ISSN 2044–7965
ISSUE 96 SEPTEMBER 2018 PRICELESS
magazine
WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL
COVER IMAGE Cley Windmill 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 Alison Gifford Noel McGivern 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.
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he glorious Jacobean architecture of Felbrigg Hall (above) has been in the care of the National Trust for almost 50 years now, and the estate covers some 1,760 acres, most of which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Later this month, Felbrigg’s ‘Hall at Harvest’ festival (see page 66) will serve as a timely reminder that although we’ve enjoyed a particularly hot summer over the last few weeks, those long sunny days are about to come to a close. There’s nothing wrong with dark skies, however. Just ask former electrician Shaun Reynolds, whose ‘accidental’ hobby of astro-photography has seen him travel around the world in a attempt the capture the Milky Way and the wonders of the universe from different perspectives – from Happisburgh to New Zealand. You can read about his adventures and see some examples of his breathtaking work on page 104 of this month’s magazine. One thing Shaun’s not short of is patience – a single image can take him up to 30 hours to capture from the darkness – and that’s a virtue more than familiar to most train passengers. If you love the railways but aren’t so keen on standing about on platforms for hours you’ll appreciate meeting the members of the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club. Their small-scale layouts, attention to detail are quite astonishing (see page 34) – and they’re a very friendly bunch too. And while we’re on the subject of small-scale vehicles, don’t miss the Searles Sop Box Derby in Hunstanton on September 23rd – a fun-filled day that continues a seaside tradition that started way back in the 1950s. You can enjoy a preview of the event on page 86. As the summer draws to an end there’s still plenty to enjoy in this beautiful part of the world – and you’ll find plenty of inspiration in the following pages to make the most of September. Enjoy the magazine and we’ll see you again next month. KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine September 2018
Contents
SEPTEMBER 2018
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6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events
56-62 FASHION Inspirational ideas from our local boutiques
8-10 ONE AMAZING TOWN IN ONE DAY A preview of this year’s Heritage Open Day
66-68 WELCOME TO THE HALL AT HARVEST A seasonal treat for visitors to Felbrigg Hall
14-16 TREASURES AND TROPHIES Celebrating the man who created Holkham
70-79 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations
18 MAKING YOUR HOME WORK FOR YOU Welcome to the world of Core Technology
77 RESTAURANT REVIEW The Rajasthan Indian restaurant in King’s Lynn
20-22 HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE MINSTER Safeguarding our heritage for the future
80-82 IS THIS THE BEST-EVER CHUTNEY? We enjoy a taste of The Garden Pantry
26-28 AIMING HIGH FOR GOOD CAUSES We enjoy a charity shoot with Holts Auctioneers
86-88 HUNSTANTON IN POLE POSITION Looking forward to the Searles Soap Box Derby
34-36 ON TIME AND ON TRACK... Meeting the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club
92-94 DANDY, DUELLIST AND DEFENDER The rather colourful life of George Bentinck
41 YOU AND YOUR PETS With London Road Veterinary Centre
98-100 SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS The audio visual wizardry of Tim Ward
42-44 SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN Expert help and advice with Wendy Warner
104-106 STARGAZING WITH A CAMERA How Shaun Reynolds photographs the universe
46 THEN AND NOW The changing face of West Norfolk
110-112 MYTH, FEMINISM AND ART... The thought-provoking work of Christine Pike
50-52 THIS LAND IS OUR LAND Why we need to protect our common land
114 MICHAEL MIDDLETON Why we’re all getting fed up with the B-word
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Discover who
you are...
WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING (for pupils aged 318)
Image: Recent produc on of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 10:00 12:30
With dedicated bus routes across Norfolk, Cambs and Lincs, we’re closer than you think!
CONTACT US: 01945 586750
admissions@wisbechgrammar.com
September
Wednesday 19th & Monday 24th
THE SELECTED ANTIQUES & GENERAL AUCTION AND THE SCALE MODELS & COLLECTABLE TOYS AUCTION Downham Market Auction Rooms, 15 Lynn Road, Downham Market PE38 9NL (Both auctions start from 10am) Barry L Hawkins is a family business that has been providing independent expert advice since 1850. Offering a confidential and professional service for private and corporate clients. Based in Downham Market regular Antique and General auctions are held in the historic sale rooms providing the perfect base to host auctions bringing together both local and international buyers. This month they are hosting two specialist auctions: the Selected Antiques & General Auction on Wednesday 19th September from 10am and; the Scale Models & Collectable Toys Auction on Monday 24th September at 10am. For more information for the specific auctions visit www.barryhawkins.co.uk
Saturday 29th
WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING (FOR PUPILS AGED 3-18) Wisbech Grammar (10-12:30) You are warmly invited to come along to Wisbech Grammar School to discover what makes it unique in offering an all-round education that inspires. The school believes that academic success is not simply confined to the classroom or laboratory but can be found in the art rooms, dance and drama studios, sports fields and music rooms. Their extensive co-curricular programme allows their pupils to experience new opportunities and discover their own passions; this builds confidence and personal development, and encourages a positive attitude to learning. To find out more about Wisbech Grammar visit the website www.wisbechgrammar.com.
KLmagazine September 2018
Sunday 16th WEST NORFOLK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION HERITAGE OPEN DAY EXHIBITION Fermoy Gallery, St. Georges Courtyard, off King Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EU (10am-4pm) Members of the West Norfolk Artists Association, in partnership with the Kings Lynn Festival, are running FREE Workshops and Demonstrations during the day to help promote the use of the Galleries for the visual arts and cultural life of the community. Drop in Demonstrations include: Tom Sharp, Magical Morphing modelling skills with plasticine to build a heritage day sculpture. Helena Anderson, Painting on Silk – a chance to see and try this unusual form of painting. Maxine Byron, Painting after a Stroke showing the benefit of art as an aid to recovery. Cynthia Jackson, Heritage Photo Treasure Trail - Bring your camera and make a banner. Esther Boehm, PVA Photo Printing - print an image and create a collage. Jo Halpin Jones, Restoring Photos using digital software insights into photoshop. Workshops include: John & Helen Walker – Create a stunning mosaic (10am-12noon) and Kit Price Moss Handmade prints without a Press (2pm-4pm). Booking is essential for these workshops, call 01553 767557 to book. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Please check the WNAA website for full details www.westnorfolkartists.org.
Wednesday 17th October
NEXT MONTH!
LADIES DAY The Assembly Rooms, Swaffham (10am-3pm) Love fashion? Then why not come to a fantastic Fashion Show hosted by Artichoke with lunch, fizz and special guest speaker; British designer James Lakeland. All in in aid of Neuroblastoma UK (fighting childhood cancer). Tickets are only £30 (cash only) and can be purchased from Artichoke (01760 724948). Tickets include morning coffee and homemade biscuits, the fashion show, lunch, fizz, and a goodie bag from James Lakeland! There will also be a raffle and stall selling interiors treats from Bam & Arrow at Strattons.
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KLmagazine September 2018
September & coming soon...
September & October
Now until December! OKTOBERFEST BEERS AT BEERS OF EUROPE Beers of Europe, Garage Lane, Setchey, King's Lynn PE33 0BE Every year, 6 million people flock to the fields outside Munich to enjoy the world’s biggest beer festival Oktoberfest. Munich’s most popular breweries produce a special Oktoberfest beer for the event which is scarcely available in the UK. Whilst the festival starts on the 22nd of September, the beers have already arrived to Beers of Europe, (Britain’s biggest online beer retailer) making them the first place in the country to stock the sought-after Munich beers. Beers of Europe have the Oktoberfest beers from five of the six biggest Munich breweries, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. The beers will be available in several formats, including a mixed 12 box, a mixed 24 box, 2 bottles with a stein as well as on their own. The beers are seasonal and will likely only be in stock until December. For more information and to purchase the beers you can either shop in their Setchey store or visit the website www.beersofeurope.co.uk.
Wednesday 17th October
FIZZ & FASHION The Red Barn, College Lane, South Runcton, King's Lynn PE33 0EX (3pm) Cindy’s of Sutton Bridge is staging a fabulous Autumn Fashion Show for the NSPCC Downham Market branch. Tickets are £20 per person and are limited so to avoid disappointment book yours now by contacting Gill on 01366 388645.
KLmagazine September 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.
Friday 5th October
MARBLE HALL CONCERT: SACCONI QUARTET Marble Hall, Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1AB (7pm) Enjoy chamber music and opera at its finest in the perfect setting of the Marble Hall at Holkham. The quartet is now in its 17th year and ranks high among the most established British string quartets. Their programme brings together three of the greatest string quartets. This should be a memorable evening. For more information and tickets visit the website www.holkham.co.uk.
3rd - 16th October
EMILY ROSE FINE ART, DEBUT WILDLIFE EXHIBITION: ‘FIRST FLIGHT’ Cley Marshes Visitors Centre, Cley next the Sea, Holt NR25 7SA Emily Rose is a brand new face on the Norfolk wildlife art scene and her young talent holds much promise for what is to come. She specialises in pastel paintings of local wildlife, from Avocets to Hares, Swallows to Spoonbills and you will feel as though you are face to face with nature through her exquisite rendering of British wildlife. This October, will be the first opportunity to acquire wildlife paintings by the young artist. For more information please visit www.emilyrosefineart.co.uk.
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
Discover one incredible town in one special day... There are few towns in England that can boast such a wealth of historic treasures as King’s Lynn. Alison Gifford looks forward to this year’s Heritage Open Day and the doors it opens on the past
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n the early 18th century, the famous writer, journalist, trader, pamphleteer and spy Daniel Defoe described King’s Lynn as ‘beautiful, well-built and wellsituated” – and in spite of much poor modern building, it remains the most beautiful town in Norfolk. The walk from Nelson Street to True’s Yard was described by the poet John Betjeman (an admirer of Lynn in general) as one of the finest in England. while Nikolaus Pevsner, author of the seminal work The Buildings of England introduced the town as follows – “the historic core of King’s Lynn is delightful” – and a lot of the rest isn’t
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too bad either. All our historic buildings were new once, and the Civic Society works with the planning system to ensure future generations will admire the buildings of today as we admire the buildings from the past. We also want Lynn to remain prosperous, and believe that an attractive, clean and busy town contributes to a healthy and happy local population – and also attracts visitors. Heritage Open Day 2018 is an invitation to enjoy our lovely town and have an interesting and fun day at the same time – and takes place on Sunday 16th September from 10am to 4pm. Heritage Open Days are part of a
national organisation, with towns and cities all over England and Wales taking part and all kinds of organisations registering buildings and events – with thousands of volunteers giving up their time. One of the most important things is that it’s free, making it a great day out for families when admissions to museums and tourist attractions can be prohibitively expensive. I don’t think any other town has a Heritage Open Day quite like King’s Lynn. We open everything for just one day, whereas most towns have different events spread over four days – which gives a very different feeling to the Open Days.
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It would be impossible to do everything in one day, so the programme really helps you to plan, and you should check opening times in particular. One of the contrasts on the day is going underground and then looking out over the expanse of the Wash and river from a tower. Visiting Clifton House crypt then climbing the Tudor tower and visiting the large cool wine cellars at Bank House can be followed by a tower tour at the Minster. Little hidden places are also a delight – so the nearby Priory Cottage gardens and secret gardens of Hampton Court should certainly be visited. Our maritime heritage starts with the river and the Coastal Rowers’ 9.30am race. As the tide is early that morning, it’s a good way to start the day, and the best time to take the ferry for a little river trip – or for a much longer cruise into the Wash on the recently-restored Baden Powell. True’s Yard and the Greenland Fishery are also contrasts in our maritime history – from tiny fisherfolk cottages to a grand Jacobean mansion where you’re really in for a treat if you like whales! 19 Tuesday Market Place has retained so many historic architectural features that it’s a genuine joy to visit – it’s much bigger than it looks from the front, and the coloured glass in the stairwell alone always excites comment. St George’s Yard has a whole raft of
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artistic events planned for the day, and Hanse House will be full of music and drama – with a talk by Dr Paul Richards at 11am entitled ‘Who lived in Lynn’s famous Hanse House? A People’s History since 1475.’ The private residence ‘Friarscot’ is an unexpected gem full of character which really deserves a visit – and a new addition to the programme 3 Ferry Lane will certainly be popular as it is hosting the King’s Lynn Photographic Club’s annual exhibition. Two private houses in
Queen Street are also open; No.15 is the headquarters of the King’s Lynn Civic Society and No.21 ‘One Year On’ is a successful renovation that’s turned two flats into one house. A stroll to the Walks, calling in at St John’s Church and the London Road Methodist Chapel before visiting the unique Red Mount, will explore three different and contrasting religious buildings. The Phoenix Warlords in Action is a fascinating family attraction, as is the nearby miniature train brought in and run by the King’s Lynn Model Engineers Society. The King’s Lynn Town Band will be in the bandstand from 2-4pm, and as the event covers the entire town remember to take advantage of the free vintage buses to get around. When I started running Heritage Open Day as Chairman of the Civic Society we only opened about 12 buildings and I had to photocopy the programme while Mrs Jean Tuck (now a Vice President of the Civic Society) sorted out the volunteers. A few years later, the Borough Council offered to take on the graphics, printing and distribution which made a huge difference – we now print some 11,000 programmes. The buses from the Eastern Transport Collection (a registered educational charity which keeps these old vehicles running) have also helped transform the event. Over the years, we’ve added musicians, actors, dancers, and even a Heritage Market on the Saturday Market Place. In 2013, a Classic Car event joined in and we’re well used to each other now. Heritage Open Day relies entirely on volunteers to open buildings and to act as stewards – these vital people come forward year after year to give time so others can enjoy our fantastic town and all it has to offer. However, running such a large programme is a big commitment. Although dozens of people are involved every year (some blow up balloons and some take guided walks), I’ve been the main co-ordinator of the event for ten years and have now organised my last one. So it’s goodbye from me – but it’s certainly not goodbye to Heritage Open Day, which will continue to highlight the incredible architectural and cultural gems of this quite beautiful town for many years to come. You can pick up a programme for this year’s Heritage Open Day from the Tourist Information Office at the Custom House, museums and libraries – or telephone 01553 763044 to have one posted to you. KLmagazine September 2018
BARRY L HAWKINS Independent Auctioneer and Land Agent
Selected Antiques & General Sale
Wednesday 19th September
Viewings: Saturday 15th September 10am-1pm Tuesday 18th September 12noon-6pm
Scale Models & Collectable Toys Sale Monday 24st September
Viewings: Friday 21st September 12noon-6pm Saturday 22nd September 12noon-6pm
Bid live online at: www.the-saleroom.com
Downham Market Auction Rooms www.barryhawkins.co.uk | 01366 387180 The Estate Office, 15 Lynn Road, Downham Market PE38 9NL
September What’s On Show times all at 7:30pm unless stated Sat 1st Thurs 6th
The Quo Experience Feat Matt Letley Incredible Status Quo tribute act with former drummer
If It’s Laughter You’re After•2.30pm A fabulous show full of music, fun and frolics
Thurs Julie: National Theatre Live Broadcast •7pm 6th Starring Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) & Eric Kofi Abrefa
Wed The Merry Wives of Windsor - RSC •7pm 12th Live broadcast direct from Stratford-Upon-Avon
Thurs La Boheme - Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour•7pm 13th Puccini’s beloved classic - experience love, laughter and loss Fri The Bohemians – Queen’s Greatest Hits Tour 14th A Comprehensive re-enactment of Queens Greatest Hits
Sat 15th Sun 16th
Bye Bye Baby
A Celebration of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
An Evening with Aggers
Join Aggers as he takes us on a trip down memory lane
Thurs Michael English with special guest Brendan Shine 20th A musical talent playing both his "red piano" & accordion Sat 22nd
An Evening with Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne Live Q&A with an English Football legend
Sun Sing Baby Sing & A Celebration of Kool & The Gang 23rd Celebrating the sounds of two iconic soul groups
Tues The Merry Widow – Australian Ballet 2018•7pm 25th A lively tale set in the ballrooms of Belle Époque Paris Thurs 27th Fri 28th
King Lear : NTL Broadcast•7pm
Ian McKellen’s ‘extraordinarily moving portrayal’ of King Lear
Magic The Tour
Magic and illusion from the Dark Ages to the 21st century
Sat Some Guys Have All The Luck – The Rod Stewart Story 29th Celebrating the career of one of rocks greatest icons Sun 30th
The Stars Of Irish Country Show
Join four of Ireland’s favourite Country Music Stars
For ticket prices, more info & to book visit the website:
www.princesshunstanton.co.uk or call the Box Office: 01485 532252
The Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton PE36 5AH KLmagazine September 2018
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PICTURES: HOLKHAM HALL
Local Life
ABOVE: The magnificent exterior of Holkham Hall – built to house the newly-acquired library, art and sculpture collection amassed by Thomas Coke during his Grand Tour of Europe. Opposite is the portrait of Coke painted by the Italian painter Francesco Trevisani
Treasures and trophies and a real local jewel An exhibition at Holkham Hall is celebrating 300 years since its builder Thomas Coke returned from a famous grand tour of Europe. Abigail Brown looks at the life of the first Earl of Leicester
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olkham Hall sits imposingly in the centre of some 25,000 acres of privately owned land and is just a stone’s throw from a beach recently voted as the best in the UK. The estate boasts a deer park, the world famous Holkham National Nature Reserve and beach, a thriving collection of businesses that employ more than 250 people and the magnificent hall itself. This 18th century masterpiece, built between 1734 and 1764, not only proves popular with visitors to the county, but is also a much-loved and lived-in family home.
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As a member of the Treasure Houses group (along with Chatsworth House and Howard Castle) Holkham is considered one of the ten foremost stately homes in the country today. It all started with Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester. Born in June 1697, Coke’s adolescent years saw him described as something of a tyrant, tempted by gambling and cockfighting – and his father and greataunt offered him £500 not to go to university, as they regarded them as dens of iniquity. Coke took the 18th century equivalent of a ‘gap’ year, spending no
less than six years on a Grand Tour travelling Europe and ‘finding himself’. In fact, it’s remembered as one of the longest and most influential Grand Tours of all – seeing Coke travel through France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Low Countries – accumulating rare manuscripts and works of art. In Rome he met Richard Boyle and William Kent, and enlisted both on his return to Norfolk when he started planning a mansion combining the building styles and artistic techniques he’d fallen in love with duing his European adventure.
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Unfortunately, Coke died in April 1759, five years before the completion of one of England’s finest examples of the Palladian architecture – but since it’s now 300 years since he returned to Holkham after his Grand Tour, the hall is celebrating by putting on a special exhibition called Treasures and Trophies – the Making of a Gentleman and a Great House. Whilst exploring the magnificent state rooms, the exhibition also allows visitors to learn of the stories of Thomas’ journey – and how it turned a rebellious adolescent into a talented architect in the making and the immense collection of paintings, statues, drawings, rare books and manuscripts he picked up along the way. Treasures and Trophies sheds light on the relationship shared between Thomas and the influential people he met – such as William Kent, who was known for his landscape architecture and furniture designs. Since meeting in Rome, Kent and Coke became lifelong friends and it was Kent who initially helped Thomas form the ‘temple of the arts’ vision for the mansion that is Holkham Hall. The story and history are brought to life via plenty of visitor interaction. Children and adults have the chance to
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immerse themselves in the life of Thomas Coke – you can dress up in costume, create a mini Palladian building from blocks, learn about and see the food he ate and discover the studio of Italian painter Francesco Trevisani, where Coke sat posing for his portrait – a portrait that now hangs proudly in the hall’s Manuscript Library. The event also includes a rare opportunity to take a closer look at some samples from Holkham’s incredible collection of manuscripts. Exhibition curator and archivist Lucy Purvis is leading a guided tour of the exhibition, whilst talking her way through Thomas Coke’s tour and exploring how his ideas shaped Holkham. Book lovers will be especially interested in a talk by Dr. Laura Nuvoloni, leading expert in manuscripts and incunabula (early printed books generally dating from before 1501). As manuscript curator at Holkham, she’ll be delving deep into the hall’s manuscript and early book collection, focusing on the medieval and early modern editions in the library. In addition, visitors to Holkham will have the opportunity to uncover renowned landscape gardener Humphry Repton’s work on the estate park – with 2018 marking the 200th
anniversary of Repton’s death. Repton is frequently referred to as one of the best-loved luminaries of English garden history, and Holkham’s celebration of the man’s work offers a detailed insight into his important work in Norfolk. Entry to Treasures and Trophies is included in visits to Holkham Hall. The main season runs until 31st October, and the hall is open on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from 12noon– 4pm. Adult tickets (which also include entry to the Field to Fork Experience and the walled garden) cost £16 – and children’s tickets (5–16 years) cost £8. For more information visit the website at www.holkham.co.uk
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Making your home and business work for you! Core Technology in King’s Lynn is at the leading edge of technology, making your home smarter and your business more efficient...
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here's no doubt that we’re living in the golden age of technology. In little more than 20 years, we’ve gone from using corded phones for our communications to carrying powerful tiny computers in our pockets capable of dozens of functions. But if smartphones were the major innovation of the 2000s, the next big step is the development of smart homes; where your thermostat, lights, audio speakers, TVs, security cameras, locks, appliances and much more are all controlled from your smartphone or through a mobile touch screen device. Even when you’re not there. It’s the cutting edge of technology,
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and a King’s Lynn based company is at the very front of it. When Jim Garrett launched Core Technology in 2013, it was based on a simple desire to go the extra mile for his customers. He’d spent the previous 12 years in the telecommunications industry working on a number of large local projects (including the installation of network and security systems for Palm Paper), and felt it was time to bring the latest technology right into people’s homes and businesses. “That’s the reason I chose the name for the company,” he says. “The ‘core’ of something is its centre, and that’s what we focus on – delivering innovation to every part of your life, making it more
convenient, more efficient and more enjoyable.” Much the same applies to your commercial life as well, with meeting rooms and boardrooms featuring supersized touchscreens and multiple video conferencing, together with full cabling infrastructure. And it’s not on a small scale either – Core Technology recently installed a mammoth 20ft wide 25screen video wall for Tesco. Over the last five years, it’s hardly surprising Core Technology has grown to comprise a fully-qualified and highlyexperienced team of technicians and engineers, moving to new premises in King’s Lynn towards the end of last year – premises that feature a fully
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operational office, demonstration suite and dedicated showroom. It’s a fascinating showcase of exactly what Core Technology can bring to your home and business. “Its hard to quantify exactly what we offer because it entirely depends on what the customer requires,” says Jim. “Some people want full automation throughout their property while others simply want to be able to remotely access a single security camera. At the end of the day, we can design, install and commission a system that makes your home work for you – with you in control 24 hours a day, wherever you are.” And it’s quite incredible what today’s technology enables you to do. Imagine going on holiday and your home automatically repeating your daily activities such as turning on the TV, lights and sprinkler system, closing the blinds or opening Velux windows at the times you want. Imagine a home that automatically responds to sudden changes in temperature by opening or closing windows as necessary. And
imagine having an unannounced visitor come to your home while you’re on the other side of the world – and being able to see them, opening the gates if you’re happy for them to have access. “Smart homes are all about giving you more control,” says Jim. “Not just control over your home, but control over your life. And at Core Technology you’ll find our approach is very smart indeed.” Just have a look at some of Core Technology’s customdesigned home cinema systems for example. Long gone are the days when a 42-inch screen was sufficient. Whether you want it built into a new property, retro-fitted to an existing room or even placed outdoors, Core Technology can ensure you enjoy a true cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home – with screens up to 13ft wide and a vast (and suitably innovative) choice of speakers. “Some people don’t like to see speakers all over the place, especially if they’re in an older property,” says Jim, “so we plaster them into the walls and ceilings to make them invisible – and
the acoustic properties of plasterboard is incredible. We’ve even disguised speakers as picture frames in the past!” And Core Technology has a reassuring message for people unfamiliar with or daunted by new technology. “We look after all the commissioning and aftercare, and we always conduct follow-up visits to ensure everything’s working properly,” says Jim. “We can remotely access your system as well for help and support even when you’re not at home or in the office – and that’s available 24 hours a day.” For someone at the very leading edge of the latest innovations, where does Core Technology see things going next? “I certainly think we’re going to see the introduction of ‘intelligent’ mirrors in the next five years,” says Jim. “They’ll display your appointments for the day and transmit them to your car – which will then drive you there. Kitchens are going to become smarter too. Before very long you’ll be taking things out of the fridge and they’ll be automatically added to your shopping list. There’s no limit to where technology goes next.” As our homes become smarter, our lives are becoming more enjoyable – and as new ideas transform the way we live, Core Technology will continue delivering remarkable innovation to the local area. To discover how Jim and his team can bring the very latest technology to your home or business, please contact Core Technology at the address below for a free initial consultation.
1 APS House, Oldmedow Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn PE30 4JJ t: 01553 776413 w: www.coretechnologyprojects.co.uk e: enquiries@coretechnologyprojects.co.uk
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
How you can help save the Minster for the future It’s been at the heart of the local community for almost a thousand years, but the former St. Margaret’s needs a little help to improve its facilities and ensure its survival, as Clare Bee discovers
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t’s hardly surprising that after 900 years the Minster of King’s Lynn might need a little restoration. When Herbert de Losinga, the first Bishop of Norwich, wrote to the men of Lynn in 1101 that “at your request, I have begun to build a church at Lynn” they probably never imagined that all these centuries later it would still be standing. Of course, only part of the original Norman church still survives – the internal arches of the west towers and base of the exterior southern tower – but many additions have been built
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over the centuries. Two west towers were added early in the middle of the 12th century, but the one to the northwest had to be rebuilt during the 15th century (after it began to lean dangerously due to soft ground) as did the north Choir Clerestory (high level windows) at about the same time. The Minster, originally known as the Priory and Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch, St Mary Magdalene and All the Virgin Saints, had a very impressive spire at one time, which was as high as the church is long. Unfortunately, during a violent storm
on September 2nd 1741, it collapsed and was never replaced. Following the storm, the Nave and Aisles had to be completely rebuilt, and when the Victorians lowered the floor level they discovered the remains of the spire, which had simply been covered over during the original repairs. An octagonal Lantern had also been added to the Crossing Tower during the 15th century, but was then taken down during the rebuilding after the storm. Many famous locals have been associated with the Minster. The great explorer and navigator Captain George
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Local Life
Vancouver was baptised there, and the medieval Christian mystic Margery Kempe belonged to the church and worshipped there. Unusually for a woman of her time, she travelled abroad on a number of pilgrimages, found time to have 14 children, started two businesses, and wrote The Book of Margery Kempe, which is considered to be the first autobiography written in the English language. In addition, the Minster has a wealth of beautiful and historic artefacts. The 15th century lectern featuring an eagle (that was originally richly jewelled) presides over the Choir, and at the west end of the Nave near the font sits a 15th century Polish chest (pictured below) probably imported by Hanseatic traders. In the southeast Aisle can be found the great brasses (pictured above), which date from the 14th century, are probably Flemish in origin, and are the largest in England. The earliest depiction of a windmill features on one of the brasses, and along the bottom can be seen the ‘Peacock Feast’ commemorating the feast given for Edward III on a visit to Lynn. Two local wealthy merchants, Adam de Walsoken and Robert Braunche, appear alongside their wives, and the size and splendour of the brasses show the wealth of Lynn in the Middle Ages. However, it’s the fabric of the building that holds these artefacts and history that’s now at the centre of an ongoing restoration and development appeal. The heart of King’s Lynn’s historic quarter is at risk, and like so many other ancient buildings, the Minster needs a large amount of money to restore it and preserve it to serve 22
future generations. The total cost is estimated to be £840,000, with 90% already raised from donations, fundraising and generous grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, local business and grants from various trusts. But with £70,000 still to find, the appeal is hoping to persuade more local businesses and individuals to dip into their pockets to help raise the remainder. The main restoration and development plans involve repairing decaying ancient stone and glass and providing essential facilities. “Over the last 50 years an awful lot of work has been done on the building, stage-by-stage and bit-by-bit,” says Canon Christopher Ivory, “and all the time people have said that we must provide facilities in here if the building is going to be used to its full potential.” The new facilities will be built within
the northwest tower and porch, with step-free access from external parking bays, toilets, an office and a meeting room. “We’ve had various schemes over the years and we’re now planning to put in a three storey structure here and build the floor level up,” says Chris. “Of course, it’s turned out to be more expensive than we thought as it’s so difficult to construct in this type of building. But we’re nearly there and it’s going to be well worthwhile – it’ll make the building much more usable.” Other work being undertaken includes the installation of a new emergency exit adjacent to the north transept and the repair (or replacement) of the eroded mortar and stonework at the west entrance. The North Porch Parapet needs to be taken down and the upper courses re-bedded, with tiles and lead flashing replaced as necessary. In the North Choir Clerestory, the ornamental stone tracery needs repairing and it’s hoped to replace it where needed with stone from the original quarry. The glass also needs releading, and the current plan is to use the original glass as far as possible. It’s so important to preserve and maintain these ancient buildings if they’re going to continue to be part of our future heritage. Sitting in the heart of historic Lynn, the Minster has served local people through every kind of weather, wars and political and religious uprisings for over 900 years. Visitors come for many reasons – to admire the architecture, to wonder at the excellence of the stone and brass work, or to seek peace and join with others in community and religious events. Once the restoration is complete, the Minster will be able to play an even bigger part in the life of the town, and her future will be safeguarded for future generations. For more information on the Minster and to find out how to donate to the appeal, please see the website at www.stmargaretskingslynn.org.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
Renault CLIO and CAPTUR Celebrating 120 years of Renault
, #620 xss -p* when you test drive a new Renault car
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The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the MY18 cars shown are: urban 44.8 (6.3); extra-urban 58.8 (4.8)–67.3 (4.2); combined 52.3 (5.4)–56.5 (5.0). The official CO2 emissions are 122–113g/km. Figures are produced for comparative purposes in accordance with EU legislation and may not reflect real-life driving results. Equivalent NEDC value obtained from WLTP figures, aiming to reflect a closer representation of the ‘real-world’ fuel consumption and CO2 figures.
*Test drive and order by 1 October and register by 31 December 2018 to qualify for an extra £500 (inclusive of VAT) towards your new Renault car (excludes ZOE and Renault Sport). Limited to one car per person. Only available to retail customers. For full terms and conditions and to qualify, book your test drive at renault.co.uk/drive. *Figures shown for Clio Play TCe 75 MY18 based on £179 deposit, 48 monthly payments of £179, optional final payment £4,280. Figures shown for Captur Play TCe 90 based on £209 deposit, 48 monthly payments of £209, optional final payment £5,059. Finance provided by Renault Finance, PO Box 495, Watford WD17 1BR. Subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. You must be a UK resident (excluding the Channel Islands) and over 18. Offer based on 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage 8p per mile inc VAT. Terms and conditions apply. Offers can be used with other schemes or finance offers. Prices shown are available on specified new vehicles when ordered between 1 August and 1 October and registered by 31 December 2018. For full terms visit renault.co.uk/offers.
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MOTORVOGUE KINGS LYNN Scania Way, Hardwick Industrial Est, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4LP Tel 01553 772644 www.motorvogue.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
Book a test drive 23
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KLmagazine September 2018
Trust your project to the tidiest builders in the world R
Superb quality building work delivered on time and on budget ecently, one of RGR Developments’ customers invited friends and family to their home and astonished everyone by telling them the property was actually in the middle of significant building work at the time. These must be, the customer said, the tidiest builders in the world. They’re also some of the most professional. When Ryan Rix and Gary New pooled their skills and experience in carpentry, extensions and renovation work to form RGR Developments three years ago, they started with a refreshingly different approach. “I think we work very differently to most builders,” says Ryan. “We’re passionate about providing fullydetailed and accurate costings so you can see exactly where your budget is going – and we’re both perfectionists with a huge amount of pride in the quality of the work we do.” RGR Developments have the
KLmagazine September 2018
resources to undertake building projects of any scale – from single window and door replacements to new kitchens, loft conversions, extensions and total renovations. All are characterised by expert and sensiblypriced solutions that make the most of your budget – and your plans. “We work closely with architects and Building Control and will often tailor a build according to how the customers are going to use the space,” says Ryan. “It’s all about thinking ahead so you can address problems before they actually become problems – even to the point of whether cupboards open to the left or the right.” And while RGR Developments can leave you with bare plastered walls if
you prefer, they also offer a complete fully-finished service that includes everything from lighting to staircases, from painting to carpets. Through their use of high quality materials and exceptional levels of workmanship, RGR Developments has already built a strong reputation across Norfolk and around the coast for work of a superbly high standard – delivered efficiently, on time, and on budget. Whether you’re looking to add a small porch to your home or planning to convert a barn into a 3-bedroom home, contact RGR Developments today for an initial consultation about your project and your plans – and meet the most professional, friendliest and tidiest builders in the area.
8 Mill Road, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3BZ tel: 07921 910651 / 07817 941897 website: www.rgrdevelopments.co.uk e-mail: info@rgrdevelopments.co.uk
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Local Life
Aiming high for charity and tradition at Sandringham... Last month, Holts Auctioneers hosted their 15th charity clay shoot and auction – but in addition to promoting Norfolk’s heritage of country pursuits it also managed to raise some £35,000 for charity
I
t was the very essence of a traditional English summer day in Norfolk – a day of unbroken sunshine, the glorious setting of the Sandringham Estate, and almost 200 people maintaining the timehonoured country tradition of shooting. And it was all in the name of charity. At the start of August, Holts Auctioneers hosted their 15th charity clay shoot and auction – attracting a strong field of teams representing the
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very best of the British gun trade and raising some £35,000 for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the local appeal for the church of St. Peter in Wolferton. For the owner of Holts Auctioneers and passionate long-time supporter of country pursuits Nick Holt, it was an opportune time to reflect on just how far the event has come since 2003. “When we first started our charity clay shoot as part of the Sandringham Game
Fair I think we attracted around five teams and raised about £700,” he says. “Thanks to world champion shooter John Bidwell and Sir Marcus O’Lone – who was the Estate Manager for Sandringham at the time – we’ve managed to grow the event to quite amazing proportions. It’s quite incredible to see so many people having so much fun and raising so much money for so many good causes.” Indeed. This year no less than 35
KLmagazine September 2018
teams took part in the event – shooting five simulted drives representing grouse, walked-up partridge, driven pheasant, decoy pigeon and teal. And although it may seem a somewhat esoteric sport, it has a fascinating history. John Hargreaves of Pursuits & Pastimes has been attending the event since it started, and he’s more than willing to explain the origins of clay pigeon shooting. “At first it involved a lot of live pigeons and an equally large amount of gambling,” he says. “It was hugely popular with participants, but it may surprise people to learn that even in the 18th century there was some concern about whether killing live birds should be considered a sport.” It took a while to come up with a solution. Glass balls were popular for a while, but since the resulting broken shards of glass proved hazardous for horses’ feet they were eventually replaced by terracotta – before an American from Ohio called George Ligowsky created the ‘clay pigeon’ as we know it today. “It looks nothing like a pigeon and it’s usually made from a mixture of pitch and pulverized limestone,” says John. “But it was the competitive nature of the sport that mattered – and clay pigeon shooting has been popular for over 100 years now.” But it’s not just the ‘pigeons’ that are steeped in history. The main sponsor of Holts Auctioneers’ charity clay shoot last month was Boss & Co, a bespoke London-based company established by one of the greatest gunmakers of the 19th century. Today, they’re still creating exquisitely-crafted guns which can take almost four years to make – and current owner Arthur DeMoulas was more than
ABOVE: The team from Boss & Co – main sponsors of the Holts Auctioneers charity clay shoot and one of the oldest and most respected gunmakers in the world. From left to right are Struan Brodie, owner Arthur DeMoulas, Jim Brodie and Wilson Young Jr.
ABOVE: John Hargreaves of Pursuits & Pastimes and Teresa Dent, Chief Executive of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
ABOVE: The gamekeeping team on the Sandringham Estate, who helped organise this year’s charity shoot and did a marvellous job of making the event such a resounding success KLmagazine September 2018
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Local Life
happy to take time out from the competition to talk about the event – in which his team eventually came second. “I’ve known Nick Holt for a number of years now and this is a truly phenomenal event,” he says. “It’s so much fun, and the fact we’re raising money for chairty just makes it all the more worthwhile. It’s amazing to see so many people here – and as a company we’re delighted to support the shoot and help promote the tradition of country pursuits.” And when it comes to tradition, no one’s better placed than The Field – the world’s oldest field sports magazine has been published continuously since 1853 (one of its first issues featured personal narratives of soldiers involved in the Charge of the Light Brigade) and its current editor Jonathan Young was suitably impressed with what Holts Auctioneers have created. “This event is definitely one of the most enjoyable shoots we take part in during the season,” he says. “Thanks to Nick Holt and his team we’ve got two of the best gunmakers in the world, a quite incredible setting and an interesting and demanding challenge. There are plenty of supremely-talented and professional shooters here too, which means the rest of us can relax!” At the end of the day, the Holts Auctioneers charity clay shoot may be an enormously fun event, but after the competition (the team Landmark Dusters of Landmark Scaffolding in Bury Saint Edmunds came first); after the threecourse lunch by ‘Shotgun Chef’ William
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ABOVE: Nick Holt of Holts Auctioneers (centre) together with Simon Hickling, Deputy Land Agent for the Sandringham Estate (left) and the Estate’s Land Agent Edward Parsons (right)
Aldis, who manged to find some extra time to field a team; after a performance by local opera singer Jake Ollett; and after an auction of items donated by Holts Auctioneers’ friends and corporate associates there was a serious side to the day. “We’re one of the very few charities that focuses on game species, so it seems perfectly natural for Holts Auctioneers to support us,” says Teresa Dent, Chief Executive of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. “We’re very keen on helping farmers run viable businesses and encouraging wildlife to flourish. This event raises a huge amount of money for worthwhile causes every
year – and it’s a real pleasure to come to Sandringham and be part of the day.” Once the dust had settled, all the clays released, all the food and drink consumed and all the awards handed out, it was only left for Nick Holt to reflect on this year’s event. “It’s been a truly wonderful day and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who took part and to our very generous sponsors,” he says. “Shooting is one of our oldest and most traditional pursuits, and being able to support it and help some deserving local charities at the same time is really rewarding. It’s been a fantastic day, but we’re already looking forward to next year!”
KLmagazine September 2018
Norfolk based Holts Auctioneers are Europe’s leading specialists in Fine Modern and Antique Guns. We also include Militaria, Edged Weapons, Sporting Ephemera and Accessories in our auctions. Our next auction of Fine Modern & Antique Guns will be held on 20th September 2018 at our London saleroom: Holly Hedge House Blackheath London SE3 0QZ
Our next Sealed Bid Auction featuring an extensive range of Sporting Accessories, Collectables and Militaria alongside Antique Arms bids to be received by 4th October 2018 View the Catalogue and bid online at: www.holtsauctioneers.com
To discuss consigning any items to a Holts auction or for a free valuation please telephone: 01485 542822
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KLmagazine September 2018
Are you ready for Making Tax Digital? It’s only seven months until a key part of the government’s tax reforms is finally introduced, affecting millions of people and their businesses. Sean Page ACA of Stephenson Smart explains what it will mean for you... he government first announced its preliminary plans to push for digital tax reform in the March 2015 Budget – but after lengthy consultations it was decided to postpone the launch as it was realised that the idea of the appropriate systems being in place within the required timeframe were somewhat unrealistic. That doesn’t mean Making Tax Digital has been consigned to the past, however. In fact, far from it – the initiative is now set to relaunch as of 1st April 2019, requiring VAT registered businesses with taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold (currently £85,000) to keep records in digital form and file their VAT Returns using computer software. It’s increasingly common for business records and accounts to be kept digitally in a software program – whether on a computer, tablet, or smartphone application, or maintained through such a device and stored using a cloud-based application. The difference Making Tax Digital will make is that the software a business uses must be capable of keeping and maintaining the records specified in the regulations, preparing
T
KLmagazine September 2018
their VAT Returns using the information maintained in those digital records and communicating with HMRC digitally via an Application Programming Interface (API) platform. If your digital records are up to date, the software will be able to collate and prepare your return for you. You’ll be able to check the completed return, declare it’s correct and confirm that you want to submit it to HMRC. Once you’ve submitted your return you’ll receive confirmation through your software that it’s been received. Although it may sound complex, the initiative should make all our lives easier, but it also recognises that many businesses operate
OUR BRANCHES
outside the digital world. Exemptions from Making Tax Digital can be requested if it’s not reasonably practicable for your business to use digital tools to keep records or submit your returns – for reasons of age, disability, remoteness of location, or any number of other reasons. Although many businesses already use cloud-based accounting software packages such as Xero or Quickbooks it’s not essential to go down this route in order to be compliant with the Making Tax Digital regulations. However, doing so may bring other efficiencies to the management of your business finances. You’ll find software linkages available to give those of you who use a spreadsheet for record keeping in order to comply with the new digital requirements. The exact nature of the software will be announced in the coming months. It’s estimated that around 25% of businesses are still unclear on the changes and what it means for them. “We’re concerned that far too many firms still aren’t clear on what Making Tax Digital is, or what it means for their operations,” said the British Chambers of Commerce director of economics and research Mike Spicer last month. “With just months to go before the deadline, these knowledge gaps could make the timeline for change unworkable for many firms.” At Stephenson Smart, we’re determined to make all those likely to be affected by the upcoming reforms fully aware of what the requirements are – and how they and their business can be proactive in preparing for the digital future. We are more than happy to provide any help you require, whether that’s in transforming manual records into a digital format or simply by giving various levels of adhoc advice over the coming years.
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 administration. Please call us now for a free initial consultation.
KING’S LYNN 01553 774104
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Discover a new kind of gym for a new kind of world... With exercises and nutritional plans tailored to your DNA, and technology that enables you to download your fitness regime to your mobile phone, Fitness Space is like no other gym you’ve visited
G
iven the country’s current ‘health-first’ climate it’s somewhat surprising to learn that currently only around 15% of the UK population has a gym membership (a lower figure than almost every other developed country in the world) – but there may be a very good reason for that. Most gyms seem to be filled with mysterious, sinister-looking weights and machines, and appear to be populated by incredibly muscle-bound hulks and smiling supermodels. They’re a world away from our simple desire to follow a healthy lifestyle and exercise regime. And that’s exactly why the newly-
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opened Fitness Space in Downham Market makes such a refreshing change. “When my wife and I returned to England from Dubai a couple of years ago, we simply couldn’t find a gym that offered the same level of service and support we’d been used to,” says Director and owner Andrew Sell. “Most people don’t want (or even need) to lift three times their own body weight just to prove they can. They’re just looking for a friendly and comfortable space in which to achieve sensible and realistic goals.” Interested in opening their own business but with little idea of what that should be, the couple visited a franchise
exhibition and came across the perfect solution in Fitness Space, a concept that appealed to their passions for both business and pleasure. “It was exactly what we’d been looking for from a gym and precisely what we were looking for in terms of business,” says Andrew. “The personal approach and level of support at Fitness Space is amazing, and although that’s the basics of customer service, so many gyms seem to have forgotten that. And that’s why so many people end up feeling ‘gymtimidated’.” Andrew and his wife found the ideal location in the centre of Downham Market at the former Regent Cinema on
KLmagazine September 2018
We’re service orientated, we’re people friendly and results focused the town’s High Street. Opened in 1928 and designed by a couple of architects from King’s Lynn, it closed in 1976 (the last film screened was The Sound of Music) before hosting a cycle museum and antiques centre. In little more than six weeks, the couple converted it to a fully-equipped gym, installing studios and changing rooms – and introducing a quite astonishing level of technology. On joining, for example, in addition to being assigned their own fitness coach all members are offered a DNA test that results in a detailed report on how your individual genetic makeup affects your fitness levels and dietary requirements – and recommending the nutritional and dietary requirements best suited for you. “It’s an incredibly useful tool,” says Andrew. “It shows how your DNA responds to exercise and what recovery speeds you should be looking at between exercises, and it enables our fitness coaches to recommend the exercises, programmes and diets that are perfectly suited to your body.” That level of individuality extends to the equipment itself. All your activity can be captured on your mobile phone or tablet; you can remotely book any class up to 14 days in advance (and be automatically placed on a waiting list if it’s already fully booked); and every time you finish an exercise your achievements (such as calories burned, distance travelled and weights lifted) are captured on your phone.
Fitness Space also offer Body Composition Analysis to track changes in your body measurements such as BMI to your fat mass percentage, and they’re captured to your phone as well. “We obviously can’t guarantee you’ll get the results you're looking for,” says Andrew, “but we can certainly promise you the very best chance of achieving them.” Fitness Space has three full-time fitness coaches, and they’ll always be there when you want them for help and advice or for correcting your technique. Even if you fancy using a piece of equipment you’re not entirely familiar with, a simple QR code scan will give you instructions on its correct and safe use – together with recommended exercises tailored specifically for you. Fitness Space members also enjoy the benefits of personal training every month, classes, and the use of a specially-designed Hot Yoga studio which is heated to 35oC for an hour of total relaxtion. This is definitely a gym with a difference. It’s relaxed, it’s friendly, and its predominantly female membership seems to agree.
“I’ve been to gyms all over the country and the USA, and Fitness Space in Downham Market is fantastic,” says Rachel. “The technology is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and the personalised training programmes are absolutely amazing.” For Andrew, Fitness Space is exactly the kind of gym he was looking for two years ago. “We’re service-orientated, we’re people-friendly and we’re resultsfocused,” he says. “If you want a gym that knows you by your first name and doesn’t make you feel too scared or intimidated to walk through the door then that’s exactly what you’ll find here.” If you take your fitness seriously, you should seriously make a point of contacting Andrew and his team at Fitness Space today. With extended opening hours to cover busy work/life schedules, it may be a gym at heart, but at long last it’s the gym we’ve all been waiting for.
6 Church Road, Downham Market PE38 9HQ tel: 01366 321449 e-mail: downhammarket@fitnessspace.com web: fitnessspace.com/downham-market KLmagazine September 2018
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PICTURES: IAN WARD
Local Life
ABOVE: Members of the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club behind one of their intricately-detailed layouts – painstakingly built by hand with an eye for authentic detail
How the model railway enthusiasts keep on track If you ever wondered what happened to Thomas the Tank Engine when he grew up, you just need to speak to the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club. Sylvia Steele jumps aboard to learn more...
I
f you thought model railways were the stuff of boys’ bedrooms, you may need to think again. Three years ago, record producer Pete Waterman sold his model railway collection for over £600,000 and it’s not long since a single smallscale locomotive sold for over £100,000 at Christie’s in South Kensington. Head over to Germany and you’ll find the Miniatur Wunderland, the biggest and most expensive model
KLmagazine September 2018
railway in the world, with 930 trains and 14,450 wagons running over eight miles of track – and a fully operational airport to boot. This is a long way from ‘toy’ trains, and it’s been claimed that railway modelling is one of the oldest hobbies in the country. There are attics, spare rooms and garden sheds across the nation filled with layouts of miniature buildings and model locomotives, and they all beg the same question – what
is it about small-scale railways that’s so appealing? This isn’t simply a case of ‘toys for boys’ – groups of enthusiasts meet in halls and clubs in villages, towns and cities around the country, where the camaraderie of working together on a full-scale layout is a massive step up from anything they could own themselves. King’s Lynn Model Railway Club was founded in 2010 in North Runcton,
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Local Life
before moving to Grimston’s village hall three years ago – where it uses the building’s first floor to keep the trains on time. “We currently have 27 members who meet every Friday evening, but we often meet during the week to work on different projects,” says Club Treasurer Colin Houseman. “We also keep in touch with other clubs by Facebook and often exchange visits with them.” Every February the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club opens its doors to members of the public, allowing them to experience the fascination of this oft-forgotten hobby and following that with a full-scale exhibition in June. Made up in separate modules for easy transport, the layout for the exhibition at Lynnsport this year was seen by group members as a legacy to Roger Williamson, the esteemed member of the club who’d helped start it and who sadly died at the start of this year. A full-scale layout rarely reaches capacity, and when the group meets it’s usually to work on details of architecture, layout, joinery and electrics; dealing with sound, lighting, laying points and modelling – and there’s a healthy degree of competitiveness to secure control of the digital command control system that puts the layout in motion. “We have layouts to suit all gauges with at least one layout in each of the them,” says Colin. “Our members are pretty versatile as well – they tend to fit in wherever they see a job needs
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doing!” The buildings are of plastic and card, with tunnels and landscaping built from polystyrene or modelling cement. Platforms, station rooms, underpasses, tunnels, sidings, footbridges and crossing gates all have to be constructed – although they can be bought online or from model shops. Ancillary items such as railway cottages, forestry and fences, die-cast commercial vehicles, signposts and station workers can also be purchased in this way. “Whether they’re proficient in design, modelling or planning, all members of the club lend a hand,” says Colin. “Their goal is to build the perfect layout – whether that’s for for exhibition, open days or simply for self-satisfaction.” Not all these model enthusiasts
owned a train set in their childhood, but most of them enjoyed the smell and excitement of a steam-driven train journey, and an element of nostalgia often plays a part in their hobby. All of them have different preferences too; from diesel to electric and even the state-of-the-art high speed Pendoleno trains used across Europe. Some modellers like to reconstruct actual railways from the pre-Beeching days of the late 1950s or specific contemporary layouts – a fondly remembered country station with one up/one down tracks, pretty station platforms and waiting rooms, footbridge and level crossing gates, or a town site with sidings and gantries, box cars and wagons. Railway modelling encourages enthusiasts to nurture a wide range of skills as problem solvers. These are anything but toys with DCC controlling tracks through underpasses, sidings and at signal boxes. At group level, the work on a layout becomes a community effort with members enjoying a common hobby. Hornby Railways (whose roots go back over 100 years) cite an increase in young modellers as a key factor to their steady sales, and the hobby is no longer gender exclusive. Far from being toys, railway modelling is an intergenerational pastime that encourages artistic and planning skills to recreate a real life location in miniature. And while we’re surrounded by the wrong leaves, the wrong weather, the wrong snow, constant engineering works, and timetables that have no basis in the real world, it’s good to know that there’s a little corner of Norfolk where the trains always run on time. If you’d like more information about the King’s Lynn Model Railway Club and details of how you can join them, please visit www.klmrc.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
Machines that bring your garden to life
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www.dmgtimber.co.uk KLmagazine September 2018
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KLmagazine September 2018
How do you communicate with people with dementia? It’s World Alzheimer’s Month, and Home Instead Senior Care has some useful tips and advice on communicating with people living with dementia... ince 2012, September has been designated World Alzheimer's Month – and every year the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds all forms of dementia. At a time when two out of every three people around the world believe there’s little or no understanding of dementia in their countries, it’s the ideal time to look at communicating with people living with dementia on a daily basis. When we think about communicating, our first instinct is to speak – but there are times when communication consists of much more than just a verbal conversation. When communicating with someone with dementia, there are several things to consider, and it’s vital to remember that talking isn’t always the most effective method. Here are some useful ideas to help: ● Acknowledge what the person has said – even if they don’t answer your question, express that you’ve heard them
and encourage them to say more about their answer. ● Use gestures, movement and facial expressions – physical signs and body language can both convey meaning and help get messages across, especially when speaking becomes more difficult. ● Use humour – laughing can help bring you closer together, and it may even relieve the pressure. ● Become an active listener – listening is an extremely important aspect of engaging with someone with dementia. Look for non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language and try to understand what they’re trying to tell you. ● Let the person express their feelings – if the person is feeling sad, don’t try and persuade them away from that feeling. Showing you care by simply listening is sometimes the best method of communicating. ● Use physical contact to provide reassurance – holding or patting the person’s hand or putting your arm around
them might be all that’s needed to let them know you’re there for them. ● Use visual clues – writing your messages down or using objects and pictures to help the person understand could help alleviate a breakdown in communication. Communication difficulties can be frustrating and upsetting for people with dementia – as well as for their carers and loved ones. Active listening, non-verbal communication, visual props and laughter are just a few of the ways to help lighten some of the tensions you may experience when engaging with those living with dementia. To find out more about the dementia services available in your area, please get in touch with your local Home Instead Senior Care office by using the details below.
Home Instead Senior Care King’s Lynn
Home Instead Senior Care Dereham
Home Instead Senior Care Holt
01553 387967
01362 357974
01263 650983
www.homeinstead.co.uk/westnorfolk
www.homeinstead.co.uk/dereham
www.homeinstead.co.uk/holt
S
KLmagazine September 2018
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KLmagazine September 2018
Pets
AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets at London Road & Hollies Veterinary Centre...
SMALL BITES
Canine Concern W
e all love our pets. They are a great comfort to us when we are down or not feeling well, whether they are cuddling up to us, gazing at us adoringly or just playing the clown to make us laugh. According to research, just stroking our pet for 15 minutes can change our hormones. It increases serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin - the feel good hormones, and decreases cortisol - the stress hormone. It can also lower our blood pressure and theirs too! Canine Concern is a charity that arranges visits to care homes and hospitals and have been doing so since 1989. They have many assessed dogs nationwide, giving their love, while their volunteer owners are prepared to share their special dogs. These Canine Concern dogs can be any breed, from a little Chihuahua, Pug or Terrier to a big German Shepherd. They can be pure bred or a lovely crossbreed. Rescued dogs often make very good care dogs too. Mrs Cox, her dog Hattie pictured above spending time with Frank, is just
one of those wonderful volunteers who give up their time to make these muchneeded visits. We are proud to have been able to care for her dogs here at London Road vets for the last 50 years! It is very rewarding for owners to see how much their dogs can achieve in their visits. Some people who have not spoken, speak; some who haven’t moved their arms, reach out to touch the dogs; some people remember their dogs and smile for the first time for a long while. There are so many amazing moments and many families have seen how their loved ones have reacted and will often thank the volunteer personally. Any dog owners who have an hour to spend every fortnight or even monthly, can make someone feel so much better. Please think about being a Canine Concern Member. For more information on becoming a visitor, having a canine visit to your care home or even giving a donation to keep this worthwhile charity going visit www.canineconcern.co.uk or call them on 01323 760258.
As your pet gets older you may notice some changes associated with old age. There is often treatment available to help with some of these conditions. We offer free senior pet clinics at London Road Vets and the Hollies Vets for both dogs and cats over 8 years old. We also offer discounts on routine blood screens for elderly pets with our pet health club, just call us for more details. We are here to help your pets grow old gracefully!
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 September 2018
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Gardening
ABOVE: The classic daffodil as we know and love it – although the genus Narcissus is generally considered to have thousands of different varieties
It’s time to start planning ahead for Spring already! Daffodils are one of the most beautiful signs that Spring is on its way, but for the best and longest-lasting displays you’ll need to start planting the bulbs now, as Wendy Warner of Thaxters Garden Centre explains...
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t’s hard to believe, but the approach of Autumn means it’s already time to look forward to Spring, and one of the first signs of the season is the sight of daffodils breaking into colour. Their bright yellow flowers look amazing in the sunshine and even manage to stand out on the dullest of days. So now’s the perfect time to start planting the bulbs which will produce these flowers. It’s hard to imagine that within six months beautiful flowers will emerge from the dry, brown, dormant bulbs that are now available in the garden centre.
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With the very dry and hot summer we’ve just enjoyed there’s likely to be a shortage of daffodil bulbs due to low crop yields, so you’ll need to buy yours early. But please remember to plant them – something I’ve been guilty of forgetting many times in the past. So often (and especially when we get new varieties of bulbs) I’ll buy them when they first come in and then find them lurking in a corner of the garage in November! Don’t despair, though, as they can be planted then as long as the ground isn’t frozen – they’ll simply flower later in the
first year. There are a huge variety of daffodils (their botanical name Narcissi) – from miniatures through to traditional large ones, so there’s always something to cater for everyone’s taste. Miniature or dwarf varieties are ideal for pots and containers, window boxes, rockeries or the fronts of borders, while large types look stunning en masse in borders or naturalised in grass. As well as height, when it comes to daffodils there are many different colours and styles of flower. Most people immediately think of the classic
KLmagazine September 2018
yellow flower with a long trumpet such as ‘King Alfred’, but there are other colours of trumpet daffodil like ‘Mount Hood’ with its white petals and cream trumpet. One step down from these are the large cupped varieties where the cup is shorter than a trumpet – and these are available in a huge array of colours such as ‘Pipe Major’ (yellow with an orange cup) or ‘Rainbow’ which is white with a pink cup. Then there are the exotic-looking doubles of ‘Tahiti’ (gold and orange) or the plain yellow ‘Golden Ducat’. As you move down in size, there are various multi-headed varieties such as the pure white ‘Thalia’ and the very popular and versatile yellow ‘Tête-à-tête’. There are also cyclamineus types where the petals are swept back, split corona types where the trumpet has divided and sits like another layer of petals, and fragrant varieties such as ‘Cheerfulness’. In fact, there are several species (and thousands of varieties) of daffodil, and it’s possible to have five or six months of flowers by carefully selecting your varieties. The earliest-flowering varieties are ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, ‘Spring Dawn’ and ‘February Gold’ covering January and February. The majority of varieties will flower in March and early April, but there are a few such as ‘Pheasant’s Eye’ and ‘Sun Disc’ which will flower as late as May and even into early June. Once you’ve chosen the daffodils that suit your requirements you’ll need to give them a good start in their life cycle by ensuring the ground is well worked and moist but free-draining – adding some well-rotted manure or compost if necessary. They’ll also need a sunny or semishaded spot where they’ll get at least three hours of sun daily as they won’t flower at all in full shade. Saying that, the earlier flowering varieties can be planted under deciduous trees as they’ll usually have bloomed before the leaves appear on the trees. Generally, the bulbs should be planted at two to three times their depth, so if your bulb is 2” you should plant it about 4-6” deep. Deep planting is important as bulbs can otherwise divide and produce lots of small bulbs which won’t flower. The bulbs should be planted at approximately two bulb-widths apart. If space allows, why not plant an assortment of daffodils in a remote area of the garden purely to use as cut flowers for the house? If you’re naturalising bulbs, it’s suggested you scatter them randomly over the area and plant them where they fall to give a more natural look – again ensuring they’re not closer than two
KLmagazine September 2018
ABOVE: It’s time to get planting – and since there are so many daffodil varieties such as Tahiti (below) gardeners ahev plenty of options in terms of size, style and colour. And by choosing carefully, you can enjoy these beautiful flowers for up to six months of the year
bulb-widths apart. Naturalising works well in lawns, verges and wildflower areas and it’s advisable to use a bulb planter so you can return the plug of turf over the bulb once planted. ‘Blindness’ in daffodils is one of the most common bulb queries we receive at the garden centre. This occurs where leaves appear each Spring, but don’t actually flower. There are various reasons why this can happen, including drought conditions just after flowering (when the bulb would normally be forming next year’s flowers) – and this can occur with potted bulbs too, when the temptation is to forget to water them after they’ve finished flowering because you’re waiting for the leaves to die down. Therefore, you’ll need to water thoroughly until the foliage shows signs of dying down naturally, and you can
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Gardening
ABOVE: Spend an hour or two planting prepared daffodils in early autumn, and you’ll be able to enjoy their fragrant flowers during the dark days of winter. Remember to buy bulbs labelled as suitable for forcing, such as the popular varieties ‘Paperwhite Ziva’ and ‘Soleil D’Or’
also give them a feed with a high potash liquid fertiliser (such as Tomorite) weekly as nutrient deficiency can also cause blindness. Growmore or Bonemeal worked into the soil around established groups of bulbs as they emerge in Spring can also help. Another cause of ‘blindness’ can be cutting off or knotting up the foliage as this interrupts the plant’s process of storing energy – it’s something that applies to naturalised bulbs in lawns too, so don’t be tempted to mow the grass until the leaves die down. Also, don’t allow seed heads to form as this also takes energy away from the bulb. Either use your daffodils as cut flowers, or deadhead them as soon as the flowers fade. If overcrowded groups of bulbs aren’t flowering, lift them when the foliage dies back in the summer and then replant them two bulb-widths apart. Any daffodils can be grown in containers. If you’re intending them to be in the container for only one year, use a multi-purpose compost – but if you’re planning a long-term display use John Innes No.2 or No.3 soil-based compost. When growing in pots, the bulbs can be planted closer than normal to give a fuller display. Sometimes as a temporary measure it’s quite handy to grow them in pots if you can’t remember when planting in the Autumn where you already have existing bulbs in
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borders. You can then transplant these bulbs into the garden when they’re shooting in Spring and you can see where others are appearing. I like to grow different bulbs in pots for the patio close to the house each year and then plant them into the garden after flowering – I can then experiment with new varieties and combinations the following year. Lastly, you should try forcing the highly-scented ‘Paperwhite’ daffodils for indoor flowering. In mid-October they’ll need to be planted in a pot indoors using bulb fibre and planted with the tip of the bulb just below the surface –
water them well and place on a warm sunny windowsill and with any luck they’ll be in flower for Christmas. 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 September 2018
JOBS FOR THE GARDEN in September
Start planting spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, snowdrops, irises & alliums. Remember the bigger the bulb, the better the flowers! Apply Autumn Lawncare to feed and strengthen grass and kill moss on the lawn. Re-seed any bare patches of lawn. Use lawn dressing if starting a new lawn or for larger areas Refill hanging baskets & containers with pansies, cyclamen, heathers & small shrubs as summer ones start to go over – don’t forget to under-plant with spring bulbs Sow Sweet Peas now for stronger plants and earlier flowers next summer Use gutter & drain guards to stop leaves clogging them up
A wide range of high quality buildings at competitive prices
Protect fruit trees & bushes against pests with winter wash & grease bands
Visit Thaxters for everything you’ll need for your garden...
and don’t forget to visit our coffee shop for a relaxing slice of cake or scone! Evergreen Autumn 400m2 2 for £40 NOW IN STOCK
Spring flowering bulbs, Wild bird care & Pansies
Garden Centre & Coffee Shop 49 Hunstanton Road, Dersingham, King’s Lynn PE31 6NA www.thaxters.co.uk | Tel: 01485 541514
KLmagazine September 2018
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West Norfolk: Then and Now
1911
2018 THE CHANGING FACE OF LONDON ROAD... Many thanks to James Hughes of King’s Lynn for sending us this charming old picture (top) of London Road in King’s Lynn. Thought to date from 1911, it’s packed with fascinating details, especially the traffic along the road, which was almost entirely horse-driven.
Despite recent changes to road, it retains its essential character as one of the main thoroughfares into the town. If you’re interested in seeing how our towns, villages and landscape have changed over the years, you can enjoy thousands of images depicting Norfolk’s unique social history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk or by
visiting the Norfolk Heritage Centre at the Millennium Library, The Forum, Norwich (or your local studies library). We’ll take another look back at the area next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Enjoy thousands of images of Norfolk’s unique history at www.picture.norfolk.gov.uk 46
KLmagazine September 2018
Equity Release made simple James Batchelor, Principal of Evergreen Equity Release Solutions, based in the historic Tuesday Market Place of King’s Lynn, on making Equity Release simple hen my business partner Nigel Barrett and I first formed Barrett Batchelor Mortgage Services LLP in King’s Lynn, our aim was to not only be professional and efficient, but also ensure the service offered was personal and friendly. We firmly believed this was essential to make our company successful – and was also what the people of West Norfolk required. We were (and remain) determined to treat our clients with the respect they deserve and ensure they don’t feel as if they’re just a number, as can be the case when dealing directly with the big banks. When we made the decision to extend our range of services a number of years ago by forming Evergreen Equity Release Solutions, it soon became apparent to us that this personal approach was probably even more important when dealing with people who were considering Equity Release. Important decisions have to be made when people are approaching retirement – and using your property to raise funds could be the most important one of all. It’s fair to say that Equity Release isn’t for everyone, and part of the process I guide people through is explaining the other options available to them. In addition to this, future plans and state benefits could be affected – it’s not a decision that should be rushed into,
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and it all depends on your individual needs and personal circumstances. Having said that, more and more people are recognising the benefits of raising money this way, and it can be a very efficient way of doing so. Many of you will still be very active in retirement, and still have plenty of plans ahead of you. If you no longer have a wage coming in, and your private pension may not have performed as you’d hoped for, the question that could be asked is – how can you fund your future plans? For many, it could be a case of having the majority of your wealth locked up in your home. Where some will look to downsize their property to release some money (not a cheap option in itself when you take into account the fees from Estate Agents, Solicitors and potential stamp duty on the new purchase), more and more people are looking at the option of staying in their current property, and raising funds via
Equity Release to enable them to do so. One thing I’m very keen to do is explain to people how the Equity Release market has evolved over the last 25 years. You no longer have to sell your property to the Bank, so you still retain ownership of the property. Another important point is the ‘No Negative Equity Guarantee’ – which ensures the amount you borrow will never exceed the debt on your property. Examples of how I’ve assisted people with their Equity Release requirements are: l Raising funds to boost their income in retirement l Clearing an outstanding mortgage on a property l Property improvements l Assisting family members financially l Funding new or existing hobbies, such as caravanning There are of course numerous other reasons you may be looking to raise money, and the importance of discussing such matters in detail with a fully qualified Equity Release Adviser can’t be stressed enough. A big concern I have is that many people decide Equity Release isn’t an option for them without being in possession of the full facts. They could be missing out on a great opportunity because of this, and that’s why I offer a completely free consultation without obligation. I’d even suggest you bring a family member or a trusted friend with you to the meeting. If you’re fast approaching retirement (Equity Release is available to over 55’s only) or have already reached this milestone in your life and would like to explore the options available to you, I’m here to offer an expert helping and guiding hand. To understand all the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration. If our service is of any interest to you, I’ll be only too pleased to visit you in the comfort of your own home if you’d prefer.
JAMES BATCHELOR
Principal
27-28 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn PE30 1JJ t: 01553 692800 w: www.evergreenequity.co.uk e: info@evergreenequity.co.uk
Evergreen Equity Release Solutions is a trading style of Barrett Batchelor Mortgage Services LLP, and is a Limited Liability Partnership. Registered in England and Wales number: OC36701. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
KLmagazine September 2018
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The all-new A-Class. Just like you.
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OVER 25 YEARS OF FIRST CLASS MOTOR SERVICING
10 reasons to treat your car to K Brown Auto Repairs... How to keep you, your car and your family safely on the road or over 20 years, people have been bringing their cars to K Brown Auto Repairs time after time – but there’s no great secret why that’s the case. If you’re looking for a good reason to treat your car to K Brown Auto Repairs, here’s ten of them. People have been coming to us, returning to us and recommending us for years because:
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Our prices represent great value, we have exceptional standards of workmanship, and we’re completely honest, reliable, dedicated and trustworthy. We keep customers fully informed while their car is with us, explaining any work that’s required now, that’s due soon or recommended for later – and we offer free checks during the year of any impending work. We always give customers clear and precise quotes so they have the time
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KLmagazine September 2018
to decide what work is carried out. We’ll always help customers budget the required work and advise them on the priority areas of work. All the work we carry out and every job we do to your car is only done if necessary – and we never exaggerate problems in order to gain work. We always take time and care to ensure cars are repaired to a very high standard with a number of quality checks in place. Our receptions at King’s Lynn and Hunstanton are always warm, clean, and welcoming – and full of knowledgeable, attentive staff. You’ll always find a technician available who’ll be happy to explain any technical details in helpful, simple terminology. We take care to fulfil your needs and expectations – recommendations and loyalty from our customers has
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been key to our success. We have the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment and are justifiably proud of our ability to rectify the most difficult faults first time.
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And if you need any more reasons, just give us a call!
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information
K Brown Auto Repairs Simon Scotland Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4JF tel: 01553 763763 web: www.kbrownautoskingslynn.co.uk
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PICTURE: PAUL GADD
Local Life
Saving our common land and wildlife for the future As a two-year project focusing on Norfolk’s commons and their wildlife get underway, Abigail Brown discovers what it entails and how it’s likely to affect the future of our local common land...
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nbeknownst to most, Norfolk’s ‘common’ land covers an area of more than 4,500 hectares – and that doesn’t include land that isn’t officially registered. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust (along with many volunteers and partners) are on a mission to raise awareness of the importance of our local commons via a new project they’ve rather cleverly named Wildlife in Common. Run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust in partnership with Norfolk County Council and the University of East Anglia, the project will encourage local
KLmagazine September 2018
people to become better acquainted with their common land. Thanks to all the lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund has donated £58,800 to allow the project to go ahead, and there’s been additional support from the Essex & Suffolk Water Branch Out fund, who’ve donated £7,750. Through the project, help will be on hand for communities taking practical action to protect and conserve commons, whilst events involving schools, artists and museums will be raising the profile of common land across Norfolk. Our county already has a rich
heritage of more than 300 registered commons, but another aim of the project is to encurage the creation of new commons in areas that would otherwise be used for housing developments. During the project, Norfolk Wildlife Trust volunteers plan to collect wildlife records, allowing conservationists to truly evaluate the importance of these places for wildlife. Back in medieval Norfolk, some 25% of the land was ‘common’, and in those days locals had the right to use the land to graze livestock, gather firewood or dig peat – today, common land can be found all over the country, but it’s
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Local Life
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encountering wild species is an important part of people’s enjoyment of these places, and the experiences to be with rare flora or fauna – such as seeing wild flowers, hearing bird song and glimpsing muntjac deer – are all enriching experiences,” she says. “Our findings reflect a mounting body of research into the importance of green spaces and everyday encounters with wildlife for physical and mental
PICTURE: GEMMA WALKER NWT
particularly prevalent in South Norfolk, parts of North Norfolk and on the edge of the Fens. Although deemed relatively small compared to common land further up north, Norfolk’s commons are of incredible value to local wildlife and they allow many species such as turtledoves, barn owls and orchids to flourish in the perfect environment. Not only are they home to unusual wildlife, but the commons of Norfolk are interesting in the archaeological sense, making the land even more invaluable. The Wildlife in Common project will provide people with the tools to research the history of their local commons, which will also allow them to further understand the importance of their conservation. “Common land in Norfolk is often a place where people walk, enjoy encounters with wildlife and seek solace or solitude,” says Helen Backowska of Norfolk Wildlife Trust. “This unique, multi-layered project centres on the largely unrecognised role Norfolk’s commons play at the heart of so many communities.” Helen’s research proves just how important common land is to local communities, and found that five commons close to a large village in just one parish in South Norfolk were the most popular places for walking with children or dogs. “Feeling close to nature and
wellbeing”. For Helen, the main aim of the project is to reconnect people with their common land by helping local communities discover the wonderful wildlife that inhabits them. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust plans to do this by recruiting volunteers they’ll support and train to carry out important surveys of local commons, working on the land with a view to improve the habitats of declining wildlife species, and establishing a Norfolk Commons Week. The week in question starts on 22nd September and will include engaging talks, activities and events to celebrate our heritage of common land, including guided walks of local commons for people of all ages to enjoy. For more information on the Commons Week and further information on the project, you can visit the Norfolk Wildlife Trust website at www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/home. Make sure you check the ‘spotter map’ which enables visitors to record their sightings of certain species on their local commons. If you’d like to be involved in the Wildlife in Common project, you can contact the Norfolk Wildlife Trust at wild@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk. They’re very keen to hear from all individuals and community groups in Norfolk who have a particular interest in the history or wildlife of their local common.
KLmagazine September 2018
Just how safe are the trees in your garden? Why it’s the ideal time to call on the expert services of Heritage Tree Specialists
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t’s tempting to think that you’ll only need the expert services of King’s Lynn based Heritage Tree Specialists for some cosmetic work on your garden – but there are many times when the most routine of jobs becomes a question of safety for both person and property. For example, during an initial free inspection of a tree for a customer in Pott Row recently, it was obvious to the experts at Heritage Tree Specialists that an Ash tree at the front of the garden was in imminent danger of collapse. “It was clear that one of the main stems was rotting at the base and had already begun to crumble away,” says Director Dan Ashton. “The tree was situated next to the driveway, close to the house and within touching distance of overhead cables – so it was really important the tree was dealt with quickly.” On a day when temperatures were expected to exceed 30 degrees, the team at Heritage Tree Specialists made an early start, checking for nesting birds and using the solid KLmagazine September 2018
(temporarily at least!) tree stem as an anchor point for climbing and lowering. Within a short space of time, the tree in question was carefully dismantled branch by branch – ensuring the telephone wires were undisturbed and no damage was caused to any of the surrounding structures. The resulting brushwood was chipped as soon as it was on the ground and delivered to a local woodland for use as a footpath surface. “The qualities of the Ash tree makes it an exceptionally good firewood,” says Dan, “so we logged the timbers to enable the family to stay warm this winter – without the need to buy any fuel!” Having finally taken the tree down to a stump, the extent of the decay was even more obvious to the team at Heritage Tree Specialists – one of the stems had distintegrated by around 75% and it was only a matter of months (or even weeks) until it would have totally collapsed. Left only with a large stump, the team brought in their powerful and easy-access stump grinder to remove all traces of the
tree and leave the area ready for topsoil and grass seed. In fact, all that was left was a tidy pile of logs! As your local tree professionals with a friendly, committed and fully-qualified team with a proven track record of successful large and small-scale projects, Heritage Tree Specialists are available to provide free written quotations and recommendations to homeowners across West Norfolk. Contact us now for an expert and professional look at your trees – and put the safety of you and your property first.
information
Heritage Tree Specialists Willow Farm Industrial Units, Lynn Road, Saddlebow, King’s Lynn PE34 3AR Tel: 01553 617008 Web: www.heritagetreespecialists.co.uk E-mail: info@heritagetreespecialists.co.uk
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Timber Services (UK) Ltd.
“First choice for Timber & Fencing”
MANUFACTURERS OF QUALITY FEATHER EDGE PANELS We offer a range of timber and related products including:
SAWN & TREATED TIMBER | PSEs | SHEET MATERIALS MDF & SOFTWOOD MOULDINGS | HARDWOOD FLOORING IRONMONGERY (NAILS, SCREWS, HINGES, JOIST HANGERS) FENCING PRODUCTS | CONCRETE PRODUCTS | SLEEPERS TREATED DECKING & COMPONENTS | GATES & FITTINGS MACHINE ROUND POLES | POZI JOISTS | ROOF TRUSSES
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £200 exc. VAT
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CALL US ON:
01553 760000
Horsley’s Fields, Hardwick Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5DD
EMAIL: sales@timberservicesuk.com | WEB: www.timberservicesuk.com
OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 07:30-17:00 | SATURDAY 08:00-12:00
MOAT ROAD NURSERY
Driveways, Patios & Paving Commercial & Domestic
A family‐run, independent garden centre Based on 2 acres of Norfolk Fenland with a comprehensive range of everything you need for your garden Talk direct with the owners who have many years of knowledge and expertise Everything under one roof Special offers throughout the year
Perennials • Large Shrubs • Compost Spa & Pool Chemicals • Garden Care • Pots Fresh Flowers • Vegetable plants WN Surfacing welcomes you to contact them for your free surfacing consultation and quotation on 01553 811531.
Moat Rd, Terrington St Clement, King's Lynn PE34 4PN FREE accessible Tel: 01553 828723 | Open: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 54
“We promise to provide the highest standard of work at affordable prices, no matter the size of your project”
- Richard Moore
www.wnsurfacing.com
KLmagazine September 2018
ONE MOTORHOME & A WHOLE WORLD TO DISCOVER
Now it’s time for your big adventure at Greentrees! Discover the modern face of caravanning at one of the best centres in the whole country – and enjoy an experience rather than a holiday ver the last few months, we’ve followed the adventures of Neil Greentree as he continues to highlight the modern face of caravanning. Long gone are the days of simply finding a suitable campsite in an empty field – recently we’ve seen Neil take caravans and motorhomes on a hardcore snowbound trip to Scotland, a Swiss paragliding experience over the Eiger, a film shoot in Wales, a tour of WWII sites in eastern Europe and a 460-mile trip to the Le Mans 24 sportscar race. And now it’s your turn to create your very own adventure, and as one of the industry’s leading experts Neil can help you select the perfect vehicle for it with a stunning choice of over 100 new and used caravans and motorhomes from some of the top manufacturers in the UK. In addition to
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KLmagazine September 2018
every accessory you could wish for, all the help and advice you want, and a support and service facility that’s second to none. “It doesn’t matter what kind of holiday you enjoy or where you’re planning on going,” says Neil. “Today’s caravans and motorhomes are so well equipped it’s a bit like taking your own luxury hotel along with you – and thanks to the superb quality beds you’ll always arrive at your destination fully refreshed for your adventure. Whatever that happens to be!” While the traditional purpose of motorhomes and caravans was (and often still is) the sheer enjoyment of using 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 and adventurous people who really want to enjoy the great outdoors, this is a quite incredible way to do it,” says Neil. “You can relax with all the comfort and luxury touches you need – and spread your wings with all the freedom you want!” If Neil’s exploits over the last few months have inspired you to go further, it’s the perfect time to discover Greentrees, one of the very best caravan and motorhome centres in the whole of the UK – and say hello to the start of your greatest adventure. For more information and details of Neil’s adventures, please see: www.challengeneilgreentree.com www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes
Adventure House, Hurn Road, Dereham Business Park, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1WD t: 01362 696434 e: sales@greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk w: www.greentrees-caravanstore.co.uk 55
fashion
Fashion
Nothing makes the end of the summer more bearable than the arrival of the Autumn/Winter collections, and this year is no exception. The weather may be getting colder and gloomier, but the best of our local boutiques are packed with bright new ideas and fabulous styles... 56
Saunton Sweatshirt by Joules (ÂŁ46) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 KLmagazine September 2018
Red Jumper by Marble CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 KLmagazine September 2018
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Fashion
OutďŹ t by Lauren Vidal SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 58
KLmagazine September 2018
125 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AP Tel: 01553 770536 www.davidaukerjewellery.co.uk f
Enjoy vie wing our ne w Autumn C ollections at our
CHARITY FASHION SHOWS Wednesday 26th September Afternoon Tea at Heacham Manor for Save The Children
Thursday 4th October Evening Supper at King’s Lynn Golf Club for Rotary (Young Carers) Tickets available from the shop at Castle Rising
www.allezchic.co.uk t: 01553 631915 Open: Mon to Sat 10am-4.30pm The Old School, Castle Rising, King's Lynn PE31 6AG
KLmagazine September 2018
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Fashion
Jumper by James Lakeland ARTICHOKE Swaï¬&#x20AC;ham - 01760 724948 | Ely - 01353 665472 60
KLmagazine September 2018
THE DENIM SKIRT Two Lengths. One colour. £59 - AVAIL ABL E AT -
Swaffham 41 Market Place 01760 724948 Ely 7a High Street Passage 01353 665472 www.ar tichokecollection.co.uk f
Sheila Tiller EXCLUSIVE LADIES FASHION & SHOES EST. 1978
New Season pieces now in from a range of exclusive continental brands
FASHIONS • HANDBAGS • SHOES • LINGERIE 13 Market Place, Long Sutton | Tel: 01406 363 433 Closed all day Wednesday | www.sheilatiller.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
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Animal Print Coat by Munthe NELLE DK | Thornham 01485 525164 62
Dress by Micha DK ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 KLmagazine September 2018
KLmagazine September 2018
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DERMAPLUS PRIVATE, BESPOKE CONSULTANCY FOR YOUR HEALTH
Safe and Professional Skin Lesion Removal
DermaPlus is a private service owned by Vida Healthcare at Gayton Road Health Centre and coordinated by DermaVida. Working with a General Surgeon and Oculoplastic Surgeon.
MEET OUR NEW DENTIST JOINING THE TEAM IN NOVEMBER
Sary H Rahma The University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sudan, 2012.
Having grown up in King’s Lynn Sary decided to undertake his dental degree in his native Sudan. He graduated from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan in 2012. He has spent 3 years training at the Oral and Maxillofacial departments of both the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. He completed his VT training in Scotland, where he’s continued to practice general dentistry for the past 6 months. Sary’s main interests are Orthodontics and Oral Surgery.
Tel: 01553 631094 PARTNER Mr William K Dryden BDS Dund 1983 MFGDP (UK)
GDC 58347
PARTNER Miss Kinga Maciejewska Lek Stom Warsaw 2004 GDC 139876
Email: info@castlerisingdentist.co.uk
www.castlerisingdentist.co.uk 64
F I N
Call 01553 696 886 for more information
D U S A T 4 4
M A R K E
T P L A C E
Call into the new practice to book your appointment and see our new frame ranges.
Contact us to find out more
Address: East Barn, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn PE31 6AG
Offering treatments for the removal of:
D.A. Seaman Optometrists
Tel 01760 722661 | www.daseaman.org.uk 44 Market Place, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7QH.
KLmagazine September 2018
We know that no family is perfect How keeping family secrets in the closet can increase the chances of your Will being contested f there’s one thing we do exceptionally well in the UK, it’s royal pageantry – and the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in May certainly didn’t disappoint. The event had something to please all the crowds, from ardent royalists to celebrity spotters and those who simply like to watch a spectacular parade. Of course, any royal wedding gives rise to months of allegation and gossip in the tabloid press, and this one was no exception. Without making an effort to pay attention, it was almost impossible to avoid the embarrassing revelations about Ms Markle’s family members – her difficult relationship with her father; the collusion of her half-sister with paparazzi photographers; her half-brother’s open letter to the Prince warning him against the marriage; and the disappointment of the
I
siblings who weren’t invited to attend. But stories of this sort are nothing new, and we don’t have to delve too far into the history of the royals themselves to find some sort of family ‘dysfunctionality.’ In the relatively recent past, we’ve seen the abdication of a king in connection with his marriage to an unpopular American divorcee, alleged scandals surrounding Princess Margaret, and of course the divorce of Prince Harry’s own parents and revelations about their unhappy marriage and extra-marital affairs. We’re told that even Queen Victoria’s children fell out with her (as well as with each other) and further back still the Prince can claim descent from individuals who not only disliked their relatives but actually had them put to death. If we’re completely honest, who doesn’t have the odd skeleton in their family cupboard? Even if family relations currently seem harmonious, a little time spent researching the family tree will often turn
up something embarrassing. When clients come to see us to prepare Wills, they’re often very reticent about family problems. Understandably, people can be reluctant to disclose details of, for example, squabbling children, ungrateful grandchildren or long-standing rifts with siblings. However, it’s very important that we’re given all the relevant background information so we can advise you properly about the distribution of your estate, the possibility of challenges, and what can be done to prevent them. It’s a very important point, as disgruntled relatives may be able to make a claim against an estate if they’re left out of a Will or receive less than they were expecting. If you tell us who they are and why they are being treated differently, we can minimise the chances of their claim succeeding. Detailed attendance notes on our files, confirmation of your mental capacity, and confidential letters explaining your actions will all help. No doubt the new Duchess of Sussex’s family issues will soon be forgotten by the tabloids in favour of more up-to-date scandals, and thankfully most of us will never suffer public revelations about our own family problems. But when you’re considering your Will, please remember to tell your solicitor about your skeletons before you put them all back in the cupboard – or they may come back to haunt you! This article aims to supply general information, but is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However, no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek our specific advice. Hayes + Storr Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. If you’d like more information on any of the issues detailed in this article, please contact us on 01553 778900 or email law@hayes-storr.com FIONA HEWITT Director
Hayes + Storr Solicitors The Old County Court, County Court Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5EJ Web: www.hayesandstorr.co.uk E-mail: law.kingslynn@hayes-storr.com Offices at: King’s Lynn | Hunstanton | Fakenham | Swaffham | Holt | Wells | Sheringham
KLmagazine September 2018
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Local Life
Celebrate the magic of harvest at Felbrigg Hall Renowned for its Jacobean architecture and Georgian interiors, the 17th-century Felbrigg Hall is also noted for its fabulous gardens, orangery and orchards – especially at harvest time...
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ater this month the National Trust’s beautiful Felbrigg Hall near Cromer will be celebrating the many varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers grown in the walled garden during the property’s annual ‘Hall at Harvest’ festival. This year features a rather wild and exotic theme, as the hall explores how the travels and adventures of previous owners have influenced the gardens and estate at Felbrigg over the centuries. From Saturday 29th September to Friday 5th October you’ll be able to see the hall beautifully decorated by a dedicated team of volunteers and help celebrate this very
KLmagazine September 2018
special time of year. It’s actually unknown when the garden at Felbrigg first began, although William Windham II contributed its most distinctive feature (the octagonal dovecote) in the early 1750s. Today, the walled garden contains a large number of exotic plants, two large glasshouses and a pit house – a purpose-built heated structure that was served by a boiler house and was popular during Victorian times, often being used to grow melons and pineapples. There’s a fascinating photograph in the collection of Felbrigg Hall showing Marion and Gertrude Ketton being presented with a melon by their gardener in the 1890s. It may sound a
slightly odd thing to commemorate, but to be able to grow such exotic fruits at the time was considered a significant status symbol and show of wealth. The orchard area to the north of the dovecote at Felbrigg Hall may well have served as part of the walled garden in the 18th and 19th century – and the remains of a flint building can still be seen in the top left corner of the area. A number of old lead labels were found during more recent cultivation of the borders in the garden, and some of the varieties of fruit trees are growing in the orchard once again – mostly pears and stone fruit such as gages, plums and cherries. The gardens at Felbrigg continue to
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Local Life
provide produce to the hall’s kitchens to this day and flowers to decorate its rooms – as was their original purpose. The garden walls are well stocked with all manner of plums, pears, apples, figs, peaches and nectarines, and many of them are seldom-seen heritage varieties. Among the espaliered apples are the early varieties Lady Henniker, Lane’s Prince Albert and Hubbard’s Pearmain. The Norfolk Beefing culinary apple (it’s pronounced ‘biffin’) was actually recommended by cooks in the 18th and 19th centuries for making ‘Black Caps’ – an early form of baked apple. For the ‘Hall at Harvest’ festival, a talented team of volunteers will use flowers from the garden to create beautiful arrangements to decorate the rooms of Felbrigg Hall – and a large variety of vegetables and fruit will be on display in the rooms of the service wing. From 1pm on Friday 5th October you can even join a member of the hall’s gardening team and sample some of the many delicious apples the gardens produce. In Britain, thanks have been given for successful harvests since pagan times. The word ‘harvest’ is from the Old English word hærfest (meaning ‘autumn’) before it specifically referred to the season for reaping and gathering grain and other grown products. Harvest has always been an important time of year for the Felbrigg estate. Traditionally, with many tenant farms
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on the estate, giving thanks for a good harvest safely gathered in was something that would have been celebrated in the village church of St. Margaret, located in the grounds of Felbrigg Hall. The church, which is famous for its monumental brasses, is open daily to visitors from dawn until dusk, and is well worth a visit. One of the most magnificent brasses dates back to the early 15th century and shows Simon
Felbrigg KG dressed in plate armour (he was King’s Standard Bearer to Richard II) and his wife Margaret. Autumn always provides plenty of wonderful photo opportunities at Felbrigg Hall, with the trees turning from green to rich reds and golds. One of the most spectacular sights on the estate is the planted avenue of trees known as the Victory V. The v-shaped formation was planted at the end of the Second World War by the last squire Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer in memory of his brother Richard – a pilot killed fighting in Crete. It’s a memorial that was intended to celebrate the Allied victory and was intended to be seen by aircraft returning to England. The avenue can be found on the Woodland Walk – just one of four waymarked routes around the estate that are a joy to explore. For nature lovers and birdwatchers, the Church and Lake walk (which takes in the boardwalk in the wetland area) enables visitors to observe the many species of migrant birds that make Felbrigg their home over the autumn and winter months. All the estate walks are signposted and maps are available from the visitor reception points. You don’t have to book to enjoy the ‘Hall at Harvest’ festival. Normal admission charges apply, and National Trust members are admitted free of charge. Please note that last entries to the hall are at 4pm daily.
KLmagazine September 2018
BEDDING, READY MADE CURTAINS & GIFTS COMING IN WEEKLY
AUTUMN/WINTER LINES Arriving throughout September
ADA DUVET SET Choice of 3 colours | Single, Double & King
COLVILLE BRUSHED COTTON DUVET SET Single, Double, King & Super King
MARLDON DUVET SET
JEANNIE READYMADE CURTAINS Available in 3 colours and 7 sizes
Single, Double, King & Super King | Accessories available
www.charmed-interiors.co.uk
DOWNHAM MARKET
The Hythe, Bridge Road PE38 0AE Tel: 01366 384126
SPALDING
15 Bridge Street PE11 1XA Tel: 01775 766378
CHRISTMAS! IT’S NOT TOO EARLY TO BOOK FOR
BRITISH-CARIBBEAN FUSION RESTAURANT
AMAZING LUNCHTIME OFFER
TWO COURSES £8.50
Why not cook a delicious, healthy fish pie using our finest seafood Fresh local crabs & lobsters Fresh cockles Jumbo raw prawns Wide range of fresh & smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey Fresh ham on the bone
NEW HAPPY HOURS
20% OFF DRINKS 3-6PM WEEKDAYS
DELI COUNTER
TASTING NIGHTS
with quality local cheeses & olives
LIVE JAZZ/SOUL SINGERS
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
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PRIVATE FUNCTION
ROOM
AFTER DINNER DJS FR
I & SAT NIGHTS
15 Tower St, Kings Lynn PE30 1EJ • Tel: 01553 775248 www.soulcafeandrestaurant.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
Food & Drink
Charred Mackerel Fillet with Maris peer potato salad & salad cream Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 4 mackerel fillets (with skin scored) For the Potato Salad 250g steamed Maris peers cut into quarters 1 handful of chopped parsley 1 handful of chopped dill ½ handful of chopped mint 1 small handful of Nurtured in Norfolk’s celery cress Light drizzle of olive oil seasoning For the Salad Cream 2 egg yolks, hard boiled 1 tbsp of sugar 2 tbsp of mustard 3 tbsp of white wine vinegar 150ml of double cream 150ml of olive oil 1 dash of lemon juice white pepper salt KLmagazine September 2018
METHOD 1 To make the salad cream, add the egg yolks to a food processor and blend. Mix together the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl, then slowly add to the egg yolks in a thin, steady stream until the correct consistency has been reached resembling a thin mayonnaise. Adjust seasoning as required.
4 Drizzle the salad cream onto the plate in a circle motion. To one side of the circle place 1 ½ tablespoons of the potato salad. 5 Once the mackerels are cooked place on top of the potato salad and dress the plate with pickled onions and Nurtured in Norfolk’s nasturtium leaves.
2 For the potato salad combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Season to taste. 3 To cook the mackerel, blow torch the fish skin for one minute, heavily season this and place into the oven for 2 ½ minutes.
Recipe by Dan Freear, Head Chef at Strattons Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Tel: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.co.uk 71
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Celebrating 55 years of our family business
Stunning
KITCHENS & BEDROOMS
• A family friendly company • Neff specialists for 45 years • Full measuring and CAD design service • All kitchens supplied rigid • 23 displays • Full installation service available
Bexwell Kitchens
Bexwell Aerodrome, Downham Market PE38 9LT Tel: 01366 382064 Open: Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 2-4 Email: bexwellkitchens@aol.com
www.bexwellkitchens.co.uk
Poppi Interiors
Make an old chair your favourite chair
rd Winning Inn Swaffham’s Double Awa
Re-upholstery of your own furniture
Call to Book 01760 72 3 2 44
Choose from our vast range of stunning fabrics
C U R TA I N S • B L I N D S • U P H O L S T E R Y • FA B R I C S Tel: 01760 722541 • Web: www.poppiinteriors.co.uk Find us: 19 market place, Swaffham PE37 7LA
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Cocktails
Pub Menu
Our fabulous cocktail bar serving classics and our own creations. Open Fri and Sat evenings.
Home of the Jack Daniel’s Burger! Served Tues to Sun (closed Mon)
KingsArmsCopperHorse@gmail.com www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk
21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA KLmagazine September 2018
Food & Drink
Wine Notes Robert Harrison
KL Magazine speaks to of Cazalet Harrison Wine Merchants for what’s tickling his tastebuds this season... PICTURE: MARK ASHBY / ASHBYSHOOTS.CO.UK
The unique rise of English Charmat, right here in Norfolk...
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ith a 15% increase in hectares planted since 2015 and one million vines planted last year alone, English wine is certainly on the rise – and its improving quality is resulting in increasing popularity. The majority of the English market is sparkling wine, which makes up 68% of the production. Normally, English sparkling is produced using the traditional method, which is how Champagne is produced – with a secondary fermentation in the bottle. However, recently a few English wineries have broken with tradition and started producing a sparkling wine using the Charmat method – which involves secondary fermentation occurring in the tank rather than in the bottle. It’s the way Prosecco is produced. One of the wineries using the Charmat method happens to be a local KLmagazine September 2018
winery – Flint Vineyard in Earsham, near Bungay. I wanted to work with a high quality Norfolk producer and had heard (through the grapevine you could say!) they’d be worth a visit! Meeting with Ben and Hannah Witchell quickly convinced me that Flint Vineyard was going to be a great winery with high class products in a short amount of time. Ben had quit his job in 2010 to follow the dream of wine production, enrolling in an Oenology and Viticulture degree, whilst Hannah worked to support the family. After Ben graduated the couple moved to Beaujolais in France where Ben had his first wine-making post. After a stint in France they wanted to start up their own winery back in England and pinpointed Norfolk as a region with great potential for growing grapes – especially as it’s the sunniest and driest part of the country. Luckily, local family connections helped them
search for a suitable site. When I visited Flint Vineyard back in October 2017, talk of producing a sparkling wine was in the mix – and it was released in June this year, the first English Charmat method wine to have been put into fermentation in England. It’s a marvellous cuvée that offers a more fruit-driven approach to a sparkling wine. Ben and Hannah’s Charmat is a rosé made from a blend of the aromatic varieties Solaris, Bacchus, Reichensteiner and Rondo. Although this is a Prosecco method of production, the details of the wine making process differentiate it completely – all the grapes were gently pressed as whole bunches, part of it was aged on the lees in French oak, it underwent bâtonnage (stirring) every week and enjoyed a long fermentation. This has created a very exciting wine that benefits from a lot of attention and has created something very different for the market. The emphasis on quality is really noticeable, and it offers a genuine alternative in a booming English wine culture. Full of forest fruits with a hint of minerality, you can expect a balanced texture and a long finish – and it’s a local wine that’s well worth discovering.
www.chwinemerchants.co.uk rob@chwinemerchants.co.uk 07917095068 73
Food & Drink
l i a t k c o C of the h t n o M
King’s Gentleman A sweet little honey bee of a drink! Serves: 1 YOU WILL NEED Glass: Tumbler or Old Fashioned glass 40ml Honey Jack Daniel’s 25ml Lime juice 20ml sugar syrup 10ml Caramel Syrup (such as Monin syrup) 5 mint leaves Couple of ice cubes Spoon
The King’s Gentleman was created for the King’s Arms Cocktail Bar the “Copper Horse” and has remained a favourite on the cocktail list ever since. A warming, sweet & zesty contrast to the Tenessee Old Fashioned which includes Jack Daniel’s Old No.7.
METHOD 1 Stir Honey Jack Daniel’s & mint leaves in glass. 2 Add a couple ice cubes and the rest of the ingredients. 3 Stir slowly.
SUGAR SYRUP To make simple sugar syrup, add equal parts of sugar and water, shake up in a jam jar or bottle until dissolved. It’ll last for a couple of weeks in a sealed container in the fridge.
4 Garnish with a sprig of mint 5 Sit back, sip and relax!
Recipe by The Kings Arms Coaching Inn 21 Market Place, Swaffham PE37 7LA Tel: 01760 723244 Web: www.kingsarmscoachinginn.co.uk 74
KLmagazine September 2018
Black Shuck Ignite NEW
At 57.15% abv Black Shuck Ignite delivers a Gin that is outrageously smooth and unapologetically bold. The ever-present Juniper is balanced with the warming Sea Buckthorn and citrus notes. Ignite Gin is perfect for sipping.
N AV Y S T R E N G T H
During the 18th century, legislation was passed requiring every British Naval ship to carry on board a quantity of Gin for medicinal purposes.
With the Gin rations being stored close to the barrels of gunpowder there was a risk that any Gin spillages could render the gunpowder useless. However, it was recognised that so long as the spirit was sufficiently high in alcoholic strength the gunpowder would still ignite.
To ensure the navy was not being overcharged for watered down spirits the Naval purser would use the same principal. He would add a few grains of gunpowder to the spirit. If the compound just ignited it was taken as ‘proof’ that the spirit was at the correct strength. Failure to ignite indicated the Gin was ‘underproof’ and if it was ‘overproof’ it would explode with a bang.
Email: info@blackshuckltd.co.uk Buy online at: www.blackshuckltd.co.uk
Crawfish Inn Thai Restaurant & Bar
Heath Farm Shop
Family run business
Traditional Bangkok Thai Cuisine Local Real Ales Extensive Wine List Takeaway Service Fully Air Conditioned Backing British Farming
selling quality & bespoke produce from our own farm & local suppliers
Lynn Lane, Great Massingham, King’s Lynn PE32 2HJ
Call 01328 878313 for reservations /crawfishinn
www.crawfishinn.co.uk
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PE N
Open: Tues-Sun from 6pm Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ
-Taste our NEW seasonal menu-
FormalLy The LatTice House FulLy Refurbished & Under New Management 01553 769585 wWw.bishopsofchapelst.co.uk Chapel StreEt, King’s LynN PE30 1EG
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Food & Drink
RestaurantReview
A genuine taste of India in King’s Lynn
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ajasthan is India’s largest state, and it’s home to some of the country’s most amazing sights, so if you’re going to name your restaurant after the region, it’s essential your food lives up to expectations – and a visit to this lovely Indian restaurant and takeaway in the centre of King’s Lynn certainly won’t disappoint. The Rajasthan only opened at the beginning of the year, although the restaurant’s director has been in the hospitality trade for six years – and it’s encouraging to learn he came to King’s Lynn because he likes both the place and the people. It was a blisteringly hot day when we
visited, so the air conditioning was much appreciated – and we were equally impressed with the extensive menu, which clearly describes the wealth of dishes and uses a clever colour-coding system for the level of spice they contain. We decided to try the Rajasthan’s banquet night, which is available every Wednesday and Thursday for only £11.95 per person and includes poppadoms, starters, main courses, rice or naan bread, a side order and soft drink. It’s the perfect way to discover some of Rajastan's speciality dishes, which have some amazing flavour combinations you don't usually find in a typical Indian restaurant.
The poppadoms were satisfyingly crunchy and served with four delicious accompaniments (including an amazing homemade chilli relish) and the starters were outstanding. The spicy calamari certainly lived up to its name, the tikka paneer was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft in the centre, and the lamb dosa was a genuine treat – offering a mouthwatering mix of texture and flavour. Our main courses were beautifully presented on white china, and we were immediately struck by the fact the vegetables had been chargrilled with the meat, which added a pleasant extra dimension of taste. Billed as the chef’s special, the Chicken Tikka Shashlik Naga is a simply fabulous dish with a carefullybalanced degree of heat – and the Nawabi Jalfreizi was equally impressive. Packed with fresh ingredients, the mains were accompanied by two garlic naan breads (freshly baked in the tandoori oven) with side orders of rice, Cauliflower Bhaji, Tarka Dhal, Sag Aloo and Daal Samba. Throughout our meal, the staff were friendly and attentive, serving drinks at the table and ensuring we were well hydrated; which came in handy as we’re lovers of all things spicy. We were also impressed with having our dishes placed in front of us without anyone asking who’d ordered what – it was a very nice touch. Indian cuisine done well is hugely enjoyable and exceptionally tasty, and the Rajasthan is perfect in every respect. It’s friendly, full of fabulous well thought-out dishes, and it’s wonderfully tasty.
RAJASTHAN RESTAURANT 61 Railway Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1NE Telephone: 01553 765947 Web: www.rajasthanindian.co.uk KLmagazine September 2018
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Newly Refurbished and
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Serving authentic Indian & Bangladeshi Cuisine Banquet Nights Every Wednesday & Thursday Only £11.95pp 50% Off every Sunday! (Dining Only)
We’ve refurbished our lovely Snug area, and our bar and dining room refurbishment will soon take place. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram to keep up with the process!
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61 Railway Road, King’s Lynn PE30 1NE
Order takeaway online: www.rajasthanindian.co.uk
Enjoy a night of live music £39.50 Includes a 3 course festive dinner and dancing Saturday 1st December 2018
For a copy of our Christmas brochure visit www.lestrangearms.co.uk
Michael Bublé Tribute act Saturday 8th December 2018
Tel: 01485 534411 Email: conference@lestrangearms.co.uk Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6JJ
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Food & Drink
Gai Pad Hed (Chicken and Mushrooms) INGREDIENTS 1 chicken breast, thinly sliced 1 small onion, thinly sliced 10 chestnut mushrooms, quartered 8 babycorn, halved ½ tbsp of chopped garlic 1 spring onion, diagonally sliced 2 tbsp of oyster sauce 1 tbsp of light soy sauce 1 tsp of sugar 1 cup of hot water
METHOD 1 Heat up two tablespoons of light vegetable oil. 2 Add the chicken and stir for one minute.
5 Add hot water and simmer for five minutes. 6 Fold in spring onions and serve on a bed of rice (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even nicer with egg fried rice!).
3 Add the babycorn, garlic and mushrooms, then cook for a further minute. 4 Add the sauces and sugar, stir well ensuring everything in the pan is coated.
Recipe by The Crawfish Inn Holt Road, Thursford NR21 0BJ Tel: 01328 878313 Web:www.crawfishinn.com
KLmagazine September 2018
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Food & Drink
The Garden Pantry and Norfolk’s tastiest chutneys Five years ago, Neil Griffin and Becky Slater used a surplus of courgettes to make some chutney – and the rest is an awardwinning history. Sylvia Steele enjoys a taste of the good life...
T
ucked away in a village surrounded by agricultural land some three miles from Wymondham, Spooner Row is where Neil Griffin and his partner Becky Slater decided to change their jobs and engage in a new lifestyle – but it was almost by accident that they opted to experience the challenge of the ‘good’ life. Starting in 2012, their Garden Pantry was an unforeseen opportunity that evolved from their love of cultivating
KLmagazine September 2018
their own fruit and vegetables and a flourishing year that produced a surfeit of courgettes – encouraging the couple to make chutney. Initially, they were content with just a few jars, but it soon took off from there. Neil Griffin, who was once an electrician, and Becky, who worked for an animal feed company, are happy to take time out to talk about how their decision to change their lives has taken off since the days of that bumper crop of courgettes.
KL magazine: Did you already have experience of cooking or was it something you had to learn? Neil: It was a bit of trial and error initially, but we enjoyed what we made so much we went on to make a few more flavours of jam and chutney with various ingredients from the garden. We did one or two small shows, and customers really enjoyed our products. From there we started stocking a few local shops. Becky: It’s been quite a journey – we
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Food & Drink Lime & Mint Marmalade and our Pear & Lemon Marmalade – and received a Highly Commended Award a couple of year ago for our Daiquiri Jam. It’s quite astonishing how well our products have been received. KL magazine: That’s quite a prestigious hoard – but what tastes are most popular with the public? Becky: Generally, our jams with alcohol are always very popular. We use local Black Shuck Gin in three of our products, and these are our bestsellers at food festivals. Our Smokey Tomato & Chilli Jam is one of our most popular savoury products because it’s so versatile – it can be used simply with cheeses or meats but it’s also great in cooking. KL magazine: How do you see the business going forward? Neil: We’re always planting more fruit trees and bushes to allow us to extend our varieties of produce. We’ve expanded rapidly in sales over the last two years and hope to continue with that. We’ve also started working with the Handmade Doughnut Company in Swaffham recently and are providing jams for their doughnuts – including Rhubarb, Strawberry & Gin Jam and Blackcurrant Mojito Jam.
now have more than 70 different flavours and a range of stockists across the whole country. KL magazine: Do you each have your own field of expertise such as planting or recipe tasting? Neil: We both taste the recipes and we both like different things, so it works quite well. I prefer the chilli-based products, so generally do the tasting on those, but it’s a joint effort across all aspects of our business. KL magazine: Considering the current debate on the future of the local high street, has online shopping been beneficial to the business? Neil: Online shopping complements our stockists – especially for tourists who want to buy our products again when they return home. We’ve recently built and redesigned our own website, and like to use pictures of our products in recipes to give people new menu ideas. KL magazine: Do changing fashions in taste influence your recipes, or do you
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settle for more traditional tastes? Becky: It’s great that there’s so much interest in cooking at the moment, especially in the use of local and handmade produce. As we have so many flavours, we can always see what’s proving more popular and move with the current trends. KL magazine: How satisfying is it to have already received six Great Taste Awards for your products? Neil: It’s been a wonderful experience. They were awarded by the Guild of Fine Foods and started with an award for our Spiced Bean Chutney in 2013. The following year we won another for our Rhubarb and Lavender Jam and followed that up in 2015 with an award for our Redcurrant and Loganberry Jam. The next year we won an award for our Sloe Jam, and last year we picked up two – for our Green Chilli & Tomato Chutney and our Parsnip Chutney. The awards are a great indication of quality to customers who haven’t tried our products yet. Becky: We’ve also won Marmalade Award Bronze Medals for our Rhubarb,
KL magazine: Do you employ any additional help? Neil: It’s still just the two of us! We do everything from growing the fruit and vegetables to making the product, from the labelling to the deliveries. Becky: We feel it’s very important to speak to our stockists and get their feedback. At food festivals it’s great to tell customers we do everything ourselves and tell them the story of our business. KL magazine: Your business name is certainly very evocative of a country style product. Was this suggested by that first step into a kind of 'Good Life' venture? Neil: Yes, we wanted our brand to show what we’re all about – taking produce from the garden and turning it into a product that sits on the customers’ pantry shelves. Becky: And it’s great to be able to be part of the whole process from start to finish – from planting the seeds to selling the finished product. It’s certainly a good life. For more details of Neil and Becky’s work and information on local stockists, please see www.thegardenpantry.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
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ly
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Caley Mill, Lynn Road Heacham PE31 7JE t:01485 570002
TRUST YOUR GUT! Customers are now realising what King's Lynn is missing! Gluten Free products that are not available in supermarkets. Pre-Orders are now being taken for GF bread, scones, traybakes and speciality cakes. Flour blends in 3kg quantities. All at great value. SEPTEMBER EVENTS Heritage Day Open Sunday September 16th 10.00-4.00pm End of Summer Season Sale from the 17th September 2018 How to make easy & healthy GF lunches September 25th - more information and tickets for the event available from the shop.
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Tel: 01553 770 635
St George’s Chambers, 27 King Street, King’s Lynn
For more info visit our website www.walsingham.co
KLmagazine September 2018
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The Fent Shop By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn
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KLmagazine September 2018
Before
After
Before
After
How to bring your 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... t’s been a long hot summer, and while it’s definitely been enjoyable it’s almost certainly had an adverse effect on your floors – with the doors almost constantly open, and everyone (including the pets) wandering to and from the garden, walking in all sorts of muck and debris. Natural stone and solid wood floors look fantastic when they’re first laid (and they’re a considerable investment) but they do lose their good looks over time – and eventually they’ll need more than a mop and some elbow grease to bring them back to their best. That’s when you need the professional cleaning services of Martin King and his Swaffham-based team at XtraClean. “Deposits and dirt will gradually build up on your floors throughout the year, especially in grout lines, and traditional
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cleaning methods will become increasingly ineffective,” says Martin. “That’s why we use a revolutionary and powerful floor cleaning system to safely restore heavily-soiled wood and stone floors, tiles and grout to ‘as-new’ brilliance. 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. XtraClean’s amazing turbo cleaning capture system will then 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!”
XtraClean
Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaffham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
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ABOVE: Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, borough council deputy leader and cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health with Paul Searle of Searles Leisure Resort earlier this year announcing the sponsorship agreement that renamed Hunstanton’s soap box racing event as the Searles Soap Box Derby
The revival of an actionpacked seaside tradition The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk looks back at the 2017 Hunstanton Soap Box Derby and previews the 2018 event, now reborn as the Searles Soap Box Derby
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lmost 4,000 miles separate Hunstanton from Dayton, Ohio – but the two share a common link in a fun-filled event that will take place in the popular Norfolk resort towards the end of this month. Back in 1933, an American newsman called Myron Scott was working on a photographic assignment in Dayton, when he came across a group of boys racing homemade cars with an
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extremely low-tech level of engineering, and was so impressed he acquired the copyright to ’Soap Box Derby’ and managed to get Chevrolet to sponsor the first official race in 1934. The idea was a sensation and quickly spread across the Atlantic, making soap box races a common sight in the seaside resorts of the UK. The rise of package holidays and foreign travel in the 1960s saw a decline in the tradition, but it’s recently had something of a
renaissance. And soap box derbies have finally come home. Last year, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk revived the classic seaside spectacle as part of a project to regenerate the Hunstanton Heritage Gardens. The £1.3m project included an extensive programme of activities designed to attract visitors to the gardens, as well as the capital works – and the soap box derby in September was the finale of a packed
KLmagazine September 2018
What’s On
ABOVE: This photograph of homemade karts racing down the Hunstanton course was taken at the 1958 Soap Box Derby – and a 15-year-old Ernest Hoyos is pictured at right with his trophy for winning the event. Sixty years after his triumph, Ernest watched the 2017 with considerable interest
summer of events. The 2017 race attracted 40 teams and thousands of spectators, surpassing all expectations the borough council had for the event. Teams came from all across Norfolk (some from even further afield) and showcased some truly inventive homemade karts. A shark, a fire engine, an ice-cream (very appropriate for ‘sunny Hunny’), a kart that emitted a trail of purple smoke, and even a converted coffin – the variety and ingenuity of the vehicles’ designs was hugely impressive. But the karts weren’t just built to look good – they were built to race! Each team enjoyed two runs down the course, beginning in Boston Square before making a 90-degree turn into Cliff Parade and finishing at the miniroundabout at the bottom of the hill – cheered on by crowds lining every inch of the route. The winner was Hunstanton resident Ed Napolitano, and it turned out that another soap box derby winner was in attendance on the day. Ernest Hoyos was the winner of the 1958 Hunstanton Soap Box Derby, when he was only 15 years old. When he heard the borough council were reviving the tradition, he came along to see how much had changed. “All those years ago, our soap boxes were just wooden homemade things with old pram wheels we’d found after scouring the countryside and dumps,” he said. “A lot of us lay headfirst on our KLmagazine September 2018
trollies when racing, and though we had no crash helmets I don’t remember anyone getting hurt! The races were held two at a time, down the steep ramp that used to go through the cliff gardens, under the white bridge and then down onto the prom. The loser was eliminated and it went on until the final winner was declared.” Sixty years after Ernest’s triumph, the 2018 event will be held on Sunday 23rd September, sponsored by Searles Leisure Resort and supported by a whole host of local organisations – and it looks set to be even bigger and better than last year. After the 40 available places in 2017 sold out so quickly several teams missed out on a place,
the entry has been increased to 50 teams for this year. “We were really taken by surprise by how successful last year’s Soap Box Derby was,” says Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, borough council deputy leader and cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health. “We’d have been happy with ten teams taking part, so we were delighted that all 40 places were filled in record time and thousands of people came along to watch. It was a real highlight of the summer season in Hunstanton, and we’ve been planning for months to make sure this year’s event will be just as enjoyable. We’re organising a full day of entertainment, so it’s perfect for all the family. It’s
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What’s On
ABOVE: Ed Napolitano prepares to make his winning run down the course at the 2017 Hunstanton Soap Box derby – an event that never fails to delight audiences with the inventiveness and ingenuity of the participating vehicles.
hurtle down the hilly roads of Hunstanton! The Searles Soap Box Derby begins at 10am on Sunday 23rd September as teams arrive to register and have their karts inspected by race officials to ensure they meet the specifications set out in the race rules. The music and entertainment begins on The Green at 10.30am. The races themselves begin at noon along the same course as last year, which means road closures along Cliff Parade and Boston Square will be in place from 7am. Each team will have two timed runs down the course with their fastest time being submitted for judging. After the races, the teams will all gather their karts on The Green so spectators can admire the ingeniously built and decorated vehicles and pick their favourite. At 5pm, the finale of the day will be the presentation of the trophies on The Green –which will be presented to the fastest team in each category. The teams will be competing in the categories of Juniors under 13, Juniors under 16, Adults, and Veterans over 65. A Concours d'élégance award will also be presented to the best-decorated kart as chosen by the judges. So, if you’re looking for a classic seaside day out, come and join the crowds lining the route and cheer on the brave racers at the Searles Soap Box Derby!
definitely Norfolk’s biggest and best soap box derby!” The King’s Lynn & District Motor Club will be helping with the timing and marshalling (supported by the police cadets with the latter), Morrisons will be supplying food and drink to the event officials, and Hunstanton’s newlycreated 4T5 Club will be fundraising for local charitable causes with a gin tent on The Green. There will a carnival atmosphere throughout the day, with several bands performing live on The Green, plenty of children’s entertainment from Strange Fascination Theatre, and new for this year will be an event commentator. A well-experienced and entertaining presenter of sailing events, Simon Gale will be announcing the teams as they take to the course, and build the excitement before the daredevil drivers
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KLmagazine September 2018
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rise to 0.75% is likely to increase your annual cost by £224 VARIABLE RATE MORTGATES In the UK just over nine million households have a mortgage, and these are the people who’ll be most affected as their monthly payments will soon increase. The average outstanding mortgage balance is £112,000, and for someone with 20 years left on the mortgage the monthly payment will rise by about £14 a month – obviously, for those with a larger balance the rise will be greater.
It’s time to review your mortgage now Last month’s rise in interest rates will affect all homeowners – but the experts at Ring Associates can help you minimise its impact fter much speculation, the Bank of England has raised interest rates from 0.5% to 0.75% – and a strengthening economy, increased consumer spending, low unemployment levels and the potential of rising wages have all played a part in the decision.
million savers – some of whom have seen slight interest rate improvements after the previous bank rate rise in November. However, millions of households with variable or tracker rate mortgages will be seeing their payments increase again.
WHAT IS THE BANK OF ENGLAND’S INTEREST RATE? The bank’s main priority is to keep the rising cost of living (which we all know as ‘inflation’) under control. It uses its key interest rate, known as the ‘bank’ or ‘base’ rate as a reference point for how much interest banks and building societies pay to savers and how much they charge borrowers. The recent rise won’t be too painful for most people, although some will find this extra burden challenging. The increase is actually good news for the country’s 45
MORTGAGE INTEREST RATE – THE FACTS l Currently almost four million residential mortgages are on a variable or tracker rate
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FIXED RATE MORTGAGES Most new mortgage loans are on fixed interest rates, typically for two or five years – and currently half of all outstanding loans are on fixed rates, which equates to almost five million households. Some of these rates are expected to rise because of the latest announcement. When borrowers reach the end of their current fixed term, they may find they have to make higher monthly payments. At the moment, mortgage lenders offering fixed rates tend to be especially competitive, and as independent financial advisers and mortgage brokers, we have access to the whole of the market – which means we can find the most suitable product for you. Come and see one of our experienced advisers for a free consultation. PAUL STONE Mortgage Advisor To arrange a meeting, you can contact us on 01553 777600 or by e-mailing enquiries@ringassociates.co.uk.
l On average, the standard variable rate mortgage is currently 4.72% l On a £150,000 variable mortgage, a
11-12 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN TEL: 01553 777600 WEB: www.ringassociates.co.uk E-MAIL: enquiries@ringassociates.co.uk Ring Associates Ltd is registered in England No. 04569784 Ring Associates Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 418829
KLmagazine September 2018
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History
ABOVE: The Bentinck Arms in Loke Road, North Lynn – named after the town’s colourful MP Lord George Bentinck
A closer look at King’s Lynn’s most colourful MP Duellist, dandy, defender of the Corn Laws and MP for King’s Lynn for some 20 years – Noel McGivern of King’s Lynn Town Guides explores the rather tempestuous life and adventures of Lord George Bentinck...
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illiam George Frederick Cavendish-Scott Bentinck was the second son of the Duke of Portland, and he was born on 27th February 1802 in Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire. His mother Henrietta nee Scott was an heiress of the celebrated and successful gambler, General John Scott of Fife. As a child, Bentinck was nicknamed ‘Singe’ by his family, but he was always
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known as George as all the males in the family were given the first name William. He grew up on the family estate at Welbeck and in Scotland, and in 1818 he joined the army as an officer in the 9th Lancers at the tender age of 16. Somewhat abrasive in character, he faced a charge of insubordination in 1821 for calling his superior officer a ‘poltroon’ (coward) – although he was eventually cleared after preparing for a duel in which his uncle Lord Canning fortunately
intervened. Bentinck returned to England and changed regiments, preparing to go to India. His uncle (who was now Foreign Secretary) intervened again, and Bentinck became his non-stipendiary private secretary – a quieter and certainly safer position. In 1824 Bentinck’s older brother Henry died, and George (largely at the behest of his father) joined the Lancers again. In July of the following year Bentinck’s KLmagazine September 2018
ABOVE: The 1836 portrait of Lord George Cavendish Bentinck by Samuel Lane that currently hangs in King’s Lynn Town Hall and (above right) the statue of Bentinck in London’s Cavendish Square
abrasiveness again came to the fore, which resulted in another duel with a junior officer over the mess accounts. Bentick was fortunate to survive, and subsequently left the army – taking half pay with the rank of Major. In 1828, Bentinck ran unopposed as the MP for King’s Lynn representing the Whig Party, and though he moved to the Conservative Party around 1835-36 he remained the town’s Member of Parliament until his death. At the time he was elected, the town sent two MPs to Parliament, and John Walpole (the nephew of Robert Walpole) was the other. Despite being an MP, Bentinck never
KLmagazine September 2018
showed much interest in politics until the early 1840s. He was quoted as saying he was employed to sit through laborious debates to which he could add nothing. He was, however, the last MP to wear ‘hunting pink’ in the chamber – and was said to wear a new silk scarf (which cost a guinea each) every day. Described as an ‘aristocratic dandy’, he admitted to not being a natural orator – and this point was confirmed in Disraeli’s acclaimed autobiography. During this time, Bentinck was far better known for his interest in horse racing. A notorious gambler (like his father-in-law) he often lost substantial amounts of money, but during the 1845
racing season he reputedly won more than £100,000 – a staggering amount at the time. But despite owning several successful racehorses from his stable in Goodwood, Bentinck’s mother and sister helped support his gambling debts on several occasions. His habitual tempestuousness eventually got him into trouble with a certain Squire Osberton over gambling debts. The resulting quarrel ended with a duel in which Osberton (an excellent marksman) returned a miss with a shot that went clean through Bentinck’s hat. Bentinck was credited with the invention of the horsebox, which allowed race horses to get to meetings much faster than before. His horse Surplice won both the Derby and the St Ledger in 1846, and he is credited with cleaning up the sport by setting laws on fixing odds and inventing the flag start which replaced a ‘shouting’ start. Bentinck’s father strongly disapproved of George’s interest in horses, and was delighted when Bentinck sold off his entire stables and racing team for the bargain price of £10,000 in 1846 –with the idea of fully dedicating himself to politics. The House of Commons debated the Corn Laws in 1846. At the time, the import of foreign corn was restricted until home-produced corn exceeded a pre-agreed price. Bentinck’s uncle Lord Canning tried to introduce a scale of moderate tax, but was attacked incessantly in debates, primarily by Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. It was something Bentinck never forgave Peel for, which became obvious
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History
A step-by-step way to explore the heritage of King’s Lynn... King’s Lynn Town Guides’ September itinerary includes the regular pattern of ‘Historic Lynn’ taking place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoon at 2pm from the Saturday Market Place. Exceptions to the regular schedule this month are as follows: HISTORIC WALK Ivor Rowlands Saturday 1st September (11am) Our regular Historic Walk commences in the morning, giving 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.
during subsequent debates. Peel was persuaded to attempt the removal of tariff protection from England due largely to the famine in Ireland. Bentinck spoke passionately about his concern for the domestic producers and farmers, raising concerns about the lack of protection for Canada against huge quantities of cheap US corn. The row contributed to the Conservative Party losing power in 1846 and splitting in two, with Bentinck becoming (almost by default) the leader of the Protectionist Party – and he worked tirelessly for the cause. Bentinck fought for protectionist measures on sugar beet, fighting against cheap imports via the slave trade. It was a position that made him ever more popular in rural counties such as Norfolk – William Bagge of King’s Lynn, for example, supported Bentinck and demanded a return of protectionist measures. However, Bentinck was seriously out of step with his party on many issues including religious freedom (for which he was in favour) – he voted to abolish the obligation to take part in Anglican Communion as a condition of holding office, and was against the exclusion of
Jews from Parliament. In contrast to the rest of his party he was in favour of the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland being paid by the landowners. In December 1847, Bentinck was forced to resign the leadership of the party but he remained active from the back benches, continuing to work 18hour days, often eating at 2am, and continuing to be the champion of the country gentleman. Exhausted from his work as an MP, Bentinck returned to Welbeck for a rest in early September 1848 where he wrote many letters – three on the night before he died – including one to Benjamin Disraeli that was 15 pages long. On the afternoon of 21st September 1848, Bentinck set out for a six-mile walk to enjoy dinner and an overnight stay with his cousin Lord Manvers. He never arrived – and when his body was found it was thought he died of exhaustion. On the morning of his funeral in Marylebone, all the ships in the Thames had their flags at half mast and minute guns were fired along the river; a tribute repeated in King’s Lynn and ports across England – as well as Le Havre, Rotterdam and other European ports.
Where to discover George Cavendish-Scott Bentinck today...
THE DARKER SIDE OF LYNN Edith Reeves Tuesday 4th September (2pm) This is not a ghost walk, but from St Nicholas’ Chapel to the Minster you’ll explore the darker side of the town, visiting sites reflecting the grimmer aspects of Lynn’s history – including the ducking stool and 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. KING’S LYNN MARITIME TRAIL Chris Shipp Saturday 8th September (2pm) King’s Lynn has a rich maritime heritage, some of which is exhibited in True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum, the Custom House, Lynn Museum and Marriott’s Warehouse – but this walk provides an opportunity to follow a route through the town and see many of the buildings and locations associated with this heritage. SUPPER WALK Ivor Rowlands Tuesday 11th September (6.30pm) Meet for drinks, followed by a leisurely onehour stroll before returning for a sumptuous two-course supper at Market Bistro. The walk takes in three of King’s Lynn’s hidden gems – all Grade I listed, all foursided quadrangular buildings with hidden courtyards, all fully restored, all in regular use and all within 100 metres of Market Bistro. The cost is only £29, including a welcome drink on arrival, two-course supper of main and dessert, and includes a £5 donation to support heritage organisations in King’s Lynn. For further information, to book tickets or arrange a private tour please contact the Tourist Information Centre at the Custom House on 01553 763044.
King’s Lynn Town Hall: a portrait of Bentinck by Samuel Lane hangs in the Assembly Room Loke Road, North Lynn: where you’ll find The Bentinck public house King’s Lynn’s Docks: which contains the 800m Bentinck Dock, built in 1883 Further afield: a bronze statue of George Bentinck was erected in London’s Cavendish Square (close to Oxford Circus) in 1848
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KLmagazine September 2018
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KLmagazine September 2018
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KLmagazine September 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 Guarantors who fail to honour their proxy payment responsibilities will also receive a CCJ if the landlord pursues a financial claim through the Courts.
How To Guarantee Guarantors
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t the moment rents are continuing to spiral upwards and although they can’t see it yet the Government are fuelling the trend. Landlord tax relief on mortgage interest has been dissolved, stamp duty on purchasing investment property has increased, and as with all businesses the additional costs are getting passed on to the end consumer, which in this case are the tenants. As the margins of disposable income narrow the risk of payment defaults increase and Landlords are increasingly favouring tenants who are able to provide a guarantor to support their application for a property. The theory behind this practice is sound but the reality is that unless you know how to complete the process of attaching a guarantor to a tenancy correctly and the correct protocols to follow before contacting them you will not be any better protected should the tenant default. These are some of the basic points that you should be establishing when looking to include a guarantor: 1 Do they understand what a guarantor is and the related responsibilities? We encounter a significant number of “would be”
guarantors who think that they are essentially providing a character reference for the tenants and don’t initially realise that they are going to be held liable for the rent and damages. The landlord or agent must prove that they have provided information in advance of the obligations attached to the role and also promote the opportunity for them to seek their own independent legal advice on the matter. 2 Ability to pay. This should always be based on annual income and not fixed assets. All too often prospective tenants offer up retired relatives as guarantors who are usually in receipt of just a standard state pension but own their own property mortgage free and are stunned when we decline to accept them. Fixed assets (such as property) are as the title suggests fixed and difficult to convert into cash in any great hurry. Much apart from that as agents on a moral level we don’t want to be arranging the seizure of assets or house repossession from your great grandmother who may never be able to replenish the loss. Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it ethical! 3 A guarantor’s signature must be witnessed. A little known fact but a very important one that is often overlooked
as it is not a legal requirement for tenants. A lot of agents use electronically signed tenancy documents which is more than adequate for tenancies which don’t include a guarantor, but where one is involved the process should be completed the traditional way and witnessed. 4 You can’t increase the rent solely under Section 13 and retain the guarantor. If the rent is going to be increased on a tenancy and you want to retain the guarantor then you will need to produce a new contract at the new rent and they will need to sign it. If you don’t then they are automatically released from their duty. The guarantor signed up for a set rental liability and their responsibility cannot be increased without their consent, so if this has been done without a new contract being signed they are no longer bound to the agreement. At Edmonton Estates we deal with tenancies that include guarantors on a daily basis and if you would like more information concerning this topic please contact our office on 01553 660615, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Edmonton Estates Ltd, St Ann’s House, 18 St Ann’s Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1LT 01553 660615 | www.edmontonestates.co.uk | info@edmontonestates.co.uk
KLmagazine September 2018
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PICTURE: IAN WARD
PICTURE : TIM WARD / ROGUE AV
Local Life
Setting the stage for success with Tim Ward Successfully staging an event requires a professional approach, a solid understanding of AV and state of the art equipment. In fact, as Clare Bee discovers, it requires the services of Tim Ward...
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n an increasingly complex technological world, it can be very confusing knowing how to run an event with visuals, lighting, staging and audio. Step forward Tim Ward, from Rogue Production Services, who’ll take on the management of your presentation or celebration and (in his own words) “bring out your vision to make each event problem free and a real success story.” Surprisingly, Tim never intended to get into this high tech world. As a child growing up on a farm in West Norfolk, he didn’t really know what he wanted to do, but was introduced to the stage by
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his uncle who was Stage Manager of Wisbech Operatic Society. They were putting on a production of Oliver and naturally needed a cast of young men, so Tim was enticed to tread the boards. He then began to start helping backstage with props for the pantomime and eventually moved into lighting. This interest led him to get involved with The Angles Theatre in Wisbech. It had just reopened in 1978 as a theatre, after a chequered history dating back to 1793 and including life as a meeting room, library and boxing club. Tim was one of the first employees of the newly-reopened theatre as Stage
Manager following time spent at the Isle College in Wisbech, working as a graphic designer at Anglia Components. “I became a full time Stage Manager, dealing with professional companies and doing in-house shows,” says Tim. “In those days the theatre was doing 12 inhouse productions a year. It was massive and I loved it. In fact, if the money was still there I’d still be doing it. The problem was it was all hours and all weekends – and the financial rewards unfortunately aren't there.” In the late 1980s, Tim decided to move away, and accepted a job at the Quay Theatre in Sudbury, where he worked for
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three and a half years as Stage Manager and Technical Operations Manager. From there he became involved in touring with various theatre companies, including the Manchester Royal Exchange (“a sort of Northern RSC”), but by the time he was 28 felt completely burnt out – and decided to apply to University. In 1993 Tim was accepted at Luton University to study a business degree in leisure management. Bizarrely, Tim ended up teaching the theatre module – “as a mature student I knew more about theatre than anyone!” he says. As it was a modular degree, he had plenty of free time so could carry on freelancing, and started doing lighting for various artists, including mime artist Rowan Tolley. “As the performance was totally mimed, there were no scripts and much of Rowan’s work was improvised – so knowing the cues for lighting and sound was really difficult technically,” says Tim. “I had to completely learn the show and in fact I relit it. He loved it and I ended touring with him!” In his second and third years Tim also ran all the university sports as the Student Union’s elected Sports Officer. “As I was doing a leisure management degree it seems I managed my leisure quite well!” says Tim. “I just like to make things happen – that’s essentially what I do. And with a theatre background I like a deadline. In the theatre, if the show goes up at 7.30 it goes up at 7.30 and not five minutes later.” Having completed his degree, Tim moved back to The Angles Theatre in Wisbech (he ran the bar for a year), and
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then got into working corporately, starting with the pharmaceutical company Wyeth (later taken over by Pfizer), gradually managing their audio visual needs for conferences all over Europe. “We could be in Dublin doing three conferences over a weekend when the company would fly in 150 specialists,” says Tim. “We could be doing presentations on haematology in one hotel, women's health in another and cardiology in a third – and I ended up managing the whole of their AV for them.” As the work continued to come in, Tim was able to build up and develop his business and equipment. He started to buy his own equipment and hire it back to companies he was working for. He continued working with many medical companies, but also was able to branch out and began providing AV for many
other organisations, including the Professional Vegetable Growing Association. With all this experience, Tim’s company, Rogue Production Services, can now provide audio, visual, lighting and staging for any event large or small and can design and present whatever the client wants. And his list of clients is impressive – from major pharmaceutical companies to the National Trust, Nokia and Oriflame Cosmetics, to name but a few. But along with this success, there is also a giving side to Tim’s company, Rogue AV, whose aim is to ‘assist charitable and social enterprise groups with support in facilitating their events and activities through the giving of Audio Visual Equipment, Technology and Services.’ “Because I’ve got a workshop full of equipment, I get requests to help run events,” says Tim, “often from theatre companies or local people running charity events – so I set up the Social Enterprise Company as the giving arm of Rogue Production Services.” Recently he has supported local youth theatre groups, Circus Starr (a circus company raising funds for disabled and disadvantaged children) and even helped stage KL Magazine’s fundraising events for Alzheimer’s UK earlier ths year. Tim’s professional but hands-on approach is refreshing in this corporate world. His success story is actually his clients’ success story and his delight in putting on an effective, imaginative presentation is obvious. Whatever the event, Tim’s immense knowledge of his art will make sure that each one is unique and unforgettable. For more details on Tim and his work and to discover what he can bring to your next event, please see the website at rogueav.com
PICTURE : TIM WARD / ROGUE AV
PICTURE: IAN WARD
Local Life
KLmagazine September 2018
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Fitted in a day and keeping you comfortable all year... A world of professional air conditioning solutions from the 4 Way Group f you’ve lost any sleep over the last few months because of the exceptionally hot weather, you’ll need little convincing that global warming is very much with us. We’re getting warmer summers and colder winters – and it’s a trend that’s set to continue. It’s one of the reasons the 4 Way Group has seen a growing demand for professional air conditioning solutions both at home and at work. Few people in West and North Norfolk area have as much experience or expertise in installing high quality air conditioning than the 4 Way Group. By sourcing the best and the most technologically-advanced products currently available, the 4 Way Group can supply, install, commission and service everything from simple domestic units and single office systems to multi-level
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VRF installations for larger premises. Our new state-of-the-art units offer a virtually silent operation, unbeatable cost-effectiveness, plenty of environmental benefits – and they look stylish and discrete in any setting. With professional dual-purpose air conditioning giving you total control over the temperature in your home (in both summer and winter) the 4 Way Group can
help turn your conservatory from a 2month room into an all-year-round living space – and you’ll never lose sleep again! From as little as £1,000 (and with an expert service that means your system can be fitted in a day) you can enjoy energy-efficient, simple to operate, and easy maintenance air conditioning that will make a world of difference to your home, your office or your factory. Introduce a breath of fresh air to your environment all year round and contact the 4 Way Group today for more details, information and a free quotation.
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PICTURES: SHAUN REYNOLDS
Local Life
ABOVE: Shaun Reynolds’ beautiful photograph of the Milky Way above Happisbugh lighthouse, and (opposite) part of NGC 2244, the open cluster within the Rosette Nebula, which was discovered by John Flamsteed in 1690. It’s 5,000 light years away, and considering the fastest spacecraft ever made would take 20,000 years to travel just one light year, it’s unlikely we’ll be visiting the place anytime soon
A local man’s mission to capture the universe... Shaun Reynolds’ camera can spend up to 30 hours to capture a single image, but the results are a fascinating glimpse into an unseen and unknown landscape, as Maxine Thorne discovers
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here are few things in this universe as little unknown or endlessly fascinating as the universe itself, and from our little blue planet we see millions of stars (whenever the night sky allows) but did you know that we see only a very small percentage of what’s actually out there? Thanks to award-winning local astro photographer Shaun Reynolds, we can now see for ourselves what was previously only visible to scientists and observatories around the world, and his website offers visitors a breathtaking
KLmagazine September 2018
and thought-provoking gallery of stunning images to wonder at. His glittering photographs of galaxies, constellations, nebulae and star clusters are full of swirling patterns and colours. They’re so striking that a selection has already been used to create a calendar, and some of Shaun’s other images are being reproduced as artworks. It’s no exaggeration to say that Shaun’s images are magnificent, tantalizing and infinitely fascinating in a very literal sense. His ability to capture images that are totally invisible to the naked eye is
nothing short of amazing, and it takes complex equipment as well as extreme patience to produce the final result. In fact, a single image can take as long as 30 hours to capture from the darkness – before computer processing brings together all the various elements which have been captured by the camera. Shaun’s taken his star-gazing passion from Land’s End in the UK to the farthest reaches of New Zealand – just to record the Milky Way from different perspectives. And a few years since what Shaun calls his ‘accidental’ hobby
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Local Life
ABOVE: The ‘Witch's Broom’ section of the Veil Nebula, as captured by Shaun Reynolds (below) – a cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus, it’s the visible remnants of a supernova that exploded around 5,000BC
began, he’s continually developing his skills, knowledge and equipment to help him record some of the countless wonders of the universe. Given the quality and artistry of his work, you may think that Shaun Reynolds has always had an interest in astro photography – but until recently his career was refreshingly down to earth. An electrician since the 1990s and a wedding and portrait photographer, Shaun paid a chance visit to a friend that brought another dimension into focus. “He had a camera and a telescope,” he says, “and seeing what was possible by combining the two had me hooked in two minutes. Ever since, it’s been my passion.” From that early beginning, his longterm interest in astronomy and cosmology has progressed to the point where he now has a specially-built mini-observatory on a property in South Norfolk – where the skies are dark and there’s little or no light pollution. “I like to call it my little shed,” he says, but when I visit to take my deep sky photographs, it tends to fill up with some very clever and technicallyadvanced equipment!” It comes as no surprise to learn that Shaun’s endeavours have been recognised officially – in 2013 he was awarded inclusion in the prestigious International Astronomy Photo of the Year publication, which is produced by
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the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Since then, many of his outstanding astro photographs have been featured in several national and specialist magazines. But it takes a lot more than a tripod and a clear sky to produce images as striking as this. “Naturally, you need a really dark place geographically-speaking, and the sky itself has to be very clear indeed,” he says. “I prefer to take my images from a unique or rugged landscape, hence my visit to Land’s End – where I took 35 pictures and then combined into one huge picture of one half of the entire galaxy.” Shaun’s dream was to create a panorama of the entire universe, which meant travelling all the way to New Zealand to photograph the other half of it. “My wife Cathy has always been incredibly patient with the amount of time all this takes me,” he says, “but at least she didn’t mind combining my lofty ambitions with the holiday of a lifetime!” For the technically-minded, Shaun’s imaging kit comprises a Williams Optics FLT98mm refractor telescope, an extremely sensitive monochome cooled CCD Starlight Express SXVR-H694 (the cooling reduces the electronic noise digital cameras usually produce) and a computer capable of locating the area to be photographed and ‘driving’ the
telescope. Initially a monochrome image is taken, followed by additional images taken using separate red, green and blue filters to slowly (very slowly!) build up the many layers it takes to create the final photograph. Shaun Reynolds is a member of the Norwich Astronomical Society and regularly takes part in exhibitions and events in the area where his work is showcased. He’ll also be holding a twoweek exhibition from the end of November at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust centre at Cley. So although he’s not going where no man has gone before, his camera lens certainly is. For more information about Shaun’s work and to see more impressive examples of his work, please visit go to www.shaunreynoldsastro.com.
KLmagazine September 2018
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KLmagazine September 2018
From your car’s very first to its very last service... Paragon Motor Company of Wisbech is setting new standards of service for whatever car you drive – and however old it is! his month will see the release of the new 68 number plates, and while Wisbech-based Paragon Motor Company doesn’t sell new cars, it can certainly service them. In fact, as one of the best independent family-owned businesses in East Anglia, Paragon can treat you and your car to a quite exceptional level of technical expertise and experience from your car’s very first service to its last. “People are becoming used to the fact that you don’t have to go back to a main dealer for your servicing needs any more,” says Sales Manager Ben Collins. “In fact there are several advantages to bringing your car – whatever it is and however old it is – to a genuinely independent and family-run garage.” In addition to a highly-competitive pricing structure (with servicing plans available from only £12.95 a month to help you spread the cost), Paragon Motor Company offers a refreshing
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KLmagazine September 2018
personal touch designed to make your life easier – with courtesy cars, a collection and delivery service, and a comfortable waiting room with a television, radio and free refreshments. Moreover, not being dictated to by specific manufacturers or third parties means that all work can be carried out to Paragon’s exacting standards – and by using one of the world’s leading (and most innovative) brands of equipment for garages, tyre shops and body repair services. “All of our technicians are trained to Level 3 in motor vehicle maintenance and repairs,” says Ben, “and we can offer everything from 3D wheel alignment and MOTs to scheduled services and
emergency repairs – for all cars, vans, motorhomes, and even commercial vehicles up to class 7.” Together with a fully-equipped 8-bay workshop and a huge catalogue of approved parts and accessories, Paragon Motor Company can offer you and your car the service you deserve. And you’ll never have to worry about missing a service or MOT again either, as Paragon sends out reminders via e-mail, SMS message or even through the post if you prefer. Whatever you drive and however long you’ve been driving it for, contact Paragon Motor Company now for a local service that’s simply second to none and genuinely miles ahead.
Paragon Motor Company, Lynn Road, Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE14 7AN Tel: 01945 223138 Web: www.paragonmotorco.co.uk E-mail: paragonmotorco@btconnect.com
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Beauty is far from skin deep. True beauty comes from a spirit that is at ease with itself and knows itself completely...
PICTURES: CHRISTINE PIKE
Local Arts
The art of combining mythology and feminism In one medium or another, Christine Pike has been sculpting for most of her life, and her work takes inspiration from both the natural world and from folklore, as Abigail Brown discovers...
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he dawn of the 21st century brought about a new wave of feminism, and today the movement seems to be more prevalent than it was in the 1960s. Local sculptor Christine Pike is putting women and femininity in the spotlight with her work – and also looking to mythology for the inspiration for many of her other pieces. Abigail Brown recently managed to distract Christine from hares and horned headdresses to talk about her distinctive art.
KL MAGAZINE: Let’s start from the KLmagazine September 2018
beginning – where did your love of ceramics come from initially? CHRISTINE PIKE: Even as a child, I’ve always had a passion for sculpting although it wasn’t until I moved to Norfolk in 2007 that I had enough space for a kiln and could really get the ball rolling! I took myself to evening classes, I fell in love with it, and the rest is history! KL MAGAZINE: Your work is incredibly unique – where do you get your ideas from? CHRISTINE PIKE: A lot is inspired by myth and folklore, particularly of the
British Isles. I also have my own ‘private’ mythology where certain ideas have a particular meaning to me – hence the hares and my ‘Wild Girls’ with their horned headdresses. KL MAGAZINE: How does the issue of femininity influence your work – and what’s the story behind ‘Fierce Beauty’? CHRISTINE PIKE: As a woman, it’s difficult not to be drawn into expressing the feminine in my work – especially the subtle power of female energy. So many woman struggle to fit the image of how they should look, how they should behave, and what they should 111
Local Arts I want to get my hands in the clay and sculpt something new and at other times I simply enjoy the discipline of moulding and casting. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most difficult part of the creative process? CHRISTINE PIKE: Well, as I’m now discovering it’s most difficult to make a successful mould to cast from! It’s a highly underrated skill and it’s much more difficult than making an original piece of sculpture. Making the mould can easily take three times as long as making an original sculpture.
aspire to and all this is imposed on them by society. I’m trying to remind women of their power and their true, inner beauty. I’ve had people cry in the past because a piece of mine has really moved them. As for ‘Fierce Beauty’ the title was first used as the name of an exhibition I did in 2016 to showcase the ‘wild’ girls. I liked it so much I decided to keep it and use it on my website as well. It refers to my philosophy about the nature of female energy and the natural world. KL MAGAZINE: If you’ll excuse the pun, hares seem to be a running theme in your work – why’s that?
CHRISTINE PIKE: Hares have a particular significance to me as they’re part of my personal mythology. For me, they represent chance, mystery, and innate wisdom. Many cultures have a ‘trickster’ figure in their mythology, and for me that’s the hare. She’s the one who can shake things up, challenge your perspective, and turn you in a different direction. KL MAGAZINE: What is your favourite single piece of work? CHRISTINE PIKE: To be honest I don’t really have one. I keep photos of my work and occasionally I’ll look at them and think ‘wow – that one was ok!’ but I’m never wholly satisfied, and I’m always trying to build on what I’ve learned. KL MAGAZINE: Why did you choose ceramics rather then the more conventional art genres? CHRISTINE PIKE: Probably because I’m much better at 3D work than painting – I find I can ‘draw’ much more easily with clay than with pencil. I also love the tactile quality of clay and its ability to’ shapeshift’ into anything you want it to be. KL MAGAZINE: What do you enjoy the most about what you do? CHRISTINE PIKE: I love everything about it, but in different ways and at different times. Sometimes
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KL MAGAZINE: You’re now exhibiting around the world – but how did your work get recognised that far afield? CHRISTINE PIKE: I find people in the Netherlands and Belgium really ‘get’ my work, although they're slightly bemused by the preponderance of the hares! Northern Europe has an ancient tradition of ceramic work, so they really respect it as an artform. KL MAGAZINE: What are you working on at the moment? CHRISTINE PIKE: Currently I’m working on some large-sized pieces to go outdoors, as gardens and outdoor spaces seem to be the perfect environment for my work – it would be perfect for these pieces to be surrounded by nature. KL MAGAZINE: What’s in store for Christine Pike in the future? CHRISTINE PIKE: That’s really hard to say as you never know what’s around the corner. At the beginning of this year I was approached by JD Wetherspoon to make some decorative panels for the new Whalebone pub in Downham Market, which I certainly wasn't expecting! I love taking on commissions as they often force me to step outside my comfort zone. I’m also planning a series of miniature pieces cast in bronze. KL MAGAZINE: Where can we see more of your work? CHRISTINE PIKE: I’m represented by the Red Dot Gallery in Holt as well as others around the country and in the Netherlands. I’m also a member of the Greyfriars Art Space in King’s Lynn and exhibit my work with them – and details of upcoming shows can by found on my website. For more information and details about Christine and her work please visit her website at www.christinepike.com
KLmagazine September 2018
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The Last Word
WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s
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or the last two years, I’ve been asked pretty much on a daily basis about what I think about the Bword – and we’re not talking about Brancaster, Bircham or Burnham Market. Why my thoughts on the biggest political issue the country has faced since the Second World War would be of any interest to anyone totally escapes me, but in an effort to stop the incessant questions I’ve decided to finally put pen to paper. Eight years ago, David Cameron was about to become Prime Minister, and shortly before he moved into 10 Downing Street he was asked by a friend how he felt about the prospect of leading the country – and his reply was disarmingly nonchalant. “How hard can it be?” he said. Well, on June 23rd, 2016 he found out. Despite the fact his mother had been a Justice of the Peace, Cameron had obviously never come across the legal profession’s wisest pieces of advice for aspiring barristers – that you should never ask a question to which you don’t already know the answer. It’s become an established fact that 52% of us voted to leave the EU, but although we’ve accepted the figure, it’s not actually true since only 71.8% of voters could be bothered to take part – which means the nation is currently leaving the EU on the basis of a 37% mandate. If you drag that figure out logically, it means that 17 million people decided what the remaining 47 million of us are going to have to put up with for the forseeable future. You can call that a lot of things (you can even call it democracy if you like) but you can’t legitimately call it 52% of the UK. The most amazing statistic surrounding the fateful vote is that the result would 114
have been reversed if a mere 600,000 people had ticked the other box. Now, I’m not going to join the seemingly endless and increasingly frustrating debate about the whole thing, and I’m certainly not going to tell you which box I ticked – but I will say that since about 6am on June 24th, 2016 it appears we’ve been on a steep decline into the sort of stupidity not seen since 1957, when thousands of people inundated the BBC for help in growing their own spaghetti trees. Maybe it’s another effect of global warming, but over the last 24 months we seem to have totally lost total grip of our language, grace, wit and decency – and the problem began as soon as the dust settled and people tried to interpret what Brexit actually meant. “Brexit means Brexit,” said Theresa May with a ring of authority, heralding the nation’s slide into mental incompetence by defining a word by itself. So what? Teabags means teabags. It doesn’t tell us what the tea (or the bag) consists of or explain its relationship with the rest of the world. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect from Alice in Wonderland. We’re told that people voted for less migration, more migration, greater parliamentary sovereignty, the future of the NHS, hard Brexit, a Royal yacht, soft Brexit, trade deals with China, staying in the single market and leaving the single market – despite the fact that most of us can remember what the ballot paper looked like and that it didn’t have that many words on it. The question we were asked was simply whether to leave or remain – the consequences of either were unknown, and both sides warned of fire and brimstone if we got it wrong. In the end, lots of people who were badly off felt
things simply couldn’t get any worse and decided to vote for a change – and to date the only change they’ve got is that they’re now worse off. Unsurprisingly, a recent study found that 6% of the voters who ticked the ‘leave’ box now regret the decision, which is rather alarming as that’s greater than the 4% margin of victory. On top of all this we’ve abused the English language to introduce a virtual dictionary of ridiculous words, starting with Brexit itself and mutating into Bremainers and Brexiteers, Bremoaners and Breleivers. As for the B-word itself, it’s almost like a menu of eggs – if you don’t fancy yours soft or hard, you can have it smooth, bespoke, dirty or grey. In fact, there are now more than 20 different varieties of Brexit, and they range from the unfathomable Schrödinger’s Brexit (we leave but we don’t) to the Crème Brûlée Brexit, which is (naturally) hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The trouble is that our current crop of politicians seem to have spent far too much time learning how to avoid answering a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question and not nearly enough time watching old episodes of BlackAdder. Because even Baldric had a plan. And a cunning one at that.
KLmagazine September 2018