET... This fabulous 15th century townhouse hasn’t changed much since George Plunkett took the photograph at the top on 12th August 1935, but its neighbours certainly have – just look at those lovely old advertising signs! Today’s Lattice House first became a public house in 1714, and was (somewhat
strangely) fined 40 shillings in 1899 for ‘permitting drunkenness.’ The sign above the door reads W. Howlett, but it’s unclear what the business was – if any readers know, please get in touch! You can enjoy thousands of more images showing Norfolk’s history and the changing face of the county 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. IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 52
KLmagazine November 2017
At the centre of the Centre... How the construction expertise of T.M. Browne is helping create a new centre of village life for the local commuity... hen you undertake a project to revitalise a much-loved 100year-old building and create a new village hub to serve the local community, it helps to have over three decades experience in caring for people and their properties. That – together with an unrivalled mix of local and experienced tradesmen and an established supply base – was the reason T.M. Browne have now begun the renovation of Dersingham Village Hall. Having won the contract in an open tender situation, the company is now undertaking a major community project that will take around a year to complete. And before work on the site even started, T.M. Browne worked closely with the Dersingham Parish Council team during the funding period
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to value engineer the project, meeting the available budgets from The Big Lottery Fund and other local contributors. Over the coming months, T.M. Browne will demolish the existing outhouses and a majority of the main building except the front brick and carrstone elevation. They’ll then start on a new timber framed two-storey rear and side extensions and a new roof structure (using the existing tiles) – giving the village hall a fresh new look with new zinc roofing and a mix of larch cladding and render. Happily, the adjacent village bowling green will remain live throughout the build period. Planned in consultation with
the Sandringham Estate and English Heritage, the new design is respectful of the surroundings and will be a fabulous centre of village life. Once complete, Dersingham’s new village hall will include an extended hall area with a new kitchen, a new stage and storage area for performances, new toilets with baby change facilities, a relocated Parish office meeting room, and a break-out hub for meet and greet events. T.M. Browne is pleased to be helping create a fabulous new village centre for group meetings, community activities, special occasions and private room hire – and we’ll keep you updated on the exciting project’s progress over the coming months.
Unit 3, The Mill, Market Lane, Terrington St Clement King’s Lynn PE34 4HR Tel: 01553 828050 Email: admin@tmbrowneltd.co.uk Web: www.tmbrowne-ltd.co.uk
KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
Pets
AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...
Is your cat overweight? W
hen we think of over weight pets, we often tend to picture a large elderly dog, some what spoilt by its over caring owner. However a problem we also see and just as serious is obesity in our pet cats. I’m not talking about a little excess weight, but rather a weight that is 30 to 50% over the ideal. That’s like a 10 stone human putting on additional weight to become 15 stone. So where a cat may normally be around 4 to 5 kilos, we are seeing some cats coming at 7 and 8 kilos and on occasions even more. It’s a serious problem, initially affecting mobility with the cat reluctant and even unable to move properly, so exercising less and less. Activities like play and hunting, natural behaviours to cats cease, and life becomes increasingly sedentary. Joints become stiff and sore, and without undergoing significant weight loss life becomes miserable.
We also see big cats like these becoming diabetic, and this is a major health issue, and is not the easiest to treat in cats, with daily injections and specific diet foods. In addition we sometimes see these cats develop further complication with pancreatic disease, and this again is a life threatening problem. One of the most acute and dangerous side effects of obesity in cats is the possibility in male cats to aquire urinary tract problems, in particular a blockage to the bladder, stopping urine flow. These cats are presented in considerable distress, and require urgent life saving treatment in the hospital for several days. Indoor only cats are more likely to be affected so watching their weight is especially important. And that’s the point; you need to keep an eye on your cat’s weight, either by actually weighing, or by feeling its ribs, and midriff, or even using a tape
measure round its middle. Weighing is obviously the most precise, and if you haven’t any way of doing this at home, we will happily help if you can get your cat to us at no cost. We have weight clinics for cats, and we have trained nurses who will help you if your cat needs to lose some weight. There are diets which help, and strategies to increase your cats activity levels. If you can keep your cat at an ideal weight it will be happier, healthier, and you could avoid a major medical crisis for your pet. If you are worried or just unsure give us a call.
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 November 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: Radio and television presenter Jo Whiley with Norfolk garden designers Tamara Bridge (right) and Kate Savill, who created the Jo Whiley Scent Garden together for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017
Norfolk’s budding talent in modern garden design It’s fair to say that Tamara Bridge has a natural flair for what makes a good garden – her very first design picked up two major awards at the Sandringham Flower Show, as Clare Bee discovers
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owadays, it’s an accepted fact that time spent outdoors is beneficial physically, mentally and spiritually. Be it a park, a garden or the beach, our lives are improved by being out in the natural world. A beautiful and well designed garden can lift the spirits and calm the soul, but in addition it will attract insects, birds and small mammals, which are so necessary to the ecology of our world. Tamara Bridge is one of a new generation of young garden designers and would consider herself lucky to be someone who can bring life and beauty to the gardens she designs. Her own KLmagazine November 2017
place of work is an inspirational oasis, as she works from a pretty pink shed in the middle of an orchard near Blakeney on the north Norfolk coast. “I was invited here to create a garden, quite a big garden,” explains Tamara, “and when we’d finished, the owner asked me if I’d like to stay and work from here. It gives me the opportunity to have a base and it’s so peaceful. It’s the perfect place to be.” Although a relative newcomer to the business, Tamara is already a Chelsea Flower Show exhibitor and RHS award winner. After attending Sparsholt College in Hampshire, she started off in arboriculture (the study of trees) and
initially worked in Norwich City Council’s tree department for a couple of years. She then retrained on the Sandringham estate as a horticultural trainee. As one of her projects, the Head Gardener suggested Tamara might like to put forward a design for a show garden at the Sandringham Flower Show in 2011. Having never thought about garden design, she decided to have a go (with a bit of help from her mum), and was amazed when she won both Best in Show and the People’s Choice awards. After completing her training, however, Tamara was then unable to find a job. “I thought something was bound to 57
PICTURE: RHS LEE BEEL
Local Life
Tamara was delighted to win the award, but she also met Kate Savill, one of the other finalists. Realising how well they got on together, they decided to team up and apply for the Chelsea Flower Show. They were invited to design one of the BBC Radio 2 Feel Good Gardens, each designed to demonstrate how plants can enrich and indulge one of the five senses. They were asked to design the Scent Garden and were thrilled to be championed by Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley (herself a keen gardener) and British fragrance designer Jo Malone. They came up with the idea of a scent memory wall and the final garden (pictured below) features this wall, inscribed with scent memories submitted by people via social media. Although the gardens weren’t judged, the experience has given Tamara and
PICTURE: JMA PHOTOGRAPHY
come up,” she says, “so decided to work for myself and not get stuck in a job I didn’t enjoy – but I never went back to working for anyone else.” The success of designing the ‘Fancy a Stroll’ Sandringham show garden and a small garden for Birmingham’s Gardeners’ World Live led Tamara to focus more on design than gardening, and she launched Tamara Bridge Garden Designs in 2013. “I wanted to show that even a small garden could be full of plants or colours,” she says. Tamara’s business started to take off, and in 2015 she was shortlisted as a finalist in the Young Designer of the Year at Tatton Park, one of the National Trust’s most beautiful historic estates and home of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Tatton Park Flower Show.
Kate the enthusiasm to submit an application for an artisan garden for next year – and they’re currently waiting to see if their application has been successful. Tamara’s strength is in her ability to take into account every aspect of the garden she’s working on. From her initial site meeting with the client to the placing of the final shrub, Tamara’s attention to detail is second to none. With contacts in the business, she can source the best quality plants, and always likes to be on site to oversee the delivery of the plants. “There’s so much to think about,” she says, “from the things that can’t be changed, such as the way the land lies or the neighbouring properties or the soil type, to the way the client wants to use the garden and the features they want to include. It can certainly stretch my creative abilities!” Tamara likes to be as flexible as possible when working with her clients. She’s happy to offer her garden design skills, when she’ll take into account all aspects of planning a new garden, or equally she’ll take on the planting design only, working with whatever’s already there and aiming to improve it for her clients. It’s clear Tamara loves the work she does, and is proud of the gardens she has created. Her pink shed is full of photos, sketches and designs and her enthusiasm is catching. “I love what I do,” she says simply, “Whether it’s designing a garden from scratch or redesigning an area which needs attention, I love giving people joy from their own space.” To contact Tamara Bridge Garden Designs and explore the possibilties of your garden, please visit the website at www.tamarabridge.co.uk, e-mail tamarabridge@icloud.com or call 07901 807338. You can also follow Tamara and her work on Facebook at TamaraBridgeGardenDesigns.
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KLmagazine November 2017
A wide range of high quality buildings at competitive prices
Compl instal ete lati servic on availa e ble
GARDEN SHEDS SUMMERHOUSES WORKSHOPS LOG CABINS PLAYHOUSES BESPOKE/CUSTOM MADE BUILDINGS al Free loc delivery
Please visit our website for a full range of products and great offers!
www.norfolksheds.co.uk
01553 631839 / 07818 608331 sales@norfolksheds.co.uk
Come and see our exciting
landscaping display
Our landscaping area will give you all the inspiration you’ll need from paths and paving to garden furniture and outdoor buildings.
KLmagazine November 2017
59
HERITAGE TR EE S PECIA L IS TS LTD tree sur gery • forestry
A growing reputation in quality tree care
FIREWOOD LOGS DELIVERED £100 PER LOAD
A free, no obligation consultation and quotation is available for all our products and services.
01553 617008
w: www.heritagetreespecialists.co.uk e: info@heritagetreespecialists.co.uk
Our Services Tree Surgery
Precision Dismantling Conifer Reduction Stump Grinding
Woodland Maintenance
£5 million Public Liability Insurance
Willow Farm Industrial Units, Lynn Road, Saddlebow, King’s Lynn, PE34 3AR
By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Pattrick & Thompsons Ltd Timber Merchants
quality timber for the whole project Everything you need in timber - we sell. • Planed and sawn timber • Skirting • Architraves • Stair parts • Sheet materials • Worktops • Doors • Pressure treated timber • Ironmongery • Fence panels • Decking and much more
P &T 60
PATTRICK & THOMPSONS LTD T I M B E R
C E N T R E
DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE OR YOU CAN CALL IN AT OUR COLLECTION CENTRE!
Pattrick & Thompsons Ltd, Page Stair Lane, King’s Lynn, Norfolk | Tel: 01553 762026 | Fax: 01553 768495 OPENING HOURS: Mon-Fri 8am–5pm & Saturday 8am–12noon
KLmagazine November 2017
CTION E L L O C W E N ED! JUST ARRIV
Beautifully-crafted furniture exclusive to Bespoke Pine n Oak A stunning new collection arrives to join Bespoke Pine n Oak’s 800+ pieces of hand-built solid wood furniture all ready to take away today! t Bespoke Pine n Oak, if you can draw it (or can simply picture it in your head) we can make it – but there’s a lot more to our stunning showroom in King’s Lynn than beautifully and individually hand-crafted furniture. On display and ready to take away today are no less than 800 pieces of fine furniture in every style and shape you can imagine for every room in your home – and it’s a choice that’s just got bigger and better with the arrival of our unique and exclusive Rustic Plank range. Beautifully made in stunning Quebec
A
IF YOU CAN DRAW IT, WE CAN MAKE IT!
yellow pine and infused with metal detailing and industrial touches, the Rustic Plank range includes everything from beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers and bedside cabinets to solid dining tables with a range of seating options – benches, chairs and adjustable tubular stools. The collection also features dressers, desks and mirrors; together with contemporary cubed display units made to an original design by Bespoke Pine n Oak. And don’t forget that in the unlikely event your choice isn’t quite suited (or sized) to your liking, we can produce made-to-
measure versions and variations specially crafted for your home. “There’s nothing quite like uniquely handcrafted furniture because it means you can have exactly what you’re looking for without compromising on anything,” says Bespoke Pine n Oak’s Kevin Berry. “But our off-the-shelf furniture is equally well designed and is made and finished to the very highest standards.” Bespoke Pine n Oak offers one of the biggest furniture choices for miles around – and if it’s not in stock and ready to take away today, they’ll hand-craft it for you!
Bespoke Pine n Oak www.bespokepinenoakltd.com
KLmagazine November 2017
Unit 1, Hamlin Way Hardwick Narrows Estate King’s Lynn PE30 4NG Telephone: 01553 277515
61
fashion At this time of year, considerations of style often have to take second place to more mundane concerns such as keeping warm - but happily there’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds. Here’s a few of our favourite ways of looking great this winter thanks to the best of our local boutiques...
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The Jen Tweed Parka by Jack Murphy (£209) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 KLmagazine November 2017
Fashion
Jacket (£219) & Jumper (£89.95) by Barbour GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 KLmagazine November 2017
63
Fashion
Malvern Coat by Schöffel LINGS COUNTRY GOODS | Great Massingham 01485 520828 64
KLmagazine November 2017
His&
perfect presents for him
hers stunning gifts for her
It’s a visit worth making... Tel: 01553 770536 125 Norfolk Street, King's Lynn PE30 1AP
Web: www.davidaukerjewellery.co.uk
Fashion
Knit Coat by Verpass ISOBEL’S Drayton - 01603 866060 | Holt - 01263 714040 66
KLmagazine November 2017
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CASUAL • DAYWEAR • WEDDING • EVENING
Sizes 14 -36
Stay Warm & Stylish This Season
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OPEN
Mon-Fri 10 am- 5pm Saturday 10 am- 4pm
Isobel’s Fashions, 14 School Road, Drayton, Norwich NR8 6DN Isobel’s Styles For You Ltd, 33 Bull Street, Holt NR25 6HP Tel: Drayton 01603 866060 | Holt 01263 714040
Isobel’s. www.bigandbeautifulfashions.co.uk
on tren g n a b , s e l y t s w e n dazzling
TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk KLmagazine November 2017
d
| Brighton Mill, Stow Bridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD 67
Fashion
Coat by Rever Mile ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 68
KLmagazine November 2017
Lings Country Goods for all your country pursuits
Wide range of top brand country clothing • BARBOUR • DUBARRY • PAMPEANO • SCHÖFFEL • LE CHAMEAU • TOGGI • MUSTO • HUCKLECOTE • SEELAND • WRENDALE Also stocking guns, ammunition & shooting accessories
Morton ATV
all terrain and utility terrain vehicles Heath Farm, Great Massingham PE32 2HJ www.lingscountrygoods.co.uk www.mortonatv.com | Tel: 01485 520828
Excited to announce the arrival of a small collection of
Shoes & Boots CO IN ME TRY AND TH ON EM !
WE’RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
OUR EXPANSION IS COMPLETE Welcoming new patients in our newly refurbished 4 surgery dental practice... Castle Rising Dental Surgery will continue offering high quality dental treatment, Facial Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dental treatment along with Aesthetic Braces for adults. We are providing hygienist service 6 days a week as well as Denplan
We are looking for a qualified dentist to join our well established team... Please email your cover letter and cv to info@castlerisingdentist.co.uk to arrange an interview.
Contact us to find out more Tel: 01553 631094 Address: East Barn, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG
PARTNER Mr William K Dryden BDS Dund 1983 MFGDP (UK)
GDC 58347
PARTNER Miss Kinga Maciejewska Lek Stom Warsaw 2004 GDC 139876
www.allezchic.co.uk
Email: info@castlerisingdentist.co.uk
t: 01553 631915 Open: Mon to Sat 10am-4.30pm The Old School, Castle Rising, King's Lynn PE31 6AG
www.castlerisingdentist.co.uk
KLmagazine November 2017
69
Quality in Craftmanship Since 1995
uPVC, Timber and Aluminium Windows | Doors | Orangeries | Conservatories | Roofline Flat Roofing Garage Doors | Glass Balustrades & Balconies | Aluminium Seamless Gutters
Tel: 01553 829240 www.fenlandwindows.co.uk
Thurlow House, 71 Sutton Road, Walpole Cross Keys, King’s Lynn PE34 4HD
STOVES • GRANITE WORKTOPS • FIREPLACES STOM-MADE GREAT QUALITY STOVES CU UNIQUE LOOK TO GIVE YOUR HOME THAT
Visit the largest stove showroom in King’s Lynn
KR FIREPLACES Home is where the heat is
Austin Fields, King’s Lynn, PE30 1PH tel: 01553 772564 w: www.krfireplaces.co.uk
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KLmagazine November 2017
METRIC CARPETS – THE BEST OF BRITISH FOR OVER 40 YEARS!
How to have a very merry Xmas with Metric Carpets Enjoy a new carpet for the festive season – or to celebrate the new year... hristmas is always a busy time of year, and with family gatherings and parties, your house is a hive of festive activity. Having a warm welcoming home for your guests is an important part of the celebrations – and a new carpet can make a room an irresistible haven for friends to meet and have fun. With a vast array of textures, designs, colours and price points to choose from, the team at Metric Carpets in King’s Lynn can ensure you have the perfect environment to entertain friends and family in style throughout the Christmas season. Alistair Allen and his expert team are already preparing for the run up to Christmas, which is always the busiest time of the year for Metric Carpets.
C
KLmagazine November 2017
”If you want to have a new carpet fitted before Christmas, it’s a good idea to shop early to avoid disappointment,” Alistair says. “That’s because the fitting diary gets full very quickly, and the manufacturers tend to stop delivering in the middle of December, so availability can be a problem – but don’t settle for the secondbest carpet if your first choice isn’t available.” There’s another way of looking at the issue of new carpets for Christmas. If your existing carpet is in reasonable condition, it could well be worth considering waiting until the new year before having a new one fitted. With all the possible mishaps that can occur over the festive season, you can relax – content in the knowledge that your new carpet will be fitted early in
January, and even better you can take advantage of a discounted price, available on all carpets ordered before Christmas and fitted before the end of January 2018. From free estimation and expert advice to professional fitting and an after-sales service that’s second to none, Metric Carpets can offer you a season of stress-free festivities and the best possible start to 2018!
information
36 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AH Tel: 01553 775203 Web: www.metriccarpets.co.uk E-mail: info@metriccarpets.co.uk
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TREACLE & WALNUT PUDDING BY pUDD’ENG
Food & Drink
ABOVE: Kate Lyons at a recent farmers market with her amazing puddings – in the two years since she started pudd’Eng, she’s managed to pick up no less than six Great Taste awards
Baking a new take on Britain’s culinary heritage Nothing ends a meal like a big bowl of warm pudding, but it’s a British tradition that’s been underestimated for far too long. Sylvia Steele meets a woman who’s putting our puddings first...
W
hen Kate and Max Lyons decided on a move from London to seek a new home in East Anglia it wasn’t just the quiet Norfolk countryside that was an influencing factor. That was four years ago, but Kate hadn’t yet decided on the form her new working life would take – she only knew that she wanted to start her own food business. “We’d spent a good deal of time in France and discovered the wonderful markets and distinctive flair for traditional cooking there,” she says. “It’s
KLmagazine November 2017
a different culture to Britain, where we often copy other cuisines instead of concentrating on our own excellent produce. We seem to undervalue our own cultural heritage.” In London, following her career as a primary school teacher, Kate had taken time out of teaching and had worked alongside someone she describes as “a brilliant baker” who was also adept at making puddings. It provided her with the seed of an idea. Kate became fascinated with her research into English puddings, and discovered they have a history going back to medieval
times. With the move to East Anglia firmly established in mind, Kate was attracted to Norfolk’s thriving artisan food scene. Her research into puddings showed a gap in the market for high quality traditional puddings, and she began to nurture the idea that this could involve the skills she’d learned from her baker friend. Kate set about developing recipe ideas to popularise the traditional English pudding by taking a fresh slant on old and tested favourites. After more than a year of research
73
MARMALADE PUDDING BY pUDD’ENG
Food & Drink
and recipe development, Kate started pudd’Eng in 2016 and won the Sweet Bakes category of the Great British Food Awards in her debut year for her Chocolate and Ale pudding. The pudd’Eng range includes the alltime favourite of Sticky Toffee, which has a touch of candied ginger; whisky has been added to the Treacle and Walnut pudding, and a hint of Earl Grey tea and lemon enhances her Spotted Dick. There is also Chocolate & Ale, Syrup, Marmalade and (recently added to the range) a delectable Christmas pudding. All are supplied in three sensible sizes of half-pint for 1-2 portions, one-pint for 3-4 portions and two-pint family size. Now in her second year, Kate has been awarded six Great Taste Awards across her range of puddings – including one for her Christmas pudding which is made with a local ale. Puddings are said to be one of the great joys of British life and one firm favourite it was found has a slightly later tradition than others. It’s said that Sticky Toffee pudding originated during the Second World War, when two Canadian Air Force officers passed the original recipe to their hotelier. Kate’s recipes have been described as delicious, comforting and ever so slightly indulgent. Quite remote from what most people remember as being a 74
‘fill-you-up’ dish at the end of a meal that invariably need something added to enhance it. Indeed, even the names are mouth-watering. From her specially adapted home kitchen, Kate can produce several batches of 20 or 30 puddings a day with all the packaging done in-house. Her husband Max has acted as chief recipe taster, and with his art background and experience with design software he’s been responsible for all the packaging and website design. “Recent requests for 1,200 Christmas puddings have shown that the demand is out there,” Kate says. “The food scene
in Norfolk is really taking off and it’s encouraging to see artisan food producers emerging throughout its many villages.” Having made such an impact in little more than a year, it’s tempting to ask Kate where pudd’Eng goes from here. “I’d like to invest in more commercial grade appliances next year,” she says, “and I hope to employ an apprentice.” The pudd’Eng range can be found in selected retail outlets throughout Norfolk and Suffolk and Kate has an online webshop at www.puddeng.com. You can also find her at farmers markets and Food Festivals around Norfolk and Suffolk.
KLmagazine November 2017
Eye exams: Don’t wait until it’s too late V
ision is something that most of us take for granted. It is something that we are born with, that we use every day and something that we rely on to carry out the most basic of tasks. If our vision is so critical to our day to day lives, why do so many of us wait until we have a problem before visiting an optician? All under 16 year olds are entitled to a FREE eye examination annually under the NHS. A routine examination is recommended every 2 years for adults and every 12 months for those with Diabetes or a family history of Glaucoma. This is not just to check the level of vision you are able to achieve but also to check the health of the eyes and to prevent vision loss before it becomes a problem. So many of our patients come in for a sight examination because they have experienced a sudden drop in vision or have other symptoms such as flashing lights or a sudden increase in floaters. Unfortunately in some of
these cases the damage has already been done and cannot be reversed, making prevention of other conditions and protecting the vision that remains paramount. We have invested in the Daytona Optomap system at DA Seaman’s. Not only will this specialist piece of equipment take a 200 degree image of the Retina (the back surface of your eyes), but it also uses Autofluorescence technology to see changes at a cellular level, before they would be visible to the naked eye. Without the need for dilating eye drops, this non invasive imaging takes just a couple of minutes and is available for all age groups from about 4yrs and upwards. It is just £15 for under 16’s and £30 for adults. Why wait until you see a problem? Contact the practice today to arrange a comprehensive eye examination including Optomap and rest assured that your vision has had the attention it deserves.
“
D.A. SEAMAN OPTOMETRISTS 18 Plowright Place, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7LQ Tel: 01760 751050 | Web: www.daseaman.org.uk
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Chris tmas Day menu Adults 3 courses £45.99 Kids 3 courses £14.99 STARTERS Mushroom & Sherry Soup, Prawn Cocktail, Chicken Liver Pâté, Melting Brie Bites or Mini Hog Roast Wellington
MAINS Hand-carved Roast Turkey, Topside of Beef, Roast Gammon, Salmon with a Prosecco Sauce or Broccoli & Mushroom Wellington AND help yourself to unlimited trimmings!
DESSERTS
ABACUS MARQUEES
Millionaires Chocolate Brownie, Christmas Pudding, Black Forest Ice Cream Sundae, Apple Crumble or Baileys Cream Profiteroles
your special event is our special event...
Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals. Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories. Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements. Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:
01328 701331
www.abacusmarquees.co.uk
Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE32 2YA
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Book now!
Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk
Tel: 01553 772221 KLmagazine November 2017
Food & Drink
Mussel Ravioli “ At Turner’s Restaurant I serve one raviolo with a fillet of sea bass
which we pan fry in butter, lemon juice and fennel which we slowly cook in oil and infuse with a hint of orange and chilli.
“
INGREDIENTS For the pasta 250g “00” flour 2 eggs 2 egg yolks For the filling 1 glass white wine 1 kg mussels 400g cream cheese 20g parsley stalks, finely chopped 15g dill, finely chopped 10g chives, finely chopped 1 lemon juice and zest
METHOD
formed. Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for two hours.
1 Start by preparing the mussels; lightly tap any open shells to see if they close, discarding ones that don’t or are damaged. Clean the shells, remove the beards and rinse. 2 Steam in a pan with the glass of white wine until the shells just open. Remove the mussel meat from the shells.
5 emove the dough from the fridge and allow to come up to room temperature so it’s easier to work with, and then roll through a pasta machine, lightly dusting with a little semolina or polenta so it doesn’t stick. Roll through each setting a couple of times until down to the lowest setting.
3 In a separate bowl, place the remaining ingredients for the filling and stir to combine. Then tip in the mussel meat and mix in with your finger tips. Roll into ten 50g portions (you can make them smaller or larger if you like/be sure to adjust the cooking time though!), place on a tray and rest in the fridge while you start on the pasta dough.
6 Cut the dough out into circles using an 8cm pastry cutter, you will need twenty. Brush the edges of ten of the circles with egg, then place the filling in the centre. Top each one with a dry circle, and seal the edges with your finger tips removing any air bubbles. Place on a lightly floured tray and cover with a cloth.
4 Mix in all the ingredients for the pasta, either with your finger tips or using a food processor until the mix resembles bread crumbs. Then knead on a lightly floured surface until a smooth dough is
7 Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the ravioli for about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with grated parmesan.
Recipe by Trevor Clark Head Chef at Duke’s Head Hotel 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn PE30 1JS Tel: 01553 774996 Web: www.dukesheadhotel.com KLmagazine November 2017
77
Merry Christmas
Book Now for Festive Dining at the
Kings Arms, Swaffham. £20 for £25 for two courses three courses Call 01760 723 244 to book Available in December (Pre-booking and pre-ordering required)
coaching inn
21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk
FOR STUNNING KITCHENS AND BEDROOMS
NEW NEFF APPLIANCES NOW ON DISPLAY
Bexwell Kitchens
54 3-2017 196 54 YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS
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Open Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 KLmagazine November 2017
Food & Drink
l i a t k c o C of the h t n o M
Gingerbread Martini It tastes like Christmas! YOU WILL NEED Martini glass Ice Cocktail shaker INGREDIENTS 12ml gingerbread syrup 25ml double cream 25ml irish cream 12ml Kahlua 25ml Vodka Optional garnish: chocolate powder sprinkles
A Christmassy and an ideal delicious dessert alternative. The Gingerbread Martini was invented in December 2014 by Simon Difford (Difford’s Guide a bible to drinks, cocktails and bars) at the Cabinet Room, London. METHOD 1 Take a shaker filled with ice. 2 Add ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into a Martini glass 3 Add a dusting of chocolate sprinkles and serve. Warning; these are very moreish!
Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Street, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk KLmagazine November 2017
79
Thick-cut Pork Chops
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
£4.39 Quality, local Pork from the Holkham Estate
per kilo
FARMED BY ALLEN PORK With three generations of experience, Allen Pork provide their pigs with the highest quality care and welfare standards.
www.goddardsofnorfolk.co.uk tel: 01366 388377 4 Wales Court, Downham Market PE38 9JZ K I T C H E N S • B AT H R O O M S • T I L E S
Over 40 displays!
BEDROOMS • PLUMBING SUPPLIES
Beautiful British-made kitchens
Knowledge and experience are what makes Quay Centre your first port of call for your new kitchen. With the latest innovation in design technology and years of experience call in and see us in Wisbech.
Our friendly team!
BI G NA ME B R A N D S - Bosch • Blanco • Neff • Ted Baker • Samsung • Laura Ashley • Smeg
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
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KLmagazine November 2017
Food & Drink
See ad opposi vert month te for thi ’s s on porspecial offer k chop s!
Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking: 20 minutes Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 4 thick-cut, bone-in pork chops salt and pepper 3 tbsp butter, divided 2 apples, cored and sliced 1 large white onion, diced 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tsp cinnamon pinch cayenne 2/3 cup apple cider 1/3 cup heavy cream
METHOD 1 In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Immediately add the pork chops and cook until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Then transfer to a plate and set aside.
3 Add the pork chops, nestling them into the liquid, and using a meat thermometer cook until the internal temperature of the pork reaches between 60°c (for medium rare) and 70°c (for medium), 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
2 Return the pan to medium-high heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Immediately add the apples and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent for about 5 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon and cayenne. Stir in the apple cider and cream.
4 Serve the chops with the apple mixture spooned on top.
Recipe by Goddards of Norfolk 4 Wales Court, Downham Market PE38 9JZ Tel: 01366 388377 Web: www.goddardsofnorfolk.co.uk KLmagazine November 2017
81
NEW SEASON BRANCASTER MUSSELS
PLANNING A TRAINING, BUSINESS EVENT OR OFFICE PARTY? CALL TO DISCUSS CHRISTMAS FESTIVE PARTY MENU'S AVAILABLE
Now available
Cracking local produce for a healthy Bonfire Night supper ISTM AS ORD ERS NOW BEIN G TAK EN FOR CHR
the
FEATHERS N E X T TO T H E S A N D R I N G H A M E S TAT E
Selection of fresh local game Fresh cockles Fresh tuna Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh and smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey
Plus! Deli counter with quality local cheeses
DONALDSONS 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
Christmas AT THE
BERNEY ARMS
A traditional country pub serving exquisite food & drink • Pub • Bar • Restaurant • Garden • Accommodation • Function Room for Parties and Special Events www.feathersdersingham.com
CALL 01485 540768 TO B OO K 71 Manor Road, Dersingham PE31 6LN
Tel: 01485 540768 Web: www.feathersdersingham.com 71 Manor Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6LN
Crawfish Inn Thai Restaurant & Bar
NOW CALL OK BO
TO
347 01366
995
Join us for festive dining throughout December Visit our website or find us on Facebook for more information and to view our menu online:
www.theberneyarms.co.uk /theberneyarms Church Road, Barton Bendish, Norfolk PE33 9GF
82
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
/crawfishinn
www.crawfishinn.com KLmagazine November 2017
Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A visit to The Ship Hotel at Brancaster
M
uch as we love visiting Brancaster to enjoy what may well be the best piece of coastline in Norfolk, I have to admit that my wife and I had never eaten at The Ship Hotel – even though we’d driven past it any number of times. We recently agreed to redress this, and concluded that we’d been missing a real treat for far too long. Chris Coubrough – who owns The Ship along with The Crown Hotel in Wells – needs no introduction. The New Zealand-born master chef is well known for his successful television
KLmagazine November 2017
series Coastal Kitchen, and grew up in a family where (in his own words) “the natural way of life meant we grew, nurtured and butchered everything we put on the table.” He has a strong reputation for combining the best ingredients Norfolk has to offer with ideas he’s gathered on his travels around the world – and it’s a reputation we were looking forward to putting to the test. First impressions really do count, and as soon as we arrived at The Ship we felt at home. It’s been lovingly and sympathetically restored to its former glory, and even though the restaurant can seat 100 people it feels decidedly warm and cosy – even warmer over the winter, thanks to the roaring fires! The wine list was hugely impressive, and from the 68 on offer that evening we chose a fabulous Australian Shiraz. We later learned that Chris helps choose the wines himself, with a little help from Master of Wine Beverley Tabbron and Jamie Aram, Director of Hallgarten Druitt – who were voted Wine Importer of the Year in 2011. It’s always a good sign when even the menu is mouthwatering, and it took us a while to decide what to order. Eventually, I chose the tempura tiger prawns with a lemon and lime sweet chilli sauce, while my wife decided on the wild mushroom arancini – after she’d asked the waitress what it was
and discovered it was actually Italian stuffed rice balls. They were served with a delicious combination of mozzarella, thyme, lime and garlic with a smoked tomato chutney – and almost outshone my prawns, which were hot, crisp and outrageously succulent. For our main courses I stayed with seafood theme and chose the beautiful seared sea bass, which was expertly paired with a wonderful crab mash, delicately fragrant baby fennel and a subtle shallot dressing. My wife, meanwhile, tucked into a superbly chargrilled sirloin steak – a first-class cut of meat that was cooked with spoton precision and accompanied by a blue cheese sauce that deserved an award by itself! For dessert, we couldn’t resist enjoying a family tradition – the wonderful Momma Coubrough’s Spiced Apple Cake – and many thanks to Chris for sharing this family recipe. It was a truly memorable meal, and we regretted having never visited The Ship Hotel before. Since it also has nine beautifully designed, and fully equipped bedrooms, we’re determined to return and stay for breakfast next time! Chris and his kitchen staff have a natural talent for creating amazing dishes, and while he’s often described as a ‘celebrity’ chef, it’s his carefully balanced and exceptionally good food that’s the real star of the show.
FOOD SERVICE VALUE
9 10 9
THE SHIP HOTEL Main Road, Brancaster, Norfolk PE31 8AP Telephone: 01485 210333 Web: www.shiphotelnorfolk.co.uk 83
We create the rooms you will LOVE to live in! Fully fitted Kitchens from just £
6,995!
KING’S LYNN 48 Bergen Way (next to Citroen) North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG Tel: 01553 762749
HUNSTANTON 2-4 Northgate Precinct (opp. Natwest, High St) Hunstanton PE36 6EA Tel: 01485 534965
Great fitted furniture made locally for you
www.kingsoakkitchens.co.uk
THE DABBLING DUCK INDOOR
CHRISTMAS MARKET Baubles, Bangles & Beer ...and much more Saturday 16th December
10am - 4pm
STALLS CONFIRMED:
Candi’s Chutneys • Gone Crabbing Bells & Whistles • Trouve Cashmere Lings Country Clothing • Bircham Stores Linda’s Crafts • Local Artwork Precious Petals • Wickhams Candles
ORIENTAL PALACE
CHINESE RESTAURANT Peking Szechuan & Cantonese Cuisine
Choose as many dishes as you want from the à la carte menu and they'll be freshly cooked to order - all for one set price! Want more? Just order more!
Street Food & Wood • Fired Pizzas Homemade Apple Cider • Mulled Wine Flavoured Vodka • Hot Chocolate Carols sung by Great Massingham Primary School
TOM ERS MER RY CHR ISTM AS TO ALL OUR CUS Call us on: 01553 842255 | Delivery available
11 Abbey Rd, Great Massingham PE32 2HN 01485 520827 84
204 Main Road, West Winch, King’s Lynn, PE33 0NP Open 7 Days a Week - 12noon-2pm & 5pm-10:30pm www.orientalpalacewestwinch.co.uk
KLmagazine November 2017
Food & Drink
Beef, Ale & Oyster Pudding Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 2 hours Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 1 white onion 500g beef topside 1 tsp tomato puree 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp flour 1 pint flying kiwi ale 200ml beef stock Suet pastry 4 oysters
METHOD 1 SautĂŠ one chopped white onion in a little oil. Add 500g of seasoned, diced beef topside, turn to a high heat and brown the meat. 2 Add one tablespoon tomato puree and one tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
6 Line a pudding basin with suet pastry. 7 Half fill with beef mix. 8 Add one oyster and cover with more beef mix. 9 Seal the top with suet pastry and steam for one hour.
3 Stir in one tablespoon of flour. 4 Add 1 pint beer and 200ml beef stock. 5 Bring to the boil, cover and cook in a hot oven 200°c for 40-50 minutes.
Recipe by Nikki Merchant Head Chef, The Crown Hotel
The Buttlands, Wells-Next-the-Sea NR23 1EX E-mail: crownhotel@flyingkiwiinns.co.uk Web: www.crownhotelnorfolk.co.uk KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
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‘as-new’ brilliance – and we can do it in a single visit too!” For more than 20 years, XtraClean has been offering a professional, friendly and fully-insured service that covers the whole of Norfolk (and even beyond) with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians dedicated to keeping your floors looking as bright as the weather outside. Following an initial survey and test, Martin and his team will get to work (even moving the furniture for you!) breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling. Then, XtraClean’s amazing turbo-cleaning capture system thoroughly pressure cleans the floor, capturing all the waste in the process. The results are spectacular, and are achieved without
invasive procedures such as grinding and resurfacing. “Once the floor’s been cleaned we’ll professionally seal it for added protection which will help retain its looks for longer,” says Martin. ”We can even re-polish and buff highly-honed stone floors if required!” XtraClean also has a wealth of experience in cleaning everything from outdoor terraces to paths and patios – meaning all your floors can have a fresh look for the summer. “We use the most advanced technology and the most professional products on the market today,” says Martin, “and the results really do speak for themselves.” Discover the difference – and contact Martin and his locally-based team today!
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KLmagazine November 2017
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History
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was the daughter of John Brunham, who was mayor of the town five times, an MP, a member of the Trinity Guild, and a prosperous merchant with many friends of notoriety – including the famous Lord Mayor of London Dick Whittington. At the age of 20 Margery was married to local man John Kempe in the church of St. Margaret’s church (today’s Minster). He was a cloth-maker and newly-elected burgess of the town. But Margery was far from an ordinary medieval housewife. Most of what is known about her is derived from her
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ou’d have thought writing the first autobiography in English was good enough for any woman, but there’s a lot more to Margery Kempe than that. Remembered as a religious exhibitionist and famous for her torturous outbursts of screams, wailing and weeping, she lived a life of extraordinary pilgrimages in search of divine forgiveness – and managed to have no less than 14 pregnancies during her 20 years of married life. Margery was born in the relatively new town of Bishop’s Lynn in 1373. She
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She wrote the first autobiography in English, but that was the least of her achievements. Linda Drury of the King’s Lynn Town Guides takes a look at the remarkable life of Margery Kempe
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The amazing adventures of a medieval woman... own book, but some knowledge of her was revealed in excerpts from the Dutch publisher Wynken de Worde around 1501. Her own manuscript, written by dictation to a scribe (possibly her oldest son) wasn’t discovered until 1934 – some 450 years after it had been written – in the Butler-Bowden family library in Yorkshire. Margery’s first child was born with great difficulty, and for some time afterwards she went out of her mind. She tried to kill herself and was bound to her bed. During this time she had her first visitation of Christ; this was the first
KLmagazine November 2017
of her many conversations with the Lord and it brought an end to her illness. A relatively normal married life followed for the next 20 years. Margery was a proud and fashionable woman, even embarking on two business careers – brewing and milling – although both of them eventually failed. Eventually, Margery believed God had had enough of her pride and her life underwent a complete conversion; she ate no meat, wore sackcloth under her gowns, and told her husband she desired to live chastely. Attending church one day, Margery was struck by a falling beam – she was unhurt and believed it was a miracle. Her weeping bouts were triggered whenever she visualised the nightmare of Christ’s torture. She felt his pain, which triggered tears she believed were divinely inspired, and she was moved in her soul to visit certain places for spiritual health. Soon after, she wanted to go to Jerusalem, but before leaving England her husband demand she travel to York with him, give up fasting, join him in bed and pay his debts. The couple got as far as Canterbury before Margery’s weeping got her into so much trouble she was threatened with being burned as a heretic. It’s probable that her father’s influential connections frequently saved Margery from this fate. In early 1413, she spent three days in Norwich with the famous anchoress Dame Julian, who herself had a unique literary claim to fame; 18 years prior to their meeting she’d written Revelations of Divine Love, the first book in English language written by a woman. From Julian, Margery received the advice to “set all your trust in God and do not fear the talk of the World.” After much prayer they agreed Margery would be free to travel, and for the next four years she did exactly that. Margery Kempe set sail from Great Yarmouth with her maid and journeyed across Europe, joining up with a party of pilgrims, all of whom soon tired of her boisterous weeping and duly handed her over to a Papal Legate. On reaching Bologna the uncharitable pilgrims were amazed to discover that Margery had managed to enlist the help of an elderly Englishman and had managed to reach the town before them. They agreed she could rejoin them to travel on to Venice – but no sooner had they reached the city when Margery was abandoned yet again; the pilgrims even suggesting they’d pay the then-incredible sum of £100 to someone to rid them of her! From Venice, Margery rode on the
KLmagazine November 2017
ABOVE: For over 400 years, all that was known of Margery Kempe’s book was a pamphlet by Wynkyn de Worde from 1501 (inset) which contained seven pages of brief excerpts. But in 1934, medieval scholar Hope Emily Allen discovered the only surviving example of The Book of Margey Kempe in a cupboard at Southgate House, Chesterfield. It has been printed several times is still widely available. The manuscript itself (main image above) is now housed in the British Library (MS Additional 61823) and can be viewed in its entirety at http://english.selu.edu/humanitiesonline/kempe/
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History
Where to discover Margery Kempe in King’s Lynn today... Inside the Minster there are two wooden carvings among the misericords reputed to be of Margery Kempe (right), in addition to a stone carving of a blindfolded figure, high up on the north wall close to the altar.
A step-by-step way to explore the heritage of King’s Lynn...
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recorded, but is believed to be around 1440, shortly after dictating her extraordinary tale of persecution by men and devils, accusations of heresy, and extraordinary journeys of pilgrimage. Margery’s legacy is considerable. The Book of Margery Kempe is the best insight available of the experience of a middle class female in the Middle Ages – even more so in that she was a layperson as opposed to contemporaneous holy women such as Julian of Norwich and Bridget of Sweden. Margery Kempe and her book are significant because they express the tensions in late medieval England between institutional orthodoxy and the increasingly public modes of religious dissent such as the Lollards. Frequenlty challenged by both church and civil authorities on her adherence to the teachings of the institutional Church, Kempe proved her orthodoxy in every case. It’s a remarkable story of a quite inspirational woman who was far ahead of her time.
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back of a donkey for over 2,000 miles, all the way to the birthplace of Christ, Mount Zion and the River Jordan. She mentions in her journal nearly falling off her donkey when she saw Jerusalem for the first time. Returning to Rome via Assisi, Margery was stranded yet again and had to live by her wits through the winter. Finally leaving The Eternal City over Easter 1415 she passed through the Netherlands on her way back to Norwich. But Margery wasn’t finished quite yet. Continuing her search for salvation, she sailed from Bristol for Santiago de Compostela before finally returning to Lynn. Margery’s final years were full of sorrow; she nursed her husband John for the following seven years until he died, and in the same year her son also died of a sudden illness. Incredibly, Margery then undertook another arduous journey to accompany her German daughter-in-law back to the latter’s homeland in Danzig. The precise date of her death is not
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ABOVE: Often mistakenly said to represent Margery Kempe (based largely the fact it is medieval and shows a woman reading a book) The Magdalen Reading is actually one of the three surviving fragments of a large 15th century altarpiece by Rogier van der Weydenund. Far more likely to represent Kempe are two wooden misericord carvings in King’s Lynn Minster (above right) – although they may have been intended to depict her and St. Margaret of Antioch, after whom the church was orginally named.
In fact, the very existence of the Minster could be said to owe its survival to Margery Kempe; in January 1421 there was a great fire in the town. The Trinity Guild Hall burned to the ground and the church of St Margaret’s (as the Minster was then known) was threatened. Margery prayed and wept, and at last “great flakes of snow came down and the fire was extinguished.” Her confessor was quick to claim her prayers had been answered and the church was saved.
PRIVATE BOOKINGS Although there are no regular walks in November, the King’s Lynn Town Guides are available to take privately-arranged group walks at any time or day for groups of at least six people. These walks can be tailored to suit any theme or length. If you’d like to get together with a group of friends or colleagues to discover more about the town, simply contact the Tourist Information Centre in the Custom House on 01553 763044 to book your tour. The King’s Lynn Town Guides give their services entirely voluntarily, and all the money raised from the walks goes directly to conservation projects in the town.
KLmagazine November 2017
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PICTURE: JIM GARRET
Local Life
ABOVE: The eagre (tidal bore) at Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen is a rare sight – there are fewer than 60 of them in the world – and there are only 8 more opportunities to witness it this year
Riding the wave of a rare local phenomenon The tidal effect known as an eagre is extremely rare, but it’s a regular attraction in the village named after it. Kevin Holland explores Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen’s natural claim to fame...
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n 1558, the year the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen Elizabeth I of all England, the then vicar of the parish of St Mary’s in Wiggenhall opened a new parish register and wrote some interesting notes on the inside front cover; “Wigrehale is undoubtedly a Saxon Name and derives to set forth and signify that at this place was a great force or Press of water both from the sea and River Ouse,” he wrote, “expressed by the word Wigre, Hygre or Eagre, which donates a raging swell or roul of water, increased by the opposition of any bank or [unreadable] against it and Hale is the same as Ale, KLmagazine November 2017
that is All water, thus Alesham, Alesford, Halesworths etc...” Not only has the natural phenomenon of the eagre tide given its name (ultimately) to the the villages that line the banks of the River Great Ouse as it flows south from King’s Lynn, the river has also shaped the lives of its residents for centuries. Many people still remember Mr Gagen’s exploits of wading out to his tendered fishing boat to drop his nets –just in time for the tide to change. He’d get a full net much quicker when the tide came to him! Fishing with the tides is only one way the river has shaped the village over the years. More recently you’ll see it being used for pleasure and leisure, with the
occasional small flotilla of five or six pleasure cruisers and houseboats of various design on their way to Gdansk or Wells or whereever it is they go. I still hear stories from the village elders about how a cruiser once got stuck under the bridge on the rising tide and needed rescuing, or how the Scouts came unstuck on a canoe trip at low tide. They’d got a warning, but the leader knew better – and 20 minutes later there was a knock at the door. “We lost our canoes when the tide changed, Mister – can we come in and dry off and call for some help?” There are many who still remember going down to the river at low tide and picking the coal out of the riverbed
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Local Life
ABOVE: This chart of the tidal river was prepared in 1693, and show how it runs down to the sea. Its origin at Staple Ware is circled in red, above King’s Lynn.
after a coal boat had been caught out by the eagre tide. Anyone who has recently moved to the village will have heard grand tales of giant waves lapping over the riverbank, and excited children running along the bank shouting “Eeeaaggreeee!” Not surprisingly, they wonder what it’s all about. Essentially, an eagre is the leading edge of the incoming tide in a lowlying estuary or tidal river basin. There are fewer than 60 eagres in the world, putting Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen in a very exclusive club. As it greets the Wash, the funnelshaped estuary of the River Great Ouse forces the incoming tides into its narrowing channel. As the incoming tide meets the resistance of the banks and riverbed, it slows and is then forced to break. When the planets are perfectly
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aligned, a wall of water up to 5ft high in places rises from the incoming tide and crashes high up against the banks, which were all built up after the 1953 floods – the last time the tidal river burst its banks. During the spring tides, every fortnight around the new and full moons, there’s always the chance of seeing an eagre tide. In Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen, the tide changes one hour before high tide in King’s Lynn – that’s when the incoming tide meets the outgoing tide and we get a tidal wave. When the height of the tide is over 23ft then spectators are in for a real treat – even more so if it’s 36 hours after a full moon, close to the Equinox, on a Saturday, and around 5:24pm. And don’t ask how I know that! This chart of the tidal river [above] was the Jurisdiction of the Admiralty in
1693, during the Mayoralty of Henry Bell – often called the man who built King’s Lynn. Its runs from a place known as Staple Ware, which appears to be located between Stow Bridge and Magdalen and runs down to the sea. It suggests that in years gone by, they may well have been some trade via the river between King’s Lynn (where the great trading ships were docking) and Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen. The map is south facing, so it actually looks upside down – but you can clearly see the funnel-shaped entrance to the river and how it narrows as it reaches Eau Brink, where the first waves form on a regular basis. Today, the Wiggenhall Wave is becoming known as Eastern England’s Severn Bore – but better. There’s even a group of secret ‘wild swimmers’ who appear in the early morning Autumn mists and take to the water for a body surf and gently float down to Stowbridge. The wave has also seen 70-year-old kayakers who’ve been veterans of the Severn Bore for half a century take to the water and attempt to tame the Wiggenhall Wave. It’s thrilled east coast surfers and even BBC television presenter David Whitely, who surfed the wave back in 2012. There’s still time to see this amazing spectacle for yourself. From now until the end of the year the best days for catching a wave are November 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, and December 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. The very best tidal bores will form between 4.40pm and 6.30pm for the evening showings – and you’ll find exact times posted on the riverbank nearer the time. Note that at these times the wave is only visible on cloudless nights when it falls on a full moon – and as it’s dark, spectators need to be careful.
KLmagazine November 2017
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Book Reviews
Books for November – quite literally... BUTTERFLIES IN NOVEMBER Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir It’s been a tough day; she’s been dumped twice, accidentally killed a goose, and now she’s suddenly responsible for her best friend’s deafmute son. But then a shared lottery ticket turns the oddly-matched pair into the richest people in Iceland, and the couple find themselves on a road trip across the country – with cucumber hotels, dead sheep, and any number of her ex’s on their tail. This is a comic and uniquely moving tale of motherhood, friendship and the power of words. It’s beautifully crafted and translated, and is a carefully observed, sensuously written, and often darkly comic tale of life’s upheavals.
MOOMINVALLEY IN NOVEMBER Tove Jansson The distinctly odd Moomins have been enjoying something of a renaissance lately, and although this is a book for children it has a lot that adults can identify with and learn from. Our irrational fears, our desperate need to interfere and change things, our longing for company and need for personal space – they’re all simply and deeply highlighted. And the character of Toft will make you go back to the beginning and start to read it again.
NIGHTINGALES IN NOVEMBER Mike Dilger If you’ve ever wondered what birds get up to when they’re not pinching our peanuts, pilfering our pyracantha berries or nesting under the eaves of our homes, The One Show’s natural history star Mike Dilger tells us the answers with a brilliant almanac telling the different personal and annual stories of 12 well-known British birds. A fascinating showcase of amazing avian facts gleaned over decades by birdwatchers, ringers, nest recorders and migration recorders, this is the perfect dip-into book for anyone with a bird table. NOVEMBER 9 Colleen Hoover Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before she moves across ther country. Her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben’s always sought for his novel, and over time they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben’s been telling her the truth – or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist. Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon (and simultaneously his novel) be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak? 98
FOUR DAYS IN NOVEMBER Vincent Bugliosi Sometimes published as Parkland, this is a more accessible version of Bugliosi’s monumental 2,000 page Relcaiming History – an extraordinarily exciting, precise, and definitive narrative of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22nd, 1963. On of the book’s strengths (and its most controversial content) is its dissection of the 50 years worth of conspiracy theories the event has generated. Coming from the legal talent who prosecuted Charles Manson and wrote Helter Skelter it’s difficult to argue against Bugliosi’s wellargued conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald did it – and he did it alone.
KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
Keith’s technical expertise (the couple have been together since they were 14) means that whatever you and your car needs, K Brown Auto Repairs offers a comprehensive range of services from general servicing and repairs to MOTs and air conditioning, from head gaskets and 4-wheel alignment to cambelts, clutches, and gearbox rebuilds. And the expertise of seven mechanics in Hunstanton and four in King’s Lynn includes a dedicated team of diagnostic technicians fully trained in fault finding, emissions and DPF systems. “It doesn’t matter if you need a single bulb or a major engine overhaul,” says Tamsin. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a brand new customer or you’ve been coming to us for years – you’ll be treated to the same level of service as everybody else. It’s very important to us that everyone is made to feel they’re a valued customer and that we’ve got their best interests at heart.” That commitment to customers isn’t
just confined to the bright and relaxing reception areas, however. “I think it’s fair to say that I was born with a spanner in my hand,” says Keith – who actually sold his own car to help launch K Brown Auto Repairs in the mid1990s. “My father got me interested in cars and I was taking engines apart when I was a child! I’ve always thought it’s essential that you need to keep the customer informed at every step and at every stage. You don’t want surprises, you don’t want to worry, and you want to be able to see where every single penny has gone.” Realistic, justifiable pricing, a friendly and welcoming environment, and a determination to give you and your car the very best – you’re always very welcome to K Brown Auto Repairs!
information
K Brown Auto Repairs Simon Scotland Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4JF tel: 01553 763763 web: www.kbrownautoskingslynn.co.uk
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Local Life
ABOVE: Members of King’s Lynn and District Round Table 54 – which will be celebrating its 85th anniversary next year. The organisation itself was founded by Louis Marchesi (opposite) in Norwich and is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year
Celebrating nine decades of fellowship and charity In 1927, Louis Marchesi launched a club in Norwich to support younger businessmen, and as Richard Parr explains, it’s now an international charitable community with a club on every continent
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n international organisation for young men founded in Norfolk and currently celebrating its 90th anniversary is now enjoying a resurgence of interest in membership. And one of its keenest members, 30year-old Amrinder Chana, a former Chairman of King’s Lynn and District Round Table 54, is proudly carrying the celebration honours in his role as this year’s Round Table Area 6 The Founders Area (Norfolk) Chairman. Amrinder is keen to dispel the myth that the Round Table is some sort of secret society and says all men between the age of 18 and 45 are warmly welcome
KLmagazine November 2017
to join. Amrinder, an associate with the King's Lynn-based building design consultancy Calvert, Brain and Fraulo Architectural Ltd, says that joining Round Table five years ago made an enormous difference to him. “Being a member of Round Table in King’s Lynn has changed my life,” he says. “It’s widened my circle of really great friends and taken me out of my shell and allowed me to grow in confidence. I would thoroughly recommend it to other guys.” The launch of the first event Round Table television advertisement is just one of a series of elements in a new
recruitment campaign to increase membership, which has gathered momentum with new tables opening all over UK and the successful reopening of an old table in Cambridge. While Norwich may sound the unlikeliest of destinations in which to kick-start a movement like Round Table, it’s the home from where the decision to adopt, adapt and improve (the Round Table motto) began – and in true Delia Smith style, the organisation is calling out to the men of Britain “let’s be having you.” In 1927 Louis Marchesi was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club and he felt there was a need for a club for
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Local Life
ABOVE: Members of King’s Lynn and District Round Table 54 gathering supplies for the King’s Lynn Food Bank
younger businessmen where they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their colleagues and contribute to the civic life of their own communities. His club – Norwich Round Table No.1 – was duly formed at Suckling House in Norwich on 14th March 1927, and interest was so high the club attracted 85 members in its first year. Soon, people around the country started to show interest in the movement and open their own clubs. The second Round Table was opened in Portsmouth and the idea really took off. By the time the Second World War broke out in 1939 there were 125 clubs and 4,600 members. In its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, membership was counted in its tens of thousands, but as the decades have gone by numbers have fallen – but now the Round Table Movement is fighting back to attract a new generation of young businessmen. There are now 304 active tables all open to men aged between 18-45 with over 3,700 members in Great Britain and Ireland. As Amrinder explains, Round Table
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offers its members an environment where they can meet together and chat about matters of mutual interest, have fun and organise and run events that raise funds for the deserving causes. “Friendships made in Round Table can last for a lifetime and when members are ‘chucked out’ at the age of 45 they can continue their involvement through joining the 41 Club,” he says. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s simply nothing like being in the Round Table.” It’s proving a busy year for Amrinder because he’s attending events throughout Round Table Area 6 as well as being actively involved in the Lynn Club, the current Chairman of which is 22-year-old Ryan Brown, who’s one of the youngest-ever Chairman in Area 6. “It is an exciting time for us as Ryan’s youth and enthusiasm is really pushing the table to the next level,” said Amrinder. Every year the King’s Lynn 54 holds a fundraising weekend event at the Norton Hill Light Railway in Snettisham, which this year raised more than £14,000. In the Area 6 during 2016-17 an incredible £73,806 was
raised. Amrinder explains that Round Table is rightly known for its charitable fundraising events such as beer festivals, family fun days, community firework displays and Christmas community events. “It’s wonderful that our fundraising events can make a real difference to the lives of children and adults who are disadvantaged in various ways,” he says. The Lynn Club was founded in November 1933 and will celebrate its 85th anniversary next year. In 1954 the Club had grown to such a size that it was decided to launch a second group in the town and so King's Lynn Vancouver 1114 Round Table was formed. “For a small market town like King’s Lynn to have two clubs was a triumph and it still is,” said Amrinder. As Amrinder explains, Round Table members who freely give their time and energy to stage community fundraising events can see the benefits for them personally in terms of their own personal development; men with no previous experience find themselves becoming project managers, marketers or financial wizards. For more details about King’s Lynn and District Round Table 54, please visit www.rt54.org.uk and for information on the national organisation see www.roundtable.co.uk
KLmagazine November 2017
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KLmagazine November 2017
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Local Life
ABOVE: Explorer and adventurer Benedict Allen will be presenting a talk in King’s Lynn later this month detailing his recent dramatic return to Papua New Guinea with BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner (opposite), who thought his life-long dream of seeing the elusive birds of paradise in their natural environment dies when he was shot and left paralysed by a gang of terrorists in Riyadh.
The last great explorer travels to King’s Lynn He’s been described as one of the greatest explorers of all time, and virtually created the television genre of adventure-based documentaries. Now, Benedict Allen is travelling to Norfolk...
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ormer Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson once said that Benedict Allen was “part of the history of television,” and it’s a claim that’s hard to dispute. It’s probable that no one alive has lived isolated and alone for so long in so many potentially hostile and remote environments – and by using a handheld video camera rather than a film crew he’s redefined the landscape of TV, establishing the ‘adventure documentary’ genre in television. Benedict, who studied Environmental Science at the UEA, is the only person known to have crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest. His
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adventures also include the first documented journey of the length of the Namib Desert, made ‘first contact’ with the Yaifo people in New Guinea – and he’s the only person known to have crossed the full width of the vast Gobi Desert with only camels for company. It comes as no surprise to learn that the Daily Telegraph listed him as one of the top ten British explorers of all time. Benedict’s journeys have been depicted in his 10 books, six BBC television series (the most recent being Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest), and a series of groundbreaking documentaries for National Geographic TV, the History Channel and Channel
Five. Later this month, as part of the King’s Lynn Festival’s winter programme, Benedict will be appearing at the town’s St. George’s Guildhall, revealing the full story of his dramatic return to Papua New Guinea, where he accompanied by Frank Gardner, the BBC Security Correspondent. It seems the perfect opportunity to learn just what it takes to be an explorer/adventurer from someone who has – in a very real sense – been there and done that. How did you get what seems to be a dream job? I don’t think it’s a dream job, but it’s the
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Local Life Where would you suggest as a good destination for a first-time expedition? I’d suggest Namibia, Mongolia, and even Iceland – where I led my first expedition. All these places are politically stable and are relatively remote though they’re not unexplored. In all of them you can be far removed from your world and seriously enter another. My favourite is Mongolia, perhaps; nomads form 40% of the population, and the country is the size of Western Europe – although it only has a couple of million people in it!
ABOVE: Benedict Allen with fellow explorer Hugh Thomson on their adventurous journey (with Washington the mule) down from the Andes towards the Amazon and Espíritu Pampa, the last city of the Incas
only thing I wanted to do. It’s been a struggle to get to this position, and it will be a struggle to carry on – even now money is uncertain and my office is chaos – but it’s my life, and it’s the only thing I know. I worked in a warehouse to earn enough money for my first expedition, and lived at home with my mum and dad until I was 27 due to money shortages. I didn’t do any television until after my first five books, when the BBC approached me to take a little camera along on my next trip. Essentially, I felt I needed to be an adventurer and writer, and without that drive I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Anyone can be a professional explorer, if that’s what they really want to do. What makes you decide that an adventure is worth going on? Sometimes certain places and challenges seem irresistible to me. Certain ideas stand out above the rest; places like the ‘Skeleton Coast’ sound so magical and a natural challenge. I look on a map and see whether the place looks interesting enough in reality. For me, journeys are all about learning to live in a hostile environment with remote people who see that place as home. What do you think turns a journey into an expedition? It’s all about having a clear objective and a plan with which to pull it off. Unless it’s an expedition of the pure adventure type, there should be some element of research and, perhaps most
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importantly, an intention to report back on your findings. What’s the point of going on an expedition? It’s either to bring back some useful information or to bring a more considered or ‘higher’ approach to your travels. Most travel is self-indulgent, and while there’s nothing wrong with wanting a bit of fun, an expedition approach is a good idea; especially if you want to achieve something meaningful for others or reach a higher level of achievement for yourself. Want to climb a great mountain? Then you need an expedition. It’s the same with most other achievements on the horizontal plane. What advice would you give someone wanting to go on their first expedition? Set about thinking what you want to achieve, and then start reading up on the place. The key to planning is information – and it’s a good idea to look at old expedition reports at the Royal Geographical Society. You can call their Expedition Advisory Centre for more details.
If you hadn’t become an explorer and adventurer what do you think you’d be doing now? I almost went to art school so I’d probably be an artist. Through my books and expeditions I’m simply trying to make sense of the world for myself – like any other person with creative drive perhaps. What advice would you give someone thinking of becoming an explorer? It’s incredibly difficult to pursue as a career and there’s no point in me saying otherwise. What you need is tenacity, a fair bit of luck, and a willingness to make great sacrifices. It’s important not to be put off by anyone, and that includes me! Decide what you really want and find your own way to do it. Don’t forget that if it was easy, everyone would be doing it! Benedict Allen will be presenting a talk on his adventures in paradise (Papua New Guinea) at St. George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn on Tuesday 21st November at 7.30pm. Tickets are £14 or £10 for under 18s and RGS-IBG members. This is the latest talk the long-standing partnership between the King's Lynn Festival and the Royal Geographical Society. For more details and booking details, see the website at www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk
How did you become involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award? I was asked to help out because I have a high profile in the adventure travel world, and so I get invited to hand out Gold Awards at Buckingham Palace, for example. But I didn’t actually do the Award myself at school. I should have, really – the Duke of Edinburgh once said I’d been trying to make up for it ever since!
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Local Arts
ABOVE: Part of the Salt Marsh Stillness panorama by Norfolk photographer Janice Alamanou – her talent for combining the beauty of the landscape with the human body is perfectly captured in her image Society Red (opposite)
The art of the times and the places we live in Some photographers prefer landscapes, and some prefer people. Very few combine the two in such a striking way as Norfolk artist Janice Alamanou. Sylvia Steele talks to her about her work...
Y
ou could do this as a living,” was a friend’s observation as the young child with the point-and-shoot camera set out her photographic work alongside the quayside at Wells, close to her home. This casual remark may have sowed the seed, for, as Janice Alamanou now explains; “I didn’t think of becoming a photographer then, but it very quickly became a part of my life.” From the age of 12, Janice pursued her passion to document the floods and coastal changes along the Norfolk coast, and she recorded these images,
KLmagazine November 2017
in her first book, A Personal Account of Time & Tide. The image Low Tide Mooring, taken at Morston, earned her her first Gold Award at the British Institute of Professional Photography South East Region Awards in 2011. It’s been a largely self-taught journey for the Norfolk photographer who now exhibits her work in galleries around the world. “I have to keep studying because everything changes so quickly in terms of technology and technique,” she says. “It’s not just a question of simply taking a photograph – you have to capture
something in a way you want to capture it, not as the camera wants to. That’s the absolute art of photography. My images turned to landscape, seascape and then to incorporate people until it seemed a natural progression to amalgamate these.” It’s a refreshingly different approach to photography. “My work is to realise beauty, whether that’s of land or the human body, by using simple relaxed forms basking in light and shade and combining that with the elements of nature,” says Janice. “I commenced with the projects
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Local Arts
ABOVE: This gilded photograph by Janice Alamanou is a finalist in this month’s Global Art Awards, which will be judged in Dubai on November 17th.
Portraiture and People of Interest including Fine Art Nudes.” These are included in her Soul Elements collection with Fine Art Nudes winning her one of three Moscow International Foto Awards in 2016. “Although there’s no right or wrong way where art is concerned it’s important to be true to your own work and be able to explain the reason behind an image,” she says. “After all, it’s a strong reminder of the times we live in.” Janice’s individual style and skills have come together over the years capturing imagery that might bypass
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others. She likes to create images that affect the viewer’s perceptions about the meanings held within the piece – to become talking points and inspire debate. “It’s the use of light and making it work for you,” she says. “Everybody’s work is individual to them, but if you don’t try anything new how are you going to achieve anything different?” Janice Alamanou turned professional in 2000 and became a qualified member of the British Institute of Professional Photography by the quality of her work, having won a Gold Award and Merit from them. Awarded a MIFA
Moscow International Foto Award for three years running she then became 2015 overall winner of the Louvre with the PAKS Gallery and MAMMAG Modern Art Museum. Her work has earned her a merit in the BIPP National Awards 2017 with her portfolio The White Collection, which features monochrome panoramics of Norfolk. The image Pinewoods, part of the collection, won a Silver Award in the BIPP South Eastern Awards in October 2016. Owner of the exclusive gallery Coastal Photography in Wells, Janice Alamanou’s work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Europe, Australia, Bangkok and digitally in the USA and Moscow. Since that childhood dalliance with a point-and-shoot camera, her work has been an ongoing study of the environmental changes she feels it’s important to document. Her talent for blending the human form with nature to create unique photographic images is continuing to earn her recognition in the field. Her next destination is Dubai, which she’ll be visiting this month as a finalist for The Global Art Awards held at the Armani Hotel with her unique goldgilded photograph titled (naturally enough) Gold Leaf. But that won’t be the end of her travels. “In the next few years I aim to travel to destinations near and far to be able to create new pieces through new eyes,” says Janice. But it’s refreshing to know that despite her work being exhibited around the world Janice Alamanou never ceases to discover fresh inspiration from the ever-changing seascape of the North Norfolk coast near her home. For more information on Janice and her award-winning work, please see www.coastalphotography.co.uk
KLmagazine November 2017
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The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
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ecently I got my hands (at last) on a new £10, but I’d hardly had a chance to look at the portrait of Jane Austen before Mrs Middleton snatched it out of my hands. Christmas is on its way, you know, she said. I remember there was a lot of fuss when it was announced Austen was chosen to grace the new tenner; some people didn’t like the idea of a woman on the national currency (I guess their coins never came up heads) while others thought there should be women on all our notes. The only trouble with that was that we didn’t seem to have enough female explorers, inventors and scientists. I had this conversation with a friend in the village pub one night, and I’m ashamed to say that the only woman inventor or scientist we could think of was Marie Curie, who (to her cost) discovered radium. She was also the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person and only woman to win two of them, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different fields – although that’s another story. I was so ashamed, in fact, that I thought I’d see if I could find any more female inventors, and you’ll be pleased to know I had a fair degree of success. When you manage to clear your windscreen of rain and leaves and kamikaze insects, you can thank a lady called Mary Anderson. In 1903, when she was being driven through a rather frosty New York City, she noticed her driver kept opening his window and using his hands to the clear the snow from his windscreen. Rather annoyed at being subjected to sub-zero winds in the comfort of her car, Mary started drawing her solution – a rubber blade 114
that could be moved from inside the car. Amazingly, her invention proved unsuccessful with car companies, who believed it would distract drivers – and Mary never profited from her idea. There isn’t a dishwasher in the Middleton household (well, there is – you’re reading him) but if there is one in your home, you have a woman to thank. Shortly after her marriage in 1868, Josephine Cochrane moved into a mansion and began throwing dinner parties with her husband using heirloom china allegedly dating from the 1600s. However, her servants weren’t quite up to scratch. Wanting some way of cleaning the dishes quicker and with less risk of breakages, she duly invented the first automatic dishwasher. You may not have heard of her, but to the Romanians she’s a real heroine – they put her on the country’s national stamps in 2013. I’m sure you’ve heard of kevlar – it’s a lightweight fibre that’s five times stronger than steel and is used in bulletproof vests and body armour. It’s also used in everything from household gloves and mobiles phones to aeroplanes and suspension bridges. Since its discovery in 1965, kevlar has saved millions of lives and is used by millions of people around the world every day. And it was invented by a chemist Stephanie Kwolek. Computer software has had an unprecedented effect on our lives and has undoubtedly changed the world – but while you’ll be familiar with the names of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Tim Berner-Lee, I’ll bet the name of Grace Hopper is new to you. Serving as an Admiral with the US Navy in the Second World War, Grace
was assigned to work on a new computer called the Mark I. Within a few years she’d created the first ‘compiler’, which could translate worded instructions into code that computers could read, revolutionising how they worked. And when she removed a moth that had flown into her machine one day, she called it ‘de-bugging’ – a term we still use today. The reason all these women are generally unknown seems to be largely down to one thing – men. Take the case of Elizabeth Magie, for example. At various times a short story writer, comedian, stage actress, feminist, engineer and journalist, around 1902 she came up with the idea of creating a game to demonstrate the accumulation of wealth – a game in which players would trade fake money and property. She called it The Landlord’s Game and patented it in 1904. The reason you’ve never heard of it is because a domestic heater salesman called Charles Darrow bought the patent for $500 (£385), made a few tweaks to it and gave it a new name. In fact, you could say he monopolised the idea.
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R E N OW N E D F O R I TS
BEAUTY AND WORKMANSHIP
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