KL Magazine November 2015 by KL Magazine

ISSN 2044–7965

ISSUE 62 NOVEMBER 2015 PRICELESS

magazine

WEST NORFOLK | NORTH NORFOLK | COASTAL

COVER IMAGE

Fireworks in the Walks, King’s Lynn by Ian Ward

meet the team... MANAGING DIRECTOR Laura Murray MANAGING EDITOR Eric Secker DESIGN TEAM Amy Phillips Lisa Tonroe

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Ward

SALES AND PROMOTION Daniel Thomas CONTRIBUTORS Emma Barnard Alex Dallas Michael Middleton

contact

18 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn PE30 1JW 01553 601201 info@klmagazine.co.uk 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.

ou shouldn’t need any reminding of Guy Fawke’s Night – after all, we’ve been lighting bonfires and filling the night skies of November 5th with rockets and fireworks for over 400 years now. But if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to stage a major display such as the ever-popular Fawkes in the Walks in King’s Lynn, you’ll find our chat with Vanessa White from Whitelightning Pyrotechnics on page 112 particularly interesting. Illuminating, you could say. Friends Ross Taylor and Rod Garnham have reached even giddier heights than that, however, sending a packet of their refreshingly-eccentric Corkers Crisps into space in 2012. And that’s not the only world record the pair can lay claim to – you can read the remarkable success story of this local brand on page 90 of this month’s magazine. Indeed, we’ve met plenty of people with fascinating stories to tell this month. The worldfamous dancing duo and Strictly Come Dancing favourites Vincent Simone and Flavia Carace took time out of a busy rehearsal schedule to talk about their forthcoming show at the Theatre Royal in Norwich (page 8); Conservation Officer Pam Lynn spoke about her laudable work in protecting the area’s architectural heritage at the launch of this year’s Mayor’s Design Awards (page 34); while former Director General of MI5 Stella Rimington needs no introduction. You can read about her career in the real world of espionage on page 40. Enjoy the magazine, have a safe Guy Fawke’s Night – and we’ll see you again next month. FROM THE KL MAGAZINE TEAM

KLmagazine November 2015

Contents

NOVEMBER 2015

52 KLmagazine November 2015

6-13 WHAT’S ON This month’s diary of forthcoming events

58-65 FASHION The latest looks from the local boutiques

8-10 STRICTLY SPEAKING... Vincent and Flavia are coming to Norwich

68-70 HOLKHAM’S WORLD FAMOUS HAT The Norfolk origins of the bowler hat

14 KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE Spectacular shows for the Autumn

78-87 FOOD AND DRINK Reviews, recipes and recommendations

16-18 A FAMILY HISTORY IN STONE The story of Baconsthorpe Castle

90-92 A CORKER OF AN IDEA... Inside the fascinating world of Corkers Crisps

22-23 THE VIEW FROM THE TOP Inside Happisburgh’s famous lighthouse

96-98 SAVIOUR FROM THE SKIES The work of the East Anglian Air Ambulance

28-30 THE FUTURE OF LOCAL EDUCATION A look at the West Norfolk Academies Trust

100 SAMARTIANS A look at the public face of the service

34 THE BIG INTERVIEW With Conservation Oﬃcer Pam Lynn

102-104 A NEW ERA FOR AUDI... It’s time to celebrate at King’s Lynn Audi

40-42 INSIDE A SECRET WORLD... A proﬁle of Stella Rimington

106-108 SOUNDS OF THE 17th CENTURY The famous organ of King’s Lynn Minster

46 YOU AND YOUR PETS With local vet Alex Dallas

112-114 GONE IN A FLASH... Putting a major ﬁreworks display together

48-50 FAKENHAM RACECOURSE Exciting changes and a new race season

116-118 BRIAN SADLER Combining a love of sailing and photography

52-54 WELNEY WETLAND TRUST Keeping track of our most treasured birds

122 MICHAEL MIDDLETON On the debatable joys of car boot bargains

NOVEMBER BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Sun 8 Nov STEWART LEE Thought-provoking, satirical stand-up £8 - £21

Tues 10 - Sat 14 Nov HANDBAGGED Olivier award-winning comedy starring Susie Blake £7 - £24

Tues 17 - Sat 21 Nov GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA World class opera: Donizetti, Mozart and Handel £8 - £53

Sun 15 Nov BRIT FLOYD Sonically perfect and visually awesome Pink Floyd show £8 - £32.50

Tues 24 - Sat 28 Nov THE NUTCRACKER Northern Ballet's production of magical Christmas ballet £8 - £37.50

The Last Tango

Mon 2 - Sat 7 Nov THE LAST TANGO Strictly superstars Vincent and Flavia in their ultimate farewell stage show £8 - £37.50

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

Your Local Downham Market Auction Rooms SO L

We hold regular auction sales of antiques, household furniture effects and collectables on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Advertised on £560

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Christmas Auction Dates 2nd & 16th December 4th December - Wines and Spirits

BARRY L HAWKINS Auctioneers £1,100

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

KLmagazine November 2015

November

Tuesday 17th - Wednesday 18th

LAVENDER HILL MOB THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: ‘SEARCHING FOR SANTA’ King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place PE30 1JW A Christmas show for all ages from the multi award-winning ‘Lavender Hill Mob Theatre Company’, an inclusive organisation based in King’s Lynn. The charity aims to include everyone in the community in all aspects of musical theatre, whatever their age, experience or abilities. Join them on a magical journey to find Santa - filled with laughs and a few tears along the way. For information please visit the website www.lhmtc.co.uk, and to book tickets call the box office on 01553 764864 or visit the website www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk.

Saturday 28th

BOOKENDS PRESENT: SIMON & GARFUNKEL THROUGH THE YEARS Guildhall Theatre, King's Lynn Art Centre PE30 1HA (7:30pm) Bookends are back on tour with their moving and powerful live performance and multimedia show - taking a chronological journey through the friendship and career of Simon and Garfunkel. With ever expanding visuals, the show opens at the start of their career and ends at the much-publicised break up. Featuring hits such as The Sound of Silence, Mrs Robinson, The Boxer and the unforgettable Bridge Over Troubled Water, the show is a must see for any music lover. For further information and to book contact 01553 764864 or visit the website www.kingslynnarts.co.uk. Tickets are £12 and £10 for concessions. KLmagazine November 2015

REMEMBER, REMEMBER: On 5th November 1866, the church organ at Little Walsingham was destroyed by a charge of gunpowder

Sunday 22nd BOOKFEST EVENT WITH CELEBRATED CRIME WRITERS Briarfields, Main Road, Titchwell PE31 8BB (2pm-4.30pm) Love books? Then you’ll love this unique opportunity to hear from two fabulous authors, Jim Kelly and Elly Griﬃths, both of whose books are set on the North Norfolk coastline. The authors will do a joint talk about their latest releases - ‘Death on Demand’ by Kelly and ‘The Ghost Fields’ and ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ by Griﬃths, before taking questions from the audience. Afterwards both authors will be available to sign copies of their books as a ‘Posh Afternoon Tea’ is served. Tickets are £15 and include afternoon tea. To purchase tickets please call 01485 210742.

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th THE DERSINGHAM ART AND CRAFTS TRAIL Various locations in Dersingham (10am-4pm) The Dersingham Art and Crafts Trail consists of a cluster of artists and craft-workers that are all located in or close to the village of Dersingham. The Trail aims to link the studio venues and encourage visitors to take a tour round the village’s inspiring and diverse artists and craftworkers. The Trail is growing and ten local artists are now opening up their studios to the public, specialising in paintings, photography and pottery. Flyers including a map are available from Dersingham Pottery at 46 Chapel Road, PE31 6PN. For full Art Trail details visit the website www.DersinghamArtTrail.org or contact Jo on 01485 541790.

Christmas Winter Wonderland! Now open!

3rd - 20th Dec (Thu-Sun) plus 21st, 22nd & 23rd Dec

• Indoor, Outdoor & LED Christmas Lights • Life-size Father Christmas • Animations • Christmas Village Scenes • Artificial & Fibre Optic Christmas Trees • Real Christmas Trees (available early December)

SANTA GROTTO O’S PE DECEMBER NS !

Nativity scenes with real animals Free entry to Nativity, Tea Room & Gift Shop Farm open as usual

A truly magical Christmas experience 10am - 5pm

Garden Centre & Coffee Shop

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

Celebrate the Yeaar in style New Year The Barn Bar B n at The

No need to pre-book!

Garden Centre Coffee Shop Aquatics Reptile Centre Tools and accessories Bird feeding products

Arrive to a glass of Prosecco followed by a three course dinner, then dance the night away to our resident DJ. £65.00 per person Dress code: Lounge suit or black tie

BEST WESTERN PLUS Knights Hill Hotel & Spa South W Wootton, ootton, Kings Lynn, Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ conference@knightshill.co.uk T 01553 675566 E confer ence@knightshill.co.uk

www.abacushotels.co.uk www .abacushotels.co.uk 12

Real Nordmann Christmas trees available from the 1st December. Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, Christmas gifts for all your Christmas needs

Poppyfields Drive | Snettisham | Norfolk PE31 7UD Telephone: 01485 544638 KLmagazine November 2015

Coming soon...

Sunday 13th December

WISBECH CHRISTMAS FAYRE Wisbech Town Centre (10am-3pm) Wisbech Christmas Fayre attracts thousands of visitors each year who can look forward to indulging their senses in all things festive; from roasted chestnuts to hot chocolate Baileys, live music and real reindeer! There’s a wide range of stalls offering quality gifts, crafts and plenty of seasonal produce to tempt the taste buds. There will be entertainment throughout the day including children’s rides, dancing, and of course, Father Christmas. There will also be a range of excellent live acts including the acclaimed Rock Choir and many other excellent groups. For the first time the fayre will also have its own skating rink! Parking is offered for free at St Peters Road, Somers Road, Chapel Road and the Horsefair car parks. Please call the Environment Support Team on 01354 654321 or email marketsandevents@fenland.gov.uk for more information.

NEXT MONTH:

Saturday 5th December CHRISTMAS CONCERT BACK FOR 7TH YEAR St. Nicholas’ Church, Dersingham (7.30pm) Once again the Friends of St. Nicholas’ Church are able to welcome back the distinguished Conductor David Stowell (right) and the widely acclaimed Bilton Silver (Rugby) Band for this year’s spectacular Christmas Concert. Following tradition the concert will coincide with the annual Christmas Tree Festival in the Church, making a beautifully festive setting for an evening of seasonal music, all introduced personally by the Conductor. Tickets are £9 in advance or £10 on the door (refreshments included) and can be pre-booked by calling 01485 540865/544866/609099/540081.

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KLmagazine November 2015

11th, 12th & 13th December

KING’S LYNN’S MEDIAEVAL CHRISTMAS Kings’ Lynn Town Centre This Christmas King's Lynn will step back in time with an exciting selection of mediaeval themed events. From Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December you can experience the sites, sounds and smells of shopping in a mediaeval market where you will ﬁnd a selection of wonderfully unique traders displaying and selling their goods from handcrafted jewellery, bags and decorations to mediaeval food and gifts. On Friday evening there will be an enchanting 20-dish mediaeval banquet held at the Town Hall from 7:30pm with music, dancing and of course a fantastic array of food. Experience the soothing and sensual sounds of the Mediaeval Baebes on Sunday at the newly renovated St Nicholas Chapel. Performing Christmas carol classics from their top ten album ‘Of Kings & Angels’ as well as other contemporary and traditional songs the Mediaeval Baebes will escort you through a mediaeval musical journey. For further information and to book tickets for either the concert or banquet call Maurice on 07866 468632, email maurice@loxwoodjoust.co.uk or visit the website www.kingslynnchristmas.co.uk.

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURE: MANUEL HARLAN

What’s On

ABOVE: Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone rehearse The Last Tango, which the world-famous couple are bringing to Norwich this month

Strictly speaking with Vincent and Flavia... They’ve danced together for over 20 years and thrilled millions of TV viewers through six series of Strictly Come Dancing. Now, Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone are preparing for their last tango...

he glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing is hot-footing its way into Norfolk this month. After 20 years of being dance partners, winning world titles and becoming the nation’s favourites on the ever-popular BBC entertainment programme, Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone are saying goodbye. As the famous Italian duo bring their beautiful and emotionally-charged ﬁnal show The Last Tango to the Theatre Royal, wowing audiences with the beauty of the Argentine Tango, they took time out of a busy rehearsal schedule to talk with KL magazine.

KLmagazine November 2015

KL magazine: What can people expect from The Last Tango? Flavia: It’s a very emotional show. It’s our third one and it’s the ﬁrst time we’ve had to get tissues out ourselves during rehearsals! Vincent: There’s a simple but sensitive story, and I think everyone can relate to it from experiences in their own lives. KL magazine: What’s it like to perform at the Theatre Royal in Norwich? Flavia: Lovely – it’s a very comfortable and spacious theatre with great dressing rooms, and the city is very pretty. I love the older parts with the small alleys and quaint little shops. It

distracts me during the day, which is good. Vincent: I love Norwich too – I think the ladies here love me more! KL magazine: After 20 years of dancing together, why are you saying goodbye? Flavia: It’s actually our last theatre tour production rather than our last show. We’ve been touring for six years or so now, so it will be nice to put the suitcase away for a while – but not the dance shoes! Vincent: We’d like to take on some new challenges as that’s what’s motivated us from an early age. I’d love to do a ﬁlm, so let’s see what happens. 9

What’s On

performances ourselves on a Saturday, and on Sundays we travel to our next venue, so it’s tricky – but I always hear bits and pieces. Vincent: As Flavia said, it’s diﬃcult to ﬁnd time to watch the show with our schedule. On paper, I guess Peter Andre has a good chance.

PICTURE: MANUEL HARLAN

KL magazine: Flavia, you won Strictly with Louis Smith – do you think his gymnastics background helped? Flavia: He had lots of incredibly useful skills that we used to our advantage, but he also had the ability to learn quickly and remember. The hardest part for him was working with someone else, as gymnastics is such an individual sport.

ABOVE: The Last Tango may be Flavia and Vincent’s last theatrical production for the forseeable future, but the couple have no plans to pack away the dance shoes just yet

KL magazine: This has been described as your most moving production yet. Was it difficult to put together? Flavia: Towards the end, when we were piecing the show together it was a bit of a struggle and we did find ourselves having tissues at the ready. Vincent: Flavia and I were the worst. The other cast members didn’t seem too bad – we must be overly sensitive! KL magazine: What is it about the Argentine Tango that people love so much? Flavia: I think it’s the music – it’s truly beautiful and it tells a story all by itself. Vincent: I agree – the music grabs you. KL magazine: How much work does it take to hold the World Dance title? Flavia: We’ve worked together for 20 years, and the small number of days off we’ve had in our lifetime is ridiculous, especially when we were competing and in the early stages of our professional career. Whether it was a weekend, half-term or Christmas it made no difference – it was all about our dancing. Vincent: We did make many sacrifices. I remember my friends going out and having fun, and I had to go training. It was hard work, but it was worth it. KL magazine: What made you decide

to leave Strictly Come Dancing? Flavia: We were on Strictly for seven years, which is a pretty long time, and we had some amazing times. However, we’ve always worked best tackling new challenges and projects, and we felt this opportunity of creating our own shows and performing on stage was one we simply couldn’t refuse. Vincent: Strictly is amazing, but we never saw each other or performed together. Having our own theatre shows allows us to really push the boundaries of what we can do and challenge ourselves in new ways. KL magazine: What’s your favourite Strictly memory? Flavia: No doubt – winning in 2012! Vincent: There are far too many to pick just one! KL magazine: Would you ever go back to Strictly? Flavia: I feel I gave 110% every year I was there. I always tried my hardest and achieved so much because of that, so I feel completely content at having left the show. Vincent: Who knows? Never say never. KL magazine: Who do you think will win Strictly this year? Flavia: Believe it or not, I don’t watch the show! We normally have two

KL magazine: Vincent, you became even more of a household name during your time on I'm a Celebrity... What was your favourite moment from the show? Vincent: Most people think I’m mad, but I loved it – it was such a great experience! The worst bit was getting bitten by the spider I was trying to put in my mouth. KL magazine: Will you both continue to dance after The Last Tango finishes? Flavia: Without a doubt. Dancing is second nature to us and we wouldn’t be able to live without it in some way, shape or form. Vincent: Definitely. Hopefully, we’ll have some exciting projects. KL magazine: What’s next for you both? Flavia: We’ll see what comes our way... Vincent: ...you'll have to wait and see! To finish such a successful and worldfamous career together that’s spanned twenty years with a final flourish of their favourite dance; Flavia and Vincent’s last show is sure to bring a tear to the eye of its Norwich audiences. It’s strictly unmissable.

THE LAST TANGO 2nd-7th November, 2015 Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL Tickets start at £8 and are available from the Box Oﬃce on 01603 630000 or can be booked online by visiting the theatre’s website at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

What’s On

Spectacular Autumn shows November is a very busy month at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange with an outstanding show nearly every day...

ust some of the highlights include the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a concert from Scottish twins The Proclaimers, a comedy parody One Man Breaking Bad, a stand-up gig from Hal Cruttenden and a feel good show from Soul Legends. Mid-November the new spring season and brochure are launched, then at the end of the month the pantomime cast descend on King’s Lynn to start rehearsals for West Norfolk’s biggest and best traditional family pantomime The Adventures of Robin Hood.

THE PROCLAIMERS Friday 6th November | 7:30pm Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have enjoyed huge successes across the globe and this year released their 10th album. Expect to hear the classics Sunshine On Leith, (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles, Letter From America, I'm On My Way and more.

HAL CRUTTENDEN Straight Outta Cruttenden Saturday 7th November | 8pm Host of Live At The Apollo and star of Radio 4, the great Hal is back ranting about the real evils of the modern world - over sharing on social media and the 5:2 diet. The more he complains the funnier he gets.

SOUL LEGENDS The Feel Good Show of the Year Sunday 8th November | 7:30pm Direct from the USA... it’s the music of Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Barry White, Earth Wind & Fire, Sam & Dave and more.

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD Tuesday 10th November | 7:30pm THE UNAUTHORISED PARODY. Sixty Awesome Episodes. One Awesome Show. Yo! Join us on a rip roaring ride through the greatest television show

ever made. LA actor Miles Allen smacks the senses with his super-charged, hilariously accurate renditions of all the iconic characters, including Walter White, Jesse, Saul, Skyler, Hank, Walt Junior, Mike and Gus Fring.

Coming soon... The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Shaun Williamson as The Sheriff of Nottingham is the Corn Exchange’s sixth pantomime and every year it’s bigger and better. Running from Thursday 10th December until Sunday 3rd January with 42 shows in total!

NEW SEASON January – April 2016 King’s Lynn Corn Exchange’s new spring brochure is out on 13th November. Some of the highlights include a week long run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring X Factor winner Joe McElderry, fun for children with Peppa Pig’s Surprise and West End/ Broadway hit Tell Me On A Sunday Starring Jodie Prenger.

Tickets for all shows are available from our Box Office on 01553 764864 or book online at: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk @klcornexchange

KLmagazine November 2015

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Alive Corn Exchange

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: The outer gatehouse of Baconsthorpe Castle was a late addition to the grand residence of the Heydon family, and was used as a private home until one of its towers collapsed during a particularly ﬁerce storm in 1920

Written in stone - the story of a Norfolk family The extensive ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle chart the remarkable rise and fall of the Heydon family, who built it, enlarged it and then finally abandoned it – all in the space of 200 years...

ust a few miles from Holt, at the end of a country road, stand the lonely and atmospheric ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle, but despite the formidable gatehouses and moat, despite the defensive walls and the arrow-slits, the castle’s story isn’t one of great medieval siege and battling knights in armour. The remains are actually those of a fortiﬁed manor house, built by an ambitious Norfolk family that managed to go from proud beginnings to immense wealth and then to poverty and decline in little more than 200 years. The story begins in the 15th century with a young lawyer of obscure origins

KLmagazine November 2015

called John Heydon, who at some point in time had changed his family name from Baxter. He obviously felt the grander-sounding Heydon (taken from the area in which his father had worked the land) better suited his ambitions. Most of what is know of John Heydon comes from the letters (discovered several hundred years later) of his local enemies, the inﬂuential Paston family. The Pastons themselves had risen from farmers to property tycoons in the space of two generations, and they frequently clashed with the Heydons as both families tried to attain as much property and land as they could. It was in many ways a mini-version of the contemporary Wars of the Roses,

and although John Heydon was accused by his enemies of being shifty, ruthless and grasping, often switching his political allegiance simply to serve his own purposes, he always seemed to get the better of them. The feud – which at one point saw an armed mob of Heydon’s expel Margaret Paston from the manor at Gresham –came to a surprisingly happy end just after John died from the plague in 1479 when his granddaughter married the Paston family heir. By that time, Heydon’s vision for a grand family residence reﬂecting his family’s wealth and status as major Norfolk landowners was virtually complete. Work on Baconsthorpe Castle had

Local Life

ABOVE: Despite the ruins, it’s still possible to appreciate the grandeur of Baconsthorpe Castle – the lake (on the far left) was created by a 17th century extension of the moat

started in 1460. Constructed from beautifully-knapped local flint, it featured a moat and state-of-the-art firing slots for early cannons. It had a drawbridge, and though it no longer exists you can still see the chains and counterweights that once operated it. However, the large, wide windows of the inner gatehouse show that while Baconsthorpe Castle was more than capable of defending itself from any small local attacks, it was never designed to withstand a full-scale armed assault. The stones in the ground at the centre of the site today are all that remain of the centre of life at Baconsthorpe Castle. Completed by John’s son Henry, it included a great hall for banquets, pantries and kitchens, and grand lodgings for visitors, lavishly fitted with fine wall hangings and luxurious bedlinen. By then, the source of the Heydons’ wealth had changed from law and property to the sheep that grazed the surrounding fields, thanks to the rapid rise of the local textile industry. The Castle’s bakehouse and brewhouse were converted to a cloth factory, turning the estate’s wool into worsted that was sold across England and exported to the Netherlands. It was a major enterprise – at the height of the family’s prosperity, the estate had at least 30 head shepherds. More wealth saw more additions to Baconsthorpe Castle (notably the creation of a lake by extending the moat), but the later Heydons weren’t shrewd businessmen. In the late 17th century, the estate passed to Sir Christopher Heydon, an eccentric man

more interested in astrology and alchemy than sheep farming – and the family soon found their grand home an extravagance they could no longer afford. A severe falling off in the wool trade wasn’t helped by the family supporting Charles I in the English Civil War, a decision that saw the victorious Parliamentarians seizing the estate and only allowing the Heydons to buy it back in 1657. The family’s debts were now so great they resorted to demolishing most of the castle and selling off the building materials to be used elsewhere (much of it finding new life at Felbrigg Hall), and by the end of the 17th century the Heydons gave up completely and sold all their Norfolk estates. For a while, the only inhabitable part of Baconsthorpe Castle was used as a private residence (firstly for a doctor with the remarkable name of Zurishaddair Lang) but even that came to an end with a ferocious gale in 1920 that brought one of the turrets crashing down. Eventually, Sir Charles Mott-Radclyffe gave the abandoned ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle to the Ministry of Works (now English Heritage), who began investigating its history and have cared for the site ever since. Today, John Heydon’s truly grand design is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. As for the Heydon family, they’re remembered at the nearby church with brass portraits, monuments and windows – while the story of their remarkable rise and fall is told in the evocative ruins of their great family home.

BACONSTHORPE CASTLE Baconsthorpe, Norfolk NR25 6LN The ruins of the great Heydon family home are open throughout the year, and can be visited during the winter at any reasonable time during daylight hours. Entry is free. To enhance your visit, you can download a free 7-minute audio tour to help you explore the history of the castle from www.english-heritage.org.uk

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

The friendly face of insurance in King’s Lynn ou may think there’s a new name for insurance on the High Street in King’s Lynn, but IBA Insurance Services has actually been providing a high level of professional advice and expert knowledge to a range of local and national clients for over 15 years. The company was established by Nick Osborne (whose father was himself a successful broker in King’s Lynn for over 40 years) back in 1999 with the support of the IBA Group, and has been a familyrun concern since Nick and his wife Claire bought the business outright some five years ago. “The driving force behind IBA Insurance Services has always been based on service,” says Nick. “With the rise of the internet and the regular mergers of insurance companies, there was a real danger that the personal touch, the ability to meet the specific needs of individual customers, was being lost. That’s what we wanted to change.” It’s also why IBA Insurance Services is

KLmagazine November 2015

so proud of its status as a fully independent broker. “It means we’re not restricted to a few companies and a limited view of the market,” says Nick. “Having access to over 120 companies and a huge range of products means we can source exactly the right policy for your personal or commercial needs at the right price.” And though comparison websites might seem a quick and easy way to find a solution to your insurance needs, Nick has a word of warning. “Insurance can be a confusing field,” he says. “and there’s a real danger that by doing it yourself you can leave your family, your home or your business without adequate cover – simply because you didn’t provide the correct information or misunderstood the complex terminology. And by the time you discover that, it’s likely to be too late.” Nick and his highly experienced team has built an enviable reputation for

professional and personal standards in the local business community, and their recent move to the High Street is good news for all your commercial and personal insurance requirements. ”It gives us a great opportunity to improve our services and expand our team,” says Nick, ”and it will also help us show more people why we really are the friendly face of insurance!”

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IBA Insurance Services is the town’s only independent specialist commercial broker – and their recent move to the High Street is a move for the better

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: The stunning view from the top of Happisburgh lighthouse, which has been in continuous operation since 1791

The unique story of Happisburgh lighthouse It’s one of Norfolk’s most iconic buildings, but it took an Act of Parliament and a group of dedicated villagers to save it for the future. KL magazine visits the lighthouse at Happisburgh...

ollowing a climb of 112 steps, the view from the top of Happisburgh lighthouse is quite breathtaking, and it’s one that lighthouse attendant Peter Martin (right) never tires of. “There’s nothing like being able to see so much of this amazing stretch of coastline and how it changes throughout the year,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been to the top of the lighthouse, it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!” Peter’s responsible for the general maintenance of the lighthouse. He keeps it clean and tidy,

KLmagazine November 2015

ensures everything’s in working order, and if the light isn’t fuctioning correctly, he has to ﬁnd out why – and put it right. In fact, he’s everything you’d expect from a lighthouse keeper – except for one thing. “If I worked for Trinity House I’d be called a lighthouse keeper,” he explains, “but for the last 25 years the lighthouse has been run by a Trust. That’s why I’m an ‘attendant’ – and it’s why the lighthouse I look after is so unique.” Happisburgh’s lighthouse is the only independently-run and fully-operational lighthouse in the UK. It’s also one of the most accessible, and on January 1st will celebrate 225 years of

continuous operation. The remarkable story of Happisburgh lighthouse begins in 1789, following a severe winter storm that saw no less than 70 sailing ships and 600 men lost off the coast of Norfolk. With no warning signals along the 22 miles of coastline between the fire beacon at Cromer and the candlepowered light at Winterton, Trinity House started building two lighthouses at Happisburgh – a ‘low’ light on the clifftops and a ‘high’ light some 400 yards inland. The twin lighthouses guided ships safely along the coast for almost a century – until 1883, when the increasing threat of coastal erosion saw the ‘low’ light withdrawn from service and demolished.

Local Life

Happisburgh lighthouse is 85ft high and includes 112 steps to the lantern.

At the same time, however, its sister lighthouse enjoyed a brighter future. The fixed light was changed to a ‘occulting’ (flashing) character, shining for 25 seconds followed by a 5 second eclipse, while its exterior was treated to a major facelift. As the only tower remaining at Happisburgh, it became necessary to distinguish it (during daylight hours) from the one at Winterton –a need that resulted in the iconic red bands we see today. Never a stranger to technological change (the introduction of electricty in 1947 gave the lighthouse its sixth different power source), Happisburgh lighthouse almost became its victim towards the end of the 20th century. The development of more sophisticated navigational aids saw Trinity House reducing the number of the UK’s traditional lighthouses, and in 1987 Happisburgh was one of five lighthouses declared redundant – and it was scheduled to be closed and decommissioned on 13th June 1988. In stepped marine geophysicist and local resident Kay Swan, who organised a petition opposing the proposed closure and helped found the Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse as a way of promoting the campaign to save it. It wasn’t the easiest of tasks, however, as a 94-year-old law meant Trinity House could only dispose of a working lighthouse to an established Lighthouse Authority - something that required an Act of Parliament. The successful fundraising efforts of villagers and supporters eventually resulted in the necessary Private Member’s Bill receiving Royal Assent on

25th April 1990 – since when Happisburgh lighthouse has been the only independently-run operational lighthouse in the whole country. Peter – who first came to Happisburgh with his wife some 10 years ago – lives in one of the old coastguard cottages across the field from the lighthouse, so his walk to work is a short one. “Virtually as soon as we arrived we were asked if we’d like to volunteer to help with the lighthouse’s open days,” he says. “Being virtually on site meant we gradually became more involved, and when the previous attendant retired I jumped at the chance of taking over. It was the job of a lifetime, and I’ve always loved it.” It costs around £8,000 a year to run the lighthouse, a sum that comes almost entirely from visitors and a series of open days. “This year we’ve had an average of 300 people visit us on the days we’ve been open,” says Peter, ”which is fantastic for a charity of this size.” Happily, despite the rise of satellites and GPS, the lighthouse at Happisburgh is still used by fishing boats and inshore craft travelling between King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth, and Peter’s convinced that lighthouses still have a very real place in the world. “It still performs its original function, but it’s also an important part of Norfolk’s heritage,” he says. “It’s such an iconic landmark. Ask anyone to draw a lighthouse, and this is exactly what they’ll draw. It’s everything a lighthouse should be.”

The lantern is 136ft above sea level – on a clear day visitors can see 13 miles out to the horizon. The 500-watt lightbulb, which produces the light for the lantern is six inches wide and is changed every 3,000 hours. The bulb’s light is ampliﬁed to the equivalent of 58,500 candles by the glass optic, which dates back to 1868 and is made of glass prisms measuring almost 9ft square. Light from the lantern can reach in excess of 14 miles. Although Happisburgh Lighthouse is only open to the public on selected Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer, private visits can be arranged throughout the year for individuals or groups. Please telephone 01692 650982 or e-mail melanie.sarah@btinternet.com for more details and information.

PICTURES: IAN WARD

ABOVE: The lantern of Happisburgh lighthouse today – the diagonally-framed design was revolutionary at the time it was installed in 1863

The lighthouse compound is now 185 yards from the cliﬀ edge – almost twice as close as it was when it was built!

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

Is your electrical system ready for the winter months ahead? How Swaﬀham based Zeltech Solutions can help you stay safe and trouble free here’s no doubt that winter’s well and truly on its way, with many speculating it’s going to be a particularly harsh one too. We’ve just turned the clocks back, lights seem to be on most of the time now, and heating is being turned up and left on for longer! While oﬃces, factories and schools, etc are keeping temperatures comfortable for everyone, ovens are working overtime at home and away. Plans for the festive season are well under way, with thoughts turning to festive parties and get-togethers and even the big one – Christmas dinner! All this extra activity inevitably means drawing larger loads on your electrical system, which also means it’s a classic time for overloading, resulting in all sorts of problems from nuisance tripping to complete power outs and in

extreme cases, the risk of fire. However, there’s no need to get caught out this winter – if you’re in any doubt about the reliability or safety of your electrical system, get it checked out professionally and impartially. One phone call to Zeltech Solutions, your local electrical inspection and testing specialists, is all it takes to get a free survey and quotation for testing your whole electrical system in your home, office, factory, etc – which can also include a quotation for the emergency lights, portable appliances and fire alarm systems where appropriate. Once the testing (which includes thermal imaging as standard) is complete, any faults, potential hazards and recommendations will be clearly laid out in an in-depth report, which Zeltech Solutions will happily sit down

and talk through with you. Winter can also raise potential issues in less obvious areas of your electrical system. During previous months, in anticipation of the colder weather ahead, loft insulation may have been upgraded. While this is a very sensible and costeﬀective idea, and you may not have experienced any issues before now, many people are unaware that thicker insulation can result in overrating electrical cables if not moved out of the way before insulation is added. No one wants unnecessary cold days or nights, lost productivity or business, or even ruined festive holidays caused by major electrical faults. Make sure that your electrical system, whether domestic, commercial, industrial or agricultural, is in tip-top condition. If in doubt, get it checked out – so that everyone can enjoy a winter that’s warm, safe, happy and bright.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 14 Station Street, Swaﬀham, Norfolk PE37 7LH Telephone: 01760 724244 Website: www.zeltechsolutions.com E-mail: enquiries@zeltechsolutions.com

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURE: WEST NORFOLK ACADEMIES TRUST

Local Life

ABOVE: The heads of the six schools currently comprising the West Norfolk Academies Trust (left to right): Lee Stevens (Snettisham Primary School), Jo Borley (West Lynn Primary School and Clenchwarton Primary School), Liz Dormor (Marshland High School), Nigel Willingham (St. Clements High School) and Andy Johnson (Springwood High School)

Strengthening the future of our local schools KL magazine discovers how the West Norfolk Academies Trust is challenging and supporting a group of local schools to provide an excellent education for the young people of West Norfolk...

good school wherever they live,” says Andy Johnson, who’s both Executive Head Teacher of the Trust and Headmaster of Springwood High School in King’s Lynn. “It has a clear focus on academic achievement and standards and a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and development, but the Trust is dedicated to ensuring each school within it retains its own identity. These are local schools at heart, and it’s vital that they retain their status as a valued part of a local community.” Andy and his school are no strangers to success. Included in The Times’ Top 500 Schools list last year, Springwood

PICTURE: MARSHLAND HIGH SCHOOL

veryone knows that there’s much more to a wellrounded education than results. However, as an indicator of commitment, hard work, enthusiasm and a determination to succeed, there’s a great deal to be said for them – and results speak volumes for the work of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, a supportive partnership of local primary and secondary schools currently working together to provide a sound and inspiring education for the young people of West Norfolk. “Essentially, the Trust is based on the ethos that every student deserves a

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURE: WEST LYNN PRIMARY SCHOOL

teachers to share their expertise across the two schools and has been a major factor in enhancing their development and the life chances they offer their students. It’s also meant that financially, both schools can afford to direct resources more efficiently – by sharing coaches for curriculum trips, by employing specialist support for special educational needs, and by providing capable intervention staff to close any learning gaps. “Being part of the Trust really has secured the future for our children within these rural primary schools,” says

PICTURE: SNETTISHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

PICTURE: ST CLEMENTS HIGH SCHOOL

High School has been a leading light in GCSE results for several years now and its 6th form is currently performing in the top 15% nationally. The school’s forward-thinking approach and dynamic and wellestablished leadership team were no doubt factors in the original formation of the West Norfolk Academies Trust in early 2013, the result of Springwood being invited to support St. Clements High School in Terrington St Clement, which had been placed in special measures at the time. Working closely together, sharing resources and ideas, and meeting the needs of local students, the two schools brought about a quite astonishing transformation. “Our journey with the Trust has been a truly remarkable one,” says Nigel Willingham, St. Clements’ Head Teacher. “We’ve grown out of special measures and are now one of the best performing schools in the area – we actually had the best results in the school’s history this summer.” Seeing how the Trust so successfully supported talented staﬀ and energised students was never going to go unnoticed, and the next school to join – in June 2014 – was Snettisham Primary School. Having been judged ‘inadequate’ following an Ofsted inspection the previous summer, initial anxieties about the school becoming a sponsored academy were allayed by a meeting between representatives of the Trust and staﬀ, parents and governors at the school.

Any misgivings were then further reassured by the appointment of Lee Stevens as Executive Head Teacher, who came to Snettisham from a highly successful tenure as head at the outstanding Whitefriars school in King’s Lynn. Joining the Trust has seen the restoration of morale at Snettisham Primary School, with the staff team working tirelessly to ensure teaching is consistently good and the curriculum always challenging and stimulating. “There’s a real and very tangible optimism for the future at the school now,” says Lee, noting a much stronger sense of pupils, staff, governors and parents working together. “The Trust has been a very effective critical friend for us – challenging the school to make further improvements whilst developing the support services that will help us focus solely on the quality of our teaching and learning.” That level of support has also characterised the experiences of Joanne Borley, Executive Head Teacher of West Lynn Primary School and Clenchwarton Primary School – both of which are now members of the Trust. “Although both schools have retained their own identity and uniqueness, being part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust has brought significant and valuable benefits to them,” she says. “Clenchwarton has just had its fifth consecutive year of increased KS2 SAT results, while West Lynn has just attained its best Level 5 results in Maths and English for three years.” The implementation of a joint Executive Leadership Team has allowed

Joanne. “It’s enabled us to attract the best personnel to strengthen our provision, therefore improving education for all our students.” The latest addition to the West Norfolk Academies Trust is Marshland High School at West Walton, which joins the Trust this month after having first explored the possibilities of a partnership with other schools a year ago. “We were very clear what we were looking for,” says Marshland’s Head Teacher, Liz Dormor. “We wanted to join a group which understood the particular challenges of a school in this geographical area and we wanted to share best practices in order to improve the education for our students still further.” When the school first looked at the West Norfolk Academies Trust, it was clear the two shared a clear strategic and educational vision, one based on a strong commitment to raise standards for the young people of the area. “The Trust’s relentless efforts to raise the quality of teaching and learning locally is one which very much mirrors the improvement strategies we’ve employed at Marshland,” says Liz. “We’ve just enjoyed our best ever GCSE results this year, and I think that being part of the Trust will benefit everyone from the sharing of ideas, experience and innovations – especially the pupils themselves.” Indeed, if there is a secret to the success of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, it lies in that element of talented local educationalists working together in a true partnership towards clearlyidentified goals. 30

“The Trust has enabled all the schools within it to attract and retain the very best staﬀ and leaders to work with us, develop with us and build our success,” says Springwood’s Andy Johnson. “It’s unusual for schools to actively seek to join a trust, but I think the fact that they have done is a great testament to our work, and the way we endeavour to serve the best interests of local education.” Enjoying an excellent working relationship with both the local authority and Regional Schools Commissioner Tim Coulson, the West Norfolk Academies Trust has even been able to invest in its very own Ofsted inspector in the experienced David Hutton. “It’s a real asset for the Trust, and one that simply wouldn’t be possible with the resources of a single school,” says Andy. “David will be able to identify oustanding practices to share across

ABOVE: David Hutton is the West Norfolk Academies Trust’s very own Ofsted inspector – an asset and an investment only made possible by the sharing of resources among the Trust’s members

the Trust, pinpoint where any weaknesses lie, and help us plan improvements to ensure every school within it lives up to its full potential.” After such a successful start, it’s tempting to know what’s next for the West Norfolk Academies Trust. “For the last two years, the Trust has been concentrating on building the schools within it,” says Andy. “We’re now in a position where we can start attracting more schools to the Trust, although we don’t want to be huge. We want to grow at a sensible pace so that every individual school gets the support it needs.” And for all the staﬀ, pupils and parents concerned, the future for these local schools looks very bright indeed. lFor information and details on the work of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, you can visit the website at www.westnorfolkacademiestrust.co.uk

PICTURE: SPRINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

PICTURE: CLENCHWARTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

PICTURE: WEST NORFOLK ACADEMIES TRUST

Local Life

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

While Tax-free childcare will be open to more people, individual circumstances will dictate whether parents will be better oﬀ under the new system...

Tax-free childcare: the winners and the losers How Stephenson Smart can help you make the most of the changes in making childcare more aﬀordable riginally scheduled to be launched this autumn, the new tax-free childcare scheme, which provides eligible parents with childcare support worth up to £2,000, will now be available from 2017. While an estimated two million households will qualify for the scheme, parents entitled to Employer-Supported Childcare (ESC) will need to assess whether they’ll be better oﬀ under the new system. Under the new scheme, eligible parents will be required to open an online account into which they can contribute money to pay for childcare. The Government will then ‘top up’ payments at a rate of 20p for every 80p families pay into the account, which will be capped at £2,000 (or £4,000 where the child is disabled). A child will qualify for the scheme

OUR BRANCHES

until the ﬁrst week in September following their 11th birthday (16th birthday for disabled children), and to be eligible all parents in the household must: – meet a minimum income level based on working eight hours per week at the National Minimum Wage – earn no more than £150,000pa each – not be receiving support through Tax Credits or Universal Credit. Unlike Employer-Supported Childcare (ESC), self-employed parents will also be eligible to participate. The current system of ESC is expected to be closed to new entrants once the new tax-free childcare scheme is available, although it will continue to be available for current members if they don’t wish to switch to the new scheme.

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KLmagazine November 2015

While the new scheme will be open to more people, individual circumstances will dictate whether parents will be better off under the new system or the existing childcare voucher scheme. Potential winners of tax-free childcare will include working single parents with annual childcare costs in excess of around £5,000; families where both parents work and have annual childcare costs in excess of around £9,500; and self-employed parents, as long as they fulfil the eligibility requirements. Those for whom the new scheme is unlikely to offer any benefits are twoparent families where one parent doesn’t work (they won’t be eligible); employers, as they’ll no longer benefit from lower national insurance contributions; and families where either parent earns in excess of £150,000 a year – they won’t be eligible either. As a general rule, two-parent families with one child where both parents work are likely to be financially better off under the existing system, but HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is expected to publish complete guidance to parents on this matter in due course. As you may imagine, this can be a highly complex field, which is why seeking professional advice is so important to ensure you make the most of the choices available to you. At Stephenson Smart, we can advise on a wide range of personal tax planning issues, so please contact us for assistance.

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The Big Interview s the Mayor’s Design Awards 2016 are launched at the beautifully restored gatehouse of Pentney Abbey, KL magazine talks to Pam Lynn about her love of our local architectural heritage and her work as Conservation Oﬃcer for the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk...

KL MAGAZINE: Could you tell us a little about your background? PAM LYNN: I was born and brought up in the King’s Lynn area, where I went to the then Girls High School in King Street. My working life began as an architectural technician combined with a course at the college before I moved into planning where (amongst other things) I worked with the conservation oﬃcer. I’d always been interested in old buildings and heritage, and with support from my manager, I was able to turn that into a career. I became a member of the IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) in 1998 and was lucky enough to move from Assistant Conservation Oﬃcer into my current job when my predecessor retired in 2012.

Pam Lynn Conservation Oﬃcer, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk 34

KL MAGAZINE: What does your role entail on a daily basis? PAM LYNN: The Borough has approximately 2,000 listed buildings of all ages, types, styles and sizes as well as 46 quite diverse Conservation Areas, and in quite simple terms, my role is to look after them! My daily work involves advising on repairs and changes to historic buildings and commenting on new builds. I spend a lot of time on site and I meet a huge range of people – including owners, estate managers, potential buyers, architects, designers, builders and craftsmen. I also work with colleagues within the Council and outside organisations such as Historic England and Amenity Groups. I also have a role on various groups dealing with derelict/problematical land and buildings and putting together funding bids for heritage-related projects such as the THI Scheme currently running in part of the King’s Lynn Conservation Area and Hunstanton’s Heritage Gardens Scheme. In recent years I’ve also been on the judging panel for the Mayors Design Awards, which we’ve just launched for 2016 and – ﬁnally! – I chair the Conservation Area Advisory Panel.

KLmagazine November 2015

KL MAGAZINE: What’s the main function of the CAAP? PAM LYNN: The Panel is made up of a number of professionals from relevant disciplines and representatives from Civic Societies and design groups, who provide comments and advice on a variety of applications relating to listed buildings and conservation areas. The applications are usually referred to the Panel by my colleagues and because meetings aren’t open to the public and are relatively informal, agents and applicants are able to take part in the discussion. They often find it a useful sounding board for ideas and proposals, and my planning colleagues also find the feedback helpful. KL MAGAZINE: Do you have any other projects in the pipeline in your role as Conservation Officer? PAM LYNN: There are a number of things. The Townscape Heritage Initiative to regenerate part of the St Margarets Conservation Area has been in place for a while now. We’ve done the ‘paperwork’, so together with my colleague – Project Manager Steven King – we’re now dealing with the exciting part of negotiating on works to a number of buildings and monitoring work which is due to start on others very soon. There are a number of buildings at risk which need to be repaired and brought back into use – either by the current or new owners – and I’m part of a group which is just beginning to look at producing a Heritage Strategy for both King’s Lynn and the Borough as a whole. KL MAGAZINE: What are your aims for King’s Lynn? PAM LYNN: I’d love to see all our heritage buildings used and in a good state of repair, but I think that may be a trifle optimistic. I’ll settle for the

ongoing regeneration of the town, particularly the waterfront – which I think is a huge but rather underappreciated asset. King’s Lynn has so much to oﬀer visitors and its heritage is a core part of that, so we must do everything possible to preserve and enhance it. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the most rewarding part of your job? PAM LYNN: I’m really lucky in that I get to see some wonderful buildings, and I enjoy being involved with work which will see them stand long beyond my lifetime. I also enjoy being involved in bid projects which can bring in funds to have a real impact on some areas. The very best bit is seeing buildings which have been neglected for years brought back to life and given a good use. That doesn’t happen too often because there are usually a lot of problems to overcome, but one which has been particularly rewarding is the gatehouse at Pentney Abbey. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to deal with one or two in King’s Lynn over the coming months. KL MAGAZINE: When judging entries for the Mayor’s Design Awards, what’s most important to you? PAM LYNN: Good design obviously, but correct detailing, appropriate materials and good workmanship are also key. They can make or break any scheme – from the smallest extension or repair to the largest of new builds. KL MAGAZINE: What are you most looking forward to from this year’s awards? PAM LYNN: A wide variety of schemes, from traditional or innovative modern designs to well-considered extensions and alterations – and (of course!) high quality restorations and good workmanship. It would be lovely to see

MAYOR’S DESIGN AWARDS 2016 Nominations are now being taken for the Mayor’s Design Awards 2016, which this year (the awards’ 18th) are been organised in association with KL Magazine. Full details and information on how to nominate projects can be found at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk. Applications for the nine diﬀerent categories must be received by Friday 29th January 2016. LEFT: Pam Lynn at the launch of this year’s Mayor’s Design Awards with Cllr. Colin Manning, the Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (centre), Development Control Manager Stuart Ashworth, and Howard Barber and Dita Lee (left) – whose restoration of the gatehouse at Pentney Abbey won three awards in last year’s competition.

KLmagazine November 2015

more entries from the south and west of the Borough as well this year. KL MAGAZINE: What’s been your greatest achievement? PAM LYNN: I think helping to secure the future of even a few of our historic buildings is an achievement in itself, but if I had to be specific, I think it’s helping to see a small number of particularly problematical and long-term buildings at risk properly repaired. Recently, three of them have been taken into new ownership and brought back into use. One is now a much loved family home, and the other two have brilliant new owners and are currently being restored. KL MAGAZINE: What have you learned from your work? PAM LYNN: Don’t give up, try to be realistic and, hopefully, have good negotiating skills! KL MAGAZINE: What do you like best about Norfolk? PAM LYNN: I’ve heard Norfolk described as remote, which is probably true and undoubtedly part of its charm, but it has such variety – countryside, coast, beautiful towns and pretty villages. It’s a destination, not a through route, so it’s still relatively quiet – and it’s my home! KL MAGAZINE: What’s your favourite local building? PAM LYNN: That’s a difficult question because there’s such a wide range to choose from, but there are three which I’m particularly fond of. Wolferton Station and its signal box, because the owner has such an eye for detail that the restoration work is perfect; Snowre Hall to the south of the Borough, which is a bit like a mini Oxburgh Hall and is currently being repaired and extended by new owners after standing empty for years; and the Town Hall in King’s Lynn, because it’s a beautiful and interesting building which embodies so much of the town’s history. KL MAGAZINE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? PAM LYNN: For life in general, to always view my glass as half full rather than half empty. In professional terms, there are two – that the best use for any building is that for which it was built, and that buildings usually need a viable use to secure their future. They may sound slightly contradictory, but if you take a common sense approach to the difference between preservation and conservation, it can work.

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KLmagazine November 2015

How air source heating can save you £800 a year! Steve Simpson of 4-Way Refrigeration answers some of the most frequently-asked questions about air source heating... Q Isn’t heat pump technology still relatively new and untested? A Far from it! The technology is actually very old and dates back to 1852. Air source heating has now become hugely popular around the world, and in the UK its use by home builders continues to grow rapidly as people search for an eﬀective and renewable solution to high heating costs and large hot water bills.

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supply all your domestic heating requirements for the entire year, even in temperatures as low as -15o! Q Does air source heating need a ‘back up’ heat source such as a gas boiler? A No – it’s a totally stand-alone system that’s capable of providing all of a property’s heating and hot water needs. Far from needing anything else, the system actually allows you to link it with additional renewable technologies to further improve your home’s overall energy eﬃciencies. Q How safe is air source heating? A Compared to common boilers, air source heat pumps are extremely safe. They have no naked ﬂames, they don’t

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produce carbon monoxide, and they even include a Legionella prevention device – a mechanism that’s actually in advance of current domestic building regulations. Q How much money can I expect to save on my heating and hot water bill? A With changing fuel prices, you can never be exact, but an air source heat pump will typically save dramatic amounts against oil and LPG, and a healthy amount against mains gas. When installed in an electrically-heated home, ﬁgures from the Energy Saving Trust show that air source heating can save around £870 a year on heating bills – and almost six tons of carbon dioxide a year. Unit 25, Bergen Way North Lynn Industrial Estate King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2JG t: 01553 767878 w: www.4wayref.co.uk e: sales@4wayref.co.uk

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KLmagazine November 2015

ECOnomy Windows goes from strength to strength! F or almost 30 years, ECOnomy Windows has been supplying an outstanding range of windows, doors and conservatories for thousands of local customers. It may be a very different world from the one of 1987, but the company is still very true to its original concept of offering the highest quality products and the very best customer service – based on an underlying foundation of solid family values and sound business practices. It’s been an unqualified triumph, and ECOnomy Windows is now set to embark on the next chapter in a remarkable local success story with the completion of the company’s extensive conservatory show park and

distribution centre in Wisbech. Following massive investment and over 12 months’ development, the centre features a stunning collection of windows and doors and no less than 14 full-scale and furnished conservatories – from small lean-to installations to massive stand-alone orangeries, Livin rooms and loggia. Taking home improvements to a whole new level, they feature the very latest green technologies and are faithful to ECOnomy Windows‘ commitment to bringing innovative and exciting new products to the marketplace. They’re manufactured with 100% lead-free materials, they oﬀer reduced heat loss and improved sound insulation

properties, and they bring with them a host of money-saving energy efficiencies – green credentials reinforced by ECOnomy Windows‘ long-standing policy of responsibly and suitably recycling all waste materials such as plastics, glass and timber. But it’s not just about having some of the most attractive designs currently available – it’s about meeting and exceeding customer expectations from start to finish. It means you won’t have to suffer any short-term gimmicks or high-pressure sales techniques – instead you’ll be treated to your very own professional design consultant, who’ll guide you through the options, recommend

28 YEARS OF QUALITY! 1987 ECOnomy Windows ﬁrst established

1989 The business moves premises to Tilney All Saints

1994 ECOnomy Windows purchases 10,000sq ft of factory space at Terrington St Clements

2001 The business acquires new site for future development in Wisbech

2007 ECOnomy Windows adds additional outlets in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

2010 ECOnomy Windows awarded Top 100 membership of Master Window & Conservatory Installers Association

2011 ECOnomy Windows introduce the A Rated (Energy Eﬃcient) window “Ecotherm”

2012 specific products that fulfil your individual requirements, and suggest ideas based on years of experience of what works – and what doesn’t. In fact, ECOnomy Windows is so confident in its products and the strength of its service that you don’t even have to pay a deposit! Your home will then be surveyed by an experienced master surveyor to ensure the project is millimetre perfect, and once the order’s been processed and manufactured it will await delivery in ECOnomy Windows‘ own on-site distribution centre, a facility that enables the company to minimise delays and keep an eye on quality control. When it comes to installation, ECOnomy Windows is in a class of its own, with its own long-serving and fully-employed (PAYE) fitting teams who’ve built a formidable reputation for

attention to detail and the level of care they take with customers’ homes. And it goes without saying that having taken so much pride in the work to date, ECOnomy Windows will be there to see the finished results – and to ensure the customer’s total satisfaction. With such a proud and successful track record, it’s good to know that ECOnomy Windows has no plans to sit still and rest on its considerable laurels. Indeed, the completion of the Wisbech show site is only the first stage of a long-term plan that will see the arrival of exciting new products, superb new technologies and new levels of customer service. Whether you’re looking a simple replacement door or a fabulous new conservatory, there’s simply never been a better time to discover everything that ECOnomy Windows has to offer.

The business launches a new distribution centre and showpark in Wisbech

2013 ECOnomy Windows installs windows and doors for their 20,000th customer

2014 ECOnomy Windows launch their new Triple Glazed window ‘Ecotherm Plus’

2015 Company completes the extensive conservatory Show Park and distribution centre in Wisbech

2016 Watch this space...

CONSERVATORY SHOW PARK Elm High Road, Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE14 0DG Telephone: 01945 588988 / 01553 777088 Website: www.economy-windows.co.uk E-mail: mail@economy-windows.co.uk

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KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURE: SONY PICTURES INTERNATIONAL / RANDOM HOUSE BOOK

Local Life

ABOVE: James Bond may be the most popular spy in the world, but former Director General of MI5 Stella Rimington (opposite) believes George Smiley is the closest ﬁction has ever come to accurately depicting the real world of espionage, a world she inhabited for 25 years

The not-so-secret world of Stella Rimington... From archivist to typist, from the first female Director General of MI5 to the best-selling author of modern spy novels, Dame Stella Rimington has changed how we see the real world of espionage

n the unlikely event you’re unaware of the fact, the latest James Bond film has just been released. It’s the 24th cinematic outing for the famous secret agent (and the longest-running one to date), whose exploits over the last 53 years have given us a thrilling insight into the world of international espionage. The only trouble is, of course, that it’s an insight firmly fixed in the world of fiction. Indeed, the world of 007 is a very far cry from the peace and quiet of north Norfolk, and his professional life is very different from the real-world experiences of Dame Stella Rimington.

KLmagazine November 2015

It’s fair to say that Stella Rimington is Britain’s most famous ‘authentic’ spy. She was the first woman to rise to the top of the UK’s domestic counterintelligence and security agency, and the first Director General of MI5 to be publicly named (and the first to pose openly for the cameras). Her 25-year career covered all three branches of the service (counterespionage, counter-subversion and counter-terrorism) and saw her involved in many of the most significant events and social changes of the second half of the 20th century. It was also a career that saw a marked shift in the role of women within the service,

who were excluded from operational and intelligence work when Stella first joined it in 1968. Born in South London in 1935, Stella followed a degree in English at Edinburgh University (where by chance, she met her future husband, John Rimington, whom she’d known from her schooldays in Nottingham) by studying archive administration at the University of Liverpool and starting work as an archivist in Worcester in 1959. She married John in 1963, following him first to London (where she worked at the India Office Library) and then to India itself when John was offered an

PICTURE: MURDO MACLEOD

Local Life

ABOVE: Author and former Director General of MI5 Stella Rimington pictured at the Edinburgh International Book Festival earlier this year

overseas posting as First Secretary (Economic) for the British High Commission in New Delhi. In 1967, Stella was asked to help one of the First Secretaries at the High Commission with his office work, and soon discovered he was actually the Indian representative of MI5. Returning to London, she successfully applied for a permanent position at MI5 and by the time she was promoted to one of the service’s two Deputy Director-General positions in 1990 she’d worked in all three branches of the organisation. The following year Stella visited Moscow to make the first friendly contact between the British intelligence services and their old enemies at the KGB – and on her return was told she’d been promoted to Director-General. One of Stella’s most notable achievements as head of MI5 was overseeing a successful public relations campaign to improve the openness of the service and increase its public transparency, a campaign which revealed publicly (for the first time) details of MI5’s activities, operations and duties, as well as the identity – and even photographs – of the DirectorGeneral herself. Despite this openness however, it was – and still is – a very secret world. “I think it does have a huge influence on one’s life,” says Stella. “Even now, anybody in the service who isn’t the Director General lives partly undercover. It’s particularly difficult for young people, because it’s the thing 42

people talk about – their job, their work.” Stella does occasionally offer fascinating glimpses into that secret world, such as the time in the 1990s she briefed John Major on a large bomb which was being brought into the UK inside a lorry – but had to admit MI5 didn’t know where or when. “Oh well, Stella,” said the Prime Minister, “do your best.” Stella retired from MI5 in 1996, shortly after she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Since then, she’s been a non-executive director for companies such as Marks & Spencer and the BG Group, been chair of the Man Booker Prize judging panel, and has become widely known as a highly accomplished author of – naturally enough – contemporary spy fiction. Starting with At Risk in 2004, Stella’s series of eight books feature the heroine Liz Carlyle, who is an MI5 intelligence officer herself – although she’s not a self-portrait. “She clearly isn’t me, but has elements of me when I was her age,” Stella says of her lead character. “I certainly allow her to think and say things that I said – or at least thought. I’ve learnt that you get on better by not being over forceful and pushy. You have to get your way by more subtle means.” Fans of the series will be pleased to learn that the next book in the series – Breaking Cover – is scheduled to be

published next July. No one is better placed to debunk the popular image of spies; that not all of them are licensed to kill, and that they don’t spring into action following a two-minute briefing and a flirtatious chat with their superior’s secretary. In fact, Stella believes John Le Carré’s George Smiley is the closest fiction has ever come to the real world (hardly surprising since when he started writing in the early 1960s, Le Carré was actually working for MI6). So what does make a truly successful spy? “It’s having the ability to merge into the background,” Stella said in her 2001 autobiography Open Secret, “having the ability to be unmemorable.” Given that she’s led such a remarkable life, provided the inspiration for Dame Judy Dench’s role as James Bond’s boss, and written a string of best-selling novels, it’s tempting to know what gives Stella the greatest pleasure? “Being in my garden in Norfolk on a sunny day,” she says, “particularly if my family are there.” RIGHT: Close Call is the latest of Stella Rimington’s eight novels featuring MI5 intelligence office Liz Carlyle – the ninth in the series will be published next year.

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

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November 2015

Why all cars deserve to be serviced by K Brown! The perfect blend of technical expertise and customer service he benefits of owning a car can often be outweighed by the headache of finding a reliable and high standard of repairs and servicing – and every year thousands of customers complain about sub-standard work, about repairs being overlooked, and about being charged for work that’s left incomplete. It’s a situation that was at the front of the minds of Keith and Tamsin Brown when the couple launched K Brown Auto Repairs back in the 1990s. “The last thing we wanted was people dropping off their car and keys in the morning and then worrying about it all day,” says Tamsin. “One of our biggest priorities has always been to keep our customers fully informed at every stage – both in terms of the work itself and its cost.” Combining Tamsin’s retail-based customer service background with the technical expertise of Keith and his team of highly-trained mechanics, K Brown Auto Repairs offers everything from simple parts replacements and

KLmagazine November 2015

repairs to major rebuilds, complete engine overhauls and MOTs. “Once we’ve discussed your car’s service history and looked at the manufacturer’s guidelines, we’ll perform a detailed vehicle inspection,” says Tamsin. “We’ll let you know what needs immediate attention and what work can be safely addressed at a later stage. We’ll let you know how long it’s going to take and how much it‘s going to cost. It’s all about making reliable recommendations that suit both your car and your budget.” Even if you do decide to postpone some of the non-urgent work for a few thousands miles or so, K Brown Auto

“Three generations of our family have been customers of K Brown Auto Repairs for over ten years, which is a great testament to their service and value for money. We’ve trusted them with brand new cars, vintage cars and well-used cars – and we’ve never been disappointed with the advice, the help, or the charges...”

Repairs will happily re-check your car’s needs in the near future – entirely for free. “We don’t expect our customers to be mechanics,” says Tamsin, “but we do try to educate them. We’re always honest and open when it comes to servicing our customers’ cars, and in the unlikely event something unexpected does crop up, you’ll be the ﬁrst to know – people need to know their car is in very safe hands!” Thanks to a refereshingly familyfriendly atmosphere and a commitment to realistic and fully-transparent pricing, the customers at K Brown Auto Repairs are only ever surprised by the level of technical expertise and the standards of customer care – and never by the bill at the end of the day!

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KLmagazine November 2015

Pets

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

Avoid the puppy farm S adly, in our area there is an increase in people rearing and selling puppies for profit. Over the years typically we have enjoyed good quality breeders or pet dogs having a single litter as a source of puppies. These are well bred, well looked after and socialised and given good food and the treatments they need and deserve. However, over the last few months we are increasingly aware of pups being bred from bitches and sold on a more commercial scale. These pups are born and brought up in less than ideal surroundings, with limited human contact and therefore, poor socialisation, with poor diets and often no worming or flea treatment. They are then advertised on the internet, with an attractive photograph, perhaps bearing little resemblance to the actual pups. Once you call the mobile phone number and arrange to see a pup, you will be unlikely to see the “parents” and of course once you’ve seen and held this animal you are under pressure to close the deal. They say buyer beware and in no

situation is this more true. It is probably easier to walk away from buying a healthy happy puppy, than one you are well aware is underweight, timid and about to be returned to the unsuitable environment it’s come from. So you part with your money and “rescue” the pup, and take home this sickly creature rather than a bouncing active dog. We have treated several of these unfortunate cases recently, including one little pup, who was near death and only saved by intravenous fluids, antibiotics, worming and a lot of nursing care. It’s not how your first days with your new friend should be and it’s all because of the uncaring greed of an unscrupulous person. The pups are not claimed to be kennel club registered or recognised as a kennel club pure breed, which makes it harder to know what you are actually taking possession of, allowing for a clever smokescreen to be applied. These days every cross mating of dogs seems to have a trendy name like Labradoodle or Yorkiepoo, where in days gone by they were called

crossbreds. Now these make big bucks and need no papers or assurances, allowing some people to take advantage. A proper licenced long term breeder can give you the certainty that you want. We are also finding some of the more cunning puppy farmers take the litter to a vet for a first vaccination, they receive a certificate of good health from that vet when little or nothing is known about the pups background or recent actual health. I would like to stress that this is not something that my practice gets involved with. It all looks good though and adds confusion to the prospective genuine buyer, who puts their faith in the breeder and now also the vendor’s vet. So what do you do? You’ve decided to have a puppy to join and enrich your life, but of course you want a good one. Well you can talk to us first about what you want and what to look for. We all seem to do our research on purchases on the internet and that’s where first to be wary. Don’t get sucked in by some website with all sorts of breeds and ages of puppies available. If you can’t see at least the puppies mother then probably walk away, so ask that question first before you fall in love with a sickly pup. If we keep buying these farmed, mistreated animals then someone will keep breeding them and continue this misery. Finally, we can all help by ensuring compliance with the laws that are there to protect these creatures, laws relating to dog breeding and pet shop licensing. These are managed by the Environmental Health Department at the borough council, and if you have experience of an unfortunate poorly puppy from a dubious breeder or source then they would like to know. You can call David Isted directly on 01553 616311 to help stop the abuse.

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

KLmagazine November 2015

Local Life

ABOVE: As a new race season gets underway, Fakenham Racecourse celebrates with a host of new facilities and improvements

The start of a new era at Fakenham Racecourse It’s one of Norfolk’s key sporting destinations, and one of the best-loved racecourses in the country, but as KL magazine discovers, there’s even more to enjoy at Fakenham this year...

he opening of a new race season at Fakenham Racecourse is always packed with things to look forward to, but this year the atmosphere that’s the envy of many of the country’s best courses is even more exciting thanks to the completion of a major programme of upgrades and improvements. “We’re celebrating 110 years of racing at Fakenham this year, but we’ve always tried to move with the times,” says David Hunter, the racecourse’s Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Clerk of the Course. “We’ve brought some of our

most important facilities bang up to date, but we haven’t lost the ethos, the quirkiness and the eccentricity of Fakenham Racecourse. That’s essential, as once you’ve lost tradition you can never get it back.” The latest phase of improvements form part of a long-term strategy at Fakenham Racecourse that started some four years ago, and was partly funded by a grant from the Racing Foundation. The organisation was founded in 2012 with the money derived from the government’s sale of the Horserace Totaliser Board (‘tote’) and uses these funds to achieve a

lasting legacy for the sport of horseracing. “We’re enormously grateful to the Racing Foundation for the help and support they’ve given Fakenham Racecourse,” says David, “and we also owe thanks to the local building ﬁrm of E. N. Suiter and Sons from King’s Lynn – they did a outstanding job.” The new facilities, located behind the racecourse’s original 1953 grandstand, include a brand new medical suite, improved changing rooms and showers for jockeys, and a glass-fronted weighing room that enables spectators to watch riders as they weigh in – and

KLmagazine November 2015

ABOVE: The new glass-fronted Weighing Room at Fakenham Racecourse – on raceday, it’s one of the course’s main hubs of activity

KLmagazine November 2015

managed to convince him otherwise!” It’s not all about meeting the needs of the riders, however. Equally important has been the creation of Cool Roxy, a brand-new bar for owners and trainers named the famous racehorse who became synonymous with racing at Fakenham. Owned and trained by Hertfordshirebased trainer Alan Blackmore, Cool Roxy had 11 wins at Fakenham and holds the most prolific racehorse status to date at the racecourse. “The owners and trainers are the people who really keep the show on the road, and the old bar didn’t really reflect that,” says David. “The Cool Roxy is a lot more pleasant, and the friendly and competitive atmosphere – which was always great – is now even more exciting.” It’s an atmosphere that non-owners or trainers could soon be enjoying for themselves, as plans are afoot to offer the use of the Cool Roxy on nonrace days for private parties and business functions to complement the existing facilities of the Prince of Wales Stand. Rather fittingly, the new bar opens at the same time as Fakenham

PICTURES: IAN WARD

out. “These are all services that we’ve provided for many years, and we couldn’t race without them,” says David. “But many of them were inadequate for the professional level of racing we’ve now reached. We’ve made them bigger and better, and we’ve brought them closer together so the various teams can work together more efficiently.” One of the most outstanding developments is the Reinhold’s Medical Room, a purpose-built medical centre and physiotherapist area that was named after Fakenham’s hugely experienced senior medical officer Piers Reinhold, who’s been at the racecourse for over 30 years. “He was actually here when I started at the racecourse,” says David. “He’s a truly outstanding doctor and highly esteemed in the racing world, and we wanted to recognise the incredibly important work he’s done and continues to do here over the years. He did find the idea of having the new facility named after him a bit embarrassing at first, but happily we

Local Life

Racecourse enters a new catering partnership – with the Crown Inn at East Rudham, run by Tristan McEwen, Paula McEwen & Paul Edwards. “We’re delighted to have joined the team at the racecourse,” says Tristan McEwan, “and we’re really looking forward to working with everyone here.” The Crown Inn will provide fantastic food choices for diners in the Firth Restaurant and will also be providing catering and bar facilities in the Long Bar, which has also undergone a number of improvements (including a completely new bar) to enhance its customers’ raceday experiences. “We’re delighted the Crown Inn has taken over the catering at the racecourse,” says David Hunter. “Tristan and his team have a wealth of experience, and it’s always been essential that our catering partner is local to Fakenham and is passionate about service, quality and dedicated to using local produce.”

Important changes have also taken place oﬀ the course. Launched at the end of October, Fakenham Racecourse’s new website is easy to use, mobile-friendly, and changes to the online booking system mean that visitors to the site will now only be a few simple clicks away from getting their tickets. It’s a new season at the racecourse, and it’s one with better facilities for everyone – for stewards, for owners and trainers, for jockeys and for racegoers themselves. It’s come a very long way from the early days at the start of the 20th century when it only hosted one race a year, but what’s next for Fakenham Racecourse? “We’ve always got ambitions and plans for the future, and I think the main bar area and saddling boxes will be the next area to get our attention,” says David. “But it’s not going to happen overnight. For the time being, we’ll draw a breath and look forward to another fantastic season of racing!”

PICTURES: IAN WARD

COOL ROXY: The new owners and trainers bar at Fakenham Racecourse’s has been named after one of the course’s most popular horses

FAKENHAM RACECOURSE The Racecourse, Fakenham Norfolk NR21 7NY t: 01328 862388 w: www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk e: info@fakenhamracecourse.co.uk

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: WELNEY WETLAND CENTRE / KL MAGAZINE

Local Life

ABOVE: The popular swan feeds at the Welney Wetland Centre oﬀer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a closer look at some of the swans and ducks that spend their winter at the reserve

Discovering a natural winter wonder at Welney Britain’s largest area of seasonally-flooded land is the setting for one of the most magical events in the UK’s nature calendar – as thousands of swans and ducks return to the Welney Wetland Centre

or over 20 years, Virginia the whooper swan made her regular winter migration journey from Iceland to Lancashire – but last year she changed course to come and winter in the Fens. Despite famously being known as birds that mate for life, Virginia has had three diﬀerent partners and successfully had cygnets with each over the course of her long life. But how do we know such detailed information about one single bird? Tagging swans such as Virginia to track their migration routes is just one element of the amazing work the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust does for the conservation of endangered birds. During the winter, Virginia has been

KLmagazine November 2015

part of the beautiful spectacle that graces the Ouse Washes. Many thousands of ducks from the Arctic are joined by the truly magical sight of up to 9,000 wild Bewick’s and whooper swans descending onto the wash. This winter scene is what people most associate with the Welney Wetland Centre which is part of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). At Welney you can grab a backpack from the visitor centre and follow trails, visit the interactive swan feeding station or simply grab a slice of cake and look out over the spectacular views of the Fens. The focus at this time of year is very much on the swans – and there are two types that you’ll be able to spot. Whooper swans like Virginia make their

way back from Iceland, bringing their cygnets with them back from their summer there. “It gets much too cold for them to stay there during winter so they come back here to the Ouse Washes,” says Emma Brand, Events and Marketing Officer at Welney Wetland Centre. The Bewick’s swans come from arctic Russia and are also escaping colder climates. “The Bewick’s migration takes a bit longer than the whooper swans,” says Emma. “They can start arriving in October but they take longer as they stop off in lots of different countries along the way!” These swans join tens of thousands of winter duck species such as wigeon

PICTURE: IAN WARD

Local Life

where they’ve been, how long they’ve lived for and if they have any young or, indeed, a partner. The method can rely heavily on people spotting the birds in other parts of the world and feeding back information. A lot of the data they’ve received in recent times has shown that the whooper swan’s population is looking healthy, but the Bewick’s swans is not so good. Therefore another, very helpful, method of retrieving data is the GPS tag. “Using a GPS tag means we can discover where they’re going and what route they’re taking,” says Emma. “For instance, we can discover whether there are any offshore wind farms being erected in migration routes which could cause harm to the birds passing through.” One of the birds tagged using this method is named Daisy Clarke (named after the farmer who allowed them to use a field to tag the swan!) and they’ve already received data on her whereabouts. “She’s in Estonia at the moment,” says Emma, “and it will be really nice to see her come back for another year!” If you’ve been reading this thinking you’d really love to learn how to help with collecting data on these swans, the Centre is actually hosting a workshop this month for just that. “We’re running ring-reading workshops to teach people how to find

the swans and share the data for our conservation eﬀort,” explains Emma. Whatever your level of interest may be, winter at Welney can be a real spectacle. “They’re all in one place at night and then they all ﬂy out – it’s quite the sight, and it’s wonderful to hear their feet splashing on the water,” says Emma. “It’s a real experience seeing all of this activity at once.”

PICTURE: RICHARDTAYLOR-JONES

and pochard who are also escaping colder countries to fill the reserve at this time of year. This makes it a very noisy, stimulating place to visit during this period as they all fly in and out of the lakes to feed. “We really encourage people to become interested, and we put on commentated bird feeds for people to enjoy,” says Emma. “This doesn’t feed all of the birds – but if the fields are frozen then it does give them something to top up their reserves.” The feeds are a brilliant educational tool as viewers are extremely close to the birds and the guide but are safe in the comfort of the reserve’s heated hide. During the commentated bird feeds, a guide will describe the birds journeys and some of the stories of the individual birds. When it comes to the case of Virginia, it’s always a story they love to share. “She was first caught in 1993 at our Martin Mere centre so was at least 22 years old when she came to us last year,” says Emma. “Due to her living so long, she’s outlived some of her partners but she’s a successful individual – we’ll be really interested to see her if she comes back again!” To produce this kind of data they have two separate methods at Welney. Virginia is monitored by something called ‘swan ringing’ where swans have colourful rings attached to their legs. This gives the WWT lots of data on

Welney Wetland Centre is open 7 days a week, 364 days a year (it’s closed on Christmas Day) – for further information and details on special events and swan feeds, please visit the website at www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/welney

KLmagazine November 2015

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ABOVE: Jamie McGuﬀog and Terry Hills are giving interiors a personalised new look with the opening of The Paradise Suite

Welcome to Paradise – just the way you want it! This month, Living in Paradise opens up a whole new world of luxurious interiors – with more space, more style, a host of exclusive products and a fantastic new bespoke fabric service...

ince 2009, the sister stores of Beds of Paradise and Living in Paradise in Downham Market have been adding a real touch of glamour to local interiors with a superb range of quality beds, three piece suites, sofa beds, chairs, occasional furniture, gifts, accessories and antique lighting. Now, however, this little corner of heaven is set to become even more desirable as Jamie McGuﬀog and Terry Hills prepare to take the individual experience to a whole new level. “When the shop next door to Living in Paradise became available, we started wondering who our new neighbours were going to be,” says Jamie. ”But then we realised it was the perfect opportunity for us to answer 56

our customers’ needs for a truly personal approach to interiors.” If you ever wondered why so many manufacturers of suites and sofas seem to leave the patterns and the bright colours to the cushions, it’s because it takes a lot of time and eﬀort to get the perfect result. “People were telling us they’d really like a bespoke service when it came to fabrics,” says Terry. “They’d love the design, the sit and the style of a suite, but they weren’t that keen on the fabric itself. That’s what we’re going to be changing.”

This month, the new area – called ‘Paradise’ naturally enough – will open up a whole new world of personalised interiors, although Terry’s keen to point out that it’s not simply an extension of Living in Paradise. “It’s a more luxurious version of what’s made us so successful over the years,” he says. “Yes, we’ll be able to showcase some wonderful new products, but it also means that people will be able to have the furniture they want personalised so that it’s perfectly matched to their decorative tastes and to their own unique style.” And although you’ll be able to KLmagazine November 2015

choose from an extensive range of beautiful floral, striped, patterned and print fabric swatches, you can even have your suite or sofa upholstered in a fabric you’ve sourced elsewhere. “It may sound like a re-upholstery service,” says Jamie, “but it’s actually a way of enjoying brand new, high quality furniture that’s been uniquely tailored to you. It’s going to make a huge difference to the way our customers see their homes.” And it’s not all about the look. The new service will also include alterations to the furniture so it’s as perfectly and individually suited to your body as it is to your colour scheme. “We can change the seat depth or the height of the back, and we can even do that to our lift-and-rise recliners,” says Terry. “Just because you may be less mobile or slightly older doesn’t mean you have to settle for second best!” And the bespoke fabric options of Paradise will be joined by new collections of suites, sofas and bedroom furniture, a fabulous range of sliding wardrobes from Germany, studio displays of Somnus beds (one of the oldest and most distinctive brands in the UK), and a new Parker Knoll suite that’s exclusive to the area. It’s an exciting time, and a whole new world of interiors, but it still offers the second-to-none customer service that’s made the two stores so popular. “We’ve always gone the extra mile for our customers,” says Jamie. “It’s why all deliveries within 25 miles are free and it’s why we receive calls every week saying how brilliant and friendly our delivery team is!”

It helps that Bryan and Dan (who make the deliveries and will dispose of your old bed for free) actually work in the sister stores and are familiar with the products, enabling them to advise on after-sales care and how to keep your new furniture in great condition. There’s no doubt that Paradise is about to put some much-needed excitement back in the world of furniture. “I think the art of using colour has been lost over the last few years, and we seem to be stuck with greys and beiges.” says Terry. “People can be a bit daunted when they ﬁrst see a splash of colour, but it’s a bit like jewellery – you don’t buy it because it’s practical, you buy it because you love it! You should feel the same way about your furniture. You should be excited about it – and that’s why we’re here!” If you’re looking for your very own piece of paradise, Jamie and Terry have exactly what you’re looking for!

information

KLmagazine November 2015

Living in Paradise

Beds of Paradise

48 High Street, Downham Market Norfolk PE38 9HH Tel: 01366 384422 Web: www.livinginparadiseonline.co.uk

1 Paradise Road, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 9HS Tel: 01366 384411 Web: www.bedsofparadise.co.uk

fashion

Fashion

As the party season gets underway, it’s time to sparkle and make a real seasonal style statement. This is your big chance to make a grand entrance and a stunning impression at all those festive gettogethers – thanks to the latest looks from the best of our local boutiques...

Green Vest (£45) and Jacket (£150) by Piccadilly ALLEZ CHIC | Castle Rising 01553 631915 KLmagazine November 2015

Black Scuba Dress by Label Lab (£79) and Black Polka Dot Clutch by Untold (£45) at House of Fraser INTU CHAPELFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE | Norwich 01603 753344 KLmagazine November 2015

Fashion

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KLmagazine November 2015

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t: 01553 631915 Open: Monday to Saturday 10am - 4.30pm w: www.allezchic.co.uk e: cheryldaubney@allezchic.co.uk KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

A genuine flair for style T

GODDARDS INDEPENDENT OUTFITTERS

here’s no doubt about it – our wardrobes have to work harder during the winter. We need sparkles and elegance for those festive parties, smart and coordinated looks for everyday wear, and the colder weather means we need to maintain a delicate balance between style and comfort. It’s a tall order, but it’s one that Goddards in King’s Lynn is more than capable of meeting – with a superb collection of womenswear that satisfies the style demands of any winter wardrobe in terms of quality, affordability and design. “We’ve always had a very strong reputation for ladies fashion,” says Goddards’ Manager Gary Tillott, “and part of that success is due to us attracting such a wide range of premium brands to the store, many of which are exclusive to Goddards.” Among the store’s winter 2015 collections you’ll find Selected Femme, which took the Scandinavian fashion stage by storm in 2008 and combines pared-down elegance with Nordic aesthetics to emphasise feminine contours and timeless looks. You’ll also discover Almost Famous, whose amazing print designs and vivacious colours have seen the distinctive styles worn by everyone from Sarah Jessica Parker to Pippa Middleton. And then there’s the innovative Londonbased Great Plains, which offers a classic range of high-quality basics alongside contemporary fashion-inspired pieces. Oh, and for the perfect finishing touch, don’t forget Goddards also stocks an extensive selection of scarves, gloves, bags and accessories – including the beautiful handmade creations of So-Me Jewellery, perfect for adding those eye-catching accents. “If you’re looking to build your winter wardrobe, I like to think you’ll find everything you need at Goddards,” says Gary. “We’re here for the modern woman who loves to experiment with contemporary fashion trends, but doesn’t want to be dictated by them.”

Wellesley Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1QD Menswear | 01553 772382 Ladies Fashions | 01553 777188 Formal Hire | 01553 772382 www.goddardsonline.co.uk KLmagazine November 2015

Fashion

Jumper and Trousers by Lauren Vidal SHEILA TILLER | Long Sutton 01406 363433 64

KLmagazine November 2015

Helping ladies look their best for almost 40 years! Since 1978, Sheila Tiller has been oﬀering a range of exclusive ladies fashions and shoes – and a truly individual, personal service

lmost forty years after she started the business back in 1978, Sheila Tiller is still oﬀering the personal attention and high quality choice that’s been so successful – and popular – over three decades of changing styles. While Sheila herself concentrates on a huge collection of famous-brand shoes and boots in the centre of Long Sutton, her daughter Elaine Tunnard can be found just a few doors away looking after the fashion side of the business. “The secret of helping people dress well is getting to know them well,” says Elaine. “It’s your personality that wears the clothes, and that’s why we’ve

always taken the time to learn about our ladies’ lives and their lifestyles – so we can help them choose fashions that are perfectly and individually suited to them.” Of course, it helps when you have such a wide range of fabulous styles to call on. With a strong focus on smart contemporary daywear, Sheila Tiller’s fashion collections (available in sizes 8-18) includes labels such as Lauren Vidal, i Blues, Marc Aurel, Olsen, Stills and Monari – while the shoe and boot store features such wellknown names as K&S, Gabor, Tamaris, Pikolinos and Camel Active. In addition to a selection of more

Sheila Tiller

formal styles and mother-of-the-bride outfits, Sheila Tiller even has a beautiful lingerie collection by Chantelle, with two fully-trained bra fitters on hand for a truly personal service. Indeed, whatever your wardrobe needs, Sheila Tiller can help you find an elegant and stylish answer. “First impressions really do count, and clothes are an extremely important part of that,” says Elaine. “If you look good, you feel good – and that can lead you to achieve great things. We love fashion, but I think we like helping people make the most of it even more!” For a wonderful choice of stylish clothes, for a friendly family-run atmosphere, and for a one-to-one service dedicated to ensuring you look your very best, Sheila Tiller has everything you’re looking for.

information

FASHIONS: 13 Market Place, Long Sutton, Spalding, Lincs PE12 9JA Tel: 01406 363433 SHOES: 7 Market Place, Long Sutton, Spalding, Lincs PE12 9JA Tel: 01406 364128 WEBSITE: www.sheilatiller.co.uk E-MAIL: sheilatillerfashions@gmail.com

KLmagazine November 2015

ABOVE: Store Manager Helen Emery outside Francis Wain in King’s Lynn – the independent jewellers continues to go from strength to strength

A passion for jewellery and a sparkling team... Francis Wain Jewellers have been helping dreams come true for half a century – helped by a wealth of talent and a friendly service

rancis Wain has been offering a personal service for discerning customers for over 50 years, and from the very start the independent jewellers has become renowned for having a real passion and expertise for jewellery – and for offering a truly stunning collection of unique pieces. With Donné Kidson at the helm, the King’s Lynn store has been extensively refurbished (and now includes a bridal lounge and champagne bar) while the Dereham branch has recently relocated to the Chapelfield mall in Norwich. It’s been a busy time, but Donné is the first to admit it hasn’t been a solo effort.

“Francis Wain is incredibly lucky to have an experienced, passionate and dedicated group of individuals, each with their own strengths,” says Donné. “Being totally independent makes each one of these wonderful ladies part of the core fabric and foundation of our business – and together, they provide an invaluable resource for our clients.” In King’s Lynn, every member of the team is driven to learn and further develop their areas of expertise, which has enabled Francis Wain to continue oﬀering a unique personal service. “They’re not just a highly professional team,” says Donné. “They have a friendly disposition and a very real sense of trust and integrity which makes our customers feel at ease and welcome.”

Store Manager Helen Emery is responsible for running and maintaining the King’s Lynn store, a role she’s ﬁlled for the last three years. Having joined Francis Wain over eight years ago, Helen’s remarkable leadership skills and eye for beautifully striking displays help create a wonderfully distinctive atmosphere. “Francis Wain really has gone from strength to strength, notably so over the last couple of years,” she says. “Thanks to our new-look store and carefully-sourced unique stock, we appeal to a much wider clientele now – and with Christmas just around the corner I think customers new and old will enjoy discovering our wonderful new selection of gems and diamonds.” But there’s a lot more to Francis Wain than gemstones and precious metals.

KLmagazine November 2015

ABOVE: The public face of Francis Wain includes (left to right) Michelle Switek, Daphne Mace, Mallory Wilkinson and (below, left) Vicky King

The store’s resident watch expert is Michelle Switek, who’s been with the company for over five years but has accumulated a great deal of knowledge in all fields of jewellery over the course of three decades in the industry. “Francis Wain is individual in every sense of the word,” she says. “We always stock unique pieces that have been specially chosen by ourselves, we have Personal Jewellers who are always happy to share their experience, and we offer a range of specialist services from bridal hire to bespoke jewellery design.” One of Francis Wain’s longest-serving members of staff is Daphne Mace, who’s been involved in almost every area of the business over the last 25 years. Today, her main area of expertise is freshwater and cultured pearls, and she’s in no doubt what works best.

KLmagazine November 2015

“You can’t go wrong with a perfectlymatched, high-lustre strand of cultured pearls,” she says. “Coloured pearls were very successful over the wedding season this summer, but at the moment our large 12-14mm freshwater necklet seems to be getting the most attention. It can be worn casually and for dressy occasions – anytime and anywhere – and our magnetic clasps make it really simple to put on.” Vicky King came on board four years ago – almost literally, as she’d spent several years building her jewellery knowledge on cruise ships travelling around the world. Her keen interest in gems and gemology is so great that she’s obtained many qualifications to strengthen her understanding of gemstones and their properties. “Just recently, I’ve been training as a Registered Valuer,” she says. “It’s a role that requires considerable technical knowledge and a familiarity with a vast range of jewellery, and I’m really looking forward to working with our customers in this exciting field.” Mallory Wilkinson started at Francis Wain six years ago as an assistant on Saturdays, but her creative talents and enthusiasm have seen her rise to the position of the company’s in-house Bespoke Designer. Indeed, her artistic work and efforts in the Marketing Department saw her recently named one of Retail Jeweller’s 30 under-30 Rising Stars of 2015. “It’s wonderful to be able to see a design go from the initial idea to a tangible piece of jewellery in a matter of weeks,” she says. “It’s a very satisfying process – especially when the customer sees the finished piece.”

Although these talented, experienced and friendly women are the public face of Francis Wain, they’re supported by an equally-professional team working behind the scenes to maintain the company’s standing as an outstanding and exclusive local jeweller, as Donné Kidson is keen to point out. “When you visit Francis Wain, you may never meet our stock managers, marketing gurus and administration staﬀ,” she says, “but they all have a vital and much-appreciated role to play. Jewellery is a very individual thing, and being able to oﬀer customers a very special personal touch to go with it has always been one of our main strengths.” Diamonds may well be a girl’s best friend, but there’s no doubt that the team at Francis Wain gives them a little extra sparkle.

5 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AR Telephone: 01553 774499 Website: www.franciswainjewellers.com

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: HOLKHAM ESTATE

Local Life

ABOVE: Members of the Holkham Estate’s gamekeeping team in 1909 wearing the hat that was invented for them. By the time this picture was taken, the ‘Coke’ hat was famous around the world and Holkham’s gamekeepers still wear it today (opposite)

Holkham: home of the world’s most famous hat In 1849, the gamekeepers of the Holkham Estate received a new style of headwear that had been specially designed for them – a hat that became an iconic piece of clothing around the world

t’s one of the most famous pieces of headwear the world has ever known, put to famous use by comedy icons such as Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, given lethal capabilities by the James Bond villain Oddjob, and was an essential part of every businessman’s attire during the 1950s and 60s. It is, of course, the bowler hat. However, the most amazing fact about this world-famous hat (it was actually more popular in the Wild West than the Stetson) is that its origins lay with the gamekeepers of the Holkham Estate in Norfolk. There are several theories as to why Holkham’s keepers ﬁrst came to wear these distinctive hats, which were

KLmagazine November 2015

originally known as ‘Coke’ hats in their home county. The original story begins in August 1849, when William Coke, a nephew of the first Earl of Leicester, commissioned his London-based hatter James Lock to design a tightly-fitting hat with a low crown for his gamekeepers. Wishing to prevent the frequent damage caused to the gamekeeper’s traditional top hats as they rode through low-hanging branches, Coke emphasised the need for the new design to be particularly robust – although his gamekeepers didn’t just need protecting from the Holkham Estate’s trees. It was also hoped the new design would offer some additional defence against the ever-

present threat of poachers. After receiving the brief, Lock gave the responsibility of producing a prototype of the new hat to his chief hat designers, the brothers Thomas and William Bowler. When Coke returned to Lock & Co on December 17th, 1849 to examine the design, he was presented with a hard hat with a round, low crown and a small brim, which was all covered in a roughly-ﬁnished felt. His reaction to the hat may have taken the respected hatmakers by surprise, as Coke duly took it outside, put it on the pavement and promptly jumped up and down on it a few times to assess its strength and durability. Thankfully, the hat withstood

PICTURE:© CHRIS STEELE-PERKINS/MAGNUM

Local Life

ABOVE: Kevan McCaig (fourth from left) is the Holkham Estate’s Head Gamekeeper – new members of his team need to complete a full year’s service before they receive their bowler hat. Note that three members of the gamekeeping team featured here have left the team since this photograph was taken.

and rival gangs! In England the hat was very fashionable in shooting parties across the country, and soon became nearmandatory for city stockbrokers and barristers. The stereotypical image of a Londoner wearing a pinstripe suit, taking a red bus to work with a briefcase, umbrella and a bowler hat perched on his head still exists in many minds today. Although the bowler’s heyday came to an end with the rise of more informal fashions in the 1960s, judges and officials at equestrian shows commonly wear the hats today. It’s also fitting that the hats are still worn by the gamekeepers on the Holkham Estate today – keeping the tradition alive, even though the dangers that inspired the hat’s creation aren’t quite so pressing. Kevan McCaig is the Head Gamekeeper on the Holkham Estate, and has just taken on two new gamekeepers – but explains they won’t be getting their bowlers just yet. “For their first year the gamekeepers will wear a flat cap or something similar,” he says. “After they’ve successfully completed a years’ service, they’ll then be presented with their bowler hat.” The difference between a flat cap fitting your head and a bowler can be quite different, though. “If they’ve got an odd-shaped head, they’ll really see a difference in the way

the bowler fits in comparison to a flat cap,” says Kevan. It’s not a great problem, though, as Holkham’s gamekeepers still get their bowler hats from the London company that originally produced them – and Lock & Co uses moulds to shape a bowler to fit their wearer perfectly. There’s no doubt that Holkham’s present team of gamekeepers wear the ‘Coke’ hat with just as much pride as the very first – and that the new recruits will be looking forward to the end of their first year’s service so they can join this remarkable tradtion.

PICTURES: HOLKHAM ESTATE

William’s test, and he paid 12 shillings for it. In line with Lock & Co’s usual practice of naming their hats after the customer for whom it was made, the new headwear was called the ‘Coke’ hat, although shortly after its successful introduction onto the Holkham Estate, it became affectionately known as the ‘Billy Coke’ or the ‘Billycock’ hat. However, some recent research has cast a shadow of doubt over the story of the origin of the hat – and it’s now believed that it was Edward Coke, younger brother of the second Earl of Leicester, who actually ordered the hat. Whatever its origins, the popularity of the hat soon extended far beyond the Holkham Estate, although the local influences on its name were gradually lost in favour of the brothers who made it. Hugely popular throughout the end of the 19th century and first half of the 20th, the bowler hat was worn by everyone from politicians to actors. Introduced to America (where it was also known as the ‘derby’) it was so common it’s been described as the ‘hat that won the west’ and even became part of the national costume for some South America peoples. In the mid-1800s, the Plug Uglies was an American group of volunteer fire fighters (though they were more streetgang than emergency service) which became famous for every member sporting a bowler hat – demonstrating the hat’s durability in fighting both fires

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

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“I wanted to create a unique and high quality service for every woman’s beauty needs...” LISA PEPPER s Elysium Beauty Room

A whole new level for local beauty treatments Lisa Pepper welcomes you to a whole new beauty experience – with a wealth of experience and professional qualifications...

hanks to Lisa Pepper, looking good and feeling great has never been such a pleasurable or more relaxing experience. Lisa first qualified over 15 years ago at the multi-award winning Burghley Academy, and developed her skills working in some of the most prestigious salons, stores and spas in the country. Following several years spent as a lecturer, beauty assessor and internal verifier at a number of schools and colleges, Lisa returned home and has now put all her experience and knowledge (together with an entire wall full of qualifications) into launching Elysium Beauty Rooms in Walpole St. Andrew, which opened earlier this year. Located in a beautiful rural setting, Elysium Beauty Rooms is a truly relaxing retreat, offering free parking and a welcome degree of privacy for customers visiting its large, fullyequipped studio and two luxurious

KLmagazine November 2015

treatment rooms. “The idea was to provide a purposebuilt and high-end salon in a lovely location for ladies looking for professional treatments,” says Lisa, who’s also the East Midlands trainer for Naturastudios, the world-leading provider of skin treatments and skin ﬁnishing products. “I wanted to create a unique and a genuinely high quality service for every woman's beauty needs.” Using some of the best brands currently available, Elysium Beauty Rooms oﬀers a comprehensive range of eye, nail and body treatments, including specialist services such as IPL laser hair removal and Diamond Peel dermabrasion. And keeping up to date with the very latest developments in an ever-changing industry, Lisa will soon be introducing the award-winning Dermapen, a revolutionary microneedling treatment which tightens, lifts

and rejuvenates the skin. In fact, Lisa’s high level of training, qualifications and experience will enable her to offer the medical-grade Dermapen. “The results are fantastic,” she says. “Whether you’re looking to smooth wrinkles, erase scars, remove unsightly skin lesions or finally attain that perfect, bright complexion it’s a brilliant product that really does work wonders.” If you’re looking for a totally new, totally professional approach to beauty treatments (Lisa also offers gift vouchers if you’d like to treat someone else!), look no further. You’ll love the experience – and so will your body!

information

Elysium Beauty Rooms The Old Barn, Walpole Bank, Walpole St Andrew, Wisbech PE14 7JD Tel: 01945 780066 / 07795 841016 Web: www.elysiumbeautyrooms.co.uk

METCALFE COPEMAN & PETTEFAR LLP Wills and Probate Department

Contact Simon Scott on 01553 778101 or email simon.scott@mcp-law.co.uk for more information

BE HAPPY, BE HEALTHY &

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• Business • Crime • Dispute Resolution • Employment • Family • Property • Wills and Probate 28/32 King Str Street, eet, King’ King’ss Lynn, Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1HQ www.mcp-law.co.uk www .mcp-law.co.uk 01553 778100

• Teeth whitening • White fillings • Porcelain veneers and crowns • Treatment of worn teeth • Experienced hygienists • Late evening & Saturday appointments available • Help with financing your treatment with Denplan • Consultation for the treatment of lines & wrinkles

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New Patients Welcome

ASSOCIATE DENTIST Miss Kinga Maciejewska Lek Stom Warsaw 2004 GDC 139876

We’re closer than you think! Burnham Market

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

TEL: 01553 631094 info@castlerisingdentist.co.uk

King’s Lynn Wisbech

Downham Market

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Visit the surgery website at www.castlerisingdentist.co.uk 74

KLmagazine November 2015

15%

82% Traditional retinal imagi ng oﬀers a limited 15% (45o) view of the back of the eye – the area between the white lines above. Now, D.A. Seaman has the technology to examine over 300% mo re of your eye in a single image, producin g a more comprehensive overvie w, with the capability of autoﬂuo rescence (below) to reveal eye health at a cellular level!

EXCLUSIVE TO NORFOLK AT D.A. SEAMAN!

Taking a 300% better view of your eye health! How D.A. Seaman is investing in new technology you’ll find nowhere else in Norfolk to help improve the area’s visual health...

ccording to research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), over 50% of sight loss can be avoided, and one of the most important ways of doing that is by the early detection of issues affecting your visual health. For over 30 years, Swaffham-based D.A. Seaman has been providing a comprehensive eyecare service, and its status as an independent practice has enabled the friendly team of experienced opticians to invest in the very latest technology to help care for the area’s eyesight and healthy vision. That service is now better than ever, thanks to the introduction of ultrawidefield digital scanning by Optos, and offers a completely new view of the health of your eyes. “It’s a revolutionary new way to help the detection, diagnosis and management of eye health,” says Andrea Coulson of D.A. Seaman. “It allows us to identify conditions that KLmagazine November 2015

may otherwise go undetected using other examination techniques and equipment and it’s great news for our patients – and their eyes!” In less than a second, the new technology obtains a 200o (82%) view of the retina in a single image – an enormous diﬀerence to the 45o view oﬀered by traditional retinal scans. “Because the image quality is so much better and detailed, it allows us to examine the periphery of the back of the eye,” says Andrea, “and its ‘autofluorescence’ capabilities enable us to see any changes to the eye on a cellular level, changes that are impossible to see with the naked eye.” It means D.A. Seaman can identify problems with your visual health long before you notice them yourself – which is crucial as by then any damage is likely to have been done or already be well advanced. It can also help highlight any associated health issues such as diabetes, raised cholesterol

levels and high blood pressure. “It’s a totally non-invasive procedure,” says Andrea, “and the images are available to us immediately. They can then be stored to make it easier for us to review, monitor and treat any problems. We can even email the images to patients so they can keep an eye on things themselves!” For a completely new look at your visual health, contact D.A. Seaman today to arrange an appointment. “Remember, we don’t look for problems,” says Andrea. “We simply look to ensure everything’s healthy – and thanks to this new technology there’s simply no better way of doing that at the moment!”

D.A. Seaman

information

18 Plowright Place, Swaﬀham PE37 7LQ Tel: 01760 751050 Web: www.daseaman.org.uk E-mail: info@daseaman.co.uk

When purchasing items worth £125 or more from the entire THOMAS SABO range, you will receive the Charm Club diamond bracelet (DCX0001) for free.*

125 norfolk street king’s lynn, norfolk PE30 1AP

t: 01553 770536 www.davidaukerjewellery.co.uk

*Only while stocks last. Cannot be combined with other offers. The value cannot be paid in cash. One bracelet per customer. Promotional period: 29th October – 15th November 2015

Doctor Lead Clinic

KLmagazine November 2015

Divorce: just how ‘final’ is final? For divorcing couples, tying up all the loose ends has never been more important, as Deborah Allen, Head of Family at Fraser Dawbarns LLP explains...

or many years, the provision of a Final Order for divorced couples has allowed both parties to move forward with their lives without worrying whether any good fortune – whether the result of luck or hard work – is likely to be ‘attacked’ in the future. It’s an effective way of ‘closing the book’ as once a Final Order has been made by the Court, neither party can seek any further financial remedy whatever the future circumstances – although maintenance provisions are always variable. The importance of having a Final Order in place – regardless of your current circumstances – has been brought into sharp focus recently, and if you’re already divorced and didn’t obtain a Final Order or if you think it’s unnecessary, the widely-reported case of Kathleen Wyatt should give you pause for thought. Kathleen married her husband Dale Vince in 1981 when the couple were penniless travellers living a new age lifestyle – and they divorced, with one child, nine years later. As the couple had little or no assets at the time, no financial order was made part of the KLmagazine November 2015

divorce. In 1995, Vince founded Ecotricity, which is now one of the UK’s biggest green energy companies. He’s said to be worth around £107 million. Four years ago (and 23 years after the couple divorced) Kathleen made an application to the Court for part of her ex-husband’s fortune, claiming he allowed her to be destitute, bringing up their child while he developed the business. You may think this case is one which, because of the money involved, has no relevance to you, but it’s the principle behind the ﬁndings of the Supreme Court that are important. Previously, we’d thought that any wealth acquired post-separation was protected – irrespective of there being a Final Order. That’s clearly no longer the case, so if

you acquire wealth through the sale of business interests – or win the National Lottery – your former spouse could make a claim and the Court will be bound to consider that claim. That’s not to say the Court will order a payment to be made – it will depend on individual circumstances, and in Kathleen’s case, all the Court has done so far is allow her to pursue her claim. It’s likely she will achieve a modest sum based on the particular circumstances of her case – but how much has yet to be decided. If you fail to deal with your marital assets at the time of your divorce, (believing it will be easier or more beneficial to deal with at a later date) it’s important to understand that the Court will determine your claims based on your financial circumstances as they are at the time the claim is made – not as they were when you divorced. But be warned – the Court won’t allow you to profit from your delay if that is found to have been your intention. The moral of this story is that you should ensure all the loose ends are tied up at the time of your divorce, even if there’s nothing to be shared at that time. At Fraser Dawbarns, our specialist family team has decades of experience in helping people in all sorts of circumstances, from families on a low income to high earning professionals and those with family farms and businesses. We can help you reach an agreement in relation to all issues by way of constructive negotiations, and arrive at a solution that protects your best interests – for now and for the future.

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

Food & Drink

Butternut, Binham Blue and Curly Kale Risotto Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 1 medium sized butternut squash A small pot of single cream (optional) Olive oil 500g curly kale 300g risotto rice 2 cloves garlic (crushed and finely chopped) 1 medium onion finely chopped 50g butter 1 litre hot vegetable stock 100ml white wine 100g Binham Blue cheese (diced) 100g Parmesan

METHOD 1 First prepare the butternut squash by peeling off the coarse outer skin. Split it in half and scoop out the seeds, then chop the flesh into rough cubes. Put half of the cubes onto a very gentle boil with just enough single cream (or water if cream makes you feel too guilty!) to cover the squash. Boil for 10-15 mins until soft and mash or purée. 2 Put the other half of the cubes into a roasting tray, toss in about a tablespoon of olive oil and roast in a medium oven for about 20 mins until soft and turning golden at the edges. 3 Wash the kale, remove the stalks and discard. Shred the leaves finely. 4 To make the risotto, fry the onion and garlic in butter over a gentle heat until soft but not

brown. Then add the risotto rice, stir for a minute and then add the white wine. Keep stirring until the wine is absorbed. 5 On low heat add the hot stock about 250ml at a time, stirring continuously until almost all of the stock has been absorbed. Taste the rice, it should be soft but still with a bit of a bite, and the risotto should have a creamy consistency. If it’s too thick add some more stock or water. 6 Now stir in the butternut puree, the roast butternut, Parmesan, Binham Blue and shredded kale leaves. The kale will soften instantly in the heat of the risotto. 7 Lastly, add some more water or a knob of butter if it gets too thick, it should be of a creamy consistency. Serve in front of a warm fire!

Recipe by Stuart Deuchars, Head Chef at Bank House King’s Staithe Square, King’s Lynn PE30 1RD Tel: 01553 660492 Web: www.thebankhouse.co.uk 78

KLmagazine November 2015

FOR STUNNING KITCHENS AND BEDROOMS

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KLmagazine November 2015

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Food & Drink

Plum and Ricotta Cake METHOD 1 Beat together the ricotta (melted), butter, eggs and caster sugar. INGREDIENTS 375g ricotta cheese 210g melted butter 6 eggs 337g caster sugar 375g self raising flour 300g ground almonds 6 tablespoons of plum jam 7 or more plums quartered A handful of toasted almond flakes Icing sugar to dust

2 Fold the flour and ground almonds into the ricotta mixture. 3 Prepare a 10 inch deep cake tin - grease the sides and bottom and line with baking parchment.

6 Cover with the remaining cake mixture. 7 Cut the plums into quarters and arrange them on top of the cake, then sprinkle with chopped almonds. 8 Cook in a preheated oven 160Â°c for 1hr 40 mins. 9 Once cooled in the tin, dust with icing sugar.

4 Spoon half the mixture into the prepared cake tin, then smooth out.

10 Serve warmed with clotted cream or ice cream for a fabulous autumn treat!

5 Spread plum jam onto the cake mix. For that extra touch of magic use the Folly plum and cinnamon jam.

Recipe by The Folly Tearoom 4 Hopperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yard, Bull Street, Holt NR25 6LN Tel: 01263 713569 Web: www.follytearoom.co.uk 80

KLmagazine November 2015

FOLLY SELECTED TEAS, CADDY’S AND TEA SETS

enjoy the vintage splendour

Traditional Chr ist ma s menu - 3 courses £17.95 All menus e include fre coffee

Chr ist ma s par t y menu - 3 courses £ 2 3 .9 5 (3 choices for each course)

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(2 choices for each course & a vegetarian option) Fully b o oke d for New Yea r’s Eve La Capa n na Restau ra nt, S cho ol Ro a d Te rri ngton St John, Wisb e ch, Camb s PE14 7 SE

Tel: 01945 880099 | www.lacapanna.biz O pe n: We d - Sat 12 - 2p m & 6:3 0 - 9:30 Su n: 12:0 0 - 2:3 0

strattons hotel with self catering, restaurant and café deli

boutique luxurious classic contemporary heart of norfolk award winning restaurant afternoon tea cocoes café deli self catering Luxury without sacrifice to the environment ash close swaffham norfolk pe37 7nh 01760 723845 enquiries@strattonshotel.com www.strattonshotel.com

Folly Tearoom, H Hoppers e s Yard, Yar Yar a Bull Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6LN kN Tel - 01263 713569 WWW.FOLLYTEAROOM.CO.UK

perfect for chri stm a ass pparti ar ti e s w i th a di fference

• Weddings • Parties • Birthdays • Conferences Christmas 2015 party bookings £35 per person – Includes arrival drink, 3 course meal & DJ for the evening.

Contact us t: 01553 630393 e: enquiries@leziatepark.co.uk Christmas parties from £23pp Festive afternoon tea £15.50pp New Year packages from £530 for 2 nights dinner, bed & breakfast

KLmagazine November 2015

Brow of the Hill Leziate King’s Lynn Norfolk PE32 1EN

www.leziatepark.co.uk 81

Food & Drink

RestaurantReview

KL magazine visits Strattons in Swaffham...

ast summer, along with some friends, I enjoyed a wonderful al fresco afternoon tea at Strattons, and since then I’ve been itching to return for an evening meal in the restaurant, confident that I’d be in for a treat. Finally, with the excuse of a prebirthday celebration I knew exactly where to book! Strattons is an independent, familyrun boutique hotel occupying a beautifully refurbished Palladian-style villa, discretely tucked away off the high street in Swaffham – and the awardwinning restaurant prides itself on providing modern dishes featuring fresh, home-grown and local produce. Despite the fact that every table was booked and the restaurant was very busy, it only seemed to add to the ambiance and certainly didn’t affect the attentive and welcoming service. The midnight-painted walls, candlelit tables, plush seating and touches of eclectic décor (which Strattons is so famous for) create a truly gorgeous, romantic feel and a real sense of luxury and style.

After being shown to our table we were given the menus and were delighted by the extensive and sophisticated drinks list, showcasing a fantastic variety of hand-selected wines and cocktails – we opted for a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, which was plucked out of the impressive wine store next to our table. The menu choices sounded delicious and made for a very hard decision. In the end I opted for the homemade soup (a delightful sweetcorn chowder served with homemade bread) and my partner chose the beetroot and cashew pâté, served with roasted baby beets, cocoa nib crispbread and sesamerolled Rosary goats cheese. The starters arrived in good time and were both presented beautifully – even the soup looked elegant – and the pâté (I was told) was fresh, light and had a fantastic combination of flavours. My soup had a mouth-wateringly sweet and buttery taste, and although I don’t usually choose soup as a starter I was more than happy to be converted. For main, I chose the roasted Norfolk quail stuffed with pork, pine nuts and orange accompanied by sea salt sautéed potatoes and curly kale, while my partner selected the 24-hour slow cooked Scott’s Field belly pork served with mustard mash, broccoli and cauliflower cheese, baby carrots and watercress pesto. Both plates were superbly presented and were very generously portioned; something of a pleasant surprise as contemporary cuisine can often be less

than satisfying. The quail was absolutely delicious and the accompanying stuffing had a lovely rich festive flavour, making for a perfectly balanced dish. The belly pork was the best my partner had ever tasted (high praise indeed as it’s his dish of choice!) and I couldn’t resist trying some myself. The meat was extremely tender and had a beautifully subtle smoked flavour. The crackling was perfect and all the accompanying elements were outstanding – it really was a quite superb dish. Although we were certainly satisfied by the first two courses, we simply couldn’t ignore the tempting dessert menu. I chose vanilla bread and butter pudding with marmalade ice cream, and my partner chose the cheese taster, which we were told was perfect for a nibble of cheese. My pudding was irresistible, and although the flavours were quite simple the combination was genius. The mix of zesty, silky marmalade ice cream with the sumptuous, creamy and hot bread and butter was divine. The cheese plate offered a lovely selection of delicious local cheeses, and was the perfect end to a fantastic meal. The bill totalled approximately £85 which included an exquisite threecourse meal for two people and a bottle of excellent wine. We were extremely impressed with Strattons – the staff were very knowledgeable and the food was terrific. The whole dining experience was one to remember and we’ll certainly be returning soon.

FOOD

SERVICE

VALUE

STRATTONS Ash Close, Swaffham PE37 7NH Telephone: 01760 723845 Web: www.strattonshotel.com

KLmagazine November 2015

ORIENTAL PALACE

CHINESE RESTAURANT Peking Szechuan & Cantonese Cuisine

Choose as many dishes as you want from the à la carte menu and they'll be freshly cooked to order - all for one set price! Want more? Just order more!

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE

Call us on: 01553 842255 204 Main Road, West Winch, King’s Lynn, PE33 0NP Open 7 Days a Week - 12noon-2pm & 5pm-10:30pm Visit us on facebook! Oriental Palace, West Winch

A TRADITIONAL PUB WITH TRADITIONAL FOOD

The Angel

• Outside catering for weddings, business functions, etc • Function room • Children’s play area • Food served daily (excluding Monday lunch)

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GREAT DEALS ON OUR FOOD THE ANGEL CARVERY Thursdays 12noon–2pm & Sundays 12noon–3pm. Booking advisable. SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHES Carvery on Thursdays only £9.00 Rest of the week only £8.50 CURRY NIGHT Thursday nights only £8.50 & includes a drink

STEAK NIGHT Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays PIE NIGHT Monday nights only £7.50 & includes a drink LUNCHTIME SPECIAL On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Soup, sandwich or a wrap only £6 and includes a drink

Guar antee your self a brilli ant, stres s-free Chri stma s in our cosy villag e pub! We offer Christmas party menus, with a great choice of traditional festive favourites. We also serve Christmas Day lunch and a Boxing Day buffet - a great way to entertain the family without doing the washing up! Book early to avoid disappointment! Find us on Facebook!

01553 811326 | www.theangelpub.webs.com | 41 School Road, Watlington, King’s Lynn, PE33 0HA KLmagazine November 2015

Food & Drink

Tathstees of Month DONALDSONS King’s Lynn Yes, that’s right, the fishmonger located at Austin Fields also stocks game! Donaldsons is a family-run fishmonger that’s been supplying the people of King’s Lynn with high quality, fresh produce for over a quarter of a century. As October starts they stock partridge, mallard, and pigeon and as the month comes to a close, pheasant. 01553 772241 BOWERS BUTCHERS King’s Lynn Bowers Butchers was established in 1932 and has been a flourishing family business ever since. Bowers are famed for their sausages and won the Champion Sausage for the East Region, but also have game available from October – they have partridge, venison and pheasant. www.bowersbutchers.com GODDARDS OF NORFOLK Downham Market This butcher in Downham Market was started by John Goddard in 1992 and with 40 years’ experience you know you’ll get real quality from this shop. Not only do they stock all sorts of meat, including pheasant and venison, they also make pies, cakes and hampers and their delicious game pie is available just for Christmas. www.goddardsofnorfolk.co.uk

Enjoying a true taste of Norfolk’s game... As we creep closer towards the winter months and October rolls around, our local producers begin stocking game. Although pheasants aren’t quite ready until closer to the end of the month, there’s still a lot we can start to think about tucking into right now... 84

BACK TO THE GARDEN Letheringsett This North Norfolk Café and Restaurant also has a Butcher, Deli and Shop and have organic meat and vegetables available. All of their beef, lamb and poultry is raised organically at their farm and their pork is sourced locally. They have a range of game available including partridge, duck, venison and pheasant. A bonus here is that you can taste their game in the deli and restaurant with treats like pies and venison stew! www.back-to-the-garden.co.uk

KLmagazine November 2015

folk No Norrfolk the best Norf ally the ra aturrally a Natu N geet this Christmas!! l get you’ll eyys you’ urkkeeys Tur Turk

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• Free-access ee-access to vast grass and woodland growing grown maturity, • Slow gr owing strains gr own to full ma turity, which gives off fa fatt to aid cooking to mak make them a layer o e extra juicy! off 10 days, to maximise flavours. • Hung for a minimum o

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CREAKE ABBEY, NORTH CREAKE, FAKENHAM NR21 9LF TELEPHONE: 01328 738983 WEB: WWW.CHRISTOPHERWILLIAMCOUNTRY.CO.UK

ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

BRANCASTER MUSSELS & FRESH GAME NOW AVAILABLE

Cracking local produce for a healthy Bonfire Night supper

Fire Walking Night! Friday, 4th December

Turkeys and cockerels to order Local oysters Plus! Tuna & swordfish Extensive delicatesse Jumbo raw prawns counter with top n qu ality local cheeses. Fresh & smoked fish Free range eggs & local honey

Walk across hot coals and raise money for Li le Heroes Children’s Charity. Warming food & street music while you watch.

DONALDSONS

Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with events

A fresh taste of the sea

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

KLmagazine November 2015

Pick up a sponsorship form to join or call us for more details.

• 4 Star rated inn by AA and 5 star rated food

• Fabulous accommodation including delicious breakfasts • Family friendly pub with a wonderful beer garden • Folk music nights last Sunday of every month, quiz nights every other Monday & much more!

To book a table or a room please calL 01760 755398 • www.ostrichcastleacre.com Stocks Green, Castle Acre, King’s Lynn PE32 2AE

Food & Drink

Smoked ham with a chilli jam and honey glaze INGREDIENTS 2kg smoked horseshoe gammon, boned and rolled 1 large onion, peeled and sliced 2 sticks of celery, sliced 2 carrots, peeled and sliced 3 bay leaves 5 whole cloves, plus more to stud the ham later 1 star anise Â˝ stick of cinnamon

FOR THE GLAZE 3 tablespoons of runny honey 1 tablespoon of chilli jam 2 tablespoons of English mustard

METHOD 1 Place the gammon joint into a large pan of water, along with the onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves and the spices. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or 20 minutes per 500g. Then remove the ham, cover with foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes. 2 Pre-heat the oven to 200Â°c/gas mark 6. 3 With a sharp knife remove the skin of the gammon ensuring you leave a good layer of fat. Then score the fat diagonally to produce a diamond pattern. Stud the ham by pushing a whole clove into the centre of each diamond, then place in a roasting tin.

4 To make the glaze, mix together the honey, chilli jam and mustard in a saucepan and gently heat until the mixture becomes runny, then brush all over the gammon. 5 Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, taking the ham out every 10 minutes and brush with more of the glaze. When returning the ham to the oven, alternate the direction it faces to ensure a nice even golden colour. Remove from oven and leave to rest for 15 minutes before carving. Serve with an extra dollop of chilli jam.

Recipe by Bowers Butchers 71 Lynn Road, Gaywood, King's Lynn PE30 4PR Tel: 01553 773845 Web: www.bowersbutchers.com 86

KLmagazine November 2015

“

Thanks for a truly faultless service: for your care and attention, for your hardworking courteous and meticulous staﬀ, and for making our ﬂoors look as good as the day they were laid!

”

Your stone floors have never looked so good! With over 20 years experience and the most advanced cleaning system in the UK, XtraClean can give your ﬂoors a new lease of life

hey may look fantastic, but keeping slate, limestone and natural stone floors in beautiful condition takes a professional touch and an expert approach, especially if they’re a few years old. “Over time traditional cleaning methods and chemicals can become largely ineffective on stone floors,” says XtraClean’s Martin King. “Thankfully, our revolutionary floor cleaning system can bring even heavily-soiled stone floors, tiles and even grout between them back to life – all in a single visit too!” Martin founded XtraClean in 1993, and the Swaffham-based company offers a professional and friendly service that covers the whole county with a team of highly-skilled, highly-trained and highlyknowledgeable technicians dedicated KLmagazine November 2015

to keeping your floors looking their very best. Following an initial survey and the testing of a sample area, Martin and his team will get to work on your floors (whether indoors or outside) and they’ll even move the furniture for you! Breaking down ingrained dirt and loosening surface soiling, XtraClean’s state-of-the-art turbocleaning capture system then thoroughly pressure cleans the floor, capturing waste in the process. The results are truly spectacular, and the system avoids the need for invasive procedures such as grinding and resurfacing. “We use the most advanced technology currently available and the most professional products on the market today,” says Martin. “The results

really do speak for themselves, and our customers are left with floors that don’t just look amazing – they provide a safe and healthy environment too.” Once your floors have been restored to their former glory, XtraClean can even professionally seal the surface to protect those good looks for longer, and highly-honed stone floors can even be re-polished and buffed if required. For domestic and commercial stone floors, XtraClean offers a service that’s extra reliable, extra thorough, and extra cost effective – contact Martin and his local-based team today and give your floors the as-new look they really deserve!

information

XtraClean Unit 3, Jack Boddy Way, Swaﬀham PE37 7HJ Tel: 01760 337762 Web: www.xtraclean.co.uk E-mail: sales@xtraclean.co.uk

A real phoenix from the flames... How The Tile Shop at Wiggenhall St. Germans has risen from the ashes of a devastating fire – and is now bigger, brighter and better than ever! he story of The Tile Shop started when Roger and Sally Chenery bought the old Elizabethan manor house of Fitton Hall at Wiggenhall St. Germans towards the end of the 1970s. After renaming the home Fitton Oake (after an magnificent old tree in the garden) and embarking on an 8-month restoration project, Sally became increasingly frustrated in not being able to find tiles of the quality she wanted anywhere locally. She’d originally planned to sell antiques from one of the property’s adjoining barns, but realised there was a genuine need for a local source and wide choice of high quality tiles. The Tile Shop opened in 1978 and was an immediate success – Sally actually sold £600 worth of tiles before 9am on her very first day in business! That success continued over the

years – the range of tiles grew and grew, the showrooms doubled and then tripled in size, and the addition of kitchens and bathrooms made The Tile Shop one of the area’s most respected and popular choices for people looking to create a beautiful home. Things couldn’t have been better –

but then came the evening of Wednesday 17th September, 2014. “It was about 10pm when I received a call from my mother,” says Louise Chenery, who was born just three weeks before The Tile Shop opened and now runs the business with her brother Edward. “All she could say was ‘We’re on fire! We’re on fire!’ and I immediately thought she meant the house. I rushed over there with my brother, and all we could see on the horizon was a blazing inferno.” Six fire engines had been called to the scene, and though the fire hadn’t touched the family home (and thankfully no one had been injured) the damage was bad enough (see picture opposite). “In total we lost around 25% of the showrooms,” says Edward. “We lost virtually all of the kitchen showroom, which contained about 15 displays, and

KLmagazine November 2015

a huge amount of tiles. It was a pretty terrible sight.” Amazingly enough, The Tile Shop was open for business the next day. The site was made safe, the damaged areas boarded up, and the Chenerys persevered and carried on. It was the start of a new chapter. “The fire prompted mum and dad to retire, and they passed the business on to me and my sister,” says Edward. “The fire was devastating, but it was also a great opportunity – even if they did only give us about three days notice!” In the year since the fire, Edward and Louise (ably assisted by their close-knit team) have made quite incredible efforts to revamp The Tile Shop and give it a bright new look. For starters, they’ve totally rebuilt the kitchen showroom, which now features a range of superb hand- and factorymade kitchens and includes a collection

KLmagazine November 2015

by the French manufacturer Mobalpa which has over 200 different door styles and finishes. They’ve also taken on two new members of staff, developed and expanded a wholesale operation, revitalised the bathroom displays and introduced a range of giftware, lights, furniture and decorative accessories. They’ve even found time to increase the choice in the Natural Collection showroom, which offers an incredibly wide range of stylish and sophisticated natural stone flooring such as travertines, limestones, fossil stones, slates, terracottas and marbles – and which Edward and Louise import directly from as far afield as India, Egypt and Brazil. Oh, and then of course, there’s the tiles themselves. Today, The Tile Shop is almost certainly the biggest tile and stone showroom in the whole of the UK, with some 17,000 wall and floor tiles on display – from ceramics and porcelains to mosaics and glass, and from anti-slip tiles to ranges specially created for swimming pools. “We’re pretty much done now, apart from a few finishing touches,” says Edward. “It’s quite remarkable when you consider the damage caused by the fire and the size of the showrooms. Luckily, we’ve got a great team here – and they helped enormously.” It’s not just a great team – it’s a close-knit and friendly one too. “This has always been a family-run business, and our staff have always

been very loyal and dedicated,” says Louise. “Take Ian, for example. As a local schoolboy, he started helping my mother when she first opened The Tile Shop in 1978. Today, he’s our Showroom Manager – although he likes to call himself fixtures and fittings!” From superb kitchens and bathrooms to a virtually endless choice of tiles, from free planning and design to expert fitting and advice, The Tile Shop has everything you and your home is looking for. In fact, in the hands of a talented new generation, it’s now looking brighter and bigger than ever.

information

THE TILE SHOP Fitton Oake Fitton Road, Wiggenhall St. Germans, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3AX Tel: 01553 617540 Web: www.ﬁttonoaketiles.co.uk

PICTURES: CORKERS CRISPS

Food & Drink

ABOVE: The 18ft bag that saw Corkers Crisps win the ﬁrst of its Guinness World Records – and if founders Ross Taylor and Rod Garnham (opposite) have anything to do with it, it won’t be the last time the local brand makes the record books.

Two friends and a true corker of an idea... They’ve created a remarkable local success story, filled the world’s biggest bag of crisps and even sent a potato snack into space. Whatever’s next for Ross Taylor and Rod Garnham?

otatoes may not seem all that exciting, but when they’re turned into delicious crisps and sent oﬀ into space, they absolutely are! Ross Taylor and Rod Garnham’s mantra of “make great tasting crisps and have fun doing it” is exactly what Corkers is all about. They’ve been named Potato Grower of the Year and have set two larger than life Guiness World Records, all while making Corkers a crisp brand we all recognise. Ross and Rod founded Corkers in 2010, diversifying the family farm from potatoes to hand-cooked crisps and the rest, as they say, is history. With their unique Naturalo potato, they set about creating the ultimate, non-greasy crisp with a natural crunch. The wonderful thing about all of this is that

KLmagazine November 2015

the potatoes are picked, and the crisps cooked and packed all on the family farm right on our doorstep in the Fens. “Our family have been farming potatoes since the 1800s, but it was actually on the ski slopes ﬁve years ago that the idea for Corkers was born,” says Rod. They haven’t looked back since, having secured listings everywhere from the National Trust to Waitrose, receiving a plethora of Great Taste Awards, the accolade of Potato Grower of the Year 2015 in addition to those incredible World Records! “For us, Corkers is a celebration of the quirks, tastes and traditions that make Britain so great,” adds Ross. There’s nothing much more quirky than Corkers’ Guinness World Records – one for sending the ﬁrst bag of crisps into space and the other for making the

world’s biggest bag of crisps. The quest to create the largest bag of crisps in the world started when sea salt flavoured crisps were fried during the night and loaded on to a lift before being dropped into the bag – which was a huge 5.5 metres (18ft) high and the final recorded weight was a staggering 1,140kg! This task took more than 20 hours to complete and the bag was almost as tall as a house and held a massive 1 tonne of crisps. As for sending the first bag of crisps into space, Corkers teamed up with Cambridge University’s Spaceflight Team towards the end of 2012 to embark on their mission. A bag of Corkers was attached to a weather balloon, which after three hours and more than 18 miles above the earth, eventually landed 40 miles from the

Food & Drink

excited to be building on our existing range,” says Ross. The first new flavour is Mixed Vegetable (parsnip, beetroot, sweet potato and carrot) lightly dusted with a sprinkle of sea salt. Another two flavours are set to launch soon: Sweet Potato & Chilli and Parsnip, Honey & Black Pepper. The fenland home of Corkers is largely to thank for the quality of the crisps. “Here in the fenlands we have very rich, black, peaty soil,” says Ross. The land was originally oak forests, which was then flooded by the sea for millennia. The land was reclaimed from the sea during the 1800s and has been farmed by the family ever since. “ This process has left us with rich, dark bog oak peat. It’s thanks to this that we have the most delicious Naturalo potatoes in the country,” says Ross, “which are high quality and rich in taste and they make the most delicious crisps,” he adds. For Corkers, the most important thing is the integrity of their brand and business – they are extremely proud of their British Heritage and farming roots. Corkers crisps are stocked nationwide in UK landmarks, on East Coast Trains and British Airways as well as a myriad of shops, farm shops and selected Waitrose, Co Op and Budgens stores. “Here at Corkers we want to make sure more and more people know who we are, we're excited for new stockists, new ventures and new products, all to be revealed! Watch this space.”

PICTURES: CORKERS CRISPS

Mildenhall take off site! Despite breaking world records and coming up with eccentric challenges for its snacks, Corkers remain committed to delicious British flavours. They now sell seven variations, each featuring top quality, all-natural ingredients and are cooked in fresh sunflower oil on the East Anglian farm: Sea Salt (the Corkers take on this classic is a Great Taste Gold Award Winner); Pork Sausage & English Mustard, which combines the delicious flavours of barbecued British bangers with a hint of Old English Mustard; Red Leicester & Caramelised Onion, a winning combination of slow roasted onion and rich creamy Red Leicester cheese; Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar, a mouth-watering snack made using the finest English cider which is sweet in taste with a hint of zest; Sweet Thai Chilli, a tantalising flavour with savoury flavours of chilli and herb; Sea Salt & Black Pepper, sure to warm your palate, these Gold Taste Award winning crisps are made from sweet and hot peppers; and Duck & Hoisin Sauce, a partnership of two British greats, the Gressingham Duck and the Naturalo potato, both hailing from the Corkers family farm. Corkers have recently launched a new variant - a vegetable crisp. They are proud to be just the second vegetable crisp manufacturer on UK soil. “Made with root vegetables unearthed from the rich soil of the fenlands for double enjoyment (hand cooked for extra crunch) and naturally flavoured with flair, we are

KLmagazine November 2015

FESTIVE

MENUS Your Christmas starts here! Festive Menu PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES! 2 courses for £9.99 or 3 courses for £12.99 (Served daily, excluding Christmas & Boxing Day)

Christmas Day £44.99 per person 3 courses, with a choice of turkey, beef, gammon, salmon fillet or vegetable wellington and help yourself to unlimited trimmings! PLUS under 3s eat free!

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Hold a dinner party with us, (we do the cooking and washing up), and raise funds for this very worthwhile cause. Tables of 6, 8, 10 or 12 available. Saturday 14th November 2015 - £24.95 (£4.95 to charity)

Pre-Christmas Lunches and Dinners Are you looking to book an office party or get-together with friends? We serve pre-Christmas lunches and dinners throughout December.

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8.30pm-Late. Black tie. Bucks fizz on arrival. Superb hot buffet. Disco. Bubbly at Midnight £39.95 (Ticket only)

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Tel: 01945 466788 KLmagazine November 2015

Metric Carpets

THE BEST OF BRITISH – FOR OVER 40 YEARS!

When a beautiful home is all part of the service Modern flooring meets traditional values at Metric Carpets

eople often tell Alistair Allen that the secret of Metric Carpets’ success is that they do things the old fashioned way. Not that there’s anything old-fashioned about the range of high quality carpets and ﬂooring available from his recently-revamped store in the centre of King’s Lynn. “We sell some of the most modern designs and latest ideas from the bestknown names in the business,” says Alistair, “but we’ve never really changed the way we ensure our customers get the very best results as easily as possible. Yes, it may be the oldfashioned way, but it’s also the proper way.” Alistair should know – he started ﬁtting carpets some 30 years ago, and the family-run business is now in its third generation. “Two of my sons work for us now,” he says, “and we’re still fitting carpets for a family that my father first visited back in 1957. It shows we must be doing something right!” KLmagazine November 2015

Alistair’s approach is very simple – to make buying a new carpet or floor as simple and as enjoyable as possible. It’s why he’s happy to talk you through your ideas, explain all the options, and insist you take samples home with you to view at all times of the day and under various lighting conditions. It’s also why he’ll never tire of seeing you. “I always tell people not to worry about coming to the store five or six times,” he says. “They’ve got to live with their floors for many years, so they have to be pefectly happy with their choice.” Before fitting, Alistair will visit your home at a time to suit you (even if that’s in the evening), measuring up and offering advice on everything from the suitability of the floor to whether you can use your old grippers. “It’s not often the MD is prepared to do that,” he laughs, “and it’s even rarer when the only charge is a cup of tea!” And when it comes to fitting (by employed fitters naturally), Metric Carpets

will make the process as trouble-free as you like. They’ll take up your old carpet, they’ll move your furniture (and put it back in the right place!), they’ll trim the doors if necessary and they’ll even take the old carpet away with them – and ensure it’s properly recycled. “In fact, we’re so confident in our fitters that we give a 12 month guarantee on labour,” says Alistair. “If you find any bumps, lumps or wrinkles or there’s anything you’re not completely happy with, just give us a call and we’ll come and do it – free of charge!” It may be an old fashioned approach, but at Metric Carpets it’s always been the only approach worth taking.

s t e p r a C c i r t e M information

Metric Carpets

36 Norfolk Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1AH Tel: 01553 775203 Web: www.metriccarpets.co.uk E-mail: info@metriccarpets.co.uk

PICTURES: EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE

Local Life

OPPOSITE: HRH Prince William pictured on his first day of work as co-pilot for the East Anglian Ambulance in July this year. The Prince’s first shift lasted nine and a half hours, and he flew four rescue missions in his first week.

The vital work of the saviour from the skies... KL magazine takes a look at the remarkable 15-year story of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which attended 1,785 missions last year and helped save the lives of hundreds of local people. ...

From the humble beginnings of having a single helicopter and a lone paramedic, and operating only one day a week, the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has been on quite an incredible journey. In the year 2000, from its first flight, the EAAA has since grown at a dizzying rate - once an organisation largely staffed by kindly medics on a day-off, it’s now a professional pre-hospital emergency service with a doctor and critical-care paramedic attending every mission. Previously a part-time service, it now operates seven days a week, 365 days a year, and is at the forefront of research and clinical practice.

KLmagazine November 2015

The service operates across Norfolk, Suﬀolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire and has been helping save the lives of hundreds of people across the region unfortunate enough to be involved in accidents or medical emergencies for 15 years. EAAA’s rapid expansion is testament to both the vision and determination of the Charity’s founders – many of whom still guide and shape it today – and the hard work and generosity of its fundraisers and supporters. EAAA’s life-saving work comes at a signiﬁcant cost and the Charity receives no

direct Government funding to support its operation. It actually takes a staggering £10.2 million every year to maintain the service, which covers their operating costs, fuel, all medical equipment and the staﬀ on board. This is where Fundraising Manager for West Norfolk and North Cambridgeshire, Chris Donaldson, comes in. Chris has been working for the Charity since 2004 and is part of a team responsible for raising funds to keep the East Anglian Air Ambulance in the sky. “EAAA has grown exponentially over the last ten years and so the need

PICTURES: EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE

Local Life

for funding has obviously increased too,” says Chris. Our fundraising targets have multiplied tenfold since I first started eleven years ago. Our service is entirely reliant on regional fundraising which is why I’m so grateful to the local people and businesses that support EAAA so generously.” West Norfolk is the Charity’s heartland and has an outstanding team of long-term supporters. Each year, for example, the charity’s Damian Cross organises an event called ‘Lap of Anglia’ which is a 400 mile cycle ride around East Anglia that takes place over four days. “In just three years, the event has raised £30,000 for EAAA,” says Chris. The event starts and finishes at the helipad at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn which the EAAA built in 2006, following an appeal to raise funds that saw the people of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk raise a staggering £60,000 in a matter of months to make it all happen. “It’s just about the best helipad in the region now,” says Christopher. One fundraiser in Wells-next-the-Sea has been single-handedly looking after the area for a number of years and is one of the EAAA’s most loyal volunteers. “Tracey Catton is a wonder,” says Chris. “She literally runs the fundraising in the town all by herself and ensures all the collection boxes are filled!” Tracey is just one example of the

fabulous volunteers the EAAA have to call on across our county. All this fundraising doesn’t just keep the EAAA operating – it also helps it grow. EAAA saw one of the most significant developments in its history in April this year - the arrival of the H145 T2 helicopter, to be housed at the EAAA’s Cambridge base. Much larger than the current aircraft, it can carry enough fuel to fly for over two hours, has a range of 300 nautical miles (335 miles); and whereas the current HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) team comprises a pilot, a doctor and a critical-care paramedic, the new helicopter will be able to accommodate two pilots and three HEMS crew, as well as a patient. This new helicopter will also look after the people of Norfolk and the surrounding area during the hours of darkness as it’s fully night-capable. The good news doesn’t stop there. Thanks to significant funding from the LIBOR fines fund, the EAAA will be getting another H145 T2 in Norwich early next year. Extending the reach and effectiveness of the EAAA medical teams enables the Charity to play a leading role in training the next generation of pre-hospital clinicians, and the helicopter’s extra space means that more can be done to help patients during the transfer process. The East Anglian Air Ambulance has

made huge strides over the last ﬁfteen years, and has bold ambitions for the next ﬁfteen years to come. The Charity is committed to providing the best prehospital critical-care for the people of East Anglia, but then the busy and challenging work of the charity is never done. There’s always another patient who needs their help. But the Charity is also determined to continually developing the help it provides, by advancing its expertise and by learning from its experience.

If you’d like to support the East Anglian Air Ambulance or volunteer, please visit their website www.eaaa.org.uk or call 08450 669 999. You can also follow them on Twitter at @EastAngliAirAmb or ‘like’ their Facebook page at East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity.

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: SAMARITANS / ROSE ATKINSON

The public face of the local Samaritans service Keith King of King’s Lynn Samaritans explains how the service takes active steps to engage with the wider community

he image of a Samaritans volunteer waiting for someone to call is an enduring one, but it’s also a somewhat misleading one. In addition to providing a 24-hour listening service every single day of the year (and one that receives some ﬁve million calls annually), Samaritans also play an active role in the community with a long-running programme of valuable outreach and public awareness work. “Our experiences over the last 62 years have shown us that there are certain groups of people who don’t – or in some cases can’t – phone or contact us, and they’re often the most vulnerable people of all,” says Keith King, Branch Director of King’s Lynn

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Samaritans. “That’s why we need to actively go out and find them – to let them know we’re always here for them when they need us.” It’s an area of Samaritans’ work that’s achieved by volunteers maintaining a visible presence in carefully chosen locations, by talking to local groups and organisations, and by entering into a number of mutually-beneficial partnerships. One of the most recent examples was a groundbreaking agreement signed towards the end of September to offer support to vulnerable people in police custody. The initiative will see Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies working with the Liaison and Diversion team at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS

Foundation Trust, the mental health charity Julian Support and local Samaritans to extend the emotional support offered to individuals at the region’s Police Investigation Centres. It will enable detainees to call Samaritans from their cells (in accordance with Samaritans’ strict code of confidentiality), and will offer them referrals to local branches on their release from custody. “This will make a huge difference to people who can often feel very frightened when they find themselves alone in a police cell,” says Keith. “We know from the Office of National Statistics that people are more likely to self-harm or seek to end their lives within the first 48 hours of being

KLmagazine November 2015

“There are in this world, in every country, people who seem to be ‘ordinary’ but who turn out to be extraordinary. They give their total attention. They completely forget themselves. They listen and listen and listen, without interrupting. They have no message. They do not preach. They have nothing to sell. We call them Samaritans...” Dr Chad Varah, CH CBE Founder, Samaritans

“It’s estimated that over 1,000 lives have been saved since the start of the campaign, and to date Samaritans have trained over 10,000 railway industry staff to help them identify vulnerable people and how to engage with them.” Training others to widen the reach of the service also features in the organisation’s work with local prisons – at HMP Wayland in Watton and HMP Whitemoor in March, Cambridgeshire. “We’ve been training and supporting listeners in prisons for more than 22 years now,” says Keith, “and because the environment often makes contacting Samaritans difficult, their work is vital.” Keith points out that the prisoners who volunteer to be listeners receive no perks, no time off, no special treatment, and no reductions in their sentences – they do it because they truly believe (much like all Samaritans volunteers) in the value of offering emotional support when it’s most needed. “They’re very proud of the work they do,” says Keith. “In many ways, they understand how important it is to have

If you’d like to explore the possibility of volunteering with the King’s Lynn branch of Samaritans, please get in touch by calling 01553 761616 or by sending an e-mail to kingslynn@samaritans.org

information 26 Queen Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1HT National Line: 116 123 (this is free to call) Tel: 01553 761616 (local call charges apply) Web: www.samaritans.org

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King’s Lynn Samaritans/Charity Number 268748

released from custody. These are people that need instant support – and this agreement will help us offer that.” It’s not the first time Samaritans has worked with Norfolk Constabulary, and follows the introduction last year of a referral programme for people seeking emotional support and help with issues outside the police service’s usual field of expertise. “Our frontline officers and staff are experts in dealing with criminal matters,” said Sgt Marie Reavey, who led the pilot, “but if someone is struggling to cope and needs the time and space to talk, we want to point people in the right direction to gain the best help on offer.” Samaritans has been working even longer with Network Rail, as part of a five-year campaign that’s concentrated on suicide prevention and postincident support activities. “It’s been a very important and tremendously successful partnership for us,” says Keith, whose branch volunteers took part in an awareness day at King’s Lynn and Downham Market rail stations in March.

someone to talk to in total conﬁdence – and how their own lives may have taken a diﬀerent course if they’d had someone to listen to them in the past.” King’s Lynn Samaritans have made remarkable progress in identifying vulnerable groups and making active steps to reach them, but Keith’s well aware there’s always likely to be new people to reach and new partnerships to be made. “We’d like to become more involved with job centres, with food banks and with services for the homeless,” he says. “The more we get out there and the more people we talk to, the more people will understand what we do and what we’re here for – and they’ll realise they’re not alone. That we’re always here to talk to.”

ABOVE: The King’s Lynn Audi showroom has recently undergone a major refurbishment and is now bigger and brighter than ever

The dawn of a new era for King’s Lynn Audi... The recently-completed refurbishment of the King’s Lynn Audi showroom has created a fitting environment for one of the car world’s most prestigious brands, as KL magazine discovers

orsprung durch Technik. They’re three words that express the very essence of Audi. The famous phrase (loosely translated as ‘advancement through technology’) is a way of seeing the world, and is the driving principle behind a history of innovation that continues into the 21st century. The brand has always been at the forefront of the motor industry, and a recent £750,000 investment at King’s Lynn Audi has seen a major transformation of the local dealership, improving facilities across the board to meet customers’ expectations of the luxury name. “It’s been a great experience, but it’s

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also been a bit of a challenge,” says Simon Oakley (right), King’s Lynn Audi’s Head of Business. “Especially as we had to close the showroom and move the sales, administration and accounts teams into a series of on-site portakabins for a few weeks!” It speaks volumes for the standing of King’s Lynn Audi that the upheaval had no discernible impact on customers. “We’ve always had a very loyal local following, and they were really supportive throughout the whole refurbishment,” says Simon. “They could clearly see the new showroom taking shape and all the enhancements we were planning, and they became really interested in seeing the latest changes as the work progressed.”

KLmagazine November 2015

Simon and his teams moved back into the business towards the end of August, and the new King’s Lynn Audi showroom was opened to customers in September – just in time for one of the car industry’s busiest times of the year. “September was amazing,” says Simon. “Not only were we celebrating our new look, but we also enjoyed our best-ever two weeks. We couldn’t have asked for a better or a more successful launch!” The rebuilding of the King’s Lynn Audi showroom has resulted in more space for the marque’s prestigious range, a dedicated hand-over area, revamped and air-conditioned oﬃces, a stylish new reception suite, and improved customer waiting areas. The result is an environment that’s been upgraded in every detail – from the furniture specially brought over from Germany down to the refreshments oﬀered to customers. “The King’s Lynn Audi showroom has always had a great spirit and a great relationship with customers,” says Simon, “and they’ve already told us they love the fact that despite the KLmagazine November 2015

showroom being bigger and brighter, we’ve still managed to retain the welcoming atmosphere.” It’s an atmosphere typical of the Marriott Motor Group, one of East Anglia’s leading privately-owned and family-run companies. The Group (of which King’s Lynn Audi is part) has a proud history stretching back over a century, and its deserved reputation for quality has been built on a commitment to excellent standards of service and high levels of community engagement. Those standards are set to continue at the new-look Kings Lynn Audi, although Simon’s keen to point out that the recent changes aren’t just skin deep. The sales team has expanded, with many new members of staﬀ coming from outside the car industry, underlining King’s Lynn Audi’s emphasis on having the right attitude and building relationships. “The car industry has changed a lot over the last few years,” says Simon. “People used to visit a showroom an average of three times before they arrived at a decision – that’s now down 103

to 1.2 visits. People are better informed today, and they’re looking for a more personal service. Nothing beats product knowledge, but it needs to be available in a customer-friendly way.” That customer focus has also seen changes on the operational side. King’s Lynn Audi is now open seven days a week, and the service department is available from 7am from Monday to Friday. “We have to recognise changing customers needs and adapt to meet their expectations,” says Simon. “People want to be able to view cars and bring them in for servicing when it’s convenient for them – that’s why we’re now open for more days and for longer.”

It’s also an exciting time for the cars themselves. Following the successful recent launch of the Audi Q7, King’s Lynn Audi is now looking forward to welcoming the all-new Audi A4 later this month. “It’s very different to the current version and virtually every part of it has been enhanced,” says Simon. “The design is more refined, there are new features to the cabin, the engineering is smarter. It’s going to be a very popular addition to the Audi range.” Even the used car selection has seen changes, as King’s Lynn Audi invests in new systems and technology that offers the facility to source used vehicles from

all across the country. “It will greatly expand our offering of used vehicles both onsite and online,” says Simon. “It won’t just give our customers more choice – it will also save them a lot of time and effort in finding the particular car they’re looking for.” Whether you’re new to the brand and want to discover the best in modern motoring or an existing Audi customer looking to explore the new models, King’s Lynn Audi is now bigger, brighter and friendlier than ever. “Audi has always been a very powerful brand,” says Simon. “I think our new facilities clearly demonstrate how possible it is to buy a product of world-class quality and enjoy a premium service locally. It’s a very exciting time – for Audi, for us and for our customers.”

information

Kings Lynn Audi ABOVE: The all-new Audi A4 will launch later this month – with seven engines to choose from, more eﬃciency, a drop in fuel consumption, and a host of exciting design features

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Hamburg Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2ND Tel: 01553 334490 Web: www.kingslynn-audi.co.uk

KLmagazine November 2015

Approved Used

We always remember to check our mirrors. Wing mirror operation is just one of the 145 checks that help turn a used Audi into an Approved Used Audi. We look at every single detail because we’re meticulous about ensuring each car meets the high standards you’d expect, from an exacting mechanical inspection to a full check of its history. You’ll also receive a 12-month unlimited mileage warranty,* Roadside Assistance and £750 (inc. VAT) of cover for your next MOT.† So you can drive away an Approved Used Audi with the same confidence as a new one. Just a few reasons to take a closer look at an Approved Used Audi. Find more at your local Audi Centre or audi.co.uk/usedcars *Terms and conditions apply. † When applicable.

Kings Lynn Audi Hamburg Way, King’s Lynn PE30 2ND 0844 776 0541 kingslynn-audi.co.uk KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: IAN WARD

Local Life

ABOVE: Adrian Richards puts the newly-restored organ of King’s Lynn Minster through its paces at a performance by the recently-founded King’s Lynn Sinfonia orchestra. John Snetzler’s magniﬁcent 1753 creation has never sounded better.

Recreating the sounds of the 17th century... Last month, a newly-formed community orchestra gave a special performance in King’s Lynn Minster, celebrating the restoration of one of the most famous organs in the country – if not the world

lmost 300 years ago, the town of King’s Lynn entrusted the handsome sum of £700 to a virtually unknown Swiss organ builder, commissioning him to build a new organ for the town’s parish church of St. Margaret’s. The result was one of the ﬁnest instruments in the country, one which became a major landmark in the history of English organ building. Now, the completion of a three-year restoration project hasn’t just recovered the unique 18th century sounds of John Snetzler’s beautiful and famous creation – it’s also re-ignited the town’s passion for music and inspired the

KLmagazine November 2015

formation of a new community orchestra. Founded as a Benedictine priory in 1101 by the first Bishop of Norwich, St Margaret’s was made King’s Lynn Minster by his latter-day counterpart in 2011 in recognition of the church’s wide-ranging ministry and the historic significance or its architecture and interior furnishings – not least its famous organ. It’s not known why or how John (Johannes) Snetzler was orginally chosen to build a new organ for St Margaret’s, but he’d completed his work by 1753 and the magnificent instrument was installed in King’s Lynn

the following year. Keeping things in the family, Snetzler’s younger brother Leonard (who was better known for ornamenting grand houses) designed and decorated one of the ﬁnest surviving 18th century organ cases to house his brother’s remarkable creation. On 17th March 1754, the opening recital was given Charles Burney, the organist at St Margaret’s, and the audience was treated to a truly unique sound – thanks to Snetzler’s organ featuring two ‘stops’ which were (at the time) the only ones in England. Nothing like it had been heard before, and the recital ignited Snetzler’s reputation –

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Local Life

PICTURES: Michael Hankinson is founder and board member of the King’s Lynn Sinfonia. Seen here conducting the orchestra at King’s Lynn Minster, his long career in music has included four decades in South Africa, where he oversaw the music for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela (above)

who went on to build organs everywhere from Buckingham Palace to the Boston Concert Hall in Massachusetts, USA. The organ at King’s Lynn Minster has undergone several changes over the years – most notably a major rebuild in 1962 and a signiﬁcant restoration in 2001 – and the phased programme of work that followed the latter is now complete, restoring it to its former glory. In the past three years, 1,100 pipes have been installed to recreate the sounds of 1754, work which included the addition of a new 32’ reed and a tuba amongst several other stops. “The organ is fantastic and it’s one of the most historic in Britain,” says Michael Hankinson, founder and board member of the newly-formed community orchestra, King’s Lynn Sinfonia. It’s no surprise that this magniﬁcent instrument has inspired the founding of the King’s Lynn Sinfonia. “There’s no in-between in this area,” says Michael. “We have the very professional Norfolk Symphony Orchestra, and West Norfolk Jubilee Youth Orchestra – which is mostly made up of schoolchildren. There’s a bottom level and a top level – and we’re hoping to achieve a middle level.” If anyone can pull the new orchestra together, it’s Michael. Educated at Hereford Cathedral (where he was an organ and choral scholar), he studied organ performance and conducting at the Trinity College of Music before emigrating to South Africa in 1970 and becoming RPM Film Studios’ resident 108

composer. In his four decades in South Africa, Michael held many positions, including those of Resident Conductor at the State Theatre in Pretoria and of Principal Conductor to the Cape Town City Ballet. Indeed, when President de Klerk was inaugurated, Michael was in charge of all the music – a role he repeated when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated. In fact, Michael even had dinner with Mandela. “I liked him very much,” he says. “He had a marvellous charisma about him, and also a genuine love for children and a desire to see them grow as people.” It’s these experiences – together with the opportunity to work with such a famous organ – that have inspired Michael to ignite his passion in his new home of King’s Lynn. The King’s Lynn Sinfonia comprises a board of five people including Michael himself with local solicitor David Osborne, Adrian Richards (the Director of Music and organist at King’s Lynn Minster), conductor and performer Derek Oldfield, and Robert Gilliard, the conductor of the WNJYO. Between the five board members, they have around 200 years worth of musical experience between them and an extremely proactive approach to getting the orchestra off the ground. “There’s definitely a gap in the King’s Lynn music scene which we’re really hoping to fill,” says Michael. “We feel we have a great programme and have pulled together a very nice orchestra of local professionals.” Last month, the Sinfonia celebrated

the completion of the work undertaken on the organ in King’s Lynn Minster with ‘Organ Concertos,’ a programme of three organ concertos by Vivaldi, Handel and Poulenc together with Albinoni’s Adagio – one of the most famous and haunting pieces ever wtitten for the instrument. Of the orchestra’s board, Adrian Richards was the soloist and Michael was – quite naturally – conducting. If you’d like to support the work of the King’s Lynn Sinfonia and discover just how successful Michael’s been in ﬁnding that ‘middle ground’ you’ll be able to see (and hear) them in February next year, when they provide the music for the West Norfolk Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society’s production of The Yeoman of the Guard at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre. With so much history behind it, it’s good to know that Snetzler’s famous organ still sounds as good as it always has – and still has a place to play in the future of music in King’s Lynn.

KLmagazine November 2015

Letting Better Our monthly round up of the latest news and legislation concerning Landlords and Tenants in the private rented sector with Edmonton Estates Director Damien Simone

Independent Lettings & Property Management Specialists

QUI CK FAC TS • 45% of households in the UK own a pet • 1 in 3 pet owners could not find a property that would accept their pet • Pet friendly properties gain higher monthly rents

Special thanks to Martin & Zoe (former tenants of St Ann's House) for the loan of our model Branston!

A practical approach to pets n 2015 the UK has had the largest number of families in the private rented sector since 1987 and all of the statistical predictions point to this trend continuing for the foreseeable future as the flexibility and affordability of renting compared to buying a property is favourable. Far from being a forced choice this is now for many a preference. This is the group known as Generation Rent. Tenants that fall within this sector of the market are the most desirable, they are looking for homes not just houses and are likely to be long term tenants taking good care of your property. However, there are two things that these tenants are likely to want from their Landlord; permission to personify the décor and allowance for pets. It is an interesting but not widely publicised fact that The Office of Fair Trading considers a blanket ban on keeping pets in a property to be unfair under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 but at Edmonton Estates we do not believe that this should be used as carte

blanche above the landlord’s rights regarding their own properties and that where possible a practical compromise needs to be reached. At Edmonton Estates we classify pets into two categories; contained and free roaming. Fish, birds and small caged animals such as hamsters are relatively low risk in terms of potential damage to a property, whereas free roaming animals such as cats and dogs present a greater risk of causing damage or nuisance if they are not properly cared for or housed in an unsuitable property. For example we do frequently have enquiries from tenants who have large dogs and want to lease a second floor apartment but fail to see the impracticality of this. When agreeing tenancies with pets we always specify a limit on the number of pets permitted in

the property as a security against a mass breeding program. In addition a separate pet permission agreement is created detailing the amount of additional deposit required and also terms for professional cleaning and anti-allergen treatments of all carpets and soft furnishings at the end of the tenancy. Edmonton Estates are members of the “Lets with Pets” scheme that is run by The Dogs Trust which promotes the benefits of landlords letting to pet owners, as well as giving advice to tenants on responsible pet ownership in rented properties. We have two free booklets to give away “Renting to Pet Owners” and “Renting with Pets”, both of which are produced by The Dogs Trust. If you would like to receive copies of these or to discuss this subject in more detail please contact our office on 01553 660615.

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

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KLmagazine November 2015

SEEING IS BELIEVING: Currently available for viewing in Bespoke Pine n Oak’s King’s Lynn store, this stunning hand-crafted wardrobe is 9’ wide and stands 7’ 6” tall – and makes the most of its size with a number of clever design features and brilliant storage solutions...

High quality furniture handcrafted just for you Kevin Berry and Carl Ingram explain how Bespoke Pine n Oak takes your ideas and creates beautiful furniture in the traditional way...

f you’ve ever struggled to ﬁnd the ideal piece of furniture for your home, especially if you have any awkward alcoves, oddly-shaped rooms or sloping ceilings, you’ll know how diﬃcult it can be. But there’s a genuine solution in the handcrafted quality of Bespoke Pine n Oak in King’s Lynn, which combines Kevin Berry’s long experience in the timber trade together with the remarkable craftsmanship of his fellow director Carl Ingram. “People should never settle for second best when it comes to their homes,” says Kevin Berry. “Fortunately, Carl has an amazing talent for taking the vaguest of ideas and turning them into beautiful and functional pieces of furniture. The possibilities really are only limited by your imagination.”

Carl Ingram is a true craftsman. Working from the simplest of sketches, he’ll visit your home for exact measurements and a sense of the setting (everything from how the room is used to the lighting conditions) before creating anything from a single bookcase to a complete kitchen. Premium quality furniture that truly complements your home, ﬁtting the space to perfection and meeting your individual requirements in every detail. “Everything is handcrafted in our own workshops using traditional cabinetmaking and carpentry skills,” says Carl. “It means we still use things such as dovetail joints, mortice and tenon frames, lap joints – and though we mostly work in solid pine and oak, there are several other choices available to you.”

And before Bespoke Pine n Oak return with their expert ﬁtting and installation team, they’re more than happy for you to pop in and actually see the work in progress as your new furniture takes shape. With the arrival of the Mylands luxury paint range oﬀering an extra touch of uniqueness and individuality, Bespoke Pine n Oak can create the furniture you’ve been looking for – in any style, in any shape, in any size, for any room. In fact, as they like to say, if you can draw it, they can make it!

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Bespoke Pine n Oak Ltd 28 Tower Street, King’s Lynn PE30 1EJ Tel: 01553 766532 E-mail: info@bespokepinenoakltd.com

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Bespoke Pine n Oak: if you can draw it – we can make it! KLmagazine November 2015

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Local Life

ABOVE: The stage is set as Whitelightning Pyrotechnics prepare to ﬁll the skies above King’s Lynn with another spectacular ﬁrework display

Months of careful plans: and all gone in a flash! Everyone loves a professional firework display, but they take expertise, an in-depth knowledge of gunpowder and an awful lot of planning, as Vanessa White of Whitelightning Pyrotechnics explains

t one time or another, we’ve all experienced a stunning firework display, wrapped up in layer upon layer of scarves and woolly jumpers. But as you tuck into a toffee apple or a steaming tray of chilli and jacket potato while marvelling at the beauty of a hand held sparkler, have you ever wondered what it takes to put these wonderful displays together? On the 6th November, the Fawkes in The Walks fireworks display will wow visitors at the King’s Lynn site for the sixth year in a row with magical arrangements of fireworks. This year, we’re going behind the scenes with the help of Vanessa White from Whitelightning Pyrotechnics in

KLmagazine November 2015

Emneth to understand what it takes to put these shows together. The chemistry involved in the creation of ﬁreworks has developed over centuries, ﬁrst being discovered in China in the form of basic gunpowder. In 1605, a certain Guy Fawkes would take an unenviable place in history as Britain’s most notorious traitor. Fawkes was caught with 36 barrels of gunpowder in the

cellar of the Houses of Parliament as he and a group of thirteen young men planned to assassinate King James I. Although fireworks are now used to add drama and that added sparkle to many special occasions now, they are famous for being used in early November to remember the Gun Powder Plot. More than 500 years later, blackpowder is now used to lift and burst fireworks. From watching a varied and exciting display, you might not be surprised to learn that fireworks come in many different forms and these are split into categories. “Category one fireworks are for indoor use and category two fireworks are appropriate for garden use and must be used outside with 113

Local Life

spectators being at least eight metres away,” says Vanessa. “Category three fireworks are for display purposes and are for use outdoors only with spectators needing to be a distance of at least 25 metres away – these are the largest public use firework, with category four fireworks being for professional use only,” adds Vanessa. It’s one thing getting clued up about categories of fireworks and the types you can use, but it’s a whole different story trying to actually put a display together. So where to start? “To put together the fifteen minute display such as Fawkes in the Walks takes at least a week of planning and setting up,” says Vanessa. “Sounds crazy doesn’t it!” You may think that’s a lot of work for such a short burst of entertainment but some of the bigger shows can take Vanessa up to two weeks just to set up on site! The morning of Fawkes in the Walks, Vanessa and her team of five or six people will arrive on site long before the show starts at 7am in order to set

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everything up and make the display the perfect spectacle it has been for the last five years. Vanessa gives her team a quick lunch stop in their busy schedule, but apart from that it’s constant setting up from the moment they arrive until show time. The Great British weather can often pose real problems when putting together a firework display. If the heaven’s open it makes things extremely difficult – “If it’s wet it makes setting up twice as hard because absolutely nothing can get wet and needs covering completely,” explains Vanessa. As you may well be able to imagine, the last three months of the year are a bit hectic for a team of fireworks experts. “It takes the whole summer to just sort out October, November and December – from the end of July, right through,” says Vanessa. All the hard work is worth it for someone like Vanessa to be able to see how much her audiences enjoy their experience. “It does seem like a lot of work for such a short display but I

always get such a massive adrenaline kick when the fireworks are set off,” says Vanessa. “It makes it all worthwhile when you hear all the loud cheers!” As you continue on with your night once the show’s over, it’s definitely not over for Vanessa. “Packing everything away after the display is finished can take up to three hours,” says Vanessa. “But honestly, the adrenaline lift you get from hearing all of the applause and cheering keeps you going through half of it – I think a coffee is probably required for the second half!” Once the team are packed away there’s not much time to relax before the next show as at this time of the year they have back to back shows for five days in a row. “We finish packing away for Fawkes in the Walks and get back to base at around one or two o’clock in the morning and then it’s off to Manchester at five o’clock in the morning for another show!” says Vanessa. “I wouldn’t change the busy schedule for the world though - it’s what we’re working the whole year for.”

KLmagazine November 2015

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KLmagazine November 2015

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Local Life

ABOVE: A beautiful landscape by Brian Sadler, whose photographic skills are only matched by his technical expertise, which he developed during a long and successful career with the RAF

A world of photography from the sky to the sea... During his career in the RAF, Brian Sadler led the way in taking the force from conventional film-based photography to the digital age. Today, he finds photographing puppies just as challenging...

part from his wife Belinda and his family, Brian Sadler (pictured right) has two great loves – sailing and photography, and he does his best to combine the two. That is, when he’s not sharing his remarkable photographic expertise with his fellow workers at FotoStop in Downham Market. It’s a long way from his RAF days, when he oversaw the service’s move from conventional photography to the world of digital imagery. Brian joined the RAF in 1973 on a three-year apprenticeship at RAF Cosford studying air communication and radar, following that with two and a

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half years working on the complex avionics system of the submarine hunter-killer Nimrod at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall. Selected as one of the first instructors on the (then) brand-new Tornado in 1979, Brian was promoted to Sergeant, spending the next five years teaching aircraft avionics system to technicians new to the aircraft. And then came the 1990s – Brian married the love of his life and had his first real introduction to the world of photography. As the RAF started looking seriously into the digital arena for both reconnaissance imaging and ground photography, it realised it

KLmagazine November 2015

PICTURES: BRIAN SADLER

needed engineers who not only understood electronics and digital techniques, but were also familiar with the traditional science of photography. Joining two junior engineers, Brian was duly sent to the Defence School of Photography, studying everything from film processing and printing to aerial imaging and mapmaking – and the emerging new science of digital colour management. Posted to the Reconnaissance Support Development Centre at RAF Brampton as a Trials Officer, Brian embarked on one of the most interesting times of his RAF career. “We looked at new sensors for the Tornado, Jaguar and Harrier,” he says, “and we travelled to the USA to evaluate the cutting-edge technology that’s now used in the Tornado and the unmanned drones operating over places such as Afghanistan and Iraq.” He also started evaluating some of the new digital cameras being developed by companies such as Nikon and Kodak. “One of the very first cameras we tested was a development of a Nikon F series fitted with a 1.2 megapixel sensor from Kodak,” he says. “It was bulky, the colour rendition was awful, it wasn’t very user-friendly, and it cost around £25,000. The memory card only held 250MB and that alone cost £350!” Posted to No.41(F) Squadron at RAF Coltishall near Norwich, Brian became the Squadron’s Photographic Engineering Officer, responsible for processing the film from the aircrafts’ reconnaissance sensors. It was a particularly challenging task. “We had to ensure the film was processed within 15 minutes of the aircraft’s brakes going on so the intelligence analysts could get their initial reports published within the 45minute NATO requirements,” he remembers. “We were processing film at around 120ft per minute. Not surprisingly, we were often referred to PICTURES: Brian Sadler is used to getting close to the action (above), but when he wanted a family portrait featuring his four-year-old Springer Spaniel Morgan, he found his photographic skills tested to the limit. “If you think children are difficult to work with, you should try a group of eight-week-old puppies!” he says. Brian eventually created the delightful image here by combining a number of diffferent photographs.

KLmagazine November 2015

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PICTURES: BRIAN SADLER

Local Life

ABOVE: A qualified offshore Yacht Master with over 10,000 miles at sea under his belt, Brian Sadler loves to combine sailing with his passion for photography - either while on board himself or (as pictured here) in a precariously-located inflatable.

as the Fastest Photographers in the West.” Brian’s ambition to reach the heights of photography within the RAF were finally realised when he was posted RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, becoming responsible for the policy and procurement of equipment for the RAF Photographic branch and all RAF airborne reconnaissance assets. “It was a really fascinating time,” he says. “Traditional reconnaissance was moving from black and white film to colour and digital sensors, and I was the main lead in the team that oversaw the RAF’s transfer from conventional ground photography into the digital arena.” It took several years to make the conversion complete, and today the RAF is fully converted to digital imaging in both ground and air environments – it’s faster, it’s cleaner, and the quality outweighs that of its conventional predecessor. Which is something Brian’s more than qualified to talk about. “I think film was probably better, but I certainly wouldn’t swap my digital camera now,” he says. “It’s made such a huge difference. Because traditional negatives could only be manipulated to a certain extent, there was very little

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you could do with a poor image. Today you can do virtually anything.” Awarded a Fellowship of the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) for his management of RAF photography, Brian retired from the service in 2011 – although he continued to broaden his skills by completing courses in wedding, studio, and portraiture photography. And then came the day when he walked into FotoStop in Downham Market with his wife, and was asked by owner Tony Bridger if he knew anyone with photographic talent who could assit in the store. “Before I’d had much of a chance to think of a reply, my wife answered for me,” he says. “She volunteered me for the role!” When he’s not sharing his experience and technical expertise with the rest of the FotoStop team, Brian continues to build his library of photographs, which now contains some 30,000 images. You have to ask if he has a favourite. “Not yet!” he says. “I’ve got a few pictures I really like, but I can always ﬁnd something wrong with them. That’s the beauty of photography – the challenge of trying to capture the image you see in your mind’s eye. I’m always striving to be better, to take a

better picture.” And despite all the changes in technology, all the advances in processing techniques, Brian’s convinced that the essential truth of photgraphy remains the same. “If you want a truly great photograph you’ve still got to get it right in the camera,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how good or how up-to-date your equipment is, you’ve still got to have that skill.”

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The New Generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class

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In a true class of its own The new generation of Mercedes-Benz A-Class is as good to look at as it is to drive, as KL magazine photographer Ian Ward discovers...

ack in 1997, the original Mercedes-Benz A-Class earned a name for itself with quirky styling and clever packaging, but the newlyarrived third generation is a much more conventional affair, doing what the marque has always done best – delivering a thoroughly enjoyable (and great looking) motoring experience. Our test car was the A 200 d AMG Line, whose stunning Elbaite green finish makes it even more of a headturner than it already is. Mercedes-Benz has always produced quality cars, and this is no exception. It may be a small car, but it’s one with a very large appeal. The A-Class series’ facelift has seen the updating and refinement of many features, and it’s a very satisfying car to drive. The five-door hatchback features a 2.1 litre diesel engine (giving an official combined UK fuel economy figure of 68.9 mpg) and an automatic sevenspeed gearbox, while its restyled front

KLmagazine November 2015

end enhances the visual dynamics of the car. Mercedes-Benz has also changed the design of the grille, its striking ‘diamond’ structure previously only being seen adorning more expensive models. LED headlights are an optional choice, although they do come as standard on the A45 AMG. At the rear, the hatchback features a restyled bumper and exhaust pipes, whose endings are cleverly integrated in the diﬀuser and redesigned stop lights. The comfortable cabin now includes a new dashboard, discrete shift paddles on the center console, a new steering wheel, and a bigger (optional) 8inch multimedia display – which has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A very nice touch is the opportunity to change (at a touch!) the interior accent lighting from a comprehensive colour palette, giving a personal touch to the cabin and enhancing the driving experience. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class features a new adaptive Dynamic Select

system with four driving modes – ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Individual’ – and the gearbox is worthy of special mention, with gear shifts so smooth as to be virtually imperceptible. Kickdown when power is needed is instant and gives a genuine sporty feel. The model we tested had the addition of the ‘Night Pack’ which includes stylish exterior features such as the 18" AMG alloy wheels and black wing mirrors, and interior treats such as the sports seats with integrated leather headrests, a leather-clad sports steering wheel and a carbon-fibre look trim. Also fitted to the car were front and rear sensors, the front being linked to the crash detection system which automatically applies the brakes. The rear is complemented by rear-facing camera footage to ensure safe parking. The A 200 d may be positioned in the ‘small car’ category but the constantly rewarding driving experience it offers is anything but. It really is in a class of its own.

information

MERCEDES-BENZ OF KING’S LYNN Beveridge Way, King’s Lynn PE30 4NB T: 01553 777307 W: www.mercedes-benzofkingslynn.co.uk

121

The Last Word

WildWestNorfolk Michael Middleton’s

few weeks ago, my hopes were raised when Mrs. Middleton said we would be doing something rather special over the coming weekend. They were swiftly dashed, however, when she told me it involved us having an end-of-summer tidy and participating in a car boot sale. If you’ve never ‘done’ a car boot sale before, you can take it from me that you don’t know what you’re missing. As a seller, you can look forward to a crack-of-dawn start, a veritable army of people volunteering to help you empty the boot of your car as soon as you’ve switched the engine off, and several hours standing in front of your everdwindling wares, arguing about whether you’ll accept 25p less for something you’ve already priced for a quick sale. Mrs Middleton and I have very different approaches to car boot sales. I prefer to throw everything into the back of the car as fast as possible, quickly pile it all on a paste-up table and process to sell everything for £1. And be back home in time for a late breakfast. My better half, however, takes a more organised approach. All items have to be carefully and individually labelled and priced, and placed in the car boxed up in specific categories. In addition to the paste-up table, we have to take a special clothes rack, a small bookshelf for displaying books and films, a notebook to record all sales, and a healthy supply of loose change. Oh, and some sandwiches. For Mrs. Middleton, nothing’s left to chance – especially the likelihood of anything of ours making a future appearance on the Antiques Roadshow. Think it can’t happen? Take the 122

famous case of the lady who sold an old vase for £1 at a car boot sale in Scotland. She’d thrown it into the attic after the plant it contained died, little realising that it was a rare 1929 piece by Rene Lalique – or that it would later be sold for over £30,000. It’s said that around 22% of people at car boot sales don’t know the real value of what they’re selling, which may go some way to explaining why Mrs Middleton put £7.50 on an old cushion her sister had once embroidered for us. Although it had gradually made its way from lounge to shed over the years, it still looked in quite good condition (particularly if you like pictures of robins and home furnishings that have ‘Greetings from Narborough’ on them) and it soon caught the eye of an elderly lady who thought it would go perfectly in her conservatory. When she asked how much I wanted for it, I was at a bit of a loss – as not only had Mrs. Middleton disappeared to ﬁnd a cup of tea, but her painstakinglyapplied price sticker had been dislodged by the old lady’s examination of the needlework. “How about 20p?” I said. The lady turned the cushion over, shook her head, said ‘nah’ and walked away. You see, there’s simply no rhyme or reason to car boot sales. Following my lucky escape from the cushion sale, I was sent oﬀ for a browse at what other people were selling (under the strict proviso that I was to return empty-handed) and soon became engrossed by a cardboard box containing hundreds of brightly coloured bits of plastic. On closer inspection they were revealed as various broken parts of assorted children’s toys, most of which

escaped any easy identiﬁcation. While I was peering into this box – which I considered more junk than treasure trove – a man joined me and started carefully going through the box and picking out particular pieces. A triangular green piece of plastic here, a tiny sword there, and something that looked like a ladder but could have been anything. Putting these to one side, the man then produced a notebook from his pocket and compared the items in front of him to something written in the book. I was transﬁxed, especially when he duly put the ‘ladder’ aside and bought the other two items for 30p. It was fascinating – indeed, it was almost a piece of performance art – and I’m still wondering what was behind this strange transaction. With Mrs Middleton happy with the £92.84 we made that morning, I’m hoping it will be a while before we return to this decidedly odd and somewhat enchanting world. In the meantime, if you do want an embroidered cushion with ‘Greetings from Narborough’ on it, I’ve got one going cheap. It’s yours for only £7 – we’ve got a sale on.

KLmagazine November 2015

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