KL Magazine July 2014 by KL Magazine

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 46 JULY 2014 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

A GREAT BRITISH INSTITUTION We are immensely proud of our heritage, our deep-rooted passion for Norfolk and its residents, and the principles by which we have become the county’s finest home furnishing store. We have always championed Great British furniture brands which represent our own values and which epitomise traditional British craftsmanship, quality and design. So why not come along and enjoy the very best ranges, galleries and displays, and be inspired to change your home and lifestyle.

we won’t be beaten for quality, choice and value for money, that’s guaranteed Oxborough Lane Fakenham NR21 8AF T: 0845 130 3388

Visit us online at:

Hall Road Norwich NR4 6DH T: 0845 230 3388

www.aldiss.com

Everything Your Home Desires

COVER IMAGE

Brancaster Staithe by Ian Ward

editorial

01553 601201 editor@klmagazine.co.uk Eric Secker Ian Ward Alex Dallas Graham Murray Chris Ivory

advertising 01553 601201 sales@klmagazine.co.uk Laura Murray Grant Murray Tracey Diplock

design

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

contact

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.

If you’d like to order prints of any photograph featured in KL magazine, contact us at the address above. Please note this applies only to images taken by our own photographers.

ummer’s here at last, and thanks to John Craythorne, we’ve got closer to the sun than we ever thought possible this month. While the Treasurer of the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society was talking to us at his home about the work of the society (you can read the feature on page 38 of this month’s magazine), he invited us outside for a look at the sun through his telescope. It’s certainly not something you should do without the proper equipment and a lot of experience, and initially all we could see was a scattering of dust across the lens. That’s not dust, said John, that’s sunspots – and you’re really quite lucky as the sun’s not usually that active. It was an amazing experience, but this month we seem to have been blessed with people showing us new ways of looking at things. Simon Thurley’s monumental new book on the history of architecture in England (or is it a history of England in architecture?) offers a new way of looking at the buildings in which we live and work (see page 16), while photographer Jody Lawrence (page 34) has brought us North Norfolk in an amazing new light. Lack of it actually. If you’re looking for things to do this month, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this month’s magazine – whether it’s new activities with the children, a visit to one of the most fascinating museums in the area, or a spot of peace and quiet surrounded by wild flowers and wildlife. Enjoy the summer – and enjoy the magazine! KL MAGAZINE KLmagazine July 2014

Contents 7-13

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

8-10

A DECADE OF MUSICAL TREASURES... The 10th North Norfolk Music Festival

JULY 2014

16-18 THE BUILDING OF ENGLAND Simon Thurley talks about his new book 20

THE BIG INTERVIEW With Nigel Middleton of Sculthorpe Moor

26-28 EXPLORING A NATURAL WONDER The beauty of Natural Surroundings 33

PETS Help and advice with local vet Alex Dallas

34-36 NORTH NORFOLK BY NIGHT The work of photographer Jody Lawrence 38-40 A SKY FULL OF WONDERS With John Craythorne of the KLAS 42-46 FASHION The latest looks from the local boutiques 52-63 FOOD AND DRINK Recipes, reviews and recommendations 64-73 THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE HERE Ideas to keep the children entertained

74-76 INSIDE A LOCAL TREASURE TROVE Visiting the Wisbech and Fenland Museum 78-80 EXPLORER Out and about around Brancaster 82-84 THE HIDDEN PEARL OF KING’S LYNN Discovering the town’s oldest church 88-90 LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION... The cinematic life of the local area 92-94 INSPIRATION STARTS AT HOME... The work of local artist Jeremy Barlow 97

MY KL The page made by KL magazine readers

CROSS CURRENTS Canon Chris Ivory’s look at local life

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92 5

JULY Wed 2 July NORWICH SCHOOL An exciting collaboration of young talent £5.50 – £15 Thur 3 July ELO EXPERIENCE All the hits in faultless tribute £5.50 - £20 Fri 4 July FLASH MOB! Street dance champions Flawless star in dazzling dance show £5.50 - £25 Mon 7 – Sat 12 July THRILLER LIVE West End hit musical celebrating the music of Michael Jackson £6.50 - £29.50

Mon 14 – Sat 19 July TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT The Rod Stewart musical £6.50 - £33.50

Thriller Live

BOXOFFICE: OFFICE:(01603) (01603)636300000000 BOX

Wed 23 – Mon 28 July WAGNERFEST 2014 Two epic operas by Richard Wagner, in fully-staged versions with a company of over 200, from one of Germany’s most acclaimed regional companies Theater Freiburg PARSIFAL (Wed 23 & Fri 25) TANNHÄUSER (Sun 27 & Mon 28) £6.50 - £95

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk T H E AT R E ST R E E T, N O RW I C H N R 2 1 R L

KLmagazine July 2014

100 YEARS AGO: On July 28th 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and its army bombarded Belgrade. On the same day, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia ordered a partial mobilization against Austria-Hungary. World War One had begun.

July

From Saturday 5th

TRACEY ROSS EXHIBITION Fineline Frames & Gallery, Creake Abbey, Norfolk Throughout July, Fineline Frames & Gallery will be exhibiting the atmospheric work of talented local artist Tracey Ross. Recently, Tracey has been working closely with Fineline Frames to create beautiful frames that are the perfect complement to her outstanding work. The Norfolk coastline is the main element of Tracey’s pictures, which are painted in mixed media (acrylic with tissue paper to add texture) on boards, before being box-framed. For more details and information, contact Fineline Frames on 01263 860440 or visit www.ﬁnelineframes.co.uk

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th

WEETING STEAM ENGINE RALLY & COUNTRY SHOW Fengate Farm, Weeting, Norfolk (10am-5pm) If you’re looking for a fascinating and nostalgic family day out, there are few things better than the Weeting Steam Engine Rally and Country Show, which is held annually on the third weekend in July. Always designed to appeal to the whole family, the Rally features massed displays of steam engines and over 140 tractors, as well as trade and craft stalls, working demonstrations, vintage vehicles, a miniature steam railway, children’s entertainment, a restaurant and bars. Every year there’s a special arena event, which in 2014 features Banham Zoo & Friends’ Heavy Horse Display – it’s a great chance to meet these gentle giants and speak to the owners about these magniﬁcent animals. This year’s Rally also sees the welcome return of the Mid-Norfolk Gun Dogs. Entry to the Rally is free for all under 16s, as is car parking – adult tickets are £8 (Friday) and £10 (Saturday and Sunday), and OAP/Disabled tickets are £6 (Friday) and £8 (Saturday and Sunday). For more details and information, see www.weetingrally.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

ABOVE: The embroidered textile work ‘KEW’ by Pauline Wrighton – chosen Best in Show by Councillor Elizabeth Nockolds at last year’s Summer Exhibition

Monday 14th to Saturday 26th

WNAA SUMMER FESTIVAL EXHIBITION 2014 Shakespeare Barn, Fermoy Gallery and Red Barn King’s Lynn Arts Centre, King Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1HA (Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, including Saturday 12th July from 12noon-5pm and Sunday July 20th from 2pm-6pm) The highly-talented members of the West Norfolk Artists Association proudly present their 13th Annual Summer Festival Exhibition this month (in partnership with the King’s Lynn Festival) at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre. It’s always an unmissable event for local art lovers, and this year’s exhibition promises to be just as exciting, eye-catching and engaging as usual. With so many gifted and lively artists in the Association, it’s no wonder their work covers such a wide variety of different media, and range of styles from the traditional to the contemporary. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to enjoy a coffee while you browse through the three galleries. Much of the work will be available for sale, along with greeting card reproductions. Parking is available just five minutes walk away on the Tuesday Market Place. For further information on the exhibition and the work of the WNAA, please visit the website www.westnorfolkartists.org or contact Kit Price Moss on 01485 529223.

Saturday 19th

EAT ON YOUR FEET Strattons, Ash Close, Swaﬀham (6.30pm-11pm) An evening of great food and entertainment, including Pimms and canapés on arrival followed by a selection of sweet and savoury taster pots and live soul and motown music from the talented Tara Pitcher. Tickets only £40 from Strattons on 01760 723845 or by e-mailing enquiries@strattonshotel.com

Your Local Downham Market Auction Rooms

We hold regular auction sales of antiques, household furniture effects and collectables on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Advertised on www.the-saleroom.com

Auction dates for your diary: 2nd & 16th July 6 & 20th August 3rd & 17th September th

1st & 15th October 5th & 19th November 3rd December

BARRY L HAWKINS Auctioneers

27th September - Hilgay Collective Sale of Farm Machinery

Contact Julia or Barry for more information. 15 Lynn Road, Downham Market Tel: 01366 387180 Web: www.barryhawkins.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

July

Friday 4th

BAILEY McCONNELL AT QUEENSGATE Queensgate, Peterborough PE1 1NT (from 3pm) If you fancy a spot of late night shopping, look no further than Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough – which holds over 90 retail outlets and is open until 8pm every Thursday and Friday throughout the year. A campaign highlighting late night shopping at Queensgate kicks off with an evening of celebrations on Friday 4th July from 3pm. The star of the event will be singer-songwriter and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Bailey McConnell (right), who’ll be performing at 6.30pm with an exclusive set – and there’ll be a competition for fans to win a very special meet and greet experience with Bailey. Throughout the day there’ll be an abundance of live entertainment and activities, culminating in Queensgate’s new ‘Happy Hour’ – when selected stores offer exclusive discounts between 7pm and 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays until 31st July. There’ll also be giveaways, samples and special offers available on the mall from various brands. “Late night shopping is growing in popularity around the country and it’s important for us to be able to offer the same opportunity to the people of Peterborough,” says Sam Eastwood, Queensgate’s Centre Director. “We have a very exciting event planned with some amazing offers and entertainment which I hope people will come and enjoy!” Queensgate is open late night on Thursdays and Fridays until 8pm. The Centre’s Red car park is also open until 11.30pm seven days a week – note that parking is FREE after 5.30pm. For more details and information, please see the website at www.queensgate-shopping.co.uk or call the centre on 01733 311666. Daisy Miles-Hudson Sales Executive

Crown Garage Honda

Hi, I am Daisy Miles-Hudson. I finished sixth form and started at Crown Honda in Soham three years ago, and I’m now a Sales Executive at King’s Lynn Honda. It was great fun to start here with the new business and time seems to have flown since we opened in March 2013. Somehow, I managed to win the Apprentice Of The Year award from Honda in December, and I am sure that the great team spirit here helped enormously. If you have any requirements regarding your Honda, or are looking to upgrade your car, myself and my colleagues look forward to helping you, however we can. Don’t forget - the new registration number ‘64’ is due in September, and we have some brilliant offers available on new cars. We look forward to seeing you soon, the kettle is on!

CROWN HONDA Scania Way, King’s Lynn, PE30 4LP | Tel: 01553 762984 |www.kingslynn-honda.co.uk KLmagazine July 2014

KLmagazine July 2014

PICTURES: ANDY HOLDSWORTH/ASIMINA GIAGOUDAKI/CAROLINE DOUTRE/EOIN CAREY

What’s On

ABOVE: Stars of this year’s Festival include the Carducci Quartet and the critically-acclaimed Russian soprano Ilona Domnich (opposite)

Celebrating 10 years of musical treasures... Despite the first North Norfolk Music Festival being very nearly (and literally) washed away, the event is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a programme packed with classical wonder

he North Norfolk Music Festival had a rather inauspicious beginning. Back in July 2005, the ﬁrst Festival comprised three concerts which took place during an extended period (almost 72 hours non-stop!) of torrential rain – and the modest Festival bar was housed in a tiny, sodden, but very welcome tent lent to the organisers by the local Girl Guides. Despite the best eﬀorts of the elements, however, the Festival was a resounding success – and thanks in large part to Festival Patron Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, it’s about to celebrate its

KLmagazine July 2014

10th anniversary. To date, the North Norfolk Music Festival has hosted over 128 ﬁrst-class and internationallyfamous artists, singers and ensembles in a range of beautiful locations including South and North Creake, East Raynham, Tittleshall, Burnham Norton, Wolterton Park and Holkham Hall. This year’s Festival starts on 12th August, and Festival Directors Simon Rowland-Jones and Barry Cheeseman have rather ﬁttingly decided to open the landmark event with the very same programme that launched the Festival back in 2005. “We hope people will forgive us for

the touch of nostalgia,” says Barry, “but we’ll never forget being utterly taken aback by the size of the audience in St Mary’s church for the third concert when the young Doric String Quartet took to the floor – we didn’t have a platform that first year! – and took everyone’s breath away.” Now one of the most highlyregarded string quartets of their generation, the Dorics have actually appeared at every single Festival since those rainy days, and their programme of Haydn, Janacek and Schubert in Holkham Hall’s Marble Hall on August 14th promises to be unmissable. It also promises to be a special occasion for performer, editor, composer, teacher and Festival Director (he’s a busy man!) Simon RowlandJones, as two of his new works will be heard at the Festival for the first time. His String Quintet No. 2 Trouvaille will be performed with the Sacconi Quartet on 19th August, while his 5th String Quartet will be given its premiere by the Doric String Quartet on August 17th, both concerts taking place at St. Mary’s church in South Creake. Meanwhile, Joan Rodgers (one of the country’s most distinguished sopranos) will take on Simon’s demanding theatre piece A Turn Outside on August 13th. Written for the first Festival, it’s based on a play by Stevie Smith and is a fascinating challenge to performers and audiences alike. Finally, Simon’s String Octet will also be given a second hearing at the closing concert at this year’s Festival (on 24th August) with the original performers, the Carducci and Brodowski Quartets. In addition to Joan Rodgers, singers appearing at this year’s Festival include the young soprano Sarah-Jane Lewis, who’s just embarking on what looks to be a promising career; the lyric tenor John Mark Ainsley, who performs a

programme of songs to commemorate WWI on 17th August; and the Russian soprano Ilona Domnich, who made an amazing impression as Tatyana at Grange Park Opera last year. The Festival also includes a host of world-class pianists, including Melvyn Tan – one of the most popular musicians ever to play at the Festival. Appearing at NNMF for the third time, Melvyn will be performing the highlycharged Chopin programme he recently presented in Valldemossa, Mallorca. Making his ﬁrst appearance at the Festival will be Louis Schwizgebel, the young Swiss pianist who took Second Prize at the Leeds Piano Competition last year and is already performing around the world. His performance on 16th August includes Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, which is one of the most original, evocative and technically demanding pieces ever written for the piano. As always, the NNMF promises to be a marvellous event full of outstanding performances, and it’s a nice touch that the 10th anniversary Festival will include the complete Bach cello suites, performed in three concerts by John Myerscough of the Doric String Quartet, Bartholomew LaFollette and Philip Higham. The idea of presenting the entire series has been close to the heart of Patron Sir Nicholas Grimshaw for a long time, so it’s an appropriate response to his tireless enthusiasm and support of the Festival. “As we never tire of saying,” says Barry Cheeseman, “please come and support the Festival in the best way possible – by coming to as many concerts as you can! Apart from creating a great atmosphere, it’s the way forward to a ﬁnancially healthy beginning to our next decade of concerts. We look forward to seeing you all!”

PICTURES: ANDY HOLDSWORTH/ASIMINA GIAGOUDAKI/CAROLINE DOUTRE/EOIN CAREY

What’s On

ABOVE: Appearing at this year’s North Norfolk Music Festival alongside many other artists are (from top left) the Doric String Quartet, violinist Laura-Samuel, and pianists Louis Schwizgebel and Melvyn Tan

THE 10th NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 12th–24th August, 2014 For full details of the Festival concerts and events, please see the website at www.northnorfolkmusicfestival.com or call the Festival Box Oﬃce on 01328 730357

KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

Love the magazine? Join the team. PERSONAL ASSISTANT (PA) TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR (Full time, competitive salary) ow in its fourth successful year, KL magazine is the area’s leading lifestyle magazine and is currently looking for a Personal Assistant to work alongside the Managing Director and assist with a variety of tasks to ensure the smooth running of the overall business and the production (and future development) of the magazine. It goes without saying that as the Managing Director’s PA, the ideal candidate will be highly organised, reliable and hardworking. As you’ll be responsible for maintaining the MD’s diary and booking appointments, you’ll need to be supereﬃcient, have a good understanding of the local area and its business community, and your attention to detail will be just as impressive as your interpersonal skills. More than that, however, we’re also looking for someone with bags of ambition, plenty of drive, and loads of conﬁdence. You’ll need to be a quick learner, and be able to deputise for the Managing Director on occasion – whether that’s in making decisions,

handling difficult situations (and finding suitable solutions to them), keeping track of customer accounts, or helping with the recruitment, training and supervision of staff. In addition to the obvious rewards of joining a great team and being part of a very bright future, you’ll also receive a competitive salary and a number of other benefits. From the talented creative types working behind the scenes to the wide range of varied advertising customers and enthusiastic readers, you’ll find life at KL magazine is dynamic, challenging and rewarding – there’s never a dull moment! Excited? Looking forward to it? Then please e-mail your CV with a covering letter to Managing Director Laura Murray at laura@klmagazine.co.uk or write to us at the address below before Thursday 31st July 2014. We’re already looking forward to meeting you.

magazine

18 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn Norfolk PE30 1JW t: 01553 601201 w: www.klmagazine.co.uk KLmagazine July 2014

What buildings of the past tell us is less important than the way they aďŹ&#x20AC;ect us now. We have today more of the physicality of the past around us than at any previous time. Depending on your point of view, our lives are either imprisoned by the buildings erected by our ancestors or ornamented by them... SIMON THURLEY The Building of England

KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: The west front of Castle Acre Priory was ﬁnished in the 1160s and according to Simon Thurley’s new book is “the most famous and beautiful of all late Anglo-Norman facades.”

The history of England in its bricks and mortar Simon Thurley’s new book covers almost 2,000 years of English history as told by its architecture. It’s a hugely impressive achievement – and a fascinating story...

ot everyone could successfully survey the development of our national architecture through almost 2,000 years of history, but then not everyone is Simon Thurley. Historian, archaeologist, curator, broadcaster and heritage crusader, Simon was one of the founders of The Society for Court Studies, was Director of The Museum of London (the world’s largest city museum) from 1998 to 2002, and is the Chief Executive of English Heritage. The author of 11 books, Simon’s 2004 work on Hampton Court Palace was described as “one of the best building

KLmagazine July 2014

biographies ever written” and “probably the best book ever written on a single building.” His most recent work is The Building of England, a handsome and lavishlyillustrated volume that took four years to write and is a lot more than a comprehensive history of English buildings. It’s about the beliefs, ideas and aspirations of the people who commissioned and built the buildings, the people who lived in them and then discovered new ways of improving structural performance and aesthetic eﬀects. At his home in King’s Lynn – naturally enough, it’s one of England’s most

Local Life think, on the way we feel, and the way we live. KL magazine: What’s the single most important building in King’s Lynn? Simon Thurley: Unquestionably, it’s the Customs House. It’s a building of absolute genius, full of sophistication and elegance. The architect – Henry Bell – was a contemporary of Christopher Wren, and although Wren tends to get all the plaudits I think the Customs House is easily as good as (if not better) than anything he built. What Bell did in King’s Lynn was successfully use the classical orders of architecture in a totally unique, balanced and harmonious way. It’s an astonishing building.

ABOVE: Thanks to architect Henry Bell, King’s Lynn acquired two of the most architecturally sophisticated commercial buildings in England around the turn of the 18th century. This is his amazing Customs House.

signiﬁcant buildings – Simon spoke about his new book and some of his favourite examples of English architecture.

quite like them anywhere else in the world.

KL magazine: Why write this particular book at this particular time? Simon Thurley: It may sound odd, but until now there hasn’t actually been a single book dealing adequately with the history of English architecture. I found most books only dealt with a particular architectural style or historical period and they never really looked at how the buildings themselves worked. Too many of them restricted themselves to country houses, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, there’s an awful lot more to English architecture – and I wanted to put that right. People are always fascinated by buildings, and there was a real need for a history of England as told by and through its buildings.

KL magazine: Did writing the book change your outlook on either history or architecture in any way? Simon Thurley: It certainly brought a few things to my attention. On a local level, one of the most interesting things is seeing how historical factors have given us the East of England (along with towns such as King’s Lynn and Wisbech) we have today. The area was incredibly propserous in the middle ages – it was the centre of the nation’s economy, it had the biggest merchants’ houses and it had vast cathedrals. But as the country industrialised, all that wealth rapidly disappeared to another part of the country and it never came back. That’s had an enormous inﬂuence on the character of our buildings and why our towns in this part of the country look they way they do.

KL magazine: Is there actually such a thing as ‘English’ architecture? Simon Thurley: It’s been said many times that our architecture is a misunderstood muddle, and that we’ve simply taken ideas from countries such as France, Italy and Holland and applied them badly. As I think my book makes clear, that’s rubbish. Of course we’ve looked to diﬀerent countries and taken inspiration from them, but England has always had a distinctive architecture it can call its own. Take our gothic buildings or our terraced houses for example – you won’t see anything

KL magazine: So does architecture influence our lives – or do our lives influence our architecture? Simon Thurley: In 1943, Churchill said that “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us” and I think that’s probably the wisest thing that’s ever been said about architecture. In our current home, my family and I live in a completely diﬀerent way to how we lived in our previous home – and that’s because of the building itself. The shape and the size and the layout of the buildings that surround us have an enormous impact on the way we

KL magazine: Do you have a favourite building from any time in history and any place in the world? Simon Thurley: Well, apart from the Customs House, I’d have to say it’s my own home of Clifton House in King’s Lynn. It’s very, very rare to find a 14th century merchant’s house that was used for its original purpose for some 600 years and still has all its original components still in place. It’s a quite extraordinary building, full of history and packed with important architectural details. Oh, and it has the largest in-situ tiled floors in any secular building in Britain. And quite aside from all its historical and architectural significance, it’s my family home!

THE BUILDING OF ENGLAND by Simon Thurley (£35) is published by William Collins and is available from all good bookshops. You can join Simon Thurley on a tour of Clifton House (he’ll also be pleased to sign your copy of his book!) on Saturday 19th and Saturday 26th of this month from 11am-4pm. For more details and information, see the website at cliftonhouse.org.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

IMPROVING YOUR HOME SINCE 1967

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PICTURE: ANDY PARKINSON

The Big Interview

KL magazine talks to the Hawk and Owl Trust’s inspirational Conservation Oﬃcer about his work and his enduring love of wild birds of prey...

PICTURE: HAWK AND OWL TRUST

KL MAGAZINE: Could you give us a brief overview of the Hawk and Owl Trust? NIGEL MIDDLETON: The Hawk and Owl Trust (H&OT) is a national charity dedicated to the conservation of wild birds of prey and the habitats on which they depend. It was set up in 1969 in response to the rapid decline in peregrine falcon numbers due to the eﬀects of the pesticide DDT and the poisoning of wildlife it caused. The Trust works to create and manage feeding, nesting and roosting habitats for wild birds of prey as well as running education and research projects to improve our understanding of these charismatic birds. One of our reserves is the Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve, located just outside Fakenham on the A148 in the beautiful and very special Wensum Valley and is open to all.

ABOVE: Nigel Middleton and the Princess Royal at the opening of Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve, and (top right) one of Nigel’s beloved marsh harriers

Nigel Middleton Conservation Oﬃcer The Hawk and Owl Trust (Eastern Region) 20

KL MAGAZINE: What does your role as Conservation Oﬃcer entail? NIGEL MIDDLETON: The main focus of my work is the management of habitats at the Sculthorpe Moor Reserve, which contains rare reed bed and fen habitat for nesting marsh harriers as well as grassland for barn owls and woodland for tawny owls and sparrowhawks. I also work throughout East Anglia advising on habitat management and providing nesting boxes and platforms for birds of prey. Good habitat is one of the most important factors in the survival of these magniﬁcent birds and we’re delighted to be working with landowners and farmers to achieve this and welcome enquiries from anyone who would like more information and advice.

KLmagazine July 2014

KL MAGAZINE: What’s been your greatest achievement to date? NIGEL MIDDLETON: The creation of Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve from its inception in 2001 when I first began managing the site for the Hawk and Owl Trust. Since then, with the help of a wonderful team of volunteers and staff, I’ve overseen the restoration of habitat on the site so marsh harriers are using it for breeding, and we’ve provided excellent access for people to enjoy this special place. We’ve ensured the reserve is as accessible as possible to all and are delighted the whole community can enjoy the reserve – especially if you’re less mobile or have buggies and prams. KL MAGAZINE: What have you learned from your work? NIGEL MIDDLETON: That sometimes you have to take a leap of faith, and that perseverance always pays off. Conservation is most successful when you can get other people involved and enthused about your plans. KL MAGAZINE: In your free time, how do you like to relax? NIGEL MIDDLETON: I’m currently

KLmagazine July 2014

training for a long-distance sponsored cycle ride from Norfolk to Paris to help raise funds for Sculthorpe Moor, so I do enjoy getting out and about on the bike and exploring the wonderful back lanes of Norfolk. I’ve also recently become a grandad and I love spending time with my new grandson – he’s already visited Sculthorpe Moor several times. Maybe he’ll be one of the next generations of conservationists! KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about Norfolk? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Norfolk has so many things to offer, but the opportunities for people to see fantastic wildlife has to be one of the highlights. From the flocks of waders on the Wash to swallowtail butterflies on the Broads, stone curlews in the Brecks to peregrine falcons in Norwich and King’s Lynn there are so many wonderful habitats with such a wealth of wildlife here. To see the joy on visitors’ faces when they see their first water vole at Sculthorpe Moor. Norfolk is very special – it’s internationally recognised for its importance to nature and we must ensure we keep it that way. KL MAGAZINE: Who’s your biggest inspiration? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Roger Clarke, a wonderful friend and colleague of mine, who has now departed us. He inspired me in my passion for birds of prey (harriers in particular) and was always generous in sharing his expertise with me. An accountant by trade, he devoted his spare time to the study of hen harriers and by analysing the remains of feathers and seeds in their pellets he was able to show how important arable weeds are in the diet of overwintering small birds. It’s meticulous studies like this that enable people like me to confidently advise landowners and farmers on how best to manage their land for wildlife.

KL MAGAZINE: What was the last book you read? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Another great friend, conservationist and influence on me is the wildlife filmmaker and broadcaster David Cobham (of Tarka the Otter fame). David has just brought out a wonderful new book called ‘The Sparrowhawk’s Lament: How British Breeding Birds of Prey are Faring’ which details his lifetime of involvement in conservation, and is an incredibly informed assessment of the ‘state of nature’ relating to birds of prey. Wise words indeed. KL MAGAZINE: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people... NIGEL MIDDLETON: I have worked as a chef in the past, which will definitely surprise some people! It will also be a comfort to the many lovely volunteers I’ll be cooking for at our annual Sculthorpe Moor BBQ soon! It’s an event we plan to run every year as a small thank you for the incredible work they do. They’re the unsung heroes of the conservation world, and Sculthorpe Moor simply wouldn’t exist without them.

PICTURE: MARTIN HAYWARD SMITH

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of your job? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Enthusing others about these amazing birds and working with others to provide good quality habitat for birds of prey. Being able to watch a barn owl hunting over rich rough grasslands full of their favourite prey of ﬁeld voles, or seeing young birds successfully ﬂedging from our nest boxes and platforms and boosting the population is all very satisfying. It makes all the hard work and long hours worthwhile!

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Not to back horses!

PICTURE: ANDY THOMPSON

KL MAGAZINE: What are the biggest issues facing wild birds of prey today? NIGEL MIDDLETON: Birds of prey are at the top of the food chain, and as such they indicate the health of the environment. If our birds of prey and owls are suﬀering, it means there’s something amiss further down the food chain. It was the rapid decline of the peregrine falcon and kestrels that exposed the fact DDT was poisoning our landscape to a catastrophic level. Without this natural indicator of the problem things could have got far, far worse. Like all our wildlife, birds of prey face pressures from loss of habitat due to road and house building, human activity and intensive agriculture – and they still face direct persecution from those who perceive them as a threat to their livelihoods.

ABOVE: Nigel releasing baby eels into the newly cleared water ways of the Sculthorpe Moor reserve

For more information on Nigel’s work at Sculthorpe Moor, forthcoming events at the reserve and more details on the Hawk and Owl Trust, please visit www.hawkandowl.org

MODERN N CE R E P FO R M A T E R AND G A L A TRADITION LOOKS! our new We’re amazed at the difference e – and hom our to e mad have ows wind service the with ed we’re equally impress nomy ECO at e yon ever from ived we rece start from ice Windows. A first class serv y Man ent! artm dep y ever to finish in thanks! – Mr C (Wisbech)

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benefits of the latest uPVC technology. That means greatly improved insulating and energy efficiencies (ECOnomy Windows fits A-rated windows as standard), toughened glass double glazing, modern multi-lock security features, and minimal maintenance – uPVC sliding sash windows never rot, peel, flake or rust. Indeed, all they need is a simple wipe clean with a damp cloth every once in a while – and because they also tilt inwards, you can even clean the outside of your windows from the inside! ECOnomy Windows offers a wide range of styles and colours to choose from, and a completely individual bespoke service means your new windows will integrate

perfectly with the others in your home, including conservatories, porches and doors. Your home is without doubt your biggest asset, so it’s natural to do everything you can to protect it and enhance its value. With the ECOnomy Windows range of specialist low maintenance replacement PVC-U windows, it’s possible to improve your home in the most stylish and energyefficient way possible. Sophisticated good looks, superb performance and a first-class service from start to finish – with ECOnomy Windows you get the best of all worlds!

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KLmagazine 29 KLmagazineFebruary August 2014 2013

West Norfolk: Then and Now

History

1930s

2014

FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC... This marvellous picture taken from the Saturday Market Place in King’s Lynn looking up the High Street has come a long way to us – from St. Louis in Missouri, USA in fact. Al Pickering, who originally comes from Swaﬀham, found it among some old newspapers and

KLmagazine July 2014

postcards and e-mailed it to KL magazine. His favourite detail is the policeman keeping a keen eye on the well-dressed passers-by. For more photographs of how things used to be in King’s Lynn and the surrounding area, contact Picture Norfolk – at the Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk and Norwich

Millennium Library, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1AW. We’ll be bringing you another nostalgic look at West Norfolk next month. IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Property of the Month

Millstone Cottage Harpley Having been totally transformed, this pair of cottages is now a stunning home, with character, warmth and sun-filled patios. Beautifully restored and rejuvenated, it aﬀords the most amazing views out across the rolling Norfolk countryside...

l A stunning pair of cottages in the very sought-after village of Harpley on the North Norfolk coast l Originally built in 1881 for use by two sisters l The main house is currently configured as four bedrooms, family bathroom and en-suite with an additional small cottage of two bedrooms, open-plan living/diner with separate kitchen and bathroom l The main cottage has an exquisite kitchen, utility room, separate dining room and sitting room l Accommodation extends to 2,121sq.ft l Energy Rating: B Millstone Cottage is currently on the market with Fine & Country at a guide price of £525,000. To arrange a viewing or for further details of this wonderful property, contact Fine & Country at 27/28 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, telephone 01553 769100 or visit the website at www.fineandcountry.com

KLmagazine July 2014

“Instruct Fine & Country and sit back and watch an award-winning marketing strategy in action...” Norwich 01603 221888

North & West Norfolk 01553 769100

South Norfolk & North Suffolk 01379 646020

The lure of Norfolk: and the benefits of having a London office!

s we all know here in good old Norfolk, those people who live down south in and around the London area generally have more money than us folk up here. This is mainly due to the high prices that property tends to fetch in and around the capital. As more people look to cash in on their property prices they’re looking for more aﬀordable parts of the country where their quality of life can be improved – whether it be for their children, for lower crime rates or for less traﬃc congestion. With the increasing number of people leaving London, then surely it would

ASHWICKEN

make sense to choose an agent with a London connection? Now this is where you do have to be a little careful, because while some agents (not all) claim to have a London office, on closer inspection it won’t actually be their name above the door. Next weekend, I’m personally heading down to the Fine and Country Head Office on Park Lane in Mayfair to meet with potential purchasers. With a selection of properties tucked under my arm I’ll be dealing directly with people looking for a change in lifestyle with the beauty of Norfolk firmly in their sights. On these pages you’ll see just a few

Director of Sales (North and West Norfolk) neil.maclennan@fineandcountry.com of our fabulous properties for sale. Enjoy – and remember if you do have any queries please feel free to give me a call at Fine and Country on 01553 769100 or e-mail me at Neil.Maclennan@ﬁneandcountry.com

lBeautifully positioned period cottage in approx 2.35 acres lFive/Six bedrooms lFour bathrooms lTwo/Three receptions lConservatory lBreakfast kitchen with separate utility lFormal gardens, paddocks, areas of woodland and stunning walks and a variety of wildlife found in the area lOutstanding views over farmland and fen lAccommodation extends to 2,854sq.ft lEnergy Rating: D

“With stunning views stretching out over land and fen, these former labourers’ cottages are now resplendent as one family home. Perfect for parties or peaceful retreat, the rooms and grounds are a delight to explore, with the bonus of a swimming-pool, paddocks and your own woodland...”

01553 769100

Fine City & Country Homes, Unique Properties, Town Houses, Equestrian, Country Cottages, Barn Conversions, Coastal and Riverside Homes KLmagazine July 2014

NEIL MACLENNAN

Guide Price £575,000 LEVERINGTON

Take a view...

London 020 7079 1515

Guide Price £525,000 lA sublime 1930s architecturally-designed residence in the pretty village of Leverington lOriginally constructed by an architect as his own residence inspired by Rennie Mackintosh lFive bedrooms lThree bathrooms lThree receptions plus a stunning conservatory lTriple garage lAccommodation extends to 4,306sq.ft lEnergy Rating: D

Cocktails, anyone?

“With its warm panelling, coloured leaded glass and capacious rooms, this stunning property was beautifully crafted in the style of Rennie Mackintosh in the 1930s. Its rooms are bathed in light, and each one has a unique individual character – a pure delight created at the hands of a true master...”

01553 769100

fineandcountry.com fineandcountrylifestyles.com 25

KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: The Herb Garden at Natural Surroundings just outside Glandford – a peaceful, inspiring place for everyone and for all ages

A natural wonder and a magical atmosphere... As an escape from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, the wonderful eight acres of Natural Surroundings are perfect. Wild flowers, red squirrels, and woodland walks are just the beginning

atural Surroundings is a very special place. Part wildlife garden, part wild ﬂower nursery and part nature reserve, it’s set in the magical Glaven Valley and has some eight acres of beautiful grounds just waiting to be explored. A wildlife-themed garden leads down into a series of lush woodland and riverside walks. There’s plenty of interest along the way, from the human sundial to the ‘un’-natural trail and the Creepy Crawly Wood, and the sharpeyed nature lover will delight in the wonderful creatures from the protected

KLmagazine July 2014

breeding programmes the centre participates in – from the red squirrels to the amazingly tiny and captivating harvest mice. Natural Surroundings is a peaceful, low-key, timeless sort of a place, a welcome break from modernity and a balm for the spirit. Thankfully, there’s no high-tech gizmos or weird and wonderful fantasy characters (unless you count the proprietors) and the charming Little Café in the Woods is probably one of North Norfolk’s bestkept secrets with its cosy woodburning stove, home-made soup, tasty cheese on toast, cakes, fresh coﬀee and

Local Life speciality hot chocolate. After a somewhat chequered beginning, Natural Surroundings reopened back in January 2011 and since then has gone from strength to strength thanks to the tireless encouragement and generous support from dedicated locals and regular visitors – many of whom volunteered to help clear and maintain the lovely eight-acre reserve, fix the buildings and generally smarten the place up. Winner of the Business Category in the North Norfolk District Council’s Environment Awards, Natural Surroundings really does have something for everyone. On our visit, while the eldest member of the party marvelled over the poppy garden (particularly the Himalayan Blue Poppy), the younger members were enchanted by the Creepy Crawly Garden, which offers five-star accommodation for insects – and does a great job of educating visitors on their increasingly threatened habitats. Of course, everyone spent some time at the specially-created pen that’s home to Pete and Bev, the centre’s resident red squirrels (they’re actually named after the volunteers who built the pen). Best of all, you can even take some of the magic home with you, thanks to Anne Harrap’s wonderful Plant Shop (don’t miss her beautifully designed wildlife-friendly cottage garden either), which offers an extraordinary range of native wild plants and carefully chosen garden specialities, beautifully grown by the green-fingered founder of Natural Surroundings in 100% peat-free compost. Natural Surroundings also holds a programme of special events, including nature trails, pond dipping, early bird walks, Tuesday Moth Club, BioBlitz days (the next one is August 3rd), wildlife gardening surgeries, seed and plant swaps, and wildlife workshops. Later this month, there’s a Wildlife Walk on July 5th (starting at 10.30am), a Wildlife Workshop on identifying wild flowers with author and illustrator Simon Harrap on 16th July, and a Wildlife Gardening Surgery with designer and author Anne Harrap on July 5th. Don’t miss it! Natural Surroundings is on the Blakeney Road just south of Glandford and is open from 10am-4pm every day of the week in July and August – it’s closed at Christmas and on Mondays outside those months. Entrance to the cafe and shop is free, but there is a small charge for entrance to the gardens and grounds. Dogs on leads are welcome. For more details see the website at www.naturalsurroundings.info

KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

SECOND SHOWROOM OPENING SOON

On the Green, Burnham Market, PE31 8HD

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Doubleday has always been a family-run business and its friendly, local service always puts families ﬁrst

For generations, it’s been part of the landscape... For over thirty years, Doubleday has brought a family-friendly approach to the local world of agricultural machinery – with something for all members of the family and a first-class service

here’s a very good reason why Doubleday likes to say it’s been part of the landscape for generations. Over thirty years after it was founded by John W Doubleday, three of his grandchildren are actively involved in the business – it’s still very much a local family business, and it continues to go from strength to strength. But then it always has. Just a few years after its launch as the area’s oﬃcial John Deere franchise, Doubleday acquired Bourne Tractors – and the company expanded further with the addition of Evergreen Tractors

in 1999. A hugely-impressive purposebuilt depot was opened in Swineshead earlier this year, and today the Doubleday Group covers the region all the way from Sleaford to Thornham. Doubleday supplies and services agricultural machinery from most leading agricultural manufacturers including John Deere, Väderstad, Larrington Trailers and many more. The company prides itself on a large stock of quality used tractors, combines and associated machinery that’s delivered nationwide and exported worldwide. It’s a great local success story, and at the heart of that success is a ﬁrm commitment to traditional values and a

ABOVE: Doubleday’s founder John W Doubleday with three further generations of the family and John Deere UK Managing Director Richard Johnson at the recent opening of a new centre at Swineshead.

KLmagazine July 2014

Part of the landscape for generations

local, personal service. And that’s the real meaning of a family business. But it’s not all about tractors and agriculture – Doubleday has also built a strong reputation among domestic customers, based on the belief that the better the mower, the better the lawn. Whatever the size of your garden, Doubleday oﬀers a comprehensive range of mowers from traditional walkbehind models to the latest ride-on vehicles – all supported by a professional and reliable after-sales parts and servicing support. And then, of course, there’s the John Deere Collection – a range of lifestyle products with appeal (naturally enough) to the whole family. The Collection’s emphasis on customer satisfaction, innovation, high quality and ethical business practices are just some of the reasons John Deere recently made its debut on Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands list – and it’s easy to see why. On the clothing front, there are fashionable t-shirts and polo shirts, jackets, shirts and ties. There are swim shorts for men, cashmere pullovers for women, a stylish range specially designed for Young Farmers, and an

KLmagazine July 2014

utterly charming range of clothing for toddlers and children. It’s not surprising that children love a trip to Doubleday: in addition to the selection of play tractors (they range from simple push-along toys and playsets to fully-operational radiocontrolled vehicles) there are pedal go-karts, cuddly toys, jigsaw puzzles, educational toys - even skipping ropes and magnifying insect boxes! For bigger children the Collection offers precision-made collectors models – from classics such as the Lanz Bulldog ‘Ackerluft’ to the modern day (and mightily impressive) John Deere 8360R. From the kitchen (a tractor-shaped ice cube tray, anyone?) to the office (USB flash drives, desk calculators and laptop sleeves), there’s something for everyone, everywhere. “I think that’s why Doubleday has been so successful over the years,” says Roy Pickett. “Because it’s always been a family-run

DOUBLEDAY

business, it’s always been a very familyfriendly business. It’s about lifestyles rather than machines. By concentrating on the personal touch and oﬀering a truly local, truly individual service, we’ve made sure that every visit to Doubleday is an enjoyable experience for all the family.” Doubleday really has been part of the landscape for generations – and that approach will continue to serve the local area for generations to come.

information

Lynn Road, Wiggenhall St Germans, King’s Lynn PE34 3EU Telephone: 01553 617666 Website: www.doubledaygroup.co.uk 31

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KLmagazine July 2014

Pets

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

Harry enjoys a dog’s breakfast!

Plans for pets’ health... W e all know that good, responsible pet care includes an annual vaccination, regular flea and worm treatments and at least two visits to your vets every year for a comprehensive health check. Now, we do realise that all this comes at a cost. Owning just the one pet can be an expensive business – and if you own more than one then you may well need to budget carefully. A lot of my clients have asked me about spreading these costs and (as always) I’ve listened to them – and our new Pet Health Plan will allow you to do exactly that. By offering our clients the opportunity to spread the costs of petcare, they’ll be able to give their pets the best healthcare and products available, with the added bonus of saving money on top. So not only will the cost of all your flea treatments, wormers, vaccinations and health checks be spread more

conveniently – you’ll also pay less than you would normally! Each Pet Health Plan is tailor-made to the size and weight of your cat or dog to ensure you get exactly the right products at exactly the right price. And there’s more! Our Pet Health Plans will also give you further savings on things such as dentals, food and accessories. If your pet ever does need to go on to long-term medication (whether it’s for an older dog with arthritis or a heart condition or a younger pet diagnosed with epilepsy) we’ll give you a discount on the medication. Older pets always beneﬁt greatly from a ‘senior’ blood test which can identify problems at an early and treatable stage – and this is also discounted for members of our Pet Health Plan. Why wouldn’t you sign up? You save money, spread costs, and have the proper healthcare for your pets – it’s the best of all worlds!

Recently, we saw Harry (above), a Westie who’s normally very lively but came to us unusually quiet – and he kept being sick. After an examination and blood tests, we X-rayed his abdomen, which revealed an object stuck in his intestines. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time Harry had suffered from this particular mishap as he’d swallowed a piece of bone last year. Thankfully, knowing his history and with a rapid diagnosis we were able to operate immediately and successfully remove the foreign body from Harry’s insides – and we’re happy to report that he went on to make a great recovery. Just what it was he swallowed we’re not sure. Our best guess is it’s the remains of the inside of a golf ball! If you have any ideas, we would love to know. And here’s hoping we don’t see Harry back next year suffering the consequences of his strange appetite. Perhaps he’s learned his lesson this time!

LONDON ROAD 25 London Road, King’s Lynn t: 01553 773168 e: info@lrvc.co.uk HOLLIES Paradise Road, Downham Market t: 01366 386655 e: info@holliesvetclinic.co.uk KLmagazine July 2014

KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

OPPOSITE: Jody Lawrence’s debut book shows North Norfolk in a new ‘light’ and features such striking images as this one of Cley Mill, and his personal favourite (at the moment) from the book, Three Boats on Weybourne Beach (above)

Taking a very diﬀerent view of North Norfolk The coastline of North Norfolk is packed with picture-postcard views, but they take on a whole new dimension when the sun goes down – as a fabulous new book by Jody Lawrence shows...

his month sees the publication by local Red Hare Publishing of the debut book by Norfolk art photographer Jody Lawrence, and it promises to oﬀer a fascinating look at our much-loved coastline in a completely new light. Or rather, the lack of it. Nightscapes: North Norfolk brings together over 150 of Jody’s incredible images that show some of our favourite local destinations as you’ve probably never seen them before. Taking time out of his busy schedule, KLmagazine July 2014

Jody found time to talk to KL magazine about his work and what makes a great photograph... KL magazine: How did you become a photographer? Jody Lawrence: I fell in love with photography in Australia 15 years ago. My father gave me his old SLR, along with a quick lesson, at Heathrow Airport just before I left. I returned home with a bag full of undeveloped ﬁlm and have been taking photos ever since. It’s only in the last three years that I’ve been selling work regularly.

KL magazine: Your mother is the oil painter Suzanne Lawrence – how much of an influence has she been on your work? Jody Lawrence: She’s been a great help! One of the most nerve-racking things as a photographer is having your work judged by strangers. Seeing my mother’s work regularly helped me look at landscapes in a different way and find the compositions in much larger scenes. Three years ago she also gave me my first exhibition space when we shared an Open Studios exhibition together at her studio in Cley. 35

Local Life

ABOVE: The atmospheric Nighthawks at No. 1 by Jody Lawrence and a detail (below) from his Slipway on Sheringham Beach

KL magazine: What are the most important elements that make a great photograph? Jody Lawrence: Lighting and composition are enough to make a ‘good’ photograph. A photograph that produces an emotional response from the viewer or conveys an atmosphere can raise the standard higher. But to be a ‘great’ photograph all these things have to be combined by capturing a unique moment in time that adds fresh interest and insight to a scene or activity.

two years and a lot of late nights ago!

KL magazine: What do you like to photograph the most? Jody Lawrence: Light! All that we ever photograph is simply light bouncing off objects. Whether it’s natural or artificial, interesting light is the starting point for any successful photograph. The pleasure I get from photography comes from finding or creating interesting and unusual lighting for my photographs.

KL magazine: If you had to pick one, what would be your favourite photograph from the book? Jody Lawrence: That’s very diﬃcult, as I change my mind about my own work frequently. At a push, I’d say Three Boats, Weybourne Beach [see previous page] but there are a lot of close seconds. I don’t really like to talk about what I like in my own pictures – if it needs explaining then the picture’s probably not doing a good enough job.

KL magazine: How did the book project start? Jody Lawrence: I’ve been very fortunate in that for three days a week I work at the Pinkfoot Gallery in Cley, and the owner (Sarah Whitley) also runs Red Hare Publishing. Whilst showing her some of my recent work, she saw some night shots I’d been working on and had the idea of producing a book about North Norfolk at night. That was

KL magazine: Why did you decide to photograph North Norfolk by night? Jody Lawrence: I love the creative possibilities available at night – when you actually need to add light to a scene there are inﬁnite ways of doing it. I’ve used ﬂashes, torches and even my car headlights to light the photos in the book. Waiting for the sun to go down also provides an opportunity to show locations we’re all familiar with in a new and unseen light.

KL magazine: If you could photograph anyone or anywhere in the world, where would we ﬁnd you? Jody Lawrence: If I could have taken photographs anywhere and at anytime it would have to have been with Ansel Adams (1902-1984) in the Yosemite National Park in California. He’s my photographic hero and I would love to have seen him at work in such a beautiful location.

NIGHTSCAPES: NORTH NORFOLK by Jody Lawrence is published by Red Hare Publishing and is available from the Pinkfoot Gallery in Cley in addition to a number of good local bookshops. See www.redharepublishing.co.uk for details. For more information on Jody and his work, see www.jodylawrence.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

C L A S S I C C O A S TA L C H I C B Y U N I Q U E

HEACHAM

H U N S TA N T O N

CASTLE RISING

TOTTENHILL

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KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: Treasurer of the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society, John Craythorne is a lifelong amateur astronomer – but he still ﬁnds the night sky full of surprises and wonders.

The constant rewards of reaching for the stars

hen William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 he was actually a musician – but his discovery (which was made with a telescope he designed and built himself) was so important that George III put him on salary. The Shoemaker-Levy comet was discovered in 1993 by a couple of amateur astronomers, and amateur John Dobson revolutionised the design of telescopes. As recently as 2009, the discovery of a ‘scar’ on the face of Jupiter by Anthony Wesley was decribed as “one of the best accomplishments ever by an amateur

KLmagazine July 2014

astronomer.” John Craythorne is the Treasurer of the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society, and though he hasn’t – as yet, anyway – had a celestial body named after him, his boundless enthusiasm, depth of knowledge and sheer commitment to bringing the joys of astronomy to a wider audience are typical of this very special breed who spend hours under the night skies. A lifelong member of the British Astronomical Association, John’s passion for stargazing started at 15 when his parents allowed him to stay up late to watch the very ﬁrst epsiode of the BBC’s Sky at Night.

A beautiful image of Saturn by KLAS member Andy Milner – seeing the planet for the ﬁrst time is one of the highlights of John Craythorne’s lifelong passion for amateur astronomy

PICTURE: ANDY MILNER

Amateurs have always played an important role in the history of astronomy, and the night sky continues to draw people of all ages. As KL magazine discovers, there are millions of reasons...

PICTURE: ANDY MILNER

Local Life

“I was gripped from the very start,” he says. “I used my father’s wartime binoculars to find my way around the sky and bought my first telescope when I was 21. In fact I’ve still got part of it somewhere! Even after all these years, I can still look at the night sky and think ‘wow’ – astronomy gives you a completely new viewpoint of your place in the universe and just what an enormous place it is. It’s a very humbling experience.” In many ways, Patrick Moore was John’s mentor (he actually once stood in for Moore and delivered a lecture at a moment’s notice) and he still recommends the late astronomer’s advice for beginners. “The first thing you need to do – and it’s probably the most important thing – is find your way around the night sky. Patrick Moore advised learning a constellation a month, and when you consider there are 88 constellations in the sky, you can begin to see the wisdom in that. I can still look in the night sky and find myself thinking ‘what’s that?’ – it really is a big place!” Under the expert (and tireless) guidance of Chairman Richard Last, the King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society has grown from a small group of five members to a thriving collection

ABOVE: The King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society at a recent stargazing event at RSPB Titchwell. The stunning image of the Orion Nebula (right) was captured by KLAS member Andy Milner.

of some 55 amateur astronomers – and it’s a number that’s growing. “I think the success of the Society is largely down to the fact that we’re all so friendly,” says John. “Everyone’s really willing to share their experience and knowledge, which is vital if you’re an absolutle beginner. If you do have an interest in astronomy, the biggest mistake you can make is to simply go out and buy the biggest telescope you can find or afford. In a very real sense, you’ll be lost in space and you’ll soon find your enthusiasm waning.” The King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society will introduce you to the night sky, help you navigate your way around it, teach you how to use the amazing (and free) software currently available, and lend you binoculars or a small telescope to get a flavour for it. The Society also holds a number of Outreach sessions and delivers talks to local groups and schools. Its Stargazing Live event earlier this year (building on the interest generated by the BBC programme with Brian Cox and Dara O Briain) was so popular it attracted over 300 people and resulted in the Society welcoming 11 new members! The KLAS meets twice monthly on Monday evenings at Tottenhill Village Hall and has a busy schedule of talks, events and observations.

Recently, for example, the acclaimed Cambridge astrophysicist and researcher Carolin Crawford delivered a talk on Exoplanets, which are the ones that lie outside the Solar System (around 1,800 have been discovered to date). “We’ve had talks on all sorts of subjects from meteorites to Saturn and the 10 greatest wonders in the night sky,” says John. “They appeal to everyone from newcomers to people with specialist areas of interest. They’re always fascinating because in astronomy there’s always something new to learn.” In September, the Society will be hosting a very special event in the shape of a lecture by Professor Gerry Gilmore, one of the principal investigators on the Gaia programme. An ambitious 5-year mission to provide the ﬁrst 6-dimensional census of the Milky Way, it will revolutionise our current view of the Milky Way, and provide the very ﬁrst robust distance scale in cosmology. “It’s an amazing project and there’ll be enough information to keep astronomers busy for the next 30-40 years,” says John. “It should be an unmissable event, and everyone’s welcome to come and discover more.” The lecture will take place at the King’s Lynn Academy on September 12th, and tickets are £5. To book your place, please contact KLAS via the website at www.westnorfolkastro.co.uk. Happy stargazing!

KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

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According to ‘colour psychologists’ pink is the colour of femininity and romance, aﬀection and intimacy, thoughtfulness and care. That may well be true, but there’s no doubt our local boutiques know how to bring out the best in the colour. In all shades, in all styles, and for all occasions...

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KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

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Pre-paid funeral plans: how our family business can help your family’s future...

“Purchasing a funeral plan gives me peace of mind knowing that all the arrangements are made and paid for. Now I can get on with the rest of my life!” We offer a range of pre-paid funeral plans that allow you to beat inflation and pay now at today’s prices – unlike savings accounts or life insurance policies. We can also adapt existing plans to include all the personal touches you want. It’s safe, it’s easy, and it gives you and your family complete peace of mind. Call us now for full details.

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Web: www.thornalleyfs.co.uk KLmagazine July 2014

YOU & YOUR HEALTH with BMI The Sandringham Hospital

You can still enjoy summer outdoor pursuits and holidays – but always be sensible and vigilant about your skin...

How to stay safe in the sun

kin cancer is a malignant growth or tumour that starts by one of the cells of the skin changing its nature. The cancer cells can grow into the surrounding skin and tissues, and some skin cancers can actually spread around the body. The three commonest skin cancers are Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma isn’t usually aggressive, and I often tell patients that if they are going to have any form of cancer, then this is the one to have. We have a 95% chance of curing patients, and it’s extremely rare for it to spread around the body. At the other end of the spectrum, Melanoma can spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body – although if caught early enough we still expect 95% cure rates. It’s therefore essential to recognise melanomas quickly at their early stage before they’ve had the opportunity to spread. The moles or pigmented skin lesions which should cause concern are those that have changed in size, shape or colour, bleed or weep.

There’s a good reason why we’re so worried about skin cancer in the UK at the moment. The number of people developing skin cancer is increasing dramatically – with around 100,000 new skin cancers being reported every year, it’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Annually, some 2,500 people in the UK actually die from skin cancer year, and 80% of these deaths are from melanoma. The rate of melanoma has quadrupled since the 1970s and it’s now the third most common cancer in young adults. The most important lesson in these alarming statistics is that this increasing problem may be preventable – as the majority of skin cancers are related to sun exposure. The sun’s rays contain ultraviolet light which can damage the DNA of skin cells, resulting in the formation of a tumour. Short bursts of intense sun exposure, especially if burning occurs, have more damaging eﬀects than steady sun exposure. The fashions of “a healthy tanned complexion”, outdoor pursuits, tanning beds and cheaper travel abroad have all probably contributed to the escalating problem of skin cancer – but it’s not all doom and gloom. Careful suncare really

can reduce the risks. People at most risk and those who should take particular care are those individuals with fair skin, lots of moles and a history of skin cancer in the family. Remember that a child’s skin is much more susceptible to sun injury than an adult’s, so be extra careful with your children. However, there’s no need for us to become nocturnal animals! It’s just a case of being sensible under the sun. The literally SMART advice from Cancer Research UK recommends Staying out of the sun from 11am to 3pm when the sun’s rays are at their strongest, Making sure you never burn, Always covering up, Remembering to take extra care with children, and Then using factor 15+ sun creams. An extra incentive to follow that advice is to stay younger looking, as sun exposure is the strongest ageing factor next to smoking. You can still enjoy summer outdoor pursuits and holidays – but always be sensible and vigilant about your skin. And remember we’re always here to help!

Richard Haywood FRCS(Plast) Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

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 July 2014

Open your eyes to the warning signs! Millions of people in the UK suﬀer from Dry Eye Syndrome, yet don’t realise the cause. Find out how D.A. Seaman can help...

o you ever find yourself suffering from dry, gritty, sore, red, watery or sticky eyes? If you only have one of these symptoms, chances are that you could be suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome. Dry Eye Syndrome is a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not make enough tears – or the tears that you do have evaporate too quickly. A hot climate, windy days, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), screen work, medication, hormonal changes or contact lenses could be some of the culprits to blame for your dry eyes. At D.A. Seaman Optometrists we offer a specialised dry eye service where we can professionally assess your tear film. Your tears are made up of three

layers. There is a thin inner mucous which acts as an anchor and helps the tears adhere to the eye, a middle layer made of water, and a thin oily outer layer which normally seals the tear ﬁlm and helps to prevent evaporation. We can test the quality of your tears and examine the overall health of the structures involved. There is unfortunately no cure for Dry Eye Syndrome but there are a number of modern treatments currently available to manage the condition. Once one of our qualiﬁed opticians has performed an assessment, an individual treatment plan will be discussed. If you would like to book one of these assessments, contact us at the practice for more information and to arrange an appointment.

D. A. SEAMAN OPTOMETRISTS 18 Plowright Place, Swaﬀham, Norfolk PE37 7LQ Telephone: 01760 751050 Website: www.daseaman.org.uk Open: Monday–Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 1pm

KLmagazine July 2014

“It has opened up a whole world of possibilities for me...” Chloe Webb is training to become a lecturer in psychology after completing A-levels and a degree at CWA

hloe Webb studied A-levels at the College of West Anglia before successfully completing a degree in psychosocial studies – and was named Anglia Ruskin University Student (ARU) of the Year at the 2013 graduation ceremony (all degrees oﬀered at CWA are in conjunction with ARU). “I didn’t want to stay at sixth form as I thought there were more opportunities at college,” says Chloe. “At CWA I was able to meet so many like-minded people, sharing exciting views in class and engaging in discussions about work.” Chloe has recently started a teacher training qualiﬁcation course at the college and also works voluntarily as a teacher. She hopes to become a

lecturer in psychology and sociology before completing a Master’s degree. The College of West Anglia oﬀers a huge range of courses in a broad spectrum of exciting subjects and disciplines, available in a number of ﬂexible options and programme choices that fully cater for individual needs and circumstances. “The College of West Anglia has opened up a whole world of possibilities for me,” says Chloe, “and I would encourage anyone to apply to the college – there really is something for everyone, whatever your ambitions.” l For more details and information about the opportunities available to you and how to take the next step, please visit cwa.ac.uk/here

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KLmagazine July 2014

“Once upon a time, in the Eastern corner of the Kingdom, there was a flat but chocolatey wonderland called Gnawfolk. Deep in the heart of this rural treasured land squirrels lived in perpetual sugar-high harmony, munching away on mouth-wateringly melty treats and enjoying experimenting with fantastical flavours…” 50

KLmagazine July 2014

PICTURE: GNAW CHOCOLATE/NORFOLK FUTURE 50

Food & Drink

ABOVE: Gnaw’s founders Matt and Teri Legon – despite the brand’s amazing success, every bar is still handmade in Norfolk

Matt Legon and his gnawsome achievement In less than five years, Gnaw has gone from a bright idea by Matt Legon to a successful brand recognised around the world. All it takes is a creative approach to chocolate and a love of squirrels...

ince it’s been enjoyed around the world for some 4,000 years, you’d have thought there were no new ways to enjoy chocolate. You can have premium chocolate and you can have sugar-free chocolate. It can come from Switzerland, Belgium, Chile and Pakistan. You can have savoury chocolate, fruit-ﬂavoured chocolate, and even chocolate laced with sea salt. Nevertheless, Gnaw chocolate (which is, as the company likes to say, handcrafted in Gnawfolk) has come up with some unique and tasty creations that’s seen it grow into one of the

KLmagazine July 2014

county’s most successful brands. Gnaw was founded by Matt and Teri Legon in March 2011, when they opened a factory in Brooke (seven miles south of Norwich) after selling their city-centre store, Mr Simms’ Olde Sweet Shoppe. Within two years, Gnaw moved into a 7,000 square foot factory in Norwich, thanks largely to its fun approach to chocolate, distinctive branding and amazingly creative recipes. Needless to say, the chocolate itself isn’t too bad either. Today, Gnaw is stocked in over 600 outlets around the UK from Scotland to

Food & Drink Somerset (there are almost 50 stockists in Norfolk alone), and Gnaw is being exported and enjoyed across the globe from Canada to Japan. “We never expected to do so well so quickly, but we’re really proud of what we’ve done,” says Matt. “I think one of the secrets of Gnaw’s success is that we’ve always used the finest ingredients and our recipes are perfected by experienced chocolatiers. I’m still happy to say that every single bar is handmade in Norfolk and we use local produce wherever possible.” The sheer range of Gnaw chocolate is as astonishing as it is tempting. Chocolate bars include brilliant ideas such as Coffee & Mint, Lemon Meringue, Citrus Sunshine and Crystallised Ginger. For dedicated chocolate-fiends High Cocoa is a ABOVE: Containing an eclectic mix of three flavours, the Goodeee Box (there are several to marvellously bitter 80% single-origin Brazilian dark chocolate, while weight- choose from) are ideal if you can’t decide which of the 28 chocolate bars in the current Gnaw watchers will appreciate the No Added range to enjoy Sugar. What’s really distinctive about Gnaw chocolate is that it’s a lot of fun too – who could resist the Cherry Bomb (laced with popping candy) or the Go Bananas bar with its retro foam bananas? Gnaw also produces a range of five packs of Chocolate Buttons, the everpopular Hot Choc Shots (there are six to choose from) and a selection of Goodeee Boxes containing an eclectic choice of bars – the On Cloud 9 box, for example, includes a bar each of Mint Choc Chip, Chilli and Lime and Peanut Butter. You can’t talk about Gnaw chocolate without mentioning the squirrels that appear in countless guises on the company’s packaging – and it’s good to discover they’re not simply there for decorative purposes. Concerned with the plight of the red squirrel (despite being the UK’s only native squirrel there are only around 140,000 of them left) the company is a dedicated supporter of the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust. The Trust has a range of initiatives designed to safeguard the future of the red squirrel – their breeding programme helps keep squirrel kittens safe and healthy (currently only 20-40% of them survive), they help maintain coniferous forests (the squirrel’s favourite habitat) and they work with other projects around the UK to introduce young squirrels to the wild. What more could you want? A local product that’s ethically sourced, designed with a sense of humour and a commitment to quality, and with a wildlife-friendly conscience as well. A truly Gnawsome achievement.

KLmagazine July 2014

CALEY HALL HOTEL

AA Rosette Restaurant

Open daily to non-residents serving a range of locally sourced, seasonal dishes throughout the day. SUNDAY LUNCH 12-2.30pm 1 course: £10.95, 2 courses: £15.95, 3 courses: £20.95 MACMILLAN QUIZ NIGHT Thursday 31 July, 8pm Entry £2 per person | Happy Hour 7-8pm | Fish & chips £10 MACMILLAN SUMMER CRAFT FAIR Saturday 16 August, 12-4pm For more information on upcoming events and to view current menus and special offers, please visit www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk old hunstanton road, old hunstanton norfolk pe36 6hh tel 01485 533486

Our gnawsome farmshops are packed with tempting treats! The Walsingham Farms Shop Partnership comprises two great farm shops and two lovely restaurants where you can enjoy the very best food that Norfolk has to offer. Our philosophy is very simple: Only locally-grown and locallyproduced food – from tasty local brands such as Gnaw chocolate to dedicated individuals producing desserts, cakes and pastries. Now that really is gnawsome!

www.walsinghamfarmsshop.co.uk

Our Farm Shop in Walsingham | Tel: 01328 821877 Our Farm Shop in Heacham | Tel: 01485 570002

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Are you looking for a venue that can be tailored to suit your individual requirements? Abacus Marquees provides both high quality frame marquees and traditional pole marquees, and have a wide range of furniture and accessories – including black Starcloth linings and Moroccan linings. If this sounds like your ideal solution for your prestigious event, then Abacus Marquees with their excellent service and competitive prices, can make it happen to help you create the perfect occasion.

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KLmagazine July 2014

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

Food & Drink

Get the best from beetroot L

oved for its earthy ﬂavour, silkysmooth texture and vibrant red-purple colour, beetroot is a root vegetable closely related to spinach and chard. Actually, it’s so popular these days that it even has its own website – disbelievers should visit www.lovebeetroot.co.uk.

STORE... In their raw state, beetroot will keep in a cool, dark place for about 3-4 days. Cooked they’ll keep in the fridge for about 5-7 days. Pre-cooked and vacuum-packed beetroot will obviously last much longer but ensure they’re ‘natural’ and not packed in vinegar. PREPARE... Twist or trim oﬀ the stalks, leaving about 2.5cm, and also leave the 56

whiskery bits at the bottom. If you trim too close to the flesh before cooking, the beetroot will ‘bleed’ into the cooking water and they’ll lose their bright colour (they’ll also do that if you peel them first). COOK... To boil, place in a large pan, cover with boiling water then bring back to the boil and cook for 1-1¼ hours or until they’re tender (when undercooked they can be bitter). To tell if they’re done, don’t pierce with a knife but lift out with a slotted spoon and gently rub the skin – it should start to come away. Drain and plunge into cold water (it makes the skin easy to peel off). To roast beetroot, wash them, gently pat them dry and lay them whole in a roasting tin with about 150ml water.

Cover with foil and roast at 200o for between 45 minutes-1 hour. Peel them before serving. WAYS TO SERVE... – Toss rocket leaves and crumbled feta cheese in a honey-mustard dressing. Arrange wedges of cooked beetroot on top, scatter with toasted walnuts and drizzle with a little more dressing. – Arrange cooked beetroot wedges or slices with sticks of cooked carrot. Drizzle with some olive oil, lemon juice, chopped garlic, chopped coriander and toasted cumin seeds for an easy Moroccan-style salad. GOOD FOR YOU... Beetroot is a fantastic source of folate, and it also contains potassium, phosphorus and ﬁbre. KLmagazine July 2014

A world of great food 7 days a week! Brewers Fayre’s newly revamped Chef’s Counter gives you the chance to enjoy delicious feasts from around the world every night of the week.

hether you’re in the mood for traditional English dishes, tasty Italian or a touch of spice, the Chef’s Counter has it all! The newly refurbished serving counter offers customers ‘all you can eat’ buffet style food from a great looking, modernised location. Available from 5pm it’s the perfect place to enjoy a huge variety of hearty meals to suit even the pickiest of customers! Monday night diners can indulge themselves in a fiesta of Mexican dishes from the ‘Viva Mexico’ buffet, with the selection including favourites such as spicy pulled pork, chilli, nachos and Quesadillas. Tuesday night offers ‘A Taste of Italy’, with typical Italian classics such as meatballs, lasagne and pizza. On Wednesday you can treat yourself to the perfect summer food and the true American classics ‘Burger & Hotdogs’. Don’t miss out on the mouthwatering

MONDAY: VIVA MEXICO!

FRIDAY: CHIP SHOP NIGHT

variety of toppings! Thursday offers the perfect banquet food; ‘A World of Curries’ - great for sampling all the different flavours. Favourites include Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Red Thai Curry and Beef Dopiaza. On Friday, in true British tradition it’s ‘Chip Shop Night.’ Choose from all your favourites, including mushy peas, curry sauce and battered sausages. Saturday brings you ‘Chicken Feast’ whether you like it fried, spicy or barbequed, Brewers Fayre has it all! And of course, Sundays are made for roast carverys! Help yourself to the new and improved king sized buffet from 12 noon with a soup starter included and choice of turkey, beef, gammon or vegetable pie. Not only is the choice endless, you’ll be amazed by the price, with Adult prices from £6.99 and Kids buffets for £4.49! The perfect feast for all the family, and even better - no washing up!

TUESDAY: TASTE OF ITALY

SATURDAY: CHICKEN FEAST

information Brewers Fayre Freebridge Farm, Clenchwarton Road King’s Lynn, PE34 3LJ Tel: 01553 772221 Web: www.brewersfayre.co.uk Open: Mon-Sat: 12noon-11pm Sun: 12noon-10:30pm

WEDNESDAY: BURGERS & HOTDOGS

THURSDAY:

WORLD OF CURRIES

A world of food in a week! SUNDAY: CARVERY

Enjoy a delicious feast from our Chef’s Counter every day of the week, with six days of internationally-themed All-You-Can-Eat buffets (from 5pm-8pm) and our new and improved Sunday Carvery (from noon-6pm). Fabulous food, fantastic value, great service – and children 12 and under eat for only £4.49!

Clenchwarton Road, West Lynn, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3LJ KLmagazine July 2014

Tel: 01553 772221 57

Food & Drink

Recipe by David Penstone

Rechiepe of t Month

INGREDIENTS 100g 3 mushroom ravioli 50g baby spinach 40g caramelized onion 40g button mushrooms, sliced 6 cherry tomatoes, halved 100mls pouring cream 10g peeled garlic 20g shaved parmesan 100mls white wine 30mls vegetable oil White Wine Cream Sauce 500mls white wine 1lt pouring cream 100g peeled garlic, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste

Preparation: 15 min Cooking: 20 min Serves: 2 Wine Match: Chenin Blanc 58

Three Mushroom Ravioli with white wine sauce METHOD For the sauce 1 In a saucepan, gently fry the chopped garlic on a low heat but do not allow it to brown as this will taste bitter. 2 Add the white wine to the pan and reduce by half. Pour in the cream and simmer for 5 minutes. For the dish 1 In a heavy bottomed frying pan, start to sautĂŠ the button mushrooms on a medium heat. 2 Once the mushrooms have a golden colour, add the cherry tomatoes, garlic and spinach.

3 Once the cherry tomatoes start to blister and break apart and the spinach has wilted, you can deglaze the pan with 120ml of the white wine and cream sauce. 4 Allow to reduce slightly so it will just coat the ravioli when added, and season with salt and white pepper. 5 In a blanche pot, place the ravioli into the basket and submerge in the seasoned water for 3 minutes, then drain well and add to the sauce. 6 Toss all the ingredients together in the pan and place into a large salad bowl. Garnish with the shaved parmesan.

KLmagazine July 2014

A true taste of authentic Italy in the heart of the Countryside A la ca rte menu Great tasting traditional Italian food, served in comfortable, cosy surroundings

Sunday Lu nch From 12:00 until 2:30 Join us for a traditional Sunday Roast

O p en ing Time s Wednesday - Saturday, 12.00 - 2.00 and then 6.30 - 9.30 La Cap a n na Rest au ra nt, S cho ol Ro a d Te rri ngton St John, Wisb e ch, Camb s Tel: 01945 880099 Web: www.lacapanna.biz

Summer’s here! We have the freshest and tastiest ingredients for a great BBQ! Swordfish & Tuna now available! Brancaster Oysters and local shellfish Wild Seabass and Sea Trout Plus! Lobsters and Cromer Crabs Extensive delicatessen Local frozen game counter with top quality cheeses and olives from Fresh and smoked fish home and abroad! Free range eggs

D NALDS NS A fresh taste of the sea

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

Afternoon Tea BEST WESTERN PLUS Knights Hill Hotel & Spa 2.00pm – 5.30pm Selection of finger sandwiches Cucumber Smoked salmon or ham Egg and cress Warm fruit scone with fresh cream and jam Selection of cakes and biscuits Tea or coffee

£18.00 for 2 persons (Minimum of 2 persons) Served in the lounge or on our patio in fine weather

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 July 2014

Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

KL magazine visits Hunstanton’s Caley Hall Hotel

aving only previously called in for an afternoon drink, we finally made it to the restaurant at the Caley Hall Hotel, and can fully understand why it receives such good reviews. The restaurant offers a great choice for each course and the options we chose were all excellently cooked and presented. Situated close to Old Hunstanton beach, this beautiful old manor house offers plenty of character and country charm. From the moment you walk through the door you’re met with exceptional, friendly service. The ambience in the restaurant is slightly more relaxed than the majority of restaurants we’ve eaten in, which contributes to a very welcoming dining experience. The menu looked delicious and seasonal, and it was nice to see locally-

sourced produce making a significant appearance. To start, we chose the free range Chicken and Ham Hock Terrine and the Pan-seared Scallops. Both had fantastic flavours and were presented in a simple yet elegant manner. For the main course, we were treated to the Caley Hall Fish Pie (served with seasonal vegetables) and the Grilled Organic Gammon Steak, with free range duck egg, triple-cooked chips, crushed peas, pancetta crisps and pea shoots. The triple-cooked chips weren’t greasy in the slightest and the vegetables were perfect, with just the right amount of bite. The portion sizes of both main courses were more than ample. Although I was tempted by the local cheeseboard to finish, I simply didn’t have the room! My partner, however, was less restrained when it came to dessert and succumbed to a Milk Chocolate Brownie with orange ice cream, chocolate sauce and orange gel. The brownie was delightfully runny in the centre, and melted in your mouth with the orange ice cream – a really wonderful combination, once again fabulously presented. Throughout the meal the staff were attentive without being over-fussy, taking away glasses and plates without interrupting us and taking the time to

chat to us about the food after each course. We ended our evening with coffees, which came with a piece of fudge and a mini cookie, which was a really nice way to end the meal! On leaving, we actually made a point of saying what a wonderful evening we had. We’d thoroughly recommend the Caley Hall Hotel to anyone without hesitation – and the final bill was a very pleasant surprise given the quality and size of dishes. Whether you’re spending some time in this lovely part of the county, or you’re looking for a lovely meal in a very friendly setting, the Caley Hall Hotel needs to be on your ‘must visit’ list. It’s also worth mentioning that my partner is a wheelchair user, and had no problems at all in accessing either the restaurant or the bar. There were allocated spaces in the car park close to the restaurant and ramps throughout the building. We’ll definitely be making a return visit in the near future.

FOOD SERVICE

VALUE

CALEY HALL HOTEL Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton Norfolk PE36 6HH Tel: 01485 533486 Web: www.caleyhallhotel.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

KITCHENS

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ituated at Unique Gifts and Interiors at Tottenhill, Café Unique is still very new (its doors opened just a year ago) but there’s no doubt it’s got off to a great start! Its spacious and inviting seating area within the showroom is bursting with interesting and beautiful items from the shop, making it feel refreshing and eclectic. It’s a real treat for the eyes! One thing certain to catch your eye is the extensive and delicious range of homemade cakes on show – all beautifully displayed on cake stands and all very elegant. After mulling over the tempting hot drinks list, I decided to choose an Americano with Amaretto syrup while my friend chose the white chocolate and mint Latte – and both were absolutely delicious. The food menu is also hard to choose from, with all the dishes being freshly made to order, and all at extremely reasonable prices. One dish we were told is very popular is the hearty English Breakfast (available all day) – but there’s plenty of quick lunches, sandwiches and baguettes, salads, jacket potatoes, afternoon teas, and even a daily specials board (which featured a homemade soup and quiche on our visit). Finally, we picked the sausage and onion baguette and the haddock fish finger wrap. Both were served with a generous portion of chips (very nice chips to be precise) and a side salad. The food really was gorgeous, and so filling we couldn’t even manage to squeeze some of those lovely cakes in! At least that gives us another reason to return! We were told that Café Unique offers a special Ladies That Lunch menu on weekdays, which in addition to two or three courses even includes a bottle of wine with bookings of four or more people! We’ll definitely be going back to Café Unique – it’s the perfect spot for a girly day out with a spot of shopping and coffee or glass of wine. Or even simply for a guaranteed great lunch! FOOD

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KLmagazine July 2014

BATHROOMS

Showroom: The Precinct, 15 Plowright Place, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7LQ Tel: 01760 724306

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Food & Drink

Tathstees of Month

Give us this day.... It’s one of humanity’s most enduring and important foods, but it certainly doesn’t have to be dull. Here’s our favourite local breads... ARTHUR HOWELL BAKERY 01328 713060 A feast of wonderful breads, including walnut bread, tiger bread, onion bread and an unmissable sundried tomato and parmesan cob. GROOMS BAKERY 01328 738289 This family-run bakery in Burnham Market is well known and justifiably famous for its excellent range of over 25 varieties of bread. PYE BAKER 01603 404030 Try the Rye and Caraway Bloomer – a fabulous blend of organic flour, sprinkled with caraway seeds, with a delicate aniseed flavour. MERV’S HOT BREAD KITCHEN 01953 607118 Truly beautiful bread – lots to choose from, but the Tomato Cracked Pepper loaf and the Wholemeal Honey and Sultana are perfect. THE TUDOR BAKEHOUSE 01379 854855 Well worth seeking out, make a point of trying the Bayerisch Donker, a great flavour-packed Dutch-style grain bread with a malty taste.

KLmagazine July 2014

Don’t forget! For that perfect gift we also deliver a range of exciting and unusual flowers locally and across the globe.

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tarlings of Swaffham, specialist florist and fruiterer, has introduced an online UK delivery service for our luxury fruit baskets. The delicious range of local, seasonal and exotic fruits make a colourful and healthy alternative to chocolates and compliment our stunning flower arrangements. Our latest collection includes ‘Mediterranean Feast’ – a tasty selection featuring fabulous honey from Norfolk, organic olive oil from Tuscany, super sweet local cherry tomatoes and vibrant Mediterranean fruit. Or why not try our new baby, the ‘Perfect For One’? Which is ideal for hospitals and nursing homes. We feature seasonal specials, and enjoy combining fresh produce in colourful and imaginative ways. So visit luxuryfruitbaskets.co.uk and let Starlings take the hassle out of shopping for that different and innovative gift.

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KLmagazine July 2014

Summer Holidays 2014

Summer Holidays

KLmagazine July 2014

A SPECIAL KL MAGAZINE FEATURE

S FUN-FILLED PAGE PACKED WITH GREAT IDEAS! 65

Summer Holidays

A world of ideas for the summer holidays... With a little thought and planning, and without a big budget, the school holidays can be packed with fun and valuable learning experiences. Angela Bedford shares a few of her best ideas.

chool holidays are here – and I love them! There’s always a period of adjustment in our home as the children settle into a new routine and get used to being around each other more. Three days is usually all it takes for us all to adjust and we can get on with enjoying the summer. During the school holidays, I look forward to lazy mornings, no school lunches and the ﬂexibility to do things with the children as and when I want. The real trick to fun school holidays is keeping the kids busy with enough downtime so you don’t wear yourself out. As parents, we often pay a lot to take our children on expensive outings or trips to far aﬁeld – only to discover they’d have been just as happy with a trip to the park and an ice cream! You see, children don’t discriminate based on cost – and are often more 66

than satisfied with activities that don’t cost the earth. Keeping them happy on a budget is easy – if you know how. Cheap family thrills really are possible as long as you take time to plan ahead. A little forethought and bit of creativity can go a long way. If you put on a happy face and have a positive attitude about the day in front of you, you’ll find the children will too. Here are just a few of my favourite summertime activities that will make your children (and your purse) as happy as Larry. These days, libraries have a lot more going for them than just shelves and shelves of books. You can have your children join a reading programme, listen to supervised storytime sessions or spend time on the library’s computers. You’ll find many local libraries also have planned themed events throughout the summer as well.

A good idea is to make a visit to the library a weekly affair – it’s a great way to encourage a child’s love of reading – and don’t forget that most libraries also have children’s films that can be loaned for a very reasonable charge. Although young children love playgrounds, parents often get to dread them – and watching your kids do the same thing over and over again can indeed get tiresome and tedious. You can make it a lot more fun for everyone by inviting a friend with children the same ages as yours – and that way you can have a chat while they play. If your children tend to get bored, visit a playground they haven’t been to before, one with something special like a paddling pool or children’s petting zoo. It’s like being in a toy shop for the first time – everything’s new and exciting. Take a picnic along and you can really make a day of it. KLmagazine July 2014

The perfect Day for all the

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Summer Holidays

ABOVE: Organising a bug hunt for children is one of our favourite summer activities – it’s great fun and works wonders in teaching children about the wider world around them.

Most children love kicking a football around a park or just running around to let off some steam. It’s good for them and it’s good for you too, as it calms them down and helps them sleep better in the evenings. If your children are less than thrilled at the idea of yet another park outing, it’s time to think of something fun for them to do. Take a frisbee, plan a Teddy Bear Picnic, or go on a nature walk. Alternatively, take some sketchbooks and coloured pencils and have them draw what they see. Hang the prints up at home when you get back to show their friends – and encourage them to want to do it again. If you fancy a bit of culture, you’ll find that many museums are free to enter, and most will offer hands-on activities throughout the summer holidays that specially appeal to children. Even

museums that charge admission often have special days when children can get in free, or offer discounts. Look around before you go to make the most of your visit, and see if any special entertainment is on offer. If your children get tired of seeing mummies and dinosaurs, why not take them to see some modern art? A really good idea is to explain what they’ll be seeing ahead of time (to keep their interest) and take a sketch pad along for them to draw the pictures or paintings they love best. One of our favourite summer activities (especially given the natural surroundings of Norfolk) is going on a Bug Hunt – and the best thing about it is that it can be an ongoing activity that lasts a week or more. Suitable for children of all ages, it’s marvellous fun and has a lot of benefits

for everyone. And who knows: it could bring out the budding entomologist in your children – and in you! All you really need for a bug hunt is a child and an insect, but to make your experience more of an adventure, I’d recommend taking a magnifying glass, a bug list, an illustrated book of insects, pens and pencils and a notebook. Children as young as two can enjoy going on a bug hunt, and they’ll even remember some of the scientific names of insects they learn along the way. Never underestimate your children – and remember that if there’s an older sibling along, your youngsters will learn even more. Start off by deciding beforehand which bugs you hope to find. Obviously, the insects you know exist in your area will be the easiest to hunt down. Visit your local library or bookshop to find lists of bugs you’re likely to discover. Some bookshops even sell junior insect kits that have laminated lists of common bugs, as well as a magnifying glass suitable for children. These can be a very worthwhile investment. Take a notebook to write down the names of all the insects you find, and have your children draw their picture next to the names. If they want, they can just make a rough sketch which they can colour in later. Ask them to describe the insect to you and write down what they say – this will help them doing the colouring in later. When we first started going on bug hunts, we used to catch the bugs in a plastic bowl with a lid with holes punched in. We would always release the insects at the end of the day, but found young children can be upset at letting their ‘pets’ go – so it’s probably better for everyone to watch the insects thrive in their natural habitat. It’s also a good idea to give yourself a bit of background. Most bugs can be divided into two categories, either predators or pollinators. Predators are beneficial insects as they help keep down numbers of other bugs who can hurt the eco-system. Meanwhile, pollinators help flowers to reproduce. Many species of bee, wasp, moth and butterfly are pollinators, feeding on the nectar of brightly-coloured flowers. Ask your children if they can find pollinators and predators during their bug hunt (they will!) and ask what kinds of predators they see. Get them thinking about the bugs’ role in the insect (and the human) world. Many insects are able to camouflage themselves, making them (hopefully) less visible to predators. The praying mantis and stick insect are two examples of this. See how good your

KLmagazine July 2014

Fun family outings Hunger for history Savour the menu Chat over coffee Wander quiet cloisters Walk tranquil grounds Festivals and concerts View sacred treasures Enjoy the silence Take a pew at Norwich Cathedral Plan your visit: www.cathedral.org.uk

Share your visit: #mycathedralvisit

Gooderstone Water Gardens & Nature Trail What could be nicer than to stroll through an enchanting garden, explore the nature trail, perhaps spot a kingfisher and enjoy delicious home-made cakes?

GARDEN open daily all year. Children free and dogs on leads allowed. TEAROOM Open every day except Mondays â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til 28th September. Open August Bank Holiday Monday.

Theatre in the Garden - 'The School for Husbands' by Moliere 6pm Sunday 20th July, Ticket Office 0843 208 0628.

Coaches and group visits welcome by appointment.

All enquiries please call Coral Hoyos

Tel: 01603 712913 & 07730 551945 Gooderstone Water Gardens & Nature Trail, Gooderstone PE33 9BP coral@sunnycottage.plus.com www.gooderstonewatergardens.co.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

Summer Holidays

Studies have shown that board games can help develop critical thinking skills, helping young people learn how to reason better...

(and your children’s) eyes are by looking for camouﬂaged insects during your bug hunt. If your child shows signs of real interest in insects, you can turn their fascination into a hobby. A digital camera can capture insects on ﬁlm, which can then be printed and put in a notebook or a scrapbook. Your young entomologist may even develop a fascinating hobby that lasts for life. Don’t forget that many schools require summer projects that need to be handed in at the beginning of the school year. A bug journal could be a brilliant summer project for a younger child, or simply something interesting to show during ‘show and tell’ lessons. Bug hunts are wonderful ways for children to learn about the world around them, and to appreciate how everything plays a role in the wider eco-system. They can be especially helpful if a child is scared of spiders or ants, as they’ll come to realise that even the humble cockroach is our friend. Happy hunting! Of course, if it’s summer you can guarantee you’re going to have a few rainy days on your hands. Although it may be tempting (and easy) to turn on the television, its an activity with very

debatable benefits. A much better (and more engaging) idea is to make some popcorn, prepare some snacks, and bring out the board games. Not every game will appeal to everyone, but if you make a family affair out of playing, you’ll find most children will love taking part. Even better, they might even learn something! Studies have shown that board games can help develop critical thinking skills, helping young people learn how to reason better (they can also stimulate long-lost brain function in elderly folk). Basic games such as chess and draughts obviously inspire fine thinking skills, but even more modern-day games such as Rummikub are good to hone your childrens’ strategy techniques. You’ll find it’s a real question of trial and error when it comes to board games and children, as everyone will have their own likes and dislikes. You can probably guess what kinds of games your own children would like, but they may surprise you. If they haven’t played a lot of board games before, it’s a good idea to stress that they are only games, and that winning (although it may be the overall objective) isn’t the ultimate goal. In the

long run, developing a sense of good sportsmanship is far more important. Draughts is an excellent introduction to games of skill and chance, especially as it’s so easy to learn and fun to play. The classic word game Scrabble is a great test of a child’s dexterity with letters (and spelling), and there are plenty of ‘junior’ versions available. Rummikub is a more recent (and underrated) board game which has a lovely blend of skill and luck and is really eﬀective at developing maths skills. There is a huge range of board games to choose from, and in addition to being great fun, they really do encourage children to forget the television and switch oﬀ their computers. They also help keep boredom at bay, and may give you a blessed respite from that endless chorus of “What can I do today?” Best of all, board games promote family fun and teach the qualities of sportsmanship and being a team player, as well as help develop reasoning, literacy and maths skills. Maybe we should pray for rain more often! The weather’s not going to be inclement all summer long, however, and given that we live in one of the

KLmagazine July 2014

If you like Norfolk, you’ll love Birds!

Over 50 wonderful properties in wonderful locations! Every year, Birds Norfolk Holiday Homes helps hundreds of people, couples and families enjoy the very best that Norfolk has to offer with a beautiful selection of holiday rental properties. From quaint cottages by the sea to luxurious homes in market towns, Birds have the perfect home-from-home for you – whether you’re looking for a weekend break or a week-long stay. Our flexible and friendly service will ensure you have the best holiday memories – and that you’ll want to return for more! Self-catering holiday homes Fantastic locations All Visit England graded Dog and children friendly Ground floor accommodation Over 50 years experience

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KLmagazine July 2014

Summer Holidays

WALKING: 5 top tips Plan in advance – know where you’re going and how to get there. If you’re not walking along an established trail, get a map of the area before you set out. Learn first aid skills. If you’re walking far from built-up areas, it’s very important – even if you’re only walking for an hour or two, always carry a first aid kit. Look before you leap – it sounds obvious, but simple injuries can occur when people trip over a tree branch or rock. Children should always pay attention to what’s under their feet. Carry the right provisions. Food and enough water are important, and young children easily get dehydrated. Ensure you have suncream and plenty to drink to hand. Take breaks often. Getting tired isn’t a very good idea on the top of a hill – or anywhere else. Pace yourself and your children and make sure your energy doesn’t run out.

most beautiful counties in the country, the school holidays are the perfect opportunity to introduce your children to the pleasures of walking. Exploring the countryside with children can be great fun, but it’s important to take the necessary precautions. While they’ll experience nature first-hand in an unparalleled setting, they can also experience sunburn and dehydration, and do have a tendency to wander off. Make your first walks enjoyable by playing it safe! Children don’t need the stamina of an elephant or the agility of a mountain goat to go on a walk. Children aged two to four are capable of hiking anywhere from half a mile to two miles, with frequent rest stops. Children aged four to seven can walk up to three hours a day over easy terrain, and those aged eight and nine should be able to accomplish a full day’s walk. The key to a successful adventure is to prepare in advance. That means not only telling your children about what they’re doing and what they’ll see, but also bringing the right kit. For most people, that will include a map of the area, plenty to drink, suncream, sunglasses, insect repellent, snacks for the road, a hearty lunch, wipes, and the

right footwear and clothing. Teach your children that walking through the countryside is a privilege rather than a right, and that they shouldn’t take it for granted. They should respect footpaths and obey all rules. That will not only stop them from straying off and getting lost, but will also protect delicate flora and fauna from human damage. Children should also realise they should leave nature as they find it – without any rubbish. They should admire plants and animals with their eyes, not their hands, and understand that cleaning up after themselves is vital. It’s easy to keep track of children on short walks, but if you’re camping or going on a full-day walk there are more safety issues to consider. You may want to pack your child’s rucksack with a whistle, water bottle, warm sweater and snacks – just in case they do wander. Also be aware of ponds and streams that could pose a safety hazard for young children. Don’t let them out of your sight for a moment, and take special care if water is nearby (the same goes for dangerous drop-offs, steep verges and cliffs). Walking is a fantastic family activity

that doesn't cost the earth – and allows you and your children to see the very best of Norfolk: its landscape, its character and its wildlife. It will also teach your children basic safety tips and instill in them a love of what the natural world has to oﬀer. Hopefully that’s given you some ideas to brighten up the coming school-free weeks and keep your children entertained. Happy holidays – it’s easy when you know how!

KLmagazine July 2014

Access all areas? Enjoy the countryside this summer and stay on the right side of the law with the expert help of the legal team at Fraser Dawbarns...

ith summer on the way most people’s thoughts naturally turn to getting out and enjoying the warm weather. But whether you’re on foot, bicycle or any other form of transport, you need to tread carefully! The legal team at Fraser Dawbarns looks at some of the common scenarios you may encounter whilst out and about this summer.

Q A

Are pedal cyclists allowed on public paths? Cyclists beware! Although you’re deemed to be ‘green’ and encouraged by ministers and certain political parties, if you ride in the wrong place you could end up in hot water. If you’re riding on bridleways, restricted byways and byways open to traffic you should be fine, but note you must give way to walkers and horse riders. Ride on a public footpath or a pavement, and unless you have express or implied permission to do so, you’ll almost certainly be committing an offence. You can be issued with an on-the-spot fine by a police officer.

Q A

Can a landowner install gates and stiles where none exist presently? The Highways Agency will only grant permission for new gates and stiles

KLmagazine July 2014

where they relate to the prevention of the movement of animals. There will also be certain conditions relating to vehicular access in such permission. The answer is NO – at least not without the appropriate permission.

Q A

Can a farmer keep a bull in a field crossed by a public path? The law on this is quite complicated and is actually dependent upon the age and the breed of bull involved! There are also restrictions relating to bulls where cows and heifers are present as they are calmer when accompanied! However, there are laws governing this, and a bull which acts in such a way as to endanger the public may mean the landowner could commit an oﬀence under health and safety legislation.

misleading sign such as ‘Beware of the Fire-breathing Dragon’ in order to deter the public from crossing the land, then this is an oﬀence and should be reported to the Highways Agency. If you’re unsure of your rights, there are some really useful websites which give a good insight into the subject. Walkers should go to the website of the Ramblers Association (www.ramblers.org.uk) or for all things relating to cycling try the Sustrans website (www.sustrans.org.uk), which is a government-backed initiative. In general however, most situations call for a degree of common sense. Remember to respect the countryside and the environment. Remember to keep dogs on a lead, especially when the public and other animals and livestock are present. And if you take a picnic, take your litter home or dispose of it properly – if you don’t, you could be looking at a heavy ﬁne!

Q A

What are the laws surrounding signs such as Beware of the Dog ? If a sign is erected at the access to a public right of way or footpath by a landowner there are laws which govern how they are worded. They must be accurate and not misleading in any way. Landowners will generally place signs in order to deﬂect the duty of care back to the public. For example, if a sign says ‘Beware of the Dog’ and there is a dog in attendance then that’s reasonable. However, if a landowner places a

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

KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: One of the highlights of the Wisbech and Fenland Museum is Clarkson’s Chest. The chest contains evidence collected by the Wisbech-born anti-slavery campaigner (top right) Thomas Clarkson and was used to great eﬀect in his public meetings and speeches. In his life-long campaign, Clarkson travelled 35,000 miles and interviewed around 20,000 sailors.

A treasure trove of wonder and curiousity... From the very first, museums were intended as a way of bringing a weird and a wonderful world closer to home. It’s a tradition admirably continued by the Wisbech and Fenland Museum.

he Wisbech and Fenland Museum is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the whole country, and thanks to its fully-preserved Victorian interior (along with the original display cases) it repays visitors with a very real sense of stepping back in time. It looks Victorian and it feels Victorian, with every cabinet demonstrating the period’s love of combining scientific classification with collecting the weird and the wonderful. Whether it’s the giant eel caught in the River Nene, the ornately-framed mummified hand of an Ancient Egyptian, the recreation of Mrs Pooley’s shop and post office in Elm, the KLmagazine July 2014

stupendous collection of Staﬀordshire ﬁgures or the 1888 model of Sutton Bridge, there’s something in this hugely atmospheric museum that will appeal to everyone. Back in July 1835, and under the guiding force of Algernon Peckover, 31 gentlemen from the upper ranks of Wisbech society gathered in support of a museum being made available to the people of the town. The committee found a suitable home (a detached portion of George Snarey’s house in the Old Market) and spent £47 on wall cabinets, table cases and drawers for the mineral and insect collections, opening the museum for three hours on Fridays. The entrance

fee was one shilling per person. It was an immediate success, and as the Museum grew in popularity and more collections were donated the rooms soon became overcrowded. The Trustees (and the Museum is still an independent charitable trust today) realised a purpose-built museum was required and started looking for a permanent location. On 3rd January 1846 the Wisbech Advertiser reported that “the Trustees of the Wisbech Museum have joined with the Wisbech Literary Society in the purchase of a piece of ground adjoining the churchyard and opposite the Castle Lodge” – it cost them the grand sum of £2,500. 75

Local Life Designed by JC Buckler, the museum incorporated two wings linked by a common entrance hall and a lecture room – the larger wing housed the Museum, while the smaller was taken by the Literary Society for their library (which has been the home of Charles Dickens’ original manuscript of Great Expectations since 1868). The Wisbech and Fenland Museum opened its doors on 27th July 1847, and for almost 170 years it has continued to entertain and educate people of all ages from all walks of life. Picking highlights from the collections is an almost impossible task, but one of the most unusual (and fascinating) displays is the Cabinet of Curiosities. Inspired by the very earliest ‘museums’ of the 16th and 17th centuries (they largely died out when museum collections were broken up and displayed according to stricter standards of scientific classification), it’s a wonderful assembly of interesting and peculiar items. The William Smith Collection of Staffordshire figures (more than 80 pieces were donated to the Museum by his daughter in 1900-01) presents an eclectic cast of personalities from Cleopatra to Benjamin Franklin, and shouldn’t be missed. William Smith was a chemist (his shop was at the junction of High Street and Bridge Street) and in later life was widely regarded as an authority on the subject of fine art and supported many of the exhibitions held in Wisbech. Naturally, there’s a marvellous tribute to the life and work of local anti-slavery campaigner Thomas Clarkson. To gather evidence against the slave trade, he travelled 35,000 miles (1½ times around the world!) and interviewed some 20,000 sailors, collecting items demonstrating the cruelty of the trade in a specially-made chest. An important part of his public meetings, Clarkson’s Chest is an interesting example of an early visual aid and travelling museum – in addition to its sheer historical significance. Another quite remarkable exhibit at the Museum is the collection of Victorian miniature models of dinosaurs and other ancient animals. Made from lead and plaster-of-Paris, they’re almost certainly replicas of the life-sized reconstructions installed at Crystal Palace in 1852 (and which can still be seen today) – but the actual identity of the model maker and how they ended up in the Museum remains shrouded in mystery. Mystery, fascination, and wonder – the Wisbech and Fenland Museum is packed with all three. It’s unmissable.

ABOVE: A piece of mosaic ﬂooring from Pompeii and part of a marble relief (left) from Herculaneum: both towns were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius (still considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world) in 79AD

ABOVE: This French eagle emblem from a soldier’s helmet was found on the ﬁeld of Waterloo just two days after the battle, while this beautiful osprey (right) was captured near Wisbech by Museum founder Algernon Peckover in May 1882

ABOVE: Part of the magniﬁcent Sevres porcelain breakfast service (left) that belonged to Napoleon and was captured at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and a marvellous fossilised ﬁsh (right) from the Townshend Collection, originally found near Verona in Italy

THE WISBECH AND FENLAND MUSEUM Museum Square, Wisbech PE13 1ES Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm Admission: Free www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk

KLmagazine July 2014

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Brancaster 78

KLmagazine July 2014

Explorer

ABOVE: The real beauty of Brancaster is that it appeals to everyone – from walkers to ﬁshermen and from birdwatchers to artists

Famous for its mussels, and loved for its beauty It’s been home to Romans and smugglers, endangered birds, a major maltings industry – and it could have been the launch site of the UK’s space programme. Welcome to Brancaster!

KLmagazine July 2014

was at one time an impressive Roman fort. Branodunum was the northernmost of the string of Roman forts dotted along the east coast (the fort’s northern wall lay directly on the seashore at the time) and the garrison was manned by a cavalry unit of around 500 men and horses from Dalmatia (modern day Croatia). Built around 250AD, the walls stood almost 12ft tall and survived well into the 17th century, when they were plundered for various buildings in Brancaster, including the church of St. Mary. It may be peaceful today, but 200 years ago the quayside at Brancaster Staithe was a thriving centre of industry and activity. Local ﬁshing ships were dwarfed by cargo ships packed with coal and grain, and behind the brick

PICTURES: IAN WARD

he civil parish of Brancaster – comprising the village itself together with Brancaster Staithe and Burnham Deepdale – is one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots in Norfolk. It can also boast a few surprising claims to fame – it has one of the most famous links golf courses in the UK, it’s oﬃcially one of the driest villages in the country, it’s supposedly where the young Horatio Nelson learned to sail, and at one time it was seriously considered as the launch site for the British space programme. Brancaster’s roots can be found a short way along the Norfolk Coast Path, at the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Branodunum. Although all that remains today is a grass ﬁeld with crop marks and a couple of defensive ditches, this

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Explorer

ABOVE: At low tide, the beach at Brancaster oﬀers huge expanses of sand and seemingly endless views

quay stood one of the largest industrial buildings in Norfolk. The enormous malthouse (it was actually the biggest in England) was built in the 18th century and was described by John Chambers in his 1829 History of Norfolk as “one of the most remarkable curiousities in the county.” Around 100 metres long and stretching from the quayside to the village high street, the malthouse was once processing barley into malt at a rate of 120 tons a week. Its fortunes were shortlived, however. The production of malt at Brancaster had ceased by 1840 and the building was demolished between 1850-70. With the decline in trade, the condition of the quay gradually deteriorated, but thanks to construction and renovation work to improve facilities in 2007, a thriving ﬁshing industry continues to survive, and today the harbour bustles with pleasure craft. At low tide it’s still possible to see the original brickwork of the old quay. Tides have often played a part in the fortunes of one of the most famous links golf courses in the UK. Home to the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club (founded in 1892), it’s a wonderful 6,457 yard par 71 course – and while that’s not particularly long, the closing nine holes are often be played directly into a strong westerly wind which can more than make up for a lack of length. 80

One of the last remaining ‘Artisan’ clubs in the country, it’s also one of the most endangered, and if estimates of rising sea levels are to be believed, the course may be completely lost to the sea within the next 10 years. The lovely beach at Brancaster is a justifiably popular destination for a range of different activities – on a quiet day at low tide, it offers a huge expanse of sand and seemingly endless views (be aware that at high tide the beach is often cut off, as the beach road and marshes flood). Meanwhile, the Brancaster Estate (maintained by the National Trust) forms part of a unique coastal common, the special qualities of the landscape and importance of the wildlife being recognised in its standing as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, SSSI, and a European Marne Site. Brent geese spend the winter here after breeding in Siberia, wading birds probe the mud for worms to fuel their busy lives, and common seals can occasionally be seen hauled on the sands or bobbing about in the water. Vulnerable ground-nesting birds like ringed plover and little tern nest on the beach, laying their camouflaged eggs directly onto the sand. And as for Brancaster being the UK version of Cape Canaveral, it was a seriously-considered idea during the 1950s/60s that would have seen the village transformed into a facility for

spaceplanes undertaking secret flights over the USSR. The development would have seen the village as we know it abandoned and the villagers rehoused, but the installation of North Sea oil rigs saw the idea shelved, as the risk of atmospheric re-entry material hitting the rigs was too great. Thankfully the only things filling the skies above Brancaster these days are the kites of children and the flocks of pink-footed geese.

ABOVE: Brancaster’s church of St. Mary

KLmagazine July 2014

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Saints George, Michael and Edmund on the the Parish War memorial in the north aisle of All Saints’ church in King’s Lynn – dating from 1920, the window commemorates the fallen parishioners of the Great War. Recent research on virtually all the names on the memorial will be a major part of the church’s forthcoming WWI exhibition.

KLmagazine July 2014

Local Life

ABOVE: The oldest church in King’s Lynn, All Saints’ quite rightly likes to call itself the town’s ‘hidden pearl’

The hidden wonders of Lynn’s oldest church Despite its historic value and aesthetic treasures, the church of All Saints’ in King’s Lynn is still a tranquil place of prayer...

utside the church of All Saints’ in the centre of King’s Lynn, on the external south wall of the chancel, is a modest row of corbels (see picture at right) above the remains of a column and arch of a former chapel. Humble as they may be, these stones, Norman in origin, may well be the oldest parts of King’s Lynn currently in existence. The self-styled ‘hidden pearl’ of the town (it’s actually in Hillington Square between Millfleet and Valingers Road), All Saints’ is undoubtedly its oldest Christian foundation and was the original parish church of King’s Lynn. KLmagazine July 2014

First referred to in a document concerning the building of St Margaret’s in 1101, the original Saxon church was rebuilt by Ralph de Toeni around 1095 (the year before work even started on Norwich Cathedral) and was under the patronage of the Augustinian Priory of West Acre until 1534. A splendid medieval building, All Saints’ was endowed by the rich merchants of the parish (much of the church as we see it now dates from about 1400) but it entered a period of decline following the Reformation. The church itself was divided in two, with extensive panelling separating the chancel from the nave and encasing 83

Local Life the medieval rood screen – a fine example which wouldn’t be seen again until 1841. The chancel itself was used as a schoolroom. At the time, All Saints’ was considerably bigger than it is today, but in 1763 the tower collapsed, taking with it the west bay of the nave, demolishing the porch in the process and breaking the mid-14th century font. At the west end of the church you can still see tombstones cracked and damaged by the fall. The fortunes of All Saints’ revived thanks to two major Victorian restorations by local architect William Newham (1841-3) and Ewan Christian (1867-9) which are largely responsible for the church of today – although the chancel was severely re-ordered in the 1970s. Despite some 1,000 years of change, restoration and alteration, All Saints’ has retained a quite unique feature in the form of the beautifully-peaceful Anchorhold, which lies against the sunwarmed south wall of the chancel. It housed a succession of men and women who lived apart from the world and devoted themselves to a solitary life of religious devotion – and it’s a reminder that the church is not a museum, but a house of prayer. It also continues to play an important role in the life of the local community. As commemorations of the First World War take place nationwide, All Saints’ will be holding a special exhibition remembering the sacrifice of members of the parish (they’re memorialised in a paticularly grand window in the west of the aisle) – and an evocation of WWI in words and music (in association with Stopfield Productions) will be held in the church on Sunday July 13th at 3pm. The King’s Lynn Festival comes to All Saints’ on Tuesday 22nd July in the form of Renaissance wind band Blondel, and soprano Bridget Kerrison will be performing a free programme of English and German songs in the church on Saturday 26th at 3.30pm. It’s the perfect time to support this important part of the history of King’s Lynn, especially as the church is shortly to embark on a major restoration project to improve facilities. And don’t worry – if you can’t attend any of the events, you can still can help safeguard the future of All Saints’ by donating by text – simply text ASSL58 £5 to 70070. From May to September All Saints’ is open on Saturdays from 9.30am-5pm. It is also open around service times through the week. See the website at www.allsaintskingslynn.org.uk for more information and details.

ABOVE: The Lady Chapel in All Saints’ south transept. The painting above the altar is a copy of the Holy Family by Andrea del Sarto – for some reason the artist (Merryl Middleton) omitted the figure of the young John the Baptist, which is seen in the original.

FACES OF ALL SAINTS: (from left to right:) a detail from the memorial window to John Bardell, who was killed on the Somme on July 29th 1916 – the face of Saint Alban may actually be a portrait of John; a portrait of Saint Philip (note the loaves in his hand) from the only remaining section of the medieval rood screen, rediscovered in 1841 (defaced by Protestant reformers who disapproved of imagery in church); the statue of Our Lady in memory of Walter Bridge, parish priest from 1951-1988.

ABOVE: All Saints’ anchorhold, a unique survival that once housed anchorites, men and women who lived apart from the world and devoted themselves to a solitary life of prayer. The medieval King’s Lynn mystic Margery Kempe is thought to have visited the anchoress here.

KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

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t seems everyone’s talking about energy efficiencies these days. Just last month, the government launched the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, offering a range of incentives to encourage us to make our homes more efficient in how they use power. It’s also a message at the heart of 4 Way, whose three divisions – Refrigeration, Electrical and Energy – offer a complementary range of professional services and technologically-advanced products designed with one thing in mind: to save you money through being more efficient with your energy. “Energy efficiency isn’t the same as energy conservation,” explains Steve Simpson of 4 Way Refrigeration Ltd. “It’s about using (and paying for!) less energy to provide the same service. Turning off lights is energy conservation. Replacing them with the latest technology and using much less energy to produce the same amount of light – that’s energy efficiency.” A combination of award-winning products, expert knowledge, and a KLmagazine July 2014

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Local Life

ABOVE: Yes, that’s Charlotte Rampling, Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley in The Duchess (2008) – but that’s also Holkham Hall in the background, making one of its many screen appearances

Coming soon to a screen near you – it’s Norfolk With its natural beauty and architectural heritage, it’s hardly surprising that film producers find our area so appealing – but you’ll be amazed at just how many screen credits the county has

ights... camera... Norfolk! For over 70 years, the county has played a supporting role in a huge number of films – from low-budget independent movies to Hollywood blockbusters. Here’s a brief screen history of King’s Lynn and the surrounding area. 1941-1957 As you might imagine, wartime drama was the order of the day, kicking off with Powell and Pressburger’s One of Our Aircraft is Missing, (1941) starring Godfrey Tearle and Eric Portman. Made under the authority of the Ministry of Information and partly filmed in King’s Lynn (which doubled for Holland), it was part of a

series of films aimed at boosting morale, and is generally considered one of the best British films of the era. The ‘performance’ of King’s Lynn as the wartime Netherlands was so successful the town was also used as the location of a Dutch shipyard in Powell and Pressburger’s The Silver Fleet two years later. After the war, it was time for the big stars to come out. Playing a nobleman’s wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement, Margaret Lockwood appeared in The Wicked Lady (1945), which was filmed at Blickling Hall and had one of the biggest audiences ever for a film of its period.

The beautiful setting of Cley windmill and the North Norfolk marshes were the rather unlikely setting for Conspirator (1949), which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Taylor in the tale of a beautiful American woman who falls in love with a British oﬃcer who turns out to be a spy. The ﬁlm created some controversy at the time over the age gap between the Taylors – Robert was nearly 40, while Elizabeth was only sixteen at the time of production. Conflict of Wings (1954) was actually set in Norfolk, and concerned a village spurred to action by the news that a nearby RAF station was about to take

KLmagazine July 2014

One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1941)

ABOVE: In Die Another Day (2002) this is a paddy ﬁeld in North Korea. In real life, it’s the lovely setting of Burnham Deepdale

The Wicked Lady (1945)

Conspirator (1949

The Dambusters (1954)

KLmagazine July 2014

over a much-loved and untouched bird sanctuary – filming took place at Ludham, Wells and West Raynham. That same year saw the production of the all-time classic The Dambusters, starring Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. Some scenes were shot at Langham airfield, while King’s Lynn and the Wash also made an appearance once again as the Dutch coast. Before leaving the 1950s, don’t forget Barnacle Bill – the 1957 comedy starring Alec Guinness as a retired sea captain (he also played six of his maritime ancestors). It was filmed partly at Hunstanton, which appears in the film as Sandcastle-on-Sea. 1962-1976 Norfolk didn’t exactly take centre screen during this period, but there were three major productions to take note of. The American director Roger Corman made eight films based on the horror stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and the last was The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) starring Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd. The priory at Castle Acre made a suitably creepy screen debut – and it wouldn’t be its last. At the time of release, Operation Crossbow (1965) was billed as the ‘top screen adventure of the year’ and its cast included George Peppard, Sophia Loren and Trevor Howard. Telling the story of the German development of the V-1 and V-2 bombs and the efforts of British Intelligence to stop it, the film featured the beach at Holkham and Purfleet Street in King’s Lynn. Another mixture of fact and fiction was central to The Eagle Has Landed (1976), which starred Michael Caine and an all-star cast that included everyone from Jenny Agutter to Larry Hagman.

Keep an eye out for the parachute jumping scenes – that’s Holkham again, and it’s worth noting that Jack Higgins’ original book was actually inspired by the author’s visits to North Norfolk – especially Blakeney. 1980-1990s This was a period when television productions really discovered the potential of Norfolk as a location. The windmill at Denver, Beeston church, and the railway bridge at Briston all featured in the BBC series 'Allo 'Allo (1982-92), while Cley Mill, the beach at Holkham and Salthouse helped brighten up the rather lacklustre Anglia mini-series Devices and Desires (1991). Television adaptations of Charles Dickens saw the transformation of the quayside at King’s Lynn for Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), while Thornham became Pip’s childhood home for Great Expectations (1999). One of the most interesting productions was the BBC’s WWI drama All the King’s Men (1999) starring David Jason. Although it featured Sandringham, Sheringham, Cromer, Blickling, Burnham Deepdale and Holkham Hall and won Jason a Best Actor award, the atrocious Norfolk accents were widely criticised and prompted the formation of the Friends of Norfolk Dialect. On the big screen, local places continued to make an appearance alongside Hollywood A-listers, although it was usually in disguise. Castle Rising was turned into Denmark for Out of Africa (1985), a ﬁlm that starred Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and won seven Oscars. By contrast, Revolution (1985) was a massive ﬂop. Despite featuring Al Pacino, Natassia Kinski and Donald 89

Local Arts

Revolution (1985)

ABOVE: Glorious 39 (2009) featured Romola Garai, Eddie Redmayne and Juno Temple – with strong support from the priory at Castle Acre (in the background)

Sutherland, by far the biggest star was the area around King Street and the Customs House in King’s Lynn, which were given a spectacular makeover to become New York in the 18th century. The film cost around £50 million to make, and only grossed £700,000 in the United States. Al Pacino didn’t make another film for four years. Rather more successful was Shakespeare in Love (1988), which won seven Oscars and featured a now iconic scene with Gwyneth Paltrow on Holkham Beach. Made in the same year, but less well known is Dad Savage, which stars Patrick Stewart as a tulip plantation owner, quasi-legal entrepreneur and ‘cowboy’ – and was filmed at Hunstanton, Wells lifeboat station, King’s Lynn and Welney St Lawrence. 2000 TO DATE One of the most extreme screen transformations of local places took place for the 20th James Bond film in 2002. Die Another Day was Pierce Brosnan’s last appearance as 007, and the film featured a memorable scene of luxury cars plummeting through the sky into a North Korean paddy field – which was actually Burnham Deepdale (RAF Marham was also used in the film). In 2007 Walpole St. Andrew became the site of a WWII massacre for a scene in Joe Wright’s Oscar-winning Atonement, which starred James McAvoy and Keira Knightley and was based on a book by ex-UEA Creative Writing student Ian McEwan. Swaffham gained small-screen prominence thanks to the ITV series Kingdom (2007-2009) which turned it into Market Shipborough, the home of Norfolk solicitor Peter Kingdom

(Stephen Fry) – who can also be seen walking on the beach (a la Paltrow) at Holkham in the series’ title sequence. Indeed, Holkham Hall now became something of a Hollywood A-lister in its own right. In 2008, it featured in the delightful and decidedly strange (canine reincarnation, anyone?) Dean Spanley with Peter O’ Toole and Sam Neill, and Saul Dibb’s lavish period drama The Duchess, which starred Keira Knightley as the Duchess of Devonshire. The following year, Holkham Hall could be seen in the low-budget Shadows in the Sun with Jean Simmons (it also used locations at Walsingham and Brancaster); the enchanting Princess Kaiulani, which told the story of a Hawaiian Princess who fled civil war in her own country to come to Victorian England; and Stephen Poliakoff's wartime thriller Glorious 39. Starring Julie Christie, Romola Garai and David Tennant, the film also employed locations at Salthouse, Walsingham, and the priory at Castle Acre. Finally, and from the sublime to the ridiculous, 2013 saw the release of Tony Britten’s bio-pic Peace and Conflict, which was filmed at Gresham’s School in Holt (it also featured the railway station at Weybourne) and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, which used Cromer Pier and several locations in Norwich. COMING SOON... While you’re watching DVDs of Out of Africa and The Dambusters, keep an eye out for Guy Myhill’s forthcoming film The Goob which is set in the world of stock car racing – and features both Swaffham Raceway and Wisbech.

Atonement (2007)

Dean Spanley (2008)

Princess Kaiulani (2009)

KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

Local Arts

ABOVE: The Salute and Grand Canal by Jeremy Barlow was painted in May 2010 and is an ideal example of his atmospheric treatment of light and water – but the artist’s true love is North Norfolk, as in this (opposite) painting of Burnham Overy Staithe, which won the Stanley Grimm Prize at last year’s Royal Institute of Oil Painters Exhibition at the Mall Galleries

A world of art – but the inspiration is at home... The beautiful work of acclaimed artist Jeremy Barlow features some of the most evocative locations in Europe, but his true love is the breathtaking landscape of his home – North Norfolk.

fter 50 years of painting here, North Norfolk still takes my breath away,” says Jeremy Barlow. “The wondrous skies that form over the Wash and northwards from the coast are a constant fascination that are sometimes too much to be believed.” For anyone who knows Jeremy Barlow’s paintings, they’ll undoubtedly be familiar with his aﬃnity with Norfolk. It’s one of the reasons why he’s considered one of the country’s most distinguished landscape painters, and why he’s known for his ability to

KLmagazine July 2014

capture rural settings or a stormy sky’s atmosphere perfectly. After studying at the Northampton School of Art, Jeremy spent several years developing his own style of painting while following a successful career working in studios in London and the Midlands. In 1977, he moved to Germany and for the next six years concentrated on painting German, French, Belgian and Dutch landscapes and townscapes. Since returning to England in 1983 he has exhibited at many major venues including the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Institute of

Painters in Watercolours, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Society of British Artists. Boasting countless professional awards and achievements – including being an elected member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) and winning the Alan Gourlay Memorial Prize in 1999 – it’s no surprise that Barlow is a well known name in the art world. Only last year Jeremy won the Stanley Grimm Prize (for the third time in ten years) with a painting of Burnham Overy Staithe. Although Jeremy’s subject matter

Local Arts

ABOVE: Jeremy Barlow’s stunning painting of Brancaster Beach (2014) and (below) a detail from a 2013 painting of Troyes, showing the beautiful timbered buildings typical of that part of France.

varies greatly – from St Tropez cafe facades to Venetian alleyways – it’s North Norfolk that steals the show for him, time and time again. “In spite of painting in some of the most beautiful cities and landscapes of France, Italy and beyond,” he says, looking out of his studio window across a lush green field, “North Norfolk has an unspoilt, raw quality that’s truly inspiring. These qualities encourage a looseness and spontaneity of technique that’s both exciting and evocative.” He points out that he has different ways of painting, depending on where he is. “Many of the subjects I paint in Europe require a more considered and controlled approach, as they are relatively topographical,” he explains. “Composition and accuracy of the architecture and figures come together to form a concise image and atmosphere peculiar to its location, such as the grandeur of the Salute and Grand Canal in Venice, or the massive form of Mont St. Victoire (Cezanne’s Mountain) near Aix en Provence. Yet somehow a simple but atmospheric image of ‘Morston Mud’ or ‘Sunny Intervals at Brancaster Staithe’ can evoke just as much emotion or affinity with the subject as these much more complex works.” Although Jeremy has exhibited widely and his work is found in collections around the world, he’s exhibited in Norfolk more than any other location. Enormous interest was created by the annual exhibitions that were once held at what used to be the Ringstead Gallery, and this interest continues today with collectors from all 94

over the country visiting Jeremy’s new gallery in Holt. Apart from the many activities that occur everyday on the Norfolk coast, he’s visiting Venice, the Amalfi coast and Provence in the coming months. A jealously-inducing perk of his job, Jeremy’s various travelling ventures have taken him far and wide, to (as he describes them) “countless inspiring and challenging places”. In 2008 Jeremy was awarded a fellowship by the San Ei Gen Foundation, an institution established to foster cultural exchange in the arts between the UK and Japan. This prestigious award allowed him to spend time studying and painting in Japan. His visual exploration of this unfamiliar landscape moved far beyond the busy boulevard cafes of provincial French villages. This trip – both educational and enlightening – allowed Jeremy to translate his ability to capture light and atmosphere from sundrenched town squares to include an enchanting and ancient culture. But it’s North Norfolk where his heart truly lies. And despite local collectors of Barlow’s work harbouring an understandable soft spot for the depictions of their hometown, he’s quick to point out that it’s often people unfamiliar with the area who are most visibly moved. “I find it quite surprising that in spite of not knowing this part of the world, many international visitors to my exhibitions are drawn to the paintings of Norfolk’s open landscapes and big skies,” he says. “The mud flats, marshes and open beaches seem to strike a chord with them, although they’ve no

physical aﬃnity with the subject.” He smiles. “It’s a magical place indeed.” Jeremy Barlow’s remarkable handling of light and perspective is what makes his paintings so captivating, and ultimately, where better to capture such a timeless and atmospheric rural setting than the beautiful, unspoilt county in which he resides. It won’t be a particularly big surprise that North Norfolk’s breathtaking landscapes will continue to be a ﬁrm favourite for years to come, not only with his many local and international followers, but for Jeremy Barlow himself. And he certainly does it proud.

Jeremy Barlow is President of the King’s Lynn Art Club, following in the footsteps of Walter Dexter and Edward Seago. A new collection of his work can be seen at his gallery in Holt alongside other acclaimed painters of high merit. For more details and information, see www.jeremybarlowfineart.co.uk. KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

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KLmagazine July 2014

My KL

The page made by KL magazine readers DEAR KL MAGAZINE... I just thought I’d let you know just how far your great magazine goes. We have a vacation home in Florida, USA and when we visit (about twice a year) I always take my copies of KL magazine with me. With all the links between Canada and the United States and King’s Lynn, together with their love of anything ‘old’ or ‘royal’ they love reading the magazine. Every time we go, I swap them around and pass the old copies on to our American friends who are always fascinated by our local area. If you visit our website (see below) you’ll see a video on the home page – and if you go to the 2.04 minute mark you’ll see the magazines we’ve left featured. We also have a Facebook following of over 2,700 and I’ve just told them about the new video so they’ll see the magazines as well! Just goes to prove that you can take the girl out of Norfolk, but... Thanks for a great magazine! JEAN DIDWELL www.jeansfloridavilla.com

DEAR KL MAGAZINE... Having just picked up a copy of the June issue of KL magazine I was surprised to ﬁnd the feature on Ely Cathedral, although very interesting, had no reference to its Norfolk connections. Did the writer of the article not realise that the beautiful ceiling in the nave was painted by Henry Styleman Le Strange of Old Hunstanton. A talented art amateur and decorative painter, he started painting the ceiling in 1858 after two years’ research and study, and worked on it for four years. At the time of his sudden death on 27th July 1862, he had only completed half the length of the ceiling and it was ﬁnished by the English artist and art collector Thomas Gambier Parry. If you visit the Heritage Centre in Hunstanton, there’s a very interesting exhibition all about Henry Styleman Le Strange. JANET YATES Hunstanton

DEAR KL MAGAZINE... Later this month, the Yorke Trust Summer Opera will be performing a very special production of Armide in St. Mary’s Church at South Creake. Not only is the summer of 2014 the 30th anniversary of the Yorke Trust, it’s also the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of opera’s great reformers, Christoph Willibald Gluck – and it’s the 70th birthday of the Yorke Trust’s founder, Rodney Slatford OBE! The aim of the summer opera course is to give aspiring musicians a period of intensive training at the highest possible level in repertoire they might not otherwise encounter. Armide is one of Gluck’s last operas and whilst it’s not one of his best-known works, it does contain some of his most enduring music. This month’s production will be performed in French with an orchestra of period instrumentalists drawn from conservatoires and universities from around the world. The students are coached by a team of distinguished tutors who largely give their time and professional expertise free of charge in order that students can be oﬀered the course on merit and potential rather

KLmagazine July 2014

than on their ability to pay. Armide will be performed over four nights starting with a Preview Performance on Tuesday 22nd, performances on Thursday 24th and Saturday 26th, and a special Gala Evening on Friday 25th – which will include a champagne reception before the opera, interval refreshments and the chance to meet the company at the end of the performance. Also part of the celebrations will be a performance of Faces of the Sorceress at The Balcony, Burnham Overy Staithe on Saturday 19th July at 7.30pm. An informal concert oﬀering an array of operatic sorcery including such femmes fatales and devious divas as Handel’s Alcina and Mozart’s the Queen of the Night, the concert is being generously hosted by Tom and Henrietta Faire, and encourages students to perform in public other works they’ve been studying. For further details or to book any of these concerts, please telephone 01328 823501 or go to the website at www.theyorketrust.org. SCILLA LANDALE For the Yorke Trust of King’s Lynn

The Last Word

CrossCurren s

with Canon Chris Ivory, King’s Lynn Minster

or King’s Lynn, July is Festival month, and while Festival Too is great fun, I must admit I enjoy classical music much more. The 200th anniversary of the death of Charles Burney will provide a major theme for this year’s Festival, and it’s very significant for the Minster. In 1751, Charles Burney was encouraged by John Turner (the MP for the town) to come to King’s Lynn as organist of St Margaret’s. The move was for the sake of Burney’s health, but a salary more than three times his London wage was no doubt an added inducement. Burney persuaded the good people of Lynn that St Margaret’s needed a new organ, and then encouraged them to award the £700 contract to an unknown Swiss immigrant and organ builder named Johannes (John) Snetzler. Snetzler’s masterpiece was installed in St Margaret’s in 1754 and was immediately acclaimed one of the finest organs in England. It could be claimed as the most important 18th century English organ, because it made Snetzler’s reputation. He was immediately in demand all over the country. On the downside, some organ builders have blamed Snetzler for keeping them poor. These dedicated craftspeople had never been known to make great fortunes (some of the greatest had been made bankrupt) but Snetzler was the first to introduce some standardization of parts and completing organs in a factory before installation, thereby keeping costs down. There are many authoritative and comprehensive sources of information about Burney and Snetzler and the history of the Minster organ, but I’m told that most people find organs

infinitely boring, especially their technicalities. When in polite company, I tend to keep quiet about how I find the complexity, intricacy and ingenuity of organs endlessly fascinating, and their infinitely varied sound and music invigorating and compelling. Well, most of it anyway! Recently I came across the artist Lyonel Feininger (see picture below). He was an organist and composer of fugues, but he was a much better painter. In the early 20th century, he developed the idea of semi-transparent drawing by which different aspects of the subject could be presented together. His ideas connected to the development of the Cubist style familiar from Picasso’s later work. Cubism tries to present different aspects and perceptions of the subject simultaneously, and Feininger saw it as the pictorial equivalent of a Bach fugue. Bach could take a very simple idea and look at it from every angle. He could weave it into a pattern, turn it upside down or backwards, stretch it, shorten it, ornament it, and put it together in every possible way to make a monumental piece of music. According to Feininger, it took artists nearly 200 years to do the same thing visually. All of this will come together for me at the Festival concert celebrating Burney, which (for the first time) will use the Minster organ alongside a baroque orchestra to play a programme of music familiar to Burney, some actually by Burney; the kind of concert that Burney himself would have presented during his time in King’s Lynn. I’ve no doubt the audience will find it thrilling, even those who wouldn’t easily admit to liking that kind of music. Adventure, risking something

diﬀerent, is important to enrich life, but there’s another side to this: the danger of letting the things that we enjoy, that enliven and energise us, or console and encourage us, slip away and get lost. Perhaps through laziness, or being too busy; perhaps because there’s a nagging sense of guilt about enjoying ourselves, or because we don’t have anyone who will share our enthusiasm, the things that give colour to our lives can be marginalised and our lives become greyer. It may be music or art, gardening or any creative activity that energises us, or it may be a faith that used to be real and dynamic, but which has faded and become neglected and half forgotten. That’s not to commend lazy selfindulgence –on the contrary. Don’t lose sight of what gets you moving, what makes life vibrant and gives it meaning. Art, music, architecture, even football can do it – though beware, because competition can’t do it. Competition is about defeat – it’s about death, not life. This is why art, music, architecture and design are so important for the Minster. They’re about life beyond ourselves, and so – ultimately – point us to God.

KLmagazine July 2014

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