KL Magazine August 2018 by KL Magazine

ISSN 2044â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7965

ISSUE 95 AUGUST 2018 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE Mortston Quay by Ian Ward

meet the team MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Dunn CONTENT MANAGER Sarah Woonton MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward PROMOTION Nicola Back ADVERTISING Jessica Smith CONTRIBUTORS Clare Bee Abigail Brown Rebecca Rees Paul Richards Sylvia Steele Maxine Thorne 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.

or the last few weeks we’ve been treated to one of those very rare things – a genuine British summer, and there are few places more suited to making the most of the hot weather and sunny days than Norfolk, which has one of the most beautiful coastlines you’ll find anywhere. In fact, you can find the best beach in the whole of the UK on your doorstep – and that’s official. Earlier this year, the fabulous four-mile strech of golden sand at Holkham was voted Beach of the Year by BBC Countryfile magazine and was also judged the best beach in the UK in a major survey by 101 Holidays. You can read more about this stunning part of Norfolk and what makes it so special on page 14 of this month’s magazine. For a slightly different view of our fabulous coastline, you’ll need to venture out onto the open seas, and the Coastal Exploration Company can help you discover some of the outstanding natural features (and wildlife) you rarely see while on dry land. You can learn more about seeing some of the county’s hidden wonders on page 38. Of course it wouldn’t be summer without a good old-fashioned end-of-the-pier show, and although Hunstanton’s pier may be long gone now, its Princess Theatre is keeping the tradition alive with The Great British Seaside Show – and you’ll find a preview of the starfilled production on page 100. But you don’t always need to head to the coast for some sun-soaked activity, as the centre of King’s Lynn hosts a series of exciting events this month organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (see page 8) – offering you to rub shoulders with mods, rockers, dragons, princesses, and classic cars and famous local folk singers. And if the hot weather holds up, you’ll find this month’s gardening feature (page 46) particularly useful – in helping you create a drought-tolerant garden! Enjoy the rest of the summer – and we’ll see you again next month. KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine August 2018

Contents

AUGUST 2018

54 KLmagazine August 2018

110

6-12 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events

60-66 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques

8-10 ENJOY A FUN FILLED AUGUST It’s a packed calendar with the Borough Council

68-70 A TASTE OF LOCAL HISTORY... Inside the Riverside Restaurant and Crofters

14-16 THE BEST BEACH IN THE UK... Holkham’s fame reaches a national stage

72-81 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations

20-22 CASTLES, QUEENS & CONTROVERSY Castle Rising’s place in English history

78 RESTAURANT REVIEW KL magazine reviews The Old Bank in Snettisham

26-28 A NEW LOOK AT PECKOVER HOUSE A big anniversary and a new art installation

82-84 THREE WOMEN, ONE BEER... Brewing up a treat with the Nip & Growler

32-34 FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH... Paul Richards on an inspiring local story

86-88 THE LIFE OF ELIZABETH FRY Behind the face of the old £5 note

38-40 CALLING ALL EXPLORERS Enjoy a diﬀerent view of the local coast

94-96 SECRETS OF THE PASTON TREASURE The story behind a very mysterious painting

43 YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Centre

100-102 THE GREAT BRITISH SEASIDE SHOW On stage at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton

46-48 AUGUST IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner

106-108 TOYS FOR THE WORLD... The runaway success of Learning Resources

50 THEN AND NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

110-112 THE ART OF JAMIE MAXWELL A new direction for the local photographer

54-56 BRIGHT YOUNG THING... The stylish designs of Mimi Emmett

114 MICHAEL MIDDLETON On 60 years of parking tickets...

August

Saturday 18th - Sunday 26th

ACTIVE FAKENHAM Fakenham Town Centre Fakenham is getting active this month and everyone’s welcome to join in for 9 days of fun, sport, music, arts and well-being! Exhilarating. Motivating. Energising. Revitalising. These are the opportunities that Active Fakenham aims to help make available to Fakenham people who live in, work at and visit our lovely North Norfolk market town and the surrounding villages. Active Fakenham week will begin with a launch in the market place with music stalls, smoothie bikes, activities and more, and end with the fantastic Ride North Norfolk, cycle rides ranging from 15 to 100 miles. Everyone is welcome to join in exploring the countryside by pedal power and then in the walled garden for food, fun and music. Why not get a small group together and raise money for a charity or your club? For more information and dates for speciﬁc events visit the website www.activefakenham.org.uk or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ActiveFakenham.

Fri 24th, Sat 25th & Sun 26th

SOUTH PICKENHAM ESTATE - VINEYARD TOUR & WINE TASTING EVENTS South Pickenham Estate, Home Farm, South Pickenham Swaﬀham PE37 8DZ (2-4pm) Looking for a trip to an impressive local vineyard? The South Pickenham Estate is hosting three delightful vineyard tours and wine tasting events this summer. Each event will consist of a 10 minute tractor trailer ride to the vineyard, followed by a hosted tour of the vineyard. You’ll then hop back on the trailer to the wine tasting event held at Home Farm. Tickets are £10 per person and you’ll be able to purchase some of the estate’s wine on the day. The group will meet at the Home Farm car park and the wine tasting will be held in the converted barn. For more information and to reserve a place call 01760 756376.

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August

FENLAND COUNTRY FAIR Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy CB25 0AF (8:30am-5:30pm) Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, Fenland Country Fair at Stow cum Quy is a celebration of life in the British countryside. The fair has been going for 36 years now and attracts Saturday 18th August around 20,000 visitors. There’s a wide selection of well-respected national traders of country clothing, equipment and crafts, alongside PRIDE IN THE PARK a delicious variety of locally-grown produce, a beer tent and plenty Tuesday Market Place & The Walks , King’s Lynn (Starts 1pm) King's Lynn and West Norfolk's ﬁrst ever PRIDE event, but certainly not of activities for all the family to join in. With everything from ring events, dog competitions, vintage cars and tractors, heavy horses, the last! Let's make it the start of something beautiful! The Parade falconry displays, archery, clay pigeon shooting, terrier and ferret departs at 1pm from the Tuesday Market Place. Live entertainment, guest talks, stalls and more will be in the Walks by the bandstand from racing, poultry and bee keeping, cookery demonstrations, rural crafts and quality trader stands. Tickets are £12.50 for adults and children 1:30pm. The new group and organisers hope the parade will under 13 go free. For further information visit the website encourage members of the community to come together, celebrate www.fenlandfairs.com. diversity, and make history for the town! KLmagazine August 2018

FENLAND COUNTRY FAIR STOW-CUM-QUY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Traditional Country Fair Established 1981 - www.fenlandfairs.com

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August

Parade of Hounds

BASC Cookery

Ring Displays

BASC Dog Events Lurcher Show & Terrier Show Sunday & Monday

(qualifier for Countryman’s Weekly on Sunday)

• Ferret Show • Rural Craft Marquee • Children’s Rides • Full Catering & Bars

British Driving Scurry

Fun Fair

Clay Shooting

Heavy Horse Show - Monday RING DISPLAYS: Falconry - Gun Dog Demonstrations Bee Keeping - Bygones and much more For further information and event listings: www.fenlandfairs.com

GATES OPEN 8:30am to 5:30pm Admission Adults £12.50 | Children under 13 FREE Address: Quy Hall, Stow-Cum-Quy CB25 0AF

KLmagazine August 2018

August & coming soon...

Saturday 8th September

September & October

ABBA FOREVER The Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn (7:30pm) With the Mamma Mia film sequel on this summer and with 2 new songs confirmed to be released later this by year by the band, Abba are right back in the spotlight! Celebrate the music of Abba with ABBA FOREVER – one of the UK’s leading international tribute shows and their superb recreation of possibly the world’s greatest pop band. The unique Abba sound is replicated with incredible attention to detail, using a six-piece band featuring electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and piano, drums and bass guitar. Dynamic non-stop choreography, stunning visuals, top class musicians and an ALL LIVE performance ensures that the ABBA Forever Show captivates audiences from the opening refrain to the final sing-along chorus of this two-hour spectacular. For ticket prices and to book visit the website www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk or call the box office on 01553 764864.

1st - 2nd September NORTH NORFOLK FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL Holkham Hall, NR23 1AB (10am-4pm) One of the region’s premier local produce events set in the grounds of Holkham Hall. There will be a great range of produce on sale such as ales, fresh meat and poultry, local seafood, vegetables, local honey, fruit, ice cream, cheese, fresh juices, cakes, puddings and tarts and much more. To exhibit and sell, all products must be grown, reared, caught, produced or sold in North Norfolk. Entry for the general public is free but a car parking charge applies. For more information visit the website www.northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk. KLmagazine August 2018

KING’S ELY OPEN EVENTS King’s Ely, Barton Road, Ely CB7 4DB Nestled in the heart of the beautiful cathedral city of Ely, King’s Ely is an inspiringly innovative and visionary independent school, built on a history stretching back over 1,000 years. The school serves the academic and pastoral needs of around 1,000 boys and girls aged 1 to 18, with boarders from 7 years old. The adventure of a King’s Ely education encourages pupils of all ages, from the babies and toddlers in King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery to the young men and women in King’s Ely Sixth Form, to take risks in their learning. King’s Ely empowers them to challenge themselves and push beyond the boundaries of their own expectations to achieve more than they ever believed possible. Autumn Open Events for King’s Ely Acremont and Nursery, King’s Ely Junior, King’s Ely Senior and King’s Ely Sixth Form are being held in September and October. To book your place or for more information, please call Admissions on (01353) 660707 or visit www.kingsely.org.

Sat 8th - Fri 14th Sept SUMMER SKETCHES - JOHN HURST WATERCOLOUR EXHIBITION St Nicholas Church Room, Blakeney Quay (10am-5pm daily) John’s new collection of watercolours include maritime studies, for which he is well known for and a series of delicate sketches featuring the lokes, lanes and often unseen Norfolk features, so often easily overlooked. John will be on site every day to speak about each painting, before personally signing and dedicating them for patrons. Entry to the exhibition is free and dog walkers are welcome too. For further details please view www.marshlandarts.co.uk

15th September THE KING'S LYNN STEAMPUNK SOCIETY BAZAAR CONVIVIAL The Dukes Head Hotel, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn (11am-4pm) The King's Lynn Steampunk Society are delighted to invite you to their ﬁrst daytime festival, ﬁlled with amazing alternative stalls, Steampunk wares, curios, wonders, trinkets, gadgets and delights aplenty! The festival is open to the public from 11am to 4pm and is free to enter. In the evening you can meet again to set sail on a wondrous musical journey with the Captain of the Lost Waves who will entertain with his enchanting vaudeville performance! For more details and tickets for the evening event search for KLSS Bazaar Convivial on Facebook.

What’s On

King’s Lynn looks forward to a fun-filled August... From classic cars to dragons and from folk singers to rockers, King’s Lynn is packed with activity this month – thanks to a series of events supported by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk

t’s been a superb summer so far. Fantastic weather, a national football team we can be proud of, a royal wedding, and two excellent festivals on our doorstep – the world-renowned King’s Lynn Festival and Festival Too, which is one of Europe’s biggest non-ticketed free music festivals. But don’t worry, the fun doesn’t stop there. King’s Lynn has a full programme of events to ﬁll every weekend of the summer holidays – and beyond.

The events, all funded or supported by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, aim to encourage people to come into the town centre to enjoy everything King’s Lynn has to oﬀer and support local businesses – and with such a varied programme, there really is something for everyone. MODS AND ROCKERS 5th August (10am-3pm) King’s Lynn, Tuesday Market Place This popular free event is organised by

the Vancouver Quarter on behalf of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk and is back for the fourth year. The Tuesday Market Place will be ﬁlled with Vespas, Lambrettas, HarleyDavidsons and Triumphs, as well as a whole host of other makes and models. Mods and Rockers celebrates everything on two wheels (old and new) and gives people the opportunity to relive the excitement of the 1960s with clothes, music and bikes. This year’s musical entertainment will be

KLmagazine August 2018

What’s On

provided by the Happy Jaxs, Blues Tubes, Run Devil Run and DJ Sue Simper – there’ll be prizes for the best bikes and costumes, but even if you have misplaced your parka or forgotten to oil your leathers you’re sure to get into the swing of things. You can follow the event at facebook.com/Mods-and-Rockers FOLK IN THE TOWN 11th-12th August (12noon-6pm Saturday and 11.45am6pm Sunday) King’s Lynn, Tuesday Market Place It was a huge success last year, and this year’s event features returning performers Mike Prior, the Boxwood Chessmen, Vic Allen, Blakeney Old Wild Rovers and the Fried Pirates – joined by a host of talented newcomers to the party. It’s a brilliant line-up for two days of foot-tapping music ranging from traditional folk and Americana to folk rock, punk and everything in between. The Fried Pirates came together as a trio in July 2012, and since then the band has developed into a six-piece collective from which lots of permutations are possible. They vary their very extensive set list of over 90 traditional, modern and original songs and tunes to suit their audience – and having sold out their EP A Rum Do! their debut album Sailors, Strumpets and Scallywags was released in April this year. Vic Allen (pictured, below) began songwriting after a trip to America,

KLmagazine August 2018

What’s On

where she was inspired by the rich country music scene. Last year she recorded her second EP, the four-track Between The Lines, and she’s been described as “one of the most intriguing and interesting acts around at the moment.” Don’t miss LongShoreDrift – they’re from the heart of rural Norfolk and present a mix of instrumentals and original songs, many of which acknowledge traditional song forms and encompass a variety of musical styles, blending the ‘tradition’ with modern themes in a thoughtful, respectful and good-humoured way. Meanwhile, The Rum Dogs are a Norwich-based trio that plays music for “drinking, dancing, talking, laughing and thinking.” It’s a pretty tall order, but with decades of combined experience, a big repertoire across a range of genres, and a world of life experience between them, Mike, Paul and Pablo manage to pull it oﬀ – amusing, entertaining and challenging audiences wherever they play. And in the year that marks the centenary of (some) women getting the vote, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Norfolk Broads – a four-piece female ensemble that enjoys singing low-pitched folk songs about love, despair, and dastardly boyfriends. The quartet put a contemporary verve on traditional stories, and use old songs to fuel new takes on the lives of women both past and present – what’s not to celebrate? For the latest, please visit westnorfolk.gov.uk/folkinthetown

FAIRYTALES AND LEGENDS 26th August (10am-4pm) King’s Lynn Town Centre This month, King’s Lynn will once again be turned into a fairytale wonderland filled with heros and princesses as the Tuesday Market Place, Vancouver Quarter and Shakespeare Barn host a feast of magical activities for all the family. If you’re lost, speak to the mysterious Levitating Wizard, who’ll point you in the right direction, and keep an eye out for Saint George and his orphaned dragon – they’ll be roaming the streets looking for one brave soul to step up and meet him face-to-green snuffly snout. But beware – there’s a lot of truth in the saying there’s no smoke without fire.

The award-winning Hartbeeps will be running four sessions throughout the day, and these are bookable through the website below. The sessions are magical musical adventures for babies and toddlers with a host of workshops, glitter, and everything that makes Fairytales and Legends such a great event for young families. Please note that some activities are pre-bookable and/or chargeable. See www.fairytalesandlegends.co.uk for more information and details or to book sessions where applicable. MINI MEET IN THE MARKET PLACE 2nd September (10am-3pm) Tuesday Market Place The newest event on the council’s events calendar is the Mini Meet on the Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn – which sees a celebration of the iconic car held with such fondness in so many people’s hearts. The Mini holds a special place in British pop culture; from starring in The Italian Job in the swinging 60s to its reinvention as a modern-day classic. All makes, models and ages are welcome – and the cars will be complemented by live music, entertainment and trade stall that will help make this a great family day out for all Mini owners and enthusiasts. There’ll also be prizes for the Judges’ Choice and the People’s Favourite. The event builds on the success of the council’s classic car show, which forms part of Heritage Open Day, and anyone wishing to show oﬀ their Mini should register online at www.westnorfolk.gov.uk/minimeet

For further details of this and all other events in King’s Lynn, please visit www.visit west-norfolk.gov.uk/events

KLmagazine August 2018

August What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated

Thurs The Great British Seaside Special

2nd, 9th, •2.30pm & 7.30pm 16th & Our very own Summer Season Show is back! Come and 23rd enjoy a fun packed variety show for the whole family!

The George Michael Legacy Sat Faith: A stunning tribute show that features Wayne Dilks as Michael together with an 8 piece backing band, 4th George based upon The George Michael 25 Live Tour.

Marty Wilde

Sun 5th

Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. A chance to see live on stage, one of the only performing Rock'n'Roll pioneers in the world today.

Davidson Live Sat Jim The people’s favourite and one of Britain’s greatest ever JIM DAVIDSON OBE telling it ‘like it is’. 11th Ascomedians, outrageous and as truthful as ever!

Indians Sun The Popular since the 70’s with a huge following and many albums to their credit, The Indians will put a smile on 12th your face with their unique brand of country music.

The most original musical baby, toddler & pre-school classes on the planet!

Award winning multi- sensory classes, parties & more. With 100's of original songs, remixed nursery rhymes, musical stories, BIG fun characters & colourful themes.

Sat 18th Fri 24th Sat 25th Sun 26th

The Searchers

The Searchers remarkable career continues. Combined with anecdotes and reminiscences and all their famous hits such Sweets For My Sweet and Sugar & Spice!

Let The Music Play

(A Celebration to Barry White)

A fantastic tribute to Barry White, William Hicks is known as "A big man with a big voice”

Barron Knights:

The Last and Final Joust

Back by popular demand and probably the most entertaining group to come out of the 60’s and 70’s!

Joe Pasquale :

A Few Of His Favourite Things

His 30th anniversary tour is a celebration of his best cack, plus some surprises on the way!

For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:

Contact Brandi at Hartbeeps Norfolk: brandi@hartbeeps.com 07703 006 048

Facebook “Hartbeeps Norfolk” www.hartbeeps.com

KLmagazine August 2018

www.princesshunstanton.co.uk or call the Box Office: 01485 532252

The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH 11

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: Members of the Queen’s Household Cavalry Regiment during their annual training exercises on the best beach in the country

Holkham – it’s officially the best beach in the UK It was featured in an Oscar-winning film and been a favourite training spot for the Household Cavalry for over 23 years. Now, the beautiful beach at Holkham has reached even greater heights...

ined with sand dunes and pine forest, and featuring a huge panorama of open sea below enormous skies, the four-mile stretch of Holkham Beach is one of Norfolk’s true natural treasures. But its reputation has grown signiﬁcantly this year. At the start of 2018, the annual BBC Countryfile magazine awards named Holkham ‘Beach of the Year’ following a vote of thousands of its readers from around the country. In total, some 180,000 votes were cast (the biggest response in the

KLmagazine August 2018

awards’ history) and Holkham was declared a “clear winner” – easily outstripping the running-up beach of Godrevy in Cornwall. “There’s something wonderfully exotic about this great strand of sand backed by pine trees, sand dunes and marshes,” said Judge Fergus Collins. “Holkham is a place for a serene beach holiday and intimate encounters with an incredibly wide variety of wildlife.” But the accolade wasn’t simply a one-oﬀ. Just a few weeks later, a major survey of experienced travel writers by 101 Holidays (including Simon Calder of

The Independent and celebrity travel editor Ben Fogle) resulted in Holkham beach being voted the best in the UK. The breathtaking beauty of the beach hasn’t been overlooked by the film industry – the iconic final scenes of Shakespeare in Love with Gwyneth Paltrow were filmed there – and it’s the perfect spot for dog-walkers. On sinking your feet into the whitegold sand and looking out to the clear blue sea, it’s difficult to think of a more perfect beach than Holkham – which may help explain why the Queen’s Household Cavalry Regiment chooses

Local Life

ABOVE: The four-mile stretch of Holkham beach is now oﬃcially the best in the UK. Its reputation spread around the world thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow’s visit (left) for the ﬁnal scenes of John Madden’s Shakespeare in Love, which won seven Oscars

to visit while on their annual two-week ‘holiday’ to Norfolk for rural training. Comprising the two most senior regiments in the British Army (the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals), the Household Cavalry acts as the Queen’s oﬃcial bodyguard. In the last few years, they've played a big part in the Queen’s birthday celebrations, the state visits of US President Barack Obama and the Sultan of Brunei, and played a major role in royal weddings. Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May, 24 of the soldiers rode on horseback to escort the bride and groom as part of the carriage procession through the town. “Although it was a very special and exceptional event, it was just a normal day for the Household Cavalry,” says Corporal Major Daniel Snoxell. “These are the sorts of things we do all the time!” And it may come as a surprise to learn that the Household Cavalry’s duties aren’t entirely ceremonial. “Many people don’t realise that ﬁrst and foremost we’re operational soldiers,” says Captain Roly Spiller, adjutant of the HCMR. “In addition to attending royal weddings, some of our more experienced soldiers have been serving in Afghanistan this year. That may be one of the reasons we love the unspoilt beauty and peace of Holkham – in fact, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment has been 16

coming to Norfolk for more than 23 years now.” For 11 months of the year the regiment is based in London with a full calendar and mounting pressures, but their annual training in Norfolk allows them a bit of relief from their busy schedules. However, Holkham beach isn’t just a treat for the soldiers and their horses – it also beneﬁts their training. “The uneven surfaces are a good test of the horses’ balance,” says Captain Spiller, “and as the sea is somewhat unknown territory for many of them, coming to Holkham helps them gain

the trust of the rider.” It’s not just the coast that brings the regiment to Norfolk. More than 130 horses and 250 cavalrymen are temporarily moved to Bodney Camp in Thetford for two weeks every year to undergo a series of equestrian training exercises. The training camp provides members of the regiment with the opportunity to practice riding bareback – a skill that gives the rider far more control of their mount. But it’s the ride along the sea’s edge at Holkham that’s the highlight of the summer training camp – and oﬀers a rare opportunity to see the Army’s most senior regiment riders without their elaborate ceremonial uniforms. Famous ﬁlm location, natural wonder and multi award-winning, the beach at Holkham never fails to amaze visitors and its reputation continues to spread far and wide. In fact, The Daily Telegraph newspaper perfectly summed it up recently: “A seemingly infinite stretch of golden sands running down to the blue-green waters of the North Sea, backed by huge horizons... At Holkham the sensation of space is totally liberating. You feel as if you could walk forever...” For more information on Holkham and its award-winning beach, please visit www.holkham.co.uk. If you’d like to learn more about the Household Cavalry and upcoming events, see www.householddivision.org.uk KLmagazine August 2018

The 4 Way Group is now bigger and better than ever A new home for the local specialists in energy-efﬁciencies and sustainable technology for the domestic and commercial world... hen Steve Simpson and Neil Jordan launched 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd in 2004, they had little idea how quickly or successfully their installation and servicing business would grow into one of the most experienced, reputable and professional companies in the entire region. “We’d only been open for three months and suddenly found ourselves working on a major contract from around seventy Co-operative stores across East Anglia!” Steve remembers. “It was a great start to the business, and to be honest we’ve really never stood still since!” And that’s literally true, as the 4 Way Group has just moved into a specially designed service and installation centre in King’s Lynn that’s a high-tech showcase of the company’s varied areas of expertise. “The premises were totally empty at ﬁrst, so it gave us the perfect opportunity to create a bespoke environment that demonstrates the skills and technology we can bring to domestic and commercial

projects,” says Steve. “Naturally, we’ve designed and installed the air conditioning and heating systems, and we’ve also installed automated energy-eﬃcient lighting throughout that adapts to ambient light conditions – in fact, there’s only one light switch in the whole centre!” The new premises are full of clever aesthetic touches as well. Strategically placed vision panels add depth to the

space and draw in plenty of natural light, while a mezzanine ﬂoor increases the amount of warehousing space. It’s the new home for the 24 members of staﬀ (from apprentices to time-served engineers with over 20 years’ experience) and it’s the base of all four wings of the 4 Way Group – 4 Way Refrigeration, 4 Way Electrical, 4 Way Energy and 4 Way Mechanical.

KLmagazine August 2018

Although air conditioning has remained a central part of the business, 4 Way Refrigeration also offers a wide range of high quality heating solutions, including air source heat pumps – which absorb heat from the outside air and then use it to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems and hot water. In fact, 4 Way Refrigeration is one of the most experienced companies in the region when it comes to air source heating. Meanwhile, 4 Way Electrical (which started when Stuart Olley joined Steve and Neil in 2012) supplys, installs and maintains electrical systems to industrial, commercial and domestic customers. It’s not all about energy-reduction and emergency lighting systems, however; 4 Way Electrical also designs and installs fire detection systems, intruder alarms, data cabling (that carry a huge 25-year guarantee) and CCTV – and even offers specialist services such as infra-red electrical inspections and power quality analysis. The group is completed by 4 Way Mechanical, which brings a touch of extra quality to a project with professional plumbing, water, waste and power services – and 4 Way Energy, which concentrates on green technologies, PV panels and energy-efficient solutions. Recognised throughout the industry with a wide range of professional accreditations, the 4 Way Group has worked on everything from multi-property developments to single self-build projects and major commercial projects. Only last year, the 4 Way Group completed a major refurbishment of Knowles Transport’s new 500,000ft2 logistics centre in Wisbech involving heating, lighting, ventilation and plumbing. They even designed and installed a stateof-the-art cabling system for the centre’s current and future telecommunication and data needs. “That’s a great example of the total ‘one-stop-shop’ service we can bring to a project,” says Steve. “We take the worries of project managing away from you, we do all the designs and costings, we carry out the installation, and we’ll always offer

KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: Planning another energy-eﬃcient project from their new service and installation centre in King’s Lynn are 4 Way Group directors (from left to right) Neil Jordan, Stuart Olley and Steve Simpson

you all the help and advice you need to make the most of the latest technology.” And along with an increased emphasis (and new legislation) on energyeﬃciencies, technology is one of the greatest changes Steve’s seen since the early days of 4 Way Refrigeration. “There have been some amazing changes over the last 15 years and it’s transformed every industry we work in,” he says. “For example, it’s now possible to use a mobile phone to monitor and

operate a single fridge unit or CCTV camera from anywhere in the country – or even abroad. When we started you’d never have thought such things were possible.” Through working with such household names as Co-op, Budgens and Foster Coldstores the 4 Way Group has built a nationwide reputation for high standards and cost-eﬀective solutions, but it’s never lost sight of the fact that it’s still very much a local company. “From the beginning we wanted to provide a dedicated local service that was tailored to the speciﬁc needs of the area,” says Steve. “Our success has always been built on local customer care and that’s one of the reasons we’ve still got customers who’ve been with us from day one. And it doesn’t matter how big we get – we’ll never lose touch with our local base.” And as for the future, it looks bright. “We’ve future-proofed the new centre and installed datapoints for growth as we continue expanding into other areas,” says Steve. “And we’re always looking to increase the team with high quality engineers – especially electricians.” In fact, for the 4 Way Group it seems there’s really only one way forward – and that’s onwards and upwards.

REFRIGERATION ELECTRICAL ENERGY MECHANICAL 1 Bergen Way Business Park, North Lynn Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 2DD t 01553 767878 | w www.4waygroup.co.uk | e sales@4waygroup.co.uk Recognised and accredited throughout the industry:

History

ABOVE: Castle Rising Castle is almost 900 old, and is remarkably owned by a descendandant of its builder William d’Aubigny. Possibly its most famous resident, Queen Isabella of France is still the subject of historical debate and diﬀering opinions

Castle Rising’s part in the history of England... It’s one of the finest Norman keeps in England, but Rebecca Rees of King’s Lynn Town Guides explains that thanks to Queen Isabella of France, there’s a lot more to Castle Rising than architecture

otable for her beauty, diplomacy and intelligence, Isabella was the daughter of the King of France and became Queen Consort of England – before making her home in King’s Lynn and becoming an integral part of the history of Castle Rising. Probably born between May and November 1295 as the only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and his wife Jeanne, Queen of Navarre, Isabella

was only seven years old when she was betrothed to a 19-year-old Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward’s father, Edward I died in 1307, and the following year Isabella married the young King Edward II in Boulogne Cathedral. At 24, he may have been a young king – but his new Queen was only 12 years old when they married. Isabella and Edward II went on to have four children together – Edward (1312), John (1316), Eleanor (1318) and Joan

(1321). Initially the marriage appeared to be a success, and Edward referred to his wife as ‘Isabeau the Fair.’ The chronicler Geoﬀrey of Paris recorded an incident during a visit to France, when the tent they were staying in caught ﬁre. Isabella, it is recorded, was badly burned, but Edward saved her life by carrying her to safety. However, Isabella became increasingly humiliated as her husband preferred many of his male favourites over his wife. KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: The stunning façade of King’s Lynn Minster, which contains a carving of Queen Isabella’s grandson the Black Prince on a misericord and a scene on Robert Braunch’s memorial brass depicting a peacock feast being held in honour of a visit to the town by her son, King Edward III. Above right is a rather fanciful portrait of Isabella dating from the turn of the 20th century.

First there was Piers Gaveston, who was unlawfully executed by the King’s rivals in 1312, then Hugh le Despenser the Younger, who used his inﬂuence to gain wealth and power. Of Despenser, Isabella was reported to say that “someone has come between my husband and myself, trying to break this bond.” As tensions between England and France increased, the Queen’s estates were seized and given to the King, the French servants she’d brought with her on her marriage were dismissed, and her income drastically reduced. Finally, her three youngest children were removed from her custody. In 1325 Isabella travelled to France

KLmagazine August 2018

under the guise of a diplomatic mission to her brother Charles IV’s court in France. She was later followed by her eldest son, Edward (who was to pay homage to his uncle on Edward II’s behalf) and by Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March – who’d ﬂed to France after escaping from the Tower of London. Once she had control of her son, Isabella began plotting with Roger Mortimer to overthrow Edward II – and while in France, Isabella and Mortimer became lovers. In 1326 Isabella, Roger Mortimer, the young Prince Edward and a small army of mercenaries returned to England where they were welcomed by

conspirators against the King. Finally, Edward II was captured and forced to abdicate in favour of his son – and later died at Berkeley Castle in mysterious circumstances. From 1327 Isabella, along with Roger Mortimer, ruled as Regent on behalf of Edward III before he seized control of the Crown in 1330. Mortimer was accused of assuming royal power and other crimes, and was duly executed by hanging at Tyburn. Isabella escaped any punishment, but she was held under house arrest at Windsor Castle until 1332. She was then moved to Castle Rising Castle just outside King’s Lynn. The castle had been sold to the Crown for 10,000 marks by Robert de Montalt in 1327 under the Regency of Queen Isabella. He and his wife Emma continued living at the castle until their deaths in 1329 and 1331 respectively, when Isabella paid £400 for their rights to the castle. Castle Rising Castle came with a quarter of the tollbooth of Lynn. It was also situated in the Rising Chase, an area with a reported circumference of 24 miles which was used for hunting with dogs, falcons and hawks. As the Queen Mother, Isabella had a generous income of £5,000 per year and entertained Edward III and Queen Philippa together with their son Edward the Black Prince two or three times a year. Records show the King and Queen visiting every year from 1342-44 and in 1349. On one occasion, the Mayor of the then Bishop’s Lynn was commanded by Isabella to send eight carpenters to the castle in order to prepare it for a visit by

History

A step-by-step way to explore the heritage of King’s Lynn... After the hectic Festival activity of July, the Town Guides’ August itinerary returns to the regular pattern of ‘Historic Lynn’ – taking place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2pm from the Saturday Market Place. The exceptions to this throughout August are as follows:

the King. Edward sent his mother gifts, as did the burghers of Lynn – barrels of ﬁsh, meat, wine, bread and candle wax. The Lynn Chamberlain’s accounts contain many references to Isabella’s presence, including in 1331 “2 shillings for the carts to carry the Queen’s luggage… also… 20s given for bread sent to Isabella the Queen Dowager when she came from Walsingham… also for £4-3s-4d given for a cask of wine sent to her.” It’s a common misconception that Isabella was a prisoner at Castle Rising Castle. She actually travelled freely and regularly with her retinue and household between a number of properties, including the castles of Mold, Hawarden, Mere and Hertford. Isabella also went on a number of pilgrimages to Walsingham and visited her other properties. It was on one such journey (accompanied by her daughter Joan) that Queen Isabella died at Hertford Castle on 22nd August 1358. Exchequer accounts show that when she died, the gold in a chest in her closet amounted to £311-10s. Isabella was buried in the Church of the Greyfriars on Newgate Street in London on 27th November 1358. She’d requested that she be buried wearing her wedding clothes, and her son, Edward III, ordered the streets of the city to be cleaned before the funeral procession. Her burial place is now lost, as the church was destroyed ﬁrst by the Great Fire of London and then by bombs in the Second World War. As for Castle Rising Castle, it was left to her grandson, the Black Prince who in turn left it to his son, the later Richard II. Queen Isabella is now famously remembered as the ‘She-Wolf of France.’ This is, however, a misconception, as the phase – written by William Shakespeare – actually referred to

Margaret of Anjou. It wasn’t until much later, in the 18th century, while Britain was at war with France, that the term was applied to Isabella by the poet Thomas Gray. Another myth, thanks to the ﬁlm Braveheart, is that she had an aﬀair with William Wallace. However, when he was executed in 1305 Isabella was only nine years old – and hadn’t even set foot on English soil!

THE DARKER SIDE OF LYNN Edith Reeves Friday, August 3rd (2pm) This isn’t a ghost walk, but from St Nicholas’ Chapel to the Minster Church of St Margaret you’ll explores the darker side of Lynn, visiting sites reﬂecting the grimmer aspects of Lynn’s history – including the ducking stool and the pillory. As you move from the 14th to 19th centuries, you’ll hear tales of murder, treason, hangings and witchcraft. This is our most popular walk and is often over-subscribed, so please book to secure a place. HISTORIC WALK Saturday, August 4th (11am) Our regular Historic Walk commences in the morning, giving you time to return to your favourite venues later in the day – or linger over a lazy lunch or afternoon tea in the historic old town. KING’S LYNN MARITIME TRAIL Chris Shipp Tuesday, August 14th (2pm) King’s Lynn has a rich maritime heritage, some of which is exhibited in True’s Yard Fisherfolk Musuem, the Custom House, Lynn Museum and Marriott’s Warehouse – but this walk provides an opportunity for you to follow a route through the town and see many of the buildings and locations associated with this unique heritage. CUSTOM HOUSE TO ST NICHOLAS ‘ CHAPEL Pat Fysh Tuesday, August 21st (2pm) This walk explores the ‘new’ town of Bishop Turbus (the second medieval town), which was started in 1180 but much altered and the buildings refaced over the years. There is so much to see on our regular ‘Historic Walk’ that the King’s Lynn Town Guides often don’t have time to do Lynn’s second town justice. For further information, to book tickets or arrange a private tour please contact the Tourist Information Centre at the Custom House on 01553 763044.

Where to discover Queen Isabella in King’s Lynn today... CASTLE RISING CASTLE: where Queen Isabella lived for 28 years KING’S LYNN MINSTER: a carving of Isabella’s grandson the Black Prince can be found on a misericord. Also, don’t miss Robert Braunch’s memorial brass, which depicts a lavish peacock feast being held in honour of a visit to Lynn by her son, King Edward III KING’S LYNN TOWN HALL: the town’s Borough Archive contains references to Isabella’s requests to the town and the gifts which were sent to her

KLmagazine August 2018

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KLmagazine August 2018

How the Lifetime Allowance can impact your retirement How Chartered Financial Planner Katie Trendell can help you make the most of your money and secure your financial future... or most people, the ultimate goal of retirement is to live with sufficient income to provide a comfortable life after a lifetime of work – and with good planning, it’s a goal that can be successfully achieved. You’ve accumulated sufficient pension savings over your working life and are now considering your retirement plans. You have a Final Salary pension which will provide you with a guaranteed income for the rest of your life, and provide you with financial security. Based on the retirement statement, this pension will give you an annual income of £30,000 – and in addition to this, you also have a Personal Pension where you’ve saved

£500,000 over your working life. After working hard to accumulate these funds, should you be concerned about the Lifetime Allowance? The answer to this question is yes. There is no limit on the value of pension savings that you can accumulate. However, if the beneﬁts exceed the Lifetime Allowance when they are taken, the amount in excess of the Lifetime Allowance (£1,030,000 in the current 2018/19 tax year) will be subject to a tax charge of up to 55%. How are your pension beneﬁts valued for the purpose of the Lifetime Allowance? The Final Salary pension is valued at 20 times the annual income, which is £600,000 (£30,000 x 20)

Adding the Personal Pension value of £500,000 the total pension beneﬁts amount to £1,100,000 – £70,000 over the Lifetime Allowance. The tax charge levied on this excess could be up to £38,500, which is the cost of a new car and several holidays during your retirement. Can a retirement strategy be put in place to mitigate this tax? Yes – and it’s vital to consult an Independent Financial Adviser who has experience of dealing with these complex pension matters. Speak to Katie Trendell, a Chartered Financial Planner who will help you achieve your important ﬁnancial goals. For a free initial appointment, please contact Katie on 07739 339663 or send an e-mail to ktrendell@barnsher.co.uk.

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 August 2018

PICTURE: WILL WEBSTER

Local Life

ABOVE: Cambridgeshire artists Sarah Evans and David Keﬀord, collectively known as Aid & Abet, have created a fascinating installation at Peckover House for the 70th anniversary of it becoming part of the National Trust. Transitions in Time oﬀers some intriguing juxtapositions, such as the contrasts between surrealist artist Roland Penrose to the strict Quaker lifestyle of his Peckover aunts and grandfather

The transitions of time at Peckover House... It’s 70 years since it became part of the National Trust, but the story of Peckover House stretches back to 1722 – and a fascinating art installation is celebrating its remarkable past, as Clare Bee discovers

PICTURE: IAN WARD

eckover House in Wisbech may be one of the National Trust’s smaller properties – a merchant’s house (albeit a fairly grand one) set in just two acres of garden – but it happens to be situated just across the road from the birthplace of one of the founders of the Trust, Octavia Hill. This important fact adds to the interesting history of the house and the story it tells of its owners over the years. The house’s calm riverside setting reﬂects the Quaker way of life of the

KLmagazine August 2018

family who lived there. The Peckovers originally derived their wealth from banking, when Jonathan Peckover moved to Wisbech in 1777 and opened a small grocer’s business – and by gaining the trust of local people began holding his customers’ money for safekeeping. He consequently created the Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank in 1792, which stayed in the family until 1894 when together with a number of other private Quaker banks it merged into Barclays Bank in 1896.

In fact, Peckover House was originally named Bank House, as it was from there that Jonathan conducted his business. But true to their Quaker beliefs, the family displayed a compassion and generosity to their fellow man and supported many campaigns, including the abolition of slavery, paciﬁsm and improvements in education. The family were also very keen travellers and art collectors, adding to their collection wherever they went. Since Alexandrina Peckover, the daughter of Lord Peckover, gifted the

PICTURE: WILL WEBSTER

Local Life

the end of one era and the beginning of another,” says Ben Rickett, the National Trust’s Operations Manager at Peckover House. “This is the opportunity for us to re-imagine the extensive collection that once filled the house, focussing on different elements of Peckover’s history and the family’s legacy.” Called Transitions in Time, the project runs until November 18th and offers a unique glimpse into the life of the house. “The work invites visitors to delve into the creative past lives of the people that once lived at Peckover House, and they can expect the unexpected, as objects from the house jostle with new collages,” says artist Sarah Evans, one half of Aid & Abet. “The Peckover and Penrose families shared a passion for education and work in the community. We wanted to capture the spirit of that generosity, so visitors can take fresh inspiration from this wonderful Georgian house and its long and fascinating story.” But much like the influence of the house itself, Transitions in Time goes beyond its walls and into the local

For more details and opening times, please see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ peckoverhouse. For more information about Aid & Abet and to see more examples of their work, please visit www.aidandabet.co.uk

PICTURE: AID & ABET

PICTURE: WILL WEBSTER

house to the National Trust in 1948, art has always played an important part in its history. So with the 70th anniversary of the house coming into the care of the National Trust, Cambridgeshire artists Sarah Evans and David Keﬀord, known as Aid & Abet, were commissioned by the Trust to create an artwork in partnership with Arts Council England that celebrated Peckover’s old and new, tradition and innovation. With the brief to rethink and readdress the rooms and garden at Peckover House, the commission focuses on the lives, beliefs and artistic talents of the Peckover and later Penrose families. With the house being witness to some startling contrasts in its time – such as that between the Peckover family’s strict Quaker beliefs and later family members’ love of surrealist art – Aid & Abet have spent the past year researching elements of the Peckover story, gaining inspiration through discussions with staﬀ, volunteers and local community groups. “In 1948, the contents of Peckover House were sold at auction, signifying

community. “Although visitors will see the Drawing Room transformed into an art installation, it’s not just inside the house – the artists have reached out into the area, doing projects with a number of local groups,” says Diane Smith, Marketing Officer and volunteer at Peckover House. “There’s alway been a tradition at Peckover House of the owners helping the community, and as a result the Transitions in Time project is attracting a lot of interest locally.” There’s much to draw on from the family history – since the original Jonathan moved into Peckover House, many of its members have been artists, writers and philanthropists. One of Jonathan’s greatgranddaughters married the Irish artist James Doyle Penrose, and another family member, Priscilla Hannah Peckover, was an accomplished watercolour artist, linguist and pacifist. She was active with the Peace Society, and along with her sister Algerina funded the publication of The Bible in the artificial language Esperanto. Priscilla was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times between 1903 and 1913. The Peckover family held an important social position in Wisbech, and although they realised their position and privilege, they also used their status to benefit other members of society, as their Quaker beliefs encouraged them to do. Their fascinating collection of art affords an insight into their lives, and Transitions in Time draws inspiration from this to tell the story of this interesting and distinguished family.

KLmagazine August 2018

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KLmagazine August 2018

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KLmagazine August 2018

Changing people’s lives through fighting loneliness With Home Instead Senior Care you’re officially in good company – with free companionship visits for all clients... ome Instead Senior Care have been recognised for their work in tackling loneliness in Norfolk. The organisation which has offices in King’s Lynn, Dereham and Holt has been approved for the ‘In Good Company’ quality mark. The council-backed campaign ‘In Good Company’ is helping combat loneliness in Norfolk, an issue which affects thousands of people right across the county. And it’s a serious issue – loneliness can cause poor health and can even lead to premature death. Home Instead Senior Care believes that alleviating loneliness can help people lead independent, happier and healthier lives for longer. “During our ten years of supporting people, we’ve helped over 500 clients and their families,” says Operations Manager Tom McEwan. “We have seen the real benefit of companionship and befriending services. We take many of our clients out into the community – a

trip to a garden centre, a drive through the countryside or a visit to a museum. Our clients enjoy getting out and about, and the physical and mental benefits are huge too. Regular walks in the community and the mental stimulation they offer brings vital health benefits to our clients.” An initiative the company started last year was to offer free companionship to their clients twice a year. “We wanted to give the clients something back especially during the months of August and December,” says Tom. “Our clients can choose to have a free companionship visit from one of their regular Caregivers and we’ve enjoyed seeing the photographs they’ve been sending in (with permission) from trips out into the community. By reminiscing through a photo album, our clients have enjoyed some valuable additional company – so much so that many of them have arranged for a regular companionship visit!”

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KLmagazine August 2018

PICTURES: TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM

History

ABOVE: An extremely rare photograph of Alfred Cook’s boat Mystery on the River Ouse. When it foundered in a gale oﬀ Heacham in early 1928, the loss of the boat also resulted in the deaths of four young ﬁshermen from King’s Lynn

How King’s Lynn turned tragedy into triumph... In January 1928, an accident at sea resulted in the greatest display of public grief in King’s Lynn. But it also revealed the strength and generosity of a local community, as Dr Paul Richards explains...

ince 1991, True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum has received many important donations of documents and photographs relating to the fisherfolk of King’s Lynn, and in March another gem arrived thanks to Mr Kevin Elfleet. He’d been given a little handwritten book listing all the organisations and individuals who contributed to the appeal fund established after the loss of the fishing boat Mystery in 1928 and the drowning of four young North Enders in the Wash. Townspeople responded to the tragedy by raising over £1,000 to support their bereaved families. Winter was usually a difficult time for

Lynn’s fishermen, as bad weather often kept their boats in harbour and markedly reduced family incomes. Shopkeepers in the North End such as Polly Goodson advanced credit to help families buy food, with debts repaid when fishing could be restarted. Lynn’s fishing fleet had been kept in port by bad weather over the winter of 1927-28, but on 6th January it had improved, encouraging some Northenders to go out. A number of boats set sail including Mystery, Victoria and Susannah, fishing for cockles. Putting out to sea in Mystery were three young brothers, James (27), Matty (31) and Percy Smith (31) together with a friend, Earl Massingham (36). They’d

borrowed the boat, which was owned by Alfred Cook, and it foundered in a gale off Heacham – all four men lost their lives. As soon as the news reached the North End, several parties of local fishermen set out for Heacham by train or boat to search for the crew. Three of the bodies were recovered, but that of Matty was never found. The funeral of the crew took place on the afternoon of Friday 13th January 1928 at St Nicholas Chapel – the Lynn News reporting it as the greatest display of public grief in Lynn. There was a long procession with about 80 fishermen along Pilot Street and North Street to the chapel, where 1,500 people were

KLmagazine August 2018

RIGHT: Earl Massingham (left) and James Smith, the youngest of three brothers who also drowned during the tragic loss of Mystery. Their funeral was held in the magniﬁcent St Nicholas’ Chapel in King’s Lynn, witnessed by hundreds of people in the yard and surrounding streets and attended by 1,500 inside the chapel itself.

present inside. Outside, the police were marshalling many hundreds more in the Chapel yard and on pavements along St Ann’s Street. Children from St Nicholas School formed groups with their teachers, and in the Fisher Fleet many boats had black crepe around their mooring, ropes and rigging. The slow funeral cortege was led by hearses drawn by black horses and ‘followed’ by men only, as was the custom of the fisherfolk. The guard of honour alone numbered 200 men, most of them Northenders. The streets were lined by thousands of silent onlookers along the entire route via London Road to Hardwick Road Cemetery. At the cemetery, the graves had to be roped off because of the big crowd, but the cordon was broken and police had to restrain people. A grey granite obelisk on a grey granite base within a quadruple curbed enclosure continues to mark the graves. “Of all the tragedies and disasters which befell the North End over the years, none had more impact than the loss of Mystery,” wrote Pat Midgley in her 1987 book The Northenders. “People say that the North End was never the same again.” The Theatre Royal in St James’ Street (which was destroyed by fire in 1936) was the venue for a memorial concert on 22nd January 1928 in aid of the Mystery disaster fund. The band of the 5th battalion Norfolk Regiment played, and subscriptions and concert ticket sales raised £1,085 which was a substantial amount for the period. The money was shared between the dependents of the deceased. James Smith had been unmarried, but his brother Matthew left a wife and the other brother Percy (a widower) had two children aged six and seven – who are recorded as living with their grandparents, Mary Ann and Thomas ‘Oaty’ Smith. Their friend Earl Massingham was survived by his wife Elizabeth, and their two children aged 13 and seven. The little handwritten book offers a fascinating insight into King’s Lynn as it

KLmagazine August 2018

PICTURES: TRUE’S YARD FISHERFOLK MUSEUM

History

ABOVE: The funeral cortege of the crew of Mystery making its way up London Road towards the Hardwick Road Cemetery, followed by 200 members of the local ﬁshing community.

was in 1928, detailing not just the individuals who contributed to the appeal fund, but also the businesses, churches and schools. These included Sir Richard Bagge, Lord Fermoy, Sommerfeld and Thomas, Pattrick & Thompsons, the Conservancy Board, Beet Sugar Factory, St Nicholas School, St Margaret’s Church, All Saints’ Church and St Nicholas Chapel. Donations arrived from Hunstanton, Snettisham, Heacham, from staﬀ at Sandringham House – and even from as far away as London and Leeds. In total there were 466 separate subscribers. Over 40 pubs, inns and hotels are listed – including The Duke’s Head, the Globe Hotel, the Maid’s Head and the Victory Inn in the Tuesday Market Place. In the nearby North End there were then several pubs. The Victoria Hotel, Tilden Smith, the Fisherman’s Return and the Fisherman’s Arms were all in Pilot Street. The Dock Hotel was in North Street opposite True’s Yard, the Duke of Connaught was in St Nicholas Street, and the Black Horse was in Chapel Street. Only the Bentinck Hotel in Loke Road remains open today of all the North End pubs listed in 1928.

True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum oﬀers guided tours of the Old North End, and Paul Richards leads walks of both the Hardwick Road Cemetery and Lynn’s historic pubs. For more information, please e-mail info@truesyard.co.uk

ABOVE: The opening of the remarkable handwritten book, now in the collection of True’s Yard, that details (to the penny) the donations to the disaster fund established to support the bereaved families.

KLmagazine August 2018

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KLmagazine August 2018

. FROM THIS..

TO THIS...

Bespoke solutions for all those awkward corners Beautifully handcrafted, distinctive and totally unique designs by Bespoke Pine n Oak – in any shape, any size and any style... ou’re looking for a built-in wardrobe for a large corner of your bedroom. You have a speciﬁc idea of the interior shelving and layout. And you want it from 100% solid oak. But you look online and in every store you can think of, and simply can't ﬁnd what you're looking for. What do you do? Simple – you travel to Bespoke Pine n Oak in King’s Lynn, because they’ve got the design expertise, the craftsmanship skills and the on-site workshop to build exactly what you’re looking for. Exclusively for you and your bedroom. “This was an exceptional job, because people usually choose oak fronts with

IF YOU CAN DRAW IT, WE CAN MAKE IT!

pine interiors for bespoke furniture,” says Bespoke Pine n Oak’s Kevin Berry, “but these customers wanted 100% solid oak from top to bottom and front to back. It’s a truly one-off piece that’s a perfect example of our promise – if you can draw it, we can make it!” The finished wardrobe unit measures a huge 8ft tall, 2ft deep and 13ft wide and fits the corner precisely thanks to millimetre-perfect cutouts for skirting board and power sockets. Whether you’re looking for a new kitchen, dining or bedroom suite, a complete library or a single bookcase, Bespoke Pine n Oak can create any

furniture in any shape or size, in any style or colour – for every room in your home. And don’t forget about the Bespoke Pine n Oak showroom, which adjoins the workshop and contains a vast range of high-quality furniture with more than 30 diﬀerent collections comprising over 1,000 individual pieces – all ready to take home today. With plenty of parking right outside the door, a commitment to customer care and a bespoke service that’s second to none, there’s never been a better time to discover the exceptional craftsmanship of Bespoke Pine n Oak.

Bespoke Pine n Oak www.bespokepinenoakltd.com

KLmagazine August 2018

Unit 1, Hamlin Way Hardwick Narrows Estate King’s Lynn PE30 4NG Telephone: 01553 277515

PICTURES: COASTAL EXPLORATION COMPANY

Local Life

ABOVE: From Wells-next-the-Sea, the Coastal Exploration Company oﬀers people a unique perspective on some of Norfolk’s best features

Discover a very diﬀerent view of Norfolk’s coast We’re all familiar with the beauty and wonders of our local coastline, but they’re even more fascinating when seen from oﬀ-shore, as Maxine Thorne discovers on a journey of adventure

an there be any adult reading this who at some point or another hasn’t wished they could get away from the stresses and strains of daily life to become a pirate or an explorer? Taking to the water and having a true adventure is now possible without having to don an eyepatch or travel far aﬁeld, thanks to Henry Chamberlain – the founder of the Coastal Exploration Company, a remarkable business based

at Wells-next-the-Sea that specialises in bespoke land and sea adventures. The objective of every journey is simple. To provide special, tailor-made trips for small groups of people who enjoy the call of the sea, are curious about exploring Norfolk’s shoreline and creeks, and those who simply relish eating the best of the county’s produce – to the point of foraging for the food they’ll later cook in the open air. In short, this is a fabulous way of reconnecting with peace and quiet in

an area of the region that’s almost always hidden – unless you know where to look and how to use the winds and tides to get there. “When people walk down the pontoon at Wells and board one of our three boats, they really feel they’re entering another world,” says Henry. “It’s marvellous to see people relax and smile, and drink in sights that can only be seen from the water. In fact, you can see 50% of Norfolk from oﬀshore!” Using the power of the tides, Henry

KLmagazine August 2018

Local Life

gives people the real experience of sailing in a traditional Norfolk boat (the sound of the wind in the sails is magical in itself) and his open row boat can transport you right back to the days of harvesting mussels. “Everything we do at Coastal Exploration is about giving people a sense of adventure but also the sheer pleasure of engaging with the natural environment,” he says. “It gives everyone on board a new perspective in one way or another. In a nutshell, it’s good for people and great for us to see them relax – as well as enjoy everything we show them.” The boats making up the Coastal Exploration Company’s fleet have been chosen to offer guests a wide variety of options. The Salford is a 30ft gaff-rigged Norfolk whelk boat; in fact, she’s the very last of the King’s Lynn whelk boats. At 20ft, My Girls is a Sheringham-built crab boat and sail (and an expert use of wind and tide) is her source of natural power. The third craft is a 16ft open row boat with the flat bottom necessary to enter the many secret and sheltered creeks generally missed by visitors to Norfolk and many of its residents – unless Henry and his team takes them there. There’s no doubt that each of the three boats is unique, and the way trips are planned makes the best of each one’s characteristics. For example, the Brancaster-built oak mussel flat is perfect for riding the fast tides in the creeks and a circular route is possible thanks to Henry’s knowledge of tides and timing. Time on the Coastal Exploration Company’s boats can be as long or as short as guests want – but obviously the natural ebb and flow of tides is the

KLmagazine August 2018

Local Life

PICTURES: COASTAL EXPLORATION COMPANY

ultimate master of time spent away from shore. From a single day to overnight trips, Henry and his team will ensure that when you return to the pontoon at Wells you’ll be bringing back memories of the best Norfolk has to offer those lucky enough to delve into its hidden natural wonders. A former Marine, Henry Chamberlain’s international military career included postings as far away as Darfur, South Sudan and Afghanistan – and a spell as a Field Security Officer for UN Humanitarian Aid. After leaving the Royal Navy, Henry returned to Norfolk and created the Coastal Exploration Company in 2016. He now works alongside his sister Veronica, who also returned to Norfolk after a successful career on yacht charters in the Caribbean. “The whole idea behind the company was and still is very simple,” says Henry. “It promotes a love of nature and the sea, provides a real sense of adventure, and puts people in an absolutely stunning natural environment that can restore the most jaded person.” It also helps explains why this relatively new and unique business has already received glowing reviews in national newspapers such as The Guardian and The Sunday Times. “Our explorations are a great mix of excitement and relaxation,” says Henry. “People love the sailing, the wild swimming, and the cooking and eating outdoors in isolated areas of real beauty.” Indeed, there can be nothing quite as relaxing as making your coffee out in the hidden creeks in your own private world. “This is as valuable to team building as it is to groups of friends or families, and it’s always a pleasure to share what we know with our guests,” says Henry. “Many people who enjoy our trips may not be terribly passionate about the sea and boats, but they do need special time for themselves and others – and that’s exactly what we offer.” Norfolk’s strong seafaring history is famous all around the world and the Coastal Exploration Company is proactively and sensitively raising the profile of the hidden history, geography and wildlife of the county’s sea and its shores. For more information and details about starting your own adventure, please see www.coastalexplorationcompany.co.uk or you can telephone Henry on 07970 276397.

KLmagazine August 2018

Is your conservatory... too HOT in summer & too COLD in winter? Your local professional in Conservatory Roof Replacement can help Specialists in erection of new conservatories with over 26 years experience... After

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Perennials • Large Shrubs • Compost Spa & Pool Chemicals • Garden Care • Pots Fresh Flowers • Vegetable plants

Moat Rd, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn PE34 4PN FREE accessible Tel: 01553 828723 | Open: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 42

KLmagazine August 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 is 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

KLmagazine August2018

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 43

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KLmagazine August 2018

Pets

AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets at London Road & Hollies Veterinary Centre...

SMALL BITES GUESS THE NOSE COMPETITION ANSWERS We’ve had a lot of enquiries for the answers from our ‘Guess the Nose’ competition from the APRIL issue, so if you’d like to know the answers we’ve printed them below for you. If you missed it however, and want to play, you can read back issues online at www.issuu.com/klmagazine. It’s a great one to keep the children (and the whole family) entertained during the school holidays!

Take your pet on holiday this summer W hat a lovely summer we’re having! We’ve been making the most of the gorgeous weather and getting outside as much as we can in our spare time. We’re very lucky to live in a county where we have lots of beautiful, dog-friendly beaches where dogs are allowed all year round. When the weather cools in the evenings there is nothing better than popping up to somewhere like Brancaster, Holme or Old Hunstanton for a stroll along the beach with our canine companions; and maybe some fish and chips for supper! If you fancy going further afield with your four legged friends then why not consider getting them their own pet passport and taking them abroad with you. Cats and dogs both require a

rabies vaccination and a microchip before a passport can be issued to them. Three weeks after the rabies vaccination has been administered your pet will be able to travel within Europe without the need to be quarantined. Before dogs return to the UK a vet needs to treat your dog for tapeworm and record this in their passport. We strongly recommend contacting DEFRA to check the individual requirements of any countries you may travel to as some countries may require additional vaccinations or anti-parasite treatments to be given. Once your pet has their passport it is very straightforward to travel with them. One of our nurses recently returned from a holiday in France with her Border Terrier who had a whale of a time!

1 Cat 2 Lion 3 Polar Bear 4 Gorilla 5 Pig 6 Sheep 7 Cow 8 Tortoise 9 Guinea Pig 10 Horse 11 Dog 12 Giraffe

13 Ferret 14 Goat 15 Rabbit 16 Cockatiel 17 Orang-utan 18 Llama 19 Iguana 20 Frog 21 Seal 22 Deer 23 Fox 24 Ostrich

Visit our website... www.londonroadvets.co.uk London Road Vets @London Road Vets

LONDON ROAD Hospital Walk, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 773168 | Email: info@londonroadvets.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market | Tel: 01366 386655 | Email: hollies@londonroadvets.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

Gardening

ABOVE: Beth Chatto’s gravel garden near Colchester is in one of the driest parts of the country, is never watered or irrigated and has poor free-draining soil –despite that it’s become renowned for its spectacular displays of drought-tolerant plants

Making your garden more drought-tolerant As temperatures continue to soar, climate change is likely to increase the need for drought-tolerant plants, and the possibilities are extremely exciting, as Wendy Warner of Thaxters Garden Centre explains...

s we reach the height of a scorching hot summer, it may be worth considering how your garden is faring in the heat. In recent years climate change has been mentioned with regard to the plants we’re growing and that we should consider alternative planting to overcome the aﬀects of this. You may think this is rather overdramatic, but even if you just enjoy a few weeks away during the summer, there are certain things you can do to avoid a sad display of wilted plants on your return.

Before choosing your plants, it’s important to get your soil conditions right. The soil needs to retain water and you may need to improve its structure by adding some organic matter in the form of well-rotted garden compost, composted bark or manure. Make sure you dig deep when preparing the soil as you want to encourage your plants to create a vertical root system. Once planted, mulch the borders with gravel or compost to help retain moisture and reduce evaporation – it can look attractive and will also keep the weeds down, which is important as

they’ll be competing for any water in the soil. Planting through landscape fabric is beneficial if you are starting a planting scheme from scratch. You’ll need to provide sufficient fertiliser as plants use water most efficiently when nutrient levels are adequate – although be careful not to overfeed as this can encourage too much lush growth, which can become floppy and then require extra watering. Drought-tolerant plants are naturally adapted to dry conditions and have some distinguishing characteristics which are handy to know if you’re

KLmagazine August 2018

looking for suitable plants for your garden. Their leaves will often be waxy, succulent, hairy, small, needle-like, scented or silver/grey in colour. Waxy, succulent leaves will hold moisture, light leaf colour will reflect the harsh rays of the sun, fine hairs help to trap moisture around the plant tissues and needle or strap-like leaves have less of a surface area with which to lose surface water. Some examples of these are Sea holly (Eryngium) which has tough, glaucous silvery leaves and blue thistle-like flowers; Sedums (both herbaceous and ground cover varieties) with succulent leaves and long-lasting flowers; Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum) with its waxy leaves and beautifully scented white flowers; Catmint (Nepeta) which has an aromatic, grey-green velvety foliage and a mass of blue flowers loved by bees; and Lavender and Rosemary, which are both scented and have needle-like leaves and attractive flowers. As a general rule, many hardier plants that grow well in hotter Mediterranean countries are drought-tolerant here due to their native climate. Quite a few plants which are used as summer bedding will also withstand less water – so take a look at the ones that are used in council planting schemes where they don’t get regular watering. You’ll find plants such as zonal Geraniums and Gazanias which still look good at the end of the summer season. If possible choose small plants as it will be easier for them to adapt to their conditions from a young age – and ideally plant in the autumn so they can establish before drier weather the following summer. Before planting, soak the plants by dunking them into a bucket of water until the bubbles stop rising to the surface. Thoroughly water in all new plants and keep them well watered throughout the first season – this way they’ll become much more drought tolerant. As well as choosing drought-tolerant plants, there are many water-saving tips that are not only advantageous to the plants but can save you time and money as well. Collect rainwater from roofs of houses, garages or other buildings that have gutters and drainpipes by attaching a water butt with a diversion kit. Domestic ‘grey’ water from the kitchen, baths, basins or showers can also be used in the garden, as most diluted household soaps and detergents are harmless to plants. Watering in the early morning before the heat of the day sets in will reduce water loss through evaporation so your

KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: With careful plant selection and positioning, a drought-tolerant garden doesn’t have to look like a desert. Well worth considering are the herbaceous and ground cover varieties of Sedum (left) and the beautifully scented Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum) (right)

Gardening

ABOVE: Drought-tolerant plants don’t just allow you to create attractive displays and bring a touch of the exotic into your garden – they can also help you cut down on your water usage, saving you both time and money

plants will fully benefit from the water they are given, and make sure you aim the water at the base of the plant rather than spraying it over the leaves. Be selective about which of your plants you water. You’ll want to prioritise fruit and vegetable crops, containers and hanging baskets and anything newly planted. Although your lawn may look yellow and straw-like, it will usually cope without extra irrigation. Providing a really good soaking every few days will help plants develop a strong healthy root system. If you just water lightly every day, the roots will grow near to the surface – drying out quicker in hot and windy weather. Automatic watering systems or soaker hoses can also be beneficial by directing water specifically at the required plants. Watering systems can be set up into pots or borders by running a supply hose along the length of the area and then running smaller tubing off to individual plants with either a dripper or sprinkler fitted on the end. Again, the water will go to the base of the plant under the canopy of the leaves to be absorbed to where it’s needed more quickly. A soaker (or seep) hose is a perforated hose that can be stretched along a border, the water gently seeping out along its whole length. Both can be set up on timers so you can plan the most beneficial times for watering, even if you’re not at home.

A wonderful example of droughttolerant gardening is Beth Chatto’s gravel garden at Elmstead Market in Essex, which was created on the very poor soil of a former car park and never gets any irrigation. If you’re passing that way, it’s deﬁnitely worth a look – or see if you can ﬁnd one of her books on the subject in the library. Although it’s now a little late for establishing new drought-tolerant plants into your garden for this summer, you can implement some of the tips for watering, mulching and maintenance to keep your plants healthier during the hottest and sunniest months. And whilst you’re sitting in the garden

enjoying the sunshine, you can plan a few new drought-tolerant additions to plant in the autumn. 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 August 2018

JOBS FOR THE GARDEN in August

Dead-head basket & bedding plants regularly. Also keep feeding them with a feed such as Phostrogen all purpose plant food Plant specially prepared seed potatoes for harvesting at christmas in large patio pots or potato bags. Use perennials such as Echinacea, Leucanthemum, Sedum & Michaelmas Daisy type Asters to give late summer colour in the borders. Once young birds have flown the nest, hedges can be trimmed.

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Plan and start to buy your spring flowering bulb display, bulbs available from mid-August. Remember, larger bulbs produce more flowers! Hang wasp traps in fruit trees so you can enjoy the fruit rather than them! Keep feeding tomatoes, peppers, aubergines & similar crops to promote further fruiting. Use a high potash fertiliser.

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! Spring flowering bulbs available from mid-August

YOUR LOCAL BRANCH IS LOCATED AT:

Lynn Road, Wiggenhall St Germans PE34 3EU KING’S LYNN 01553 617666 | HOLBEACH 01406 540261 SWINESHEAD 01205 822440 www.doubledaygroup.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

Garden Centre & Coffee Shop 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514

West Norfolk: Then and Now

1965

2018

THE RETURN OF THE EAST ANGLIAN... Many thanks to J.M. Byers of Downham Market for sending us this photograph from the mid-1960s of the East Anglian Hotel in King’s Lynn. Built a few years after the railways came to the town in 1846, it was fined 10 shillings in 1939 for selling beer out of hours – and was eventually demolished, the site being

totally empty by 2006. Thanks to sympathetic redevelopment, it’s good to see the face of the ‘old’ King’s Lynn returning. If you’re interested in seeing how our towns and landscapes have changed over the years, you’ll find 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 50

KLmagazine August 2018

HOMEhints

in association with FRIMSTONE LTD

Building a patio – with a little extra help from Frimstone! he summer is a great time to get to work on all those outdoor projects you’ve been looking forward to for so long, and the good news is that no matter how daunting the job might seem at first, you’ve got all the experience and quality materials of FRIMSTONE on your side. For example, if you’re thinking of adding a patio to your garden (or you’re replacing an existing one that’s started to slip or crumble) you may be surprised to learn just how much help FRIMSTONE can give you. Your first step will always be to dig out the foundation. You’ll need to go down to a depth of around 30cm, and don’t forget that FRIMSTONE can take any material you don’t want for recycling such as topsoil, rubble and old bricks. In fact, the only thing we can’t accept for recycling is turf and organic material.

Now you’ll need to fill the space with either our well-graded FRIMSTONE Type 1 aggregate (which is made to national standards) or our locally-recycled crushed concrete. Fill to a depth of around 20cm and tamp the aggregate down as firmly as possible. In fact, the more work you put in at this point the better the eventual result will be. The next step is to add a 6cm layer of FRIMSTONE sharp or grit sand. The choice is yours, but note that grit sand tends to hold together better for a stronger foundation – sharp sand is ideal if all you’re going to be doing is walking and sitting on your patio. Once again, you’ll need to tamp the sand down to further strengthen the base. Finally, it’s time for you to bed down the slabs, and you can even find a choice of high-quality paving slabs from the FRIMSTONE centre at Crimplesham.

HEAD OFFICE Ashcraft Farm, Main Road, Crimplesham Norfolk PE33 9EB Tel: 01366 388900 Web: www.frimstone.co.uk

Remember to tamp these down and check the patio with a spirit level – and if you’re happy then it’s time to brush some FRIMSTONE soft sand into the gaps. You can mix some cement to this sand as a binder to make it more sturdy (just remember to add some water), but bear in mind that loose soft sand will make the removal of any weeds considerably easier in the future. Now you can start enjoying your new patio by adding some plant pots, your BBQ, and some outdoor furniture. FRIMSTONE can’t help you choose your shrubs or patio table – but we can make sure they’re on a very good footing! Whatever small-scale project you’ve got in mind, FRIMSTONE can lend you an expert helping hand – with all the expert help and advice you need, and all the high-quality and low-priced materials you want!

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KLmagazine August 2018

The Norfolk Cabin Co.

Make the most of your outside space with a bespoke garden building made exclusively for you... Come view our d n a nge beautiful ra S IE B at DOB

GARDEN CENTRE

• Animal Houses • BBQ Cabins • Car Ports/Cart Sheds • Gazebo’s • Kid’s Playhouses • Log Cabins • Sheds & Barns • Summerhouses • Additional Services

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Caring for your environment

KLmagazine August 2018

YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES... If you decide to take on employees, there are many factors that you’ll need to consider very carefully. Paid employees must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage, depending on their age. Determining what constitutes an individual’s ‘pay’ and which banding they fall into isn’t always straightforward, so please contact our payroll team for advice at the earliest opportunity. As an employer, you should make reasonable adjustments to prevent discrimination in the workplace or recruitment process – by providing auditory or Braille job applications or wheelchair access, for example. Health and safety regulations apply for customers and employees, and as the business owner you are responsible for fire safety – and should carry out regular fire safety checks or any other health threatening safety checks. If necessary, provide training as well, and ensure all health and safety information is easily accessible.

Get your business off to the best start In this instalment of our start-up guide for small businesses, Chris Goad BSc ACA of Stephenson Smart looks at ways to ensure your new venture fully complies with the legislation governing taxation... significant task for any new business owner is ensuring that they comply with the extensive tax rules and other legislation concerning them. To avoid problems, penalties and – in some cases – legal action, it is important to understand your obligations.

YOUR BUSINESS AND VAT... If your business has a turnover of more than £85,000 within a 12-month period, you will likely need register for VAT. To register for VAT, you can apply online with HM Revenue & Customs, and Stephenson Smart can help with this process. You will need to keep detailed records of all your business transactions, bills and receipts – and from April 2019 there will be a requirement to keep digital records for VAT purposes and you’ll also need to use software to send your quarterly returns to HM Revenue & Customs. This is part of the Government’s Making Tax Digital project. We can work with you to help you choose the right software for your business and provide the training to help you meet these requirements. Even if your business doesn’t meet the threshold of £85,000 you can voluntarily register for VAT. The main advantage of doing

KLmagazine August 2018

this is the ability to claim back VAT for any service or goods you buy for your business. For business-to-business sales this is mutually beneficial, but if you’re mostly selling to consumers they will not be able to claim back the VAT you charge them. Therefore, you would need to keep your product prices the same and reduce your profit margin – or increase your prices. Other benefits of voluntary VAT registration include giving the impression that your business is more successful and professional, and eliminating the worry of costly fines for not registering in time with HM Revenue & Customs. There are considerable penalties for failing to submit VAT returns or submitting inaccurate returns, therefore you may wish to appoint us to assist you with this.

OUR BRANCHES

WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU... Small businesses can quickly become complex, and you’ll naturally want to be concentrating on selling your product or service. If you feel you’re losing control of who owes you money and how much, we can help you get back on track. We use the latest cloud-based technology to share your business accounts with you quickly and easily. We can even produce tables and charts that will help you clearly understand your business’ current financial situation at a glance, to help you monitor the pulse of your business, and keep track of important things like cashflow. At Stephenson Smart we can help add real value to your business. We don’t just crunch the numbers, we support you to make better business decisions, grow your business, minimise your tax bill and save you lots of time on admin. Please call us now for a free initial consultation.

KING’S LYNN 01553 774104

GREAT YARMOUTH 01493 382500

WISBECH 01945 463383

FAKENHAM 01328 863318

DOWNHAM MARKET 01366 384121

MARCH 01354 653026

Fashion

Meeting one of Norfolk’s brightest young designers Mimi Emmett’s beautiful fabric designs have a real sense of sophistication and they’re proudly British. Sylvia Steele goes to the coast to talk about why Norfolk is perfect for building a brand

PICTURE: DAN BRISTON

any artists and photographers regard the vast skies, ﬂuctuating light and abundance of ﬂora and fauna of Norfolk as burgeoning their creativity – and Norfolk born and bred Mimi Emmett is no exception. While she may have inherited her sophisticated sense of style from her parents (who own an interiors and lifestyle store in Holt) it’s her own unique passion for design that has found a distinctive place in interiors both locally and throughout the UK.

KLmagazine August 2018

We managed to lure Mimi away from her beautiful palette of watercolours to talk to us about the lifestyle that led to her producing her very own brand, Mimi Emmett England KL MAGAZINE: You’re obviously very fond of your Norfolk home and it’s where you ﬁnd your inspiration, but when you attended university, how did you ﬁnd life in a city environment? MIMI EMMETT: I lived in Leeds for a few years when I was at university, and I really enjoyed it, but it was equally nice

to come back to the calming Norfolk countryside. A lot of my friends have since moved to London, but I decided to stay in Norfolk to develop the brand. It’s a great place to start a business in an aﬀordable way – which is really important when you’re starting out. KL MAGAZINE: Apart from the business advantages, what does Norfolk oﬀer in terms of expressing your artistic talent and taking it further? MIMI EMMETT: I think Norfolk has given me the peace and quiet I need to

Fashion MIMI EMMETT: Ever since I was very young I’ve had a passion for art, fashion and interiors – so I think I was pretty much always destined to be involved in one or more of these ﬁelds. Like most artistic pursuits it can be very vocational and I certainly couldn’t see myself doing anything else. KL MAGAZINE: Do you have any aspirations to take your designs into markets outside the UK? MIMI EMMETT: We’re pretty busy focussing on the UK market at the moment, but it would be amazing to continue expanding further aﬁeld. Who knows – maybe we’ll venture into another country at some point in the not-too-distant future. KL MAGAZINE: What do you do when you’re not building the brand?

focus on the brand. Cities can be pretty distracting because there’s always so much going on, and in the ﬁrst year I really wanted to have the space to do the hard work that’s required. We do tend to sell a lot of products to people in cities though, either through the website or retail shows like Spirit of Christmas in Olympia. KL MAGAZINE: How did you feel about being chosen for the Dulux Design Scene New Talent Show and your selection for New Designer at Islington in 2014? MIMI EMMETT: I was really lucky to be chosen for the New Designers’ Show, and that resulted in a lot of great opportunities – such as an internship with Hallmark to work on greetings cards. I learned a lot there and it really helped me develop my drawing style. It also taught me a lot about the importance of being commercial at the same time as keeping my integrity as an artist. I deﬁnitely see all of those opportunities as important steps on the journey. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the founding idea behind Mimi Emmett England? MIMI EMMETT: Essentially, it’s to create an extensive selection of prints suitable for everything from soft furnishings and fashion accessories to stationery. I want it to appeal to all

people of all ages and produce designs that work just as well in contemporary apartments as they do in cosy country cottages. KL MAGAZINE: You like to emphasize that your products are designed, printed and handmade in Britain – and your brand name Mimi Emmett England would suggest it was created with a degree of patriotic feeling. Is that important to you?

MIMI EMMETT: I’m lucky enough to live on the north Norfolk coast, close to Holkham beach – and it’s amazing for walks and runs, especially in the warmer months. It’s also the perfect place to go when I need to clear my head and de-stress! I like to keep ﬁt as I ﬁnd it keeps me in a positive frame of mind, and I also love spending time renovating and decorating my home. It will come as no surprise to learn that it’s full of cushions! For more information and a look at Mimi’s latest designs, please see www.mimiemmettengland.com

MIMI EMMETT: It makes a lot of sense for us to keep our suppliers based in the UK, mostly from a logistical standpoint. It’s a lot easier to communicate with people in your country of origin. You can develop a good working relationship with them because you can see them face to face, which I always prefer. I didn’t want to spend valuable time travelling to and from another country, and by making our products in the UK, we also avoid the delays and costs of international shipping. I’m very proud to be British and we always wanted to create high quality products. Having said that, I do understand why so much is made abroad nowadays. The UK can be an expensive place to do business, but I think it’s important we support our national economy. KL MAGAZINE: Did you always want to be an illustrator?

KLmagazine August 2018

E R O T S W E N g n i d l a p in S N E P O NOW

www.charmed-interiors.co.uk

DOWNHAM MARKET

The Hythe, Bridge Road PE38 0AE Tel: 01366 384126

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West Norfolk’s best kept secret

Adult Superstore

www.adultshopnorfolk.co.uk | Tel: 01553 776242

Unit 2 Beveridge Way, Hardwick Narrows, King’s Lynn PE30 4NB

Tel: 01553 772943

KLmagazine August 2018

Skin health first, injectables second! Forward-thinking cosmetic treatments delivered professionally in a discreet setting... hen skin glows confidence shines – and when a patient glows on the outside they glow on the inside. This month I want to stress the importance of good skin care, as many patients are increasingly focusing on improving skin quality in ways that certain injectables won’t achieve. This is where a cosmeceutical skin care range comes into practice. For anyone investing money in injectable treatments, a daily regime should be an imperative part of any treatment plan – as it not only complements these treatments but enhances the results. Below are my top five bestsellers from PCA’s skincare range to help you achieve optimum skin health: C AND E STRENGTH – smooths and brightens skin, protects the dermal layers of the skin from extrinsic and intrinsic aging, whilst repairing photodamage and promoting the production of collagen. WEIGHTLESS PROTECTION BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 45 – essential to prevent sun damage. A fast-absorbing product, it has a light, non-greasy finish which makes it ideal for those with oily breakout-prone

skin and is a great make-up primer. DUAL ACTION REDNESS RELIEF – improve the skin’s barrier function while reducing sensitivity and redness with this restorative treatment, which is also great for Rosacea. BRIGHTENING RETINOL – this strengthens skin and visibly reduces wrinkles, whilst providing hydration. It will also promote a clear and even complexion by reducing discolouration. IDEAL COMPLEX REVITALISING EYE GEL – this treats dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles and sagging eyelids, with an impressive blend of peptides, growth factor and stem cell extracts in a lightweight gel. Along with skin care, Aesthetics Beauty Clinic offers facial treatments to suit all budgets, including a Detoxifying charcoal mask which gives a deep cleanse for those with oily and breakout prone skin, a Revitalising mask treatment for dry and dull complexions, and our new Pore Refining and skin-smoothing treatment. Moving into Autumn is a great time to consider chemical peels to reverse the signs of aging and sun damage. We offer a range of peels – including our popular

l Dermal Fillers, including lip enhancement, nasolabial folds and marionettes l Cheek, jaw and chin augmentation l Wrinkle-reducing injections l Chemical skin peels l Microneedling l Injectable and topical Skin Boosters l PCA Skin Care Range

Face Facts

l Your skin is the largest organ in your body and skin renewal/repair acts on a four to six week cycle. l Most people don’t consume a suﬃcient diet to achieve optimum levels of vitamin C and Vitamin E – this should be topped up in your skin care routine. l External factors like diet, stress, lack of sleep, exercise and smoking all impact the skin’s ability to operate as an eﬀective protective barrier.

Perfecting Peel, which is suitable for all skins types with minimal downtime. I always advise patients to start planning early, so even though the sun is still shining please contact us to begin planning your bespoke treatment plan.

Now at Burnham Market We are now holding regular clinics within the luxury spa at The Hoste in Burnham Market. The next clinics will be on FRIDAY 17th AUGUST and WEDNESDAY 19th SEPTEMBER – please contact the spa on 01328 737022 now to book your appointment!

For a FREE consultation, please contact Emma on 07791 575889 or e-mail info@aestheticsbeautyclinics.com

KLmagazine August 2018

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

A lunch with history and a dinner with heritage... Crofters Coﬀee House and the Riverside Restaurant are located in one of King’s Lynn’s most historic buildings. Clare Bee talks to Pat Isbill and Kirsty Hill about their place in the town’s heritage

here’s a local legend that Shakespeare himself once came to King’s Lynn and trod the boards in St George’s Guildhall in 1593. It’s certainly known that The Lord Admiral’s Men, with whom he was associated, were performing in Norwich that year, so it’s entirely possible that it did in fact happen. St. George’s Guildhall in King Street, along with the Fermoy Gallery, Shakespeare Barn, Red Gallery and Old Warehouse, the Riverside Restaurant and Crofters coﬀee shop and bar, forms the King’s Lynn Arts Centre, and is the most complete and largest surviving medieval Guildhall in the country.

The Guildhall itself was built in 1406, after land was reclaimed from the River Great Ouse, and was built on two levels, with an undercroft allowing access for boats to moor inside the building. Pat Isbill and her niece Kirsty Hill between them own and run the Riverside Restaurant and Crofters Coﬀee House located within the Guildhall complex, and have worked there for many years. Pat originally joined the Riverside over 32 years ago as pastry chef,and Kirsty joined her as front of house manager in 2006, so they know more than most about the building and its history. “The Riverside Restaurant is above

the cellar and Crofters is the other end of the cellar in the undercroft,” says Pat. “Everyone thinks t was wool that was brought into the undercroft because of the hooks in the ceiling, but anything could have brought in by boat.” Of course, being built alongside the river, the building has seen its fair share of challenges over the years. “When we had the tidal surge in 2013, our cellar under the restaurant was flooded and we lost all the furniture we were storing there,” says Pat. “The tunnel to Crofters was also flooded but it only got to within a metre of the fire escape door into the coffee shop, so we were lucky there. But we had to replace virtually everything in the

KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: Crofters Coﬀee House and the Riverside Restaurant (opposite) are two of the most popular eating out venues in King’s Lynn – and you’ll ﬁnd them in one of the town’s most historic locations. The two are owned and run by Kirsty Hill (below) and her aunt Pat Isbill, who’s been serving her customers for over 32 years

restaurant’s cellar.” Even back in 1500, although the building was less than 100 years old, it became clear the magniﬁcent roof of trussed rafters was in too heavy for the supporting walls. Five buttresses had to be erected against the north wall and can still be seen outside the Guildhall. The roof is still the original. The primary use for the Guildhall in the early 1500s would have been for meetings, dinners and dances – until 1547 when King Edward Vl dissolved the Guilds of England. A local mn, John Dynnesdale, then bought the outbuildings in 1560 for warehousing and the Guildhall itself became known as the Common Town Hall. Records show that a local sailmaker was allowed to “make and sow sayles in the said hall” for an annual rent of £7 in 1588/9. Soon after, documentary evidence shows the Hall being used as a theatre (possibly with performances from Shakespeare), and following the Restoration of King Charles ll in 1660, various troupes from Norwich leased the Guildhall during the February Mart. Since then, The Guildhall has been renovated, fallen into disrepair and renovated again, and used for a variety of purposes. During the Civil War of the 1640s, for example, Royalists used the Guildhall to store barrels of gunpowder and arms. There was even an attempt to use the building as a button factory, and by the early 1700s it needed repainting and replastering again.

KLmagazine August 2018

Local Life

In the early 1800s, The Guildhall was acquired by the Everard family and became a wool warehouse, but was then sold again. By 1945, it was in a derelict condition and in real danger of being destroyed, it was saved by Alexander Penrose (from the Peckover/Penrose family of Wisbech), who bought the building. With the help of the Arts Council, the Pilgrim Trust and a public conscription, the Guildhall was converted to an ArtsCentre, and was opened in July 1951 by Queen Elizabeth (the late

Queen Mother) along with the launch of the King’s Lynn Festival. Many Trustees of the newly -founded St George’s Art Trust were also sponsors of the seats, and their names were originally displayed on the back of the seats. The Arts Centre’s galleries were opened a few years later in 1963 by Lady Fermoy (lady in waiting to the late Queen Mother) and was converted into a memorial to her late husband Lord Fermoy. Until very recently, the Arts Centre was known as the Fermoy

Centre. When The Riverside Restaurant opened, it soon became an integral part of the whole complex, and complementing the activities happening in other areas. Pat and Kirsty pride themselves on being a truly family-run restaurant with a genuine passion for great food. They use as many local ingredients as possible and the food is always freshly prepared to order. The spacious terrace and garden offer wonderful views over the river, and is a must in the good weather – especially as dogs are more than welcome too! Crofters Coffee shop offers lighter meals, soups and cakes, but all are made to the very same high standards and prepared on site. The entire building, housing all the elements of theatre, galleries, restaurant and offices, has stood the test of time over several centuries. Although changes have been made within the Guildhall itself, the essential fabric remains as it was when it was built six centuries ago. The Guildhall continues to be used for concerts and talks during the King’s Lynn Festival, as a centre for the King’s Lynn Community Cinema Club, and for many other performances and theatre groups throughout the year. It’s a real jewel in the crown of King’s Lynn – and thanks to Pat and Kirsty, you can literally enjoy a taste of history! For more details, information and the opening times of the Riverside Restaurant and Crofters, please see www.theriversiderestaurantkingslynn.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

GLUTEN-FREE? COELIAC? FED UP WITH IBS? TRUST YOUR GUT!

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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KLmagazine August 2018

NEW SEASON COCKLES

Heath Farm Shop

in store now!

Enjoy fresh local fish on the BBQ come rain or shine! Everything you need for the Bank Holiday weekend! Fresh local crabs & lobsters Wild sea trout Tuna & swordfish Local oysters & shellfish Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh and smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey

DELI COUNTER

Family run business

with quality local cheeses & olives

selling quality & bespoke produce

DONALDSONS A fresh taste of the sea

Austin Fields, King’s Lynn | Tel: 01553 772241 OPEN: Tues/Wed/Thurs 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm

from our own farm & local suppliers

Lynn Lane, Great Massingham, King’s Lynn PE32 2HJ

KLmagazine August 2018

Food & Drink

Cajun Spiced Salmon with spring onion and radish salad, roast peach & lime oil Serves: 1 INGREDIENTS 100g fresh salmon 50g sliced spring onion 3 fresh salad radish sliced few pea shoots half a fresh peach 1 whole lime Cajun spice for dusting 50ml olive oil salt and pepper

METHOD

1 Prepare the salmon portion by sprinkling with salt and pepper then dust with Cajun spice (as liberal as you like). 2 Roast the salmon on a tray in preheated oven at 200Â°C for about 20 minutes or until the salmon is just set firm, and a nice even colour.

nice and golden. Then squeeze some lime juice into the olive oil, season and set aside. 5 Bring all of the ingredients together on the plate by firstly arranging the roast peach in the centre, then add the onion and radish salad. Place the roast salmon over the top. 6 Drizzle with the lime oil.

3 Prepare the salad by mixing the onions, radish and pea shoots, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime juice. Leave to stand until required. 4 Half the fresh peach, and cut into four segments. Roast on a tray until

7 Finish with cucumber and mint linguini (this is optional but I think it works very well with the salmon and Cajun spice). A great refreshing fish dish!

Recipe by The Necton Windmill 15-17 Mill Street, Necton, Swaffham PE37 8EN Tel: 01760 722057 Web: www.thenectonwindmill.co.uk KLmagazine August 2018

Crawfish Inn Thai Restaurant & Bar

Traditional Bangkok Thai Cuisine Local Real Ales Extensive Wine List Takeaway Service Fully Air Conditioned Backing British Farming

Call 01328 878313 for reservations Open: Tues-Sun from 6pm Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ

/crawfishinn

www.crawfishinn.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

Food & Drink

s ’ f e h C Tip

d illi an n ch to e e r g Add i powder er! chill spici make

Special Karahi Marinated chicken breast, lamb tikka and king prawn, cooked with onions, tomatoes & fresh coriander INGREDIENTS 15g lamb tikka (pre-cooked by tandoori) 15g chicken tikka (pre-cooked by tandoori) 15g tandoori king prawn tsp mathi patha (for cooking and decoration) tsp mixed spices ¼ tsp ginger 1 garlic clove 1 white onion ½ capsicum handful baby spinach tsp tomato puree 2 sliced tomatoes pinch of salt tsp vegetable oil pinch fresh coriander (for cooking and decoration) KLmagazine August 2018

Serves: 2 (sharing)

Spice: Medium

| Cook Time: 15 minutes

METHOD 1 Heat oil in pan on medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger and then the onions and sauté until they start to turn golden. 2 Add tomatoes and capsicum into the pan, then add all spices, salt, mathi patha and all of the prawns. 3 Add everything else including the baby spinach and herbs and cook for 5 minutes. 4 Finally add in the meat and cook for a further 5 minutes. Serve and add the mathi patha and coriander on top for decoration.

Recipe by Rajasthan Indian Restaurant 61 Railway Road, Kings Lynn PE30 1NE Tel: 01553 765947 Web: www.rajasthanindian.co.uk 75

Food & Drink

French 75

ty s e z , t h Lig nt a g e l e &

ations celebr l r o f t u Grea elightf or a d ! if apérit

YOU WILL NEED Glass: Champagne flute 25ml Bombay Sapphire Gin 15ml lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup (simple syrup) Top with Prosecco Garnish – lemon peel or segment

Surprisingly this elegant drink is named after the French 75 millimetre light field gun, as used by the French Army during the 1st World War. There are many versions of where and how “Soixante Quinze” was created but the moniker suggests that the early versions certainly packed a punch! The recipe has moved with the times and trends and is certainly less lethal these days! It’s zesty, floral, elegant and a fabulous Prosecco or Champagne cocktail. SUGAR SYRUP To make simple sugar syrup, add equal parts of sugar and water, shake up in a jam jar until dissolved. It will last for a

couple of weeks in a sealed container in the fridge. METHOD 1 Add the Gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup. 2 We added the ingredients into the glass and stirred slowly (you can shake these ingredients with ice if you have a cocktail shaker – but don’t shake with the Prosecco!). 3 Top up with Prosecco. 4 Garnish with a twist of lemon rind or a small lemon segment and enjoy!

Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk 76

KLmagazine August 2018

Al fresco cocktails in Swaﬀham’s town centre I

Celebrate in style at the King’s Arms in Swaﬀham, whatever the occasion t's seen a lot of activity over the last 400 years, but there's probably never been as much excitement at The King's Arms in Swaﬀham as there is today. One of the most stylish and friendly pubs in the area, the modernday King's Arms is the work of Claire Evans and her partner Graeme Taylor, who've retained plenty of old features and added a contemporary twist that's full of personality. The pub always has a great atmosphere, and its Copper Horse cocktail lounge (it was once the coaching inn's old stable block) has proved so successful and so popular that Claire and Graeme have now expanded the space and completely re-worked it for the future. “We have a large private and secluded courtyard, and really wanted to do

KLmagazine August 2018

something different with it,” says Claire. “It’s a fantastic setting for enjoying some cocktails in warm weather — and it’s hard to believe you’re still in Swaffham!" Together with some non-alcoholic mocktails, you’ll find a mouthwatering choice of over 20 cocktails; many of them traditional favourites, but plenty of genuine classics that Claire and Graeme have created themselves. For example, don’t miss the delicious combination of prosecco and raspberry known as Pretty in Pink – or the King’s Gentleman (named after the pub, naturally), which is a brilliant mix of Jack Daniels Honey, caramel syrup, lime juice and fresh mint. And gin lovers will delight in the fact the King’s Arms stocks around 25 different varieties – and the charming conservatory (appropriately enough named The Bombay Lounge) is the

perfect place in which to sample them. Unless hosting a private function, The Copper Horse is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm – and although it’s probably Swaﬀham’s best-kept secret, it certainly shouldn’t be. Make the most of the summer – with a refreshing taste of the King’s Arms!

information

The King’s Arms 21 Market Place, Swaﬀham, Norfolk PE37 7LA Telephone: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk E-mail: info@kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk

Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

KL Magazine reviews The Old Bank in Snettisham...

was looking for somewhere to go for a celebratory meal with a group of friends, reading that the Old Bank in Snettisham is a personal favourite of Kevin Mangeolles, the Michelin-starred chef at The Neptune in Hunstanton, we decided we simply had to try it. As the name suggests, the building was actually a bank – in fact, it was one of Barclays’ original village branches – but after it closed in the 1980s it became a café and coffee shop. Two years ago, it was bought by Aga and Lewis King, who’ve transformed it into a bistro restaurant open for lunch and dinner – with Lewis’s brother Alistair working alongside him as the second chef. The welcome is warm and genuine, and with just 24 seats indoors and 16 outside, it offers a cosy, intimate setting. If you’re lucky enough to sit outside on a beautiful summer day (as we were), the experience of enjoying a meal on a flower-filled terrace while watching the world go by is hard to beat. 78

The menu choices are pared down, which makes a very refreshing change as multi-page menus can often be overwhelming and confusing – but it’s clear at The Old Bank that every dish has been chosen and created with the upmost care. The starters (charmingly described as ‘small plates’) always include a homemade soup; on this occasion it was an exquisitely flavoured wild mushroom soup with truffle chantilly and chive oil – the other choices we made included a soft goat’s cheese mousse with beetroot, fennel and orange salad, and slowcooked beef with celeriac remoulade, pickled radishes and a delicious truffle mayo. Each dish was beautifully, even artfully, presented and the clever combination of ingredients worked to perfection. The melt-in-the-mouth goat’s cheese in particular was an absolute delight. Happily, the main courses (‘big plates’ naturally) were equally beautiful in the way they were presented, and once again the

fusion of ingredients and colours were perfectly balanced. The tender slowcooked lamb shoulder was a particular favourite, as was the pan-roasted bream with accompanying Norfolk Peers (a premium and award-winning new potato) and local vegetables. The homemade desserts were a delightful way to round oﬀ our fantastic meal. The sorbets and ice creams were light and cleansing after the two courses, and those who chose the chocolate and almond brownie declared it nothing short

KLmagazine August 2018

“e recommendation of a Michelin-starred chef is a hard-won thing and one that should be taken seriously – and in this case it’s one that’s completely and very well deserved...”

of perfect; soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, as every self-respecting brownie should be – served with glazed banana, sugared walnuts and popcorn ice cream. In keeping with the incredible food, the service was totally faultless. As a party of eight, we were very impressed (amazed wouldn’t be an exaggeration) that neither Aga, who was serving us, or Kay, her assistant, ask who had chosen which dish when they brought it to the table. Whether it was a case of extraordinary memories or a remarkable commitment to customer service, all of us noted they both placed the correct dishes in front of us without having to interrupt our conversation. They were at all times courteous and friendly, oﬀering explanations of the food and answering questions about its preparation when needed, but they were never too obtrusive or over-attentive.

The Old Bank is full of little touches that stay long in the memory; the sprinkling of sea salt on the butter, the bowls of ice to add to drinks to your own taste, and the exquisite pottery plates and dishes the food was served on – some of it by local potters, some of it coming all they way from Japan. As much and as often as they can, Aga and Lewis use locally-sourced produce that’s as fresh as possible. Some of the vegetables and fruits are picked on the very morning they’re going to be used, the meat come from Priors of Dersingham (which is only two villages away) and an experienced forager from Fakenham supplies other fresh ingredients such as the delicious mushrooms found in the soup. At The Old Bank, all the dishes (and the accompanying bread) are homemade in Lewis’ compact kitchen – in fact it’s something of a miracle to see what wonders come out of such a relatively small space. The recommendation of a

Michelin-starred chef is a hard-won thing – and one that should be taken seriously. In this case it’s one that’s completely and very well deserved, because everything Aga and Lewis are doing is very well done indeed. In fact, at the end of the meal we all agreed we couldn’t actually ﬁnd any fault at all, and none of us can wait to go back again – and next time we’ll be staying for dinner! The Old Bank is open on Wednesdays 11am-3pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am-3pm and 6.30pm10.30pm, and Sundays 11am-3pm The kitchen is open for lunch from 12noon-2.30pm and for dinner from 6.30pm-9pm

The Old Bank 10 Lynn Road, Snettisham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 7LP Tel: 01485 544080 Web: www.theoldbankbistro.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

Brasserie and Bar

PE N O W NO

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KLmagazine August 2018

Food & Drink

Tuna & Cucumber INGREDIENTS 120g of fresh tuna 30g of unsalted butter 30g of brown shrimp 20g rapeseed mayonnaise 20ml of lemon juice Âź of a cucumber Fresh chives 1 small radish 2-3 small cherry tomatoes 10g of red onion 10ml of vegetable oil Micro cress to garnish

METHOD 1 First start by preparing the cucumber element of the dish, take your Âź cucumber and trim round the edges until you have a rectangular bed of just the centre of the cucumber leaving no skin. 2 Following this finely chop your fresh chives, radish in to halves, cherry tomatoes in to quarters and finely slice your red onion. 3 Then proceed by rolling your cucumber bed in your finely chopped fresh chives, begin to build your salad garnish on your cucumber bed adding all the salad ingredients one at a time, including a few of the brown shrimps and a few dots of the rapeseed

mayonnaise. Set this to one side of the plate. 4 Heat a non-stick frying pan on the stove with your vegetable oil until the oil just starts to smoke. Then pan fry the fresh tuna steak for roughly 45 seconds to a minute each side to ensure a good sear. 5 Allow the tuna to rest for a further minute whilst you gently warm your butter brown shrimps and lemon juice in the same pan to act as your sauce, add the tuna to the plate sauce gently with plenty of the brown shrimps and finish with the micro herbs.

Recipe by Bishops of Chapel Street Chapel Street, King's Lynn PE30 1EG Tel: 01553 769585 Web: www.bishopsofchapelst.co.uk KLmagazine August 2018

Food & Drink

ABOVE: Elise Rout (left) and Clare Biggs (right) of Nip & Growler in King’s Lynn with Belinda Jennings, Master Brewer at Redwell Brewery in Norwich. With passion, inspiration and a touch of girl power, the trio have teamed up to create a unique brew

Three talented women create one fantastic beer At the Nip & Growler in King’s Lynn, Elise Rout and Clare Biggs don’t simply treat customers to a mouthwatering selection of craft beers from local breweries – they actually brew their own!

he idea that women and beer don’t go together isn’t just a misconception. It’s simply wrong. In fact, beer was originally produced almost exclusively by women, and the ﬁrst person to recommend the use of hops in brewing (for their “healing, bittering, and preserving” properties) was a woman. Although gradually eased out of the industry over the centuries, women’s role in brewing (and their appreciation of beer) is now going through something of a renaissance, thanks to people such as Elise Rout and Clare Biggs, who KLmagazine August 2018

opened the Nip & Growler on the High Street in King’s Lynn last September. “It's great to see women brewing beer again, and they’re now enjoying it as well!” says Elise. “The amount of flavours you can develop from adding fruits or spices to beer is incredible. It actually offers you a wider choice of different tastes than wine can!” It’s a sentiment echoed by Elise’s business partner and best friend. “There’s so much more to beer than famous-name and mass-produced lagers,” says Clare. “People tend to forget that we produce some of the very best beer in the world, and we wanted

the Nip & Growler to give them a taste of just how many quality beers are being brewed on their doorstep.” The couple aren’t content to simply spread the word, however. Over the last few months they’ve teamed up with the Three Blind Mice Brewery in Ely and the Mile Tree Brewery in Peterborough to create unique brews of their own – and they’ve just taken delivery of their third. Over in Norwich, Redwell Brewery was founded in 2013 by a group of beer lovers to re-ignite the city’s rich brewing heritage. It’s been under new ownership since last year, and brews up to 1,500 barrels of outstanding vegan- and 83

Food & Drink

ABOVE: Belinda, Elise and Clare creating a new beer – with Clare taking care of the mashing (right, above) – the leftover grain is used by a local farmer for feed. Meanwhile, Redwell Brewery’s Master Brewer Belinda Jennings keeps an expert eye on things (right, below)

gluten-free lagers and beer every year. It’s also one of the few local breweries with its own canning facility, capable of producing 2,000 cans an hour. Unlike the fast-paced approach of major commercial breweries, the secret of Redwell’s beers lies in the best quality ingredients and the expert skills of a brewer with the expertise to tease out the distinctive ﬂavours over the necessary time. And it will probably come as no surprise to learn that the brewery’s Master Brewer is a woman. With over 18 years’ experience, Belinda Jennings has worked for some of the region’s greatest breweries such as Greene King and Adnams, and is now bringing her wealth of knowledge and expertise with quality control to Redwell Brewery. “There aren’t too many female Master Brewers about, but it’s never been an issue for me or for anyone I’ve worked with,” she says. “Everyone’s far too focused on producing interesting beers that have been well crafted and equally well looked after.” Such sentiments were music to the ears of Clare and Elise. At the Nip & Growler, none of their beers or ciders (which change on a weekly basis) are mass-produced, and around 90% of them come direct from breweries in 84

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire – with the others being carefully-selected guest beers from around the country. “Redwell is one of the very best breweries in Norfolk, and Belinda is one of the county’s most talented brewers,” says Clare. “It was the ideal partnership – so all we had to do was look to Elise for the recipe!” Looking for a light and summery session beer that was easy-drinking and not too high in alcohol content, Elise decided to move away from the popular Citra hops and let the fruit itself deliver the taste. She decided to combine the more floral Mandarina Bavaria hop with pink grapefruits – 220 of which were hand-peeled and juiced by Elise and Clare. Following a hands-on day at the brewery in Norwich at the start of June, the pair then had to wait for some four weeks for the beer to be ready – but at least it gave them a chance to think of a name. “Names are often the most difficult part of a new beer,” says Clare. “In the end we’ve decided on Pink Eye PA, which is a bit playful and sums up what should be a really refreshing way to enjoy the rest of the summer.” By the time you’re reading this, the beer (which Belinda has already described as “amazing”) will be on tap at

the Nip & Growler, but if you thought Elise and Clare are happy to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labours, you’d be wrong. “We've already got plans for our fourth beer,” says Elise. “And after that we’ll start work on the ﬁfth. Making great beer is our true passion, and we’re really looking forward to working with more local breweries in the future. Watch this space!” Dedication, passion and a genuine commitment to promoting local beers – now that really is worth raising a glass to! THE NIP & GROWLER 68 High Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AY Tel: 01553 278862 Web: www.nipandgrowler.uk Open: Seven days a week from noon until 11pm (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays)

KLmagazine August 2018

DA O YS PE A N W EE K 7

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KLmagazine August 2018

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“Does capital punishment tend to the security of the people? By no means. It hardens the hearts of men, and makes the loss of life appear light to them; and it renders life insecure, inasmuch as the law holds out that property is of greater value than life...” – ELIZABETH FRY 1780-1845

History

ABOVE: A contemporary Victorian lithograph of Elizabeth Fry discovering the horrors of London’s notorious Newgate prison, which she ﬁrst visited in 1813. Opposite is the 1823 portrait of the great social reformer by Charles Robert Leslie

Behind the face of the old five pound note... She was born in Norwich, appeared on the reverse of our £5 notes for 15 years, and was one of the country’s most important social reformers. Abigail Brown looks at the life of Elizabeth Fry

ften referred to as the “angel of prisons,” Norwich-born Elizabeth Fry was a prison reformer, social activist and dedicated Christian philanthropist. Throughout her life, she kept extensive and revealing diaries and they provide a fascinating insight to her work, life and personality traits. Fry was a major driving force behind legislation to make the treatment of prisoners more humane – and you’ll probably remember her from the £5 notes we used from 2001-16 –

KLmagazine August 2018

until she was replaced by Winston Churchill. Born on 21st May 1780 in Gurney Court in Norwich, a lot of Elizabeth’s early years were spent in her childhood family home of Earlham Hall (it’s now home to the UEA’s School of Law) and although she would become recognised widely in her own right, her birth into the aﬄuent and inﬂuential Gurney family gave her immediate status. Her father John Gurney was a partner in Gurney’s Bank, and her mother Catherine was a member of the Barclay family – who

were among the founders of the worldfamous bank. Elizabeth was only 12 when her mother died, and as the eldest of her sisters she became partly responsible for the care and education of her younger siblings – perhaps the earliest known testament to her caring nature. In July 1799, Elizabeth was introduced to Joseph Fry (a member of the Fry’s chocolate-making family) and the couple married a year later, eventually having eleven children while living in Joseph’s family home in Plashet (now

History

ABOVE: Elizabeth Fry (centre) seated at a table surrounded by prisoners – in 1816 she funded a prison school at Newgate for children who were imprisoned with their mothers. Fry was also a frequent visitor to Bank House in King’s Lynn, which was home to her daughter and grandson, the famous explorer Samuel Gurney Cresswell

East Ham) in London. A friend of the Fry family, the Quaker missionary Stephen Grellet, visited Newgate Prison in 1813 and told Elizabeth of the appalling conditions there, prompting her to visit the prison herself. Her diaries tell of her discovering 300 women and their children packed into two cells like sardines, sleeping on the bare floor without nightclothes or bedding – and they all had to cook and wash in the same cell they slept in. Elizabeth was deeply saddened by this and began to visit the women of Newgate on a regular basis. She started by supplying the female prisoners with clothes to keep them warm, but went on to be the first women to present evidence in court when she spoke to a House of Commons committee in 1818 on the conditions in British prisons. Eventually, and with the help of other like-minded philanthropists, she founded the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate in 1827. The Association worked towards rehabilitation rather than harsh punishment for the prisoners and campaigned for specific changes in their treatment. At the time, Elizabeth’s influence was so strong that she encouraged members of the nobility to stay in some of the prisons so they could experience the conditions for themselves. She didn’t spend all her time in prisons, however. It was around then that Elizabeth frequently visited Bank House in King’s Lynn – home to one of her daughters and her grandson Samuel, who would earn his own place in the history books as an arctic explorer. By the 1820s Elizabeth Fry was well88

known in Britain, an extremely unusual example of a woman being consulted by men for her professional knowledge. Her benevolent nature even stretched further. In 1824, while on holiday in Brighton, Fry was disturbed by the large number of beggars in the street – and duly went on to form the Brighton District Visiting Society, establishing a team of volunteers who visited homes of the poor to provide help and comfort. The scheme was so successful that within a short space of time there were District Visiting Societies in towns all over Britain. Elizabeth Fry continued to use her status to campaign with others against the slave trade, and in 1840 opened a training school for nurses that would inspire Florence Nightingale to take a team of the nurses to the Crimean War to aid the wounded. As with any pioneering spirit, Elizabeth Fry wasn’t without her distractors. They accused her of neglecting her duties as a wife and mother by prioritising others’

lives – and was especially tainted in the public eye when her husband Joseph became bankrupt. In the past, subscriptions to the Association for the Improvement of the Female Prisoners in Newgate had been sent to Fry’s Bank, and rumours began to circulate suggesting this money had been used to help solve Joseph’s financial problems. Although untrue, these perceptions damaged both the reputation of Elizabeth and the charities she was involved with for some time. Despite this, Elizabeth had gained the friendship and support of Queen Victoria, who strongly promoted her efforts to improve the conditions of prisons in Britain. Since her death in 1845 at the age of 65, Elizabeth Fry lives on – not only as the face on our old £5 notes, but thanks to countless plaques, buildings, hospital wards, roads – and even a collection of stamps issued in 1976 where she was chosen as one of the country’s most influential social reformers.

KLmagazine August 2018

BEFORE

“

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AFTER

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Bring your stone floors back to life with XtraClean With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, no one cleans your floors quite like XtraClean... ou might think the winter months are the hardest on your floors, but at this time of year we keep our doors open, wander back and forth from the garden, and walk in all sorts of muck and debris. Slate, limestone and natural stone floors look fantastic when first laid (and they’re a considerable investment) but they do tend to lose their stunning good looks over time – and eventually you’ll find they need a lot more than a mop and some elbow grease to bring them back to their best. And that’s when you’ll need the professional local cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at XtraClean. “Deposits and dirt will gradually build up on stone floors throughout the year, especially in the grout lines, and

traditional cleaning methods will become increasingly ineffective,” says Martin. “That’s why we use a revolutionary and powerful floor cleaning system to safely restore heavilysoiled stone floors, tiles and grout to ‘as-new’ brilliance. And we can usually do it in a single visit too!” For more than 20 years, XtraClean has been offering a reliable, friendly and fullyinsured service that covers the whole of Norfolk with a team of highly skilled, highly trained and highly knowledgeable technicians – all dedicated to keeping your floors looking as bright and fresh as the day they were laid. Following an initial survey and test, XtraClean will get to work (even moving the furniture for you!) breaking down the ingrained dirt and loosening the 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 using invasive or harmful procedures such as grinding and resurfacing. “We also offer a professional sealant for added protection which will help keep those good 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 floor cleaning service? “We simply use the most advanced technology and the most professional products on the market today,” says Martin, “and the amazing results really do speak for themselves!”

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KLmagazine August 2018

PICTURES: TIME MACHINE KING’S LYNN

Local Life

ABOVE: Pictured just a few hours before its launch last month, the team behind Time Machine King’s Lynn (from left to right) Robert Fuller of RFA Media, Simon Ring of Ring Associates, Martin Little, and Jason Fuller of This is Fuller

A new way to enjoy the heritage of King’s Lynn 1,000 years in the making and over three years in the planning, Time Machine King’s Lynn is a new way to discover the town’s heritage – but it’s also got one eye on the future...

or the last eight years, KL magazine has been championing King’s Lynn and the surrounding area – promoting why it’s such an enjoyable place to live and why it’s such a rewarding place to do business. Blessed with an incredibly rich history and packed with a refreshing commercial optimism, it’s a town with a fascinating past and an exciting future. And now four local men have pooled their resources and shared their passion for the town to spread the same message via a diﬀerent medium – in the shape of Time Machine King’s Lynn,

an interactive website designed to highlight the best of King’s Lynn and take the town’s positive image around the world. Filmmaker Robert Fuller, local businessman Simon Ring and exCWA lecturer Martin Little had often spoken of the town’s apparent reticence in promoting itself – and possible ways of redressing the balance. Simon and Robert had known each other since they were schoolchildren in West Winch, and Martin (one of Simon’s longeststanding clients) had worked with Robert on several commercial video projects and historical ﬁlms – but while

the three shared a common goal, they also had a common problem. “I think the biggest challenge was that we knew we wanted to present King’s Lynn in a graphic, exciting and visually entertaining way,” says Simon. “It had to be factually robust enough to satisfy academics, but stimulating enough for young people to engage with it – and for a long while we just couldn’t see how that could be done.” In true time-travelling fashion, the answer didn’t lie in the past. It was very much a thing of the future. “We could have easily made a ﬁlm and brought it out on a DVD at any

KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: Filming from helicopters, using archive photographs, and using drones to provide revealing new views of King’s Lynn most iconic buildings (such as the Minster, pictured above right), Time Machine King’s Lynn oﬀers a unique way to explore the extraordinary heritage of the town

time, but we wanted more than that,” says Martin. “The diﬀerence is that today we have exciting new technology and bright young people who know how to make the most of it. We knew what we wanted to do, but Jason knew how to do it. In many ways, he’s been one of the most important people involved in the project.” The result (which went live at midnight on July 12th) is Time Machine King’s Lynn – a website that currently features an aerial tour of the town from the South Gate to St. Nicholas’ Chapel (taking in 18 selected locations along the way), a drone-ﬁlmed bird’s eye view tour of the interior of the Minster, and an interactive timeline of the town’s history from 1000AD.

KLmagazine August 2018

“Designing the website was all about pushing the boundaries,” says Jason Fuller. “If the tourist board in Rome wanted to promote their city online, you’d expect them to aim high. So that’s exactly what we did – just because King’s Lynn is a market town on the edge of Norfolk, why should it deserve anything less?” Indeed, the need for such an online resource was brought home to Martin Little during the days the team used a drone to ﬁlm the incredible scenes of the interior of the Minster. Meeting a visiting couple, he proceeded to point out some of the building’s most interesting and historically-important features to them. “They were really impressed, and admitted that although they lived in King’s Lynn it was the ﬁrst time they’d been inside the Minster,” says Martin. “I assumed they’d only recently moved to the town – in fact they’d actually lived here for 35 years!” But the project isn’t all about looking backwards and enjoying a spot of

nostalgia – it’s got an eye on the future as well. “This isn’t a website you visit once and then move on,” says Simon Ring. “It’s going to develop, and will celebrate the town’s current successes as well. Time machines can go in both directions, so Time Machine King’s Lynn will also oﬀer a modern overview of the town in the civic, commercial, industrial, sporting and cultural ﬁelds. We’ve got an awful lot of heritage to be proud of, but we’ve got plenty to look forward to as well!” To see Time Machine King’s Lynn and become involved with the project, please visit www.tmkl.co.uk

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KLmagazine August 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 If a letting agent goes bust without correctly registering a tenant’s deposit after receiving it, responsibility to repay rests with the landlord.

Solvent or Dissolving?

his month we are going to be discussing the importance of choosing a letting agent that correctly handles and insures its clients’ money. There has recently been a well publicised collapse of a prominent residential letting agent in Swaffham which has left a significant number of their clients with a notable financial loss and a questionable deficit of tenants deposits. Although not an everyday occurrence this is sadly not as uncommon as you might think and often the agency concerned will appear to the outside world to be performing very well and advertising prominently for more business. This is often due to financial pyramiding within the organisation using clients’ money to support a deficit in their office account “until they get back on track”. However, once a company starts to operate in this manner an implosion is almost certain to follow and in some cases can be quite rapid.

Whilst for several years now it has been a legal requirement for all letting agents to be registered with an ombudsman scheme it is not yet law that they have to have insurance for the protection of clients’ money. Known in the industry as CMP (Client Money Protection) this is a requirement for all ARLA regulated agents along with other strict operating rules regarding the handling and safe guarding of clients’ money. Putting financial mis-management aside for a moment, it is almost a certainty now that in April 2019 the banning of fees to tenants for administration and referencing costs will come into force. Regardless of personal opinions relating to the fairness of these charges the fact is that the business model for virtually all letting agents since the 1980s’ has increasingly included this revenue stream to support its business activities. That is now going to be lost and that is going to have an impact and that impact will be so severe to some

agencies that they will have to close down. When choosing a letting agent it is essential to establish what financial safeguards are in place to protect your rent and the tenants deposit. No letting agent that is fully protected will have any problem demonstrating this and providing you with proof that they have Client Money Protection in place. Unfortunately current figures from ARLA suggest that only 60% of letting agents have CMP in place for their clients. In the early part of next year the lettings industry in England & Wales is going to be subject to one of the most significant revisions since the creation of short-hold tenancy agreements. It is my recommendation that landlords and tenants should utilise the interim months prior to the start of the next financial year to ensure that they are fully satisfied with the financial protection provisions provided by their current agents and if in any doubt reconsider their options carefully.

Edmonton Estates Ltd, St Ann’s House, 18 St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT 01553 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk

KLmagazine August 2018

PICTURE: NORFOLK MUSEUMS SERVICE

What’s On

ABOVE: The Paston Treasure is one of the most enigmatic paintings of 17th century England, and depicts one of its greatest private art collections. Commissioned by the Paston family of Oxnead Hall, it’s the centrepiece of a major exhibition in Norwich, which is now reuniting some of the precious objects within it for the first time in 300 years.

Unlocking the secrets of a mysterious painting The Paston Treasure is one of the most intriguing works of art in Norfolk, and a new exhibition is now reuniting it with some of the objects in the fascinating painting for the first time in 300 years...

PICTURE: TOM HAARTSEN

t looks like a ‘hidden object’ game, but in fact The Paston Treasure is a huge (over 8ft wide) and enigmatic painting commissioned by the famous Norfolk family of Oxnead Hall, a painting which chronicles one of the greatest private art collections of 17th century England. This mysterious oil painting, which dates from c1665 by an unknown artist is now the centrepiece of a major exhibition in Norwich that runs until the end of next month. The Paston Treasure: Riches and Rarities of the Known World (organized

KLmagazine August 2018

in partnership with the Yale Center for British Art, USA) is the culmination of five years of intense collaborative research involving curators from Norwich Castle together with art historians from the Yale Center for British Art, and numerous experts in a wide variety of artistic disciplines – and has resulted in several exciting discoveries. The painting’s unique and cryptic subject has mesmerized and puzzled art scholars and historians around the world for centuries. Visually stunning, it’s a dazzling and lavish display of gold

and silver, exotic objects, musical instruments, fruits and flowers, a lobster, a monkey and a parrot, in addition to portraits of a young girl and an African youth. The treasures depicted in the painting represent merely a fraction of what was one of the most remarkable privatelyassembled cabinets of rarities and curiosities in 17th century England, and was probably commissioned by either Sir William Paston or his son Robert – undoubtedly to promote the Norfolk family’s wealth and sophisticated artistic taste.

PICTURE: JON STOKES

PICTURE: NORFOLK MUSEUMS SERVICE

What’s On

LEFT: A detail from The Paston Treasure showing a mother-of-pearl perfume flask. Over the course of 300 years, the 17th century flask (probably made in Gujarat and England) made its way to London and the collection of Lady Diane Lever – and has been specially loaned for the exhibition.

Probably bought by the Buxton family from one of the sales held at Oxnead Hall in the early 18th century when the Pastons were rapidly heading for bankruptcy, the painting was donated to Norwich Castle Museum in 1947 by a family member, along with other objects – some of which are also included in the exhibition. The Paston Treasure: Riches and Rarities of the Known World comprises more than 130 objects sourced from a host of national and international museums and private collections, and provides an extraordinary glimpse into what was undisputedly one of the most splendid treasure houses to have ever existed in this country. Miraculously, five of the actual objects from the original painting have survived to this day and for the first time in 300 years have been reunited with it – including a pair of silver-gilt flagons, a Strombus shell cup, two unique nautilus cups and a mother-ofpearl perfume flask. These extraordinary survivors are complemented by other items such as musical instruments, rare timepieces, a globe, plus jewels, history specimens, miniatures and sculptures replicating other riches featured in the painting

and the collection. Some have been loaned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, some by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and others from both the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Collection. At its zenith, the Paston collection (as listed in surviving archives) ran to hundreds of spectacular works of art, and was of a scale and grandeur that could have graced a royal palace. Hardly anyone in England at that time (royalty included) had collections that came anywhere close. Sadly, the Pastons and their artistic riches were doomed and The Paston Treasure proves eerily prophetic. There are strong hints in the painting that all was not as it seemed. The artist included many motifs – flowers, fruit, clocks, a guttering candle – symbolising time, vanity, and death. Overreaching themselves hugely both in their spending and ambitions, the Pastons were bankrupt within 100 years and the family’s male line died out. Their magnificent home of Oxnead Hall (which had once entertained King Charles II) fell into disuse and only a third of the original building now remains. “This exhibition is a truly once-ina-lifetime event, telling both a very

Norfolk story and a genuinely international one,” says Francesca Vanke, Keeper of Art and Curator of Decorative Art at Norwich Castle Museum. “The painting isn’t just a typical 17th century still life, but the key to unlocking a fascinating, dramatic and ultimately tragic story – of a family, a collection, and a great house. The first clues to the story are in this painting. They open up a world we never knew existed, for which evidence is scattered worldwide. This exhibition, the result of years of research, is bringing everything back together.”

THE PASTON TREASURE: RICHES AND RARITIES OF THE KNOWN WORLD Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery , Castle Hill, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3JU Tel: 01603 495897 Web: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk The exhibition runs until 23rd September and is open Monday-Saturday 10am–4.30pm and Sunday 1– 4.30pm

KLmagazine August 2018

Have you seen the signs?

We’ve had proper+es popping up all over North and West Norfolk for the past 30 years, and with our extensive knowledge of the area and le,ngs market we oﬀer a very high standard of service for both tenants and property owners. We’re also a bonded member of ARLA which ensures our high level of service is maintained.

So wherever you live, we’re a sure sign for both tenants and landlords!

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www.rounceandevans.co.uk | le ngs@rounceandevans.co.uk King’s Lynn Innova on Centre, Innova on Drive, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 5BY

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DAY OUT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY While you’re here don’t forget to visit... Beers of Europe (Britain’s biggest beer shop) & The Steiff Shop (East Anglia’s biggest selection)

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KLmagazine August 2018

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Everything you need to know about buying your first car... It’s the area’s largest and friendliest car supermarket, and Sandles reputation for excellent service extends to its youngest customers... ounger new drivers are faced with a real dilemma. They want their first car to be reliable, but they also need it to be affordable – and there are many stories of first-time buyers having to sell their first car because they can’t afford the insurance. “It’s a delicate balance to achieve for young new drivers,” says Ben Sandle. “They probably haven’t got the savings to spend £6,000 on a car, so buying one for £200 sounds like an attractive proposition – until you have to find at least twice that to make it roadworthy.” At Sandles Car Supermarket you’ll find an enormous choice of up to 500 vehicles, all of which have gone through rigorous pre-sales preparation – including cars at the lower end of the market that are particularly well suited

KLmagazine August 2018

(in terms of both performance and price) for younger new drivers. “We actively source cars all the time for new drivers to complement our already extensive range,” says Ben, “but even these have to come up to the standards we always maintain for every single car at Sandles: high quality, exceptional condition, and genuine value for money.” Sandles check vehicle prices on a weekly basis so you can be confident in a first car that’s as affordable as it is reliable – and is fully backed by warranties. Sandles can even help arrange and organise finance for employed young drivers. And unlike main dealerships, which can be formal and intimidating environments for young drivers looking for their first car, Sandles is very relaxed, very friendly,

very welcoming – and its out-of-town location makes for an enjoyable buying experience that’s unlike any other. If you’re looking for your ﬁrst car, Sandles has to be your ﬁrst choice!

information

Sandles Leziate Drove, Pott Row, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE32 1DD Telephone: 01553 630052 Website: www.sandles.co.uk

What’s On

Celebrating the summer at the Princess Theatre... The best summer show on the coast is returning to Hunstanton for another traditional seaside spectacular. Abigail Brown gets a sneak preview of what’s in store for this year’s exciting production

ith the British summertime now in full swing, Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre’s annual variety show is back – and the good news is that it’s better than ever. Yes, it’s time for the return of The Great British Seaside Special. The ‘end of pier’ production proved hugely popular last year, featuring chart hit songs, spectacular dance routines, mindblowing magic and comedy that made audiences roar with laughter. For 2018, the entertaining variety show promises to wow audiences with everything from unbelievable circus

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acts to professional vocals from a West End performer – and a lot more besides! The summer show has brought audiences by the coachload from all over the country, and the theatre’s director Brian Hallard is excited to see the show’s progression from year to year. “In previous years, we’ve only done four shows, but since it’s been so popular and we’ve had such an amazing response to it we’re putting on eight shows in total this year, including three in Ely,” says Brian. “We’re hoping the production will continue to grow – and next year we’ll be aiming to put on

two shows a week!” As with every production, the making of the show is in the hands of its host – it’s up to them to set the scene, introduce each artist and entertain the audience as a class act in their own right, and there’s no-one better for the job than side-splitting comedian Rollo. Back by popular demand, Rollo is set to host this year’s production. He’s appeared in cabaret venues all over the UK and Europe, performed in hotels, clubs, cruise lines, music halls, holiday centres and theatres, and has also entertained audiences on P&O’s luxury liners Azura and Ventura. In the past he’s played the role of the

KLmagazine August 2018

What’s On

RIGHT: During more than 30 years in the entertainment businsess, Rollo has worked as a compere, entertainments manager, comedian and children’s entertainer. He’s appeared everywhere from the Thursford Christmas Spectacular to luxury P&O cruise liners – and he’s now returning to Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre (opposite) by popular demand to take part in The Great British Seaside Special.

Tin Man in Shone Productions’ tour of The Wizard of Oz, and is lucky enough to have worked alongside the likes of Dora Bryon, Jess Conrad, Keith Harris – and even Postman Pat and Noddy! No stranger to the world of theatre and pantomime, Rollo has performed many comedy roles in prestigious venues across the UK, including three successful winter seasons at the everpopular Fantasy Land at Thursford. Held in high regard by his fellow performers and respected as a top industry professional, Rollo was elected to the world’s most exclusive showbusiness fraternity The Grand Order of Water Rats in 2007. The fraternity was founded in 1889 by music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, and other members include Frank Bruno, Joe Pasquale and Lionel Blair to name but a few. It’s fair to say that without Rollo the show wouldn’t go on, and the Princess Theatre is understandably excited about welcoming him back to Hunstanton. Joining Rollo this month will be the talented Tommy J – taking to the stage with his extraordinary juggling act, he promises to wow audiences and leave them wanting more. Tommy is also a big part of the five star rated Tony Peers Production The Grumbleweed Big Night Out in Scarborough. As a young but already very established entertainer, Tommy J juggles with a variety of props, including fire – his act is certain to have audiences on the edge of their seats! The Great British Seaside Special is also immensely proud to present Rachel Rawlinson. As a professional singer and West End actress, Rachel brings her outstanding stage presence

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What’s On and breathtaking vocals to Hunstanton this year. Her theatre credits include WAG! The Musical (Charing Cross Theatre), Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward), The Sound of Music and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (both at the London Palladium) – and she’s also been a part of numerous pantomimes and variety shows. After training as a triple-threat Musical Theatre performer and then progressing to perform on such reputable West End stages, Rachel Rawlinson is an act not to be missed. Completing the show’s line-up will be the Seaside Special Company (Lucy Bell, Joshua Haydn Harding, Lucy Rollason and Sam Woods) performing a collection of songs from well-known musicals to modern-day pop favourites. With spectacular costumes and dazzling dance routines, they’re sure to have audiences singing and clapping along. With such a range of acts performed by a team of such talented artists, The Great British Seaside Special at the Princess Theatre is proving to be the best value-for-money show on the coast, and promises to make your trip to the Sunny Hunny a uniquely

memorable and enjoyable one. So what’re you waiting for? Performances of The Great British Seaside Special take place on Thursday 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd of August – with matinee performances at 2.30pm and evening performances at 7.30pm. Tickets are £13.50, £12.50 (concessions) and £7 for under 16’s. Family tickets are available for £37, and for group bookings 1 in 10 tickets are free! For more information and to book your tickets, please call the Box Oﬃce on 01485 532252 or visit the website at www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

Tommy J

Rachel Rawlinson

It’s time to start thinking about this year’s panto. Oh yes, it is! n association with Tony Peers Ltd, the Princess Theatre is delighted to announce that this year’s fabulous pantomime will be the ever-popular and much-loved Snow White. The lovely Helen Farrell (left) plays the title role, joined by Mervyn Frances as Dame Clara – aided and abetted in all the mirth and mayhem by Muddles, played by Andy Eastwood. With spectacular sets and sparkling costumes, this show promises to keep up the tradition of a must-see festive spectacular for all the family to enjoy. Snow White runs at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton from Saturday 1st December 2018 to Tuesday 1st January 2019

The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5AH Telephone: 01485 532252 Website: www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

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KLmagazine August 2018

Why you should say “we will” before “I do” Pre-nuptial agreements have never been more popular, but their legal status and their ultimate worth are poorly understood, as Daniel Sims of Fraser Dawbarns LLP explains... e don’t think twice about paying for car insurance – we hope we’ll never need to use it, but in the event of a breakdown or collision, we’re grateful for the cover it provides and for the hassle it spares us. So why don’t we take a similar, insurance-based approach to marriage? A recent report revealed that enquiries about pre-nuptial agreements have risen by as much as 70% over the past decade, but there’s a growing debate about their worth – and whether such arrangements take some of the romance out of weddings. In the unfortunate event of a marriage breakdown, courts have considerable discretion to determine the financial matters of the concerned parties. The Court will look to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and consider factors such as the length of the marriage, the parties’ ages and their earnings – before making orders regarding the family home, pension funds and other matrimonial assets. Having a pre-nuptial agreement in place can help remove the uncertainty that accompanies these often complex financial proceedings. Essentially, a ‘pre-nup’ is an agreement in which a couple set out what property

KLmagazine August 2018

or assets they each have at the time of the marriage and how they would like those assets to be divided should they later divorce. This can be particularly valuable where one or both of the couple have children from previous relationships and wish to safeguard assets for their respective children – or where one of the parties’ families are gifting or loaning money for a home and wish this to be protected. No agreement will override the 1973 Act nor prevent a judge from deciding on an appropriate division of assets, but it will be considered as a ‘relevant circumstance’ of the case. In 2010, during the ground-breaking case of Radmacher v Granatino (2010) the Supreme Court said that pre-nups should be upheld if they are freely entered into by each party with a full appreciation of its implications, unless it would be unfair to hold the parties to the agreement in the circumstances. When the judges found in favour of Radmacher, a German heiress with a £106 million fortune (the couple had signed a pre-nuptial agreement which stated neither party would benefit financially if the marriage ended) it was the first time pre-nuptial agreements

were recognised as enforceable under British divorce law. An example of ‘unfairness’ would be when the agreement doesn’t meet the needs of any children of the family – and in order to satisfy this (and for the arrangement be given serious consideration by the Court) there are various safeguards which should be in place when a couple enter into prenuptial agreements. To avoid concerns regarding undue pressure, agreements shouldn’t be made within the 28 days preceding the marriage ceremony itself. Furthermore, to ensure both parties are making a fully informed decision, they should collect and exchange financial documents such as bank statements so it’s clear what their respective financial positions are – and what they could be entitled to in the case of a divorce. Each party should also receive independent legal advice so they fully understand the consequences of entering into the agreement. It may seem a rather unromantic topic to discuss, but having a pre-nuptial agreement in place can save parties a considerable amount of money and stress if the marriage does break down at some point in the future. Couples will obviously hope they’ll never need to rely on it, but as with car and home insurance, simply knowing that it’s there (just in case) can bring some degree of reassurance and security. And then you can get on with enjoying your wedding day! For help with this or any other legal issue, please contact us today for an initial consulation on 01553 666600, visit our website, or e-mail info@ fraserdawbarns.com DANIEL SIMS Trainee Solicitor, Family

FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 21 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW Tel: 01553 666600 Fax: 01553 767221 DX: 57800 KINGS LYNN Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: info@fraserdawbarns.com

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PICTURES: LEARNING RESOURCES / IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: Learning Resources’ mission is to help kids love to learn – with award-winning toys such as Botley the coding robot, which was launched earlier this year and was featured on BBC Breakfast

Supplying toys around the world from King’s Lynn Learning Resources is the top manufacturer of educational toys in the UK, but it may come as a surprise for many to learn that the UK oﬃce of the global company is based right here in King’s Lynn

earning Resources has been the leader in educational toys for over 30 years, with more than 1,000 diﬀerent products sold in over 80 countries around the world. Its UK oﬃce is based on the North Lynn Industrial Estate, where 35 employees work hard to supply toys to children across the globe – but how did it all begin? Learning Resources is a familyowned company that was founded 35

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years ago in a suburb of Chicago called Vernon Hills in Illinois, USA. Three decades later, the son of the original founder is the current president of the company, and his son also works for the business. Initially the company was suppling laboratory equipment, and when they realised that many schools were buying their products they created a dedicated distributor company for schools. The success of that led to the company becoming a manufacturer, producing

products speciﬁcally aimed at schools – and Learning Resources USA was born. At the time, Dennis Blackmore was working in Cambridge for a UK company called LDA, where he imported products from Learning Resources US to sell to the UK market. He soon built a successful relationship with the American business. “I really liked the products, and I approached Learning Resources to see if we could become the exclusive

KLmagazine August 2018

ABOVE: The UK base of Learning Resources on the North Lynn Industrial Estate in King’s Lynn. Collectibles are hugely popular with children, which is why Learning Resources created Beaker Creatures (below), where science meets collectibles in a fun way

distributor of their products in Europe,” he says. “At the same time, they were looking to set up a European operation to sell their products on this side of the Atlantic, so they offered me the position of setting up the UK company.” Dennis left his job at LDA in 1994 and initially ran the new UK base of Learning Resources from his home in King’s Lynn. “I actually ran it from my dining room and kept the samples in the garage.” he says. “I can even remember going to the post office on my bicycle to send out catalogues to prospective customers.” But after only six months the company was growing quickly, and Dennis acquired premises on the Hardwick Road Industrial Estate just outside King’s Lynn. Learning Resources continued to prosper each year, with the UK base eventually supplying to some 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. In 2012, Dennis and his team of around 25 employees moved to an office on King’s Lynn’s North Lynn Industrial Estate, and that’s

KLmagazine August 2018

been their home ever since. The UK division of Learning Resources now has 35 employees and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year – an incredible achievment for a business that began with one man in his home.

But did Dennis ever imagine his small business would become the global success it is today? “Deﬁnitely not,” he laughs. “The main question was whether it would work. We were importing educational products from the United States and

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Local Life

ABOVE: The Learning Resources team head to Nuremberg in Germany every year to showcase their products at the world’s largest toy fair

selling them to UK and European schools, and there were lots of challenges because there are so many diﬀerences in spellings and the curriculum, so we had to make quite a lot of changes.” But one of the changes took Dennis by surprise more than most. “I would never have foreseen the move we’ve made into the retail market,” he says. “We realised that parents were ordering from the catalogues we provided to schools – and that led us to believe there was an opportunity to successfully sell our products to the retail market.” Learning Resources now supplies to major retailers including Amazon, Hamleys, John Lewis, Jarrolds, Fenwicks and the nationwide chain of Toymaster shops. So what’s the secret behind Learning Resources’ success? “Increasingly we’ve seen that parents want their children to have good quality educational toys,” says Dennis. “We conducted some research that identiﬁed 66% of parents saying that educating their children is their primary concern.” And it’s refreshing to learn that Dennis and his business have resisted going down the digital learning path. “Everything we do is founded on hands-on learning,” he says. “We believe that for children to learn, physical and mental interaction is very

important – and the best way to learn is through play.” Learning Resources has received many awards over the years, which is testament to the quality and educational value of their toys. One of the most successful to date is Botley the coding robot – an award-winning toy launched earlier this year that teaches children as young as ﬁve critical coding skills. The screen-free toy was selected from thousands at the 2018 London Toy Fair to feature on BBC Breakfast – and saw Dennis being interviewed by presenter Steph McGovern. “We are delighted that both the toy fair and BBC Breakfast recognised Botley’s special qualities and potential,” says Dennis. “Botley is both fun and educational in the tradition of all our toys and games – and one of its most innovative features is that Botley’s usefulness grows as the child’s learning grows.” Dennis is proud to provide employment in the local area, and he’s always found high quality people to join his growing team. He’s also passionate about supporting local projects, and over the years has helped renovate North Wootton Primary School’s Nature Area, made donations to the QEII hospital, sponsored a student’s trip to the Galapagos Islands

ABOVE: Dennis Blackmore was interviewed by presenter Steph McGovern and appeared on BBC Breakfast in January 2018 with Learning Resources’ award-winning new toy Botley the coding robot

to undertake wildlife conservation work – and the team at Learning Resources do a charity walk every year to raise funds for positive causes. “We’re always interested in helping the local community in areas of education,” says Dennis. “We’ve always believed that what we do makes a real diﬀerence to children’s lives.”

ABOVE: Learning Resources’ Cash Register is one of the most successful toys and has been popular for nearly 30 years!

51a Bergen Way, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2JG Telephone: 08452 410484 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, excluding Public Holidays) Web: www.learningresources.co.uk E-mail: customerservice@learning-resources.co.uk

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PICTURES: JAMIE MCKERROW MAXWELL

Local Arts

ABOVE: Successful local photographer Jamie Maxwell has recently expanded his creative talents by entering the ﬁeld of children’s illustration – and it’s been an exciting move, seeing him illustrate Dr Mandy Hartley’s ﬁrst two books in her The DNA Detectives series

Jamie moves from taking pictures to drawing them Distinctive, visually striking and full of charming detail is something we’ve come to expect from the photography of Jamie Maxwell – but it’s also true of his illustrative work, as Abigail Brown discovers

uring his successful career as a photographer he’s worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Sainsbury’s and travelled everywhere from the Sahara to Vietnam. But while King’s Lynn’s Jamie McKerrow Maxwell is best known for his work behind the camera lens, he’s now branching out into the world of illustration, and has recently worked on two locally-written children’s books aimed at encouraging youngsters to take up science as a career. Flicking through his Instagram feed

KLmagazine August 2018

and the images on his website, it’s not hard to see why Jamie’s drawings have already gained such widespread recognition. He’s made a big jump from his camera-driven comfort zone to the exciting (but slightly unknown) territory of illustration – but it’s paid oﬀ handsomely. KL MAGAZINE: Last time we spoke to you it was all about your photography – why has illustration become the focus of your work now? JAMIE MAXWELL: I’ve been happy as a photographer for a long time, but felt I

needed something that took me away from hours of working on a computer, so I picked up some paper and paints and went from there. It coincided with the birth of my daughter Hope, and when she was born I assumed that moving into children’s illustration would be impossible, but it had the opposite eﬀect. I’ve become way better at managing my time, and I think she’s actually encouraged me to be truer to myself with it. Also, now she’s two we can draw together – although for obvious

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Local Arts I received some great feedback and ended up getting the job. The book is very close to Mandy’s heart as the main characters are based on her own children so it was quite nerve-wracking to hand over my work, but I really enjoyed the challenge. The second book was only published last month and I’m really pleased with how things have gone. It’s been a huge honour to be a part of the project and Mandy’s done a fantastic job. It’s the ﬁrst ﬁction book series for 7-12 year olds where children use DNA to solve crimes. It’s educational for children (and adults!) as it teaches them about DNA, cells and forensic science in an enjoyable way. KL MAGAZINE: How and where do you like to work? JAMIE MAXWELL: Much like Ernest Hemingway and his typewriter, I’ve discovered I work much better standing up! I have a space with a tall desk next to where I work on my photography, and I also have a shed I lock myself in when I need to concentrate and the house is too hectic. I like to work from home so I can dip in and out rather than focus for hours.

reasons her work at the moment is indecipherable carnage! KL MAGAZINE: Is illustration something you’ve always been interested in? JAMIE MAXWELL: Deﬁnitely! I have a very clear memory of my dad bringing home a huge stack of plain card and pens from the old Berol building in King’s Lynn, and I started drawing nonstop. I was quite shy when I was young and really only liked drawing for myself. Plus I had high expectations of my drawings even then – so it’s taken a little while to get back to the simple enjoyment of it. KL MAGAZINE: Why choose to focus on children’s illustration in particular? JAMIE MAXWELL: Now I’m a father myself my outlook has probably shifted, but I’ve always loved picture books. I had a Richard Scarry book given to me when I was young and I was obsessed with it. I looked at it so much it practically fell to pieces! KL MAGAZINE: The captions on your illustrations posted to Instagram often include poems – what’s the story behind them? JAMIE MAXWELL: I put them on for

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amusement more than anything, but I’m keen to write as well as illustrate for children – so it’s a case of testing the water and seeing what and how I like to write. Writing and illustrating obviously go hand-in-hand, so ideally I want to be in a place where I’m conﬁdent at both disciplines. In the long scheme of things, it’s just nice to be doing something I can share with my daughter and help her learning.

KL MAGAZINE: What have you got in store for the future? JAMIE MAXWELL: I’m hoping there’s still a lot planned for The DNA Detectives series, but there’s endless potential in terms of other books, school learning and e-learning – and I’m currently working on some ideas to potentially sell prints on my website. Next year I’ll be concentrating on some picture book ideas I’ve had on the back burner for a while – so watch this space! You can take a look at more examples of Jamie’s work on his website at www.jamiemckerrowmaxwell.com

KL MAGAZINE: Now you’ve had experience of both, do you prefer photography or illustration? JAMIE MAXWELL: They’re two completely diﬀerent disciplines. As much as you can have a unique style with photography, you’re still working with what’s already there – whereas illustration starts with a blank canvas so it all comes from you. I certainly feel a greater emotional attachment to the illustration work. KL MAGAZINE: You’ve recently illustrated two children’s books written by Mandy Hartley – how did that come about? JAMIE MAXWELL: I heard about the book through a friend and decided to put some work forward. To my surprise,

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The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

his month is the 60th anniversary of the first parking meters being installed in the UK, and only two years later ‘parking enforcement’ as we know and love it began, as the first wave of traffic wardens marched onto the streets of Britain. Admittedly it was only a small wave (there were only 40 traffic wardens in the whole country) but they still managed to inspire fear and fascination in equal measure with their distinctive militarystyle uniforms and their power to dish out £2 fines to law-breaking motorists. On September 19th 1960, the very first parking ticket was issued to a certain Dr Thomas Creighton in London, who parked his Ford Popular outside a West End hotel to answer an emergency call concerning a guest who’d had a heart attack. There was a public outcry and the good doctor was subsequently let off the fine. It wasn’t a great start for the traffic wardens. And the public’s attitude hasn’t got much better since – although plenty of other things have changed. Since parking enforcement was decriminalised in the 1990s and the role was taken on by local authorities, ‘traffic wardens’ have been replaced by Civil Enforcement Officers and there are now almost 20,000 of them. Parking tickets are now called Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and they’ll now set you back as much as £70 – or £130 if you live in London. Last year, the City of Westminster alone (which only covers 13 square miles) issued half a million PCNs at a rate of almost 1,400 a day, which generated over £69 million and a surplus of £30 million. But it wouldn’t shock Dr Creighton to hear that CEOs still occasionally get it wrong, and that around 60% of all 114

appeals against PCNs are successful. And it’s not surprising. Meet Gary, a friend of mine who lives in the same village. Gary isn’t his real name, of course, and his desire to remain anonymous is understandable given the amount of verbal and even physical attacks CEO’s are regularly subjected to. Although he enjoys his work (no funny comments please) he admits that it’s a pretty thankless task. He’s also in the habit of repeatedly pointing out that parking restrictions are there for a very good reason, but that some of his fellow CEOs don’t exactly help their cause. Take the CEO who slapped a £120 fine on a hearse while it was loading a coffin at a funeral, or the one who saw people queuing for the National Blood Service. He crept around to the front of the mobile unit in Sutton and ‘donated’ in his own unique way – by sticking a ticket on the windscreen. Unfair possibly, but hardly unbelievable – unlike the case of retired Yorkshire blacksmith Robert McFarland, who found a ticket on his horse Charlie Boy, who was taking tourists on horsedriven tours around the area. Under “vehicle description” the attendant had written “brown horse.” Gary is quick to point out that it wasn’t actually the horse that got the ticket – if harnessed to something with wheels, then it’s classed as a vehicle and can be treated accordingly. But even Gary finds it difficult to justify the case of Nicky Clegg from Pershore, however. She was driving home in Worcestershire when a tree toppled over and crushed her car. Happily, she escaped unhurt and police officers safely dragged her car to the roadside. Where it was duly ticketed by a rather over-enthusiastic CEO.

And take Manchester pet shop owner Cliff Chamberlain. He quickly moved his delivery van before a female CEO could ticket it. Undeterred, however, she promptly walked into his shop and put a ticket on a rabbit hutch. “She tried to give it to a boy who works for me,” said Cliff. “He refused as he can’t even drive. The warden then slammed it on the hutch. It’s ridiculous – it hasn’t even got wheels.” And spare a thought for poor old Fred Holt, a pensioner who was held hostage in his local bank during a robbery. Yes, he received a ticket – despite CEOs being told not to issue any by police officers at the scene. It seems there’s no stopping some of them. In 2003, CEO Damien (by name and nature, I fancy) Smethurst managed to hand out the most tickets ever in a single shift when he managed to nail 101 cars, totalling over £8,080. The only problem was that he issued them on a bank holiday, which meant 84 of the tickets were invalid. “That’s exactly what gives CEOs a bad name,” says Gary, shaking his head. And if the evidence of the past 60 years is anything to go by, that name isn’t likely to get any better soon.

KLmagazine August 2018