ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 91 APRIL 2018 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE All Saints Church, 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 Abigail Brown Alison Childerhouse Pat Fysh Julian Litten Rachel Murphy 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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here’s a very special feature in this month’s issue of the magazine. On pages 16-23 you’ll find a review of two charity events KL magazine organised in support of Alzheimer’s Society at the Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn. Following two brilliant cookery demonstrations by Galton Blackiston, a charity auction and a host of fundraising efforts, our local community raised the phenomenal sum of £34,500 – an incredible achievement of which everyone who attended, helped and supported the events should be very proud. Talking of events, April sees the return of the traditional start to the year’s calendar of country fairs and shows with the East Anglian Game & Country Fair, and you can enjoy a preview of what the 2018 fair has in store on page 8. It’s an event that seems to get bigger and better every year, and it never fails to treat every member of the family to a real taste of the best the area has to offer. And while we’re on the subject of of taste, we’re showcasing two local food producers with two very different products but a shared ethical outlook. Harry Specters’ luxury chocolates (page 68) are handcrafted in Ely, and while there’s nothing unique about high quality confectionery, the company was founded with the express purpose of providing employment and free work experience for individuals with autism. Meanwhile over in Buxton, Wildcraft Brewery (page 82) is producing a fabulous range of beers and spirits using foraged and home-grown ingredients, giving back to the land through by-products, an eco-friendly approach and natural reed bed technology. Despite all the excitement about the possibility of the Bayeux Tapesty coming to England, by the time it arrives (at least 2023 according to the Bayeux Museum) Wisbech woman Mia Hansson will only have three years before completing the mammoth task of single-handedly stitching a complete full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapesty. It’s a 10-year labour of love that will result in the only copy in the world made by one person, and the only one totally faithful to the original. You can see Mia’s incredibly intricate work on page 22 of this month’s magazine. Enjoy this month’s issue – and thanks again to everyone who supported our two events with such generosity. KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine April 2018
Contents
APRIL 2018
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8
104
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44 KLmagazine April 2018
6-12 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
58-60 A CARPET OF COLOUR The growing success of Belmont Nurseries
8-10 CELEBRATING THE BEST OF NORFOLK This year’s East Anglian Game & Country Fair
62-69 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
14 ALIVE CORN EXCHANGE Fabulous shows and fun-filled activities
70-72 CHOCOLATES WITH A CONSCIENCE Creating positive change with Harry Specters
16-23 RAISING £34,500 FOR CHARITY Our local community unites against dementia
74-83 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
24-26 RE-STITCHING HISTORY Mia’s mission to recreate the Bayeux Tapestry
80 RESTAURANT REVIEW A review of Titchwell Manor’s Sunday Brunch
30-32 100 YEARS OF THE RAF RAF Marham celebrates the RAF100 campaign
84-86 A TASTE ON THE WILD SIDE... Saying cheers to the work of Wildcraft Brewery
36-38 STORIES & SNORIES OF LYNN Enjoying a real-life ‘night at the museum’
90-92 CHANGING THE FACE OF KING’S LYNN The life and legacy of architect Henry Bell
42-44 CAPTURING NORFOLK’S WILDLIFE Wildlife photographer Josh Jaggard
98-100 A HISTORY SET IN STONE The story of Hardwick Road Cemetery
49 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas
104-106 THE ART OF ROBIN ELVIN Remembering the work of a great local artist
50-52 APRIL IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner
110-112 FROM SATIRE TO CERAMICS The amazing career of Roger Law
54 THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
114 MICHAEL MIDDLETON Fake news, whale sharks and pharaohs...
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Discover the new face of a British classic at Listers Packed with innovation and full of charisma, the new MINI is better than ever! or almost 60 years it’s been one of the most recognisable cars on the road, combining distinctive looks with a genuine sense of innovation and fun – and at Listers King's Lynn you can now discover just how far the MINI has come since it was officially launched in August 1959. For starters, a detailed revision of the engine (and there are no less than seven variants to choose from) makes it clear that the new MINI is a car for the 21st century – with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 figures (by as much as 5%), and optimised emissions to meet today’s rigorous exhaust standards. The new MINI may be more efficient than ever, but it’s possibly never been so enjoyable to drive. The new MINI is also a car that offers an unprecedented level of
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personalisation. There are three basic metallic body finishes to choose from (Emerald Grey, Starlight Blue and Solaris Orange) and from there an exciting range of options allow you to have a MINI that’s styled exclusively for you. Choose the Piano Black exterior and have your chrome surrounds replaced with a high gloss black. Take advantage of the MINI Yours customisation programme and have your side scuttles, LED door sill finishes and door projectors designed with the colour, pattern and text of your choice – and that includes your name! The attention to detail (and the desire to maintain the MINI’s British heritage) even extend to the rear lights, which are cleverly configured in the design of the Union Jack. And all that is just on the exterior!
Listers King s Lynn
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Sitting in front of the brilliant new steering wheel with its multifunction buttons, it’s difficult to pry your eyes away from all the fabulous touches – from the new interior and leather trim to the 6.5-inch colour touchscreen (which is standard, by the way), which offers a premium level of digital services, including wireless charging. The MINI has always had plenty of charisma, but this is a car that treats you to the best of all worlds – it’s a real joy to look at and a genuine pleasure to drive. Book your MINI test drive at Listers King’s Lynn today!
Hardwick Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4NA Tel: 01553 692244 Web: www.listerskingslynnmini.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2018
April
Wednesday 4th & Wednesday 11th
GO WILD IN THE WOODS - DROP IN ACTIVITIES Oxburgh Hall, King's Lynn PE33 9PS (11:30am - 1:30pm) Fancy getting outdoors over the Easter Holidays? Then why not join the Outdoors Team in Home Covert woodland at Oxburgh Hall and participate in a range of woodland activities. You may be whittling sticks, making charcoal, collecting firewood, toasting marshmallows over an open fire, drinking hot chocolate, den building, minibeast hunting to name but a few. Wear clothes you don't mind getting muddy in plus sturdy boots or wellies. Please note there is a walk of about 20 minutes from the car park to the event area. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue. For more information visit the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Thursday 12th
FASCINATING FOSSILS ON WEST RUNTON BEACH WITH NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST West Runton Beach Café, Water Lane, West Runton NR27 9QP (Meeting point) 12:30pm-2pm You won't believe the creatures that used to call Norfolk home! Come along and see the remains of some of the amazing beasts that were found here millions of years ago. Good explorers may be lucky enough to find a fossil to take home. This event takes place at several other dates and times over the year, please visit the website www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on for further dates and more details. Please arrive 15 minutes early on the day to sign up.
Saturday 28th
Thursday 12th 'MEDIEVAL LIFE' FAMILY EVENT DAY AT LYNN MUSEUM Lynn Museum, Market Street, King's Lynn PE30 1NL (10am-1pm) Step back over 500 years with the team at Lynn Museum, to learn more about the life of medieval people. There will be various activities to entertain both grown ups and children. Why not help create and try a medieval peasants favourite drink - mead & make your own clay tile to take home with you. There will also be a chance to handle objects dating back to the medieval period. There is no need to book for this event, just drop in anytime between 10am-1pm. Entry to event included in museum admission price. For more information visit the website: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.
KLmagazine April 2018
MARBLE HALL CONCERT AT HOLKHAM HALL: DANIEL KHARITONOV - PIANO Holkham Hall, Holkham Road, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB (7pm) Enjoy chamber music and opera at its finest in the perfect setting of the Marble Hall at Holkham. Daniel Kharitonov was born in 1998 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on the island of Sakhalin, over 4,000 miles from Moscow. He studied at the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory and came to the Royal College of Music in 2016. In 2015 he was the youngest ever competitor in the 15th Tchaikovsky International Competition where he took third prize, a staggering achievement for one so young in a competition at this level. Daniel made his début at the Royal Festival Hall in November 2017 in a concert with the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are £25 which includes a glass of wine in the Saloon during the interval and an opportunity to view some of the other state rooms in the Hall. To book tickets for the full programme visit the website www.holkham.co.uk/events/.
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JOBS FOR THE GARDEN in April
When planting summer containers & baskets add water retaining gel crystals to ensure compost stays moist & slow release fertiliser to encourage strong growth Get tomato plants now to pot and establish in the greenhouse Use feed, weed & moss killer on your lawn now as a 4 in 1 application or lawn sand if you have particular moss problems Plant summer flowering bulbs including begonias, dahlias and lilies. For a longer flowering season, plant gladioli corms in succession throughout April & May Place plant supports above tall-growing or floppy plants so the plants grow through them before getting too tall Plant cottage garden plants now they will flower this year. We can offer 4 for £10 (1 litre pots)
Visit Thaxters for everything you’ll need for your garden...
and don’t forget to visit our coffee shop for a relaxing slice of cake or scone! Evergreen complete 400m2 2 for £40!
Garden Centre & Coffee Shop 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514
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KLmagazine April 2018
Coming soon...
Sunday 6th & Monday 7th May
STRADSETT PARK VINTAGE RALLY Stradsett Park, King's Lynn PE33 9HA The Stradsett Park Vintage Rally is back for 2018! The 42nd Rally will be showcasing over 80 trade stalls to look around, over 300 veterans, vintage, classic and modern tractors, horticultural machines and displays, vintage and classic cars and commercials, heavy horses, full size and miniature steam engines, bygone displays, ex-military, club displays, mini tractor pulling and fairground rides. There will also be a licensed bar and entertainment, great selection of catering, large display of stationary engines and ring displays. All this in beautiful setting of Stradsett Estate. Come along and just admire the work and love that goes in to keeping these old pieces of history looking and sounding good. Please talk to the owner as they will be only too pleased to tell you all about their hobby. If you need to know more, please go to www.nvtec-ea.org.uk where you can look through photographs of previous rallies or even join the club.
Sunday 20th May HANSE DAY FESTIVAL King’s Lynn Town Centre To celebrate International Hanse Day, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk will be celebrating King’s Lynn’s 13th year as a member of the new Hanse with a packed programme of events and activities taking place across various locations in the town centre. As well as music throughout the weekend, there will be fun activities for kids and guided walking tours around some of the town’s most historic sites. There will also be a parade, a regatta on the Ouse, Pirates vs Knights battles, and a Treasure Trail celebrating Lynn’s medieval trading and seafaring past. KLmagazine April 2018
Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th May
THE STYLE SHOW Bank House Hotel, King's Staithe Square, King's Lynn PE30 1RD (7pm for 7:30pm start) Festival Too has planned its 3rd Style Show Fashion Show hosted by Bank House raising valuable funds for Festival Too. These events have proved so popular that Chrissi Rix is returning with her Spring fashions and her real size models. She’ll be discussing the secrets of ‘colour’ and why shape not size is important. How to build looks and accessorize effectively and how to make every shopping trip a success! Come and enjoy a two course supper, and a glass of wine (included in the ticket price) and sit back and enjoy the show in the beautiful Bank House Hotel. Tickets are £25 and includes a personal style consultation worth £90 (bring your diary!) Tickets are available from Bridget Nurse by email bridgetnurse@btconnect.com or on 07795 236616.
Sunday 27th & Monday 28th May
DERSINGHAM OPEN GARDENS AND ART TRAIL Various locations in Dersingham (11am-5pm) The gardeners and artists of Dersingham join forces once more by opening up to the public on the Bank Holiday weekend in May. Naturally there will be plenty of gardens to wander round, some new and some old familiar friends. Along the way you will find that some of the gardens will be part of the Dersingham Art Trail so you can pop into a few art studios, chat to the artists and study their work. This is an entertaining fundraising event in aid of the new Village Centre as well as supporting St Nicholas Church. Tickets, lunches and cream teas will be available in the Church. Tickets are £5 (£4 in advance from Dersingham Post Office). For more information on the event visit the website www.dersinghamopengardens.co.uk. 13
PICTURES: GRAND PROMOTION EVENTS LTD
What’s On
A two-day celebration of everything Norfolk... Later this month, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair returns to Euston Hall for another year of fun, thrills and all things Norfolk – Abigail Brown takes a sneak peak at this year’s event
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he traditional curtain-raiser to the year’s calendar of county shows and fairs, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair returns to the Euston Estate in Thetford this month on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th – the second year the Duke and Duchess of Grafton have generously provided a stunning backdrop to this much-loved event. “My family and I are delighted that the estate is once again hosting the East Anglian Game & Country Fair,” says Henry Fitzroy, 12th Duke of Grafton. “The park and grounds offer a particularly attractive setting for events
KLmagazine April 2018
of this kind, and all the diverse activities make it a very calender-worthy event. It showcases the best of the region’s country pursuits, and we hope it continues to go from strength to strength.” The beautiful estate offers the perfect opportunity to further evolve and develop the show, whilst ensuring the popular events that have been enjoyed by people year after year remain. The new, thrilling headliners on the Main Arena this year are the world-famous JCB Dancing Diggers. They’ve curtsied for the Queen, pirouetted for TV and entertained thousands over the world, and it’s incredibly exciting they’re
performing at this event. The show is unusual but unmissable; watch out for the most breathtaking of moments when the drivers magically turn their machines into sculptures! For all horselovers, the East Anglian Game & Country Fair has confirmed the Mounted Games Association of Great Britain will be back in the Main Arena by popular demand, having wowed audiences last year with their nail-biting display competitions. New to the equestrian scene this year is Harvey’s Shires, showing you how these powerful and majestic animals have performed through time. The fantastic horses on show work
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What’s On
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other. From toasting marshmallows and storytelling around the fire to the BBQ, bar and free live music on the Saturday night, Euston Hall is an excellent place to set up camp and enjoy two full days at one of East Anglia’s most talkedabout family days out. And for a more luxurious stay, you can book a glamping package in one of the beautifully-furnished 4m bell tents, decorated with attractive bunting and covered with soft colourful rugs. The East Anglian Game & Country Fair takes place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April at the Euston Estate, situated just off the A11 at Thetford. For more information, full event schedules and details of how to book your tickets, please visit the website at www.ukgamefair.co.uk.
PICTURES: GRAND PROMOTION EVENTS LTD
alongside their handlers in perfect harmony, and the trust between them is truly exceptional to witness. However, no show representing life in Norfolk would be complete without the fair’s resident Kiwi Richard Savory and his mobile sheep show. It’s both entertaining and educational, teaching people about different sheep breeds and shearing; in fact, it’s so good that Chris Evans of BBC Radio 2 mentioned it on his show! The East Anglian Game & Country Fair is sure to keep everyone entertained (whether a nature enthusiast or not) with its Falconry Village attraction. Mini events will be held here throughout the day, and for the practicing falconer, experts are on hand to offer advice on everything from hunting to different training methods. Canine talents always play a big part in the East Anglian Game & Country Fair too, and it’s no different this year. The Mid-Norfolk Gundog Club has been providing its members with training and competitions for 30 years now, and they’ll be demonstrating the roles and work of the much-loved spaniels and retrievers in the context of the shooting field. There’s even opportunities for your own dog to get involved. You can enter them into the K9 Jump Jet Competition held by K9 Aqua Sports (the long jump for dogs into water) or the ever-popular terrier and lurcher show, which takes place at 11am on Sunday 29th. But don’t worry; it won’t just be your dog having all the fun! There are plenty of activities to suit everyone, especially children who’ll have the chance to meet and interact with zoo animals at the Exotic Animal Encounter attraction. New to the fair for 2018, it hosts a variety of unique animals like meerkats and snakes – and even a talking raven! Something sure to satisfy visitors’ appetites is the fair’s Country Kitchen. This year’s event boasts an extensive line-up of amazing local chefs and food heroes such as Chris Coubrough, Arthur Howell, Daniel Freear and James Conway. In the busy Food Hall you’ll also find a variety of exhibitors from Norfolk (and further afield) offering mouthwatering food and drink to sample, enjoy and purchase. There’s so much to do at The East Anglian Game & Country Fair it’s impossible to fit it all into one day – which is why so many people make a weekend of it. Set in the beautiful walled garden of Euston Hall, the fair’s campsite is a fantastic place to stay and get the most out of the show weekend. This is a camping experience like no
KLmagazine April 2018
APRIL What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated
Psychic Medium Fri TWithJ herHiggs natural, unique and accurate presentation, TJ is today placed as the UK’s foremost psychic medium. She’s had 6th firmly appearances on Destiny TV, The X-tra Factor & Psychic Private Eyes Oh Carol! The Musical Story of Neil
Sat Sedaka and Howard Greenfield 7th A show celebrating two giants of the song writing world. If you
like a sing-a-long or just want to hear great music this is for you!
Bachelors • 2.30pm Wed The This exceptionally popular Irish act are regularly copied and but never matched. They even outsold The Beatles and 11th imitated had more chart hits than The Rolling Stones in the 60’s!
Wed 11th
Macbeth: Live Broadcast from the RSC • 7pm
Something wicked this way comes’. This contemporary production of Shakespeare’s darkest psychological thriller marks both Christopher Eccleston’s RSC debut and the return of Niamh Cusack
Evening with Paul Gambaccini Fri An ‘The Professor of Pop’ 13th For the first time, Paul Gambaccini reveals how he started life as a boy in the Bronx and wound up The Professor of Pop!
Wind In The Willows • 3pm Sun The Join us on an exciting adventure along the riverbank with a brand new staging of Kenneth Grahame’s family classic. Meet all 15th your favourite characters including loyal Mole & faithful Ratty!
*LAST FEW SEATS REMAINING* Sat Showaddywaddy The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World’ is a bold statement Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title as they recently 21st but celebrated their 40th anniversary.
Up Close & Personal
Sun with Martine McCutcheon 29th Up close and personal with actress and singer Martine
McCutcheon celebrating her new album ‘Lost and Found’
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 April 2018
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Enjoy some quality family time! Easter is a great time to get together with family so why not make some special memories with a family show at Alive Corn Exchange! HORRIBLE HISTORIES MORE BEST OF BARMY BRITAIN Monday 9 April We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! So it’s time to prepare yourselves for a special one-hour production of Horrible Histories featuring MORE of your favourite characters from our barmy past! This brand new compilation show has never toured before and includes a special new scene featuring wordy Will Shakespeare! Find out why the Romans were revolting! Could you survive the vicious Vikings? Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Would you party with the Puritans? Clap along with crazy King Charles! Vomit with the vile Victorians and prepare to do battle in the frightful First World War! It’s history with the nasty bits left in!
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Thursday 12 April (2pm & 6pm) Don’t miss another fun-filled Easter pantomime from the same team behind The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. With a star cast, impressive music, energetic dance routines as well as
plenty of jokes, slapstick and heaps of audience participation! Our spellbinding pantomime for Easter 2018 tells the story of Beauty who longs for romance and adventure, a bad-mannered Prince who is transformed into a Beast to teach him a lesson and a good Fairy who makes both their dreams come true. Join us during the Easter school holidays at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange for a show filled with spectacular pantomime magic, dazzling production numbers and of course jokes galore for all the family!
THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS
EASTER FUN! Alive Leisure also have some fab activities for your little ones over the Easter break, so whether you want to channel their energy into something fun and active, want a little “me time” or you are working over the holidays then we have a solution for you. We have Holiday and Breakfast Clubs, Swimming, Football, Gymnastics, Roller Skating, Archery, Art and Crafts, Theatre, Workshops and a whole lot more! View our full brochure at aliveleisure.co.uk/alive-leisure
Tuesday 17 April After taking to the road over 22 years ago and touring all over the world the phenomenon returns with its latest brand new incarnation “Voodoo”. The spectacular features an amazing amalgamation of bizarre and fantastic circus acts all woven into a sensational shock / horror story and the darkest of magic – taking the show to a whole new level, it’s driven by a mainly original soundscape & performed with a forked tongue firmly in each cheek, you’ll certainly ‘Die Laughing’.
Tickets for all shows are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornexchange
KLmagazine April 2018
@klcornexchange
Alive Corn Exchange
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
PICTURES: Galton Blackiston and Neil Alston entertaining the audience in the Walpole Ballroom at the Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn (opposite) on March 7th – the first of our two hugely entertaining events held in support of Alzheimer’s Society
We did it! Together we raised £34,500 for charity With the support of Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston, our local business community and 300 guests, our two events raised a staggering sum for Alzheimer’s Society...
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ur two live events at the Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn with Morston Hall’s Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston raised the phenomenal sum of £34,500 for Alzheimer’s Society thanks to the amazing support of local businesses, the sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz King’s Lynn, and the 300 guests who enjoyed two masterclasses of culinary skills and were hugely generous in their
KLmagazine April 2018
support of the charity. On Wednesday March 7th, Galton Blackiston and his stage partner Neil Alston (who describes himself as “an excellent cook and a frustrated entertainer”) prepared a range of dishes from a crab, shrimp and samphire tart to a salt-crusted sea bass with champagne and caviar sauce – food so tempting that several members of the 150-strong audience were bidding for the dishes while he was cooking them!
For people who hadn’t managed to see one of Galton's regular appearances on James Martin’s Saturday Kitchen television show it was a genuinely entertaining treat; the humorous interplay between Galton and Neil kept the audience constantly amused, and Galton happily took questions from the audience, sharing stories and fascinating anecdotes from his long and successful cooking career. “Although this was a rare opportunity
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Local Life
ABOVE: Production Manager Tim Ward of Rogue AV said the two events were among the most successful he’s ever helped stage in his 25 years’ experience. Together with film-maker Rob Fuller of Robert Fuller Associates, Tim ensured that the audience at both events enjoyed a perfect view of Galton’s demonstrations and heard every word – and both men kindly donated their time and efforts to help support Alzheimer’s Society
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to see such a famous chef in action, we were amazed at just how much fun it was as well,” said guest Trish Muncaster afterwards. “It was so much more than a cookery demonstration – in fact it was a bit like going to the theatre! The atmosphere was fantastic, and I think we all learned something – and being able to take the recipes home with us means we’ll now be able to try some of these dishes for ourselves!” Following Galton’s demonstration and a superb afternoon tea by Head Chef Trevor Clark and his team in the Duke’s Head Hotel kitchen, a charity raffle took place; a raffle that contained no less than 46 prizes kindly donated by a variety of local businesses, restaurants, golf clubs and private individuals. The prizes included 3-course dinners from local restaurants such as Titchwell Manor, the Dabbling Duck, Bank House, and Bilton’s, in addition to afternoon teas at places such as Morston Hall, Thornham Deli and Norfolk Lavender. There were even some luxurious experiences to be won – such as a spa day for two people at Congham Hall, and professional lessons and rounds of golf at King’s Lynn Golf Club and Tydd St Giles Golf & Country Club. With Bridget’s Flowers adding a beautiful touch to all the tables, two local audio/visual specialists kindly donated their time and efforts to ensure that every guest enjoyed a perfect view of Galton’s demonstration and nobody missed a word of his fun-filled repartee. Both professional film-maker Rob Fuller of Robert Fuller Associates and Production Manager Tim Ward of audio, visual, lighting and staging specialists Rogue AV turned the Walpole Ballroom of the Duke’s Head Hotel into a professionally lit and perfectly-staged setting, with large TV screens giving everyone a close-up view of Galton at work. “We have over 25 years experience in hands-on production design and event management, and this is one of most successful I’ve ever helped stage,” said Tim. “Our job is to make sure everyone can see and hear with no one noticing us. And when the audience’s attention is focused on the event rather than all the technical wizardry that’s making it happen, then you know you’ve got it right!” The afternoon tea was a suitably impressive curtain-raiser for the evening of Tuesday March 20th, when Galton and Neil returned to the Duke’s Head Hotel for a charity dinner and auction that was attended by more than 150 people. Guests were welcomed by Sarah and
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Patrick Saunders of Black Shuck Ltd, who generously donated both their time and their locally-produced gin to provide the perfect way of starting the evening. The couple were there for a very good reason too. “We actually have some personal experience of Alzheimer’s in our family, so it was really important to us to support this event,” says Sarah. “We’re very happy that so many people enjoyed discovering our gin, of course – but we’re even more pleased to have been part of such an amazing occasion.” Galton Blackiston and Neil Alston then took to the stage for a cookery demonstration that included Galton’s take on a luxurious sausage roll, lobster with parmesan sauce, and a masterful combination of lamb with haggis and spinach; and once again, the food was in such demand that members of the audience jumped at the chance to buy it and take it home with them – all in the name of charity, of course. Complementing Galton’s food on the night were four wines specially chosen and kindly donated by local wine expert Max Graham-Wood of Satchells of Burnham Market, who also donated his time to give the audience a course-bycourse insight into the finer points of choosing the right wine for the right
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ABOVE: Galton Blackiston and Neil Alston gave both events a fun-filled insight into the finer points of cooking – one guest said that it was almost like going to the theatre, especially when Galton happily shared jokes and stories with the audience
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Local Life
ABOVE: The evening dinner and charity auction on March 20th was full of lively spirits – helped in no small part by Sarah and Patrick Saunders of Black Shuck Ltd (top) who welcomed guests with their locally produced Black Shuck Gin, and wine expert Max GrahamWood from Satchells of Burnham Market, who provided a selection of wines to complement the food Galton Blackiston cooked during his demonstration. All three donated both their time and the drinks in support of the event
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dish. Quite a formidable task for a wine merchant which currently stocks over 800 wines! “I’ve known Galton for years and it’s always good fun to work with him and pair wine to his amazing food,” said Max. “I love educating people about wine and helping them match different wines with different flavours, but at an event such as this the most important thing is that we’re coming together to support a good cause – and put something back into the community.” During Galton’s demonstration guests were treated to a selection of appetisers donated by a number of local restaurants and food producers, including; breads from Riverside Restaurant, a range of rapeseed oils from Mr. Hugh’s, a choice of cured meats from Norfolk Charcuterie, Norfolk Dapple cheese from Ferndale Farm, and a selection of medlar jelly and medlar cheese from Eastgate Larder. The audience then enjoyed a 2course dinner by the Duke’s Head Hotel’s Head Chef Trevor Clark, and no sooner had people finished the fabulous chocolate brownie dessert than Marcus Hawkins of Barry L Hawkins auctioneers in Downham Market took to the stage to host what turned out to be a fun-filled and amiably competitive auction. The auction comprised 13 prestigious lots, including an exclusive day at Fakenham Racecourse, a matchday experience at Norwich City Football Club, dinner for two at the exclusve Nobu restaurant in Mayfair, a round of golf for two at the famous Royal West Norfolk Golf Club in Brancaster, and an original landscape painting by artist
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ABOVE: Galton and Neil at the evening cookery demonstration preparing such dishes as Luxury Morston Hall Sausage Roll (below top) and Roast Whole Saddle of Lamb with Spinach and Haggis (below bottom) – food so tempting that it had several guests jumping at the chance to make a donation to Alzheimer’s Society and take it home with them
John Mace, which was donated by the Heygates family. The most popular lots (and those that raised the most money) were a 2-gun shoot at White House Farm in Elsing donated by David and Carl Baker, a week in a luxurious Spanish villa donated by Preston Andrews, John Buckman and Paul Mizen of Recruit Ventures Ltd, and the opportunity to have Galton Blackiston himself come to your home and cook a 5-course dinner for up to 10 people. In fact, the latter two were in so much demand that the respective donors generously accepted to offer their lots a second time, enabling more guests to enjoy these once-in-alifetime experiences and make additional contributions to the evening’s fundraising efforts. The night concluded with live music, a great atmosphere, some more generous donations, and the muchanticipated announcement that the two events – both of which were sponsored by Mercedes-Benz King’s Lynn – had managed to raise an incredible £34,500 for Alzheimer’s Society. “The amount raised simply underlines
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what a hugely successful event this was,” says guest Fran Rose-Smith. “From the moment we were welcomed we felt our attendance was genuinely appreciated, and the atmosphere was incredibly vibrant and exciting. It was such a pleasure to meet some old friends and familiar faces and to make
some new acquaintances – and it was all in the name of a very good cause. In fact, we were all still talking about it a few days later!” The event’s conclusion also meant that it was finally time for Galton
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Local Life
ABOVE: Following the dinner, Marcus Hawkins of Barry L Hawkins auctioneers led an amiably competitive charity auction that contained 13 prestigious and exclusive lots
Blackiston to take off his apron. “I’m completely awestruck at what we’ve managed to achieve for such a worthwhile charity with these two events,” he said. “To be able to carry off something on this scale takes a huge amount of effort, and the work of the KL magazine team and the Duke’s Head Hotel (particularly Jake and Laura of the hotel’s management team) has been incredible.” Galton also found time to praise the many people from all walks of life who gave so much support to the events. “The generosity of everyone involved was astonishing,” he said. “Not just the people who gave up their time to work behind the scenes, but all those who donated food, raffle prizes and auction lots – and all the guests who bought
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them. It’s been absolutely amazing, and it’s been a lot of fun for Neil and me too. To be honest, the cooking was the easy part!” Galton’s sentiments were echoed by Alzheimer’s Society, who attended both events and were simply stunned by their success. “It’s wonderful that so many people came together to unite against dementia and raise such an outstanding amount,” said Jenna Veneziani, Alzheimer’s Society Community Fundraiser in Norfolk and Suffolk. “We’re extremely grateful to KL magazine for organising these fantastic events and to all the people and local businesses who’ve been so generous. Both events were really enjoyable to be part of, and every single pound raised
will help us provide information and support, improve care, fund research and create lasting change for everyone affected by dementia.” Because after all the fun and entertainment, after all the food and drink, and after all the excitement had died down, that was the whole purpose of the two events – to make a real difference to people’s lives. “We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you are going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for
KLmagazine April 2018
ABOVE: Alzheimer’s Society were astonished with the generosity of everyone involved in the two events, which raised £34,500 in total – the charity said that every single pound would help them create lasting change for everyone affected by dementia
support, help and advice,” said Alzheimer’s Society Operations Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Debbie Foster. “The greater awareness and the money raised from these two fantastic events will make a massive contribution to help us continue providing the necessary support, and we sincerely thank every single person who got involved.” Raising £34,500 for Alzheimer’s Society is an astounding achievement, and KL magazine is both extremely proud to have helped such a worthy cause – and incredibly grateful to everyone who put so much time and effort into making the two events such a resounding success. KL magazine would like to thank all the local businesses and people who helped organise and stage the two events, especially: Galton Blackiston Neil Alston Duke’s Head Hotel Tim Ward Rob Fuller Max Graham-Wood Black Shuck Gin Marcus Hawkins Bridget’s Flowers Donaldsons Mercedes-Benz King’s Lynn
KLmagazine April 2018
KL magazine would also like to thank the people and businesses who kindly donated the raffle prizes, auction lots and evening appetisers: Allez Chic Alastair Cook Ashton Roberts Estate Agents Bank House Bedtime Bed Centre Bespak Bexwell Kitchens Bilton’s Church Farm, Stow Bardolph Congham Hall Corn Exchange David and Carl Baker DermaVida Dr. Paul Richards Eastgate Larder Fakenham Racecourse Ferndale Farm Heacham Manor Helena Anderson Heygates Farms Ltd Holkham Hall Ian Mason JW Sargeant Butchers King’s Lynn Golf Club Lilwall’s Hog Roasts Marriott’s Warehouse Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd Middletons Steak House
Minuteman Press Morston Hall Mr. Hugh’s NOBU Berkeley Street Norfolk Charcuterie Norfolk Laser Clinic Norfolk Lavender North Street Bistro Norwich City Football Club Oxburgh Hall Peckover House Pensthorpe Natural Park Princess Theatre, Hunstanton Rathskeller, King’s Lynn Raynham Hall Recruit Ventures Ltd Riverside Restaurant Spun Candy Tamar Nurseries The Chequers Inn, Binham The Crown, Great Ellingham The Crown, East Rudham The Dabbling Duck Thornham Deli Thursford Collection Titchwell Manor Tydd St Giles Golf & Country Club Wells Crab House
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PICTURES: MIA HANSSON
Local Life
ABOVE: The fleet of the future King Harold sails across the Channel on an ill-fated trip to Normandy. It’s one of the opening scenes for the Bayeux Tapesty, which is being painstakingly recreated stitch by stich by Mia Hansson (opposite)
The local woman who’s re-stitching our history Some needleworkers like to make cushions or curtains, but some raise their sights a little higher. Clare Bee meets a woman from Wisbech who’s spending 10 years recreating the Bayeux Tapestry
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t was back in 1953 that Britain first asked France if they would be prepared to lend the famous Bayeux Tapestry to display as part of the celebrations marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The request was turned down, as was the second request in 1966 to mark the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. But earlier this year, President Emmanuel Macron announced he’d be prepared to loan the tapestry to Britain, possibly in 2022. For those of you who didn’t pay attention to history at school, the Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the future William the Conqueror’s invasion of England, which culminated in the KLmagazine April 2018
Battle of Hastings and the defeat of King Harold in 1066. Almost 230ft long, the tapestry is one of the most famous artefacts in European history, although since the designs are embroidered rather than woven, it’s not technically a tapestry at all! Its origins are also the subject of debate, though in all probability it was designed and constructed in England, with the actual stitching undertaken by a group of female needle workers, and it was probably finished by 1082 – five years before William I’s death. The only complete replica of the tapestry can be found in Reading Museum, but in Wisbech another fullsize copy is currently being stitched by
a single woman, for the simple reason that she loves doing it! Mia Hansson is now about 18 months into what she expects to be a 10-year project to faithfully and exactly replicate the Bayeux Tapestry. “When I’ve finished this,” she says, putting her needles down for a moment, “it will be the only one in the world to be stitched by a single person, and the only one which will be a totally exact copy.” Mia explains that the tapestry in Reading was created by a society of needleworkers in 1885, and has been slightly amended from the original. Along the top and bottom borders of the tapestry are small designs of
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Local Life
people, animals and birds, but some of the people are naked – which was a bit too much realism for Victorian sensibilities. The Reading workers decided to add some clothing or fig leaves, but Mia will be stitching an exact copy, with not a fig leaf in sight! Originally from Sweden, Mia has always loved sewing in any form. Her involvement began when she started making costumes for Viking reenactments in the open air museum of Foteviken, near her home town of Skanör. She spent time there during summer holidays from her teaching job. She soon started to travel Scandinavia with her re-enactment group and gained friends from all over Europe. In 2002 she visited a childhood friend who’d moved to London, and was invited to stay. She moved to England the following year, and met her partner Eddie, who was also involved in Viking re-enactment – and the couple continued to take part in reenactments all over the country, from the Battle of Hastings to Old Sarum in Salisbury, one of the most historically significant sites in England. It was during a re-enactment trip to the USA that they befriended a group of Americans who were building a Viking longhouse. “When we were invited to the opening ceremony, Eddie asked me if I’d make a small piece of tapestry for it,” says Mia. “It was only a three-metre piece, but it took me about 600 hours. I was still working at the time and I took it everywhere with me!” For inspiration, Mia had turned to the Bayeux Tapestry.
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"I decided to use selected images from the original Bayeux Tapestry, but in a different order so they told the story of what our two groups had done together,” she says. “When a visiting friend saw my work, he was so impressed he commissioned me to do a 1.5 metre piece for him.” He did a little more than that, sending Mia a book depicting the tapestry in minute detail, so she could see every single stitch (and even the later repairs) of the original. “He wanted it to be as close to the original as I could possibly get,” says Mia. “That meant creating it the way it would have been made 1,000 years ago, on linen with wool thread. It took a lot of detective work to get the original colours right where the tapestry had been repaired and I enjoyed it so much I really wanted to make more.” About two years ago, after Mia had made a small piece which she was hoping to sell, she was contacted by someone who was attempting to stitch the whole tapestry, but at only a third of the size, and was interested to know how much she thought he could charge for it. “I’m very competitive!” says Mia. “And as soon as I heard that I thought if he could do it then so could I – but I could do it better; at full size and in the original colours.” By now, Mia and Eddie had moved to Wisbech, and Mia was at home looking after Eddie’s son who has cerebral palsy. With Eddie’s full support, she decided to start the tapestry, after sourcing all the linen and the wool in the exact colours. In July 2016, Mia finally started the
immense task of stitching the entire Bayeux Tapestry, and is now in a position to know how long it’s likely to take. Having completed 12 metres in 18 months, Mia estimates it will take her at least 10 years to complete. “I really just wanted to do it for myself,” she says, “but hopefully when I finish it, I might be able to sell it or rent it out for display and get some money back from it. But if not, at least I’ll have had 10 years of enjoyment!” To start with, Mia did a metre a month, but realised she couldn’t quite do that much as well as other things in her life. “It’s incredibly addictive,” she says. “I’d happily do about eight hours a day if I could!” Mia first makes a stencil, using the book for reference, and then outlines the image on the linen in pencil, drawing all the details freehand before beginning the stitching. There is some chain stitch and back stitch, but the majority of the infill has become known as ‘Bayeux Stitch’, which consists of several long stitches sewn very closely together and then stitched over the top with smaller stitches to keep it in place. Mia’s Bayeux Tapestry is extraordinary, and her skill and attention to detail are second to none. Alongside that is her total enjoyment and pride in her workmanship. If the original tapestry ever does come to England, Mia would be thrilled to have hers exhibited alongside it. This may happen in another five years, by which time she hopes to have completed at least half her tapestry. “I would love to see all three tapestries displayed together,” says Mia proudly. “That would be such an honour.”
KLmagazine April 2018
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KLmagazine April 2018
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made exclusively to suit your individual needs,” says Kevin Berry. ”Whatever size or shape your kitchen space, we can ensure your new units fit to within a fraction of a millimetre.” And although these kitchens are made in the traditional way, they can be as contemporary looking as you want, and feature such modern touches as Quooker taps for instant boiling water, integrated Belfast sinks, soft-close basket drawers, and ‘magic corner’ pullouts that give you easy access to every inch of the cupboards. They’re immaculately finished too, with a wide choice of solid oak, granite or quartz worktops – and your kitchen can be painted in any one of over 100
fabulous colours for a truly stunning effect. And don’t forget about the Bespoke Pine n Oak showroom – which contains a vast range of high-quality furniture with more than 30 different collections featuring over 1,000 individual pieces – from dining tables to desks, and from bookcases to chairs – and they’re all ready to take home today. With plenty of parking right outside the door, a true commitment to customer care and a truly bespoke service that’s second to none, there’s simply never been a better time to discover the unique experience of Bespoke Pine n Oak. If you can draw it, we can make it!
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KLmagazine April 2018
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PICTURES: RAF MARHAM
Local Life
RAF Marham celebrates 100 years of the RAF... Exactly a century since the formation of the Royal Air Force, the station at Marham (which was built in 1916) is celebrating, commemorating and inspiring, Alison Childerhouse explains
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on April 1st 1918, at a time when aviation was still in its infancy, the Royal Air Force was formed with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corp and the Royal Naval Air Service. To celebrate this milestone in the RAF's history, the RAF100 campaign will be running until September of this year with the three themes of ‘commemorate’, ‘celebrate’ and ‘inspire.’ RAF Marham certainly has a rich history to commemorate as we rewind almost two years from the formation of
KLmagazine April 2018
the RAF to September 1916, when the Aerodrome at Marham was built. The base was declared operational as a Royal Flying Corp Training Establishment and Night Landing Ground in response to the threat to Norfolk from raids by the German Zeppelin airships during World War 1. Marham Squadron’s flew many night patrols and training sorties over the next two years, but unfortunately many fatalities occurred during this time due to basic navigation and landing aids. Marham aerodrome closed in May 1919 – though much of the land was retained.
As part of the RAF’s expansion programme in the 1930’s, Marham was chosen for development as a bomber airfield with construction starting early in 1935. RAF Marham opened on April 1st 1937 as a bomber unit, with much of the newly built infrastructure still in use today. Over the next five decades RAF Marham became home to a whole host of different aircraft from the Hendons and Harrows, Wellington and Mosquitoes, closing again briefly in 1944 for the construction of three concrete runways to allow the arrival of the B-29 Superfortress in 1947. These
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Local Life
ABOVE: An aerial photograph of RAF Marham in its early days and (above right) a Handley Page Harrow at the station in the 1930s. As the RAF celebrates its centenary this month, RAF Marham is using the RAF100 campaign to inspire future generations (right)
were followed by the Washingtons and then the Canberras in the 1950’s, along with the first of the Valiant Squadrons. In 1957, the atom bomb arrived at RAF Marham – marking the start of the nuclear capability of the V-Force. It was at this time that Marham was also awarded its current crest of the Blue Bull with the motto ‘deter.’ 1965 saw the first Victor tanker aircraft delivered to RAF Marham; these aircraft would later play a crucial part in the Falklands War in 1982 as they supported the Vulcans in the Black Buck missions with air-to-air refuelling from the Ascension Islands to Port Stanley. In the early 1980’s, two Hardened Aircraft Shelter sites were constructed ready for the arrival of the first Tornados at Marham. Less than ten years later, the Tornados would start operations in the Middle East as part of Operation Granby. The Tornados continue with operations in the Middle East today, with just over 27 years’ continuous service. Another key theme of the RAF100 is ‘celebrate, ’and RAF Marham has a lot to celebrate; from the station’s sportsmen and women who represent the station in many activities both locally and nationally to the caterers who compete at culinary events across the country –and the academic
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achievements of the personnel on the many apprenticeship schemes run by the RAF today. RAF Marham is also celebrating its link with Norfolk – and the continued support from the local community. King’s Lynn recognised the contribution RAF Marham has made to the local area, and awarded the station Freedom of King’s Lynn in 1976. This was
followed in 2008 with the Freedom of Norwich being given to the station after the closure of RAF Coltishall. Personnel from RAF Marham proudly march through the streets every year, where they’re overwhelmed by the support they receive from the people of Norfolk. RAF Marham is now moving into the next chapter of its history with the imminent arrival of the next generation of combat airpower, the F35 Lightning. This 5th-generation aircraft certainly ticks the boxes of the final RAF100 theme of ‘inspire’ as RAF Marham looks to the next generation of engineers and operators. The arrival of the F35 Lightning will secure the future of the station for many years to come. RAF Marham is also committed to the Science Technology Engineering & Maths challenge – as personnel from the base act as ambassadors delivering sessions to school children across the region to show how these subjects transfer to the workplace and to roles within the RAF. As we look back over the last 100 years of the Royal Air Force and RAF Marham, one thing is clear – it’s the people both past and present that make it the truly fantastic station it is today, and will continue to be well into the future.
KLmagazine April 2018
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KLmagazine April 2018
“
at the body Just by looking make what n differently, you ca possible at first seems im ... pp actually ha en
e TERRY CONNOLLY Fre
”
Your Body Therapy
“Thanks, Terry - London Marathon here I come!” Discover how Terry Connolly and a revolutionary new form of therapy can help free you from a life of chronic aches and pains says. “I knew if I continued to push on I was running the risk of causing myself a serious and long-term injury.” After being recommended Free Your Body Therapy by a football coach friend of his, Andrew decided to see if what everyone was saying about Terry Connolly was true. Terry Connolly is one of the very few people in the entire world currently offering P-DTR (Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex) as a form of treatment, and he combines that with Anatomy in Motion gait therapy – a cutting-edge method of correcting postural problems, helping with the repair and rehabilitation of past injuries and the relief of pain. For Andrew, the effects were as impressive as they were instant. “Within a few minutes it was clear that Terry was going to get to the root of the problem instead of simply treating the symptoms,” he says. “We did some Within a few minutes it was strength tests with my legs before the clear that Terry was going treatment – and the results of the to get to the root of the same tests we did afterwards were problem instead of simply amazing!” treating the symptoms Although his clients may disagree, there’s no great secret and no hidden ANDREW TSANG King’s Lynn magic to Terry’s treatment – it’s simply
t Free Your Body Therapy in the centre of King’s Lynn, Terry Connolly continues to use new treatment techniques to free people from a life of aches and pains; people like Andrew Tsang of King’s Lynn, who started running last year and was planning to run the London Marathon later this month in aid of the charity Children with Cancer UK. “I’d built up to running around 150 miles a month,” he says, “but I suddenly developed a lot of pain in my left calf muscle which brought me to a halt!” A few sessions of massage alleviated the pain for a short while, but it then returned together with an additional problem with his left Achilles tendon – leaving Andrew unable to run much more than 3k before the pain kicked in. “It pretty much stopped me running,” he
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“
KLmagazine April 2018
”
a case of looking at the body and the causes of chronic pain in a completely different way. “It’s vital to avoid focusing solely on the site of an injury or problem because the body works as a complete and integrated system,” says Terry. “I see Andrew’s issue often with runners and with people who remain seated for long periods of time. Essentially, it’s a semi-postural problem caused by inactive gluteal muscles forcing the calf muscles to overcompensate – and that leads to pain and discomfort.” Thanks to Free Your Body Therapy, Andrew has now happily completed three 10k runs and is now looking forward to running the London Marathon on the 22nd. If you’d like to support Andrew and his charity Children With Cancer UK, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewTsang2
information
Free Your Body Therapy Old Dairy Units, Austin Street, King’s Lynn Tel: 01553 277520 Web: www.freeyourbodytherapy.co.uk
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PICTURE: STORIES OF LYNN
Local Life
ABOVE: Various groups of children have enjoyed discovering Stories of Lynn over the last few months, from taking part in the first ‘Snories at Stories’ sleepover to seeing how the town’s famous Mart looked in the past, as in this fascinating plan (opposite) of the 1933 event
PICTURE: NORFOLK RECORDS OFFICE KL-TC_14-2-007
Showmen and snories, stories and suffragettes Fun-filled sleepovers, 800 years of the King’s Lynn Mart, and inspirational Norfolk women; Stories of Lynn continues to be one of the area’s most exciting museums, as Rachel Murphy explains
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t’s been a busy start to the new year at Stories of Lynn, the museum located on the Saturday Market Place in King’s Lynn. February saw a visit from the children of the Showmen’s Guild during the King’s Lynn Mart, as well as the first ‘Snories at Stories’ – a chance for groups to spend a real-life ‘night at the museum’! The varied events schedule continues through Spring, with family activities for Easter half term, as well as an engaging programme of Spring Talks focusing on some of Norfolk’s women, in this centenary year of the first women’s suffrage.
KLmagazine April 2018
On February 20th, Stories of Lynn welcomed pupils of The Mart School during the 814th King’s Lynn Mart, with the children of the Showmen’s Guild visiting as part of their educational programme. The children spent the afternoon at the museum, seeing the King John Cup and the Mayor’s regalia, and learning about the etiquette of medieval banqueting with the help of museum staff, volunteers, and historic reenactors. They also visited The Old Gaol House and had fun making their own versions of the King John Cup, which will be on display in April alongside cups made by other groups and individuals who’ve
visited the museum. Happily, the children’s visit coincided with the museum’s temporary exhibition King’s Lynn Mart – Stories from the Borough Archives. The exhibition showcased fascinating items from the Borough Archives relating to the Mart, including historic plans of Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place which outline the allocation of spaces for the showmen and their rides. The children were delighted to see the records on display, and had fun comparing the plans to where the rides and stalls were situated this year. Stories of Lynn enjoyed welcoming the latest generation of the Showmen’s
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Local Life
ABOVE: Members of Gayton Brownies prepare for a real-life ‘night at the museum’ at Stories of Lynn. Pictured right is Fred Roe’s portrait (part of the King’s Lynn Town Hall collection) of Florence Ada Coxon, the first female Mayor of King’s Lynn – the subject of one of the museum’s programme of Spring Talks this month.
Guild to the King’s Lynn Town Hall complex. The Mart is a key event in King’s Lynn’s social calendar, and the children are part of this valuable cultural heritage, which spans over 800 years. “We all had a wonderful day, but the children especially mentioned their enjoyment at Stories of Lynn,” said Rachel Yates, Specialist Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Practitioner (SGRTP) at Norfolk County Council,. “We were appreciative that everyone was so welcoming and enthusiastic about having the children there, and it was lovely for them to hear how valued they are by the town.” The museum staff wishes them all a good season and hope they can visit again when they return next year to learn more about the historic town’s traditions. More children visited the museum in February with the first ever ‘Snories at Stories’ taking place, a new way for groups of youngsters to explore the museum – by turning a visit into a sleepover! Gayton Brownies were the first to experience ‘Snories at Stories’, visiting the museum and connecting with its collections, interactive exhibits, activities and games – before falling asleep beneath the vaulted undercroft of the 15th-century Trinity Guildhall. In addition to learning about the 800 years of history on display in the museum, they also discovered how to do circle braiding and played a special Hanseatic League trading game. Finally, they finished with a thrilling
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tour of The Old Gaol House with the realistic sound effects of clanking chains, screaming inmates and bullish prison wardens. “This has been a fantastic sleepover venue,” says Brownie leader Catherine Leigh. “Gayton Brownies loved every minute of it and are very proud to be the first ever Brownie Pack to sleep in Stories of Lynn. There’s so much history here and we’ve all been amazed at what’s hidden away in this beautiful, historic building.” It was an event equally enjoyed by the museum itself. “It was an awesome evening and I’m delighted to have been able to welcome the Gayton Brownies,” says Rachael Williams, Learning and Engagement Officer at Stories of Lynn. “Everyone had lots of fun, and was really excited to sleep in such an unusual setting. We’re really looking forward to welcoming other groups for ‘Snories at Stories’ – we’ve got plenty of room, and the gaol cells could make great single bedrooms!” The fun doesn’t finish there, with a busy April ahead for Stories of Lynn. For the schools’ Easter break, there’ll be a self-led Easter egg trail at Stories of Lynn between Thursday 29th March and Sunday 15th April, with all completed trails receiving a free souvenir pencil. On Tuesday 3rd April, there’ll also be special Easter craft sessions all day, with the opportunity to make your very own King John egg cup, Springtime quilling cards, a Pedlar’s Easter basket, or braided bookmark – and all Easter
activities are free with museum admission. Finally, for three Tuesdays in April, King’s Lynn Town Hall will be hosting Stories of Lynn’s programme of Spring Talks. In this centenary year of the first women’s suffrage, the talks focus on some of Norfolk’s women. The first, on 10th April is by local historian Alison Gifford, who’ll be sharing fascinating and little-known facts about the women behind some of Norfolk’s most famous and successful men, such as Horatio Nelson and George Vancouver. The second talk on 17th April by Kathy Hipperson will focus on Norfolk’s suffragettes, while the final talk on 24th April will be jointly presented by Cllr Carol Bower, current Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Rachael Williams, Stories of Lynn’s Learning and Engagement Officer. Rachael will capture the life and times of Florence Ada Coxon, who became the first female Mayor of King’s Lynn in 1925. Cllr Bower will then share her experiences of being Mayor in 2018 as she comes to the end of her tenure. All three talks take place at 6.30pm, with tickets available on the door. Tickets for one talk are £2.50, or all three can be attended for £6. Stories of Lynn is located at King’s Lynn’s historic Saturday Market Place, and is open daily between 10am4.30pm, with the last entries at 4pm. For more information about Stories of Lynn or the events schedule, please visit www.storiesoflynn.com or call 01553 774297.
KLmagazine April 2018
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KLmagazine April 2018
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 Currently the combined cost for a possession hearing and bailiff eviction is £476 which doesn’t take into account solicitors costs and loss of rent.
An Increasing Problem?
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ver the past 3 years the implementation of penalty taxation on property investors coupled with capital values soaring past the previous pre-recession peaks of 2008 have resulted in a significant number of smaller landlords selling their properties while others with larger portfolios have responded by reducing borrowing against existing properties instead of investing in more homes. That is of course exactly what the government wanted because as we all know it was the investment buyers greedily vacuuming up all of the entry level properties which was preventing those who fall into the first-time-buyer category from getting on the property ladder. So there we go, problem solved. The only minor conflicting details are that demand for rental properties hasn’t decreased. That’s a bit of a problem though because the amount of
available properties has, so even if we have the same number of people looking for a rental property as we did 3 years ago, now that approximately 20% less properties are available there are more tenants vying for the same homes. The knock on effect of this of course is that prices are going up, and up. Regardless of the claims that rental prices are on the decline in the Capital the reality in West Norfolk and the surrounding areas is quite the opposite. Property rental values are governed by the same financial rules of supply and demand as every other commodity. At Edmonton Estates some of our earliest properties are being re-let for rents more than 20% higher this year than in 2012 when we first listed them. Rent reviews for ongoing tenancies are also becoming more pronounced with some landlords seeking annual
increases to meet current market rents. Unfortunately in some instances this has resulted in monthly increases of as much as £75 or £100. Understandably due to the continual increase in rents and some retained instability within the employment market a growing number of tenants are struggling to maintain their rental payment obligations. The primary concern of many landlords contacting Edmonton Estates for the first time is how they can best ensure the stability of the financial return on their investment property should the tenant default. This will be the subject of our article in next month’s edition of KL Magazine, however, if you are a landlord with an immediate concern that you would like to discuss please don’t hesitate to contact us. All of our advice is free and without obligation.
Edmonton Estates Ltd, St Ann’s House, 18 St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT 01553 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk
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PICTURES: JOSH JAGGARD / WWW.WILDLIFE-PHOTOS.CO.UK
Local Life
Capturing the essence of Norfolk’s wildlife... For Norfolk-born Josh Jaggard, photographing nature is a labour of love; requiring weeks of planning and patience – waiting to get the right conditions, the right light, and the right subject
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osh Jaggard is no stranger to critical acclaim. He’s won prizes in competitions such as Bird Photographer of the Year and the British Wildlife Photography Awards, had his work published in regional and national newspapers, and his work is even being screened on Channel 5. KL MAGAZINE: What came first, your love of wildlife or your passion for photography? JOSH JAGGARD: My love of wildlife definitely came first, and later on I started using photography to show others and inspire them to get out and look for wildlife.
KLmagazine April 2018
KL MAGAZINE: Did you take inspiration from other wildlife photographers or did you follow your own path? JOSH JAGGARD: I mainly followed my own path, letting nature inspire my images. But looking through contests like Wildlife Photographer of the Year gets the inspiration going as well. It gives you different ideas and techniques to try out. KL MAGAZINE: How difficult is it to pursue a career as a wildlife photographer? JOSH JAGGARD: It can be a difficult career to take up – you need a huge amount of patience and perseverance. There’s plenty of work out there, so
you’ve just got to go out and find it and be pro-active all the time. KL MAGAZINE: You were born in Norfolk, so you’re more than familiar with the environment – is there any single location you prefer to work at? JOSH JAGGARD: Norfolk is full of great locations, whether it’s the Norfolk coast photographing the grey seals or a river in Wymondham photographing water voles. I chop and change a lot, but my local fields are one of my favourites – they’re full of barn owls, little owls and hares. KL MAGAZINE: What does a typical day ‘behind the lens’ entail for you? JOSH JAGGARD: Everyday is different,
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Local Life disturbance means longer time photographing the species. KL MAGAZINE: Is it possible or appropriate for photography to raise wildlife conservation issues? JOSH JAGGARD: Both, definitely. Photography is such a strong and visual medium. It has a huge amount of impact compared to many other methods, and conservation is an avenue I’m always exploring in my photography.
which is one of the reasons why I love it so much. Some days I go out at dawn, photograph for two or three hours and then return home for some admin for a few hours. Then I’ll head out again for sunset. Other days I may be in and out all day running workshops or filming. KL MAGAZINE: How did you come to create your famous one-man ‘floating hide’? JOSH JAGGARD: It started when I wanted to photograph wader birds at water level. I tried using a kayak at first, but I was still too high, so I looked at floatable material and decided to create my own hide. After a few different versions I came up with one that worked, and it’s lasted for seven years now! It’s enabled me to photograph a huge range of water birds and mammals coming to the water to drink.
KL MAGAZINE: Out of all your photographs, do you have one that’s particularly important to you? JOSH JAGGARD: I think my backlit otter [right] is my favourite – it took me three weeks to achieve! Either the otters weren’t in the right position or the light wasn’t quite right. For me, it symbolises the otters’ elusive nature – but at the same time, it highlights their beauty.
see your work going in the future? JOSH JAGGARD: I’m currently working on underwater images and videos of otters, and am finalising a video which will be seen on Channel 5’s Wild Britain in a few weeks’ time. Images are the next big step and they’ll be a lot more challenging – it will mean sitting in a river for endless hours! KL MAGAZINE: Where can we see more of your work? JOSH JAGGARD: My most recent work can be seen on my Facebook page or through Twitter, and you can see me on Channel 5’s Wild Britain until the end of April. I regularly exhibit at the nature reserve at Cley, and have an exhibition there that starts on the 21st April. You can also see examples of my work on my website www.wildlife-photos.co.uk
KL MAGAZINE: You said meeting David Attenborough at the opening of the Simon Aspinall Education Centre in Cley was the completion of a life goal – what's the next one? JOSH JAGGARD: I don’t really have one, apart from inspiring others to take time to look at nature and do what they can to help the planet –whether that’s filming for the BBC or working locally to help promote conservation and wildlife. KL MAGAZINE: What are you working on at the moment – and where do you
KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most difficult animal you’ve ever photographed – or tried to? JOSH JAGGARD: Otters were a huge challenge to start with, but having spent hundreds of hours with them I find them a lot easier now! As long as you study the wildlife and learn their behaviours, no wildlife is too hard. The hardest part is creating original and stunning images. KL MAGAZINE: Why did you decide to share your experiences through wildlife photography workshops? JOSH JAGGARD: I really enjoy showing people wildlife and giving them experiences they may not get on their own. With species like otters, people rarely see them – and if they do, they may not know how to approach without disturbing them. The wildlife always comes first – the photographs always take second place. It’s better for the photographer and the wildlife; no
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t: 01553 617666 | Lynn Road, St Germans, King’s Lynn PE34 3EU | www.doubledaygroup.co.uk Holbeach: 01406 540261 | Swineshead: 01205 822440
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HOMEhints
in association with FRIMSTONE LTD
It’s time to get to work – with Frimstone on your side! he imminent arrival of Spring means it’s time to get to work on all those outdoor projects you’ve been looking forward to all winter – from putting up that new shed to building a new patio. And the good news for homeowners and builders working on small-size projects is that no matter how daunting the job may be at first sight, you’ve got all the experience and quality materials of FRIMSTONE on your side. For modest-sized building and gardening projects, you’ll find our recently-opened ‘FRIMSTONE Light’ operation at Crimplesham is exactly the helping hand you’ve been looking for. Here, you’ll find an extensive variety of sands including sharp, building, plastering and soft – and we can recommend the right one for you, whether you’re mixing concrete, bedding down slabs or
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smaller loading shovel for lighter loads, and all materials are available in either jumbo (850kg) or half-size (450kg) bags – together with handy 25kg bags of cement. We even stock a carefullyselected range of high-quality PPE to ensure you’ll always be working safely! Whatever your next building or gardening project, the time’s arrived to get started on it – and you’ll find FRIMSTONE has everything you need for a job well done!
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Pets
AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...
COMPETITION TIME! Who nose their animals?
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t last, spring is finally here! Like me, I’m sure you are all looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Whether it’s enjoying the miles and miles of beautiful Norfolk coastline, one of our many distinctive woodlands or just spending time at home in your garden. While hoping for good weather, you can never be too sure. So, we thought we would give you something to keep you and your family occupied if rain or indeed snow keeps you indoors. Take a look at these noses, identify them all correctly to be in with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher. Message us your answers via our Facebook page - London Road Vets or email answers to info@lrvc.co.uk Results will be announced in Small Bites in the next edition of KL Magazine.
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We have given both the Hollies and London Road practices a fresh new look for spring with new signs and new uniforms for our lovely staff. Even our Veterinary Ambulance has a new look, sporting our updated logo. We hope you like our new look logo as much as we do!
Visit our website... makeyourpetsmile.co.uk
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London Road Vets @London Road Vets
LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 773168 | Email: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market | Tel: 01366 386655 | Email: info@holliesvetclinic.co.uk
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Gardening
ABOVE: Tomatoes come in all shapes, sizes and colours and they’re an ideal food to grow at home – both indoors and outdoors
The easy way to grow your own tomatoes... There are nearly 8,000 varieties of tomato, and it’s one of the easiest foods to grow at home. Wendy Warner of Thaxters Garden Centre explains how to get started and how to raise a healthy, tasty crop
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hether you’re a keen cook or simply like enjoying a salad in the summer, the flavour and smell of homegrown tomatoes beat those bought in the supermarket hands down! Tomatoes are one of the simplest crops for ‘grow your own’ fans at home, and you should be thinking about starting them off now. Just a couple of plants will reward you with an abundance of sweet-tasting fruits in the summer, and you can choose from various colours, shapes and sizes which can be appreciated by children and
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adults alike. You have the choice of growing them indoors (in a greenhouse or tunnel) or outside – and whether to have ‘cordon’ varieties that need staking and tying or bush varieties that need no support and can even be grown in hanging baskets. Tomatoes will germinate quite easily from seed. You may well have discovered this if you’ve got a compost heap on which you’ve put rotten tomatoes in the past and then found seedling tomatoes coming up in your flower borders after spreading your compost the following spring! To grow from seed, tomatoes need to
be started indoors on a warm windowsill in pots or trays of seed and cutting compost. For greenhouse crops, the seeds really need starting off in January and February, but March and April are ideal for outdoor crops. The seedlings will need transplanting into individual pots when they’re about 4-6” (10-15cm) tall. If you‘re only intending to grow a couple of plants, or don’t have the facilities (or the inclination!) to grow them from seed, you’ll now be able to buy tomato plants in small pots to grow on. Whether you’ve grown your tomatoes from seed or bought young
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plants, they can be grown on in the same way. In unheated greenhouses, planting usually takes place in April or early May – but for outside growing, you’ll want to plant them in the ground or in pots in early summer. Grow your plants at least 16” (40cm) apart and water in well. And note that tomatoes will always benefit from the warmest spot you’ve got. All tomatoes thrive with a good depth of soil to grow in, so use at least a 10” (25cm) plastic or terracotta pot. If you’re growing in a growbag, use tomato ‘growpots’ – these are pots that you cut into the top of the growbag and then fill with additional compost to plant the tomato in. This allows them to produce longer and stronger roots before then developing their lateral roots into the growbag. I’d never recommend growing tomatoes directly in a growbag, especially not the budget, slimline ones – it’s a bit like putting them on a diet for their lifetime! Tomatoes should be kept moist but never waterlogged and they require good ventilation – and pots and growbags will require frequent, consistent watering. If you allow the soil or compost to dry out and then flood it, the change in water content will cause the fruit to crack; always aim to keep plants evenly moist. All tomato plants will benefit from regular feeding, using a high-potash tomato feed such as Tomorite once the first fruit start to set. Pruning and training depends on how your chosen tomato variety naturally grows. Cordons will require support with a cane, tying the central stem to this as it grows taller. Pinch out the sideshoots that appear between the leaf and main stem. Remove the tip of the main stem two leaves above the fourth truss of fruits (for outdoor plants) or the sixth truss or when it reaches the top of the greenhouse (for indoor plants), as subsequent fruits usually fail to ripen. Leaves below the lowest truss still bearing fruit can be removed to help control disease. If you’re likely to forget to tie your plant to the cane, you can use a tomato cage which is a simple, triangular support where the tomato is planted centrally so it has all-round support – and this can be used for plants in pots or the ground. If you’re using a growbag, you can get a growbag cane frame that will hold the canes upright in the growbag. You’ll be pleased to learn that bush varieties need less maintenance; just tie plants loosely to a 3ft (1m) cane, and don’t remove the sideshoots as this will
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Gardening
reduce cropping. Bush tomatoes produce compact plants with numerous short, sideshoots that terminate in a cluster of flowers, and the good news is that tomato flowers self-pollinate readily. However, indoor plants will benefit from being gently shaken to dislodge the pollen – and misting flowers with water can help fruit set. You can start picking when the fruit is ripe and fully coloured with the stalk still attached. When cropping slows in early autumn, lift any plants with unripe fruit and either lay them on straw under cloches or hang them upside down in a cool shed to aid ripening – or simply start making green tomato chutney! Regardless of what the supermarkets say on their packaging, don’t store your tomatoes in the fridge – it spoils both their taste and their texture! This month, there are plenty of tomato plant varieties on sale at Thaxters Garden Centre, and here are just a few of them: SHIRLEY: Cordon variety with high yield, good flavour, and good disease resistance. MONEYMAKER: Cordon variety that fruits early with a high yield, good for outdoors. ALICANTE: Cordon variety that’s also good for outdoors with heavy cropping and a good flavour. GARDENER’S DELIGHT: Cordon
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variety of cherry tomato, with a high yield and good flavour. Also good for outdoors. SUN BABY: Cordon variety of golden cherry tomato with a high yield and good flavour. SUPER MARMANDE: Semi-bush, beefsteak variety with a good flavour. SWEET ‘N’ NEAT: Bush variety of cherry tomato that lives up to its name. It’s very compact, making it suitable for windowboxes and small pots and flavour is notably sweet. TUMBLER: A cascading bush variety of cherry tomoto with a high (and early) yield and a sweet flavour. There’s a lot to choose from there, and that’s only a few of them – if you need some help and advice on the best variety for your garden and your tastes, all you need to do is ask! Whatever you do, plant your tomatoes now and you’ll be able to enjoy them as part of your five-a-day throughout the summer!
ABOVE: Nothing beats the smell or flavour of homegrown tomatoes. They germinate quite easily from seed (below) but for the best results you’ll have to give your young plants some care and attention
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 YOU AND YOUR GARDEN If you’d like some inspiration for your garden – no matter how large or small – or have a particular issue or variety of plant you’d like Wendy to look at, please contact us at info@klmagazine.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2018
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West Norfolk: Then and Now
1895
2018 THE QUAY BEFORE VANCOUVER... The remarkable picture of the quay in front of the Customs House in King’s Lynn (above) was sent to us by Douglas Scott from Gaywood, who wondered why it didn’t show the statue of the town’s most famous son, Captain George Vancouver. There’s an easy answer to that one, Douglas – the
photograph was taken on a low-tide day over 100 years before the statue was unveiled! If you’re interested in seeing how our towns, villages and landscape have changed over the years, you can enjoy thousands of images depicting Norfolk’s unique social history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk or by
visiting the Norfolk Heritage Centre at the Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich (or your local studies library). We’ll take another look back at the area next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 54
KLmagazine April 2018
ONE MOTORHOME. A WHOLE WORLD TO DISCOVER.
ABOVE: Neil Greentree crosses the famous north face of the Eiger on a paraglider – having crossed three countries in a Swift Bolero 744 (left)
Your next big adventure starts now at Greentrees Discover the modern face of caravanning at Greentrees – designed for activity-led people who prefer experiences to holidays! s you might expect from one of the very best caravan and motorhome centres in the entire country, there’s a lot more to Greentrees than over 100 new and used vehicles on one site from the top manufacturers in the UK – along with every accessory you could wish for. For starters, there’s a whole new world of adventure to discover – and no one better placed to open that world up to you than Neil Greentree himself, who has a real passion for promoting the modern face of caravanning and is recognised nationally as one of the industry’s leading experts. Recently, for example, Neil was invited by Swift Leisure to take the company’s luxurious Swift Bolero 744 motorhome on a four-day trip with his wife and sister-in-law through France and Germany, finally camping in the shadow of the iconic Eiger
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mountain in Switzerland. “Driving through three countries was supremely comfortable every mile of the way for all of us, and we really lacked for nothing,” says Neil. “Today’s motorhomes are like taking your own luxury hotel with you, and thanks to the wonderful beds you’ll arrive at your destination fully refreshed for your adventure – whatever that happens to be.” For Neil it happened to involve enlisting a French paragliding champion and spending 20 minutes flying across the famous north face of the Eiger with nothing between himself and the ground apart from 3,000 metres of mountain fresh air. Pretty impressive for someone who confesses to a lifelong fear of flying!
While the traditional purpose of motorhomes and caravans was (and often still is) the sheer enjoyment of the vehicle itself, more and more people are now using them to enhance an active lifestyle, appreciating the increased levels of comfort, functionality and adaptability. “For activity-led people who really want to enjoy the great outdoors, this is a fantastic way to do it,” says Neil. “All the comfort and luxury touches you want – and all the freedom you need!” Welcome to Greentrees, where you’ll find all the help and advice you need – together with the start of your next big adventure! For more information and videos see: www.challengeneilgreentree.com www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes
Adventure House, Hurn Road, Dereham Business Park, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1WD t: 01362 696434 e: sales@greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk w: www.greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk 55
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Make the most of your outdoor space with THE NORFOLK CABIN CO
Bespoke garden buildings made exclusively for you! here was a time when the only building you’d find in the garden was a traditional wooden shed, but that time has long gone now. For the last four years, THE NORFOLK CABIN CO in King’s Lynn has been offering an amazing range of beautiful bespoke garden buildings made from responsibly-sourced high quality timbers – and there’s virtually no limit to the possibilities. From luxurious log cabins and spacious summerhouses to cart sheds/car ports and potting sheds, and from children’s playhouses to dog runs, THE NORFOLK CABIN CO can design, build and install a stunning outdoor building that helps you make the most of your garden – you can even have a bespoke BBQ cabin with integrated barbecue, so you’ll never have to worry about the rain spoiling your summer! Fully treated with a special preservative, all buildings can be insulated for year-round use and can be fitted with double-glazed units – so it comes as no surprise to learn THE NORFOLK CABIN CO has made
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garden buildings to be lived in! And if you are still a fan of the traditional garden shed, THE NORFOLK CABIN CO can introduce you to the modern version – which is made more secure with five-lever locks, upgraded frameworks and security windows. From top to bottom, the choice is yours at THE NORFOLK CABIN CO – from either a timber-framed or permanent concrete base to a selection of roofing options including self-bonding rubber slate tiles, standard roller felt and fibreglass. And for the perfect finishing touch, your bespoke garden building can be painted in any one of 40 different colours and 12 woodstains. Although you can choose from any of our standard sizes and styles, you can also have them adapted to suit the individual needs of you and your garden – but for something totally unique, why not bring us a drawing (or simply your ideas!) and we’ll design and construct a garden building to your exact requirements. With over 20 buildings currently on
display, and a service that’s second to none, a visit to THE NORFOLK CABIN CO will open up a whole new world of possibilities for you, your garden and your family.
Dobbies Garden Centre (outside garden area) Campbells Meadow, Hardwick Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4NA Tel: 01553 777393 Web: www.norfolkcabins.co.uk E-mail: info@norfolkcabins.co.uk
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
ABOVE: A very small number of the millions of blooms produced by the Terrington St Clement based Belmont Nurseries, whose passion for flowers started back in 1965 and now covers over 550 acres of land in a variety of locations across Norfolk (opposite)
Covering Norfolk with a carpet of colours... They’ve been growing the finest quality cut flowers for 53 years, and are now the single biggest producer of tulip bulbs in the UK. Sylvia Steele enters the multicoloured world of Belmont Nurseries
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ith the dull wet winter behind us, the fields around Swaffham have suddenly taken on the appearance of a giant multi-coloured quilt. Row on row, acre upon acre is a mass of colour as this year’s tulips make their first appearance. In all about 100 acres are under tulip cultivation making it the biggest expanse of the flowers in Britain – in fact, these may be the country’s last remaining tulip bulb fields on this scale,
KLmagazine April 2018
and in spring the rainbow strips of colour can be seen for miles around. However, none of these beauties were ever destined for the flower vase, and it will be sad to see these beautiful blooms removed in a few weeks. There’s a good reason for this. “As they near the end of their bloom the flower heads are deadheaded to let the goodness flow back through the stalk into the bulb to create next year's even finer blooms,” says Mark Eves, General Manager of Belmont Nurseries. “Later in the year the bulbs are lifted
and put in cold storage. By increasing the temperature, we’ll fool the bulbs into thinking they’ve been through summer – and by cooling them they’ll think it’s spring and time to produce flowers. This would take five months out in the fields, but it can be achieved in five to six weeks in our glasshouses.” Belmont Nurseries in Terrington St. Clement is a family-owned company, and is now the biggest tulip bulb producer in England, with 30 million tulips grown each year. When Peter and Janet Ward began
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Overhead screens automatically come into play on cold days to keep the heat in and in summer to lower the light levels. However, before this procedure, the bulbs have been initially grown in those acres of rented fields where there’s still one job that, at the moment, can only be done by hand – ‘rogue-ing.’ “It’s the process of making your way along the rows picking out the ones that are a different colour from the rest – the ‘rogues’,” Mark explains. “It
For more details and information on Belmont Nurseries, please visit the website www.belmontnurseries.co.uk
PICTURE: MARK EVES
farming vegetables here in the 1960s, it was from a detached bungalow with three glasshouses at the back. It’s now a 20-acre headquarters with eight acres of on-site greenhouses and currently farms 550 acres of rented land in the area, employing 115 staff, most of whom work at base. They’re a hardworking and hands-on team with decades of experience of flower growing, using latest technology to create the best blooms from top quality bulbs. However, this hasn’t been accomplished without an eye to the future. Belmont Nurseries cares greatly for the environment, as is apparent in the environmentally-friendly heating systems and power generators as well as an in-house reservoir and the vast steam-cleaning machines that disinfect the soil. The Biomass 1MW boiler heats a 130,000-litre tank of water to heat the vast area of glass on the colder nights. Fuelled with recycled timber, it turns the wood to ash to use in the soil as fertilizer. This goliath boiler heats a soilfree hydroponics glasshouse system in which to grow the bulbs and maintains the greenhouses at a constant 16-18oc.
may sound like a tough back-breaking task on this soft sandy soil, but with experience you learn how to vary your stance to avoid back problems.” In July, the bulbs will be exhumed and transported to the greenhouses to produce bigger, better blooms next year. When almost ready for quality control and packing, one more computerised system comes into play at the ‘bunching station.’ With around 200,000 stems a day passing through the system, it cuts the stems to a specified length and ties the bunches ready for the hands-on packing belts. As the process of producing Britain’s best tulips continues at Belmont Nurseries, it’s perhaps surprising that not a single flower is sold from here. The millions of daffodils, tulips, asters, peony, Sweet William and gladioli are all produced to supply the British floristry industry and some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets. In recent months, Mark has appeared on Channel 4s Billion Pound Flower Show and the nurseries have also featured on BBC’s Countryfile and Great British Garden Revival with Tom Hart Dyke. More recently, a television advertisement for Lidl featured Mark picking daffodils at Belmont Nurseries. This is, without doubt, one of Britain’s sweetest-smelling success stories. However, is there any question that cannot be answered by the computer that plays such a huge part in the smooth running day-to-day operation here? “Even modern technology can’t tell us what colour is going to dominate next year’s trends!” Mark says. “That’s one question we have to wait for the fashion houses to answer.”
KLmagazine April 2018
Inspiring and distinctive outdoor furniture and accessories Exciting new products for 2018 now available
Visit our showroom Open 7 days a week 10am - 4pm Norfolk Leisure, Garage Lane, Setchey, King’s Lynn PE33 0AX Tel: 01553 811717 | Email: sales@norfolkleisure.co.uk | Web: www.norfolkleisure.com
fashion
Fashion
It’s a new season, which means it’s literally time to spring into style with new colours and new designs for the more fashion-conscious among us. Town or countryside, day or night, the best of our local boutiques are packed with great looks this Spring... 62
Footwear by Kennel & Schmenger SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 KLmagazine April 2018
Holiday Henley Jersey Shirt (£45) & Linden Authentic Chino (£49.95) by White Stuff GODDARDS | King’s Lynn 01553 772382 KLmagazine April 2018
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Fashion
Cold Shoulder Print Dress by James Lakeland (£159) ARTICHOKE Swaffham - 01760 724948 | Ely - 01353 665472 64
KLmagazine April 2018
Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge
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125 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AP Tel: 01553 770536 www.davidaukerjewellery.co.uk KLmagazine April 2018
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Fashion
The Maple Jacket (£67) by Jack Murphy THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 66
KLmagazine April 2018
BLOOMING MAGICAL
TEL: 01366 388151 | WEB: www.bearts.co.uk
| Brighton Mill, Stowbridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD
To celebrate
40 YEARS IN BUSINESS On April 3rd we will be unveiling our
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KLmagazine April 2018
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Fashion
Floral Metallic Trousers by Robell CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 68
KLmagazine April 2018
Queensgate PETERBOROUGH
PICTURE: ANDREW PARSONS/I-IMAGES
Food & Drink
ABOVE: Chocolatier Mona Shah, who founded the company Harry Specters to create jobs for young people with autism and has seen her business pick up no less than 22 awards in only four years
Enjoying the sweet and ethical taste of success On holiday in 2011, Mona Shah discovered the perfect way of combining her passion for creating positive change for people with autism with her love for chocolate, as Clare Bee discovers...
T
he stories behind entrepreneurs are always fascinating – and it’s easy to think when we hear about a successful business that it must have been a fairly straightforward journey. But some people have had to struggle through adversity and knockbacks to really achieve their goal. Mona Shah and her family haven’t had an easy ride to get to where they are now – running a successful award winning chocolate business. Originally from Pakistan, Mona and her husband Shaz were concerned their son Ash, who has autism, would face a difficult
KLmagazine April 2018
life with few prospects and possible discrimination if they stayed there. So they applied to live abroad, first to Canada and then to Australia, but both countries refused entry to Ash on account of his autism. The family then decided to try the UK and to their immense relief were accepted. “We owe this country so much,” says Mona, “and it all happened really quickly – in less than five months.” They initially settled in High Wycombe in 2006, where Ash attended a special needs school, with Mona working for a local health trust and Shaz in
engineering. But Mona had always loved chocolate, and when by chance they went on holiday to Scotland and met master chocolatier Iain Burnett (known as The Highland Chocolatier) a seed began to sow in her mind that this was something she could do while still supporting her son. Through Iain, Mona heard about the Academy of Chocolate and decided to enrol herself on a chocolate making course. She’d become disillusioned with her current employment, which gave her the motivation to change career paths and follow her passion. “While I was on the course,” says 71
Food & Drink
Mona, “I noticed how a lot of it was routine, repetitive, structured work and the smell is quite relaxing. I thought this might be something that Ash would be good at doing.” Excited by the idea, she started experimenting at home with different recipes and flavours and got Ash to help with the work and the packaging. She then heard about the School for Social Entrepreneurs, supported by Lloyds Bank, which offered a £4,000 grant specifically for social enterprises or charities. Following a whole year of support, she registered as a company and launched her own business in December 2012. From there, Mona has never looked back. Mainly supplying corporates, including Lloyds Bank, Schroders Bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers, she began to get busier, with Ash continuing to work alongside her. In fact, it was Ash who came up with the company name. When he was much younger, he’d had the idea of opening a restaurant and said that Mona could use the name he’d thought of. When she asked where it came from, he said “It’s from my head – I just like the name!” And so Harry Specters it was. By then the family had moved to Cambridge where they had more room to cope with the expanding company. When an order came in for 16,000 logo-printed truffles for Lloyds Bank, swiftly followed by an order for a further
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132,000 from the German company Foodist who wanted to include her truffles in their hampers, Mona recruited some boys from the local village college to help and realised how well they worked together. This encouraged Mona to apply for grants from investors who invest in ethical companies who support the community, as her aim had always been to offer employment to those living with autism. Mona was still working essentially on her own as the chocolatier, but then gradually began to take on employees one by one. Having once again outgrown their premises in Cambridge, they found a small factory unit in Ely and moved there in June 2016 – although they’ve already nearly
outgrown that too! Mona now employs six staff, all with autism, who are involved in all aspects of the business, from making and packaging the products to administration, design and photography. Along the way, Harry Specters has picked up no fewer than 22 awards in four years, including the coveted 3 star Gold Great Taste Award and 10 awards last year from The Academy of Chocolate. When the company entered ten chocolates into the ‘filled’ categories, all ten chocolates won – making Harry Specters one of only three chocolate companies in the world to win ten awards. They also won The Guardian's Best Social Enterprise Easter Egg Award. Mona is keen to stress the company only uses ethically-sourced cocoa, with pure natural ingredients such as orange juice, cream and the herbs used for the flavours and fillings – and they’re all gluten free. The vision of Harry Specters is simple and straightforward – as well as making delicious chocolates, they offer paid employment to young people with autism, free work experience for students from local special education needs schools, and provide free training for young people with autism. In doing so, they aim to be a role model of “great product, great cause” for other social businesses and entrepreneurs. In fact for the future, Mona hopes to expand the business and maybe encourage franchises across the country to offer work along the same ethical lines. “My main objective is to give young people hope and confidence,” she says, and in a nutshell (or a chocolate!), that’s exactly what she’s doing. To find out more about Harry Specters chocolates, please go to the website at www.harryschocs.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2018
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Open Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 KLmagazine April 2018
Food & Drink
Vanilla Cheesecake “At Turner’s Restaurant I serve it with rhubarb, meringue and dehydrated basil” Makes: 8 INGREDIENTS 300g digestive biscuits 100g butter 500g cream cheese 150ml double cream 75g icing sugar 1 vanilla pod
METHOD This recipe is for a basic vanilla cheesecake but you can use it as a base recipe and flavour it with whatever takes your fancy. You can add melted white chocolate, berries or even swirl in a salted caramel sauce. I’ve kept it simple as it works so well with the various forms of rhubarb we serve it with at the restaurant. Saying that, I’ve swapped the biscuit base with crushed flapjack and puffed rice. 1 Start by making the biscuit base. Crush the digestive biscuits and place in a bowl. Melt the butter and pour this onto the crushed biscuits. Mix together with a wooden spoon and then press into the bottom of an 8-inch cake tin lined with baking parchment. Set aside.
using your knife, carefully scrape out the seeds. 3 Place the vanilla seeds and cream cheese into a bowl, then sieve in the icing sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the mixture until smooth. 4 Slowly add the double cream and continue to beat until the mixture thickens and becomes quite stiff. But be careful not to overwork the mixture at this stage or it will split! 5 Spoon the cheesecake mixture onto the biscuit base. Lightly tap the cake tin on your work bench to ensure the mixture is evenly distributed, and then smooth over the top with a palette knife. Place in the fridge overnight to set.
2 Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways and,
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 April 2018
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KLmagazine April 2018
Food & Drink
l i a t Coocfkthe h t n o M
Gin Berry Fizz Serves: 1 YOU WILL NEED A gin balloon or your favourite glass INGREDIENTS 25ml Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) 25ml Gordon's Pink Gin Lemonade - to top up 2 lime wedges
Fruity, refreshing, and as welcome as Spring! Quick and easy yet deliciously light, beautiful berry flavoured Gin cocktail, perfect anytime. METHOD 1 Firstly, add plenty of ice to a glass. 2 Then add the Chambord and Gordon's and a squeeze of a lime wedge. 3 Stir and top up with lemonade. 4 Garnish with another lime wedge, sip and relax!
Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk KLmagazine April 2018
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D L S O A N NS O
D A fresh taste of the sea for over 150 years
New Season Crab - Coming Soon! • LOCALLY CAUGHT FRESH FISH & SHELLFISH • DELICATESSEN WITH A RANGE OF QUALITY CHEESES • LOCAL GAME • FREE RANGE EGGS • LOCAL HONEY Austin Fields, King’s Lynn PE30 1PH | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm
Food & Drink
Buffalo Wings Makes: 20 INGREDIENTS For the Chicken Wings 20 free range chicken wings, tips removed 200g plain flour For the Sauce 250ml rapeseed oil 150ml tabasco 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 ½ tbsp Sugar 1 lemons – juiced ½ tbsp garlic powder ½ tbsp onion powder Pinch of salt
METHOD 1 Flour the chicken wings, and fry in vegetable oil at 180°c until golden and crispy. Strain off the excess oil. 2 Meanwhile for the sauce, add all the ingredients to a medium sized pan, and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Strain through a sieve to remove any lumps. Season with salt. 3 Toss the chicken wings in a bowl with some of the buffalo sauce. Add as much or as little as your taste requires of the sauce.
Recipe by Eric Snaith Owner at Eric’s Fish & Chips Drove Orchards, Thornham Road, Thornham PE36 6LS Tel: 01485 472025 Web: www.ericsfishandchips.com
KLmagazine April 2018
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Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A reader enjoys Sunday Brunch at Titchwell Manor
T
he beautiful boutique coastal retreat of Titchwell Manor is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and while it continues its proud tradition of a spectacular setting, a lovely atmosphere and the outstanding food of Chef/Owner Eric Snaith, it’s always full of fresh ideas – recently introducing, for example, an innovative Sunday Brunch from 1-3pm. You may think there’s nothing particularly innovative about Sunday Brunch, but at Titchwell Manor it’s a mix
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of buffets for starters and desserts and table service for the main courses. And it’s a combination that works extremely well, as a KL magazine reader discovered recently: “My parents and I decided a perfect way to make the most of our Sunday would be to start with a walk along the stunning beach at nearby Brancaster to build up our appetites – and then treat ourselves to the delights of Titchwell Manor’s new Sunday Brunch. Following a thoroughly enjoyable walk, we sat by the log fire in the bar area (the sea breeze was a bit chilly that day!) and enjoyed a pot of tea while we looked over the menus and decided what to order for our mains. If you can take your eyes away from the incredible views across the open marshes to the North Sea, you can actually eat in the bar area if you prefer – but we decided to sit in the restaurant with its equally lovely views of the hotel’s walled gardens. More conservatory than restaurant, it’s a wonderfully light and airy space, and the tables laid with fresh linen give it a luxurious touch. Main courses duly ordered, we made
our way to the starters buffet and were presented with such a mouthwatering and visually stunning spread of dishes we didn’t really know where to begin. We could choose from a salt cod pâté, poached salmon with pickled cucumber, a fabulous prawn cocktail, oysters served naturally, duck rillette and a range of salads with various dressings. The dominance of light and fresh seafood was a great idea and one that was much appreciated, enabling us to enjoy some of Norfolk’s best produce a mere stone’s throw from the coastline itself. Although my father preferred the prawn cocktail (saying they were the tastiest prawns he could ever remember tasting) my favourite starter was the poached salmon; a generously thick and beautifully rich fish that worked really well with the exquisitely thin slices of pickled cucumber, a combination that was completely new to me. The oysters were also exceptional – as was the opportunity to eat as many as you wish! Best of all, the buffet allowed us to take a different selection of dishes, and we really enjoyed sampling the different
KLmagazine April 2018
tastes and sharing our thoughts on them – it makes for a very sociable occasion. Each of us also chose different dishes for the table-served main courses. For myself, I ordered the chicken breast, which was accompanied by duck fat potatoes, roast carrots and a breadcrumbed ball of crispy stuffing – while my parents ordered the salt-aged fore rib of beef with duck fat potatoes, roast carrots, Yorkshire pudding and gravy together with the fillet of gunard, which was served with lemon butter sauce, charred leeks and ratte potatoes. All were served with a selection of vegetables – in our case courgettes, broccoli, and some deliciously crunchy greens. I also noticed the vegetarian
option, which sounded lovely; a tomato and blue cheese rigatoni with mixed seeds and olive oil. The standard of the food was incredible, a treat to look at and an even greater pleasure to eat. My parents thoroughly enjoyed their meals (my mother couldn’t stop talking about her fish!) and my chicken was cooked absolutely perfectly, full of delicious juices and packed with flavour. Desserts resorted to the buffet format, and once again we agreed to choose different dishes so we could enjoy a little taste of each. The choice was a sweetlover’s dream, including a pecan tart, salted chocolate delice with an oaty crumb, strawberry and elderflower cheesecake, a mixed berry Pavlova, banana cake with caramel and honeycomb, chocolate brownie, cheese and crackers and a selection of gelato you actually help yourself to from an ice cream machine! We had a lot of fun deciding on our favourite dessert, but eventually decided it was the cheesecake, a perfectly sharp and refreshing way to end our meal. For people who think they know ‘buffet-style’ dining, Titchwell Manor’s Sunday Brunch is a revelation, unlike any buffet you’ll have experienced before. It’s relaxing and sociable, and the staff are brilliant – very efficient at regularly refreshing the choices but still managing to focus on offering an attentive and thoughtful table service. Sunday is a day for relaxing, a day for surrounding yourself with good family and close friends – and whether you’ve got a large family gathering to feed or fancy an intimate coastal treat for two, I simply can’t think of many places I’d rather be than enjoying Sunday Brunch at Titchwell Manor. It’s superb.” Sunday Brunch at Titchwell Manor: £24 for 2-courses, £29 for 3-courses and £45 for 3-courses with wine and prosecco. For children under 12, prices are £10 for 2 courses and £15 for 3 courses.
FOOD
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SERVICE
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VALUE
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SUPPER CLUB RETURNS TO TITCHWELL MANOR... Titchwell Manor’s regular Supper Club is back next month, when Eric Snaith invites another acclaimed chef to the hotel, giving you the opportunity to watch the two put together a 5- or 6course dinner – which is then served to you in the restaurant with accompanying wines for each course. On May 17th, Eric will be joined by Chris Lee, chef and owner of the awardwinning Bildeston Crown in Suffolk – and it’s the perfect opportunity to make a night of it and take the option of staying in one of the hotel’s 26 luxuriously-appointed rooms. To book your place (tickets are £60pp) please call the hotel on 01485 210221 or email reservations@titchwellmanor.com
“For people who think they know ‘buffet-style’ dining, Titchwell Manor’s Sunday Brunch is a revelation, unlike any buffet you’ll have experienced before...”
Titchwell Manor Titchwell, Near Brancaster, Norfolk PE31 8BB Tel: 01485 210221 Web: www.titchwellmanor.com
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April restau special Sunday rant events 1st A Easter Afterno pril special on Tea Mon £2 Bank H day 2nd April 0pp oliday B runch C 10am – lub 2p Bookin m £18pp ge 01760 ssential 723845
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SUNDAY CARVERIES
Every Sunday 12no on-6pm TWO COURSES JUST £9.99 Help yourself to soup for starters followed by our Sunday carvery buffet. Choose from roast turkey crown, roast gammon, roast topside of beef or vegetable wellington. Accompanied by a great selection of sides and help yourself to as much as you like of them!
Selected desserts just £2!
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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!
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Call us on: 01553 842255 204 Main Road, West Winch, King’s Lynn, PE33 0NP Open 7 Days a Week - 12noon-2pm & 5pm-10:30pm www.orientalpalacewestwinch.co.uk
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Contact us for more details
Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW Web: brewersfayre.co.uk
Tel: 01553 772221 KLmagazine April 2018
Food & Drink
Heritage Tomato & Feta Salad Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 350g goat’s cheese (Fielding Cottage make a very good one) 100g pitted olives, green & black 4 sun ripened heritage tomatoes cut as you wish (best is home grown) 12 firm leaves of washed cos lettuce 4 long strips of cucumber (from the middle of a cucumber) The rest of the cucumber cut into 1cm cubes 1 tsp chopped thyme 1 tbsp chopped curly parsley Zest of one un-waxed lemon 1 small glove garlic – finely chopped 4 tsp red pepper vinaigrette KLmagazine April 2018
METHOD 1 Cut the cheese up into 1cm cubes then put in a bowl. 2 Add the cucumber, olives, tomatoes, herbs, lemon zest & garlic.
4 Spoon the cheese salad into the bowl on top of the three leaves and garnish with a swipe of red pepper vinaigrette as shown. 5 For big eaters add steamed new potatoes.
3 Place three of the washed leaves at the bottom of a white round bowl, lay one of the cucumber strips over and across the bowl.
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 83
PICTURES: WILDCRAFT BREWERY
Food & Drink
Saying cheers to a wilder taste of Norfolk... Take a couple of local environmentalists, an ethical approach to brewing and foraged ingredients, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a great beer. Sylvia Steele pays a visit to Wildcraft Brewery
O
nce an old barn for the storage of farm machinery and now one of Norfolk's up-andcoming microbreweries, Wildcraft Brewery was started in 2016 by two friends with an interest in creating something unique in an industry where, they say, the’'norm’ has been accepted for too long. Mike Deal and Mark Goodman are both keen environmentalists with a vision to create amazing flavoured fruit beers by using foraged ingredients fresh from the hedgerows, fields and trees of Norfolk and some techniques
KLmagazine April 2018
‘borrowed’ from Belgium. Their aim is to eventUally become a carbon neutral brewery by pioneering new energies and new technology. Mike, whose career was in teaching, says his dream was always to own his own brewery to make beers from ingredients sourced locally and to experiment with flavours. However, it wasn’t until he discussed his ideas with his friend Mark Goodman that the two made the decision to take their ambitions a step further. With Mark’s practical input and Mike’s brewing knowledge, they set about converting a barn in Buxton into a
brewery that would enable them to produce the beer they felt was needed in the modern world. “We use natural ingredients, most of which can be found growing in the wild,” says Mike. “All our products will be vegan and will also cater for the coeliac community.” They soon discovered that starting from scratch in such a traditional business doesn’t come cheap, and their first objective was to seek investors in their project. Crowdfunding, an internet-based form of sourcing alternative finance, was set up to raise the initial amount
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Food & Drink
needed to convert the barn, and as this progressed several people came forward interested in investing in the venture. This went live on 15th April 2016 with some investors declaring themselves happy to fund the business and watch it grow. Three months later, Mike felt able to leave his teaching job to become Wildcraft’s sole full-time brewer with Mark assisting in the evenings and weekends – and many invaluable helpers getting the car park laid and cold rooms built. “We want to build a strong active team to promote and progress the brewery,” says Mike. “As part of this we run free tasting events, which are advertised on our website. This will enable us to demonstrate our aims for the future of the brewery and maybe encourage further investors.” Wildcraft Brewery launched their first brew in November 2016, and following its successful reception have gone on to create no less than 13 other brews. Wild Bill Hiccup is a special brown ale made with Norfolk -grown Maris Otter, and Goldings and Cascade hops adding an earthy, spicy twist. Wild Eye is a pale ale, whilst a light summer ale is Wild Weather – promoted as ‘an absolute must for a hot day, although good whatever the weather.’ Added to these is a raspberry ale, and among others, the smooth stout Wild Stallion which Mike describes as “the darkest beer we do, full of body and
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character and smooth on the palette.” One of Wildcraft Brewery’s proudest claims is that it’s the only microbrewery in Norfolk able to distil and create a unique take on a traditional product. To bring these ideas into the public domain, Brew-day experiences are set up throughout the year, and are advertised on the Brewery’s website. Born out of a love of great ales and the desire to provide new flavours to the traditional drink, the friendship of this dynamic duo began just four years ago when they discovered a shared interest in the environment. Many people can’t help asking where the quirky name originated. “Basically, we’re wild about using foraged ingredients,” says Mike. “We’ll grow most of the rest, giving back to the land through our by-products. We have a very eco-friendly approach and are working towards having natural reed bed technology.”
When asked what the future strategy is for the brewery, Mike’s in no doubt. “Our projected ideas are that the brewery becomes off-grid capable within five years,” he says. “All our energy will be green renewable by then and we’ll be pioneering new energies and new technology. Also, with an average pint of beer taking eight pints of water to make (most of which goes down the drain), our plan is to install a water filtration plant. Added to this we want to see the installation of solar panels and a compositor to re-use waste.” This should complete the picture of how an eco-friendly brewery is able to supply a product that will educate the taste buds of the contemporary enthusiast. For more details on Wildcraft Bewery and their latest beers, please see the website at wildcraftbrewery.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2018
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Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ KLmagazine April 2018
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” spring Extra professional cleaning – with Xtraclean! Thanks Martin for a truly faultless service: for your care and attention, for your hardworking, courteous and meticulous staff, and for making our floors look every bit as good as the day they were first laid. Amazing!
With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, no one can clean your floors like XtraClean... e all look forward to giving our homes a bright new look from top to bottom during Spring, which makes it the perfect time to treat your stone floors to the professional cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at Xtraclean. Slate, limestone and natural stone floors look fantastic and they’re a considerable investment, but they do tend to lose their good looks over time – to the point when eventually your floors will be needing a lot more than a mop and some elbow grease to bring them back to their best. “As deposits and dirt gradually build up on your floors, traditional cleaning methods and chemicals will become increasingly ineffective,” says Martin. “That’s why we use a revolutionary floor
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cleaning system to restore heavilysoiled stone floors, tiles and grout to ‘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 day they were laid. 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 turbocleaning capture system will thoroughly pressure clean the floor, using its own
water supply and 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!” So what’s the secret to offering such a high quality service? “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!
Xtraclean
Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk
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architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described the building Bell is best remembered for – the Custom House – as “one of the most perfect buildings ever built” and one that has become an iconic symbol of King’s Lynn. Unfortunately, much of Bell’s work no longer exists and we have to rely on local historians and historical drawings to provide us with evidence of his work. Although his family wasn’t originally from the town, Henry Bell was a native of King's Lynn. He was born there in 1647, the fourth (and only surviving)
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enry Bell was an architect, artist, writer, merchant, alderman and mayor of King’s Lynn two times. He was a very talented man. David Higgins, in his book The Ingenious Mr Henry Bell, His Life, His Work, His Legacy, His King’s Lynn writes that Bell spent most of his life in the town but that “knowledge of his achievements gradually faded” – and it took 200 years for local historians to start researching and providing us with the information we have today. It’s somewhat ironic, as
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A contemporary of Sir Christopher Wren, Henry Bell was inspired by his European travels to build two of the most iconic buildings in King’s Lynn. Pat Fysh of King’s Lynn Town Guides tells his story...
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How Henry Bell changed the face of King’s Lynn child in the family, and the second son to bear the name Henry. His father, also named Henry, was apprenticed to the textile merchant William Williams, and he gained the Freedom of the Borough in 1640 at the age of 24 – which allowed him to provide a comfortable life for his family and play a leading part in the political life of the town, including becoming Mayor. Henry junior’s education was a family affair, being taught by his uncle Edward Bell, who was the Master at the free school. He was then admitted to KLmagazine April 2018
LEFT: The distinctive facade of the Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn, one of Henry Bell’s greatest works. It bears such a striking resemblance to the now demolished Peacock Hotel in Northampton (above) that it’s believed to be another of Bell’s projects. Below is the central part of Bell’s market cross, which stood in the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn until 1831.
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge at the age of 13, where his tutor was also his cousin William Adamson. Bell graduated in March 1665 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and it’s thought he then embarked on the ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe in 1667. Returning to King’s Lynn two years later, Bell continued his father’s business producing and exporting linseed oil and other commodities. And following in his father’s footsteps, he was granted the Freedom of the Borough at 24, joining the council in 1679, being promoted to Alderman, and becoming mayor in 1692 and 1703. Henry Bell married Ann Bromley, a local girl 13 years his junior, in February 1677 and the couple went on to have 11 children – although as was common at the time only seven survived to adulthood. Bell was a talented artist. His Groundplan of King’s Lynn and Prospect KLmagazine April 2018
of King’s Lynn from the West provide us with detailed information of the town’s appearance during the Stuart period, and many of his prints of King’s Lynn completed between 1670 and 1695 still survive. Bell wasn’t only active in King’s Lynn. When the centre of Northampton was destroyed by fire in September 1675, Bell was one of those chosen to play a part in its rebuilding. He definitely designed the town’s All Saints Church but lack of documentary evidence has led to uncertainty as to what else he may have been involved with. One building, the Peacock Hotel (which was demolished in 1960) had such a resemblance to the Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn that it’s generally considered to have been designed by Bell. Henry Bell’s first major building project in King’s Lynn is believed to be that of St James Workhouse, which involved transforming an existing building. He
was later appointed Governor of the completed workhouse, a position he held for most of his life. As a member of the political elite of the town, Bell would have been well known to the influential local merchants, and they hired him to design buildings that would reflect their importance. One of these was Sir John Turner, who was to become MP for King’s Lynn for over 30 years. Bell became friends with Turner while he was working on the new organ loft in St Margaret’s Church, and it was Turner who commissioned Bell for the work he’s most remembered for; the Custom House. Turner wanted somewhere suitably grand to conduct his business. He owned the first property in what we now know as King Street and purchased the piece of land opposite. Originally designed with an open colonnaded ground floor housing a Merchant 91
History PICTURES: Although he made such a lasting impression on King’s Lynn, few of Henry Bell’s buildings have survived to this day. The central tower of St James Workhouse (left) collapsed in 1854, and his mansion on the town’s Tuesday Market Place (visible to the left in the background of the photograph below) was destroyed by fire
Finding Henry Bell in King’s Lynn... The Custom House, the Duke’s Head Hotel, Clifton House and North Runcton Church can all be seen today. A model of Bell’s octagonal Market Cross (above) can be found among the exhibits on the first floor of Marriott’s Warehouse on the South Quay.
A step-by-step way to explore the heritage of King’s Lynn...
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Norfolk Museums Collections archive contains a number of paintings, engravings and illustrated maps that were produced by Bell. They include landscape views of the town and its iconic buildings, some of which survive to this day.
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see it finished, dying two years before its completion. Bell also designed altarpieces for both St Margaret’s church and St Nicholas’ chapel – but neither have survived. In 1708, Simon Taylor, a friend of John Turner, commissioned the Georgian remodeling of the façade of Clifton House in Queen Street – a project which is thought to be the work of Henry Bell. Henry Bell died in 1711 at the age of 64, and was buried in the south aisle of St Margaret’s Church. Like many of his buildings, his ledger stone can no longer be seen – it was destroyed in the great storm of 1741 when the church steeple fell into the nave. He does, however, have an enduring memorial in the form of two of the most recognisable buildings in King’s Lynn – the Duke’s Head Hotel and the perfectlyproportioned Custom House.
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Exchange with the customs office on the first floor, it was finished in 1683, although it wasn’t occupied until 1685. The location was convenient for Turner as he could simply walk out of his door and be in the Exchange within a few yards. By 1717, the ground floor was enclosed and the customs office occupied the whole building. The next work Turner commissioned Bell to design was the Duke’s Head Hotel on the town’s Tuesday Market Place, a place for wealthy foreign merchants to stay. The Tuesday Market Place showcased much of Henry’s work in his lifetime but due to a number of unfortunate events, only the Duke’s Head Hotel remains today. Turner’s brother Charles enlisted Bell to design a mansion for him adjacent to the site now occupied by Fraser Dawbarns LLP, but this was later destroyed by fire. Bell’s final building was an imposing octagonal Market Cross, which stood tall in the Tuesday Market Place but had to be demolished due to subsidence in 1831. When his uncle died without heir in 1678, Bell inherited property in North Runcton, Middleton and King’s Lynn. While living in North Runcton Hall, Bell began work on rebuilding the village’s All Saints Parish Church in 1703 but he didn’t live to
PRIVATE BOOKINGS There are no regular walks in April, but the Town Guides are available for private bookings at any time or day, with reasonable notice, for groups of six or more. If you’d like to get together with a group of friends or colleagues to discover more about your 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. All the money raised from the walks goes directly to conservation projects in the town.
KLmagazine April 2018
Protect your retirement plans from market downturns How Chartered Financial Planner Katie Trendell can help you make the most of your money and secure your financial future... ’d like to introduce you to Janet. Janet is one of my clients and is currently saving for her retirement. Like most employees, Janet saves money every month into her pension, and over the last year has been pleased with the growth. She is looking forward to enjoying her retirement in five years’ time. I’ve worked closely with Janet for a number of years, and I know that sudden changes in the financial markets tend to worry her. Like many people, she finds it difficult to understand how such issues affect retirement plans on a personal level.
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I called Janet and asked if she’d seen the news about the recent falls in the global markets. “I’m so glad you called, Katie!” she said. “I must admit that I’ve been really quite nervous about how all this is going to impact on the retirement plans we’ve talked about.” From what she’d read and heard, Janet suspected she may have lost up to 10% of her pension. I clarified that while the market may have dipped, her investments had only suffered a
small reduction. That’s the benefit of sound financial planning. As Janet’s adviser, I can reaffirm the strategies we’ve put in place to try to limit the losses on her investments. We continue to review these every quarter and take into account changing market tends. When action needs to be taken, we make the necessary changes, with the aim of providing financial security in retirement. Contact Katie Trendell, a Chartered Financial Planner and experienced adviser for a free initial appointment on 07739 339663 or send an e-mail to ktrendell@barnsher.co.uk. I look forward to speaking with you.
Barnes & Sherwood Professional Advisers King’s Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC), Innovation Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5BY Mobile: 07739 339663 E-mail: ktrendell@barnsher.co.uk Barnes & Sherwood Professional Advisers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 547997 KLmagazine April
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supervisory authority within 72 hours and to notify the Data Subject without undue delay. WILL BREXIT AFFECT THE GDPR? This is extremely unlikely, as the UK government intends to bring post-Brexit privacy laws in line with the GDPR – and any company that processes the data of EU citizens will still be bound by the regulations even after we leave. IS THIS DIFFERENT TO THE DATA PROTECTION ACT? It is and it isn’t! Many areas covered by the GDPR are also included in the DPA, but the transparency requirements are more stringent – and the rights of Data Subjects have been increased. All companies outside the EU who hold data on EU citizens also have to conform to the GDPR.
How does the GDPR affect your business? The enforcement of the GDPR next month will have several implications for virtually all businesses and companies. Janet Lane of Fraser Dawbarns LLP explains what it means to you... f your business processes or handles any form of personal data you’ve probably heard of the GDPR, the upcoming change in data protection regulations. You also may have heard scare stories about potential fines running to £millions, but may not be sure about how the change affects you. The first thing you should know is that the GDPR is already law and has been for almost two years, but its enforcement doesn’t begin until 25th May 2018. You should also be aware that the large fines are real – breaching the GDPR can bring fines up to £17,600,000 – or 4% of your global turnover, whichever is higher.
(Data Subjects) will have to actively and unambiguously agree to have their data collected and shared. Those who hold or process the data (Data Controllers) can no longer assume consent if someone hasn’t requested that their data not be shared – and consent must be as easy to withdraw as to give.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHANGES? Some of the changes under the GDPR are more significant than others, but the biggest changes are that individuals’ rights and transparency requirements have been significantly expanded. You should certainly be aware of the following points, but understand this is not an exhaustive list. The regulation document is eleven chapters long and spread over 88 pages, and is therefore not easily digestible into a short article!
l Privacy policies have to be in plain English, as short as possible, and will need to lay out the subjects’ rights, why the data is being collected, and how long it will be held for.
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l Transparency is important; people handling data must be able to show that consent has been given, and the Data Subjects must also be able to request and receive their data in a “structured, commonly-used and machine-readable format” free of charge.
l Companies and businesses will need to have a reason for collecting and holding data – simply being transparent about the data they hold is not sufficient. l If a data breach occurs, controllers will be required to report this to the
HOW CAN MY BUSINESS ENSURE IT COMPLIES WITH THE GDPR? Companies and individuals processing data must take ‘reasonable steps’ to conform to the GDPR. Breaches of the new rules will be treated more leniently if the Data Controller can show they have tried to implement these regulations. At Fraser Dawbarns LLP we strongly recommend that anyone responsible for processing other people’s data consults a Solicitor or GDPR specialist for help with compliance, leaving sufficient time to achieve this before May 25th. For further help with this issue, please contact us today to see how we can help you and your business and provide you with peace of mind and security. You can contact us on 01553 666600, visit our website or e-mail info @fraserdawbarns.com JANET LANE Associate Solicitor, Civil Litigation
FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com
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DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR PENSION WILL BE WORTH IN RETIREMENT? Ring Associates Ltd is an independent financial planning and wealth management specialist. By providing quality advice utilising the whole of the market, we are able to ensure that our clients remain on track with their retirement and investment objectives.
The value of your pension affects your future retirement so it is important you seek professional advice regularly. Contact us today for a free consultation. RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKPLACE PENSIONS REGULAR SAVINGS
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01553 777600 11-12 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN
Ring Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
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SOLICITORS
Staveley Johnson & Procter Formerly Hawkins of Hunstanton and Beloe & Staveley
We are a local firm of solicitors and our professional lawyers can offer you specialist legal advice and make sure your needs are met. We are experienced in; Conveyancing, family, residential and commercial lease, debt recovery, litigation, wills and probate, and personal injury, contract and professional negligence and dispute matters. We can often offer fixed fees so you know where you stand on costs and an introductory 1/2 hour free of charge. (not available for fixed fee arrangements)
Contact us Staveley, Johnson & Procter Solicitors Waverley House, 37 Greevegate, Hunstanton, PE36 6AB Telephone: 01485 532662 Fax: 01485 534802 DX: 95250 Hunstanton info@sjpsolicitors.co.uk Solicitors acting in the North Norfolk area, including King’s Lynn and Norwich Tel: 01553 772943
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a limited company where directors and shareholders have limited liability, your personal liability is unlimited. Partnerships are similar to a sole trader setup, only they have more than one owner. LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP Usually shortened to LLP, this is a partnership with limited liability for its members. It has the flexibility of a partnership and is taxed as a partnership, but in other respects it is similar to a private limited company. LIMITED BY GUARANTEE A company limited by guarantee is mainly used for nonprofit organisations such as charities, sports associations, students’ unions, membership clubs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Rather than shareholders owning share capital, a limited by guarantee company has members who act as guarantors.
Get your business off to the best start One of the most important decisions every new business has to make is choosing a legal structure. Chris Goad BSc ACA of Stephenson Smart looks at how to choose the structure that’s right for your business... here are many reasons to start a new business; the freedom of being in charge, the chance to be creative and deal with a wide variety of tasks where no day is the same, realising your dream and doing something you’re genuinely interested in – not to mention the financial rewards. However, the decision to set up a new business and be your own boss is a huge step, and as such it requires a lot of thought. Becoming an entrepreneur is a life changing experience and it isn’t for everyone. It requires determination, the ability to plan ahead, resilience and focus, as well as comprehensive research into your business idea, the marketplace and your financial options. All businesses start with great intentions and hope, but in reality more than half of all businesses will not make it beyond a couple of years. Over the next few months, we’ll be guiding you through some of the elements involved, from forming your business to the next steps in setting up and becoming established, providing brief overviews of areas such as finance, marketing and creating a business plan. To start, we’ll take a look at finding the right structure for your business. When starting a new business there are a number of options available to you. The
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type of business structure you choose will depend on the nature of the business you intend to carry out – for instance, will you be operating the business alone or will you be hiring employees? LIMITED COMPANY Under a limited company structure, the business is owned by its shareholders, and your business and personal finances are kept separate (unlike a sole trader structure). A private limited company cannot offer shares for sale on the stock market, whereas a public limited company can. There can be tax advantages to operating as a limited company, depending on the level of profits you expect to make. SOLE TRADER As a sole trader, you’re not legally required to have annual accounts or file accounts for inspection. However, unlike
OUR BRANCHES
When going into business, you’ll need to choose a structure that reflects your financial, tax and administrative needs. If you’re simply providing consultancy services, then a limited company might be unnecessarily complex. However, if you’re looking to raise capital to take your business to the next level, a sole trader structure might not be for you. Unfortunately, businesses are so varied there’s no hard and fast rule for what structure will work, and it’s likely that as your business grows and your aims change, the most appropriate structure to use will change too. There are advantages and disadvantages to each structure and professional advice which is tailored to your needs should be sought from the outset. At Stephenson Smart we can help you assess which structure is right for you and your business and will keep this under review as your business grows. Operating through the right structure will save you substantial sums of money in the long run. Please call us now for a free initial consultation. NEXT MONTH: PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
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Set in stone: a social history of King’s Lynn... At the vanguard of 19th century burial reform, Hardwick Road Cemetery in King’s Lynn was one of the first parochial cemeteries in Great Britain. Dr Julian Litten traces its development
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rom when I was a lad I’ve always liked cemeteries. Probably because they are places where I can be on my own; the peacefulness only emphasising what Wordsworth described as “the self-sufficing power of solitude.” Churchyards, though, are different, for they tend to be much smaller, usually in the centre of the village and commonly used as shortcuts by the locals. My favourite funerary landscape is London’s Kensal Green Cemetery, a private burial ground established in 1832 during the reign of William IV, crammed with mausolea and grandiose
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monuments, two huge chapels, catacombs and avenue after avenue of brick graves containing the illustrious dead of 19th century London. Kensal Green was based on the famous 18th-century cemetery of Père Lachaise in Paris, and was one of England’s first ‘garden’ cemeteries, providing the model for almost every cemetery in England for the next hundred years – including that at Hardwick Road, which began in 1849 as a two-acre remote extension to the churchyard of All Saints’ Church, South Lynn. It catered for the needs of members of the Church of England, non-conformists and those of no
faith – which was quite innovative at the time for an Anglican burial ground. As at Kensal Green, it had its own chapel, serpentine pathways, specimen trees and formal flower beds. However, it didn’t last long. In 1854, central government introduced the Burial Act which empowered local authorities to provide cemeteries to alleviate what was at the time a “burial crisis”, with churchyards, especially those in towns, rapidly running out of space. King’s Lynn Corporation formed its Burial Board in 1855 and selected ten acres immediately adjacent to the All Saint’s Burial Ground. They bought
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back the All Saints’ Burial Ground, added it to their designated acreage, and formed what is now known as Hardwick Road Cemetery. The first task facing the new Burial Board was to landscape the ten-acre meadow and consider the provision of chapels and ancillary buildings. Following a public competition, the successful architects were Aickin & Capes of London, a little-known architectural practice who’d been responsible for the cemetery buildings at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey in the previous year. Not to put too fine a point on it, the design for the King’s Lynn chapels was a duplicate of those built at Kingstonupon-Thames, which begs the question as to whether or not Aicken & Capes were particularly bothered about being awarded the King’s Lynn contract. The plan was to have two chapels at the east end of the cemetery, flanking the main pathway and joined by an elaborate porte-cochère (coach gate) capped by a spire containing a single bell. At the entrance to the ground was a modest lodge, serving as the residence of the Cemetery Superintendent and an office where the burial registers were kept. Opposite the lodge was a bier house and a mortuary capable of housing eight coffins. At a time when coffins of the deceased would usually be kept at home (and King’s Lynn had numerous yards and hovels) this latter building was great boon for the town – which
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ABOVE: Hardwick Road Cemetery is full of unusual and important graves, such as the magnificent 1863 chest-tomb of Catherine Brown (pictured before its recent restoration) which was designed and sculpted by momumental mason William Brown of London Road, King’s Lynn
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had no public mortuary, and at a time when undertakers didn’t have their own chapels of rest. Work on erecting the buildings took place between November 1855 and May 1856 using the local firm of John Stimpson as building contractors. Aikin & Capes were also asked to provide a scheme for the avenues and pathways as well as a list of specimen trees, shrubs and plants which were eventually provided by Sharp of Wisbech. The list of specimen trees, which included both sequoia (Giant Redwood) and tulip trees, ensured that Hardwick Road Cemetery would become an arboretum as well as a burial ground. The casualty of this enterprise was that the chapel erected in 1850 on the All Saints’ Burial Ground portion of the cemetery was demolished, its materials being used for building the new chapels Having been consecrated on 26th May 1856 by the retired Bishop of Madras (the Bishop of Norwich was indisposed by a cold) the cemetery was open for business the following day. It always seems to be the case that a new cemetery takes a little time to get off the ground, but the King’s Lynn
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Burial Board was anxious that Hardwick Road Cemetery should be used as the sole place of burial for the town – as a result of which an application was made to the Privy Council for all churchyards and burial grounds within the boundaries of the town be closed to further burial from August 1856. The Order was granted, and Hardwick Road Cemetery became the sole place of deposit for all of those who died in King’s Lynn between 1856 and 1939, when Gayton Road Cemetery was established and the Hardwick Road Cemetery went into decline. The value of the cemetery to the town is enormous. It offers us a unique glimpse into the life of the town and its people at every level of society during an important point in history. Because we still have the original layout and pathways, even the design of the cemetery is fascinating – you can literally see that the social divide between the rich and the poor existed even in death. Dr Litten FSA is Founder and Chairman of the Friends of Hardwick Road Cemetery. For more details, see www.hardwickroadcemetery.co.uk
KLmagazine April 2018
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KLmagazine April 2018
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BEFORE
AFTER
A bright new start for a home packed with history How T.M. Browne gave a Grade II listed property in Wells a new lease of life or over 30 years, T.M. Browne has built a well-respected reputation across the region based on caring for people and their property – whether that’s a new-build development, a pub renovation or a commercial repair and maintenance contract. The company also undertakes restoration projects, and recently finished work on a beautiful Grade II listed house in Wells-next-the-Sea. Working in conjunction with the designer, T.M. Browne have refurbished, renovated and restored both the interior and exterior of the property while respecting its history and retaining the style of neighbouring buildings. The property now has four bedrooms and five contemporary shower rooms across four floors (including a cellar and attic) and each floor has been carefully stripped back and redecorated to the
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owners’ taste. Working on a building that’s more than 300 years old always presents its challenges, but T.M. Browne have the experience and expertise to overcome them – such as tanking the once dank and inaccessible cellar, installing a plastic membrane to prevent ingress of surface water and damp, and creating an attractive, usable space. While the interior has seen some significant changes (a steel framework allowed for the installation of a new staircase and the attic space has been transformed into an en-suite bedroom) the exterior looks much the same as it always has – thanks to a complete reroofing which retains the distinct patterning and colours of the original tiles. It’s an approach to carefully combine the old and the new that
typifies all T.M. Browne’s restoration work. This is a home for the 21st century, but it’s still packed with historical features such as the handcrafted timber work and the tie irons originally used to tie up horses. T.M. Browne even managed to expose some original carpenters’ marks from the home’s original construction. The finished project is a stunning testament to the high standards T.M. Browne brings to every aspect of every property; first-class craftsmanship, painstaking attention to detail, and a professional approach to timescales and budgets. If you’re thinking of embarking on a restoration project and want to see it come to a successful conclusion, please contact us using the details below or visit the website at www.tmbrowne-ltd.co.uk
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
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Local Arts
ABOVE: Robin Elvin’s masterful portrait of Muhammad Ali and (opposite) one of the last works he completed before his untimely death in 2015 – a painting of the Queen commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei that now hangs in Sandringham House
Celebrating the art of the late Robin Elvin Robin Elvin was a local artist of quite extraordinary talent and international fame, and his reputation has continued to grow since his tragic death in 2015. Clare Bee tells his story...
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ven as a child Robin Elvin was an accomplished artist. By the age of four he’d taught himself to paint in oils, and went on to win several awards including first prize in the Brooke Bond National Art Competition. He gained a place at Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design at the age of 15, but it soon became apparent he was more talented than his lecturers. Born in 1957, Robin grew up in West Norfolk, where he formed a wide circle of friends. Lifelong friend Kym Morgan was at school with him and remembers one lunchtime in 1972 when Robin sketched her a pencil drawing of one of
KLmagazine April 2018
her idols, the footballer George Best. “I always had a thing about George Best and it was unreal how quickly Robin did the drawing,” she says. “He was so talented – you could instantly see who it was.” Robin went on to study at the Norwich School of Art and spent a couple of seasons working as a quick sketch artist at holiday camps, but then moved to London to work as an art illustrator. But he found it wasn’t quite what he was looking for and decided to return to West Norfolk. Never shy of hard work, Robin worked as a labourer and hod carrier to make ends meet. He also discovered a
love of boxing, which led in later life to him producing astounding paintings of many of his boxing heros. Another love of his was music, and as a guitarist played in his own Black Sabbath tribute band Phoney Iommi. Robin’s friend Steve Tansley, whose band he guested with on several occasions, remembers him as a talented guitar player as well as artist. “He taught himself to play and absolutely loved it – he rarely missed one of our gigs,” he says. “Whatever Robin put his hand to, he could do. And he’d do it well.” But Robin’s true passion was painting, and when he was lucky enough to be
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given sponsorship and a studio, he produced a solo exhibition which was held at Bank House in King’s Lynn in September 1980. This quickly proved to be a sell-out and attracted much media attention, which led to another solo exhibition at Fortnum and Mason – he was only 24 at the time. Like many artists, Robin was modest and wasn’t one to blow his own trumpet. Steve remembers when he first met Robin and asked him what he did for a living. When he told him he
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was a painter, Steve immediately thought he was a painter and decorator. “When he took me to his studio, I could see all these pictures leaning against the wall and on the easel, and as soon as I saw them, I could see how talented he was,” he says. “But you had to prise it out of him.” Robin’s exhibitions in the early 1980s were instrumental in his name becoming known in wider circles. He was commissioned to paint a portrait of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on the occasion of their engagement – and it then became known that Diana had previously sat for Robin for a portrait commissioned by Lady Ruth Fermoy, Diana’s grandmother. Robin’s talent was always in incredibly lifelike portrait painting and occasionally animal paintings. His other interests in life – boxing and music – led him to meet some of his heroes, including Muhammad Ali, whom he painted several times. When he painted Ali’s third fight with Joe Frazier (the famous ‘Thrilla in Manila’) Ali signed the original. The painting was exhibited in the USA, drawing attention to Robin’s skill in painting people of African descent, and he was approached by the Louisiana State Musical Heritage Commission to create a series of paintings depicting the legendary blues men. This three-year project resulted in a touring exhibition throughout the United States, leading to much critical acclaim. By now, Robin’s fame was growing,
and he was invited to paint album covers, including Jimi Hendrix’s memorial album cover Blue Haze, and another album cover for young guitar virtuoso Danny Bryant. Robin was then approached by the BBC to take part in a pilot programme for a new art series Painting Stars where three artists were filmed painting well known celebrities. This in turn led to Robin featuring in another BBC series Star Portraits, where he was invited to paint Michael Parkinson. But the pinnacle of Robin’s career was when he was commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei to paint a portrait of the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. This was to be a private gift to the Queen and now hangs in Sandringham House. Only visitors there will have seen it as it has never been on public display. Sadly, it was to be one of his last works. Later that year Robin was diagnosed with cancer, and he died in December 2015. For someone who reached such national and international acclaim, he never forgot where he came from and was never happier than when sharing a glass with friends. All through his life, Robin had quietly raised a lot of money for local charities, generously donating his artwork to help raise awareness. When his funeral took place in the Minster in King‘s Lynn, the cortege drove round the town afterwards, and people came out of the pubs to raise their glasses to him. Robin would have been 61 on April 6th this year, but his memory still lives on. Although his incredible talent has been recognised the world over, and his paintings commissioned by royalty and celebrities alike, to his friends Robin was always just an ordinary guy with a big heart and a truly extraordinary talent.
ROBIN ELVIN 1957-2015 KLmagazine April 2018
Say hello to the new you! Fabulous new premises and amazing new treatments at The Cosmetic Clinic here’s no doubt that how we look and perceive ourselves has a direct effect on our quality of life, but many people are understandably cautious about treatments and anxious about what they entail. However, at The Cosmetic Clinic in King’s Lynn there’s nothing to worry about – and an initial consultation with either Medical Director Dr Sravanthi Pasapula or clinical therapist Shonagh Brown will soon put you completely at ease. The Cosmetic Clinic recently moved from the centre of King’s Lynn to purpose-built premises on the edge of town, which means there’s plenty of on-site parking and a more discreet and private location – allowing clients to feel relaxed and safe in the knowledge that all procedures are completely confidential. The new clinic boasts three different
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treatment rooms (including one completely dedicated to holistic therapy) and a comprehensive range of treatments. Heading the team is Dr Sravanthi Pasapula, who left general practice last year to devote herself full-time to The Cosmetic Clinic. A fully qualified practitioner with a Masters in Aesthetic Medicine and an expert in non-surgical and anti-ageing treatments, she’s also certified to perform minor surgeries. And working alongside Dr Pasapula is Shonagh Brown, whose passion is skin care and laser hair removal. The field of aesthetic medicine is constantly evolving, and The Cosmetic Clinic keeps up-to-date with cuttingedge technology and the very latest developments to ensure clients get the best possible results. New treatments include Ultherapy, a brilliant skin-tightening, micro-focused
ultrasound treatment that reduces skin from ageing or sagging and increases collagen production. A quick, nonsurgical treatment that lifts and sculpts the upper and lower face, neck and décolletage, it works by using energy to target the structural layers of the skin – without disrupting the skin’s surface in the process. The Cosmetic Clinic also provides soft surgery (blepharoplasty to the upper eyelid) which has been described as the greatest non-surgical system in aesthetic medicine, and CO2RE fractional therapy, which uses a matrix of laser light points to resurface the skin. With more than 18 years experience, a genuine focus on customer care, a team of highly qualified practitioners and a reputation that’s second-to-none, there’s never been a better time to visit The Cosmetic Clinic and start becoming the best possible version of yourself.
Unit 8, North Lynn Business Village, Bergen Way, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2JG Tel: 01553 692531 Web: www.ukcosmeticclinic.co.uk E-mail: cliniccosmetic@aol.co.uk
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KLmagazine April 2018
Start your self build project the right way – the 4 Way! Why local builders are choosing air source heating from the 4 Way Group... hs the weather warms up and the days get longer, it’s time for majority of self-build projects start getting off the ground, which means it’s the ideal time to contact the 4 Way Group about air source heating – as the best way of getting the maximum benefits from the technology and our one-stop-shop service is to get it right from the start. Starting with your architectural drawings and plans, the 4 Way Group can design, install and commission a system that makes the most of your layout, maximises performance, meets all current building regulations and legislation, and offers considerable savings on future fuel costs. “It’s easy to understand why air source heating ticks so many boxes for selfbuilders,” says the 4 Way Group’s Steve Simpson. “When choosing a heating system for a building project, SAP ratings, financial implications, high quality products, professional installation
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KLmagazine April 2018
standards and future running costs are all essential considerations – and our high quality air source heating systems more than meet all of those needs.” In fact, air source heat pumps are typically between 30-50% more costeffective to run than traditional heating systems –capable of outputting more than three times as much heat energy as the electricity they take to run. Air source heating fulfills today’s demand for energy efficiencies, and offering a renewable heating alternative that provides an element of future-proofing to a project.
“One of the greatest benefits we can bring to a self-build project is taking a lot of the worry, work and certrification off your shoulders,” says Steve. “We’ll handle every aspect of the air source heating system – so you can concentrate on your build!” With a proven 10-year track record of successful projects for local self-builders all over Norfolk, the right way to take advantage of all the benefits air source heating offers is definitely the 4 Way Group – contact us now for a free initial consultation.
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ABOVE: Roger Law with some of the famous characters from the Spitting Image show he created in 1984 with Peter Fluck
Roger Law’s journey from satire to ceramics... Spitting Image was one of the most popular and controversial television shows during the 1980s, and its Fenland-born co-creator is still producing amazing works of art, as Clare Bee discovers
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or those of a certain age, the satirical puppet show Spitting Image was a weekly treat – lifesize puppet caricatures of politicians, royals and celebrities having words literally put into their mouths. The show ran from 1984 to 1996 and was the springboard for much British comedy talent, regularly drawing in audiences of over 15 million. Caricaturist and co-founder of
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Spitting Image (along with Peter Fluck) Roger Law was born in a small Fenland village, and having lived and travelled all over the world, now lives on the north Norfolk coast. After a rather lacklustre spell at school, Roger earned a place at the Cambridge College of Art in the mid1950s before he turned 15. “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!” he says. Here he met not only his wife
Deirdre, but also many other satirists and cartoonists, including Peter Cook, Paul Hogarth and his future fellow Spitting Image creator Peter Fluck. “It was a very good place to be,” says Roger. “We were taught to do things, and how to make things; we had a thorough training, not just writing essays like they seem to do now.” While at Cambridge, Roger also became art director of Granta magazine with Deirdre, and through his
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KLmagazine April 2018
PICTURES (from top left): Roger Law and Peter Fluck in their Cambridge studio during the heyday of Spitting Image, and a fearsome Margaret Thatcher, one of the pair’s most notorious creations. Above is a self-portrait of the artist at work from one of Roger’s numerous sketchbooks, and he’s pictured below in China drawing out a design on one of his huge ceramic pots
PICTURE: DAVID AU
collaboration with Peter Cook produced illustrations and cartoons for The Observer newspaper. “Although it only lasted six weeks, that really gave me a flying start,” he says. “I also drew cartoons for the Establishment nightclub, and used to go there every week to do my drawings.” Funded by Peter Cook, many people from the 60s started there, including Barry Humphries, the Dudley Moore Trio, comedian Lenny Bruce (who was subsequently banned from the UK for obscenity) and Frankie Howerd. Many movie makers also began their careers there. “In the 1960s in London there was a square mile of really talented people of my generation,” says Roger. “As the magazines opened up again after the war we began to do satirical drawings and covers. People now come and see them and ask, how did you get those published? But we were talking to our own generation, who was recovering still from the war.” Roger then worked for the Sunday Times, travelling extensively in the USA, eventually receiving a scholarship at the University of Oregon and spending seven months there as artist in residence. On returning to the UK (after working for the New York Times and Esquire), he met up again with Peter Fluck in Cambridge and together they began making three-dimensional caricatures and effigies for the New Year Times and German magazines Der Spiegel and Stern. “At the time we were the most successful unknown illustrators!” says Roger. “But then the BBC made a programme on us, and we said if anyone knew how to make these
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PICTURE: DAVID AU
Local Arts
ABOVE: Local children in one of Roger Law’s vast ceramic cauldrons, and (below) the Spitting Image version of Prime Minister John Major
puppets move they should get hold of us – and that was the start of Spitting Image.” At its height there were over 45 people working on Spitting Image, including many well known people who voiced the characters such as Harry Enfield, Ben Elton and Steve Coogan – and the ideas came from everyone working on the show. But after 13 years, 300 hours and franchises all over the world, the show had run its natural course and Roger decided it was time to move far away and do something completely different. “I went to Sydney, where all people cared about was whether the surf was up,” he says. “Best of all, people didn’t keep asking me about puppets!” Roger eventually became artist in residence at the National Art College of Australia. Housed in what was originally Sydney’s first jail, Roger was given a room in Block 24: the ceramics department. Here he went back to basics and started to make ceramics as he had in his early college days. He was soon offered a six-week trip to China where he found young people doing fantastic skilled work and modelling in ceramics. He also discovered that working with porcelain was like working with blancmange – nothing would stick to it, so he had to come up with images and stories to illustrate his work. Having travelled all over Australia and sketching
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wherever he went, he had sketch books crammed with drawings of animals, plants and sea creatures which he began to use to decorate his pots. Working in China, and specifically in China’s famed ‘Porcelain City’ of Jingdezhen, where they’ve been making porcelain for over 2,000 years, Roger was drawn into working with the medium again, and felt at home in the small family-run workshops. He now goes back there every year, where he continues to produce and decorate his large pots – there is
nowhere in England which can actually accommodate such huge works. From a small town in the fens, Roger’s life has taken him to so many places, from Cambridge to London, Oregon, New York, Sydney, and Jingdezhen. Always creating, always producing innovative work, often ahead of his time, and always having something to say. His early work was a reflection and a comment on the times he lived in, but his later work takes on a gentler style, taking him back to what he always enjoyed: drawing. His animal and bird sketches are exquisite and calming, and he still likes to draw caricatures, often of himself. His ceramic pots are huge and beautifully decorated. Today, Roger shows no signs of slowing down and still continues to exhibit his work and give talks whenever he is invited. His sense of fun and mischief has always been evident in whatever he turns his hand, pen or paintbrush to – and he remains modest about his success. “I have to confess,” he says in his inimitable way, “it’s the survival of the mischief that has provided me with an ok living and the unlikeliest of careers for a boy from the Fens.” For more information on Roger and his latest projects, please see the website at rogerlawceramics.com KLmagazine April 2018
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The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
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n August 12th last year, KL magazine photographer Ian Ward took the opportunity of a bright summer day to hop in a friend’s plane and take a tour of the Norfolk coastline, taking some great pictures in the process. Three days later, when he enlarged one of his aerial views of King’s Lynn (see below) Ian noticed something decidedly odd. It seemed as though he’d managed to capture an image of a remarkably large fish making its way up the River Great Ouse towards the Wash. Although Ian is a supremely talented photographer, he’d be the first to admit he’s not much of an ichthyologist, so he duly sent a copy of the photograph to the West Norfolk branch of the RGO (River Great Ouse) Fish Research Group for further analysis. He had to wait three weeks for a response, but it was worth the wait. The group’s lead researcher is a certain Dr. Flora Plosydia, who was born in Great Massingham before enjoying a successful career studing fish populations and invasive species in the Pacific and Indian oceans, and it was she who wrote to Ian. “This is one of the most incredible and important pictures we have ever seen,” she wrote. “The species Rhincodon typus – for that is undoubtedly what you have managed to photograph – is rarely found in waters below 21°C and its range is generally restricted to about 30° latitude. The size of the specimen in the photograph is also remarkable, as to date the largest examples of this fish have been 42ft (confirmed) and 75ft (unverified).” What Ian had caught, albeit only with his camera, was the largest-known extant fish, the gargantuan but perfectly 114
harmless whale shark; a feat confirmed by the Whale Shark And Oceanic Research Center, who analysed the photograph and could find no evidence of tampering or fakery in it. It’s an amazing story, but then you’d expect that sort of thing at the start of April. The good doctor’s name should have certainly appealed to Countdown viewers, if you catch my drift. The trouble is that we no longer have to worry about the veracity of spaghetti harvests, left-handed burgers or holidays to the island of San Serriffe for a single morning of one day of the year. Last August, for example, the devastating 11-day hurricane Irma hit the Americas, and the storm was so powerful it broke all sorts of records. Some of you may remember news reports at the time announcing it was the first category six hurricane in history. Except it wasn’t, because category six hurricanes don't exist. What ended up as a BBC News headline started life with Alex Jones of the website InfoWars, who made up the ‘category six’ detail and shared it with his 750,000 friends on Facebook. It was then shared over two million times before making its way onto television screens and newspapers around the world. Even though it wasn’t real. You might think ‘fake news’ is something that only started appearing when Donald Trump walked through the doors of the White House, but it’s actually been around far longer than that – long before printing, even. Although he died over 3,000 years ago, the name of Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses II is still used to evoke power and strength; from London tower blocks to Las Vegas
casinos, from one of the most famous poems in English literature to modern Hollywood films. Apart from his lengthy reign and his enormous family (he fathered over 100 children) Rameses’ fame rests largely on his military prowess, having conquered most of the Middle East, large parts of Africa, and famously overcoming the odds to achieve a staggering victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Great? Quite probably. Fake? Most definitely. We now know that Rameses simply put his name on existing inscriptions of past kings’ achievements, carving his name so deep it was impossible for later rulers to do the same thing and claim the glory for themselves. And recent discoveries of the treaty signed following the Battle of Kadesh show that far from being the triumph Rameses claimed, it was actually the military equivalent of a 0-0 draw. It’s always been wise to have a pinch of salt to hand when you read the ‘news’ on April 1st, but I think the time has probably come when we need to carry the whole cellar around with us all year. Who’s fooling who?
KLmagazine April 2018
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