KL Magazine January 2015 by KL Magazine

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 52 JANUARY 2015 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE

Thornham by Ian Ward

editorial

01553 601201 editor@klmagazine.co.uk

Eric Secker Emma Barnard Ian Ward Alex Dallas Graham Murray Michael Middleton

advertising 01553 601201 sales@klmagazine.co.uk Laura Murray Michelle Young Clare Harper

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01553 601201 design@klmagazine.co.uk Lisa Tonroe Amy Phillips

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18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JW 01553 601201 www.klmagazine.co.uk KL 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 grand interior above is a room fit for royalty, which is rather fitting as it reflects the enormous power wielded by Robert Walpole, who was born in Houghton in 1676 and dominated British political life in the mid 18th century. It’s just one of the magnificent rooms in Walpole’s equally awe-inspiring Houghton Hall, built for a man who’s gone down in history as the country’s first and longest-serving Prime Minister. Walpole’s uninterrupted run of 20 years as PM has been described as “one of the major feats of British political history” and this General Election year seems a fitting time to take a closer look at the life of this remarkable local man. On a slightly smaller scale, beautifully proportioned rooms and lavishly decorated homes are also the order of the day for local dolls house creator Tim Hartnall – and you can see some extraordinary examples of his work on pages 28-33 of this month’s magazine. Talking about local people making an impact on an international stage brings to mind King’s Lynn’s Chris Overland. Today, he’s a professional guitar tutor, but 26 years ago he realised a long-held ambition when FM – the rock band he’d formed with his brother in 1984 – headlined London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Chris’ life as a rock star makes for fascinating reading and you’ll find his story on pages 110-112. Wherever 2015 takes you, we wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year! KL MAGAZINE

KLmagazine January 2015

Contents 6-13

WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events

8-10

FROM PENZANCE TO KING’S LYNN... The West Norfolk G&S Society returns

JANUARY 2015

16-18 A HEALTHY EATING START TO 2015 With celebrity chef Chris Coubrough 20-22 YOUR HOME IN PERFECT BALANCE Applying the principles of Feng Shui 28-33 IT’S A SMALL WORLD The amazing dolls houses of Tim Hartnall 37

THEN & NOW The changing face of West Norfolk

38-40 THE LIFE OF ROBERT WALPOLE The local origins of Britain’s first PM 46-48 SAVING THE RED SQUIRREL With the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust 50-52 ENTER THE WORLD OF FISHKEEPING Expert help and advice on getting started 54-55 THE BIG INTERVIEW With Barefoot Retreats’ Emma Tagg 58-62 FASHION The latest looks from the local boutiques

70-72 THE BEST SUNDAY ROAST The secrets of the perfect family dinner 74-81 FOOD AND DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 83-86 EDUCATION Examining the role of the school governor 88-91 EDUCATION Chris Staley of Wisbech Grammar School 96-101 EXPLORER Looking to the future of Downham Market 102-104 THORNHAM: THEN AND NOW A look inside John Warham’s new book 110-112 MY LIFE AS A ROCK STAR A rock and roll profile of Chris Overland KLmagazine January 2015

110

102 5

JANUARY BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Tues 20 - Sat 24 January DEAD SIMPLE Tina Hobley, Jamie Lomas, Gray O'Brien star in stage adaptation of Peter James' gripping detective tale £6.50 - £25.50

Mon 12 January BEYOND THE BARRICADE Songs from the best musicals £5.50 - £20.50

Mon 26 - Sat 31 January SISTER ACT Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society with amateur production of feel-good musical comedy £5.50 - £21.50

Sister Act

Thur 18 Dec 14 - Sun 18 Jan 15 PETER PAN Kevin Kennedy (Coronation Street), Sid Sloane (CBeebies), Richard Gauntlett star in traditional family panto £5.50 - £21

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KLmagazine January 2015

January

Saturday 17th King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society presents Junior Stargazing Live Tottenhill Village Hall, Tottenhill, PE33 0RS (2pm - 6pm) An afternoon of fun and entertainment for budding Astronomers aged 7 to 17. The event is FREE and all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There will be models of spacecraft to make, colouring competitions, demonstrations of telescopes and how the Solar system works, talks on the vastness of space and weather permitting, a chance to see the Sun through a specially adapted telescope plus the night sky once it gets dark. For more information contact John Craythorne on 01945 701038 or email jc.astronomer@btinternet.com

30 YEARS AGO: The very ﬁrst mobile phone call in the UK was made. On January 1st, 1985 comedian Ernie Wise called Vodafone’s head oﬃce in Newbury, Berkshire.

Saturday 24th Mosaic Making Workshop Framin' Art, 20 High Street, Downham Market PE38 9DB (10am-1pm) Join talented artist Becka Elliott for a three-hour workshop on the basics of mosaic making - and discover how easy (and enjoyable!) it is to create your own piece to take home and grout. Please note that goggles will need to be worn during the workshop, but they will be provided and can be worn over most normal glasses. To book your place and for more information, please call 01366 38002, e-mail enquiries@framinart.co.uk or visit www.framinart.co.uk for full details of forthcoming events.

Tuesday 6th Sunday 11th & Sunday 18th Garden Bird Walk Oxburgh Hall, Oxborough, PE33 9PS (9.30am-11.30am) Get ready for the National Garden Bird Watch Survey on 24th and 25th January. Take a walk with our Outdoors Manager and learn about the many species of birds found in the gardens and woodland of Oxburgh. Discover how a National Trust property's diﬀerent trees and habitats help to support certain species of birds. Make sure to bring warm clothes and binoculars. Assistance dogs and children are welcome. For more information conact Helen Gregory on 01366 328926 or by email - helen.gregory@nationaltrust.org.uk.

KLmagazine January 2015

Walking Women - Wells Beach Café, Beach Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1DR (10am) Do you love walking but don't like to venture too far alone? Would you like to be sociable while enjoying the spectacular Holkham Estate? If so, why not join Holkham’s monthly walks. These have been organised for the first Tuesday of each month, starting at 10am. All walks are free of charge except Holkham Walled Gardens for which there is an entry charge of £2.50. Each walk will last approximately 1.5 hours and are either at Wells or Holkham Park. Well behaved and sociable dogs on leads are welcome on the walk. For the Wells walks we meet at the Beach Café, for the Holkham walks please meet outside the ticket office in Holkham Park. For further information please contact Sue Penlington (Education Officer) on 07825 290703 or email her on s.penlington@holkham.co.uk

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KLmagazine January 2015

January

Friday 16th David Starkey - The Tudors and Us Kings Lynn Corn Exchange (7.30pm) The UK’s leading constitutional historian, known for his forthright views, talks about the period he describes as “the most glorious soap opera.” Starkey is the Cambridge-educated grammar school boy who became a respected LSE lecturer, a uniquely abrasive debater on Radio 4’s Moral Maze, a controversial contributor to Question Time, and the creator and presenter of many very popular historical TV series on such subjects as Henry VIII , Elizabeth 1st, the Monarchy, the Churchills, and – most recently – Music and Monarchy. Tickets are priced at £16 and £14 for concessions and are available from the website - www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk or by calling the box oﬃce on 01553 764864.

Thursday 15th & Friday 16th Willow Weaving Workshop Peckover House (10am-4pm) Learn the techniques of willow weaving by creating and taking home your own obelisk. Ticket includes all materials and tea and coﬀee is provided, however you will need to bring your own lunch. For more Information contact Jenny Windsor or Allsion Napier on 01945 582636 or by email - allison.napier@nationaltrust.org.uk.

KLmagazine January 2015

Sunday 4th The Historic Sports Car Collection GALLERIA OPEN DAY The Historic Sports Car Collection, Tottenhill Retail Park, Tottenhill, King’s Lynn, PE33 0RL (10am-4pm) Visit the new Galleria of Automobile art, there are paintings, posters, collectors’ models, automotive accessories and gifts. With plenty of parking, a car wash and on-site restaurant and coﬀee shop, there’s little more the classic car enthusiast could want! “Owning a classic car is a lifestyle rather than a hobby,” says Historic Sports Car Collection’s Julian Sutton. “Our new facilities oﬀer owners and motoring club members a wonderful opportunity to get together and relax, sharing stories and indulging in a spot of nostalgia!” For more information call 01553 811493.

Thursday 22nd Treasure Island (NT Live!) by Robert Louis Stevenson Westacre Theatre, River Road, PE32 1UD (7pm) Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery, broadcasted live from the National Theatre. It’s a dark, stormy night. The stars are out. Jim, the inn-keeper’s granddaughter [sic!], opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the feet of an old sailor sits a huge sea-chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in – and her dangerous voyage begins. For more information and tickets call the box oﬃce on 01760 755800 or visit thelittleboxoﬃce.com/westacre. Tickets are £15 and £10 for under 16s. Suitable for ages 10 and over.

KLmagazine January 2015

What’s On

ABOVE: Some of the performers appearing in the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of the Pirates of Penzance later this month, including John Torr as Major-General Stanley (above) and Anil Chakrabarti (opposite) as the Pirate King

King’s Lynn welcomes the pirates from Penzance... For over 60 years, the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society has been delighting local audiences with their brilliant productions of the pair’s comic operas – and they’re about to return to the stage

est Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society have been entertaining West Norfolk with the pair’s wonderful comic operas for over six decades and are determined to continue producing the works of the great duo and bringing them to delighted local audiences for many years to come. Following last year’s highly acclaimed production of The Sorcerer (which sold more tickets at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre than any other event for several years), the talented production team of Andrew Nicklin and Derek Oldﬁeld is bringing The Pirates of Penzance to the

KLmagazine January 2015

stage later this month. Indeed, the Society’s production of The Sorcerer was so successful that the group has added an extra performance for The Pirates of Penzance this season. It’s great news for local Gilbert & Sullivan fans – and for supporters of the much-loved Society – as they present one of the most popular comic operas in theatre in their own inimitable style. The two-act Pirates of Penzance (or The Slave of Duty) was oﬃcially premiered at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York on New Year’s Eve 1879, where it was well received by both audiences and critics. The Pirates of Penzance followed that successful

debut with its ﬁrst London appearance at the Opera Comique in April 1880, where it ran for 363 performances. The story itself concerns Frederic, who (having completed his 21st year) is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic, however, discovers he was born on February 29th and technically only has a birthday each leap year. As his apprenticeship indentures state he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, it means he must serve them for another 63 years – and

What’s On

ABOVE: Andrew Masterson and Anil Chakrabarti from the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of the Pirates of Penzance on board The Albratros at Wells

bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic’s only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully. That’s only the start of the fun and games, however... Pirates of Penzance was the ﬁfth Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration and introduced the much-parodied MajorGeneral’s Song. The opera was performed for over a century by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in Britain and has been produced by many other opera companies and repertory companies worldwide. The opera has undergone several modern interpretations, including Joseph Papp’s famous 1981 production on Broadway, which ran for 787 performances – and won both the Tony Award for Best Revival and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. The Pirates of Penzance remains hugely popular today, taking its place alongside The Mikado and H.M.S. Pinafore as one of the most frequently played Gilbert and Sullivan operas. In bringing the opera to a local

audience, the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society has received tremendous support from the local business community, and five major businesses will each be sponsoring one of this month’s five performances – and donating to five local charities. The five charities benefitting from this year’s performances of The Pirates of Penzance are the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Tapping House Hospice, Age UK Norfolk, The Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan Cancer Support. Last year the total raised for the charities from the four performances of The Sorcerer was £1,900, and both the businesses and charities themselves agree it’s an innovative way of fundraising and of raising their profiles. As part of that charitable support, the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society has given two rows of free tickets to the Saturday matinee performance of the Pirates of Penzance to the Alzheimer’s Society to enable them to enjoy the singing and music, and to bring back happy memories for them.

Clara Dow (1883-1969) English operatic soprano and actress Clara Dow (left), was born in King’s Lynn in 1883. Directed by William Gilbert himself, Clara played Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance at the beginning of the 20th century and was the ﬁrst director of the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE A production by the West Norfolk Gilbert & Sullivan Society Guildhall Theatre King’s Lynn Arts Centre Wed 28th to Sat 31st January (performances at 7.30pm) Matinee performance on Saturday 31st January at 2.30pm CAST Major-General Stanley: John Torr The Pirate King: Anil Chakrabarti Samuel: Andy Hiles Frederic: Laurence Panter Police Sergeant: Andrew Masterson Mabel: Sharon Cutworth Edith: Katie Hargreaves Kate: Gemma Gryko Ruth: Julie Bjerregaard Produced and directed by Andrew Nicklin and Derek Oldﬁeld Tickets are £13.50 (£12 concessions, £6 children) and can be booked by calling the Box Oﬃce on 01553 764864 or online

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

What’s On

New Year at King’s Lynn e Corn Exchang

Blood Brothers One of the highlights of the new spring season at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange is a week long run of Willy Russell’s legendary Blood Brothers...

BOOK NOW!

Blood Brothers runs from Monday 16th - Saturday 21st March. Nightly 7.30pm. Matinees 2.30pm Wednesday (Sold out) & Saturday. Tickets from £23 - £30.50. With Group Discounts, concessions and School rates available.

Don’t forget to follow us online too: T:@klcornexchange Fb: Alive Corn Exchange KLmagazine January 2015

Hailed as one of the best musicals of all time, Blood Brothers, written by award-winning playwright Willy Russell has triumphed across the globe and now you can see it live here in King’s Lynn. Scooping up no less than four awards for best musical in London and seven Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Blood Brothers is simply unmissable and unbeatable. This epic tale of Liverpool life ran in London’s West End for 24 years and exceeded 10,000 performances, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It tells the captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mother’s haunting secret. The memorable score includes A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. Following his recent portrayal of Che in the highly acclaimed West End run of Evita at the Dominion Theatre, Marti Pellow returns to the stage for a strictly limited season in Blood Brothers. Marti will play the Narrator - a role he played previously in the West End. He’ll be joined be Maureen Nolan, who returns to the musical as the tragic Mrs Johnstone. Marti Pellow is one of music’s most respected artists. For over 30 years he has enjoyed global success: as the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, as a solo artist, and as one of the UK’s most acclaimed leading men of musical theatre. Starring roles include Evita, Blood Brothers, The Witches of Eastwick, Chess, Jekyll & Hyde and Chicago. Maureen Nolan has been singing with her sisters since she was nine years old. Together they became one of Europe’s first girl bands – The Nolans. Maureen has played Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers in the West End and on tour to critical acclaim.

For the full programme of what’s on at the Corn Exchange, pick up a copy of our new brochure or check out the ‘what’s on’ page of our website. Tickets for all shows are available from the Box Office 01553 764864 or you can book online at kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

“I’m not suggesting you let your tasting gear go on an extended sabbatical – just that it’s the ideal opportunity to give your calorie counter the month oﬀ while you reset the gastronomic tripometer...” – CHRIS COUBROUGH

KLmagazine January 2015

Local Life

ABOVE: It may be as old as the hills, but there are few breakfasts better for you than a bowl of porridge

A new year, a new you – and some new foods! Last year, celebrity chef Chris Coubrough received an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival. Who better to ask for advice on enjoying a healthy, tasty start to 2015?

fter the big party comes the big guilt hangover – and it doesn’t hit harder than in the long, dark days of winter which immediately follow the frantic heralding of the New Year. These post-celebratory periods of reﬂection and self-loathing are even more diﬃcult to bear if they’re accompanied by the over-zealous resolutions of friends, acquaintances and family members. My philosophy on the matter is really quite simple. Eat and drink as much as you like over the festive period – and don’t beat yourself up about your indulgences afterwards. There you go. Easy! Yes, it’s true that we all need to

KLmagazine January 2015

recalibrate ourselves early in January to compensate for the perfectly justifiable excesses of Christmas – but that doesn’t mean swearing oneself off everything but bran flakes and pledging not to touch a drop of New Zealand sauvignon blanc for the next three months. Because with a little bit of tinkering you can start to slowly shed those extra pounds and ounces without ever really having to feel the dietary burn. It’s hardly a revolutionary concept, and it doesn’t need to be. It can be as simple as packing some extra punch into your breakfast (no, not the sort you enjoyed over Christmas!), skipping lunch altogether for a month and trimming some of the added extras

from your main evening meal. It’s pretty much accepted as fact that the meal you have ﬁrst thing in the morning is the most important of the day. So if you are going to cut out lunch for a few weeks in a bid to rein in the waistline, you’ll need to make sure your breakfast sets you up for the day ahead. The Scots are responsible for some of the most important technological breakthroughs in history, so when we see them waving their spurtles in support of porridge we really need to sit up and listen. Oats are fantastic when it comes to slowly releasing energy into your system throughout the day, and a bowl of what put the hair on the clansmen’s

Local Life

ABOVE: A bowl of Brancaster mussels and a fresh fruit salad – they look great, they taste fantastic and they’ll also do you the world of good

chests will happily keep you going until the evening. It’s not strictly necessary to inﬂict the traditional Highland way of eating porridge on yourself, though – which is mixing your oats with nothing more than hot water and a sprinkling of salt. But nor is it acceptable to pimp up your porridge with double cream and brown sugar as seems to be the current norm. That simply defeats the object of the exercise. Try porridge made with warm milk, and then boost its fuel-giving qualities with a healthy dose of ground sunﬂower and pumpkin seeds, dried apricot, banana, pineapple and sultanas. Not only will your porridge taste delicious, it’ll also stop the little fellow in your stomach banging the drums all day. That way, you can give elevenses and lunch the swerve and look forward to supper minus the orchestral abdominal accompaniment. You’ll still need to cut back when it comes to the main meal of the day, but this can be achieved without the need to gather up your taste buds and send them back to the factory. Take a classic seasonal north

Norfolk favourite like mussels, for example. Mussels are perfect for eating in the New Year and they’re really healthy and low in fat. A big bowl of fresh Brancaster mussels cooked in a little ﬁsh stock and white wine (New Zealand, of course!) goes a long, long way when it comes to hitting the culinary hot spot. Just make sure you leave out the double cream, the crusty bread and the frites. That way you’re winning. And if you really must have some carbohydrate, then choose steamed new potatoes without the butter. I know, I know – it sounds like it’s going to hurt. But trust me, it won’t. Not for a few weeks anyway, and you’ll feel much better about yourself. The same applies when it comes to dessert. Is it really that hard to give apple pie and custard a miss now and then? Or that humongous chopping board full of cheese, concealed behind the odd grape? Of course it isn’t – and that odd grape contains the answer as it happens. Yes, it’s fruit. Speciﬁcally, fruit salad. A bowl of chopped-up banana, Kiwi fruit and cherries

(anything you fancy really) has the same slow-release energy qualities as porridge, and will ensure you sleep well. And you’ll do it without a guilty conscience! So, to recap, your January regime should be looking like porridge for breakfast, no lunch, a seasonal evening meal made from the harvest of our local seas (minus the usual trimmings), and a beautiful bowl of fruit salad before bedtime. Does that really sound such a bad start to the new year? I’m not suggesting you let your tasting gear go on an extended sabbatical – just that it’s the ideal opportunity to give your calorie counter the month oﬀ while you reset the gastronomic tripometer. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention – if you want to pop into either The Crown at Wells-next-the-Sea, The Ship at Brancaster or The White Hart at Hingham, you’ll ﬁnd they all have healthy options available in January! Here’s to a happy – and healthy – new year!

For more information on Chris Coubrough, his work in supporting local food, inspirational recipes, and details of his independent group of inns and luxury hotels in Norfolk, please visit www.flyingkiwiinns.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Local Life

ABOVE: Feng Shui is an ancient discipline that examines how people are aﬀected by the environment in which they live

Treat your home to the ancient art of harmony For over 6,000 years it’s been used to create environments ideally suited for increased health and happiness. Carol Keith looks at how you can apply the disciplines of feng shui to your home...

en years ago, during the construction of Hong Kong Disneyland, the master planner of architecture and design at Walt Disney Imagineering made some significant changes to the building plans. He shifted the main gate by 12o and put a bend into a walkway so that good energy wouldn’t flow out into the South China Sea. It was an effort to incorporate local culture into the theme park and an indication of how the ancient tradition of Feng Shui still plays a part in the design and look of the modern world. Essentially, feng shui (the term literally translates as ‘wind water’) is a Chinese philosophical system that aims to harmonise everyone with the

KLmagazine January 2015

environment that surrounds them. With roots that can be traced back to at least 4000BC, feng shui is one of the ﬁve arts of Chinese metaphysics, and sees architecture in terms of invisible forces that bind the universe, earth and humanity together. Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings in an auspicious manner, and although it was originally applied to spiritually important structures such as tombs and temples, the discipline also found its way into people’s homes and workplaces. There are at least 30 diﬀerent schools of feng shui, and depending on the particular style being used, auspicious sites are determined by their relation to natural features such as water and the

stars, or by using a compass. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, feng shui was oﬃcially considered a superstitious practice and a social evil, and was discouraged and even banned outright, especially during Mao’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. It has gradually increased in popularity over the last 30 years, but restrictions on feng shui practices are still in place in China today and it’s actually illegal to register (or advertise) feng shui consultation as a business. In the western world, feng shui has continued to grow in popularity ever since US President Richard Nixon made a historic trip to China in 1972. Although critics have expressed concern that with the passage of time

Local Life home to nourish and support your energy. Look online and you’ll find discovering yours is easy. Once you know what your birth element is, you can start applying it. For example, if your birth element is fire, you’ll need to introduce the expressions of that element, such as colors (red and orange) and shapes (triangles in the case of fire). This is where the whole system of feng shui comes into play, as you’ll also need a strong wood element in your home, as the wood – according to the theory of how the elements interact – ‘feeds’ the fire productively.

ABOVE: Applying the principles of feng shui to interior design doesn’t have to result in modern, starkly-minimalist homes – as this traditional look demonsrates

and its ‘westernisation’ much of the theory behind feng shui has been lost, it’s commonly used by architects, interior designers, landscape ecologisits and environmental scientists. Even archaeologists have used feng shui thinking and existing natural features to locate lost historical sites. Although it all sounds very esoteric and complex, getting started with feng shui in your house and home can be easy if you start with the basics and gradually move on to the more complex levels of feng shui. To help you get started with good feng shui in your home, here are seven helpful steps for beginners.

Clear out your clutter and get rid of everything you don’t love in your house. Getting rid of clutter can be a time- and energy-consuming process, but it can be very therapeutic, and literally helps to ‘lighten the load’ – it’s an essential ﬁrst step in creating harmonious feng shui energy in your home.

Have good quality air and light in your home. These two elements are vital for maintaining good levels of feng shui energy in your house. Open your windows as often as you can, introduce feng shui air-purifying plants or use an air puriﬁer. Allow as much natural light as possible into your home, and consider using full-spectrum lights.

You now need to deﬁne the ‘Bagua’ of your house (bascially it’s a feng shui energy map) by using one of the two main feng shui methods – the classical school bagua or the BTB Grid. It’s quite simple, and essentially involves creating a nine-square grid that represents the space or room in question, each square representing a certain area of your life – from propserity (the top left square) to personal growth (bottom left). Once completed, you’ll know which areas of your home are connected to speciﬁc areas of your life.

Use online charts to ﬁnd out your Kua number and your lucky directions (it will only take you a couple of minutes) so you can maximise the good energy from them. You’ll be able to adjust the position of your bed or the seating in your dining room according to feng shui principles. For example, if your Kua number is 1, it‘s best to arrange things so you face southeast, east, south, or north.

Continue being mindful of the feel of your home and how its energy inﬂuences your well-being. Get into the habit of paying attention to the feng shui ‘trinity’ of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen that’s deeply connected to your health. Nothing is static in the world of energy, so keeping your home healthy and happy is an ongoing process. After this introduction to the discipline, you can explore the deeper levels of feng shui, and explore, for example, the annual movement of feng shui stars or energies. Be sure to start with the basic steps, though, to have fun and to thoroughly enjoy the process!

Use the basics of the five feng shui elements in order, creating balance and vibrant energy in all areas of your home. The five feng shui elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. They all have their specific energy strengths, their ideal locations and they interact in varying positive and negative ways. For example, if you’re interested in attracting more prosperity, you’ll need to use the elements of wood and water in the southeast area of your home. If you’re interested in the health benefits of feng shui, you’ll need to place plenty of ‘wood’ elements such as plants or wooden furniture in the east of your home.

The next step is to identify your feng shui ‘birth element’ and create a

For more information and a deeper understanding of feng shui, a good starting point is The Feng Shui Society website www.fengshuisociety.org.uk – it’s recognised as one of the most influential feng shui organisations in the world.

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Property

Some of the most impressive properties Norfolk has to offer... For local homes of true character and distinction, you’ll always be making the right move with Fine & Country. ituated on Goodwins Road, one of the most desirable residential areas of King’s Lynn, Burleigh House is a magnificent example of Victorian architecture. Double fronted with ornate chimney stacks, a slate roof, large sash windows and a wonderful turret, it is bursting with character and invites you to step through the carved wooden porch to explore the different floors. “We just fell in love with it the very first time we saw it,” says the current owner. “It has such an embracing atmosphere, and every time we come home we feel as if the house is smiling down upon us.” Dating back to the 1870s it is believed that Burleigh House was originally built by the local draper, and that he lived here with his

S 24

family and a number of his apprentices, who would have lodged with them. It was an important house within the community, and is one of a number of older houses in this part of the town. It was then used as a convent for many years, before becoming a School for Home Economics. “When we first moved in people would stop and tell me that they had learnt to cook here back in the day,” remembers the current owner. “We love the fact that it has such an interesting past and that it is part of the local history.” Spread over three floors the interior is home to a wealth of period features. Just inside the front door is a small entrance hall, separated from the inner hall by a wonderfully ornate floor to ceiling wooden screen with decorative glass panels, and this

is where guests would have been kept waiting before being shown inside. The main reception hall is beautiful, with a magnificent cantilevered staircase sweeping up ahead, and pretty ceiling roses and intricate architrave giving it a sense of grandeur. To the left, a lovely large reception room, currently used as a study, is flooded with light from the large sash window that still has its original shutters in place. From here double doors lead through to a self-contained two bedroom annexe that is at present being let, but could easily be incorporated back into the main house if required. To the right of the hall is the main drawing room, again with a sweeping bay window, “This is a wonderful room,” enthuses the owner. “So full of light. I love to

KLmagazine January 2015

“Instruct Fine & Country and sit back and watch an award-winning marketing strategy in action...”

LEVERINGTON Guide Price £750,000 A stunning Grade II listed house Four bedrooms: en-suite to master Incredible period features found throughout Three receptions Stunning breakfast kitchen room Grounds extend to approximately 1.5 acres The accommodation extends to 4,356sq.ft

Georgian Charms

sit in here with the sunshine streaming in or equally in the winter, when we close the shutters, light the fire and settle in for the night.” Just off the drawing room is the stunning Victorian Orangery, which is currently used as the dining room. It has the original glass panels on all sides, and a high vaulted glass ceiling. “When we have guests for dinner it looks amazing all lit up with the candles’ reflections flickering in the glass,” declares the owner. “On a clear night you can sit and enjoy coffee as you watch the stars above.” Each glass window has a square leaded panel with a central handpainted picture of various birds and butterflies that are quite unique. From here there is a door onto the garden, and another into the impressive family kitchen with its terracotta tiles and underfloor heating, a large central island and double doors out to the terrace. Upstairs the bedrooms are found across two floors. The first floor landing is a fabulous space, filled with light from windows to both the front and back, and impressive arches on either side lead through to the master bedroom, with its large en-suite and gorgeous sash window, and also the main guest room that has views to all three sides, and a leaded glass turret to one corner. On this level there is one more double bedroom, a smaller nursery and a family bathroom, and then raising to the third floor there are two more bedrooms and also a large room with a kitchenette. Burleigh House is currently on the market with Fine & Country at a guide price of £600,000. To arrange a viewing or to request further details of this wonderful property, contact Fine & Country at 9 King Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1ET, telephone 01553 769100 or visit the website at www.fineandcountry.com

KLmagazine January 2015

“Bursting with period features, warmth and charm; the rooms flood with light from double bay windows and arched stone doorways. Take in the views from the large family kitchen, or relax by the sitting room fire. Beautiful wooded grounds and sheltered walled garden are a perfect retreat for sunny days.”

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KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

PICTURES: KL MAGAZINE / ANGLIA DOLLS HOUSES

Local Life

ABOVE: Tim Hartnall in his workshop just outside King’s Lynn and one of his completed dolls houses (opposite)

The amazing miniature world of Tim Hartnall... Six years ago, Tim Hartnall turned the making of dolls houses from a hobby into a business – and today his architecturally perfect and incredibly detailed houses are travelling the world

n a small Norfolk village just south of King’s Lynn, in a workshop that used to be a farrowing shed, Tim Hartnall is preparing to tile a ﬁreplace surround for an imposing Georgian house. The authentic reproduction tiles have been made individually, feature period images of castles, musicians and farmers, and will be carefully placed by hand – but there’s something very unusual about them. Each one is less than 1cm square. You see, around six years ago Tim turned a hobby into a business, founding Anglia Dolls Houses and creating a range of architecturally-accurate dolls houses that are quite literally packed to the rafters with exquisite and breathtaking detail. “I’d always enjoyed working with wood

KLmagazine January 2015

and making things with my hands,” says Tim, who spent almost 30 years in the software industry, working in programming and digital mapping, “and when my youngest daughter said she wanted a dolls house I decided to make one. It was good fun and I have to say it was reasonably successful too.” Encouraged, Tim built another dolls house (“it was a bit too large and a bit too ambitious for a first attempt,” he laughs) that he eventually took to a specialist dolls house fair in Ely. “Amazingly enough, the house sold on the first morning of the first day of the show,” he remembers. “It was around the time I was parting company with the world of software, so what had started as an enjoyable hobby gradually became a

full-time passion – and a successful one.” Today, six years after going into business, Tim produces a standard range of five Georgian/Regency dolls houses, although nothing about them can truly be described as standard. The most popular of Tim’s ‘standard’ houses is the Lincoln, a large double-fronted Georgian house dating from around 1770. Standing over 4ft high, it has four floors, 12 rooms set on either side of a central stairwell, and includes 19 windows, 14 internal doors and 10 fireplaces. The first thing that strikes you about Tim’s dolls houses is the quite amazing attention to detail, and thanks to his constant study of original source material and period architectural drawings, all those details are totally authentic.

Local Life

PICTURES: When you see Tim Hartnall’s completed Kensington House up close, it’s diﬃcult to imagine such detail and sense of depth can be realised on such a small scale – until you see him preparing to install a ﬁreplace surround (below left)

PICTURES: KL MAGAZINE / ANGLIA DOLLS HOUSES

“People will sometimes ask why the front doors don’t have letterboxes,” he says, “so I have to explain that they didn’t really become popular until the latter half of the 19th century. I’m trying to capture the specific time the house dates from, so all the architecture and interior detailing has to be historically accurate. What customers put into the rooms after that is entirely up to them, but the houses themselves don’t have any crushing anachronisms.” That even applies to the interior proportions, where different rooms on different floors have different ceiling heights. “It’s because people in the 18th century used rooms in different ways to how we do today,” explains Tim. Not surprisingly, such a labour of love takes time – especially when you consider that Tim scores in the floorboards by hand, and that flagstones are individually cut, placed and then grouted. Even the roof tiles are fitted individually (a house will generally require around 1,000) – a task that alone can take a couple of days. Last year, Tim’s wife Angela gave up her job to work with him full time.

KLmagazine January 2015

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PICTURES: KL MAGAZINE / ANGLIA DOLLS HOUSES

Local Life

PICTURES: The incredible detail in the dining room and kitchen of Tim Hartnall’s Kensington House, and (below) a dolls house currently in production. The ﬂagstones in the kitchen were individually placed and grouted, and the ﬂoorboards in the dining room scored in by hand.

“I’m the painter and decorator,” she laughs. “I help with all the interiors such as the wallpapers, marbling and general finishing.” As you might expect, even the wallpapers used in Tim’s dolls houses are authentic and historically accurate reproductions from houses in the real world. Given such complexity, Tim usually completes around eight houses a year, although special commissions can affect that. The current waiting list – and Tim admits it’s now the shortest it’s been for some time – is around 11 months. When it comes to special commissions (which comprise around 50% of his output), Tim’s incredible skills really come into their own as he faithfully replicates customers’ existing houses or delves into the world of fiction with homes such as Pemberley House from Pride and Predjudice. Perhaps Tim’s most astonishing dolls house to date was created two years ago. Built for a private collector in the USA (where around a third of Tim’s houses are destined), it was a stunning replica of a 1920s hotel that took seven months to build, stood over eight feet tall and weighed some 60 stone. It featured 43 rooms on six floors (including a wine cellar and restaurant), had 80 windows, five staircases, and every bedroom was themed and fully decorated. The lighting system took 200m of cable, and included 70 sockets and 42 switches – the

chandeliers in the ballroom each had 36 tiny bulbs. Not surprisingly, it travelled across the Atlantic in 11 separate pieces. “It doesn’t matter how complex they are,” says Tim, “and it doesn’t matter that some people will use words such as ‘collector’ and ‘miniature’ when talking about them, at the end of the day they’re dolls houses – and they’re intended to be played with and enjoyed. That’s why the best part of the whole process is delivery day, when customers receive their houses. They’re full of excitement and wonder and joy – and that’s so rewarding.” For more information on Tim Hartnall and examples of his amazing dolls houses, please visit his website at www.angliadollshouses.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

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Caring for your environment KLmagazine January 2015

r energy bills Up to 40% lowe by up to 75% ls il b y it ic tr c le e g Cut lightin 2 emissions per year O C s s le g k At least 750

Start the new year by saving your energy – and money! T

here’s never been a more important time to give your energy consumption (and its ever-rising costs) serious thought, and there’s no better answer than the local, professional and expert service offered by 4 Way Energy Ltd. 4 Way Energy is an energy conservation company with many years’ experience in developing and sourcing high-quality, low-carbon solutions to help people reduce harmful emissions and improve their energy efficiencies. “With government legislation, energy efficiency targets, and mounting fuel bills, there’s probably never been a greater need for reducing energy consumption,” says Steve Simpson. “Our knowledge of energy-saving techniques and technology can reduce CO2 emissions, cut energy usage – and save considerable amounts of money.” 4 Way Energy offers a comprehensive range of services that cover every aspect of a building’s energy performance. They include building management systems to balance mechanical and electrical services and improve their dayto-day running, and industry-leading lighting solutions that provide exactly the right amount of light as and when

KLmagazine January 2015

required – solutions that can cut electricity bills by up to 75%! You may not have heard of voltage optimisation before, but it’s a way of reducing incoming electricity without affecting the performance of your electrical equipment. By using a simple device that can be retrofitted into existing systems, 4 Way Energy can reduce energy consumption by up to 25%. Additional services include solar-based systems that don’t just reduce costs and decrease your dependency on imported electricity – they also provide an additional source of income thanks to several government incentives and Green Energy loans. And 4 Way Energy can also supply, install and service Air Source Heating systems, which are at the cutting edge of energy efficient heating – and can reduce heating costs by up to 70%. “The figures almost sound too good to

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G STUNNIN KS O O L GOOD ZING AND AMAANCE! PERFORM

A resolution worth keeping O

ver winter, we naturally spend more time in our homes. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and the colder weather really makes itself felt. That’s when we’re tempted to turn up the heating – but considering energy bills have risen twice as fast as inflation for the last five years, it’s a temptation many of us are understandably reluctant to give in to. There is, however, a solution – and thanks to ECOnomy Windows it’s an elegant one at that. According to figures from the Energy Saving Trust, around 25% of your home’s valuable heat can escape through old and outdated windows and doors, and that’s an unacceptable and unaffordable amount of waste. ECOnomy Windows’ range of tripleglazed Ecotherm Plus windows uses the very latest technology (and the best in British engineering and design) to cut heat

loss by as much as 75% – which can frames) by up to 70%. equate to a reduction in domestic heating It’s not all about performance, either. ECOnomy Windows’ Ecotherm Plus bills of up to 40%. windows are available in a range of styles, The figures speak for themselves. In the colours and opening options, and the national system of A and AA energy durable easy-clean PVCu frames mean it’s ratings most of us are familiar with, an A simple to keep them looking great. rating is equivalent to a U-value of 1.4 Moreover, they incorporate the very latest but ECOnomy Windows triple-glazed products are so energy-efficient they can safety features such as high security achieve U-values as low as 0.8. hinges and key-locking handles. But that’s not the only good news. As far as New Year resolutions go, In addition to reducing heat loss and keeping warmer over winter, reducing cutting energy bills, ECOnomy Windows’ your energy bills and giving your home a Ecotherm Plus windows also offer a fresher, brighter, high-performing look is significantly improved acoustic one you’ll certainly want to keep. And thanks to ECOnomy Windows, it’s one performance, you can make right now! eliminating more external noise – and the frames themselves have If you’re interested in reducing your energy been specially usage and cutting your fuel bills, you’ll be designed to be pleased to learn that ECOnomy Windows energy-efficient too, are currently offering a FREE front door with capable of reducing all triple glazed orders placed before 1st carbon emissions February 2015. Terms and conditions apply. (compared to older

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West Norfolk: Then and Now

History

1965

2015 BACK TO BLACKFRIARS... Thanks to ANDREW WILLEN of Swaﬀham for e-mailing the photograph above of Blackfriars Street in King’s Lynn which hwas says was taken in the summer of 1965. There seem to be an inordinate amount of bicycles and prams parked

KLmagazine January 2015

outside Blackfriars Hall – were Miles Son & Landles having a pram auction, or was there a literal mothers’ meeting in progress? For more photographs of how things used to be in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, contact Picture Norfolk – you’ll ﬁnd them at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and

Norwich Millennium Library, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1AW. We’ll take another look back at the area next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH

KLmagazine January 2015

History

ABOVE: Houghton Hall was built by Robert Walpole in the 1720s, and is an enduring symbol of the power of Britain’s ﬁrst PM (opposite)

The local life of Britain’s first prime minister... Described as one of the greatest politicians in British history, Robert Walpole was the country’s first – and longest-serving – prime minister. Emma Barnard takes a look at his remarkable life

s we enter a year of a general election and the 56th Parliament of the United Kingdom, policies, laws and who to vote for are at the forefront of people’s minds all over the country. There have been 52 Prime Ministers in the UK to date, and while most of us would be able to name a few, there are several we probably couldn’t – but there’s no doubt that locally, there can be few people who don’t know that the country’s ﬁrst ever Prime Minister actually came from a small village just outside King’s Lynn. But just who was he?

KLmagazine January 2015

Sir Robert Walpole was a British Whig statesman and is generally considered to be the ﬁrst holder of the oﬃce of Prime Minister, although the term wasn’t actually used at the time. Born in Houghton on the 26th August 1676 to a wealthy, landowning family, the young Robert was educated at Cambridge University, after which he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a member of parliament for Castle Rising in 1701. In a rapid rise up the political ladder, he became a member of the Admiralty Board in addition to becoming Secretary of War and was appointed Treasurer of the Navy in 1709.

When the Tories came to power in 1710, Walpole’s rise was temporarily put on hold, and in 1712 he was accused of corruption and brieﬂy imprisoned for the accusations. It took changes to the throne and the accession of George I in 1714 to bring Robert Walpole back into favour. The new King’s distrust for the Tories resulted in the Whigs coming back into parliamentary control, and in 1715 Walpole became the ﬁrst Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. It seems Sir Robert was never far away from controversy – in 1717 he resigned from the party after disagreements with his colleagues but

History

ABOVE: This 1749 engraving of the House of Commons by John Pine commemorates the Parliament of 1741-422, the year in which Robert Walpole resigned office after 21 years as Britain’s most powerful politician. Although we know that Walpole is featured in the engraving, the loss of the ‘key’ to the figures has prevented his positive identification.

he didn’t stay away for long. Three years later, in 1720 he was made Paymaster General around the time of the collapse of the British jointstock business the South Sea Company. Walpole managed to avoid the huge scandal surrounding the collapse of the company, and as a result was appointed first Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer once again – it was in this position he effectively became Prime Minister and he remained in this role until 1742. It has been said that Walpole managed to consolidate his Whig power through a system of royal backing and was accused of bribery and corruption in his efforts to retain that power. Walpole knew the importance of keeping parliament on side as he pursued a policy of peace abroad, low taxation and reduction of the national debt – policies that are still very much the order of the day over 200 years later. One of the seemingly many bumps in Walpole’s time in parliament was when George I passed away in 1727. George II favoured Spencer Compton – which resulted in Compton briefly superseding Walpole. This period was indeed brief as Sir Robert was able to get himself back in favour partly through the backing of Caroline, the new Queen. Walpole’s influence on the British policial scene even extend to No.10.

Have you ever wondered how long the house in Downing Street has been the home of the Prime Minister? Why did it start being the base of the Prime Minister and with whom did the tradition start? The answer is that since 1735, 10 Downing Street has been used for the same function as it is today. George II presented the house to Walpole as a gift, and it’s been the permanent London home of the British Prime Minister ever since. By 1739, Robert Walpole’s seemingly unassailable position of power began to become more and more unstable, and eventually he found members of his own party turning on him. In the same year, a trade dispute with Spain was used by his critics to force him into declaring war – a conflict now known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear. Making Walpole’s position even more unstable was the poor general election results of 1741 – and by 1742 a great deal of Whig politicians opposed his behaviour in the war, forcing Walpole to resign from his post in February of that year. After resigning, Walpole continued to have a degree of influence over George II and was named Earl of Orford. On the 18th March 1745, Sir Robert Walpole passed away at the age of 69 – not only had he earned a place in history as Britain’s first Prime Minister, he was also its longest serving, and that’s a record

that will almost certainly never be beaten. Walpole not only had great influence in parliament and with the Royal Family, but he also created one of Norfolk’s most iconic buildings – and one of the most beautiful houses in the country. Houghton Hall was built by Walpole in the 1720s. It is one of England’s premium Palladian houses, with the designs inspired by the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. Initially the Hall was designed to house Sir Robert’s prized collection of Old Master paintings and the splendid interiors and furnishings designed by William Kent are also still intact. Walpole employed the architects James Gibbs and Colen Campbell to realise his dream of a house that would appropriately reflect his status. Each room was lavishly decorated using the finest craftsmen of the period meaning no expense was spared. Houghton Hall became a place for Walpole’s family to live and also for large scale political entertaining. In 1797 the house was passed on to the 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley after the death of Horace Walpole – Sir Robert’s only surviving son. The house remains with the family today and is now the home of David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley.

ABOVE: This 1738 terracotta bust of Robert Walpole by John Michael Rysbrack belongs to the National Portrait Gallery. It’s thought to be the original model for the marble bust Rysbrack had created a decade previously, and which has remained at Houghton Hall.

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Stebbings: bigger, brighter and better

t’s an exciting time at Stebbings Car Superstore, as the family owned firm which has been operating in King’s Lynn for almost 40 years recently unveiled its spectacular new showroom, workshop and aftersales centre. Representing a significant investment in the local area – the expansion and development made the most of local tradespeople and suppliers and saw staff numbers increase by 25% – the new-look Stebbings underlines the company’s firm commitment to serving local motorists. “Our aim is to bring affordable and high-quality vehicle maintenance to the local retail public,” says Stebbings’ Operations Director Richard Brown, “and to make our facilities and expertise available to everyone and to anyone – not just those who’ve bought their vehicles from us.” The previous Stebbings aftersales building has been transformed into a stunning new showroom that complements the company’s existing sales area with space to display over 20 cars, while the service workshop boasts

KLmagazine January 2015

12 new ramps and two Class 7 MOT lanes (in addition to new technology such as four-wheel laser alignment equipment), enabling Stebbings to carry out tests of everything from motorcycles to 3.5 ton vans. “It means that we can effectively carry out every kind of repair, ranging from simple alloy wheel scuffs to complete engine rebuilds,” says Richard. The heart of Stebbings remains the sale of high-quality and hand-picked used cars to suit all budgets and lifestyles, however, and the 5½ acre site has at least 500 vehicles to choose from at any one time. The showroom itself has been expanded and improved to offer more efficient reception facilities and a welcoming coffee shop, enabling customers to relax while they browse the range and enjoy Stebbings’ service. “It’s important we keep pace with the ever-changing retail environment,” says Richard, “but it’s equally important to remember we’re the same Stebbings with the same great quality and the same great choice – but we’re now able to offer main dealer standards of service as well.” Now that’s exciting!

Stebbings

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KLmagazine January 2015

A revolution for your local taxis!

t seems there’s an app for almost everything these days, and in the case of King’s Lynn based Kings Cars and Abbey Cars that’s about to come true as the companies get set to introduce an amazing new computer system that will revolutionise the way local customers use their comprehensive taxi services. The Autocab Taxi Dispatch System is the result of over 20 years’ expert research and development in the taxi industry, and uses the latest innovations such as interactive voice response (IVR) technology to make the whole process of booking and dispatching taxis more eﬃcient. “Our customers will be able to use the system online or on their phones, and they’ll really notice the diﬀerence,” says Keith Jarvis, who founded Station Taxis (the umbrella company under which Kings Cars and Abbey Cars operate) some 15 years ago. “For example, the new system’s so good that our regular KLmagazine January 2015

customers will be able to book a taxi in less than five seconds!” In addition to making life easier for customers of Kings Cars and Abbey Cars, the new system – planned to go live at the end of the month – will also benefit the companies’ dispatch staff. “If a taxi is held up for any reason, we can spend a lot of time finding out exactly where it is and then getting back to the customer,” says Station Taxis’ co-director Anthony Bailey. “The new system will be able to handle 40% of our calls automatically, and that’s going to make a huge difference – especially when you consider we’re receiving around 1,000 calls on a Saturday!” For all Kings Cars and Abbey Cars customers, the latest technology is about to offer them a local taxi service that’s quicker, friendlier, and more efficient than ever. For everything from short runs to airport transfers and long distance trips, if you’re looking for a taxi, you really don’t need to be looking any further!

details

Kings Cars/Abbey Cars in association with Station Taxis 37 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AH Telephone: 01553 767692 / 01553 663377 Website: www.stationtaxiskingslynn.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: One of the delightful red squirrels at Pensthorpe Natural Park. Pensthorpe Conservation Trust is working alongside other members of the East Anglian Red Squirrel Group to support future captive breeding and release projects in an attempt to save this iconic species

Safeguarding the future of the red squirrel... Once a common sight all over the country, the red squirrel could be extinct within 20 years. Emma Barnard looks at the valuable eﬀorts of the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust to save them.

shy, solitary animal instantly recognisable due to its red fur, ear tufts and long, fluffy tail is under real threat of extinction. The red squirrel is Britain’s only native species and was once the only species of squirrel in the whole of Europe – but today it’s facing a serious decline due largely to the 19th century introduction of its grey counterpart. Once a perfectly common sight in conifer forests, recent figures suggest Britain currently has a red squirrel population of only 140,000. This is due to a variety of factors, not only the introduction of the grey squirrel – extensive tree felling from the 14th

KLmagazine January 2015

century onward has also contributed to the drastically declining population. The grey squirrel was ﬁrst introduced to this country when they were released in Cheshire in 1876. Further releases over the next 50 years meant they quickly became a widespread – and dominant – species. At 2.5 million, their estimated population dwarfs that of the red squirrel, and they carry the parapox virus, which it is immune to. Sadly the red squirrel isn’t immune – and the eﬀects are fatal. The red squirrel does have a hero, however, in the form of Pensthorpe Conservation Trust (PCT). The charitable trust is based in Fakenham and has campaigns to save many

diﬀerent species, the red squirrel being a huge part of this. It’s also part of a national Biodiversity Action Plan and there are several breeding programmes (coupled with reintroduction projects) already well underway. The red squirrels at PCT are a part of this project, with young over several years being released on Anglesey in North Wales as part of a managed release programme. The PCT is working alongside the East Anglian Red Squirrel Group to support future projects dealing with captive breeding and release. At Pensthorpe, the red squirrels have three purpose-built enclosures in which they are cared for; the enclosures are built

Local Life

PICTURE: IAN WARD

three years; individuals may reach seven years of age and in captivity they can even live to be 10. At Pensthorpe, the team look to combat all the problems the squirrels face in the wild in terms of breeding and food. In order to keep them healthy throughout the year, a select diet is required; foods such as chestnuts, hazelnuts and a choice of fresh vegetables are made available to the squirrels as well as the odd antler to gnaw on – especially in breeding season. In terms of mating, the PCT stress the importance of attention to detail when it comes to animal husbandry. This process follows years of observational research and all squirrels are given a studbook name. A wonderful example of the work PCT do is Tortoiseshell, a 2006 female. A testament to the eﬀective environment at the charitable trust, Tortoiseshell has given birth to a remarkable 46 kittens! From being the only squirrel species in Europe to being on the brink of extinction, the red squirrel has had a tough time battling for survival. With the help of organisations such as the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, reestablishment of habitat and research, this distinctive animal can thrive once more. But with no action, the red squirrel is in serious danger of becoming another beautiful creature on an ever-growing extinction list.

around existing trees and are linked by overhead runs. In the wild, a red squirrel is a busy creature; they make a drey (nest) out of twigs in a branch fork to make a domed structure, which is then lined with leaves, grass and bark. Alternatives to branch forks for the red squirrel are tree hollows and woodpecker holes. Although the red squirrel is very reluctant to share its food with others, outside of the breeding season (particularly in winter) several animals often share a nest to keep warm. The squirrels are active in the morning and in late afternoon/evening and often rest in their drey in the middle of the day – it helps avoid heat and being too visibile to birds of prey and other predators. This midday break is briefer or absent completely during winter, although harsh weather may result in the squirrel being forced to

stay in its nest for days at a time. The red squirrel can mate in late winter during February and March and also in summer between June and July and up to two litters per female a year are possible. The litters usually contain three or four young, although as many as six can be born in each litter. Typically a female squirrel will produce her ﬁrst litter in her second year. Once the young are born, they’re looked after solely by their mother and are born totally helpless – blind, deaf and weighing a tiny 10-15g. By the time they’re three weeks old their bodies will be covered in hair and their eyes are almost ready open, by which time they’ll also able to hear. If food is scarce, breeding may be delayed because females must reach a minimum body mass before they enter oestrus. Red squirrels that survive their ﬁrst winter have a life expectancy of

PICTURE: NIGEL HOUSDEN/PENSTHORPE

ABOVE: The red squirrels at Pensthorpe are cared for by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust in three purpose-built enclosures built around existing trees and linked by overhead runs

For more information on the work of the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, see www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk To see the red squirrels at Pensthorpe, see www.pensthorpe.com for full details and opening times.

KLmagazine January 2015

AnimalMatters Our monthly look at the issues concerning you and your pets with Alex Dallas of the London Road Veterinary Centre...

SMALL BITES

More time means more care for all your pets... L

ast year, my working hours reduced a little as I gave myself the very special present of a bit more time. After all, I’ve been working as a vet in King’s Lynn for over 32 years now. Originally, we were a mixed practice, looking after farm animals and horses in addition to pets. We also had a signiﬁcant role in meat inspection work, helping local factories such as Campbells and Masterfoods in the overseeing of meat exports from the local cold stores. These could be very long days. They often started at seven in the morning to see production start, and would end with us seeing the ﬁnal lorry leave the premises at around 10pm. While this was going on, we still had patients to see to – consultations, operations and our farm rounds, and we always had to be prepared for emergencies such as calvings and colics. As if that wasn’t physically

demanding enough, there was still the out of hours emergency work to contend with! Gradually, over the years we’ve chosen to dedicate ourselves to the care of pet animals exclusively. Nowadays vets are increasingly specialising in one area to invest in equipment and expertise, and to gain greater competence rather than spreading their skills more widely. Over the years we’ve hired a great team that shares my philosophy of caring for clients’ pets in exactly the same way and with exactly the same level of care – that we would care for our own, and we have a wonderful mix of skills that enables us to help each other in casework. No one’s job is the same as it was even ten years ago with the Internet, with e-mails, with marketing the practice and keeping up with social media. They all impact on business and

or the practice, 2014 was a really good year, with a definite feeling that the recession might actually be finally ending. We found ourselves able to invest in a new ambulance, a new endoscope (with all the gadgets!) and a new ultrasound machine. We even had a facelift at London Road with a smart new entrance with easy access. The staff have mucked in and we’ve redecorated lots of areas. The new equipment genuinely helps our patients in diagnosis and care, and the fresh look makes us all feel good. Thanks to all the staff and to all our clients for their support over the last year – and the many years before then!

they all impact on our time. These influences still make for a busy full week, and they often need our attention in the evenings and weekends. So thankfully reducing a little bit of vet time has led to some great benefits – enabling me to think and attend to the small details that really do make a difference. And it’s also making a difference to my health and energy, setting me up for the coming years. A very happy 2015 to you all!

London Road Vets

@LondonRoadVets

www.makeyourpetsmile.co.uk

LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn telephone: 01553 773168 e-mail: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market telephone: 01366 386655 e-mail: info@holliesvetclinic.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

Local Life

ABOVE: Whether you choose to keep marine, tropical or cold water ﬁsh, they’ll provide many years of fascination

Entering the wonderful world of fishkeeping... Fishkeeping can be an absorbing, enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Sally Barwood of King’s Lynn Koi oﬀers some expert help and guidance on getting started with your ﬁrst aquarium

ish are hypnotic, and it’s possible to spend hours staring into the blue depths of an aquarium without getting bored. Aquariums are often lauded as one of the best stress-busting tools around – and it’s no coincidence that decorative fish tanks can be found in the reception areas of offices and doctor surgeries almost as numerously as they can be found in the home. If you’ve never kept fish before, the choices and possibilities can appear daunting, but here are some tips on choosing and setting up your first aquarium to get you started.

CHOOSE YOUR FISH... Before you begin keeping ﬁsh, you need to decide what type of ﬁsh are

KLmagazine January 2015

best suited for you. Cold water fish are ideal for children as a first pet, while tropical fish are easy to care for and there’s a huge variety to choose from. Marine fish are best suited to advanced fish keepers, but they do have the best colours and there’s a wonderful selection to choose from – as well as living corals and invertebrates such as crabs and starfish. CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION... Site your aquarium in a room where you spend lots of time to get the most enjoyment from it. Try to keep your aquarium away from direct sunlight and external heat sources such as radiators. DO YOU NEED A STAND? Small aquariums are suited to existing

furniture and kitchen worktops, but they will need to be sturdy as water is heavier than you may think. Larger or oddly-shaped aquariums are best purchased with custom-designed stands, and are available in a wide range of styles and colours. ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT... Many aquarium kits come complete with built-in filtration and heating systems, but there are many options on the market to increase filtration with external filters for an easier life. Tropical fish need to be kept at 24-26o but this is easily achieved with a thermostaticallycontrolled aquarium heater. A thermometer should be added to ensure the correct temperature is maintained.

Local Life need to use and the less waste the animal produces. Options include flakes, pellets and granules for daily feeding, whilst frozen, freeze-dried or live bloodworm, daphnia or brineshrimp offer a mixed and natural alternative. Specific fish require different diets, with algae eaters requiring the addition of algae wafers, and bottom feeders needing a sinking food to ensure they’re receiving the correct nutrition. Ask a specialist fish retailer for advice on the frequency of feeding and this can vary enormously.

DECORATION... For younger ﬁshkeepers, there are many options available from small characters from ﬁlms such as Finding Nemo and Frozen, while very attractive scenes can be created in a natural52

looking aquarium through the use of wood, stone, and live or silk aquatic plants. Aquarium backgrounds are an easy way of adding new dimensions. Substrate choices include sand, gravel, coloured stones or specialist fertilised planting substrates. ADDING NEW STOCK... Stocks should be added sensibly, with a water test performed prior to the addition of any new fish. Test kits are readily available and very easy to use, and your local fish supplier should be happy to help. This side of fishkeeping can help children, teenagers and adults better understand the science behind water chemistry and fish husbandry. It's often said that if you look after the water, the fish will look after themselves! MAINTENANCE... The maintenance of an aquarium depends on a few factors, including stock levels, location, type of fish and equipment used. Every aquarium varies greatly, and a suitable cleaning regime will soon be found. Every one or two weeks the filters should be cleaned, any algae removed from the glass, and around 10-20% of the water should be changed. Every one or two months, a gravel syphon should be used to remove any water trapped in the substrate on the base of the aquarium. FEEDING... There’s a massive choice of commercially-produced fish food available. As with most pets, the better quality of food you use, the less you

ENJOY! Above all, keeping an aquarium should be a fun and enjoyable experience. It’s a great hobby which can involve all members of the family, even if that involvement stops at feeding or simply watching the fish! The hobby of fish keeping can start with a simple goldfish and can progress to a complex and stunning marine aquarium holding 100s of litres of water providing an ideal environment for a wide variety of underwater creatures and fish. The hobby can be taken as far as the fish keeper desires. A well-dressed and ideally-positioned aquarium can be a piece of furniture with an ever-changing picture. Indeed, that’s why many aquarium keepers find themselves watching their fish more often than they watch the television!

PICTURES: KING’S LYNN KOI

Lighting is essential for marine and freshwater aquariums containing plants, and is advisable for any aquarium. It improves the look of the tank whilst providing a day and night cycle for its inhabitants. The use of a timer ensures the lights are on for a regular amount of time each day, and the hours of light will depend on which inhabitants you choose to add to the aquarium. The addition of an air pump not only provides essential oxygen for all tank inhabitants, but can enhance the look of the aquarium through the use of airoperated ornaments and LED bubble bars. To make tap water safe for fish, a dechlorinator is a must, and live bacteria will speed up the maturation process of the aquarium which alleviates the stress on the first fish added to it. The fish (and any decaying matter) will produce ammonia – which can’t be seen but can build up to dangerous levels. Accumulated nitrates are lowered by regular water changes. A net will be useful for removing floating debris caused by plants or if you need to remove any fish from the aquarium. Cleaning equipment should include an algae magnet for keeping the glass clean and a gravel syphon to remove any settled fish waste form the aquarium’s substrate.

LEAVING YOUR AQUARIUM... If you’re going away for a few days to a week, give your aquarium (including the filter) a good clean prior to leaving. Ensure any lights are set on a timer. Slowly dissolving food blocks are a cheap and easy way to feed your fish, whilst the addition of a batteryoperated fish feeder will allow you to control the size and frequency of feeds. If possible, ask a friend or neighbour who is familiar with the aquarium to check on the tank while you’re away.

For more information on fishkeeping and for specialist help and advice, contact Sally and her team at King’s Lynn Koi on 01553 770005 or visit the website at www.kingslynnkoi.com KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

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The Big Interview It has been two years since Emma Tagg left Norfolk and The Hoste Arms to raise her young family in Lincolnshire with her husband Chris. She is now back as one of the Directors of Barefoot Retreats, a new holiday company offering luxury self-catering holidays and short breaks in some of the very best houses Norfolk has to offer … KL MAGAZINE: Tell us a little about your background... EMMA TAGG: I started work as a part-time waitress at the Lifeboat Inn in Thornham, and that’s where I met Paul Whittome, who suggested I go and work for him in Burnham Market. This was 1989 and Paul had just purchased a run-down themed pub, which he built up over the next 20 years to become one of the country’s most renowned hotels and restaurants. It was, of course, The Hoste Arms, and the influx of Londoners who flocked to Burnham Market resulted in the village being affectionately nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea. I started as a housekeeper and gradually worked my way up to the position of Managing Director. After Paul passed away in 2010, I continued to work for his wife Jeanne, but when it was taken over two years later, I took a career break to have my two young children. I’m now ready for a new challenge and have recently launched Barefoot Retreats with my two fellow Directors, Annelli Taylor and Helen Millin, which markets laid-back luxury self-catering holiday accommodation in Norfolk.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of your job? EMMA TAGG: Barefoot Retreats is ultimately oﬀering guests a boutique hotel experience in a luxury selfcatering property. I’ll personally ensure the same high standards that I’ve always strived for and delivered are reﬂected in both the standard of property, the service we provide and the experience our guests and homeowners will enjoy, whether renting or letting a property through Barefoot.

Emma Tagg

KL MAGAZINE: What do you consider to have been your greatest achievement? EMMA TAGG: Being a mum is undoubtedly my greatest achievement! However, I am very proud that I managed The Hoste Arms with my exhusband Andrew McPherson for over 20 years. Little did I realise that when I accepted the job from Paul, I would one day become the Managing Director of such an amazing and iconic hotel. KL MAGAZINE: What have you learned from your work? EMMA TAGG: If you’re not prepared to do something yourself, then don’t ask someone else to do it. I’ve always been very hands-on and I think you get more out of your team if you are.

KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about Norfolk? EMMA TAGG: The people! Norfolk is wonderfully unspoilt with beautiful beaches and great places to eat. We’re really spoilt for choice with so much local fresh produce from the land and sea. Born and bred in Norfolk, it is and always will be a huge part of my life.

Co-Director, Barefoot Retreats

KL MAGAZINE: What does your dayto-day role entail? EMMA TAGG: My role at Barefoot Retreats involves talking to owners who want to bring their holiday homes to our portfolio and guests who are looking for a more upmarket luxury self-catering holiday break. Barefoot oﬀers a renovation, design and styling service, so if you’re a homeowner we can help you to

maximise your income and take away any hassle associated with renting out your home. As guests we can match you with the holiday property of your dreams and create an experience that ensures you won’t forget it either – Barefoot will go that extra mile for you through our concierge service. KL MAGAZINE: What are the biggest issues facing women in business today? EMMA TAGG: I think it’s always diﬃcult for women to juggle home and work life successfully. I sometimes found this hard while I was working at The Hoste Arms – but whatever I do I’ve always made sure I’ve given it at least 110%!

KL MAGAZINE: In your free time how do you like to relax? EMMA TAGG: I love spending time with my family, and on a perfect day I would grab a picnic, head to either Brancaster or Wells, kick oﬀ my shoes and feel the sand between my toes. In the winter I love nothing better than enjoying a bowl of mussels beside a roaring ﬁre at a local pub – I particularly love The Duck Inn at Stanhoe!

KLmagazine January 2015

KL MAGAZINE: What was the last book you read? EMMA TAGG: It was 50 Shades of Grey, but I probably shouldn’t tell you that! KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people... EMMA TAGG: I lived my life very publicly through my job at The Hoste Arms so I think everyone knows an awful lot about me already! People often say that I look like Cameron Diaz and I did actually win a beauty competition once! Barefoot Retreats is located above Thornham Deli on the A149 coast road in Thornham. For more details and information, contact 01485 512245, visit www.barefootretreats.co.uk or you can send an e-mail to enquiries@barefootretreats.co.uk

ABOVE: Barefoot Retreats’ Hideaway Barn in Thornham

KL MAGAZINE: Who has been your biggest inspiration? EMMA TAGG: I would have to say Paul Whittome. I learned so much from him. He believed in me and I’ll always be thankful to have known and worked with him. He had such character and charm, and it was so tragic that he was taken from us so young.

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice that you have been given? EMMA TAGG: If you truly believe in something and you have a passion for it, then you’ll be successful. At Barefoot Retreats, we’re creating something very diﬀerent. We’re oﬀering holidays in luxury properties in amazing places, and we’re creating unique experiences.

RE T RE AT AT S

Laid-back luxury holiday retreats

L U X U RY P R O P E RT I E S • A M A Z I N G P L A C E S • U N I Q U E E X P E R I E N C E S Barefoot Boardwalk, Street, Thornham, walk, High Str eet, Thor nham, Norfolk, PE36 6LX Bar efoot Norfolk Ltd, The Board enquiries@barefootretreats.co.uk 01485 512245 • enquir ies@barefootretreats.co.uk • www.barefootretreats.co.uk www.barefootretreats.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

It’s time to discover Dubarry at The Hayloft For almost 80 years, Dubarry of Ireland has produced a high quality range of country clothing that performs as good as it looks. The Hayloft at Bearts is proud to present the latest collections...

he Hayloft at Bearts of Stowbridge has gone from strength to strength over the past 20 years. From wellys and quilted jackets in the front shop to a showroom upstairs (hence The Hayloft!) – and a stunning 4,000 square foot showroom dedicated to quality country clothing and footwear. One of the most popular brands at the Hayloft is Dubarry of Ireland. Founded in 1937, Dubarry started as a co-operative company to provide employment in a small town called Ballinasloe, in the heart of Galway on Ireland’s glorious West Coast. Named

Dubarry after a famous French courtesan, the company began by making fine leather shoes. Dubarry was fortunate to be able to draw on a local population of hard working craftsmen and women, and it soon developed a reputation for excellent workmanship and quality. The design team looked to the wild Atlantic Coast, and Galway’s great sailing heritage, to draw the inspiration to create superb deck shoes. Then by using the finest performance materials available, it designed and made Shamrock, the world’s first ever GORETEX® sailing boot Dubarry then journeyed from the

KLmagazine January 2015

coast to the country, creating its iconic all-purpose outdoor boot Galway. The rest is history. Dubarry’s range has grown to include clothing and accessories, and over the year’s the company has expanded its international sourcing network, working closely with carefully selected partners who share its high standards and desire to work with the best of components, raw materials and unique designs. Dubarry has achieved great success and plaudits, but it’s never lost sight of its roots, of which it is immensely proud. Dubarry footwear and clothing is now admired, desired and enjoyed around the world, but it’s to Ireland’s people and its landscapes that the company continues to look to for inspiration. So, next time you’re in the area, pop PE34 3PD into your sat nav and visit The Hayloft to discover Dubarry for yourself – you won’t be disappointed! We look forward to meeting you.

details

The Hayloft at Bearts Bearts of Stowbridge, Brighton Mill, Stowbridge, King’s Lynn PE34 3PD, Telephone: 01366 388151 Website: www.bearts.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

fashion

Fashion

In January, considerations of style often have to take second place to more mundane concerns such as keeping warm – but happily there’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds. Here’s a few of our favourite ways of looking great over the winter... Miranda quilted tweed jacket by Jack Murphy (£165) EVERYTHING OUTDOOR Holkham 01328 712120 | Sandringham 01485 298082 58

KLmagazine January 2015

Pickwell jacket by Schöﬀel (£149.95) LINGS COUNTRY GOODS | Great Massingham 01485 520828 KLmagazine January 2015

Fashion

Coat by Concept K ELIZABETH DARBY | Fakenham 01328 855312 60

Inverin coat in black by Dubarry (£249) THE HAYLOFT at BEARTS | Stowbridge 01366 388151 KLmagazine January 2015

Exhibition of four amazing Jewellery makers Shimara Carlow

Hannah Bedford

Holly McAfee

Catherine Downes

Australia

London

Norfolk

Scotland

Ladies night - private view

29th January 7pm-10pm, and then daily from 30th Jan to 5th Feb, 10am- 4pm (including Sunday). Please call us if you would like to attend the Preview.

Tel: 01328 258964 Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10am- 4pm

Web: finelineframes.co.uk Creake Abbey, North Creake, Fakenham, NR2 1 9LF

GAL L ERY • F RA M I NG • JE WE L L E RY

The Fent Shop By appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Purveyor of Dress Fabrics and Haberdashery P.F.Day & Son King’s Lynn

Largest selection of fabrics in West & North Norfolk, with all stock on display

Dress Fabrics Curtain Fabrics Craft Fabrics Net Curtains Knitting Wool Haberdashery

41 Broad Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1DP

T: 01553 768613 | W: www.thefentshopkingslynn.co.uk KLmagazine January 2015

Also stocking guns, ammunition and shooting accessories Heath Farm, Great Massingham, King’s Lynn, PE32 2HD www.lingscountrygoods.co.uk | www.mortonatv.com telephone: 01485 520828

Morton ATV

E lizabethD arby

all terrain and utility terrain vehicles

FAKENHAM

WINTER

CLEARAN

CE SALE

N OW O N

MASSIVE S REDUCTION 6 Dereham Road, Hempton, Fakenham NR21 7AB tel: 01328 855312 www.elizabethdarby.co.uk 61

Fashion

Fully lined Latte jacket (ÂŁ215) CINDYS | Sutton Bridge 01406 350961 62

KLmagazine January 2015

Love boutique clothing? Then visit us at the attick.

Adult Superstore

We aim to please

Masai clothing now in for the spring collection

- Christian Grey

Now stocking our

The new boutique shop now open inside Talking Heads in North Wootton Jewellery • Scarves • Hair • Beauty • Nails Homeware • Cards • Vintage

Unit 2,3 & 4 Priory Court, St Augustines way, North Wootton Kings lynn, PE30 3PT | Tel: 01553 675039

FIFTY SHADES

OF GREY collection

Unit 2 Beveridge Way, Hardwick Narrows, Kings Lynn, PE30 4NB TEL: 01553 776242 | OPEN: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm

www.adult-warehouse.net

Quality menswear for winter now available

Sale ON ! NOW

Comfortable

& Stylish FOOTWEAR FOR THIS WINTER SEASON

Smith’s Footwear 37 Bridge Street, Downham Market Tel: 01366 388883

KLmagazine January 2015

Sunglasses… They’re not just for Summer! A

s we prepare for the depths of winter, dark nights, cold days and potential snow, lots of us consider taking a holiday to sunnier shores. Even though a lot of destinations are not as hot as they can be in the peak of summer, the sun can still be very strong and so sun protection is vital for your eyes. Whether you like to sit by the pool with a good book or explore the local area, a pair of UV protective prescription sunglasses can make a big difference to your vision and help to block out the sun’s harmful UV rays. A pair of prescription sunglasses is also essential for those of us

planning to embrace a good old fashioned English winter. The glare created by a crisp frosty morning can be quite dazzling as can winter brightness caused by fog and snow. At D.A.Seaman Optometrists we can advise you on the best form of sun protection and glare reduction. We offer a full range of lens options including full UV protection and Polarised lenses. Look out for the latest 2015 Wimbledon Sunspec range from Rodenstock, which will be arriving in January. Please contact the practice for further details or to arrange an appointment.

D. A. SEAMAN OPTOMETRISTS 18 Plowright Place, Swaffham Norfolk PE37 7LQ Tel: 01760 722661 | Web: www.daseaman.org.uk

New Year, New Showroom. COMING SOON TO CA STLE RISING

Sale

Join us for our sale rails at Dersingham Church Hall on January 16th at 10.30 - 2.30 & Ziggy Hairdesign on Railway Road, King’s Lynn throughout the month!

w w w. a l l e z c h i c . c o . u k

KLmagazine January 2015

Health Beauty with Amanda Moore, Norfolk Laser & Beauty Clinic

BEFORE

AFTER

Say hello to the new year – and the new you!

ooking good and feeling good – it’s the best resolution you could make for the new year, and at the Norfolk Laser & Beauty Clinic, we believe you deserve the best. That’s why we use the latest technology and equipment, it’s why we use the very best products we can, and it’s why we’ve assembled a team of fully-qualified, talented and friendly beauty technicians. You’ll find our purpose-designed treatment room comfortable and welcoming, and you’ll find our team as professional as they are approachable. To keep you looking good and feeling

confident about yourself, there’s no better choice than the Norfolk Laser & Beauty Clinic. For example, our Harmony XL Laser is the world’s most versatile and expandable platform for aesthetic laser and light treatments. At present we have the capability to carry out treatments including permanent hair reduction (using the latest pain free technology), pigmented sun damage, vascular thread and spider veins on faces and legs, skin rejuvenation, acne treatment, scar tissue treatment, psoriasis and a host of other skinrelated issues. In addition to that, we offer a full

range of beauty treatments to keep you and your body in good shape including skincare facials (using Swissdermyl from Geneva), waxing, manicures, pedicures, and a wide selection of reflexology and aromatherapy sessions such as Hopi ear candles, lava shell, LA stone and Indian head massages. Whatever you and your body needs for the new year, we’re here to help!

, I look forward to meeting you

Amanda x

MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY! On Monday March 30th, Roxy and Julia will be at the Norfolk Laser and Beauty Clinic for a special day of eyebrow, liner and filler treatments. Make sure you don’t miss out by calling us on 01553 886428 to book your appointment now.

Burrell House, High Road, Islington, King’s Lynn PE34 3BL tel: 01553 886428 web: www.norfolklaserandbeautyclinic.co.uk e-mail: amanda@nlbclinic.co.uk KLmagazine January 2015

Need Dentures? Then visit the ONLY expert denture clinic in your area.

“You don’t have to change your dentist - just visit the expert to look after your dentures”

• We make all dentures in-house in our laboratory in King’s Lynn

• Highly qualified & registered denture professionals with over 30 years experience

• By seeing us direct you can receive the best personal service & the best fitting dentures

• Free Initial Consultations

NEW DENTURES

DENTURE R E PA I R S

01553 762 405

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31 London Road, King's Lynn Norfolk, PE30 5PY

C H RO M E & FLEXIBLE DENTURES

www.schoolhousedentureclinic.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

YOU & YOUR HEALTH with BMI The Sandringham Hospital

The new-look you for the New Year... and neck pain as well as helping correct bad posture. The operation is usually performed under a general anaesthetic and after surgery you’ll most likely need to stay in hospital for one or two nights.

nce it was the exclusive preserve of movie stars and millionaires – but today people from all walks of life are considering cosmetic surgery. Whether it’s a simple confidence boost or a long-awaited liberation from something that’s worried you for years, it’s an option more and more people are taking. And, of course, with all treatments – from nose straightening to facelifts, breast surgery to tummy tucks – medical experience and knowledge of cosmetic surgery has increased with each passing year. Here, Consultant Plastic Surgeon Richard Haywood profiles five cosmetic procedures that have shown significant increases in demand at BMI Sandringham Hospital. BREAST REDUCTION For many women suffering the effects of overly large breasts, a breast reduction can offer relief, a new shape and reinvigorated confidence. It can also help relieve problems such as back

BREAST AUGMENTATION Some ladies have the opposite problem, with small breasts. Placing a breast implant behind a small breast can enhance its size and shape. This operation is done under a general anaesthetic either as a day case or with a one night stay. PLATYSMAPLASTY (FACE AND NECK LIFT) As we get older the neck can betray our age long before our face does. Neck lift surgery, as with facelifts, focuses on reducing the loose look of sagging skin around the neck and under the jaw line. The procedure takes approximately 2-3 hours and requires both a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay in hospital. BLEPHAROPLASTY (EYELID SURGERY) The eyes tend not to lie when it comes to showing your age! However, eyelid surgery can give you a fresher, more youthful look. The procedure involves making an incision in the natural folds of the eyelid, removing excess skin and tissue, and then applying very ﬁne stitching to close the incision again. The operation can be performed under

local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic and usually means an overnight stay in hospital. GYNAECOMASTIA (MALE BREAST REDUCTION) There’s been a big increase in people wanting ‘man boob’ reductions. Sometimes, excess fat on the chest is best treated by losing weight, but if you are suitable for the gynaecomastia operation, an incision will be made under the arm or around the nipple to allow excess skin and tissue to be removed. Sometimes liposuction is performed to remove excess fat. This is a general anaesthetic operation that will mean at least an overnight stay in hospital. ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK) Life events such as pregnancy, or losing a lot of weight, or simply the march of time can all leave their mark on your stomach. A tummy tuck is designed to give you back a youthful, ﬂat stomach by tightening the abdominal muscles. The operation requires a general anaesthetic and usually means at least one night in hospital.

Mr Richard Haywood CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON For further information, call BMI Healthcare on 0800 0152217 or visit the website at www.bmicosmetic.co.uk

Serious about health. Passionate about care.

For more information, please call BMI The Sandringham Hospital on 01553 769770 or visit us at www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/sandringham KLmagazine January 2015

New Year, New Smile! • Teeth whitening • White fillings • Porcelain veneers and crowns available • Worn teeth treatment • Experienced hygienists • Late evening & Saturday appointments available • Help with financing your treatment with Denplan • Consultation for the treatment of lines & wrinkles Our friendly and highly experienced dentists are trained in a wide range of cosmetic procedures

PRINCIPAL Mr William K Dryden BDS Dund 1983 MFGDP (UK)

GDC 58347

New Patients Welcomed

We’re closer than you think! Burnham Market

Hunstanton

Fakenham

Castle Rising

East Barn, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn, PE31 6AG

TEL: 01553 631094 info@castlerisingdentist.co.uk

King’s Lynn Wisbech

Downham Market

Swaffham

Dereham

Visit the surgery website at www.castlerisingdentist.co.uk 68

ASSOCIATE DENTIST Miss Kinga Maciejewska Lek Stom Warsaw 2004 GDC 139876

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YNN KING’S LLYN

KLmagazine January 2015

Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way – on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally...

Discover a new way of looking at your life...

an Wells is a locally-based Mindfulness coach, reﬂexology and Reiki practitioner helping people live a more fulﬁlled life with reduced stress, anxiety, depression and improved health. Mindfulness is gaining recognition in industry, education and healthcare where it’s being used to help people lead more productive lives with less stress. Mindfulness involves maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment – and central to it is the notion of paying attention ‘on purpose’, which entails giving our awareness a conscious direction. We sometimes talk about ‘mindfulness’ and ‘awareness’ as if they were interchangeable terms, but that’s not a good habit to get into. Left to itself, the mind wanders through all kinds of thoughts – including those expressing anger, craving, depression, revenge and self-pity. As we indulge in these kinds of thoughts we reinforce those emotions in KLmagazine January 2015

our hearts and cause ourselves to suﬀer. Mostly these thoughts are about the past or the future but it’s essential to understand that the past no longer exists – and that the future is just a fantasy until it happens. Strangely, the one moment we can actually experience – the present moment – is the one we seem to avoid the most. Through the practise of mindfulness, you can learn to live in the present. According to Jon KabatZinn, founder of the Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way – on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them – without believing, for instance, that there’s a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to think or feel in any given moment. When we practise mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future – and research has shown that this can be good for our bodies. A recent study in America has shown that after just

eight weeks of training, practising mindfulness meditation can boost our immunue system’s ability to fight off illness. In addition to helping on an individual basis, Mindfulness can also be successfully applied to businesses and organisations, and later this month Ian will be delivering mindfulness coaching to staff members at a local Norfolk school. If you’d like to discover how Mindfulness can help you, Ian’s next 1-day course will be held in North Wootton from 10am-4pm on Saturday 31st January. The course is already being booked and numbers are limited to ensure everyone gets the maximum from the day. Places are £65 and the day will also include instruction on Mindfulness meditation for people wishing to make a real change in how they lead their lives. To book your place and for more information on Mindfulness and what a difference it can make to your life, contact Ian using the details below.

details

Ian Wells Therapy 50 All Saints Drive, North Wootton King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3RY Telephone: 01553 675804 Website: www.wellstherapy.co.uk E-mail: iwells6@aol.com

Food & Drink

ABOVE: The origins of the traditional Sunday roast may be obscure, but it’s been part of our national culture for hundreds of years

On the trail of the perfect Sunday roast... Every Sunday, thousands of us sit down together to eat a feast of roasted meat served with roast potatoes and vegetables. It’s a tradition with a long pedigree, as Emma Barnard discovers

ost of us have felt full to the brim on a Sunday afternoon after consuming a delicious lunch. This is usually because the plate is piled up with as much as we can get away with! Here in Great Britain, and in Ireland, we’re famed for our traditional ‘Sunday Roast’ complete with roasted meat and potatoes with accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuﬃng, vegetables and gravy. The British love of a roast dinner on a Sunday – and roast beef in particular – is so much a part of the national identity that the French have a nickname for us relating to it. They call us ‘rosbifs’ (roast beefs), and the

traditional dinner is the reason the Royal Guard have been known as ‘beefeaters’ since the 15th century. All European countries with a Christian heritage are accustomed to eating large meals following a church service, but there are (at least) two opinions on the origin of the Sunday Roast. The ﬁrst says that during the Industrial Revolution (1840-70), families in Yorkshire left a cut of meat in the oven before going to church on a Sunday morning, and by the time they arrived home it would be ready to eat. The second school of thought believes the Sunday roast dates back to medieval times when the peasants served the squire for six days of the

week. Come Sunday, following the morning church service, the peasants would assemble in a field and practice their battle techniques – and as a result were rewarded with a feast of an oxen on a spit. In the 19th century the meat would hang on a spit, suspended by a bottle jack. The size of the joint was such that it would require a large fireplace and would feed a whole family throughout the week in stews and pies and also as cold cuts. However the less well-off didn’t have access to a large fireplace, or indeed, much money for a big joint of meat – so the smaller roast would be taken to the local bakers on the way to church as bread wasn’t baked on Sundays.

KLmagazine January 2015

SUNDAY CARVERYS

Every Sunday 12no on-6pm TWO COURSES JUST £9.99 Help yourself to soup for starters followed by our Sunday carvery buffet. Choose from roast turkey crown, roast gammon, roast topside of beef or vegetable wellington. Accompanied by a great selection of sides and help yourself to as much as you like of them!

Selected desserts just £2!

BEST WESTERN PLUS Knights Hill Hotel & Spa

Sunday Lunch in the Garden Brasserie Serving a delicious roast lunch from locally sourced produce, the Garden Brasserie is perfect for relaxing with friends and family.

3 courses with tea / coffee

£20.45 Served 12.30pm – 2.00pm Please call to book your table

Knights Hill Hotel & Spa South Wootton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ T: 01553 675566 E: reception@knightshill.co.uk Please visit our website www.abacushotels.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn King’s Lynn PE34 3LW

Tel: 01553 772221 71

Food & Drink

SUNDAY ROAST: ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS!

We asked our local expert for some useful tips in order to get the best results from your Sunday roast…

Something the accomplished Sunday roast chef takes great pride in is a wellrisen, pillowy and homemade Yorkshire pudding. The pudding is made from a batter consisting simply of eggs, ﬂour and milk – and some might say no roast dinner is complete without the perfect Yorkshire pud! It has been known for the pudding to be eaten as a separate course (a form of starter) before the main meat dish. This is thought to be the traditional method of eating the pudding and is still very common across Yorkshire today. As the rich and delicious gravy was used to accompany the starter, the main roast dinner was served with a white or parsley sauce. It’s widely thought that the whole purpose of the Yorkshire pudding being served before the main event was to provide a cheap way to ﬁll the diners, and therefore stretching a smaller amount of the more expensive ingredients. It’s not only the accompaniment of Yorkshire pudding that the cook will take pride in, but all of the other trimmings have their special ways of being made. Everyone has an idea how the potatoes should be roasted (or mashed), how the vegetables should be

cooked (steamed/boiled/roasted) and the preparation of the stuffing and gravy can also cause a literal stir. Many celebrity chefs have in their books or on their websites different ways to roast your meat, what to serve it with and how to cook your trimmings. There are also different sauces to have with different meats: with roast pork a lovely apple sauce would go perfectly, a horseradish sauce accompanies beef and mint sauce enhances a roasted lamb joint. Whatever your idea of the perfect Sunday roast, you’ll find what you’re looking for right here in Norfolk – and the good news is that thanks to the county’s wonderful pubs and restaurants, you won’t have to lift a finger!

LOOK FOR QUALITY A trusted supplier should be able to tell you where your meat has come from – all the way from farm to shop. WHICH CUT TO CHOOSE? Ask how long a joint of beef has been hung for. Beef needs at least 25 days hanging time before it’s sold to you as a customer. Prime cuts are fore-rib and rolled sirloin. For a slow roast, ask for brisket. For the ideal roast pork, ensure the meat has about 1cm thick of fat and that the ﬂesh isn’t too wet. The prime cuts are leg or rolled loin. Belly of pork or shoulder of pork is a perfect choice for a slow roast. For lamb, try to look for a joint that isn’t too lean. Prime cuts are leg and rolled loin, and for a slow roast, choose the shoulder. As a general rule of thumb you need to allow about 300g per person when buying a joint. A tried and tested piece of advice well worth following is that once your joint has been roasted, cover it in foil and allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes. This will result in a juicier and more tender piece of meat. Enjoy!

KLmagazine January 2015

Bowers Butchers est. 1932

Advice & tips What’s the best cut? How shall I cook it? We give great advice!

Traditional family butchers offering quality, local meat to the community • Years of knowledge • order online • local suppliers • homemade chutneys & sauces

Award Winning Sausages! Winners of the best traditonal sausage in the East Midland region!

Tel: 01553 773845 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King’s Lynn, PE30 4PR | w: www.bowersbutchers.com | e: info@bowersbutchers.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

the sandboy

Under new management!ers.

Andy & Emma welcome all old and new custom

Live music

Quality

food

Local brews

GREAT BRITISH ROAST DINNERS! Try our beautiful roast carvery every Sunday from 12pm-4pm booking advised | Tel: 01553 630527 OPEN: Mon-Thurs 12-8, Fri-Sat 12-late, Sun 12-4 Gayton Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 1EP

KLmagazine January 2015

locally sourced award winning food and sunday lunches

AA Rosette Restaurant

CALEY HALL HOTEL

www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk old hunstanton road, old hunstanton norfolk pe36 6hh tel 01485 533486

Food & Drink

Discover the wonder of pork M

ost pigs are bred leaner than they used to be, which is good from a health point of view, but speciality breeds such as the famous Gloucester Old Spot do have (naturally) more fat. Both are equally good, but for succulence and flavour, leaner pork needs careful cooking. For example, roast pork shouldn’t be served rare or underdone.

locally from your butcher or local farm shop is reinforced by Paul Furness of Stow Farm. “You’re guaranteed fresh locally reared pork, the more you spend the better value for money. You literally get what you pay for.” All the pigs at Church Farm are farmed to the highest welfare possible, they have the freedom to move, a nice warm bed and the best food meaning the highest quality.

CHOOSE... Look for cuts that are moist and have a healthy deep-pink colour, and avoid any meat that looks damp or clammy, or that has oily or chalky-looking fat. Note that free-range, organic and rarebreed pork will generally be a deeper pink colour. Rare-breed pigs take longer to mature than breeds selected for modern farming methods and are generally very well cared for in a natural environment. Although this means the end product is more expensive, it’s also considered especially flavoursome because the extra fat helps keep the meat moist and succulent during cooking. The importance of buying

LOCAL FAME... Stow Estate Farm produces rare breed pork to The Fruit Pig Company; a bespoke butchery company which produces joints and charcuterie from traditional, rare breed animals. The Fruit Pig Company supplies their produce to Michelin star chef Tom Aiken’s restaurants in London and also Jimmy’s Farm giving them a national reputation. Matthew Cockin of The Fruit Pig Company explains their unique selling point: “We’re East Anglia’s only fresh blood black pudding producers, and there are only 14 in the country commercially.” Stow Farm choose specific breeds for

d o o Fof the h t n o M

Fruit Pig to suit the cut of meat they require – proving just how much thought and care goes into the process. COOKING... Pork joints can be roasted long and slow at a lower heat, or fast at a higher heat. Braising and pot-roasting can be used for almost every cut of pork including larger joints – and the addition of wine, water or stock results in a moist, succulent pork dish every time. Stewing or casseroling pork, either on the hob or in the oven, produces a rich, flavoursome dish with succulent, tender meat. This can also be an ideal way to cook the slightly tougher cuts such as shoulder and collar. Pork is ideal for frying, stir-frying, grilling and barbecuing. Grilled pork chops are a simple pleasure, or try an indulgent escalope cut from the pork fillet. Barbecuing pork will result in a fantastic sticky, chargrilled blackness and small joints are good for spitroasting – most barbecues can be fitted with a spit, either hand-turned or with a battery-operated motor.

KLmagazine January 2015

The Angel

A TRADITIONAL PUB WITH TRADITIONAL FOOD • Outside catering for weddings, business functions, etc • Function room• Childrens play area • Food served daily (excluding Monday lunch)

GR EAT BRI TIS H

ROA ST DIN NE RS THE ANGEL CARVERY

GREAT DEALS ON OUR FOOD CURRY NIGHT Thursday nights only £7 & includes a drink PIE NIGHT Monday nights only £7 & includes a drink

STEAK NIGHT Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays LUNCHTIME SPECIAL On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Soup, sandwich or a wrap only £6 and includes a drink

Choice of four meats* and a vast choice of vegetables and accompaniments - for just £10 Avai lab le Th u rs day 12noo n - 2p m and Su nd ay 12no on - 3pm . B oo ki ng is ad vis ed . SENIOR CITIZEN CARVERYS Available on Thursday, just £9! * Subject to availability

Find us on Facebook!

01553 811326 | www.theangelpub.webs.com | 41 School Road, Watlington, King’s Lynn, PE33 0HA

ABACUS MARQUEES your special event is our special event...

FREE delivery for orders over £50.0 0

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF BRITISH! Free range Pork, Poultry and quality Beef all locally sourced in Norfolk. Order online for home delivery www.goddardsofnorfolk.co.uk tel: 01366 388377 4 Wales Court, Downham Market PE38 9JZ KLmagazine January 2015

Ideal for weddings, parties, christenings, conferences, exhibitions, fetes & funerals. Traditional pole and frame marquees, linings, carpet, furniture, dance floors & accessories. Tailor-made marquees to suit your requirements. Call for a FREE site visit and a no obligation quotation:

01328 701331

www.abacusmarquees.co.uk

Chalk Farm, Druids Lane, Litcham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 2YA

Food & Drink

e p i c Ref the o h t n o M Warm Salad Of Wood Pigeon, Radicchio, Roast Butternut Squash & Beetroot Puree. Preparation: 1 hour (roasting of beetroot) Cooking: 5 mins Serves: 6 (as a starter) INGREDIENTS 12 skinless Wood Pigeon breasts 4 medium sized fresh beetroot (skins on) 1 small butternut squash A pinch of dried chilli flakes Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper 1 head radicchio lettuce 1 bag fresh pea shoots (or other baby salad leaves) 350ml vegetable stock 1 clove of crushed garlic Rapeseed oil for frying

Recipe by Pat Palmer Chef/Proprietor, Palmers Restaurant 45 High St, Downham Market PE38 9HF Tel: 01366 388124 Web: www.palmersrestaurant.co.uk

METHOD 1 Pre heat your oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 5. Cut the stalks and leaves from the beetroot and rinse, season with salt and pepper, then wrap loosely in foil. Place on a baking tray and roast for 45mins-1hour until really soft. 2 Meanwhile, peel and dice the butternut squash into 1cm dice, cook for about 10 minutes in barely simmering vegetable stock until just soft. Refresh under cold water and set aside. 3 Break up, wash and drain the radicchio and baby salad leaves if necessary. 4 When the beetroot is cooked, remove from the foil and peel away the skins, roughly chop and place in a blender with some seasoning and a glug of good olive oil, add the crushed clove of garlic and blitz to a smooth paste, adding a touch more oil to get a smooth consistency.

5 Heat a non stick, heavy based frying pan (with a metal handle) to a high temperature. Season the pigeon breasts on both sides and carefully place into the pan. Cook for 1 minute then turn over, season the butternut squash cubes with salt, pepper and the dried chilli then add them to the pan. 6 Put the pan in the oven for 2 minutes then remove the pigeon breasts and squash and keep somewhere warm whilst you assemble the plates. 7 Place a tablespoon of beetroot puree onto each plate, then arrange the radicchio leaves and butternut squash cubes. Slice each pigeon breast in half, and place amongst the leaves. 8 Lastly, arrange the pea shoots or baby leaves over the top and enjoy a lovely wintertime salad!

KLmagazine January 2015

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Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

If you’re looking for a memorable meal in a quite unforgettable location, look no further than Bank House in the centre of King’s Lynn

s we live just outside King’s Lynn and are often in the habit of eating out, it came as something of a surprise to hear some friends heap praise on a recent meal they’d enjoyed at the town’s Bank House and realise that we hadn’t actually enjoyed this highlyregarded restaurant for ourselves. It’s all the more surprising considering the restaurant’s pictureperfect location. Bank House – a magnificent Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on the quayside – sits directly opposite the King’s Lynn Customs House, putting it right at the heart of the town’s architectural heritage. If you’re looking to enjoy a meal in a lovely local setting, there can be few places more memorable. Arriving at Bank House on a cold Friday evening in the depths of winter, the warm welcome we were treated to was much appreciated, and the roaring fire and lively atmosphere worked wonders in taking the chill off the evening. Although the restaurant was very busy, the layout of tables and cleverly-

separated seating areas prevented any sense of overcrowding and maintained a distinctly friendly ambience. Getting our evening off to a relaxing start were a couple of cocktails from the Bank House cocktail menu – a Bellini (which was perfectly assembled) and a Bank House Twinkle, which we enjoyed in the bar on the comfortable seats in front of the fire. We were then shown to our seats in the restaurant itself, which was tastefully decorated throughout (the candlelit tables looked particularly lovely). The large sash windows beside us offered front-row views of the illuminated Customs House, which brought a truly magical touch to the proceedings. The menu was filled with mouthwatering choices, and we finally (after much deliberation) decided to have the local mussels to start, which were cooked in a cream, cider and shallot sauce. Carefuly presented in large traditional enamel pots, the mussels were large, juicy, and undeniably fresh mussels. They were actually some of the most delicious

mussels we’d ever tasted and certainly underlined the importance of making the most of local produce. For our main course, my husband chose the chargrilled 9oz sirloin steak, which was accompanied by hand-cut chips, a grilled garnish and a peppercorn sauce. Meanwhile, I decided to try the lamb cutlets, which were served with dauphinoise potatoes, green beans and a caper and anchovy

KLmagazine January 2015

ORIENTAL PALACE

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EAT AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE Delicious, freshly cooked food made to order from our extensive à la carte menu

Want more? Just order more! sauce. Both our main courses were absolutely stunning and were beautifully arranged on the plates. My husband’s steak was (he said) wonderfully tender and cooked exactly (and expertly) they way he’d ordered, and my lamb was simply exquisite, being complemented quite perfectly by the other tastes in the dish. The sharpness of the caper and anchovy sauce worked particularly well. One feature of the restaurant worth noting is that it offers easy access to a spacious riverside terrace – a beautiful spot overlooking the river that’s perfect for cocktails (though I think we’ll wait for the springtime to make the most of it!) or for enjoying a spot of fresh air during a three-course meal. Although we decided to forgo dessert (despite the extremely tempting-sounding choices) we couldn’t help sharing the cheese board, which comprised a comprehensive (and generous) selection of cheeses with a variety of biscuits and a great-tasting chutney. Together with a couple of satisfyingly rich coffees, it was the perfect way to end a memorable – and thoroughly enjoyable – meal. I think the element I enjoyed most about our evening was having my preconceptions about Bank House proved incorrect. I’d imagined it may be too grand ot too formal, but the atmosphere was in fact very laid-back, very friendly – and much more relaxed than I’d expected. The food really does do justice to the fantastic setting as well, and with our total bill coming to around £80, we thought Bank House represented terrific value for money. Brilliant food in a brilliant location – what’s not to like about Bank House? Put it in your eating out diary and start looking forward to it! FOOD

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BANK HOUSE King’s Staithe Square, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1RD Telephone: 01553 660492 Web: www.thebankhouse.co.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

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Food & Drink

Tathstees of Month BROADLAND WINERIES The New Winery, Cawston Broadlands Wineries was established way back in 1965 and sells a wide range of British-made wines such as fruit and country wines, fortified wines, Perry and mulled wines and also offers some imported wines. Well worth discovering is the wonderful Norfolk Mead, described as rich, sweet, soft and warming – all at the same time! To learn more, visit the website at www.broadlad-wineries.com. WINBIRRI VINEYARDS Bramerton Road, Norwich This award-winning vineyard had a very successful 2014, picking up no less than five awards at the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Awards – and nine accolades at the East Anglian Wine of the Year Awards. Winbirri Vineyards offers three white wines, one sparkling, one red and one rose – tours and tasting experience days are also available. To find out more, visit the website at www.winbirri.com. HUMBLEYARD ENGLISH WINE Mulbarton, Norwich The vines at the Humbleyard vineyard were first planted in 2010 (additional vines were added over the following two years) and now covers eight acres. The result is two rose wines, one white and two sparkling wines (one rose, one white) which are due to go on sale in June. Products can be purchased from the Farm Shop at Paddock Farm, which is a 10-minute walk from the vineyard. You can visit the website at www.humblyardenglishwine.co.uk.

Enjoying a taste of Norfolk’s best wine The nation is waking up to the fact that there’s a lot more to Norfolk’s food and drink than turkeys and mustard – and the county’s wines are attracting attention from all over the country. Here’s a few of our current favourites... 80

SOUTH PICKENHAM ESTATE South Pickenham, Swaﬀham The vineyard on the South Pickenham Estate was established in 1984 and has four grape varieties planted within it. The grapes are pressed, fermented and bottled at a local winery based just outside Framlingham, producing two medium dry white wines, two dry wines and one sparkling – and they can all be purchased from the Estate Oﬃce in cases of six bottles. To learn more, visit www.southpickenham.co.uk/vineyard.

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Education: a special 11-page section on local schools and colleges KLmagazine January 2015

PICTURE: GLEBE HOUSE SCHOOL

Education

The important role of the school governor It’s the most important voluntary position in education, yet West Norfolk currently has a school governor vacancy rate of 20% – Emma Barnard looks at the role’s responsibilities and rewards

chool governors are the largest volunteer force in the country, and it’s the most important voluntary role in education; every school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has a Governing Body. In Norfolk, the County Council’s aim is for “every school/academy or federation to have an eﬀective governing board made up of well informed, knowledgeable, skilled governors with the time and commitment to undertake the voluntary role.” Filling governor vacancies can be problematic because the role is fully

dependant on volunteers – currently we have an average vacancy rate in the west of the county of 20%. CATEGORIES Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just parents of pupils at the school who are able to take up a role as school governor (anyone over the age of 18 living in the UK can be a school governor). Generally they are parents of the pupils, members of the school staﬀ, people nominated by the Local Authority, members of the local community appointed by the rest of the governing body and representatives of

any sponsoring bodies. Proportions of these vary from school to school but the minimum number of governors is nine (the maximum is 20) and governors can be appointed for a maximum of four years, although the term is renewable. At Wisbech Grammar School, they currently have someone in their 9th month of the process of joining the school’s Governing Body. The headmaster, Chris Staley believes this process will reach 12 months by the time it’s completed. Suzanne Walker of Norfolk Governor Services explained that in state schools governors are

KLmagazine January 2015

PICTURE: WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

invited to complete a skills audit and are interviewed by the school for the position. The interview is an opportunity for the school and the potential new governor to determine whether they are suitable for the role and that they will be able to commit the Governors don’t manage a school on a day-to-day basis but are required to oversee its long term development. Ultimately, all governor responsibilities come back to this task. In state schools the governing body has a responsibility for raising standards through their three core strategic functions which are: 1 Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction 2 Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils 3 Overseeing the ﬁnancial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

KLmagazine January 2015

time necessary to be effective governors. Mr Staley also reinforced that they have a variety of people on their Governing Body, stating they “have two current parents, three or four ex parents and two ex officio’s appointed by Magdalene College Cambridge.” ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The role of the school Governing Body is somewhat unclear to outsiders. The headteacher is in charge of the management and day-to-day running of the school, but the Governing Body is on hand to support the work of the headteacher and other staff and to provide strategic management. The Governing Body is responsible for managing the school budget – which includes salaries and running costs. The body isn’t just in place to make small scale decisions: they can decide how many and what types of staff to employ and they must appoint the headteacher. They also have the power to reinstate excluded pupils or indeed reduce the term of their exclusion. Governors assist in making decisions about the strategies and initiatives

prioritised in schools. Target setting for the school’s performance and for the head fall under their responsibilities and they must also ensure that the headteacher sets targets for other members of staff within the school. Glebe House School’s headmaster, John Crofts, explains why parents and governors are such a vital part of his team: “From financial, legal and safeguarding advice to marketing and HR, an extended knowledge base among parents can make a vast difference to a school’s success,” he says. “After ten years in post at Glebe, this has been my experience and I feel fortunate to have been so well supported.” All governors are offered training and support by the local authority, central government and other organisations. In Norfolk the County Council runs Norfolk Governor Services, an organisation that provides a comprehensive programme of training at various venues across the county as well as ‘in-school’ sessions. Popular sessions include, ‘Holding School Leaders to Account’, ‘Understanding School Data’ and ‘Safeguarding in Schools.’ In addition to this, NGS provides advice and guidance on a broad range of school governance issues. As you can see from the long list of Governing Body responsibilities and training sessions, long gone are the days where the perceived role of a governor is to reap the benefits of things like preferential parking for doing very little. Governors must be genuinely interested in the school and totally committed to the cause and to the role. STRUCTURE Governing Bodies within schools have a detailed structure of their own. There is a Chair, a Clerk and they often run a committee arrangement. The body is led by the Chair (no one who works at the school is eligible for the role) who is elected from within the Governing Body. The Chair can delegate some tasks and responsibilities to a Vice Chair who is in place to support this role, but certain roles may only be carried out by the Chair. The Clerk supports the governors in their work and this role is remunerative. This position is considered very important and integral within the Governing Body but the Clerk isn’t entitled to a vote – the role is primarily to provide legal advice and administrative support. For instance, the Clerk prepares and distributes minutes and agendas, keeps records and deals with any

Education There can never have been a more important time in our country’s recent history to be involved in education, and we need skilled motivated governors who are committed to transforming our schools...

PICTURE: WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

PICTURE: GLEBE HOUSE SCHOOL

LORD NASH Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools

correspondence. The majority of school Governing Bodies undertake a committee framework by which they conduct evaluation roles. The most common committees are formed from categories such as learning and achievement, finance, staffing and health and safety, to name a few. BENEFITS OF BEING A GOVERNOR Governors make a positive impact on the education of thousands of children in Norfolk as they work towards better schools and better communities. It’s both immensely rewarding and also provides the opportunity for personal challenge and development by learning to take on different viewpoints, to see the bigger picture and to ask challenging questions. All of this filters back into the careers of governors. John Crofts, headmaster of Glebe House School described a recent Bonfire Party held at the school where the committee managed the event

from start to finish. However, it wasn’t just the committee who were involved in the end; friends, family and people with no direct connection with the school pitched in and helped make the event a success. “Loyalty like that cannot be bought,” he says, “and so whether it’s through such events, the willingness of former parents to come in and listen to our younger children read, a grandfather who has given up his allotment to run one in the school grounds for – and with – the children, or the plethora of donations and opportunities that parents offer, the school and its children truly benefit.”

HOW TO APPLY To apply for a role as a governor in a state school in Norfolk you can simply contact your local school or contact Norfolk Governor Services – details of which are on the Norfolk County Council website. Independent schools and public schools generally have governing bodies, though by their very nature, these schools usually have their own processes. Academies may also have their own procedures. “The systems are different with independent and state schools,” says Chris Staley, headteacher of Wisbech Grammar School, “but the theme running throughout is you need to be genuinely interested in the institution and what the institution stands for.” If someone wished to become a governor at Wisbech Grammar School, the headteacher would have an informal conversation, take a CV then pass it to the Governance Committee to be discussed before the potential governor is invited back in a more formal way. At this particular school, for example, pupil interaction is vital, so a test of something such as this would be important to evaluate on a more formal visit to the school. One thing Mr Staley makes clear is it’s a “huge time commitment and it’s totally voluntary. The school is looking for people with areas of expertise for the head to call on as a sounding board.” Glebe House’s John Crofts reinforces this, saying that “expertise in finance, healthcare, marketing, legal matters, buildings and grounds maintenance, as well as education is invaluable to our staff. Alongside meetings, the contact and time offered by many makes the school a place where children thrive.”

For more information on how you could become a school governor, please contact either SUZANNE WALKER (Governor Development Oﬃcer for West Norfolk) by e-mailing suzanne.walker@norfolk.gov.uk or NORFOLK GOVERNOR SERVICES by calling 01603 303355 or e-mail governorservices@norfolk.gov.uk

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Education

ABOVE: Head of Wisbech Grammar School, Chris Staley is aiming to continue the school’s proud traditions as it moves forward

Proud of the past and positive about the future It’s one of the oldest schools in the country, but tradition is only part of the story. Emma Barnard talks to Headmaster Chris Staley about Wisbech Grammar School’s strengths and bright future... KL MAGAZINE: Could you tell us a little about your background? CHRIS STALEY: I’ve been teaching for a little over 20 years now. I was actually born in Australia as my father is Australian, but my mother is English and we moved over here when I was four or ﬁve – and I haven’t left school since! Following University I was going to join the Army but I picked up a rugby injury (a cracked cheekbone) and wasn’t able to join. My dad advised me to take a teaching qualiﬁcation and to be honest I’ve never looked back. I graduated and then did two years in a state school, but education is about much more than

just being able to deliver a curriculum in a classroom. I wanted the pupils to understand that as a teacher you’re genuinely interested in them, so I moved to Cranleigh School in Surrey which is a boarding school and spent 15 years there. A variety of new roles kept me fresh over the years but as I’d always wanted to be a head, it was eventually time to move on. I spent four years as a deputy head at Milton Abbey School in Dorset before I moved to my current role here. KL MAGAZINE: As one of the oldest schools in the whole country, Wisbech Grammar School has a long line of

past headmasters. What are you hoping to bring to the role? CHRIS STALEY: I’m hoping to make sure the school remains rooted in its proud traditions, while ensuring we move forwards more contemporarily. Above all I want the school to produce pupils with adaptable skills for an everchanging world. Education has moved on, and pupils can no longer be pigeon-holed, and therefore Wisbech Grammar now ensures that all pupils have the core skills which employers now require to enable them to succeed in both established and to new employment areas.

KLmagazine January 2015

KL MAGAZINE: What are the school’s main strengths? CHRIS STALEY: At Wisbech Grammar School there’s a real emphasis on excellence with holistic education. An easy way of explaining it is to imagine every pupil’s educational journey being the construction of a wagon-wheel. The ‘hub’ contains all the essential core elements such as Science, Maths, and English – but the wheel is only going to be as strong as the spokes surrounding it. All the extra things such as the drama, the sport, the music are what makes it work. At Wisbech Grammar the pupils are grounded and very proud of their school. We have one boy and one girl who did four nights on We Will Rock You but they work oﬀ their own back – and they’re both pushing for places at top Universities. Both also give up their free time to help the elderly – the boy is in one of our Rugby sides and he’ll go and sit with the elderly for two hours a week just talking about sport! KL MAGAZINE: What are the biggest challenges facing the school today? CHRIS STALEY: Firstly, we’re faced by a number of political and economic challenges. Politically because we’re consistently being scrutinised in terms of whether the school is doing enough to help state schools. Another challenge is in maintaining our charitable status – that income needs to be generated from somewhere. We really need to let local people know what the school is all about. For instance, we have the highest number of graduate employees in the area, but most people don’t realise that. I think we can achieve all this by uniting the community and by working with other schools.

stretched – and they’ll also be very happy. We want to make the school the heart of what happens and to get parents more involved. Parents spend whole Saturdays here watching their children in sports ﬁxtures, and we recently held a Christmas Cake Bake where pupils and parents spent a whole Saturday at school without even thinking! We’d like to pull children and parents together to make the school a social hub – and the more parents are involved, the happier they are.

KL MAGAZINE: What does the future hold for Wisbech Grammar School? CHRIS STALEY: The good news is that future is incredibly bright and positive. There’s been more interest in the school in the last four months than the last four or ﬁve years – which proves we’re competitive and delivering a quality product. There are also several plans going forward that will enhance both our academic provision and our facilities. We want people to see that the education we provide at Wisbech Grammar School really does represent genuine value for money.

something they’re fully encouraged to have a go. It’s a certain richness – my philosophy with employed staff isn’t to employ the best ‘teachers’ but to find teachers with the most interesting backgrounds as well. A great example is something I saw at a previous school. On one side there was the traditional cricket pro, doing analysis with watching parents, and on the other side there were 20 children learning how to Unicycle! It’s that complete diversity that appeals to people. One of the big next overseas tours that I’m really keen to champion is a community service based tour. We have some members of staff with links in South East Asia and we’ve just come back from one in the summer where they went to Ecuador and the Galapagos islands, linking to projects where we can go to villages where they are desperate for people to build a school for them. How amazing would it be if we could go there with the tools and the wherewithal to go and help them build it?

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of the job? CHRIS STALEY: Spending time with pupils – whether they’re current or prospective students. We have one girl in our Sixth Form called Molly Allen. She’s up by 4am to train in the swimming pool and she also trains after school. She’s not dropped a single thing and is always available for sports ﬁxtures. That’s really rewarding, learning the amazing stories of the pupils and the staﬀ here.

KL MAGAZINE: What can pupils expect from the school? CHRIS STALEY: They can look forward to an amazingly diverse but challenging education, where if they want to try

KL MAGAZINE: What can parents expect from Wisbech Grammar School? CHRIS STALEY: They’ll know their children will be challenged and

KL MAGAZINE: What do you consider to have been your greatest achievement? CHRIS STALEY: Firstly, it’s being head here, as it’s the achievement of a

KLmagazine January 2015

Education

interest for me. It’s a lovely county and it’s a great place to switch oﬀ. KL MAGAZINE: In your free time, how do you like to relax? CHRIS STALEY: When I have the time I like to go to the gym and I also love to play sport – both as an individual and in a team. I also like reading, spending time with my family and going to the cinema. Although don’t ask me the last thing I went to see!

lifetime ambition. Secondly it’s my family. I’m married to my wife and family but also my job – I love what I do. I simply couldn’t do it if I didn’t. KL MAGAZINE: What have you learned from your work? CHRIS STALEY: To listen – for twice as much as you speak, and for being able to put in a little more thinking time. Also to be clear and to always be able to justify yourself three times. KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about Norfolk? CHRIS STALEY: I’m a Geographer by trade, so it’s deﬁnitely the coastline. Within my Geography career, climate change was always interesting and has grown in importance – so the Norfolk coastline has always been a big area of

KL MAGAZINE: Who is your biggest inspiration? CHRIS STALEY: There are several to choose from, but one I should really mention is one of my teachers, Peter Davis. He really made Geography work for me. Another is Ellen MacArthur, who’s a hero and a real inspiration to me. It makes no diﬀerence that she’s a woman, but the ocean is a big place and her courage and commitment to keep going is a genuine inspiration. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? CHRIS STALEY: There are two! The ﬁrst is to never accept mediocrity, and the second is what I mentioned earlier – the why, why, why. You should always be able to justify yourself three times. KL MAGAZINE: What was the last book you read?

CHRIS STALEY: I’ve just finished two, actually. The first was The Demon Dentist by David Walliams, as I think it’s important to be in touch with what children are reading. The second is called Iconoclast by Gregory Berns – it’s a series of stories involving thinking outside the box, and they were really eye-opening. I’m also reading a Geoffrey Archer book to help me drop off at night! KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people… CHRIS STALEY: I’ve never been to an Ikea, and I never intend to! Something else people are often surprised by is that I’m actually very musical. When I was younger, before my voice broke, I was even Chorister of the Year!

WISBECH GRAMMAR SCHOOL North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1JX Tel: 01945 583631 Web: www.wisbechgrammar.com

KLmagazine January 2015

Join us for a personal tour of the school | Monday 26th January 2015 To register, please contact the Admissions Secretary 01945 583 631 Admissions@WisbechGrammar.com

“What a wonderful place for childr children en to lear learn; n; JHYPUN Z[Hќ MHU[HZ[PJ MHJPSP[PLZ HUK JOPSKYLU [OH[ JHYPUN Z[Hќ MHU[HZ[PJ MHJPSP[PLZ HUK JOPSKYLU [OH[ are encouraged to excel in all ar eas.” are areas.” Parental Par ental Review 2014

WisbechGrammar.com Facebook.com/WisbechGrammar HMC Independent co-educational day school for boys and girls aged 11-18. The school is a registered charity and exists for the education of children. 0HDQV WHVWHG ıQDQFLDO VXSSRUW LV DYYDLODEOH WR DVVLVW ZLWK IHHV

KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine January 2015

Education

Wymondham College: discover the possibilities

ymondham College is the largest State Boarding School in the country, educating around 650 boarders and a similar number of day students. Set amongst 84 acres of rural Norfolk countryside and with around 400 full and part time staff, many of whom live on site, Wymondham College is a busy, dynamic and fascinating place to be. The College secured ‘outstanding’ judgements from Ofsted in both the last education and boarding inspections and strong academic success coupled with an almost unrivalled choice of extra-curricular opportunities makes Wymondham College a very popular choice. Beyond the academic school day over 60 regular weekly clubs and societies are available together with over 700 annual sporting fixtures, an active Cadets unit and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The numbers of parents now choosing state boarding over private

KLmagazine January 2015

education is on the rise with a growing trend of students joining from prep schools. High quality education with first class facilities is free for day students and with boarding fees at just over £9,000 pa, Wymondham College offers a very attractive alternative to private schooling. Academically, College students have just achieved the highest A Level results in recent memory with 83% gaining A-C Grades and 13 receiving Oxbridge offers this summer. GCSE results continue to be strong with over 72% meeting or exceeding the Gold standard (A*-C including English and maths). Additionally, our latest parental survey was extremely positive with over 95% of parents saying they would recommend the College to other parents. The wide range of activities beyond the classroom and the opportunity to build relationships and friendships through boarding is an attractive proposition. Even more attractive is that all of this is available at a fraction of the cost of boarding at independent schools.

Details WYMONDHAM COLLEGE Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 9SZ Tel: 01953 609000 Web: www.wymondhamcollege.org E-mail: enquiries@wymondhamcollege.org

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Local firm, quality service With over 150 years of legal expertise, Fraser Dawbarns offers a complete range of professional services, as Iain Grimes of the firm's Downham Market office explains.

ain Grimes is Downham born and bred. After attending university and gaining his law degree he returned to West Norfolk. First as a solicitor and partner with a King’s Lynn law firm before returning to his childhood town. “Downham is regarded by some as a sleepy Norfolk market town and many residents of the town would like it to stay that way!” Iain says. “I believe it is essential that the town maintains its local identity and community spirit. But the town has grown: we have the mainline train station, two major supermarkets and a great high street that bustles with locally owned businesses.” Iain’s firm Fraser Dawbarns Solicitors is one of those locally owned and run businesses. Their Downham Market location has long been a solicitors office. Indeed it has been known as ‘The Solicitors Office’ for a long period of time. The firm itself boasts a history which stretches back over 150 years of legal practice and has a tradition of providing high quality legal advice from qualified solicitors and legal executives at its four offices in the towns of Kings Lynn, Wisbech, March and of course Downham Market. Iain is personally determined to ensure that the local community, which he is very

KLmagazine January 2015

much part of and committed to, is offered the very best in quality of service. Since joining Fraser Dawbarns nearly seven years ago Iain has been instrumental in ensuring private individuals and business owners have access to high quality legal advice. At any time the Downham office is staffed by five qualified lawyers, two specialising in property, two in wills, probate, powers of attorney and tax/lifetime planning advice, and one in divorce/children and prenuptial agreements. Iain says “Many perceive that the personal service that a local law firm can offer is expensive, but many of our day to day services, such as conveyancing, are very competitive - and in many cases can actually save our clients money especially when compared to the “one stop shop” conveyancing deals offered by some estate agents”. As well as the resident lawyers, specialists in other fields regularly visit to provide advice. This can be on subjects as far ranging as boundary disputes, medical negligence, personal injury claims, employment and motoring and criminal matters. Take advantage of the expertise on your doorstep, and benefit from a local, personal service that offers high quality and professional legal care.

FRASER DAWBARNS LLP 29 London Road, Downham Market Norfolk, PE38 9AS Tel: 01366 383171 Fax: 01366 385034 DX: 40950 DOWNHAM MARKET Web: www.fraserdawbarns.com E-mail: iaingrimes@fraserdawbarns.com

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Explorer

Downham’s proud past – and very bright future From medieval horse fairs and butter markets to a planned £170 million pound development, Emma Barnard takes a looks at the thriving town of Downham Market. Pictures by Ian Ward

est Norfolk is a hub ﬁlled with busy and charming villages and towns, and located 11 miles south of King’s Lynn you’ll ﬁnd Downham Market – a town on the edge of the Fens situated on the Great River Ouse. Downham dates back to Saxon times and was once an agricultural centre which developed as a market for the produce of the Fens with a bridge across the Ouse. During the Middle Ages, the town was famous for its outstanding horse fair and butter market. People outside West Norfolk would be forgiven for thinking the area is isolated, but as Downham Market is only 39 miles west of Norwich, 30 miles north of Cambridge and just a mere one hour

KLmagazine January 2015

and 20 minutes away from London on the train, it’s actually the perfect location to visit and live. Downham Market has also proved an attractive spot for kings on the run! On May 1st 1646 (though several historians dispute the exact date), Charles I (Charles Stuart) was escaping across the Fens after the Battle of Naseby, and stayed at the town’s Swan Inn disguised as a clergyman, awaiting news from his supporters regarding the manner in which the Scots would be likely to receive him. The Swan still stands today and is situated on the town’s High Street, but the present day building isn’t the original. King Charles I is said to have moved on to Snore Hall at Fordham for a few days, and is also to have sought refuge 97

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at Crimplesham before setting off on his fateful journey to the Scots at Southwell. During his reign, Downham Market’s present-day Bridge Street was known as King Charles’ Way. In 2004 the town completed a regeneration project on the Market Place, moving it to the Town Hall car park. It is now held on Fridays and Saturdays, and packed into the car park are all manner of stalls – from butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetables, sweets and confectionery to clothes, shoes and plants. Over the years, Downham Market has blossomed from a quiet market town into a bustling community filled with unique independent shops, supermarkets, a number of cafes and restaurants, and much more besides. Two of the most iconic buildings in Downham are the medieval parish church (dedicated to St Edmund) and the famous black and white Victorian clock tower, which was built in 1878. The town sign depicts the crown and arrows of St Edmund, with horses to represent the importance of the horse fairs in the town’s history. Some of the town’s clubs and societies (of which there are many) have made use of the crown and arrows in their crest – both Downham Town Cricket and Football clubs use them and the Cricket Club’s monthly newsletter is even called ‘The Crown and Arrows’ showing just how much of a community town it is. There are a whole host of clubs and societies in the town such as support

groups – Downham and District Blind Club and the West Norfolk Self Advocacy Project are based in Downham. Another category ﬁlled to the brim is sports and hobbies, with a Croquet Club, a running club for women called the ‘Downham Dollies’ – and Downham Netball Club, which was formed as part of a scheme to get women back into playing sport. There are several arts clubs such as the Downham Amateur Dramatics

Society (which puts on four productions a year) and also many clubs aimed purely at children such as Brownies, a ballet school and the Young Farmers. If those weren’t enough, there are also miscellaneous clubs and societies such as the Allotment Association and the Town Hall Cinema. Simply put, whatever your area of interest, age or ability, you’ll never have reason to be bored in Downham Market! Downham Market Academy (it was

KLmagazine January 2015

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formerly Downham Market High School) was founded in 1956 and is now a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status. The secondary school isn’t the only school in the town however – there are also the two primary schools of Nelson Academy (formerly Clackclose Primary School) and Hillcrest. One of the most famous features of the town is its Railway Station which is on the Fen Line from London to King’s Lynn. The signal box was built in 1881 and has been granted Grade II listed status – it’s one of just ﬁve across the whole region that holds this status. Something extremely promising for the town in more ways than one is the proposed changes to the frequency of the train service. From May 2017 it’s currently planned to double the service from one train per hour to two, which will be another boost moving forward with all of the other developments in Downham Market. One of the most exciting is based on the old RAF site in the Bexwell area of Downham Market, where some truly ambitious plans are to be put into

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action. A £170 million campus to serve the Knowledge Engineering sector will create an estimated 4,000 permanent jobs on the 70-acre Bexwell site. The centre will work closely with the College of West Anglia as the college will be designing a curriculum for 16-19 year olds undertaking undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses. This curriculum will be for the Institute for Data Science and the institute will include halls of residence, shops and cafes on site. This ‘centre of excellence’ will focus on employment opportunities in the local area, real world vocational skills and work placements. More housing in the area is planned to accommodate the boost in jobs, and there’ll be structural changes to the roads to make the centre accessible. Downham Market is a beautiful market town brimming with history and the future is also extremely bright. Downham is on the brink of changes that could put the town on the map as a leading science and technology destination – it’s a sensational time to live in West Norfolk.

KLmagazine January 2015

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People come to Thornham looking for stability in a modern world, while the reality is that change goes on apace even in a small rural village such as this... â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JOHN WARHAM Author, Thornham: Then & Now 102

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PICTURES: JOHN WARHAM

Local Life

ABOVE: In addition to providing a unique panorama of the changing face of Thornham, John Warham’s new book also deals with the history of the villagers themselves, including people such as shell ﬁsherman John Woods (opposite)

A history of Thornham through photographs... Eight years after John Warham produced his first photographic portrait of Thornham, he’s about launch a new book that tells the history of the village through some truly remarkable images

hornham: Then & Now is a new 168-page book by John Warham describing the history of the village through a stunning collection of new and archive photographs – and it’s actually the third book on Thornham that John’s produced over the past eight years. Back in 2006, working with Peter Oliver and Pat Thompson on ‘Thornham – a Photographic History’ John never imagined he’d be completing his third book on the village only a few years later. “Both my previous books on Thornham are now out of print,” John explains. “I was thinking of doing a

KLmagazine January 2015

second edition, but then had the idea of combining the themes of the other books in a new ‘then and now’ volume. Since the original book, many old photos have come to light which haven’t been seen before, so it seemed the ideal opportunity to combine these with new photographs. The theme of the book is continuity and change in the village over the past 100 years, and I’m very grateful to all the people who have allowed their collections of old photographs to be used.” John worked on the book with Stephen Greef, whose family have lived in Thornham for generations. Stephen’s father Henry (who used to run the Post

Oﬃce) collected 85 albums of photographs and newspaper cuttings of Thornham over the years recording village events going back over half a century, and these form an integral part of the book. “Stephen’s help was invaluable,” says John. “He knows all the old village families and stopped me falling into more historical potholes than I’d have done otherwise! Other people, such as Mandy Sadler and Mary Rutland also kindly loaned me their personal albums and collections – in Mandy’s case, it was a scrapbook she’d kept as a schoolgirl in the now closed Thornham Primary School.”

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PICTURES: JOHN WARHAM

Local Life

Help also came from further afield. “Graham Dennis, who used to live in Johnson’s Row, sent me his photos of the village in the 1980s,” says John, "as did the May family, who’d left Thornham in the late 19th century together with other ‘Thornhamites’ for the North East in search of work in the coal and steel industries. They still trace their roots to Thornham!” One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is its depiction of continuity and change in a 21st century Norfolk village. “People come to Thornham looking for stability in a modern world,” explains John, “while the reality is that change goes on apace even in a small rural village such as this. I was amazed at how many photos I had to go back and re-take because they had changed so much since People and Places was published – and that was only five years ago!” John is particularly pleased the book is a true ‘Made in Norfolk’ project, having been designed by Dick Malt, who lives in Hoe (“it’s probably even smaller than Thornham!” says John) – and is printed by Swallowtail Print in Norwich. With such a feast of images to choose from, does John have his own particular favourite? “It’s very difficult to single out one above all the others,” he says, “but perhaps it would be the old photograph of the Jessie Mary tied up alongside the Coal Barn and the modern photo of the building at high tide. Both feature the iconic barn, which is possibly Thornham’s best known feature – and it’s amazing to think that a century separates the two images.”

THORNHAM: THEN & NOW (£25) will be launched appropriately enough in Thornham Village Hall during next month’s Heritage Weekend of Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February. It will also be available from Thornham Deli, Jarrold of Norwich, and other bookshops along the coast. Copies can also be obtained by post directly from John – you can contact him at johnwarham@hotmail.com for more details.

PICTURES: John Warham’s new book (below) presents a fascinating look at Thornham’s past and present with locations such as the village’s Lifeboat Inn (above) and personalities such as ex-submariner George Hines (left).

THORNHAM HERITAGE WEEKEND will feature several other historical books, photos and artifacts reﬂecting village life over the years. It takes place in the village hall (admission is free) on February 20th-21st and full details can be found on the village website at www.thornhamvillagehall.co.uk

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KLmagazine January 2015

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KLmagazine June 2014

History

ABOVE: The grave of Edith Cavell at Norwich Cathedral – a remembrance service is still held here every year in October

The legacy of Norfolk’s greatest heroine... This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Edith Cavell, the Norfolk-born nurse executed by the Germans and who became a national symbol of courage in the face of adversity

here are memorials to Norfolk-born nurse Edith Cavell from Peterborough to Melbourne in Australia. She has given her name to medical and nursing facilites, schools and streets around the world – from France to Argentina and from India to Canada. The Cavell Nurses Trust, which continues to provide support and care to the UK’s 650,000 registered nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, was established in her honour. There’s even a geological feature on the planet Venus named after her. So who was this humble and

KLmagazine January 2015

dedicated nurse who became an international heroine, and why has she left such a remarkable legacy? Edith Cavell was born on 4th December 1865 in Swardeston, where her father was vicar for 45 years. Taught to share with the less fortunate (despite the family’s meagre earnings), she became a governess before training as a nurse at the London Hospital. In 1907, Cavell was recruited to be the matron of a newly established nursing school by the name of L’École Belge d’Inﬁrmières Diplômées in Brussels. Within four years, Edith Cavell had launched the nursing magazine

L’inﬁrmière to support the growing profession and was a training nurse for three hospitals, 24 schools and 13 kindergartens across Belgium. Although she was actually in Norfolk visiting her mother when World War I broke out in 1914, she returned to Brussels, where her clinic and nursing school were soon taken over by the Red Cross. After the Germans occupied Brussels in November 1914, Cavell began sheltering British, Belgian and French soldiers and helping them make their way to neutral Holland. It was a brave but dangerous activity. The soldiers were hidden from the Germans and

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History

provided with false papers by Prince Reginald de Croy at his château of Bellignie near Mons. From there, they were conducted by various guides to Edith Cavell (among others) who then furnished them with money to reach the Dutch border. This placed Cavell in violation of German military law, and the occupying authorities became increasingly suspicious of her actions (Cavell’s outspokenness didn’t exactly help her maintain a low proﬁle either). Betrayed by Gaston Quien (who was later convicted by a French court as a collaborator) Cavell was arrested on 3rd August 1915 and charged with harbouring Allied soldiers. Many people continue to believe she was arrested for espionage, but that’s not the case – she was actually arrested for treason. Edith was held in St Gilles prison for ten weeks, and spent the last two weeks in solitary conﬁnement. On three occasions she admitted that she had been instrumental in conveying about 60 British and 15 French soldiers and about 100 French and Belgians of military age to the frontier and had sheltered most of them in her house. At her court-martial, she was prosecuted for aiding British and French soldiers (in addition to young Belgian men) to cross the border and enter Britain. Admitting her guilt by signing a statement the day before the trial, Edith gave the German

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prosecution an even stronger case against her when she declared the soldiers she’d helped escape thanked her in writing when arriving safely in Britain. As the case stood, the sentence – according to German military law – was death, a situation that was supported by the First Geneva Convention, which ordinarily guaranteed the protection of medical personnel, except when that protection was used as cover for any belligerent action. Consequently, the British government said they could do nothing to help her. For example, Sir Horace Rowland of the Foreign Office said: “I am afraid that it is likely to go hard with Miss Cavell. I am afraid we are powerless.” And so it turned out. Of the 27 people put on trial, five were condemned to death, and Cavell was one of them – and although three were later granted a reprieve, she would be one of the only two executed. The night before her execution, Cavell told the Reverend Stirling Gahan (the Anglican chaplain who had been allowed to see her): “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone” – and these words are inscribed on her statue in St Martin’s Place, near Trafalgar Square in London. Her final words (to the German prison chaplain) are claimed to have been: “Ask Father Gahan to tell my loved ones later on that my soul, as I believe, is safe, and that I am glad to die for my country.” At 7am on 12th October 1915 at the Tir shooting range in Schaerbeek, Edith Cavell was executed by firing squad. She was 49 years old. Belgian women

immediately buried her body next to St. Gilles Prison, where it remained until the end of the war in 1918. In the months and years following Cavell’s death, countless newspaper articles, pamphlets, images, and books publicised her story. She became an iconic propaganda ﬁgure for military recruitment in Britain, and her fate helped increase favourable sentiment towards the Allies in the United States. She was a popular icon because of her sex, her nursing profession, and her apparently heroic approach to death. Her execution was represented as an act of German barbarism and moral depravity. After Edith Cavell’s death, many memorials were created around the world to remember her, and one of the very ﬁrst was unveiled in October 1918 just before the end of the war by Queen Alexandra in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral, near a home for nurses which also bore her name. Following the armistice, her body was brought back to Britain for a state memorial service at Westminster Abbey and was then transferred to Norfolk, to be laid to rest at Norwich Cathedral on 15th May 1919. The railway van that conveyed her remains from Dover to London is still kept as a memorial on the Kent and East Sussex Railway and is usually open to view at Bodiam railway station. In the calendar of the Church of England the day appointed for the commemoration of Edith Cavell is 12th October, and a graveside service is still held at Norwich Cathedral every year.

KLmagazine January 2015

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Local Arts

ABOVE: A promotional photograph of the original line-up of FM – featuring Merv Goldsworthy, Didge Digital (Philip Manchester), Pete Jupp, and Chris and Steve Overland. Chris himself is fourth from the left.

Chris Overland’s lessons in life as a rock star... It’s not every day you rub shoulders with Jon Bon Jovi and see yourself featured on the front of Kerrang! magazine. Co-founder of the rock band FM Chris Overland talks to KL magazine.

hris Overland was only ten years old when he picked up his first guitar, and for many years he had a very specific ambition – to play on stage at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, one of the most iconic music venues in the world. It was an ambition he realised on Friday 3rd November 1989, taking to the stage with FM, the band he’d formed with his brother Steve some five years previously. Today, Chris is a professional guitar tutor in King’s Lynn and he has fond memories of life as a rock star. “Most people think it’s a really KLmagazine January 2015

glamorous life, but it does have its downside as well,” he says. “It’s hard work living on a tour bus, and spending months in the recording studio can get really tiresome. Yes, it is glamorous, but only for about 45 minutes a day!” Chris’ entry to the world of rock started with Wildlife, a short-lived band he founded with his brother. The band released a couple of albums and featured members such as Simon Kirke (best known as a member of Free and Bad Company) and Phillip Soussan (who would go on to work with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne). Something wasn’t quite right,

however, and when Wildlife disbanded Chris spent a year with his brother writing new material and auditioning new band members, putting together a group they called FM and launched in the summer of 1984. The band’s ﬁrst album ‘Indiscreet’ was recorded in Ibiza and released on September 8th 1986 on the Portrait Records label. It featured the songs ‘Frozen Heart’ (which became a successful single) and ‘That Girl’ – which was later covered by Iron Maiden. “We went all the way to Jamaica to ﬁlm a video for the song That Girl,” says 111

Local Arts

Chris, “and some of the location work was actually filmed at Ian Fleming’s house Goldeneye.” The band undertook an extensive number of promotional tours, playing alongside major acts such as Meatloaf, Gary Moore, Foreigner and REO Speedwagon before changing their management and settling down to work on a second album. Chris went to America with his brother, working with influential songwriters such as Desmond Child – whose writing credits include Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ and Aerosmith’s ‘Dude Looks Like a Lady’. FM’s second album Tough it Out was released to widespread critical acclaim on October 2nd 1989 and it was the band’s breakthrough. They toured across Europe with Tina Turner and Status Quo, guested on Bon Jovi’s landmark Slippery When Wet tour, made several TV appearances, did a series of BBC recording sessions, and even made the cover of the hugelyinfluential Kerrang! magazine. “It was an unforgettable time,” remembers Chris. “We shot the video for the single ‘Bad Luck’ in the same hangar in Los Angeles where Howard Hughes had built the Spruce Goose – it was the largest flying boat ever built and had the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history. It was an amazing experience.” Despite seeing the band he’d helped form go from strength to strength and realising his longtime ambition by playing at the Hammersmith Odeon, Chris’ thoughts were moving in a different direction. “My second daughter had just been born and I was spending hardly any time at home,” he remembers. “It was a great life, but I felt it was time for a change and I eventually made the decision to leave the band.” After playing in a number of local bands for a while, Chris converted his garage into a music room and studio, and started offering professional guitar tuition. As for FM, Chris is pleased to report they’re still going strong – their most

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PICTURES: FM make the cover of Kerrang! magazine in July 1989 (Chris is pictured top left) while the Overland brothers let their hair down (above right) at a Christmas concert in London’s Marquee Club – often described as the most important venue in the history of modern European music. The promotional photograph here was part of a special collectors’ edition of FM’s single Bad Luck from the band’s second album.

recent album Rockville was released in 2013 and they headlined the Cambridge Rock Festival last August as part of the band’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Looking back on a career that reached the heights of the rock world, the one moment that stands out for Chris Overland is a rather surprising one. “It may be hard to believe,” he says,

“but my favourite claim to fame is having a song of mine – I think it was ‘Bad Luck’ – playing on the jukebox in the cafe in Coronation Street! Now that really is cool!” For details of Chris Overland’s guitar tuition lessons, which cover most playing styles and are suitable for guitarists of all levels, please contact 01553 672602.

KLmagazine January 2015

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The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

his year, the arrival of the new year found me at Hunstanton, where I caught up with a group of friends and found myself playing a game of Trivial Pursuit while we all waited the arrival of 2015 and wondered how long our New Year Resolutions would last for. The game was proceeding reasonably well and unusually calmly when someone landed on a blue square and was asked which Russian city used to be named St. Petersburg. Petrograd, they swiftly replied, only to be told that they were wrong and that the answer was, in fact, Leningrad. Grabbing hold of the dice and clutching it as though their very life depended on it, they then refused to accept they were wrong – claiming that St. Petersburg had indeed been renamed Petrograd in 1914. Our host for the evening then pointed out (literally, with one of those cocktail sticks with a bit of cheese on the end) that Leningrad was still the right answer, since Petrograd had itself been thusly renamed following the death of Lenin in 1924. Suddenly, Mrs Middleton, who had seemingly abandoned all the trivialities in favour of a particularly good Rioja, then threw a mighty spanner in the proceedings. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, she said, the city’s name had been restored to St. Petersburg at the start of the 1990s. She should know as someone she works with had actually been there and had brought back a particularly gaudy souvenir fridge magnet that was now proudly displayed on the front of the

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Middleton fridge. In an attempt to settle matters (though by now I had totally lost track of whose go it was or what we were supposed to be doing), I suggested that there were technically three correct answers to the question, as even St. Petersburg was known as St. Petersburg before 1914. With the two main parties now arguing over whether to accept what was printed on the card or the technically correct answer (whatever it was), the rest of us drifted away from the table and became engrossed in an old episode of Midsomer Murders. And thanks to the afreo-mentioned Rioja, Mrs Middleton never learned that the murderer was the suspiciously mildmannered village historian. I then had a fascinating conversation (well, it was about as fascinating as conversations on New Year’s Eve usually are) about right and wrong answers with a friend of ours who is a teacher. She kept us entertained until the chimes of Big Ben with examples of answers students had written on exam papers that were actually incorrect – but technically quite right. For example, in answer to a question asking students to name six animals which live specifically in the Arctic, one student had written ‘two polar bears and four seals’. Similarly, she told us of an exam for young children that included the sentence ‘the man ___ the dog’ with a choice of ‘fit’ or ‘hit’ for the blank space. One child had written ‘pat’ in the space and added a note

saying that ‘you should not hit dogs’. Perfectly true, but perfectly wrong. The world of maths will always be a closed book to me, so I could fully sympathise with the student faced with the problem of expanding the equation (a+b)n. I wouldn’t have a clue where to start (especially as I don’t even understand the question), so I found the student’s answer particualrly elegant. It was simply thus: ( a + b ) n Quite nicely expanded, I thought. I also had a great deal of admiration for the student who had adroitly (and accurately) thought her way through the following problem: Steve is driving his car. He is travelling at 60ft per second and the speed limit is 40mph. Is Steve speeding? Now, I suppose you need to work out how many feet per second you travel when driving at 40mph, but the young student had a much simpler answer. He could find out, she wrote, by checking the speedometer. Happy New Year everyone!

KLmagazine December 2014

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